TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • Democracy Day: Buhari has fulfilled 2015 campaign promises – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has fulfilled its campaign promises to Nigerians despite dwindling revenue.

    Mohammed made the pronouncement at the Presentation of National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP) Report Card event to mark the 2nd Anniversary of President Buhari’s administration in Abuja.

    The theme of the report card presentation was “ Showcasing the Achievements of National Social Investment Programmes: A Smile for Every Nigerian.“

    He said through N-SIP the Federal Government provided employment to 200,000 unemployed graduates, engaged 57,000 people through Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and empowered about 26,000 ordinary Nigerians through Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).

    Mohammed said that under the National Home Grown School Feeding Programmme (NHGSFP), government was able to serve about 25 million meals to 1.2 million pupils all over the country in order to make leaning conducive.

    The minister added that the APC-led Federal Government under its school feeding programme had employed no fewer than 12,000 cooks across 36 states and the FCT.

    “ This is a government that promised and delivered on its promises and the unique thing about this particular N-SIP is that it has been achieved in an era when there has been no revenue.

    “ It would have been very perfect excuse to say that because oil revenue dropped drastically, therefore, we are not able to deliver on our promises.

    “ But despite the dwindling revenue, we are able to deliver on our campaign promises and then this is not related just to the social investment programmes alone.

    “ I am happy that we are here today to prove that this government is not a government of propaganda; this is a real government that is dealing with the real people, “ Mohammed said.

    He said the programme was designed in such a way that it was easy and accessible to all Nigerians, adding “one of the unique selling points of the programmes is the transparency in it.”

    According to him, this is the first programme in the history of Nigeria that you don’t need to know anybody before you can get enrolled.

    “ I am happy that many of the beneficiaries have testified to this and this is a new dawn.

    “ My appealed to all the beneficiaries is to please let them not limit their testimonies to this hall please say it louder and clear at every time to all Nigerians.

    “ Let Nigerians know how this government has impacted positively on your lives,“ he said.

    The minister said that in spite of dwindling resource between October, 2016 and to dates, the Federal Government was able to add an additional seven billion dollars to its foreign reserves.

    Mohammed disclosed that the the Buhari administration had been able to attract 500 million dollars to the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), and increased the Excess Crude account with 87 million dollars.

    “ All these we did despite the very tight resources,“ the minister said.

     

  • Lai Mohameed mourns Moji Olaiya

    Lai Mohameed mourns Moji Olaiya

    Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has termed the abrupt death of popular actress Moji Olaiya as a big loss, especially to her family, the movie industry and indeed all her friends and admirers.

    In a statement issued in Beijing, China Thursday, the Minister said he received the news of Moji’s untimely death with rude shock and disbelief.

    Mohammed said the contributions of the late actress to the growth of the burgeoning Nollywood will never be forgotten.He prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul, and for strength and comfort to her family and friends.

  • I never said FG doesn’t know who will sign 2017 Budget – Minister

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has dismissed media reports claiming that he said the federal government doesn’t know who will be saddled with the responsibility to sign the 2017 budget.

    Reacting to the report which was published by some media organisations [Not TheNewsGuru], on Wednesday, the minister described the action as a a malicious misrepresentation of what transpired at the post-Federal Executive Council Meeting press briefing today.

    His words in full, “Our attention has been drawn to a story in a section of the media
    quoting the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as saying ”we don’t know who will sign the 2017 budget”.

    “This quote is a malicious misrepresentation of what transpired at the post-Federal Executive Council Meeting press briefing on Wednesday, 17
    May 2017.

    “When the Minister was asked a question relating to the signing of the 2017 Budget, his response was: ”When it is transmitted to the Presidency, the issue will be addressed.”

    “Anything beyond that response amounts to deliberate mischief and should be ignored.”

    Segun Adeyemi
    SA To Hon Minister of Information and Culture

  • People like Lai Mohammed should learn to shut up sometimes – Godwin Etakibuebu

    By Godwin Etakibuebu

    I don’t know what they have made of the rest of us. Do they think that we are stupid? Or do they think all of us are daffs?

    Have they come to the conclusion that we are all imbeciles? Or what exactly have they made of us? I am talking of the political employee of the government of the day, herein epitomised, for the purpose of this write-up, by Lai Mohammed; the Minister of Information and Culture for the federal republic of Nigeria.

    These government political employees believe that Nigerians don’t have the right to question anything that comes from government through them. These political nonentities, who are really infinitesimal minority of minorities, have arrogated to themselves some unfathomable reasons why Nigerians must see them as God-sent. They even want us [Nigerians] to see their modus operandi as akin to that great Argentina footballer [Diego Armando Maradona]’s hand of God, in everything they do or say.

    They are wisest in all their doing when it is even known to the most foolish person on earth that they are what the Yoruba would call “Omugo, Odoyo, Apa tabi Didiri”. I may not be able to translate appropriately to English language exactly the meaning of these Yoruba adjectives because l am lacking in that capacity. I can only recommend my brother, Olusegun Adeniyi; Thisday Editorial Board’s Chairman, to do justice to the translation because he has a special outstanding anointing for such services, expectedly and it is not against the run of play for him on this assignment. While waiting on Segun for this, let us look at the latest of this show of perfidy.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on his way outside the country for medical treatment in the United Kingdom did, but correctly, what the Nigerian Constitution demanded of him to do, albeit transferring powers of “Acting the Presidency” to the Vice President while he was away for a given period of time.

    PMB was not new in doing this because it is on record that he had written such a letter two previous times. At each of the two previous times, records showed that he told the National Assembly that while he was away the vice president would “discharge the functions of my office”. Or in other words, his letter had conveyed to the National Assembly that the vice president, while retaining his portfolio [as vice president], shall in addition, be “acting president” with all its “executive powers and functions”. This time around however, his language was different as he [PMB] wrote to the National Assembly that the Vice President would be “Coordinator of Government activities” while he was away.

    Obviously, there is great and major divide between “acting the presidency [or my office]” and “Coordinator of government activities”. A coordinator carries out such function amongst equals of coordinate entities. His or her function is limited strictly to “coordinating the functions or works of equals”. A Coordinator lacks the power to “hire and fire”, either his/her “equals” or even those below him/her. A typical example of such function was the Minister of Finance under President Goodluck Jonathan, the most respected Ngosi Okonji Iweala, who was named “Coordinating Minister of the Economy”.

    Majority of Nigerians did not find the phrase used by PMB this time around [third communication on the same subject matter to the National Assembly] , albeit “Coordinator of government activities”, while purportedly transferring power to his vice president, appropriately enough, mostly as in complying with “Section 145[1] of the 1999 Constitution as amended”. This majority of talented wise Nigerians pointed out this great misdemeanour and questioned the propriety of the choice of the language with its likelihood of generating crises.

    This was where Lai Mohammed decided to lecture Nigerians, that questioning that phrase was “a needless controversy”, adding that “it is a distraction”, because according to him, “the operating sentence is in compliance with Section 145[1], any other word used is not relevant”. It must have been Lai Mohammed and his perfidious co-travellers that would come to this most dangerous conclusion that whatever “word used is not relevant”.

    The first question is why did President Buhari suddenly deviated from the choice of language of “acting my office [or the presidency]” he used in his two previous letters; including the one dated January 18th, 2017, to a new and delicate term of “while l am away, the Vice President will coordinate the activities of Government”. Such sudden diversion connotes that there was danger ahead if care of interpretation is not properly worked out now. Yes, God forbids it; we could run into unimaginable danger of interpretation ahead.

    And if such happens, again God forbids, the country would be standing still while the Supreme Court is being waited upon to interpret the meaning of “coordinating government activities”, whether it is in strict compliance with Section 145[1] of the 1999 Constitution as amended in transmutation of power from the President to the Vice-President. This may take the Supreme Court a while, from the date the National Assembly accepts to approach the apex court for interpretation because there shall no more be discretionary usage and invoking of the “doctrine of necessity” which the National Assembly introduced when late President Yar’ Adua failed to do what he was supposed to have done the other time – transmutation of power to the Vice-President.

    My prayer is that God, in His infinite mercy, shall bring President Muhammadu Buhari back safely to continue his presidency. It is my candid opinion and recommendation that the National Assembly would, at the time he returns, ask him to explain why he opted for usage of that phrase [coordination] and if his answer is not apologetic to Nigerians, process of impeachment for deviating from dictates of constitutionality against him would not be inappropriate. But till my dearly beloved PMB comes back safely, Lai Mohammed should learn to keep his mouth shut up. Period!

    Godwin Etakibuebu, a veteran journalist, wrote from Lagos.

  • FG delivering election promises – Lai Mohammed

    FG delivering election promises – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the Federal Government is delivering on its election promises and that only “a few vocal minority are not seeing what the government is doing.’’

    The minister stated this when the leadership of the National Association and Nigerian Students (NANS), paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja Tuesday evening.

    Mohammed said “the administration is on course in the delivery of the three major electoral promises it made before coming to power. That are: to fight corruption, fight insecurity and fix the economy.

    He said in less than two years, the government had restored peace and territories that were taken over in the troubled North-East and defeated the Boko Haram insurgents.

    “Our success in fighting insecurity is there for everybody to see. It is not just fighting insecurity but consistently restoring peace to every part of Nigeria’’, he said.

    The minister said the administration deserved credit for securing the freedom of the Chobok school girls so far released by Boko Haram.

    He assured that the government was working toward the release of the remaining girls as well as others in Boko Haram’s captivity.

    In fighting corruption, the minister said government took the bull by the horns, considering the fact that “it is as deadly as insecurity and has grave effects on national development.

    “In our approach, we are not interested in vilifying anybody but more interested in letting people know how much we are suffering as a result of corruption perpetrated by only a few opportunists.

    “If the looted moneys were invested and utilised, today we are going to have railway, our power will not be epileptic, our roads will be better and we will not have highest number of mortality.

    “We have not been selective in the fight against corruption and that is why we introduced the whistle blowing policy and I am glad to hear that the students are prepared to work with us not just to blow whistle but to blow trumpet’’, he said.

    The minister said that government has done a lot in fixing the economy but the approach is not a quick fix as was done in the past and expected by the people.

    He said the government was investing massively in infrastructure and in diversifying the economy from oil.

    “For many decades we have discovered oil, the country has failed to develop other areas to diversify the economy.

    “We came in and we said we are going to do what no government has ever done before and ensure that never again will Nigeria be held hostage by crude oil.

    “We are working to develop other sectors of the economy like agriculture, manufacturing, mining and the creative industry so that even if oil falls to as low as 10 dollars a barrel, it will not affect us.

    “We are also investing in infrastructure to create the foundation for sustainable economic growth’’, he said.
    The minister noted that there was no gain without pain and the hardship the people were going through was temporary.

    He said the national re-orientation campaign “Change Begins with Me’’ was the greatest legacy of the administration and he was glad that the students were prepared to partner with government to take the campaign to schools.

    National President of NANS, Haruna Kadiri commended the government for its efforts in addressing insecurity and ensuring the release of abducted Chibok girls.

    Kadiri also commended the government’s anti-corruption policy and approach and prayed for quick recovery of the President and his safe return to continue the good work.

    He said the association was ready to work with government in taking the Change Begins with Me national reorientation campaign to campuses, secondary and primary schools.

  • OAP Daddy Freeze queries Lai Mohammed over appeal to TB Joshua

    Nigeria’s outspoken On-Air Personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze has lashed out at Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed over his plea to General Overseer of the Synagogue of all Nations, Prophet T.B Joshua against moving his ministry from Nigeria to Israel.

    The media personality condemned the Nigerian government for advising T.B Joshua to abandon his plan to relocate his ministry to Israel.

    Recall that during the week, Mohammed had appealed to T.B Joshua to stay in Nigeria.

    Daddy Freeze said better attention needs to be given to the cash-strapped companies giving life to the local economy.

    In his words: “Dear uncle LAI, aren’t you going to give a press statement on Banky’s engagement, as this issue is a matter of national importance, reported by all the newspaper and blogs and has been trending all day on twitter?

    “In my humble opinion, I think you should, since you addressed TB Joshua’s proposed relocation.

     

    “Meanwhile, I didn’t see any press conference addressing the Erisco tomato paste manufacturer’s exit from Nigeria to Senegal, sorry I meant Kenya, citing government policy inconsistencies among the many other issues, catalytic to the creation of ‘the harsh realities of doing business in Nigeria’ that their MD spoke about.

     

    “In his own words, Chief Eric Umeofia stated that the ‘ease of doing business’ was his attraction in opening shop in the other African Nations.

    “I have a question: In Nigeria, does ‘the ease of doing business’ only apply to Churches, who are pampered and protected by the government, while most businesses I know suffer?”

  • Nigeria gradually getting out of recession – Lai Mohammed

    Nigeria gradually getting out of recession – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that Nigeria is gradually moving out of recession.

    Mohammed, represented by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, made the assertion at the biennial convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Lagos on Saturday.

    He said that going by a recent statement by the Central Bank Governor, the country would exit recession by the end of June.

    “ There have been other pointers for the good news as well. For two consecutive months, the National Bureau of Statistics has also reported a fall in inflation rate.

    “ The exchange rate is regaining some sanity.

    “ As I said earlier, the worst appears to be over. We are clawing out of the woods of recession in weeks from now,” the minister said.

    Mohammed said that the Buhari administration and collective will of Nigerians had shamed doomsday prediction that our recession could worsen into a depression.

    “ I hope, in our various media, we shall begin to focus more on the positive developments in our economy, the growth in agriculture and mineral development, since the NBS last year, let out the secret that the Nigerian economy recorded a negative growth in the first quarter of 2016, “ he said.

    The minister said that recession was not peculiar to the country.

    He said that the United States of America had experienced 47 recessions, some regressing into depressions.

    “ Between 1980 and 2007 alone, the American economy experienced five recessions. The last one in 2007 was caused by the subprime mortgage crisis and led to the collapse of the US housing bubble,” he said.

    Mohammed urged the media to stop the blame game and educate Nigerians on the efforts being made to end recession.

    “ Informing the people that the government is working hard to end the recession will go a long way to give hope to the people.

    “After all, it is said that ”if you keep hope alive, it will keep you alive” the minister said.

     

     

    NAN

  • FG not planning to regulate, monitor social media use – Lai Mohammed

    The Federal Government says it does not issue out any regulation to gag the citizens by monitoring and recording their phone calls and social media posts.

    In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, urged Nigerians to disregard the false information being circulated to that effect on the social media.

    He described as false the information that under the purported Ministry of Interior Regulation, all phone calls and social media posts made by the citizens were to be monitored and recorded.

    Mohammed reiterated that there was no old or new regulation from the Ministry of Interior or any Federal Government’s agency requiring the recording of all calls.

    He also said that no monitoring of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter or Facebook.

    ‘‘We are therefore using this medium to inform all Nigerians that what is being circulated in this regard is totally false and should be disregarded.

    ‘‘We thank all Nigerians who have reached out to us in an effort to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of this information, which is now being widely circulated on the social media.

    ‘‘This is the best way to ensure that the purveyors of false news do not dominate our media space,’’ he said.

     

     

  • Buhari called me on Sat, he is neither ‘ill nor hospitalized’ – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari is neither critically ill nor in life threatening situation and there is no cause for alarm.

    The minister reiterated this position on Monday in Umuahia at the second town hall meeting for the South East and the launch of national reorientation campaign, “Change Begins With Me’’ in Abia.

    The minister, who was asked to tell the country about the health condition of the president and whether there was need for a regular briefing on his health stressed that there was no reason for such briefings.

    Mohammed disclosed that the president spoke with him on Saturday in the afternoon and there was no reason for Nigerians to be worried.

    “ I can say here very boldly and confidently that there is absolutely no cause for alarm.

    “`Mr president called me at 2.43 p.m. on Saturday and we spoke.

    “If Mr president is in the hospital or is critically ill, as minister of information, I will give daily bulletin on his health.

    “Mr president is neither critically ill nor in the hospital and there is nothing life threatening about the checks he is going through,’’ he said.

    Speaking on the state of the economy, the minister said that it was corruption that made the prices of commodities to go up.

    He noted that no economy in the world could survive the blind and reckless looting perpetrated by the previous administration.

    “If one person was found with almost 10 million dollar in an uncompleted house and another with 136 million dollar in fake account and other with N7 billion how can the economy survives the kind of looting.

    “Naturally the price of commodities will go up.

    “These are funds meant for development of infrastructure and for provision of services.

    “That is why you cannot do anything with the economy without first facing corruption squarely.

    “But the good news is that the government is doing both together, as we are fighting corruption, we are also making sure that we are ensuring we are out of recession by investing heavily on infrastructure.

    Mohammed also pacified the audience who lamented the spate of attacks on farmers by the herdsmen.

    He said contrary to the position of some elements who want to destroy the unity of the country, the government was not supporting any section of the country against the other.

    He said it was purely security issue and it was being handled from both the federal and the state levels.

    “I want to make the appeal that the strength of Nigeria is in its diversity and unity.

    “We have been living together peacefully before and we shall continue to live together peacefully,’’ he said.

    Speaking in same vein, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, apologised on behalf of the Federal Government to the farmers who had suffered from the ugly trend.

    “We in the Ministry of Agriculture are mostly affected in this crisis and frankly we feel deeply disturbed about it.

    “Like the two traditional rulers had said, you asked people to go and farm and there is this problem of herdsmen tormenting them and their cattle eating up their crops.

    “It is affecting not only the farmers but the food that they are supposed to produce and sell to the society.

    “As a farmer, nothing can be more upsetting to wake up and find out that my farm has been destroyed.

    They have done it to me and I know how it badly affected me but we will bring the challenge to an end very soon,’’ he said.

    Ogbeh said the Federal Government is training 3000 agro rangers who will protect farms in different places.