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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • 2019: Buhari has done more than enough to be reelected – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the 2019 re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government will be very easy.

    The minister stated this on Tuesday in Oyo while inspecting the 52-kilometre dualised Oyo-Ogbomosho road project under construction by Reynold Construction Company (RCC)

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the N47.5 billion project is the section two of the entire Ibadan-Ilorin road dualisation construction project.

    Section one of the road construction project, which is Ibadan-Oyo, as well as section three which is Ogbomoso-Ilorin, had been completed

    Addressing newsmen at the construction site, Mohammed said the administration “is so confident of its re-election in 2019 because of what are being delivered in terms of infrastructure and social welfare.

    “The proper and easy ways you can get the electorate to vote for you are by keeping your promises to them, delivering on your promises and embarking on projects which touch their lives.

    “Either in term of infrastructure or social interventions, we are working everyday for the people. We are working for the common man in this country.

    “As of today, we feed 8.2 million children in public primary schools all over Nigeria.

    “In the process, we engaged 7000 cooks and the feeding programme in about 24 states covered 62,000 Primary schools.

    “These are what we are doing and that is why we are so confident that our re-election will be easy,” he said.

    The minister said the administration would not engage in banters with critics but will continue to showcase its achievements for people to see and make conclusions.

    On the road project which the contractor said was 52 per cent completed, the minister gave an assurance that funding would no longer be the constraint to its timely completion.

    “Funding will no longer be a challenge to many of our critical road projects.

    “This is because the N191 billion presidential intervention fund has been put in place and critical roads like this will benefit from the funding,” he said.

    Mohammed said people were not able to see and appreciate the level of work done on the Oyo-Ogbomosho road project because it was been constructed along Oyo town by-pass

    “You need to come here to see the amount of work that is going on.

    “I am happy that it is not a paper project, we have been told by the contractor that it is 52 per cent completed.

    “I am very confident that we are not going to encounter any funding challenge,” he said.

    He said the project was being financed from the N100 billion Sukuk loan secured by the Federal Government

    “We took the Sukuk loan of N100billion which was divided into six equal parts each for the geopolitical zones.

    “We decided in the south-west zone that the Oyo-Ogbomosho road should benefit from our own part of Sukuk.

    “That is why we are able to get the contractor back on site to complete the project,” he said.

    Mr Omotayo Awosanya, the Federal Controller of Works in Oyo State, who conducted the minister round the project, said the road contract was awarded in June 2010.

    “The initial completion period was for 40 months. It was supposed to have been completed by October 2013.

    “When it was initially awarded by the previous administration, there was no proper funding which caused the delay.

    “Since the present regime of President Buhari, funding has improved and the project is going on well.

    “We are also lucky that this project is benefitting from the Sukuk fund in addition to what the budget can provide,” he said.

    Awosanya said the government had so far paid the contractor about N26 billion from the N47.5 billion total contract cost.

    On the significance of the road, Awosanya said, “it is a corridor of the extension of Lagos- Ibadan that will accommodate traffic generated in Ibadan and Oyo going towards the North.”

    On his part, the Project Manager, Mr Harel Vaknin, who spoke on behalf of Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), said it is the main highway linking the Western and Northern parts of the country.

    He said the four-lane highway consists of 7.30 metre wide roadway in each direction with two interchange bridge construction.

  • 15 revenue generating agencies underpaid N8.1trn under Jonathan — Lai Mohammed

    15 revenue generating agencies underpaid N8.1trn under Jonathan — Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Monday said N8.1 trillion that 15 revenue generating agencies of the federal government failed to remit to the Federation Account between 2010 and 2015 is equal to Nigeria’s yearly national budget.

    According to a statement by his spokesperson, Segun Adeyemi, the minister stated this in Osogbo, Osun State, while commissioning phases one and two of the channelization, de-silting, flood control and development of Okoko and Ogbagba rivers, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Recall that the Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, had first made the disclosure Thursday last week while addressing State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council in Abuja. He said the discovery was made by the auditing firm, KPMG.

    According to the minister in Osogbo, the discovery is many times worse than the N1.34 trillion allegedly stolen by 55 public officials between 2006 and 2013.

    “Recently, the Federal Government ordered an audit (between 2010 and 2015) of 15 government revenue generating agencies. The result was the discovery that the agencies had not remitted over 8.1 trillion Naira to the Federation Account. This amount is about six times the N1.34 trillion stolen between 2006 and 2015.

    ”It is also the equivalent, on the average, of the country’s yearly national budget! Imagine, for a moment, how many kilometres of roads could have been constructed, how many kilometres of rail tracks that could have been laid, and how many modern hospitals and schools that could have been built if that money had been properly accounted for,” Mohammed was quoted as saying.

    The minister who was speaking before a crowd at the event, said the Buhari administration’s fight against corruption remained very critical because it will free much-needed resources for national development.

    Mohammed said the projects being executed by the present administration, including the one that was commissioned in Osogbo, one of 53 being commissioned across the country, could have long been completed but for the mind-boggling looting of the treasury by previous administrations, which deprived the nation of infrastructural growth.

    He said every kobo that is not looted is a plus for development, adding: ”This is why we will not stop talking about those who have looted the public treasury, despite the pushback from their apologists. If we do not stop the looting of the treasury, there will be no money for the kind of projects we are commissioning here in
    Osogbo today.”

    Corroborating the minister’s statement on the unremitted funds, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the share of Osun State from the said amount is N75 billion, which, he said, would have been more than enough to pay all civil servants their salaries and complete all infrastructural projects of his government.

    Speaking on the commissioned project, the minister said it was the first time the Ecological Fund Office was commissioning any project and handing it over to the host community.

    He said the triple project, which was one of the 12 4th Quarter, 2016 ecological intervention projects across the six geo-political zones approved by the President in October 2016, was due to the perennial flooding which had claimed lives and destroyed property in Osogbo Township.

    ”I have no doubt in my mind that the successful completion of these projects would enhance the holistic solutions to soil erosion and flood menace in Osogbo town. This would at the same time reduce the danger to lives and property associated with erosion and persistent flooding that has been experienced here in the recent time,” Mohammed said.

     

  • 2019: Lai Mohammed visits CNN, Al Jazeera, others showcases Buhari’s ‘achievements’

    The federal government has slammed critics of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for allegedly distorting facts and whittling the achievements of the administration.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made the remarks when he spoke with journalists in New York after a tour of major media houses and think-tank in the U.S.

    Mr Mohammed visited the CNN, New York Times, Voice of America, Washington Post, Washington Times; Al Jazeera, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, and the Atlantic Council and the Foreign Relations Council.

    “This trip became important because of the distortion that has been the major past time of a lot of critics and this distortion has sought to whittle the administration’s strive in fighting against insecurity, in revamping the economy and in fighting corruption.

    “And it became very important to give this information to the foreign media so that in their editorials, in their comments and when they are writing stories, they would be doing so from the context of the actualities on ground.

    “I’m happy to say that many of them have been quite impressed about the achievements of the administration. The think-tanks were very attentive and they took on board a lot of interest and comments”.

    According to him, when the federal government says it has actually defeated Boko Haram, that is true because it is from the context of what it was and what it is.

    “The important thing is that we made them understand that the unfortunate incident of kidnap of the Dapchi schoolgirls and the recent suicide bombings are not reflective of actually the success of the government in fighting Boko Harm.

    “When the government says Boko Haram is defeated, it is from the context of what it was when it came in and what we are today.

    “People have forgotten that less than three or four years ago, people in Abuja, the Capital City of Nigeria, could not sleep with their two eyes closed.

    “That four years ago, the insurgents used to stroll into Abuja at will and no building was sacred to them. I mean they were so bold they attacked the Force Headquarters.

    “They attacked the UN headquarters, they attacked newspapers head office, Nyanya Motor Park, was attacked twice and states and towns like Suleja, Kano, Sokoto, Kogi, Borno, were game for them”.

    He recalled that up till 2015, 20 out of the 27 local governments in Borno State were under the effective occupation of Boko Haram.

    “When we entered Bama in 2015, it was as if we were either in Cairo, Algeria or any of these Arab countries because all the road signs were in Arabic.

    “So when we say we have defeated Boko Haram, it is precisely what we mean. Today, night life has returned to Maiduguri, weekly football leagues are being played in Maiduguri, schools have been reopened, roads have been reopened.

    “It was a far cry from when we went in 2015 because between Bama and Maiduguri where we went to, there was no singular vehicle on the road.”

    On economy, Mr Mohammed said within two quarters, Nigeria came out of recession and ever since, the growth had been phenomenal in terms of foreign exchange which doubled from 23 billion dollars to 47 billion dollars.

    “We feed 7.5 million people every day and in the process, creating jobs across the value chain – thousands of cooks in 24 states have been employed.

    “Again, our N-Power programme, they’ve never seen this kind of thing in Nigeria before where in one fell sweep, you employed 200,000 university unemployed graduate and another 200,000 have been screened and waiting to start work.

    “Our government enterprise and empowerment programme has given out loans to about 200,000 cooperatives and individuals and our conditional cash transfer, today, has fed over 200,000 families.

    “So these are the kinds of things we have done at a time when the price of crude oil was not as high as it was in 2011.

    “So we have come to tell the world and I’m glad that they’ve been very well received. We were able to give the correct perspective of what the administration has been able to achieve.”

     

  • Lagos can become Africa’s tourism hub – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has reiterated that Lagos State has the potential to become Africa’s tourism hub.

    According to the minister, the Federal Government will support it in developing the sector.

    The minister said this on Monday in Lagos, at the Lagos Tourism Summit with the theme; “Destination Lagos: Towards a Sustainable Tourism Drive’’.

    Mohammed commended Gov. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos for his interest in the tourism and creative sectors of the economy; both at the state and national level.

    The minister said the Federal Government had identified the tourism and creative sectors as an alternative to oil, adding that his ministry was working toward developing the industry.

    Mohammed recalled that upon assumption of office, his ministry organised a national tourism summit to provide the platform for harnessing the potential in the sector.

    He said the ministry had revived the national tourism master plan to catalyse the development of the sector and also hosted a round-table on financing tourism.

    The minister also disclosed that Nigeria would host the 61st edition of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)/Commission for Africa (CAF) Meeting, scheduled for June 4 to June 6, 2018 in Abuja.

    He also disclosed that the ministry would partner with relevant stakeholders, particularly, the people of Ile-Ife in Osun State in hosting the 2018 “Olojo’’ festival.

    “Olojo is not just only Yoruba new festival, but the oldest known festival in the world started by Ooni Ogun with the wearing of the world’s oldest monarchical crown, the sacred Aare Crown.

    “The festival will bring 35 of the top Africa-American travel writers, group travel agents, travel bloggers and travel film crews to the Olojo 2018 festival,’’ he said.

    Former President of Ghana, John Mahama commended Ambode for his contributions toward developing Lagos to a mega city and a potential tourism hub.

    Mahama, who was the keynote speaker at the event, underscored the need for Africa to develop tourism sector in order to solving the challenge of unemployment.

    He also suggested a development of integrated tour packages between Nigeria and Ghana that would attract international tourists from Lagos to Accra and vice versa.

    Earlier, Gov. Ambode said that his administration was committed to funding alternative platforms, particularly the tourism sector to enrich the state.

    The governor said that the tourism sector contributed N800 million to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2017.

    He said as parts of efforts to transforming Lagos to tourism hub, the Lagos government was reclaiming a 50 hectares of land at the Oworonshoki end of the lagoon, for aquatic tourism purposes.

    He stated that the summit would help the state to develop its tourism master-plan that would be implemented within a specified number of years to turn Lagos to continental tourism hub.

  • MUST SEE: Reno releases teaser list of looters in APC

    Following federal government Sunday’s list of alleged looters in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), spokesperson to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has come out with a list of alleged looters in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In Reno’s statement publishing the names of the alleged looters, the former presidential aide, launched a blistering attack on the Nigerian government and the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, over two lists of alleged looters released by the administration.

    READ MR OMOKRI’S FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

    A few days ago, the fallacious minister of information, the rightly named Lai Mohammed, whose first name rhymes with his life’s calling, released a so called ‘looters list’ with six names of alleged looters.

    After he was ridiculed by civil society, the opposition and the international community, Mr. Lai Mohammed hurriedly put out a statement tagging his list a ‘teaser’.

    When that lie refused to fly, the notorious fibber, Lai Mohammed, released yet another list yesterday, April 1, 2018.

    Coincidentally, April 1 is April Fools day and it was befitting that Lai released his list on that day because only a fool will believe the list he put together.

    His list did not contain even one member of the All Progressive Congress. If the list proves anything, it is that President Buhari, Lai Mohammed and their All Progressive Congress are not fighting corruption. Instead they are fighting corruption.

    I have taken the pains to produce a ‘teaser’ looters list of APC members who are collectively alleged to have looted over $2 billion (when you convert the dollar value of what they allegedly looted at the time they allegedly looted it).

    I challenge President Buhari and Lai Mohammed to explain why these men did not feature on their list and why they continue to remain in this APC government where they wield immense powers and influence, even over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that is meant to prosecute them.

    I further challenge President Buhari and Lai Mohammed to explain to Nigerians why they failed to reveal to Nigerians that President Buhari himself is a MAJOR beneficiary of the funds that the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, received from the treasury for the security of Nigerians.

    I assure Nigerians that Sambo Dasuki is not in jail for a crime he committed in 2015. He is rather being persecuted for a ‘crime’ he committed in 1985.

    Please find below the teaser list of looters.

    Note that this is just a teaser. Depending on the reaction of the Buhari-led government, more names will be released.

    Looters List

    Rotimi Amaechi: Indicted by the Justice George Omeregi led Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry of looting ₦97 billion along with co indictees including a former army general.

    Saminu Turaki: Alleged to have looted ₦36 billion. First charged before Justice Sabi’u Yahuza of the Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State. Currently facing trial before justice Nnamdi Dimgba at the FCT High Court.

    Timipre Sylva: A well known financier and supporter of the APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Alleged to have looted ₦19.7 billion. Was facing trial before Justice A. Y. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja. However, two days after President Buhari was sworn in, the new APC government WITHDREW the charges preferred against Sylva on June 1, 2015 and on October 3, 2018, the EFCC returned to Sylva, 48 houses seized from him during the administration of former president, Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 to him.

    Murtala Nyako: Alleged to have looted ₦29 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja

    Senator Danjuma Goje: Alleged to have looted ₦25 billion. Currently facing trial before the Federal High Court, sitting in Jos, Plateau State.

    Senator Abdullahi Adamu: Alleged to have looted ₦15 billion with the help of 18 co accused. Charged on March 3, 2010. The case continues to linger in court.

    Orji Kalu: Alleged to have looted ₦3.2 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

    Kayode Fayemi: Indicted by the Ekiti Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by former Ekiti State chief judge and the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Ademola Ajakaiye, of sundry financial malfeasance totaling over ₦2 billion.

    Senator Joshua Dariye: Alleged to have looted ₦1.2 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Adebukola Banjoko at an FCT High Court.

    Babachir Lawal: former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Allegedly gave a ₦200 million contract to his own company from monies meant to look after Internally Displaced Persons. Has been sacked after protest by the opposition and civil society. Has still not been charged. Was allowed to be replaced by his own cousin.

    By the omission of these names, the Buhari led Federal Government has vindicated Transparency International.

    According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, Nigeria is more corrupt today under Buhari than at any other time since Transparency International started keeping records!

    We have moved 12 places backward from 136 to 148. Yet this administration has the guts to accuse a government under whom Nigeria made her best ever progress on the Corruption Perception Index of corruption? We moved from 144 to 136 in 2014 under President Jonathan because that government fought corruption in court and not through the media.

     

  • Corruption: Lai Mohammed lied; I never collected a dime from Dasuki – Secondus

    …Threatens court action against Lai Mohammed

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Uche Secondus, has challenged the Minister of Culture and Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed to be ready to prove his allegation that the he collected N200m from the purse of the National Security Adviser (NSA).


    Secondus gave the threat in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr Ike Abonyi, on Friday in Abuja.


    He said that his attention was drawn to a press conference addressed by Mohammed on March 30 in Lagos claiming that he (Secondus) collected N200m from the office of the former NSA.


    The PDP leader is challenging Mohammed to be ready to establish his allegations in court immediately.


    Secondus said that the agenda of the minister was to damage his reputation and distract him from serving PDP, adding that such agenda would fail woefully “For the purposes of some gullible public, Prince Secondus never collected any money from the NSA under any guise.


    Also listed at the news conference by Mohammed were former PDP Financial Secretary who allegedly collected N600 million from the same source on the Oct. 24, 2014.


    “Then National Publicity Secretary Olisah Metuh, who is on trial for collecting N1.4 billion from the office of then NSA.


    “Dr Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications, on trial for taking N2.1 billion from the office of then NSA.


    “Former SSA to President Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei, on trial over N830 million kept in accounts of four different companies.


    “Former President Jonathan’s Cousin Robert Azibaol, – on Thursday, a Federal High Court ruled that he has a case to answer for collecting $40 million from the office of then NSA,”

    Mohammed also listed as part of the response to an earlier challenge by the PDP asking the federal to name the country’s looters.


    Also, the PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary described the teasing list released by the Federal Government as hollow and laughable.

     

     

     

  • UPDATE 2: 104 Dapchi girls, two others freed unconditionally- FG

    The Federal Government said a total of 106 abducted persons, comprising 104 Daphi schoolgirls, one other girl and a boy were freed by insurgents in the early hours of Wednesday.

    Briefing journalists in Maiduguri, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said all the 106 persons were freed unconditionally, contrary to reports in a section of the media that ransom was paid and that some insurgents were swapped for the freed persons.

    ”It is not true that we paid ransom for the release of the Dapchi girls, neither was there a prisoner swap to secure their release.

    ”What happened was that the abduction itself was a breach of the ceasefire talks between the insurgents and the government, hence it became a moral burden on the abductors. Any report that we paid ransom or engaged in prisoner swap is false,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the freed persons have been formally handed over to the Federal Government.

    The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, handed over the girls and one boy to the four-member Federal Government Delegation at the Nigerian Air Force base in Maiduguri on Wednesday evening.

    The delegation comprised the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau (retired); the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajia
    Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Hon. Goni Lawan Bukar, a member of House of Representatives from Dapchi.

    The girls were immediately airlifted to Abuja aboard a military transport plane.

  • Buhari dispatches Lai Mohammed, 3 other ministers to Dapchi

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered four ministers to proceed to Dapchi in Yobe for update on the release of the female students abducted in February.

    The Ministers include Mansur Dan-Ali, Defence; Abdulrahman Danbazau, Interior; Lai Mohammed, Information; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim.

    The four ministers left the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for the trip to Dapchi.

    Before their departure, the Information Minister confirmed that 76 of the released girls had been documented.

    According to him, when the girls were dropped in their school by the abductors many of them went straight home to reunite with their parents.

    “I can confirm that the Dapchi girls have been returned, what we can confirm to you is that Mr President did actually assure Nigerians that the abducted girls would be released, but he also said that violence and confrontation would be ruled out.

    “Based on that, the Federal Government with support of friendly countries embarked on back term negotiations; this back term negotiation has led to the release of these girls.

    “What I can confirm today is that these girls were released yesterday, but on the conditions, number one is that they were released unconditionally; no money changed hands.

    “Number two, they had one condition to return them to where they picked them.

    “So in the early hours of today they did return the girls but of cause most of the girls went to their parents homes,’’ Mohammed stated.

    According to him, efforts are now being made to document all the girls, adding that at the moment, 76 of them have been documented while “they are still more.’’

    He promised to give update on the incident from time to time.

    “It is a day of joy for Nigerians. What I can assure you is that Mr president has kept his promise.

    “The girls have been released and we will tell you exactly in a few hours time how many of them have been documented.

    “They were not molested,’’ he added.

    Also, Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali attributed the early release of the girls to “the effort of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces for the support he has been giving us and the output is showing now.”

    On the negotiations, the minister said that while it was being planned the government was prepared to move on a position of strength.

    Also Minister of state for foreign Affairs, Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim said: “I am very excited today. That is what I feel because the Dapchi girls have been released.

    “We are very happy. We have achieved what we have gone out to achieve and we thank the Almighty God for his mercies.”

    She declined to mention if any of the girls was killed.

    “As far as I know now, they are taking a roll call so we cannot ascertain how many have passed on, but we will find out later on what the casualties are.’’

    The minister advised parents not to be discouraged by the incident but to continue encouraging their female children to embrace education.

    “I will advise parents to continue sending their children to school.

    “We as a government will fortify the schools to make sure that they are safe for the children to actually go and learn,’’ Mrs Abba-Ibrahim said.

     

  • Farmers, herders’ clashes not caused by ethnicity, religion — Lai Mohammed

    Farmers, herders’ clashes not caused by ethnicity, religion — Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has blamed the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen on environmental, rather than ethnic or religious issues, while assuring of the Federal Government’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the clashes.

    The Minister, who stated this at a mini town hall meeting which he organised for the staff of the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin, Germany, and a cross-section of Nigerians residing in the European country on Friday, said that contrary to the “narrative being pushed in certain quarters that gives ethnic and religious coloration to the clashes”, they were caused by purely environmental issues.

    Mohammed said whereas Nigeria’s population in 1963 was about 48 million, it is now about 180 million, with the country’s land mass remaining the same, meaning there are more people per square kilometre and raising the chances of clashes over dwindling resources.

    He also said that Lake Chad that used to provide water and other resources to more than 30 million people in four countries, including Nigeria, in the early 1960s has shrunk by about 90%, from 25,000 square kilometres to 2,500 square kilometres, thus forcing those affected to move south in search of resources.

    ”These and other reasons, like desertification, have altered the resource landscape, heightened competition for dwindling resources and raised the possibility of clashes between farmers and herders,” the Minister said, noting that the establishment of ranches is one sure way of reducing such clashes.

    He, however, said that in resolving the crisis, both the farmers and the herders must be willing to shift slightly from their positions which are grounded in their way of life over centuries.

    The minister who is in Berlin to attend a meeting of African Tourism Ministers on the sidelines of the International Travel Trade Fair in the German capital, said contrary to the “fake news being peddled in the social media by naysayers”, President Muhammadu Buhari is putting Nigeria back on its feet.

    ”The naysayers have taken to the Social Media to distort the situation in Nigeria. They are spending huge amounts of money to spread fake news about Nigeria, hoping it will override the string of achievements by the Administration. That is why Nigerians at home and abroad must ensure they have access to authentic information. One way is to download the FGNiAPP on their hand-held devices. It is free!

    ”The economy is on a steady growth, as attested to be the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics: The economy attracted $12.2 billion in foreign investments in 2017, up from $5.38 billion in 2016. That represents 138% increase; The economy further consolidated its recovery from recession with GDP growing by 1.92% in Q4 2017, compared to 1.40% in Q3 2017 and a contraction of -1.73% in Q4 2016; This means the economy ended 2017 with a growth of 0.82% compared to a contraction of -1.58% in 2016.

    ”GDP Growth in Q4 2017 was driven by growth in crop production, crude production and natural gas, metal ores, construction, transportation and storage, trade, electricity and gas production, indicating that the Administration’s diversification effort is working,” he said

    For his part, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar, commended the patriotism and dedication of the Nigerians in Diaspora, especially those in Germany.

    ”There is a burgeoning Nigerian community (in Germany) committed to the prosperity of Nigeria. They are well in tune with the policies of (the Nigerian) government and they are accomplished men and women and worthy ambassadors,” he said.

    In their comments, some leaders of the Nigerian diaspora commended the government for the progress being made in lifting up the country and stressed the need to step up efforts to ensure the security of life and property in order to attract more foreign investors to the country.

     

  • Lai Mohammed inaugurates Boards of NAN, VON, others

    …Charges Members To Support Fight Against Corruption

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has inaugurated some of the boards of parastatals and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, with a charge to members to support the ongoing anti-corruption war of the Buhari Administration.

    “May I also remind you that one of this Administration’s three cardinal programmes is the fight against corruption and entrenchment of accountability and transparency. All board members are therefore charged to support the government in this direction,” the Minister said in Abuja on Friday at a ceremony to inaugurate the boards.

    He told the board members that their role is to formulate policies, and not to engage in the day-to-day running of the organizations.

    “The board is to evolve strategic ways of supporting the agency so it can most effectively deliver its mandate. I am sure some of you are already conversant with this, but it is necessary to restate it here for the benefit of all,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

    He also informed the members that with the introduction of the Integrated Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in the payment of staff salaries in the public service, agencies are constrained in employing staff until permission is sought and received from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

    The Minister commended the board members for their support and loyalty to the President and the administration, and urged them to see their appointment as another opportunity to contribute their own quota to the success of the Administration.

    In his vote of thanks on behalf of other members, the Chairman of the National Gallery of Art, Ambassador Umaru Suleiman, said the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is a service ministry, hence members are supposed to add value to the system and make a difference in wherever they find themselves.

    The inaugurated boards are those of the News Agency of Nigeria; Voice of Nigeria; National Gallery of Art; National Orientation Agency; National Commission for Museums and Monuments; National Theatre and National Troupe; and National Council for Arts and Culture.

    Others are: National Institute for Cultural Orientation; Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation; National Films and Videos Censors Board; Nigerian Film Corporation; National Broadcasting Commission and National Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization.