President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday celebrated the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the National Arcade, Eagles Square, Abuja.
Also present at the event were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday in Abuja led government officials and service chiefs to lay wreaths in honour of Nigerian soldiers who died in active service.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that apart from the wreaths laying ceremony, the President used the opportunity to make video conference calls to Nigerian troops in the battle fields in Sambisa Forest, Yola in Adamawa and to those serving in UN Peace Mission in Liberia.
The President, who first spoke to the Nigerian troops fighting the Boko Haram insurgents in Sambisa Forest in Borno, saluted their courage and urged them to continue to maintain discipline and efficiency they were known for.
He said “your success was received spontaneously by all Nigerians. I congratulate you and I thank you very much for the honour you have done to the country and to us, well done. I wish your families are all well and are getting in touch with you.
“Please maintain the standard of discipline and efficiency. Thank you very much indeed.’’
Also addressing members of the Nigerian battalion serving with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia, President Buhari, who congratulated the soldiers, wished them a successful mission abroad.
The President, who commended members of the armed forces serving with the UN
across the world, said the Federal Government was monitoring their performance.
He prayed for their successful operations while in Liberia, and also wished them safe journey back to Nigeria in 2018.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerian troops in Liberia will be the last batch of UN Peacekeeping Mission in that country as UN peace mission in Liberia would end in 2018.
President Buhari also spoke via the video conference gadgets with the Commander of the Air Force Base in Yola, Air Commodore Charles Owoh, who is also the Air Commander, Operation, Lafiya Dole.
The president lauded the performance of the Air Force in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the North East.
He said: “I get regular briefing from your Chief of Air Staff. Your performance speaks for itself and you have raised the morale of your colleagues in the military, especially the army.
“With your hi-tech performance and platforms, we have been able to restore the sanity and the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
“I am very pleased with the initiative that you have taken in maintenance of equipment. It is very encouraging and a boost to our morale here. I congratulate you and please pass my message to your families that we are very cautious of their patience and anxiety whenever you are in the field. Thank you very much indeed.
NAN reports that other dignitaries who performed the wreaths laying ceremony at the event include Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, acting Chief Judge of the Federation and Justice Walter Samuel Onoghen.
Others are the Minister of Defence, Retired Brig. Mansur Dan-Ali, service chiefs, Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Retired Maj. Mikah Gaya, members of the diplomatic corps and other prominent citizens.
Special prayers were also offered in honour of the fallen heroes.
The BringBackOurGirls, BBOG, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to personally visit Southern Kaduna and access the level of wanton killings allegedly perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen.
BBOG said the President’s visit to the volatile area will help pave way for and ensure quick stability in the area.
The coalition group made the call in a statement during its procession to protest the lingering Southern Kaduna killings in Abuja.
Observing that the President had repeatedly promised to look into the crisis, the group said no traceable steps had being taken by the federal government.
It noted that the killings might become a replay of the insurgency in the North-East if it is not speedily addressed.
It said, “Sadly, President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly promised these would be looked into. However, no verifiable steps have been taken up to launch a government review of these many troubling reports in order to take appropriate preventive and punitive measures.
“The worst carnage is presently ongoing in Southern Kaduna and most of the killings are unreported. Killings are alleged by the indigenes and residents of communities in Southern Kaduna to be rampant still despite the recent mobilisation of military and police teams.
“We hereby demand, as a movement that does not wish to see a replay of the North-East destabilisation; that President Muhammadu Buhari should immediately visit Southern Kaduna to assess the situation for himself as the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“Following the visit, we expect a quick stabilisation of the situation in Southern Kaduna to pave the way for peace and reconciliation, which should be led by the state government.”
Presidency yesterday urged Nigerians to be more creative in the face of the biting economic recession to attract more foreign exchange as a means of ending the Dollar scarcity in the country.
It also called for improved peace and tranquility in the Niger Delta region to boost the oil production which would in turn generate more returns in form of foreign earnings for the country.
This was even as it also stated that Nigeria’s involvement in The Gambia’s political impasse was not to intimidate the out-going President, Yahya Jammeh but by its action playing a leadership role.
The position of the presidency was made through the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu on “Politics Today”, a Programme of the Channels Television, monitored in Abuja.
Speaking against the background of a protest by some Nigerians in Abuja on Friday who called for immediate action to curb the disparity between Naira and US Dollar, Shehu said that but for some measures already taken by the government, the situation would have been worse than it is presently.
Notably, Naira is presently at its worse times, chasing the US Dollar at N500 per Dollar.
Shehu said: “Unfortunately, I am not an expert in these matters but to my layman’s understanding, we have a Dollar crisis.
Dollar inflow into Nigeria is short. Whatever that is short in terms of supply creates demand in high proportions. It would have been worse if the government has not taken quite a number of measures including the restriction of our scares foreign exchanges to sectors that are very critical, that create jobs, that generate income to the country.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN had already dismissed those protests. In a system, no matter how rotten it is, it produces beneficiaries. People are happy with the old order, when people will go, take US Dollar form the CBN, and go to the Bureau De Change. Now, CBN doesn’t sell Dollars. It is the commercial banks that sell.
What I think needs to be done is that beyond the government, all of us as Nigerians have a responsibility. What do we do? Let us be more creative, try to export more, try to produce local goods that sell abroad, so that more Dollars would come.
Let us continue to stabilize the ongoing situation in the Niger Delta so that earnings from the oil sector are not disrupted. When we have more Dollars coming in, they will sell cheaper.”
On the Gambian political crisis, the Presidential spokesman said that though the presidency was still awaiting the official outcome of the mediation led by President Buhari as the Chief Mediator of ECOWAS in the matter, hopes were high that the matter would be amicably resolved between outgoing President Jammeh and the President-Elect, Adama Barrow.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday arrived Banjul, Gambia for talks with Gambia’s embattled President, Yahya Jammeh.
Recall that Jammeh had earlier asked the high Level ECOWAS mediation mission led by Buhari not to come to Banju on Wednesday for peace talks, suggesting they should come by Friday (today).
Joining President Buhari for the peace talks are; Former President of Ghana, John Mahama, President Ellen Sirleaf of Liberia and other eminent African leaders.
The Gambia is expected to inaugurate a new president on January 19, but despite losing the December 1 election, President Jammeh had insisted he won’t step down.
See photos below:
President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government cannot reveal details of the ongoing negotiations with Boko Haram to secure the release of the remaining girls abducted from Chibok, Borno State.
Buhari however assured that the military, the State Security Service and other security agencies were intensifying their efforts to ensure freedom for all those in captivity.
The president said this while responding to a letter written to him by the Co-Founder of the Malala Fund, Ms. Malala Yousafzai.
He insisted he could not divulge the details of ongoing negotiations to secure the release of the girls due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations, but however, reminded the Malala Fund of the doggedness, commitment and sincerity of the Nigerian Federal Government towards ensuring the safe return of the Chibok girls, and indeed all others still in captivity”.
In the letter quoted in a statement signed by Segun Adeyemi, SA to Hon Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and made available to DAILY POST, the President said the gallant troops of the Nigerian military had recently scored great victory by seizing control of the Sambisa Forest, the last stronghold of the Boko Haram elements who are responsible for the kidnap of the Chibok girls.
“In line with his pledge that Boko Haram will not be considered defeated without the rescue of the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by the insurgents, the military, the State Security Service and the other security agencies are intensifying their efforts to ensure freedom for all those who remain in captivity.
“The Federal Government has taken over the responsibility for the personal, educational and professional goals and ambitions in life of the 21 Chibok girls who regained their freedom on 13 October 2016.
“They are being given comprehensive medical, nutritional and psychological care and support, and anyone who has seen them in recent times will attest to the fact that their reintegration back to the society is progressing well.
“The Federal Government believes that it is not too late for the girls to go back to school, and everything will be done to ensure that they continue the pursuit of their studies,” the statement added.
President Buhari, however, commended Ms. Malala for her continued caring disposition towards the release of the girls who remain in captivity, and the welfare of the girls who have regained their freedom, adding: “There is no better example of the fact that we are all linked by our common humanity.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, has sent a revised list of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for approval.
This was contained in a letter read by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki to lawmakers during plenary on Thursday.
Recall that the Upper Legislative Chamber had last year rejected the first version of the list due to some petitions against some nominees.
Details later…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday congratulated the newly elected President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo and expressed readiness to work with the new leadership of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation.
He assured Igbos that his administration would continue to be a partner-in-progress in implementing suggestions, measures and programmes to advance the unity, development and prosperity of Nigeria.
The President said this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
Buhari, who congratulated Chief John Nwodo on his election as the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, noted that Nwodo “is eminently qualified for the job given his long years of distinguished service to the nation.”
The President said this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
Buhari, who congratulated Chief John Nwodo on his election as the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, noted that Nwodo “is eminently qualified for the job given his long years of distinguished service to the nation.”
The former Minister of Aviation and staunch member of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for suspending the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria code, which set a 20-year limit for leaders of all non-profit organizations.
Fani-Kayode, who is renowned for his constant criticisms of President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC),policies said the move was a good one.
He wrote on his Twitter account on Tuesday: “I commend @MBuhari for responding to the outrage of Christians by suspending law that set to limit Church leadership to 20 yrs. Good move.”
The federal government suspended the law on Monday, after Buhari sacked Jim Obazee as the Executive Secretary of the Council.
Recall that the law had led Pastor Enoch Adeboye to step down as the Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Nigeria.