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  • Sheikh Gumi’s attack on Tinubu, Wike malicious, inciting, says Northern Elders

    Sheikh Gumi’s attack on Tinubu, Wike malicious, inciting, says Northern Elders

    A group of Northern Elders under the auspices of North-East Consolidated Peoples Forum (NCPF) on Monday, October 23, described the attack on President Bola Tinubu and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike by controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi as malicious, inciting and a deliberate misinterpretation of history of the North.

    Speaking through their spokesman, Mohammed Abba Liman, in Abuja, the northern elders distanced themselves from the recent religious attack, saying he was only expressing his personal opinion and not on behalf of the North.

    The group expressed their determination to continue to support President Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Wike.

    While describing Gumi as a “divisive element”, they said it was easy for him to make an “unhealthy and inciting statement” because he has not experienced conflict, the pains and horrors of war before.

    The northern elders also condemned the religious and ethnic incitements by those they described as “misguided elements and their sponsors” in order to cause disaffection and disunity in the country” saying “such does not represent the collective view and interest of the North, and certainly not Nigeria’s interest.”

    Sheikh Gumi had taken a w swipe at the FCT minister, Wike, for receiving the Israeli ambassador who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, describing him as “Satanic.”

    Read Also: P&ID case: Tinubu welcomes Nigeria’s victory

    Gumi also accused President Tinubu of pursuing a Christian agenda against Muslims, adding that Christians cannot be trusted with power because according to Gumi, if you empower them, they would turn around and kill you.

    He asked the president to sack the FCT minister and said that Muslims would raise up against President Tinubu and would not allow him to finish his tenure in office.

    The cleric added that it was Christian soldiers who killed northern political leaders in the past.

    The northern elders group made up of statesmen and women disagreed with the cleric saying, “We totally condemn such unprovoked divisive statement from a divisive element who is seeking to destabilize the peace and unity of our dear county, Nigeria, for selfish reason.

    “The utterance is toxic and it should not be accepted by any decent and sound-minded person who loves peace and our Nigeria.”

    The constitution of the federal public of Nigeria, according to Liman, “gives power and right to any Nigerian irrespective of tribes, religion and political affiliation to be appointed to any position of power as long as that person operates within the limit of our law.

    He said: “What Nigeria needs now is a consolidation of its peace, unity and progress.

    “We caution profiteers of religious fundamentalism and ethnicity, as well as agents of destabilization and instability to desist henceforth.

    “We therefore stand with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike. We indeed stand with Nigeria and, of course, the Nigerian constitution for a better governance system for all Nigeria.”

  • P&ID case: Tinubu welcomes Nigeria’s victory

    P&ID case: Tinubu welcomes Nigeria’s victory

    President Bola Tinubu has applauded the judgement of the Business and Property Court in London, which ruled in Nigeria’s favour, quashing an over five-year litigation by a firm known as Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited.

    P&ID had approached the court, seeking the enforcement of an earlier $11.5 billion arbitration award, which it obtained in 2017 from a private arbitration tribunal.

    The judgement however, delivered, on Monday, October 23, by Judge Robin Knowles of the Business and Property Court, quashed the claims by P&ID on the grounds that the initial judgment was obtained by fraud.

    Read Also: Nigeria wins bid as UK court quashes $11bn P&ID award

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu commended the UK Court for prioritizing the merits of the case above all other considerations.

    He said: “This landmark judgment proves conclusively that nation-states will no longer be held hostage by economic conspiracies between private firms and solitarily corrupt officials who conspire to extort and indebt the very nations they swear to defend and protect.

    “Today’s victory is not for Nigeria alone. It is a victory for our long-exploited continent and for the developing world at large, which has for too long been on the receiving end of unjust economic malpractice and overt exploitation.

    “Nigeria is appreciative of the tremendous efforts of the defence team and acknowledges the role of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney-General in the process of defending Nigeria’s interest in this case.”

    The case dates back to a 2010 agreement wherein P&ID pledged to build a gas processing plant in Nigeria.

    However, the project never materialized, leading P&ID to sue for lost profits. The firm was granted the sizable award plus accumulated interest, which has since been a point of contention.

  • FULL STATEMENT: President Tinubu applauds Nigeria’s landmark victory in P&ID case

    FULL STATEMENT: President Tinubu applauds Nigeria’s landmark victory in P&ID case

    “This landmark judgment proves conclusively that nation states will no longer be held hostage by economic conspiracies between private firms and solitarily corrupt officials who conspire to extort and indebt the very nations they swear to defend and protect.

    “Today’s victory is not for Nigeria alone. It is a victory for our long exploited continent and for the developing world at large, which has for too long been on the receiving end of unjust economic malpractice and overt exploitation.

    Read Also: P&ID case: Tinubu welcomes Nigeria’s victory

    “Nigeria is appreciative of the tremendous efforts of the defense team and acknowledges the role of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney-General in the process of defending Nigeria’s interest in this case,” the President stated.

    Chief Ajuri Ngelale
    Special Adviser to the President
    (Media & Publicity)
    October 23, 2023

  • America, fake NADECO should leave Nigeria, Tinubu alone, group warns

    America, fake NADECO should leave Nigeria, Tinubu alone, group warns

    A foremost support group of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Disciples of Jagaban (DOJ), has blasted America for its fake NADECO collaborators to leave Nigeria, its President, and the entire African region alone.

    The group in its reaction to the recently exposed plan by NADECO to discredit President Tinubu in America over the Chicago State University certificate saga, said no amount of shenanigans by NADECO or its collaborators will have an adverse effect or consequence on President Tinubu’s government.

    DOJ in a statement by its national coordinator, Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, said the plans to turn Nigeria upside down will backfire on the fake NADECO and their collaborators in a very big way.

    The group said: “There’s nothing new or logical in the approach of the United States of America with their collaboration with unknown NADECO that will have any adverse effect on the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government no matter the level of their shenanigans.

    “Nigerians are fully aware of how they played Jonathan out of power immediately after he turned to woo China. He wanted to do that in collaboration with the USA, something that proved to be a tall order. These people have succeeded in forming fake NADECO and in serious collaboration with the superpowers, especially the US. Their plans to turn Nigeria upside down will backfire on them in a very big way. It will not favour the so-called world powers either. The fake NADECO will also regret their actions.

    Read Also: 14 things to know about late Rashidi Yekini

    “Tinubu refusing to go to war with Niger Republic, diversification of Nigerian economy, and cooperation with China are some of the sins Tinubu has committed. They are now fully ready to instigate Nigerians against our lovely and sincere President. The orchestrated media war against the President can hence be understood as part of the conspiracy.

    “The fact is, Tinubu is not perfect hundred percent and no human is. However, he sincerely loves to change the story of this country positively. If they refused to publish anything either with their FBI, CIA, etc before the elections began why now? The fact is as of then, they believed he would be manipulatable and would dance to their tunes without qualms. They now realized that the President preferred listening to what his people wanted.

    “An example was the aftermath of the coop in Niger Republic. The superpowers wanted war but Tinubu chose otherwise. They thought he would be used against his people and other African nations for their own selfish interests. They are the ones behind the present problem militating against this country. That is why Mr President is trying to set up a team that can withstand the challenges.

    It further stated: “A team comprising of men and women of high resolve to lead this nation to prosperity and life in abundance. The core of this team should comprise a sizeable number of veterans in the support groups. This is their government. They wouldn’t want it to fail. “At this critical period, we are not denying the masses of their right to constructive criticism of the government. We are not stopping the opposition from doing their duties either. But we are calling on all progressive Nigerians that it is time we learned how to limit our differences among ourselves and not join our common enemies to destroy this country.

    “The powerful imperialistic nations cannot remain powerful without Africa. All they need is a divide-and-rule strategy. We should realize this. Tinubu has successfully punctured where they ate and fed from. Tinubu’s economic and security attention has now shifted to other emerging powers in the global south almost entirely. They cannot be happy with us. Since we are the ones who intend positive and sustainable change, let’s join hands together to tackle these challenges once and for all.”

  • BREAKING: Tinubu moves to clear $10bn forex backlog

    BREAKING: Tinubu moves to clear $10bn forex backlog

    President Bola Tinubu has promised to honour all the foreign exchange obligations that Nigeria has entered into through forward contracts.

    Forward contracts are financial agreements where two parties agree to exchange a specified amount of one currency for another currency at a predetermined future date and exchange rate.

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) initiated agreements with Nigerian businesses to sell forward contracts, which essentially promised the businesses a fixed amount of dollars at a predetermined price in the future. These contracts allowed the businesses to open Letters of Credit (LCs), which are a form of payment guarantee issued by banks on behalf of the importers.

    With the assurance of receiving the promised dollars from the CBN, the businesses utilized these LCs to import goods from foreign suppliers. The expectation was that when the goods arrived, the CBN would release the dollars to the importers, allowing them to fulfill their payment obligations to the suppliers. This system ensured a smooth flow of imports and facilitated international trade for Nigerian businesses.

    However, since February 2023, the CBN has been unable to fulfill its promises and has not provided the businesses with the dollars they were allocated under the forward contracts. As a result, there is now a significant backlog of approximately $3 billion owed to these businesses. This means that the businesses are unable to fulfil their obligations to their foreign suppliers, leading to disruption in the supply chain and potentially damaging their relationships with international partners.

    The consequences of the CBN’s failure to meet its commitments are not limited to domestic businesses alone. Foreign investors also have a substantial backlog of approximately $10 billion owed to them by the CBN. This impacts the confidence and trust of foreign investors in the Nigerian economy, potentially deterring future investments and harming economic growth.

    Moreover, the shortage of foreign exchange liquidity resulting from this failure has forced the CBN to suspend various transactions. These include payments for school fees and Personal Travel Allowance (PTA) applications, causing inconvenience and financial difficulties for individuals who rely on these services.

    Overall, the CBN’s failure to fulfil its promises has had significant financial consequences for the businesses involved, leading to a backlog of owed payments and disruptions in international trade relationships. This has also negatively impacted the broader economy’s stability, with suspended transactions and a potential decrease in foreign investor confidence. Resolving this issue and restoring trust in the CBN’s ability to honour its commitments will be crucial for the recovery and growth of the Nigerian economy.

    To address this huge Forex backlog, President Bola Tinubu at the 29th edition of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) announced that “consistent with our commitment to enshrining fairness and the rule of law in our country, this government will uphold the sanctity of every legitimate contract.

    He said: “Specifically, as it relates to foreign exchange obligations of the government, all forward contracts that the government has entered will be honoured and a framework has been put in place to ensure that these obligations are met in due course.”

    Tinubu also disclosed that a framework has been established to ensure that the government meets its foreign exchange obligations as stipulated in the contracts.

    An official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who was at the event said, “This framework will likely include policies, procedures, and financial resources to ensure the obligations are met as agreed upon.”

    The president in his address to the NESG, said there must be consumer credit, adding that the scheme would have to come to effect as soon as possible.

    He said: “I task my team and my colleagues to build this programme and develop it now. We cannot talk about anti-corruption when you have to look for cash to buy a car when there’s no mortgage for homeownership.

    “Where do you expect a civil servant to have N3 million or N5 million for housing without corruption? If you don’t change and plan the welfare of your judiciary and you ask them to be fair, render justice with mercy, with a hungry stomach.

    Tinubu noted that Nigeria aims to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2026 and $3 trillion within this decade through sustainable and competitive growth.

    He said the private sector is crucial to achieving this goal, and that the government is seeking collaboration and support from industry leaders to realize this vision.

    He said public-private partnerships and successful models from the past will be utilized to ensure a prosperous Nigeria for all.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Student loan scheme takes off in January 2024 – Tinubu

    Tinubu said: “The private sector is encouraged to bring their ideas, leadership, and capital to build a hopeful future. I am confident that by working closely with all of you in the private sector, financing our $3 trillion National Infrastructure Stock can be achieved in 10 years and not in 300 years.

    “Building megacities in every geopolitical zone of the size and scale of Lagos must not take us another six decades. We can do it in one decade. A fully networked and connected Nigeria by rail, gas, fibre optics and road network can be constructed in less than 20 years. Establishing thriving Industrial zones in every part of Nigeria is possible before 2030.”

    Speaking about the need to stimulate the economy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu disclosed that “by January 2024, the new student loan programme and consumer credit schemes will have come into effect. New and affordable homes will also be built at a record pace. We have all felt the pain of these reforms; soon, we shall begin to reap the rewards. It is my hope that this Summit will deliberate and proffer yet more solutions to complement the programmes mentioned above.

  • PHOTOS: Student loan scheme takes off in January 2024 – Tinubu

    PHOTOS: Student loan scheme takes off in January 2024 – Tinubu

  • BREAKING: Tinubu presides over third FEC meeting

    BREAKING: Tinubu presides over third FEC meeting

    President Bola Tinubu is currently presiding over the third Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of his administration at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

    The meeting, which commenced at around 1:06 pm, is being attended by almost all members of the cabinet, excluding Vice President Kashim Shettima and a couple of ministers.

    Some of those in attendance are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, DFolashade Yemi-Esan; the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; and National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Student loan scheme takes off in January 2024 – Tinubu

    It would be recalled that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had last week announced that the Council meeting will now be held on Mondays as against the previous schedule of Wednesdays.

    He also clarified that the meeting will not be held on a weekly basis; rather, it will convene as needed to address pertinent council matters.

    Details shortly…

  • Tinubu proposes public-private financing for Nigeria’s universities

    Tinubu proposes public-private financing for Nigeria’s universities

    President Bola Tinubu on Monday, October 23, recommended public-private financing for Nigerian universities.

    The president added that with the right mix of public and private financing, Nigerian universities would get the required resources they desperately need to elevate the level of university education in the country.

    He made this known in Ilorin, Kwara state capital at the 37th and 38th convocation ceremonies of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

    Represented by the Minister of state for Education Yusuf T Sununu, the president called on corporate bodies, communities and individuals to support public universities. 

    He said: “The practice all over the world is that public universities benefit heavily from government funding but also augment their income through private financing. 

    “It was in realisation of this that the Federal Government signed into law the Students’ loan which will positively change the landscape of education in Nigeria. 

    “Our government will continue to champion the cause of impactful education as well as ensuring that both lecturers and students are provided the best facilities to enhance their individual capabilities.”

    Tinubu added that the removal of fuel subsidy was done with the best intention of promoting a more sustainable and efficient energy landscape for “our nation as well as ensuring that the development of our nation is not in any way stratified.

    “The pain being experienced is undeniable and we emphasize with the difficulties this may be causing in our daily lives. 

    “While the short-term gains are expected with attendant pains, please look forward to the potential long-term benefits.

    “The removal of subsidies can pave way for investments in alternative energy sources, infrastructure and public services that will contribute to a stronger and prosperous Nigeria.

    He added: “During this transition, let us remain united as a nation, supporting one another and working collectively towards finding solutions. It is a challenging journey, but by embracing innovation, conserving energy, we can navigate through these difficulties and emerge stronger as a nation.

    “Remember, change often comes with its share of hardships, but it is through resilience and cooperation that we can shape a better future for ourselves and generations to come.”

    Read Also: BREAKING: Student loan scheme takes off in January 2024 – Tinubu

    Earlier, UNILORIN Vice Chancellor, Prof Wahab Egbewole hailed the president’s commitment to change the fortunes of tertiary education.

    He appreciated the recent gesture of the president and “believe that all the other outstanding issues will be resolved in order to not only increase commitment and productivity in the system, but also achieve the repositioning agenda.”

    He added: “we can only hope that the renewed hope agenda will properly reposition the university education.

    “Nigeria cannot be a global player if we to treat university education in the manner it is presently.”

  • BREAKING: Student loan scheme takes off in January 2024 – Tinubu

    BREAKING: Student loan scheme takes off in January 2024 – Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu has assured that the era of industrial actions in the nation’s academic environment has come to an end as the administration’s Students Loans Scheme commences January next year.

    President Tinubu gave the assurance on Monday while speaking at the 29th edition of the annual Nigerian Economic Summit, anchored by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

    Tinubu, who spoke extensively on his administration’s plans to stabilise the economy, with the collaboration of all stakeholders, especially the private sector, also noted the need to immediately initiate a sustainable credit scheme, which he said will aid an effective anti-corruption campaign.

    Read Also: Tonto Dikeh joins APC, dumps ADC

    He said: “By January 2024, the new Students Loan Programme must commence. To the future of our children and students we’re saying no more strikes.

    “There must be consumer credit, scheme will have to come to effect as soon as possible. I thank my team and my colleagues to build this programme, develop it now. We cannot talk about anti-corruption when you have to look for cash to buy a car, when there’s no mortgage for homeownership”, he said.

    Details shortly…

  • ‘President’s development devoid of sectional interest’  

    ‘President’s development devoid of sectional interest’  

    • Tinubu, Omo-Agege get kudos from Ndokwa nation

    President  Bola Tinubu has shown he will improve on governance and development devoid of sectional interest, All Progressives Congress, (APC), Chieftain, Henry Okechukwu, has said in a statement.

      Okechukwu, who spoke on behalf of people of Ndokwa/Ukwani in Delta State, hailed the President for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, in Kwale, headquarters of Ndokwa West. 

     He noted Ndokwa nation had suffered underdevelopment until this era of Renewed Hope pivoted by leader, with the knack for development.;

     The statement also commended former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, for his patriotism and love to Ukwani by initiating the establishment of the university, adding were it not for his determination, Ndokwa would have still remained disadvantaged till date. 

    Omo-Agege, according to Okechukwu, mooted the idea of an institution to be cited in Kwale, the first in Niger Delta, and for this and others, elders and leaders of Ndokwa hailed the Orogun former lawmaker.

     He noted the only government presence in the federal constituency was Kwale prison and police station, a development, he said, had retarded its growth and development. 

    Read Also: Tinubu’s signs new deal with US based FuelCell Energy

    “The people of Ndokwa are grateful to President Bola Tinubu-led APC administration for establishing Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences on Ndokwa soil. We  know the direct impact of such institution in the life of the people and environment’’, he said. 

    “In addition to the economic activities that will possibly be the short-term gain, the educational growth and development of the area will also promote other socio-economic benefits,” Okechukwu,  Board of Trustees secretary of  Ndokwa Neku Union said. 

    Okechukwu, however, urged the Federal Governmet to light up the federal constituency, “having been in darkness across ages.”

    The APC chieftain noted Ndokwa has the largest natural gas resource in West Africa, yet the people have remained in darkness while its gas powers other states.