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Tag: Garba Shehu

  • Garba Shehu reveals final resting place of Buhari

    Garba Shehu reveals final resting place of Buhari

    Garba Shehu, official Spokesperson to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has opened up on the final resting place of the former president.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Shehu to have said Buhari would be laid to rest in the courtyard of his private residence in Daura, Katsina State.

    This, he said, is to adhere to the former president’s personal wishes and Islamic traditions.

    “He will be buried at home, as he wished,” Shehu stated, emphasizing that the burial will not take place in a public cemetery or national monument.

    It was gathered that the exact spot within Buhari’s Daura residence, where he frequently sat, was selected as the site for his burial.

    TNG reports the remains of the former President Buhari, who passed away in a London clinic, on Sunday at the age of 82, arrived in Katsina State on Tuesday for burial at his hometown of Daura.

    The aircraft conveying Buhari’s body, accompanied by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, touched the ground by 1:50 pm at Umaru Musa Yar’adua Airport, Katsina.

    On arrival at the airport, the body was received by President Bola Tinubu,  Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina, Ministers, governors, Captains of industries, National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Presidential aides and members of Katsina State Executive Council.

    Others are the former President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Service Chiefs, former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai and others.

  • Buhari once rejected land offer during his tenure – Garba Shehu

    Buhari once rejected land offer during his tenure – Garba Shehu

    Former President Muhammadu Buhari once rejected an offer of land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during his tenure.

    Buhari’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

    He was reacting to reports that a piece of land belonging to the former president was seized by the FCT authorities.

    ”As a person, the former president has a plot of land to his name in Abuja,” he said.

    Shehu said Buhari rejected the offer of land when he and his cabinet members were invited to fill forms for allocation.

    He said the former president had insisted that he already had land in the FCT, adding it should be given to those who did not have.

    ”President Buhari is personally not the owner of the said plot of land which is allocated in the name of “Muhammadu Buhari Foundation,” he stated.

    Shehu said the foundation was itself floated lawfully by some ‘utilitarian individuals’ around Buhari.

    The foundation, he added, was supported by some well-meaning persons.

    He said the promoters of the foundation, however, ran into a ” roadblock” when the Federal Capital Development Authority gave them an ” outrageous” bill for the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy.

    Shehu said the bill did not compare with the bills given to similar organisations.

    “It may have been that this was not erroneous, but a deliberate mistake, making the revocation of land as no surprise to anyone,” he said.

    He urged those engaging in speculation on social media to ” get their facts right and stop dragging down the name of the former president.”

  • No alternative to democracy — Garba Shehu

    No alternative to democracy — Garba Shehu

    A former President of the Nigerian Guild Of Editors , Malam Garba Shehu, has advised Nigerians to support democracy, saying that democracy as a system of government has no alternative..

    Shehu, who was also the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, said this in an interview in Lagos.

    He spoke on the sideline of the Punch Nigeria Ltd 50th Anniversary Lecture titled “Recovering the Narrative at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    “Nigerians should continue to support democracy in the country because there is no alternative to it,” Shehu said.

    Commending Punch for 50th anniversary, Shehu said that private media had done a lot for the good of the country.

    “The important thing about this ceremony is that it marks the point at which newspaper publishing became diversified in the country.

    “At the time Punch came, we had a predominance of the government press. Get me right, the private press was the first in the country ,but it died.

    “Punch came back and reinvented the private press and today we are living, and around to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

    “Our wish and prayer is that the organisation will continue to live on and on, and the private press will continue to thrive,” he said.

    He urged Nigerian journalists to equip themselves and acquire skills to cope with the current challenges.in the profession and in the country.

    “This will help journalists any day. You don’t just confine yourself to the desk as a reporter, learn how to edit, learn how to do photography, learn how to do videos and a lot more.

    “With this, in one person, we will have all the skills required for professional journalism.

    “In this case, you are employable, you are useful and even it you organisation has a problem, you can find yourself useful elsewhere,” he added.

     

  • No leader can do everything, lower your expectations – Garba Shehu tells Nigerians

    No leader can do everything, lower your expectations – Garba Shehu tells Nigerians

    Malam Garba Shehu, former Media Aide to former President Mohammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to lower their expectations on political leaders in the country.

    Shehu made the called in his remark at the 21st Daily Trust Annual Dialogue organised by Trust Media Group on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said his principal no doubt had some challenges in ruling the country which to him is normal, adding that there no nation or.leader that never had challenges.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is a victim of crisis of expectations; and I think that the lesson for Nigerians from what I saw during the Buhari period and even Tinubu is, Nigerians should begin to lower their expectations on political leaders.

    “This is because,  these expectations are simply  inhuman. Leaders can do a lot of things, but no leader can do everything.

    “During the time of Buhari, travellers to the Eastern Region used to spend about three days on the road, but after massive investment on infrastructure by Buhari, the travel time have reduced to about six hours.

    “The government then also banned the importation of rice; after that, our farmers became so productive that production of rice skyrocketed and we were even feeding the whole of West Africa,” Shehu said.

    According to him, Nigerians are still feeding well today.

    He said if one doesn’t know where he or she is coming from, one would not know where he or she is going to.

    The annual Daily Trust Dialogue is part of the Media Trust Group’s contributions to stimulating discussions by Nigerians and fellow Africans towards enhancing national, and indeed, African integration and cohesion, which are crucial for sustainable socio-political growth and economic development of Nigeria, and the African Continent at large. Since 2002, Media Trust has hosted the annual public lecture series to discuss topical issues on various aspects of governance. The series of dialogues had been attended by past Heads of Government, the leadership of the National Assembly as well as captains of commerce and industry, aside from members of the diplomatic corps.

    The Daily Trust Dialogue had equally been graced at different times by eminent personalities from across Africa.

    They include the late former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings; and Salim Salim, former Prime Minister of Tanzania.

    Others are the late Winnie Mandela of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle; Mo Ibrahim, founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation; and Samia Nkrumah, daughter of late Kwame Nkrumah.

    Several serving and past presidents of the Nigerian Senate and speakers of the House of Representatives, governors and deputy governors, also participated in the event over the years.

  • Damaged economy: Garba Shehu lambasts Tinubu’s wife

    Damaged economy: Garba Shehu lambasts Tinubu’s wife

    Garba Shehu, spokesman to the former President Muhammadu Buhari, has insisted that his principal brought Nigeria’s economy out of crisis.

    Shehu made the remark while reacting to claims that Buhari’s administration threw Nigeria into myriads of problems leading to the current hardship in the country.

    In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Shehu said no past administration found itself in economic hardship like Buhari’s.

    He noted that no government in the world can solve all the problems a nation faces.

    According to Shehu: “If there were hardships or problems, these should be looked into, to know how they came about.

    “No administration in this country found itself in economic issues like Buhari’s because of our dependence on oil and prices, which went down.

    “We also had the Coronavirus pandemic. Nations shut their doors, and the economy plummeted. But, Alhamdulillah, Buhari brought the Nigerian economy out of that crisis.”

    This came after the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, noted that President Bola Tinubu inherited a damaged economy from Buhari.

    She noted that Tinubu is not a magician but will work to fix the things damaged in the country.

     

  • Why I missed APC caucus meeting – Buhari

    Why I missed APC caucus meeting – Buhari

    The immediate past president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he missed the All Progressives Congress (APC) national caucus meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The ruling party had last week fixed August 2 and 3 for the national caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings in Abuja.

    The caucus meeting took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday while the NEC meeting will be held at theTranscorp Hilton, Abuja, on Thursday.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ex-presidential spokesman said Buhari missed the caucus meeting due to commitments he had made earlier.

    The statement read: “Former President Muhammadu Buhari has explained his inability to be present at the caucus meeting and the national executive committee, NEC, meetings of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to which he has been invited.

    “He has conveyed his apologies, indicating that he is unable to attend due to commitments earlier made.

    “The former president used the opportunity to express his support and commitment to the party, at the same time wishing it a good meeting as the leaders take decisions on issues of importance to the party and the nation.”

  • APC electoral victory, a difficult reality for opposition parties – Garba Shehu

    APC electoral victory, a difficult reality for opposition parties – Garba Shehu

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, has described the electoral victory of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) candidates in the 2023 general elections as a difficult reality for the opposition parties.

    The presidential aide stated this while receiving members of the “Arewa Young Lawyers’ Forum (AYLF),” the umbrella body for all young lawyers in the Northern part of Nigeria, on Thursday in Abuja.

    According to him, the victory of the President-elect and Vice President-elect, Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, respectively, and the established control of the APC in 21 out of 36 states, had firmly established the party as a dominant national political party.

    ‘‘This is a difficult reality for the opposition parties,’’ he said.

    Shehu said opposition victory in the general election would not only have been a career ending moment for many APC leaders but would also have had negative consequences for the various programmes of the Buhari administration.

    He noted that these programmes empowered marginalised groups and remedied much of the nation’s infrastructure deficit.

    “APC victory in the election is a watershed moment for the Buhari government, its orientation, its programmes and projects.

    ‘‘In the hands of the opposition, many of the laudable programmes of the Buhari administration would have been sabotaged or unimplemented.

    “An important and overlooked aspect of the Tinubu/Shettima victory is that it ensures, not only an orderly transfer of power from the outgoing administration to the incoming one, but also the safety of policies and programmes of the outgoing government.

    ‘‘For this, we remain grateful to the Almighty, and to citizens of Nigeria for sticking with our party,” he said.

    In accepting his appointment as Grand Patron of the Arewa Young Lawyers’ Forum, the presidential spokesman urged members of the association to be at the vanguard of promoting the study and practice of legal profession in the northern states.

    “To build and secure democracy in our communities, you need lawyers and journalists as its guardians and protectors. Without one, the other will not be successful,” he admonished them.

    The Chairman of AYLF, Mr Olayinka Jimoh, craved the support of the Presidency in giving strategic training to young wigs to enhance their leadership roles in the society.

    Other members of the forum at the meeting were Audu Umaru, National Welfare Director (Borno); Ahmad Khalil, National Treasurer (Yobe); and Paul Gbande, Director of Publicity (Benue).

  • Buhari reacts after gunmen leave tens of people dead in Benue

    Buhari reacts after gunmen leave tens of people dead in Benue

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the recent bout of killings in Benue,  in which tens of people were killed in Umogidi community, Entekpa-Adoka in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

    In a statement by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu on Saturday in Abuja,  the President urged that all efforts be made to end the “extreme violence.”

    The President condemned the use of terrorism as a tool in inter communal conflicts, urging that the attackers be found and dealt with swiftly under the law.

    He conveyed his grief and sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives due to the attack.

    He also directed the secret services, police and military commanders to enhance surveillance on every front and to immediately review the security management in the affected areas.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those murdered. The entire nation stands united in the fight against the forces of terror and evil,” he said.

  • British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing bids farewell to Nigeria

    British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing bids farewell to Nigeria

    Outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Her Excellency Catriona Wendy Laing, says she’s fascinated by Nigeria, particularly the music, dance, culture, and she’s had “a fabulous time here.”

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman in a statement, said the High Commissioner spoke on Wednesday during a farewell visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at State House, Abuja, after four-and-a half years tour of duty.

    She said: “I’m sad to be leaving. Nigeria is so much fun, I had a fabulous time here, and I’ll be back. I love the dance, the music, the culture. It’s been good to experience Nigeria.

    ”I’ve been to over 20 States, and I’ve told my successor to also do the same. I’ll be back, and still travel wider.”

    She congratulated the president for very successful eight years in office, saying he had done very well to hold the country together.

    The President said the UK is second home for many Nigerians, and relations between the two countries would continue to wax strong.

    “In fact, some wealthy Nigerians don’t feel complete till they’ve had a home in the UK,” he added.

    Buhari said he looked forward to retirement in Daura, Katsina State, after handing over on May 29, reiterating: “I’ll be as far away from Abuja as possible.”

    He lauded the UK for cooperation on many fronts, particularly in the rebuilding of the North East, hitherto ravaged by insurgency.

  • FEC approves N15.3bn to install ICT components for 2023 Census

    FEC approves N15.3bn to install ICT components for 2023 Census

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved two contracts worth N15.3 billion for the supply an  installation of information and communication technology (ICT) components and digital assistance devices for the 2023 population census.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu made the disclosure after the Council meeting presided over by President Muhammmadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

    Shehu said: ”Among those memos that were okayed today was the award of the contract for the supply and installation of information and communication technology (ICT) components for the 2023 population census.

    ”This is for the National Population Commission (NPC). It is meant for census. The ICT component contract was awarded for about N10.9 billion.

    “Another contract that was approved for the National Population Commission was the contract for the development and implementation of mobile device management solution for the personal digital assistance devices to be used for the 2023 population census.

    ”This is in the sum of about N4.4 billion.”

    Shehu said the council also approved contract for the development of external cost of infrastructure at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) new training academy at N3.3 billion.

    He added that N1billion was equally approved for the contract for the procurement of 19 vehicles for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    The presidential aide said the council approved N65 million for variation in the cost for the supply of airport fire crash tenders in the Ministry of Aviation.

    He further disclosed that the council approved policy on HIV/AIDS to protect people living with the disease and new regulations on woodworking ecosystem.

    “Government has revised regulations pertaining to woodworking machinery and the entire ecosystem which dated back to 1959.

    ”New regulations have been put in place as empowered by the law.

    “And by this approval, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will domicile and gazette these changes that have been approved.

    “His other approval is on policy on HIV/AIDS. Basically, this is to guarantee personal human rights over people with HIV in work places so that they are not discriminated against and they are given equal rights.

    ”They are not discriminated against and they are given all that is due to them. And they are respected, especially with regards to their personal and human rights,” he said.

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola also disclosed the council approved the construction of 283.4km roads to BUA Cement company under the Federal Government’s tax credit scheme at the cost of N328 billion.

    According to him, the contracts covering four different roads in Kwara, is covered by Executive Order 7 which promotes investments in public infrastructure, especially roads.

    Fashola explained that the contract also covered a distance of about 283.938km.

    He revealed that the council also approved digitization of the ministry’s operation at the cost of N916million and would be implemented in 12 months.

    Other memoranda approved by council for the ministry, according to him, included the augmentation of 48 kilometers Kaduna Eastern bypass contracts connecting Kaduna to about 11 states in the country, from N38bilion to N78.6billion

    He stated that about 24 kilometers of the road had been completed

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite also addressed the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting.

    He disclosed that FEC approved a new bill known as Nigeria Mining and Mineral Act, 2023, to replace the Nigerian mining law and update the law.

    The new bill captures the value chain in the mining sector, encourage value addition, as well as, recognises the artisanal miners, who will now be registered, under the proposed law.

    He disclosed that FEC approved the bill for onward transmission to the National Assembly by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, revealed that the Federal Government had secured a World Bank facility worth $800 million dollars.

    It will be used to attend to a segment of post-petroleum subsidy palliatives requirement in the country.

    According to her, the 800 million dollars is the first tranche of palliatives to be disbursed through cash transfers to about 50 million Nigerians, who belong to the most vulnerable category of society.

    She said: “When we were working on the 2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Appropriation Act, we made that provision to enable us exit fuel subsidy by June 2023.

    ”We’re on course, we’re having different stakeholders’ engagements, we’ve secured some funding from the World Bank.

    “That is the first tranche of palliatives that will enable us give cash transfers to the most vulnerable in our society that have now been registered in a national social register.

    “Today that register has a list of 10 million households. 10 million households is equivalent to about 50 million Nigerians.”

    Ahmed added that government was ready to go beyond cash transfer to cushion the effect the subsidy removal will have on Nigerians.

    She added: “We also have to raise more resources to enable us do more than just the cash transfers and also in our engagements with the various stakeholders.

    “There are various kinds of tasks that we have go beyond the requirement of just giving cash transfers. Labour, for example, might be looking for mass transit for its members.

    “So, there are several things that we’re still planning and working on, some we can start executing quickly, some are more medium-term implementation.”

    On how much funding was received from the World Bank for the execution of the planned exit, Ahmed said: “$800 million for the scale up of the National Social Investment Programme at the bank and it’s secured, it’s ready for this disbursement.”