The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • Next level is prosperity for Nigerians – Osinbajo

    The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has launched the ‘Tradermoni’ loan scheme in Ekiti State with an assurance that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government would take Nigerians to the next level of prosperity if the party is re-elected.

    Prof. Osinbajo who was welcomed to Ekiti Parapo pavilion, Ado -Ekiti by thousands of artisans, traders and N-Power beneficiaries said the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMSE) loan was initiated by the President Mohammadu Buhari-led government  to empower the Nigerian masses who are into small scale businesses.

    The Vice President, who assured Ekiti entrepreneurs of government’s financial support for their businesses, disclosed that the Federal Government plans to set up an SME bank that will be responsible for providing loans for SMEs.

    He said: “I want to congratulate all the business men and women here. I want to tell you that we will support you and give you the credit that is required, grants that are required to do your businesses well. The next level of our government, we are setting up Entrepreneurship bank, a bank for entrepreneurs only to give loans to small businesses owned by young men and women.

    “Before now, we used to do it through the Bank of Industry but now we will set up a special bank. We are also setting up a People Money bank. This is the bank that will give microcredit to business men and women.”, he added.

    While urging Nigerians to support and re-elect President Buhari in the forthcoming presidential election, the Vice President said the Buahri-led government has been prudent with the country’s resources; saying that it had undertaken a lot of projects despite earning 60% less than what the previous government earned.

    Osinbajo urged Nigerians not to be deceived by those who want to return to power in order to continue their looting of the nation’s resources having done so for 16 years.

    The Vice President commended Governor Kayode Fayemi for giving Ekiti people, especially workers, a new lease of life by prompt payment of salaries and other people-oriented interventions.

    Read Also: Buhari fit for another term, says Osinbajo

    Earlier, Governor Fayemi had said that his administration was prioritising workers welfare through prompt payment of salaries and pensions, adding that the Fayemi-led government believes in making life comfortable for the masses.

    Fayemi who noted that some entrepreneurs have started benefitting from the SME loans in Ekiti State while others are still going to be included in the scheme said the scheme will add value to locally made products.

    The governor urged Ekiti people to support the re-election bid of President Buhari so that the various social investment and social safety net programmes of the administration could continue.

    He added that the team Buhari/Osinbajo is made up of a combination of integrity and competence which are the hallmarks that are needed to take Nigeria to greater heights.

    Osinbajo and Fayemi later inspected the various exhibition stands, where they had one on one interaction with the exhibitors.

    The Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, venue of the MSME clinic was turned into carnival as many people trouped in in with banners and bands to welcome the Vice President.

    Earlier, the Vice President and Governor Fayemi had also paid a condolence visit to Iworoko Ekiti where a trailer crash claimed 12 lives last week before the death of the traditional ruler of the community.

  • Osinbajo, Obaseki, Kachikwu task youths to drive inclusive devt

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has urged youths to imbibe the virtues of diligence and hard work, noting that the South-South Innovation Hub presents opportunities to contribute to societal growth through innovation.

    Prof. Osinbajo gave the admonition at the Edo Youth Leadership Summit 2019, tagged Imagine, which held at SIO Event Center, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki also called on youth to be productive and take charge in defining a new narrative for development through the use of technology as provided for in the Edo Innovation Hub, which houses the South-South Innovation Hub.

    Speaking on the need for youths to be innovative and diligent, Osinbajo said the path to failure and success are the same across the globe, urging participants at the event to be of good character, work hard and be committed to legitimate dreams.

    “No matter how talented and well-connected or your status or the wealth of your parents, you will soon discover that the difference between failure and success is character, hard work and diligence, which are all you need to achieve success in life,” the vice president added.

    Osinbajo noted that these are fundamental principles of success as lack thereof makes it extremely difficult to succeed in life.

    He commended the organisers of the Summit, noting that participants must ensure they put into practice the lessons from the Summit to make headway in life.

    Governor Obaseki on his part, reiterated the need for integrity, transparency and hard work to succeed.

    “Life is about certain core values and if you don’t have such values you will be limited in life. As a government, we want to refer to the values of transparency, integrity and hard work as no system will survive without these core values.”

    Obaseki thanked the Vice President for setting up the South-South Innovation Hub, as it has helped transform the lives of the youths in the state.

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said the focus of the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration is to reduce corruption in the country.

    He said the Federal Government has shown that political position is for service and not for self agrandisement.

  • Joy as 20,000 traders get tradermoni in Edo

    There was jubilation among traders in Edo State as they received alert from the TraderMoni, one of the component the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme (SIP).

    Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was in Benin City, the Edo State capital to distribute the loan.

    Prof. Osinbajo visited the Oba market and the Ekiosa market where he interacted with traders.

    Many of the traders wore t-shirts with the TraderMoni insígnia and they displayed the 4+4 sign to show their support for the APC.

    Osinbajo took time to explain to the traders on the need to pay back so that they could get loan up to N100,000.

    In a chat with newsmen, Prof. Osinbajo said the traders at the bottom of the pyramid pay back loans than the rich.

    According to him, “We ensure we are able to give micro credit to market women. These petty traders, their inventory are not more than N2000 so we give them N10,000 via their electronic payment. If they pay back we give them N20,000 and up to N100,000.

    “We have to ensure the bottom of the pyramid in Nigeria is supported. If we do not give millions of petty traders loan, how do they get out of poverty.

    “Those at the bottom of pyramid are consistent in paying back loan. They are far more fidelity to the rules than the rich. When they pay back they get more money. It makes sense to pay back. That is the way it is structured.”

    Governor Godwin Obaseki who assured the beneficiaries of more incentives for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), said his administration would continue to work closely with the Federal Government on the several empowerment initiatives designed to enhance the welfare of Nigerians.

    The governor urged market men and women to take advantage of the funding window to scale their businesses and improve their welfare.

  • Osinbajo holds closed door meeting with Edo Christian leaders

    Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday held closed door meeting with christian leaders in Edo State.

    The meeting lasted over three hours.

    Journalists, caterers and security operatives were asked to walk out of the meeting after the opening prayers were said.

    Read Also: Osinbajo arrives Benin to inaugurate TraderMoni

    In attendance were political leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Reverend Felix Omobude, Edo State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Oyonude Kure, Bishop Feb Idahosa amongst others.

    Prof. Osinbajo declined comments with journalists but Bishop Kure said they prayed for the APC.

    On whether the Vice President requested support of the Christian community for next month’s election, Bishop Kure said their job is to pray for those in authority.

    “Our responsibility is to pray for those in authority.”

     

     

  • Osinbajo arrives Benin to inaugurate TraderMoni

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday arrived Benin Airport to inaugurate TraderMoni, one of the Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government in Edo.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo arrived the airport in a Nigerian Air Force Jet, 5N FUG at about 12.15 p.m.

    Read Also: Osinbajo unveils Nigeria-Brazil agriculture project

    The vice president will also inaugurate a number of other projects done by the state government.

    He was received by Gov. Godwin Obaseki, his Deputy, Philp Shuaibu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) party faithful.

    NAN

     

  • Osinbajo chairs NEC meeting

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday presided over the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting which will deliberate on the minimum wage request, among other issues, started around 11.26am when Osinbajo arrived the Council chamber.

    After rendition of the National anthem, opening prayer was offered by Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong.

    Read Also: We’ve credible plans to get Nigerians out of poverty, Says Osinbajo

    Among state governors in attendance included Lagos, Zamfara, Adamawa, Kebbi, Jigawa, Niger, Ekiti, Bauchi,

    Among the deputy governors in the hall included Nasarawa and Ogun.

    Also in attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed.

    Others at the meeting included Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, Minister of Education Adamu Adamu, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefuele.

  • PDP disputes Osinbajo’s claim on Onnoghen’s arraignment

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has disputed claims by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that President Muhammadu Buhari was not aware of the plan to arraign the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    Justice Onnoghen was arraigned before the Justice Danladi Umar led Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday on charges of asset declaration infractions.

    Speaking on the matter on Wednesday, Osinbajo said Buhari only got to know about plans to arraign the CJN on Saturday.

    In a statement Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition party accused the Vice President of being economical with the truth.

    The party told Osinbajo that Nigerians are aware that there is no way such high level decision, like the arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria in a court, would be taken without the awareness, input and clearance of Mr. President.

    Rejecting Osinbajo’s claims that the Federal Government was saddened by the development, the PDP challenged the Vice President to explain why Mr. President neither stopped the arraignment on Monday nor said a word on the matter since then.

    The PDP however said, if the avowal by the Vice President was true, then it confirmed the assertion that President Buhari is not in charge of governance but has outsourced the responsibilities of his office to unelected individuals, due to his incompetence.

    The party said: “Vice President Osinbajo’s assertion has also confirmed the claims by our First Lady, Aisha Buhari that a cabal has taken over the control of the Presidency, for which she forcefully called on Nigerians to take back their country.

    “The PDP notes the Buhari Presidency is only trying to sway public opinion on the matter following the outrage by Nigerians against the arraignment of the CJN.

    “The party urges all lovers of democracy and rule of law to continue to be on their guard in the defence of our nation against anti-democratic tendencies of the Buhari administration, particularly the clamp down on democratic institutions in our country”.

     

  • Buhari not aware of CJN’s arraignment – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says he is feeling sad over the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, on allegations of false and non-asset declarations.

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) had scheduled Jan. 14 for the arraignment of the CJN.

    However, the process was stalled as the CJN failed to appear before the CCT; and a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja also ordered the CCT to halt proceedings.

    Osinbajo, who spoke at the 2019 Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN) conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said that President Muhammadu Buhari had no prior knowledge of the arraignment.

    The theme of the conference is “Free Press and Objective Reporting in the 2019 Election Year.’’

    According to Osinbajo, Buhari’s approach is that institutions should do their work.

    “ I can tell you for a fact that he did not even know about this until Saturday evening. He did not even know that there will be any kind of arraignment until Saturday evening.

    “He has said categorically, do not interfere with whatever institutions are doing; sometimes, it has consequences such as we have today; such that people say how can such an important person be subjected to a trial without the Federal Government?

    “But I can tell you without any equivocation whatsoever that he was not even in the know because it is a specific instruction that he gave.

    “So , even where somebody else calls a public officer such as Ibrahim Magu of EFCC and says something or the other, he will say `no, no, no, Mr president has said I can do my work.

    “My take is that I would rather not have a situation where senior members of my profession are being tried for an offence; certainly, I will rather not have that kind of situation.

    “ So, I do not feel particularly good about it; as a matter of fact, I feel very sad; that it is going on at all, that is my position.’’’

    Osinbajo tasked online publishers to go after details and check the facts before publishing; warning that online news was losing credibility.

    The vice president said that elections had heightened ethnic and religious tensions and tended to threaten and challenge Nigeria’s unity and security.

    “So, it is even more so, the case today that we just must be more responsive because anybody on their beds can launch a website, post images from anywhere in the world and tell whatever story he wishes.

    Read Also: IGP appoints Mba new Force Spokesman

    “So, the online publisher is essentially in a poorly regulated space and can publish practically anything, even outright falsehoods.

    “Perhaps because the worst that can happen is a libel action if your publication tarnishes a person’s reputation.

    “The problem with the current situation is that online news may lose credibility; and that is a very bad situation because the loss of credibility is bad for everybody, bad for business and weakens an important social tool of public communication.’’

    He suggested the encouragement and promotion of forums for online practitioners to engage and develop by interaction with others.

    “As for elections, I think it affords an opportunity for an online publication to become well established as a credible and speedy source of news and information.

    “News on election results will be so sought after that anyone who can provide them accurately and in a timely fashion will be the go-to-site, even in the future.

    “The point to bear in mind is that integrity pays. Being the first to break the news, especially when it is unverified, might bring in some traffic initially, but it does not take that long to lose reputation.

    “And once the credibility of the publication is damaged, people will not take the news seriously,’’ he said.

    Earlier in a remark, OPAN President, Mr Austin Ogannah, said that the association as founded in 2011.

    According to him, the idea is to have an association that self regulates practitioners in the online news media; so that members can hold one another accountable.

    Ogannah said that the essence of the conference was to understand objective reporting in an election as captured in the theme.

  • I feel sad over CJN’s trial – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says he is feeling sad over the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, on allegations of false and non-asset declarations.

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) had scheduled Jan. 14 for the arraignment of the CJN.

    However, the process was stalled as the CJN failed to appear before the CCT; and a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja also ordered the CCT to halt proceedings.

    Osinbajo, who spoke at the 2019 Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN) conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said that President Muhammadu Buhari had no prior knowledge of the arraignment.

    The theme of the conference is “Free Press and Objective Reporting in the 2019 Election Year.’’

    According to Osinbajo, Buhari’s approach is that institutions should do their work.

    “I can tell you for a fact that he did not even know about this until Saturday evening. He did not even know that there will be any kind of arraignment until Saturday evening.

    “He has said categorically, do not interfere with whatever institutions are doing; sometimes, it has consequences such as we have today; such that people say how can such an important person be subjected to a trial without the Federal Government?

    “But I can tell you without any equivocation whatsoever that he was not even in the know because it is a specific instruction that he gave.

    “So , even where somebody else calls a public officer such as Ibrahim Magu of EFCC and says something or the other, he will say `no, no, no, Mr president has said I can do my work.

    “My take is that I would rather not have a situation where senior members of my profession are being tried for an offence; certainly, I will rather not have that kind of situation.

    “ So, I do not feel particularly good about it; as a matter of fact, I feel very sad; that it is going on at all, that is my position.’’’

    Osinbajo tasked online publishers to go after details and check the facts before publishing; warning that online news was losing credibility.

    Read Also: Buhari, Osinbajo, others lay wreaths for heroes

    The vice president said that elections had heightened ethnic and religious tensions and tended to threaten and challenge Nigeria’s unity and security.

    “So, it is even more so, the case today that we just must be more responsive because anybody on their beds can launch a website, post images from anywhere in the world and tell whatever story he wishes.

    “So, the online publisher is essentially in a poorly regulated space and can publish practically anything, even outright falsehoods.

    “Perhaps because the worst that can happen is a libel action if your publication tarnishes a person’s reputation.

    “The problem with the current situation is that online news may lose credibility; and that is a very bad situation because the loss of credibility is bad for everybody, bad for business and weakens an important social tool of public communication.’’

    He suggested the encouragement and promotion of forums for online practitioners to engage and develop by interaction with others.

    “As for elections, I think it affords an opportunity for an online publication to become well established as a credible and speedy source of news and information.

    “News on election results will be so sought after that anyone who can provide them accurately and in a timely fashion will be the go-to-site, even in the future.

    “The point to bear in mind is that integrity pays. Being the first to break the news, especially when it is unverified, might bring in some traffic initially, but it does not take that long to lose reputation.

    “And once the credibility of the publication is damaged, people will not take the news seriously,’’ he said.

    Earlier in a remark, OPAN President, Mr Austin Ogannah, said that the association as founded in 2011.

    According to him, the idea is to have an association that self regulates practitioners in the online news media; so that members can hold one another accountable.

    Ogannah said that the essence of the conference was to understand objective reporting in an election as captured in the theme

    NAN

  • Video: Buhari, Osinbajo, others lay wreaths for heroes

    President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday led other top government officials and Service chiefs to lay wreaths in honour of soldiers who died in service in Nigeria and at international assignments.

    The ceremony was to mark the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    January 15th every year is also dedicated to remembering and appreciating surviving Nigerian military men who have retired from active service.

    It was the fourth time President Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was laying the wreath in a democratic setting.

    Buhari was clad in white ‘Babanriga’, just like Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara,

    The wreaths-laying ceremony at the National Arcade in the Three Arms Zone in Abuja came after over a month that the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem and Appeal Fund was launched by the President.

    Read Also: Soldiers’ valour, sacrifice makes a nation – Buratai

    The brief ceremony started around 11.00 a.m. when President Buhari arrived the National Arcade and inspected the guard of honour.

    Christian and Muslim prayers were offered for the departed souls and the nation.

    One minute silence was observed in honour of the departed souls and there was gun salute during the wreath-laying ceremony.

    Vice President Osinbajo, Saraki, Dogara, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, Minister of Defence, Dan Ali Mansur, were among top government officials who also laid wreaths.

    Others that laid wreaths include Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mohammed Bello, Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai and other service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris (performing his last official role).

    President Buhari also signed the register and led the dignitaries to release white pigeons at the no speech making ceremony.
    Top government officials, including cabinet members, attended the ceremony