TheNewsGuru

Tag: Buhari

  • AfCFTA: Buhari approves appointment of Segun Awolowo

    AfCFTA: Buhari approves appointment of Segun Awolowo

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr. Olusegun Awolowo as the Secretary, National Action Committee on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for a tenure of four (4) years with effect from December 19, 2022.

    As Secretary, Mr Awolowo is expected to provide direction to the National Action Committee on the AfCFTA for effective coordination of relevant stakeholders towards the attainment of Nigeria’s strategic national interest.

    According to a statement by President Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina, Awolowo, a Law graduate from Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), Ago Iwoye, has served as Special Assistant to former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He also worked with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja as Secretary for Social Development and Transport from 2007 to 2011.

    Awolowo was the Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) between 2013 and 2022, serving two tenures.

  • 2023 polls: Buhari directs NIS to tighten security around borders

    2023 polls: Buhari directs NIS to tighten security around borders

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to tighten security around the nation’s borders before and after the general elections.

    Interior minister Rauf Aregbesola disclosed this in Katsina on Tuesday while inaugurating the Katsina State headquarters of the service.

    “The order from the President Muhammadu Buhari is that between now and the time we will conclude elections, you must make sure our borders are secured.

    “You must make sure that our borders are perfectly secured from illegal immigrants who may want to come in to create problems during elections, or illegally participating in the elections.

    “The service should live up to the directives of Mr President,” he said.

    The minister also tasked them on ensuring the documentation of all migrants.

    Aregbesola said that Katsina State had 400 kilometers border lines and 14 border positions which the service needed to protect.

    He said that government was upgrading the capacity of the NIS to effectively control the nation’s borders.

    “We are deploying electronic digital technology to ensure 24/7 surveillance of the 5,000 kilometers border lines.

    “We have already awarded the contract, so, very soon, the Comptroller-General, from his office, will be able to see what is happening anytime at any border point,” he said.

    In his remarks, Gov. Aminu Masari, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Muntari Lawal, commended the NIS for the project and affirmed the administration’s readiness to support the service to secure the nation’s borders.

    Also speaking, the State Controller, Mr Bello Garba, who reiterated the commitment of officers and men to their responsibilities, said that the service currently had 688 officers and men across the state.

    He listed key functions of NIS including issuance of traveling documents to qualified Nigerians, controlling the movement of migrants after entering, and preventing illegal migrants from coming in.

    Other functions include warding off persons seeking to come into Nigeria through illegal routes, and apprehending human traffickers.

  • Whitemoney amazed as money hawkers sell N700K new notes for N1M at party

    Whitemoney amazed as money hawkers sell N700K new notes for N1M at party

    Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality star, Hazel Oyeze Onou, popularly known as Whitemoney, has revealed how money hawkers have started trading the new currency, stressing that N700,000 was sold for N1 million at a party.

    Sharing his experience, Whitemoney disclosed how appalled he was at the situation regarding the Naira scarcity in Nigeria.

    According to Whitemoney, there has been a scarcity of new notes across banks and ATM muster points in the country.

    However, he disclosed how flabbergasted he was when he got to a party and saw money hawkers with huge bundles of the new notes that were up for sale.

    The ‘Shine Ya Eye’ winner expressed shock at how some people lay hold of these new currencies from the bank; adding that the hawkers sold N700k for as high as N1 million and pocketed N300k as profit.

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari and CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, among other officials, launched the new naira notes at the State House, Abuja, on November 23, 2022.

    Whitemoney amazed as money hawkers sell N700K new notes for N1M at party

    The apex bank also gave Tuesday, January 31, 2023, as the deadline for phasing out the old naira notes, but later extended it to February 10.

    The CBN has since launched the newly designed notes into the banking sector. However, the penetration of the notes has been too slow, leaving many Nigerians living in immense suffering.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Whitemoney entered the 6th season of Big Brother Naija as the fifth contestant on 24 July 2021.

    During the season finale of the show on 3 October 2021, he was declared the winner scoring 47% of the final votes ahead of Liquorose with 22.99% of the total votes cast and was entitled to the ₦90 million grand prize.

  • Buhari identifies those behind Boko Haram’s terrorism attacks

    Buhari identifies those behind Boko Haram’s terrorism attacks

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said some international groups were behind Boko Haram activities in the country.

    Buhari spoke during a Presidential Lunch organized for him by Kano State Government during a one-day official visit.

    ”When we came to power in 2015, Boko Haram was in total control in 13 of the 17 Local Government Areas of Borno State as only four were in control of the government then.

    Buhari told the gathering that he suspected there was an international group that wanted to destroy Nigeria, adding that, “If not, how can Boko (western education) be Haram?”

    “They have come to stop us from tapping our development from lake Chad.

    “But we have managed to show Nigerians and the rest of the world that we have so many natural resources there,” he said.

    ”We have to pray harder and thank God, we’ll fight for our land from the international groups that are trying to destroy Nigeria.

    ”We are very lucky that this government has done well and Governor Zulum of Borno State, who has done extremely well.

    ”I have a story to share with you that somebody told me. That a permanent secretary was at home when someone called him that Governor Zulum was in  his office.

    ”I am very happy that Nigerians have shown me support. They identified with me and I identified with them.

    “I want you to recall that between 1999 and 2019,  NNPC production was 2.1 billion barrels a day at the cost of 100 dollars per barrel.”

    According to him, Nigeria was earning 100 dollars per barrel and it is producing  2.1 million barrels per day but look at our infrastructure.

    He explained that those in charge in those years were going around not only Nigeria but the world, saying they were wonderful but they could not explain what they had done.

    “The cost of petroleum today has gone down to about 37 dollars per barrel which only1.5 million barrels is produced and yet we have put in place a lot of infrastructure.

    ” Looking at what we have been able to do. I assure you that we have a wonderful country.

    ” I have been a governor, I have been a minister and I have been a Head of State, fought in the civil war.

    “We have to thank God with what we have in the country today”, the president said.

    Earlier, Gov Abdullahi Ganduje appreciated President Buhari for identifying with the good people of Kano state.

  • Buhari commissions Dala Inland Dry Port

    Buhari commissions Dala Inland Dry Port

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the Dala Inland Dryport, in Dala Local Government Area of  Kano State.

    The President arrived at exactly 10:32 a.m., accompanied by some of his cabinet members.

    The President was received by the Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje and the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Jaaji Sambo and the
    Managing Director of the Dala inland Dryport Ahmad Rabiu.

    Other dignitaries at the event included the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Emmanuel Jime; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Magdalene Ajani and the former Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello.

  • Govt beefs up security as Buhari arrives Kano

    Govt beefs up security as Buhari arrives Kano

    Security has been beefed up in parts of Kano metropolis in readiness for President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state to commission eight development projects.

    As of 7 a.m., security personnel – the Police, the Civil Defence Corps, the FRSC and the state’s Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), were drafted ahead of the visit.

    The roads manned by the security operatives included Sabo Bakin Zuwo, formerly known as State Road, Emir’s Palace, Ahmadu Bello Way and Audu Bako Way.

    A statement on Sunday by the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, said arrangements had been concluded to receive the President.

    Garba said Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje would receive the President and his entourage.

    While in Kano, Buhari would commission the 10 megawatts Federal Government’s Kano Grid Solar Power, and the multi-billion Naira Dala Inland Dry Port in Zawachiki, Kumbotso Local Government area.

    He also said Buhari would commission the Kano State Data Centre at Audu Bako Secretariat, Tier Data Centre and office complex at Galaxy Backbone Limited on Ahmadu Bello Way.

    The others are Cancer Treatment Centre at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyu; Muhammadu Buhari Road Rotary Interchange at NNPC Station, on Maiduguri Road; Aliko Dangote Ultra-Modern Skill Acquisition Centre, Zaria Road and Federal Government Housing Units at Gandun Sarki, Darmanawa.

  • Cash swap: Buhari approved ten days extension -CBN

    Cash swap: Buhari approved ten days extension -CBN

     

    The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Godwin Emefiele on Sunday said President Muhamadu Buhari approved the extension of old Naira notes by ten days.

    Emefiele explained that the apex bank has sought approval from President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the deadline for the use of the old notes by 10 days.

    “Based on the foregoing, we have sought and obtained Mr President’s approval for the following: A 10-day extension of the deadline from January 31 to February 10 to allow for the collection of more old notes legitimately held by Nigerians,” the statement read.

    A 7-day grace period, beginning from February 10 to February 17, in compliance with Sections 20(3) and 22 of the CBN Act allowing Nigerians to deposit their old notes at the CBN after the February deadline when the old currency would have lost its Legal Tender Status.”

    The CBN Governor also solicited the cooperation of all Nigerians in ensuring a hitch-free process for the implementation of the policy.

    Before the apex bank extended the use of the naira note, many Nigerians experienced difficulty in lodging their old banknotes.

    The scramble by many Nigerians to meet the initial January 31 deadline has been chaotic as many of them flood banking halls with huge cash in old notes to exchange them with new ones.

    Others are seen in long queues at the few ATM points having the new naira notes in different parts of the country to have access.

    The naira redesign was greeted by criticism by some Nigerians, including the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the policy was intended to scuttle his presidential ambition.

    The Nigerian Bar Association NBA had also given vent to the extension stating legal reasons why return of old notes must be extended.

  • New Naira notes: No cause for alarm, Buhari assures Nigerians

    New Naira notes: No cause for alarm, Buhari assures Nigerians

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said there is no cause for alarm, assuring Nigerians that the government will ensure that citizens are unharmed in their businesses and no disruption is caused to the entire supply chain arising from the currency swap due to end shortly.

    Buhari was reacting to reports of long queues of people waiting for hours to deposit old notes and get new ones, a situation which has triggered public anger and criticism from the opposition.

    According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President underscored that the currency swap targets people hoarding illicit funds and not the common man.
    He maintained that it had become necessary to prevent counterfeits, corruption, and terrorist funding, assuring the public that the change will help stabilise and strengthen the economy.

    While taking note that the poorest section of society is facing hardship as they often keep hard cash at home for various expenses, the President further gave strong assurances that the government will not leave them to their own fate.

    He reiterated that a number of initiatives by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and all commercial banks are underway to speed up distribution of the new notes and do all that is necessary to forestall cash squeeze and chaos.

    The CBN first informed Nigerians about the plan to redesign the N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes on October 26, 2022, saying the old notes would no longer be valid after January 31, 2023.

    Buhari unveiled the new notes in December 2022.

  • “I have done my best, and I hope history will be kind to me”- Buhari

    “I have done my best, and I hope history will be kind to me”- Buhari

    Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has accused some members of the elite in the country of being selfish, saying “I have done my best, and I hope history will be kind to me”.

    The President spoke at the Katsina State Government House during a lunch by the state government in his honour on Thursday.

    President Buhari, who visited state on a two-day working visit to inaugurate some legacy projects of the Aminu Masari Administration, lamented wasted resources by previous administrations that could have gone into infrastructure when a barrel of crude oil sold for $100.

    "I have done my best, and I hope history will be kind to me"- Buhari

    Drawing a comparison between 1999/2015 and 2015/2023, he said: “Our elite did not put their heads together in the years past to move the country forward. They were very selfish.

    “I insist that they should think of the country more than themselves. By doing so, they can join forces for the good of the country.”

    President Buhari also said he believed history will be kind to his administration, going by the difference that has been made in security and the economy.

    Inspecting and inaugurating projects on health, education, and road infrastructure, President Buhari praised Governor Aminu Bello Masari.

    "I have done my best, and I hope history will be kind to me"- Buhari

    Projects he inaugurated are the Kofar Kaura Underpass, Kofar Kwaya Underpass, Kofar Kaura Water Works, Katsina State Internal Revenue House, Muhammadu Buhari Meteorological Institute by the Ministry of Aviation, Darma Rice Mill in Batagarwa and Katsina State General Hospital.

    The President also inspected ongoing work on the first flyover in Katsina, which has reached 90 per cent completion.

    President Buhari said the Kano-Katsina-Maradi (Niger Republic) rail line was designed to enhance economic activities between Nigeria and Niger.

    “If you want to enjoy peace and harmony, you must be very friendly with your neighbour. That is why when I came into office, I started by visiting all our neighbours,” he added.

  • Presidency replies Yakasai, says Buhari’s support for Tinubu is unquestioned

    Presidency replies Yakasai, says Buhari’s support for Tinubu is unquestioned

    The Presidency says President Muhammadu Buhari’s support for the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is unquestionable.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, who said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, was reacting to an allegation levelled against Buhari by Alhaji Tanko Yakasai.

    Yakasai in a television interview questioned Buhari’s loyalty to the realisation of APC victory in the presidential election on Feb. 25.

    However, Shehu dismissed the allegation, saying president’s support for the party’s candidate, Tinubu is unquestioned.

    The statement read in part: ”Alhaji Tanko Yakasai is unknown to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Everyone is entitled to their view, but what we do know is that his insight in a recent interview does not come from within the party or the President’s team.

    ”His support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is welcome although it is difficult to see what value it will add.

    “He is right to highlight his experience as a senior citizen, a leader in government and ability to reach out across divides are strong foundations for the highest office.

    “But Yakasai’s questioning of the loyalties of President Muhammadu Buhari stands in sharp contrast to the actions of the President.

    ”Only on Monday, he was out at a rally in Bauchi supporting the flag bearer of the party. Presidential duties permitting, he is scheduled to make further appearances at campaign events in the coming weeks.

    ”His support for the party’s candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is unquestioned.

    “If this wasn’t on TV, Yakasai’s unwise comment on the issue would have been dismissed as a misquotation. But he was live on TV.

    “On this one against President Buhari, no one should take him seriously.

    “Perhaps times are hard and the old man needs a bit of help.”