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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • #EndSARS report: Amnesty International blasts Buhari’s Minister ‘Your response not surprising to us’

    #EndSARS report: Amnesty International blasts Buhari’s Minister ‘Your response not surprising to us’

    Human rights group Amnesty International has dismissed the Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed’s claims on the panel report on Police brutality and the EndSARS protests, saying his position is not surprising to them.

    The minister had during a briefing in Abuja, described the report submitted by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses as “tales by moonlight” and “riddled with so many errors, inconsistencies, discrepancies, speculations, innuendoes, omissions and conclusions that were not supported by evidence”.

    But the Country Director of Amnesty International (Nigeria) Osai Ojigho on Tuesday in a monitored interview on Channels Television said happenings in the past year were signposts to the minister’s stance.

    “It is not surprising for us at Amnesty International that the minister, Lai Mohammed, continues to deny that incident that happened that unfortunate day, the 20th of October 2020, at the Lekki tollgate because we have seen in the last one year the constant attacks, the constant narrative that is put out there to gas-light the victims, survivors and witnesses, and create an impression that people are just up to no good,” she said on Tuesday.

    According to her, the organisation, like millions of Nigerians, is interested in getting justice for victims of police brutality.

    “What we have always consistently called for is for a transparent, open investigation into the happenings, not just at the Lekki Toll Gate but throughout the EndSARS protests. There were protests across the country,” the country director added.

    “People died, people were injured, there were all kinds of petitions and complaints made even before the panels were set up regarding the SARS unit and the police in general.”

    Amnesty International also accused the government of attacking protesters, witnesses, and human rights agencies, further corroborating claims by a member of the panel, Ebun-Oluwa Adegboruwa (SAN) that his life was being threatened.

    “Why is it difficult for the authorities to address those petitions rather than focussing on targeting human rights defenders, targeting victims and witnesses, and questioning their integrity and legitimacy?” she asked.

  • Just In: FG rejects Lagos #EndSARS report, says not reliable

    Just In: FG rejects Lagos #EndSARS report, says not reliable

    The Federal Government has rejected the report by the Lagos State judicial panel on the shooting at the Lekki toll gate.

    The panel which was inaugurated to look into complaints of alleged human rights abuses by the police and Lekki toll gate shooting indicted the Nigerian Army in its report.

    However, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in a press conference in Abuja, dismissed the report saying it cannot change the government’s mind that there was a massacre, adding that the report is intimidation of a silent majority by a ‘vociferous lynch mob’.

    The minister described the report by the Lagos judicial panel as ‘Tales by moonlight’ riddled with so many errors, inconsistencies, discrepancies, speculations, innuendos, omissions, and conclusions that are not supported by evidence

    Part of the statement read: “There’s absolutely nothing in the report that is circulating to make us change our minds that there was a massacre in Lekki on October 20, 2020.

    “Without mincing words, let me say that never in the history of any Judicial Panel in this country has its report been riddled with so many errors, inconsistencies, discrepancies, speculations, innuendos, omissions, and conclusions that are not supported by evidence. What is circulating in public space is simply a rehash of the unverified fake news that has been playing on social media since the incident of October.

    “It is simply incredible that a Judicial Panel set up to investigate an incident has submitted a report laden with allegations, the same allegations it was set up to investigate in the first instance. Instead of sitting for all of one year, the panel could have just compiled social media ‘tales by the moonlight’ on the incident and submitted, saving taxpayers’ funds and everyone’s time. That report is nothing but the triumph of fake news and the intimidation of a silent majority by a vociferous lynch mob.”

    Lai Mohammed noted that the report of the panel in circulation cannot be relied upon because its authenticity is in doubt, adding that the Lagos State Government, being the convening authority, is yet to release any official report to the public.

    “The cowardly leakage of an unsigned report to the public is not enough. Assuming the report in circulation bears any iota of genuineness, it is basic knowledge that the report of such a panel is of no force until the convening authority issues a White Paper and Gazette on it. It is therefore too premature for any
    person or entity to seek to castigate the Federal Government and its agencies or officials based on such an unofficial and invalidated report,” he said.

  • Lagos #EndSARS report: Resign now or be sacked, opposition lawmakers tell Buhari’s minister

    Lagos #EndSARS report: Resign now or be sacked, opposition lawmakers tell Buhari’s minister

    The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has said it has reviewed the Lagos EndSARS report and observed that the Federal Government has questions to answer.

    The lawmakers in a statement signed by Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu on Thursday said the report has confirmed that there was indeed a massacre at Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, despite the earlier denial of killings.

    “The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives, after a thorough review of the report of the Lagos State EndSARS judicial panel, holds that the attempt by officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to cover up the now confirmed massacre of Nigerians youths by security forces at the Lekki Tollgate suggests a high-level state-backed conspiracy against Nigerians.

    “The confirmation by the Lagos Panel that there was indeed a massacre at the Lekki Tollgate during the 2020 EndSARS protests in Lagos and that APC government-controlled security forces carted away bodies and mopped up evidence, places a huge burden on the Federal Government which had vehemently denied any killings,” the statement read in part.

    The Minority caucus also flayed the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for “rushing to the media, ahead of the judicial panel, to insist that there were no killings at Lekki Tollgate, even in the face of testimonies of witnesses at the sad event.”

    They described it as a shocking attempt to cover up details of the October 20 event demanding that justice be served.

    “Our caucus is however shocked that the administration can lie in a matter that has to do with the gruesome killing of citizens, particularly our youths, and even attempt to provide official cover to the culprits.

    “As representatives of the people, the minority caucus holds that killing of our young ones for having the audacity to demand justice, rule of law, and good governance in our nation is the height of wickedness which will continue to haunt the APC and its administration until justice is served.”

    The Minority caucus, therefore, called on the APC-led Federal Government “not to cover up the vicious act,” but based on the findings of the Lagos panel, “the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is expected to resign immediately or be fired by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    The caucus commended the Lagos panel for “its boldness in the pursuit of truth and justice and urges other panels investigating allegations of brutality in other states not to be deterred but ensure that the truth is not suppressed.”

    They commiserated with the victims of the Lekki Tollgate attack, particularly the families of those killed, and urged Nigerians to remain calm at this crucial moment.

  • Lai Mohammed lied he funded 2019 Kwara APC elections – Secretary

    Lai Mohammed lied he funded 2019 Kwara APC elections – Secretary

    The Secretary of the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Mustapha Ishowo, has described allegations by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that he funded the 2019 general elections in the State as “false and self-serving.”

    He said this at a press conference in Ilorin, on Thursday. Ishowo condemned what he called the minister’s dictatorial and divisive tendencies.

    Ishowo, said this in response to remarks made by the Minister in a newspaper interview.

    He said, “The then governorship candidate ran and led his own campaign across the state, day and night. This was heavily bankrolled by the candidate himself.

    “He also donated hugely to the campaigns of other candidates, even when he had his own election to run. This is the fact, and any claim to the contrary by Alhaji Lai and his followers is synonymous with his widely acclaimed epithet: lies.”

    “Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s claim that he funded the APC election campaign in 2019 is a fallacy. Anyone who knows Alhaji Lai Mohammed knows he cannot part with his kobo.

    “The claim that he bankrolled the governor’s campaign is an empty boast that every serious party member and elder knew to be false. If anything, he was simply cornering party funds for personal promotion and use.

    “The motorcycles he was talking about were donations to the party which he was forced to share after a tug of war and subtle threats of reporting him to the party’s national secretariat and the donors.

    “Indeed, rather than warehouse such donated items at the party secretariat, they were kept at his LAMCO office. This shows his nature as a sectional and maximum ruler.”

    According to the party chieftain, the claims in the interview by the minister were self-serving and untrue.

  • #EndSARS: What happened at Lekki Tollgate was phantom massacre – Lai Mohammed

    #EndSARS: What happened at Lekki Tollgate was phantom massacre – Lai Mohammed

    Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has maintained one year after the #EndSARS protest that threw the country into a turmoil that the events that happened at the Lekki Tollgate, Lagos State was a phantom massacre.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Alhaji Mohammed stated this in his text of a press conference he addressed on Wednesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    As the minister was addressing the press conference, #EndSARS memorial protests, marking one year anniversary of events that happened at the Lekki Tollgate, were ongoing across the country.

    At the time of filing this report, several protesters had been arrested by security forces at the Lekki Tollgate, but Mohammed continues to maintain that no blood was spilled in the events that happened at the Lekki Tollgate on 20 October 2020.

    The Minister, however, quoted some ballistic experts as saying no military grade live ammunition was fired at the protesters at Lekki Tollgate on 20 October 2020, but that low velocity caliber and/or artisanal/12-gauge firearms were fired.

    “Had the military personnel deliberately fired military grade live ammunition directly at the protesters; there would have been significantly more fatalities and catastrophic injuries recorded. This was clearly not the case,” the Minister quoted the ballistic experts to have said.

    However, Lai Mohammed continued to deny any killing ever took place at the Lekki Tollgate, describing reports by the CNN and Amnesty International as shameless.

    He stated: “The Federal Government remains proud of the security agencies for acting professionally and showing utmost restraint all through the EndSARS protest and the ensuing violence, an action that saved lives and properties”.

    Read full text of the press conference addressed by the Minister below:

    Good morning gentlemen and welcome to this press conference.

    PHANTOM MASSACRE AT LEKKI TOLL GATE

    2. Today marks the first anniversary of the phantom massacre at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, which was the culmination of an otherwise peaceful protest that was later hijacked by hoodlums. At earlier press conferences, I had called the reported massacre at the toll gate the first massacre in the world without blood or bodies. One year later, and despite ample opportunities for the families of those allegedly killed and those alleging a massacre to present evidence, there has been none: No bodies, no families, no convincing evidence, nothing. Where are the families of those who were reportedly killed at the toll gate? Did they show up at the Judicial Panel of Inquiry? If not, why?

    3. Sadly, the champions of a massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate, including Amnesty International and CNN, have continued to shamelessly hold on to their unproven stand. Recall, gentlemen, that after bandying different figures, Amnesty International finally settled at about 12 people killed. On its part, CNN went from 38 people killed to two to just one, after a supposed global exclusive even when the network had no reporter on ground at the Lekki Toll Gate on Oct. 20th 2020.

    4. On Monday, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry that was set up by the Lagos State Government after the EndSARS protest wrapped up its sitting. During the sitting, CNN was summoned but it never showed up, thus missing a great opportunity to prove its allegation of massacre at the toll gate. Also, Amnesty International had a golden opportunity to convince the world, but it rather opted for issuing meaningless press releases.

    5. In its latest attempt to grasp at straws and redeem whatever is left of its battered credibility on this issue, CNN has continued with its baseless report that soldiers shot at protesters. In a report currently running on the network, CNN brazenly and unashamedly held on to its flawed narrative, relying on an unidentified mother whose son was reportedly shot dead at Lekki, but without convincing evidence of who shot him dead. The same CNN that tweeted on Oct. 23rd 2020 that 38 people were shot dead at Lekki is now struggling to convince the world that one boy was killed at Lekki. What a shame!

    6. The testimony of ballistic experts before the Judicial Panel of Inquiry in Lagos contradicts the tales by the moonlight by Amnesty International, CNN, a runaway DJ and their ilk. The experts, in their testimony, said inter alia:

    ”The Team finds that from the medical data examined, including the timeline of arrival at medical facility and the nature of the injuries sustained by the Victims, who were taken to the 5 medical facilities, that no military grade live ammunition (high-velocity) was fired at the protesters (emphasis mine) at Lekki Tollgate on 20th October 2020, within the timeframe of reference (18.30-20.34hrs). That the GSW (Gun Shot Wounds) injuries (4 in number between 19:05 and 19:45 hrs), which were examined by the Team, can be safely identified as being discharged by either low velocity caliber and/or artisanal/12-gauge firearms (artisanal firearms are locally-fabricated weapons). What is however certain is that had the military personnel deliberately fired military grade live ammunition directly at the protesters; there would have been significantly more fatalities and catastrophic injuries recorded. This was clearly not the case.” (emphasis mine)

    7. The ballistic experts are not alone in reaching that conclusion. In its 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, the U.S. State Department wrote:

    “On Oct. 20th (2020), members of the security forces enforced curfew by FIRING SHOTS INTO THE AIR (emphasis mine) to disperse protesters, who had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to protest abusive practices by the Nigeria Police Force Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)

    “Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end. Amnesty International reported 10 persons died during the event, but the government disputed Amnesty’s Report, and NO OTHER ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THE CLAIM (emphasis mine).”

    8. With the preponderance of evidence against any massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate on Oct. 20th 2020, we are once again reiterating what we said one year ago, that:

    i) The military did not shoot at protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on Oct. 20th 2020, and there was no massacre at the toll gate. The only ‘massacre’ recorded was in the social media, hence there were neither bodies nor blood.

    ii) Amnesty International, CNN, a runaway DJ and others like them should apologize for misleading the world that there was a massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate and for portraying the Nigerian military, police and other security agencies in bad light.

    iii) CNN acted unprofessionally by relying on unverified, and possibly-doctored social media videos, as well as other open-source information, to conclude that a massacre took place at the toll gate.

    iv) The Federal Government remains proud of the security agencies for acting professionally and showing utmost restraint all through the EndSARS protest and the ensuing violence, an action that saved lives and properties.

    v) The six soldiers and 37 policemen who died during the EndSARS protests are human beings with families, even though the Human Rights Organizations and CNN simply ignored their deaths, choosing instead to trumpet a phantom massacre.

    OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO ENDSARS

    9. The National Economic Council (NEC), which comprises all State Governors and representatives of the Federal Government, and chaired by the Vice President, has already addressed other issues relating to the EndSARS protest.

    10. At its meeting on 15 October 2021, the NEC received an update on the Reports of Judicial Panels of Inquiry into Allegations of Human Rights Violations against Members of Nigeria Police Force and other Security Agencies. Note that 28 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – under the auspices of the National Human Rights Commission – had set up Judicial Panels/Commissions of Inquiry to investigate allegations of violations of human rights levied against members of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, especially members of the disbanded SARS.

    11. Out of the 28 States, 11 States (Abia, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, and Rivers) have submitted their final reports to Council. Governors of other States have also indicated that their reports would be submitted soon. Following deliberations on the recommendations of the panels, NEC agreed/resolved as follows:

    PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS

    Each State, in collaboration with the Federal Government, shall establish modalities for the settlement of all monetary compensations awarded by the Panels. Already, as resolved by NEC, a number of States have set up Victims Compensation Funds, from which several victims have already received payments of sums awarded to them by the panels.

    PROSECUTION OF INDICTED PERSONS (SECURITY PERSONNEL AND CIVILIANS)

    Council directed State Governors to immediately forward copies of final reports of the panels to their Attorneys-General for prompt arraignment and prosecution of all indicted persons. Where incidents in the reports relate to matters of discipline, in addition to prosecution, NEC urged the Nigeria Police Force to take disciplinary action on the affected officers in line with the provisions of the Police Act 2020.

    IMPROVED EFFICIENCY OF NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AND OTHER SECURITY AGENCIES’ ARCHITECTURE

    NEC called on the leadership of the security agencies to ensure that –

    a. Persons recruited into arms-bearing security agencies undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug tests before enlistment and periodically after enlistment to ensure that the personnel are psychologically fit to carry live weapons and to identify behavioural tendencies that may require psycho-social interventions.

    b. Personnel of the agencies dutifully observe Rules of Engagement in the discharge of their functions/duties around and within the civilian populace.

    c. While acknowledging the various initiatives introduced by the Federal Government to:

    *strengthen police accountability through the Police Service Commission,

    *sustain improved funding and budgetary allocation to the Nigeria Police Force and other securities agencies,

    *and the lifting of the ban on recruitment of police officers, Council urged the Federal Government to give priority to the general welfare of police officers and personnel of other security agencies. In particular, it advocated the review of pension and gratuity of retired police officers and attainment of parity of remuneration by police officers with sister security agencies.

    d. Undertake a comprehensive assessment of all police stations across the country with a view to ensuring that they are fit for purpose.

    e. Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies should deploy cutting-edge technology in the fight against crimes.

    f. Nigeria Police Force to, in line with the mandatory training provisions of the Police Act 2020, prioritize training of Police Officers on procedures for the entrenchment of Human Rights Provisions guaranteed by the Constitution and on the professional handling of weapons.

    g. All those detained by the Police as a result of the EndSars protests are expeditiously processed with due regard to the principles of fair hearing.

    h. The system established within the Nigeria Police Force for receipt and handling of complaints or petitions is strengthened, and all police officers on duty should be in police-approved uniform with their full names and force numbers boldly written for easy identification.

    i.The States should, as resolved by NEC:

    – Properly utilize and support the community policing programme of the Federal Government, with active collaborative efforts and participation of traditional rulers, elders, youths, vigilante groups, etc.;

    – Establish standing committees under States Ministries of Justice to address human rights violations on a continuous basis; and

    – Take measures aimed at flushing out miscreants squatting in uncompleted buildings, and other blackout spots that serve as hideouts for criminals.

    12. Of course, NEC also issued an advisory on public protests to mark the first anniversary of the EndSARS protest. While appreciating the role of lawful peaceful protests in the advancement of public discourse under democratic governance, the NEC strongly advised those planning public protests across the country to mark the EndSARS’ anniversary to consider other lawful alternative means of engagement, especially because of the current security situation across the country and the possibility of such protests being hijacked by armed hoodlums and other opportunistic criminals to cause mayhem.

    13. Finally, NEC also pointed out the various actions already taken by Federal and State Governments to address the grievances that led to the 2020 protests, including:

    * the disbandment of SARS;

    *broad police reforms;

    *establishment of judicial panels of inquiries to investigate allegations of human rights violations by members of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies;

    * recommendations of which panels are already at various stages of implementation including the setup of Victims Compensation Funds from which several victims have received payments of sums awarded to them by the panels;

    *and prosecution of police personnel indicted by the panels.

    14. Gentlemen, I thank you for your kind attention.

  • Lai Mohammed to Kwara Gov: I will respond to your false allegations at due time

    Lai Mohammed to Kwara Gov: I will respond to your false allegations at due time

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says, at the appropriate time and forum, he will respond to the false allegations levelled against him by Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara.

    The Minister stated this on Monday when he featured on a phone-in programme of TV Continental, “This Morning’’.

    In an exclusive interview with a national newspaper, published on Monday, the governor alleged that the minister dehumanised him during the campaign and other preparations towards the 2019 Governorship and other elections in the state.

    AbdulRazaq also alleged that the minister did not remit some funds raised for the campaign for the elections.

    Responding to a question from the anchor of the progrmme on the allegations and the crisis in the All Progressive Congress in the state, the minister said “at the fullest of time’’ he would give his response.

    “I read the article and I also read the response of some people.

    “I believe that issues of national importance I have come here to discuss are more important than the personal disagreement between me and the governor.

    “At the appropriate time and forum, I will respond to the false allegations,’’ he said.

    The minister also declined response to questions on the parallel congresses held by the APC in some states.

    According to him, the party executives appointed or elected as spokespersons and other officers are in better position to respond to such issues.

    “As a federal minister, I am not supposed to be partisan in the discharge of my duties, whether on intra-party or inter-party matters,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the minister featured on the programme specifically to discuss national security and other related issues.

  • Kwara APC Congress: Lai Mohammed’s faction reelects former caretaker committee chair

    Kwara APC Congress: Lai Mohammed’s faction reelects former caretaker committee chair

    A faction of the Kwara State All Progressive Congress (APC) led by Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed has reelected former caretaker committee chair Hon Bashir Bolarinwa as its chairman.

    The faction, which dubbed itself as ‘loyal APC’ returned Hon Bolarinwa and other executives at a parallel delegate conference at its Secretariat in Ilorin, the state capital through affirmation.

    Mohammed and Minister of State for Transportation Senator Gbemisola Saraki belong to the same faction but were conspicuously absent at the venue of the event.

    But present were a member of the Federal Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Shuaib Yaman Abdullahi; member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Ilorin East/South constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Cook Olododo and Hon. Saheed Popoola of the House Assembly, among other party stalwarts.

    Announcing the new executives, Returning Officer, Dr Bolaji Afolabi, said the new executives emerged by the wish of the majority members of the party.

    Other executive members include Chief Theophilous Adeboye Sunday (vice-chairman); Issa Isiaka Agboji (Secretary); Abolaji Olaide Rahmat (women leader); Joseph Ndanusa Tsado (senatorial chairman North); AbdulRaheem Yusuf Akorede (Kwara Central) and Rasak Alabin(Kwara South) while comrade Sunkanmi Afolayan emerged as Youth leader.

    Addressing reporters after their inauguration, vice chairman, Chief Sunday said: “as you can see, over 1,000 delegates affirmed the new executives and we are ready to move the party forward through activities that will attract more people to the party.”

    He noted that the group adequately informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National secretariat of the party of its congress said “we hope to see them before leaving the venue.”

    He hinted that the new chairman, Bolarinwa was unavoidably absent at the venue of the congress due to some reasons, saying “BOB is absent for one reason or another, but as you can witness, people have clamoured for his return as chairman and that is the wish of the majority members of our party.”

  • Criticise buhari’s govt but don’t de-Market Nigeria – Lai Mohammed

    Criticise buhari’s govt but don’t de-Market Nigeria – Lai Mohammed

    Nigeria’s information minister, Lai Mohammed, has called on social commentators to be more constructive in their criticism of the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

    Mohammed said the government welcomes criticism but noted that deliberate de-marketing of the country is unpatriotic.

    “We are not saying don’t criticise the government, you are at liberty to do so. However, stop de-marketing Nigeria. Stop setting one ethnic group or religion against the other and have the courage to be honest and forthright,’’ Mohammed told NAN in an interview.

    The minister also expressed optimism that with dedication and resilience of citizens, the country would overcome its current challenges.

    “We have challenges just like any other country in the world but we are going to overcome them.

    “Some countries have not even experienced half of what we are going through before they collapsed but everybody must do his own bit.

    “It is unfortunate today that many people are waiting for the country to disintegrate and many of them are disappointed that we are still standing on our feet.

    “We will continue to wax stronger because these detractors and vocal nay-sayers are in the minority,’’ he said.

    Mohammed further cautioned Nigerians against making themselves available for use by politicians working against the country’s unity.

    “When you look at some write ups in our newspapers and social media, you begin to wonder whether the writers are patriots.

    “If you don’t live in Nigeria and you are reading what they are writing, you will think that every part of Nigeria is at war,’’ he said.

  • No leader as tolerant as Buhari – Lai Mohammed

    No leader as tolerant as Buhari – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says he is “yet to see a leader as patient, tolerant and understanding as President Muhammadu Buhari”, especially in the running of affairs of the country.

    The Minister stated this on Friday in Abuja when he received a delegation from African Union Development Agency – NEPAP and Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

    The team is reportedly carrying out the second peer review of Nigeria as well as the country’s self-assessment report and validation.

    The minister noted that with the kind of challenges the country had faced in the past six years, it could only take the tolerance, wisdom and peculiar governance style of the President for the nation to move forward.

    “The kind of challenges we faced in the last six year would challenge the most resourceful person.

    “This is a country of about 200 million people, over 500 ethnic groups and tongues and people with different aspirations, religions and beliefs.

    “Running a country like Nigeria is like running a mini-continent and this is why I want to salute the tolerance, wisdom and peculiar governance style of Mr President,” he said.

    The minister added: “I say this because in the last six years I have been attending the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    “The president will, on any issue, listen to the submissions of all the 43 ministers if they want to make contribution to any issue without betraying where he stands on the matter.

    “Even when we know that some of our colleagues are not making so much sense on a topic, the president will listen attentively and will say thank you at the end of the contributions.

    ALSO READ: Buhari signs Agric Research Council Bill 2021 into law

    “I believe that it is his background and experience that moulded him that way and till date, you cannot see any minister that will say his view was never heard.“No matter how pedestal it might be, the President will listen”.

    The minister explained that when the government took over in 2015, it faced the challenge of insurgency as the Boko Haram terrorists had taken over most part of the North-East region.

    He said the administration also met an economy that had virtually collapsed while the oil price was down from 120 dollar per barrel to about 30 dollar per barrel.

    The minister said critical infrastructure of the nation had also collapsed with little or no budget to fund them when the Buhari government took over in 2015.

    Six years down the lane, Mohammed said Boko Haram had been decimated and their members were surrendering in droves while the government is winning the war against banditry and other forms of insecurity.

    He said the administration had succeeded in diversifying the economy, with the non-oil sector – agriculture and the creative industry – doing very well and contributing more to GDP than the oil sector.

    The minister said the country was able to exit recession even with the effect of COVID-19 pandemic because of deliberate economic policies introduced by the administration.

    In addressing the challenge of poverty, Mohammed said the government introduced social welfare programmes like Trademoni, Marketmoni, school feeding programme.

    The minister said the Buhari administration is building infrastructure across the six Geo-political zones, adding that no government in the county’s history has surpassed its record in infrastructural development.

    Earlier, the Coordinator of AUDA/NEPAD/APRM in Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu said Nigeria was undergoing its second peer review following the President’s approval of the process.

    “Nigeria was first peer-reviewed in 2008 and since then to date, here we are for the second peer review.“What we are doing is to assess Nigeria from 2008 to date to see what is being done differently, how have we implemented the previous report called the national programme of action.

    “Barely 11 years down the lane, we can say we have consolidated democracy, we have done well in some aspects like infrastructural development, agriculture and diversification of economy,” she said.

    The lead panelist for the country’s review, Dr Abdoulie Janneh said they had toured the country and had impressive meetings and diverse participation.

    “For us, it was excellent and we commend the President for his passion.“Nigeria is a big and diverse country and we are excited over the lead role Nigeria is playing, especially in the ECOWAS region.

    “It is therefore important that Nigeria takes the lead role in the continent, because the other countries have a lot to learn from you,” he said.

    Janneh assured that the detailed report of the review would be submitted to the AU Heads of State during their summit in Addis Ababa in February 2022.

  • We deal with bandits same way we deal with separatists, criminals – Lai Mohammed

    We deal with bandits same way we deal with separatists, criminals – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said the federal government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari deals with bandits same way it deals with separatists and criminals.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mohammed stated this on Tuesday when he featured on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) programme, “Good Morning Nigeria”.

    Speaking on renewed onslaught against bandits, the Minister stressed that it was erroneous and misleading to accuse the FG of treating bandits with kid-gloves.

    The Minister said banditry is criminality with no basis on religion or ideology.

    He said the approach of the federal government through the military in treating criminals is not to make a distinction between bandits and terrorists.

    “I think we have been dancing around nomenclature, a criminal is a criminal whether it is a bandit or terrorist and the same measure is being meted out to them.

    “That is why we find it ridiculous, the accusation that the federal government is softer on bandits than the separatists and other criminals.

    “This is a fallacy, a fake news and misinformation all into one, and this is the kind of divisive rhetoric being promoted by some naysayers,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said it is senseless for the military to treat bandits, who are killing soldiers and policemen, with kid-gloves.

    He added that the method of the military in fighting criminality through the land and air would not allow for any distinction between bandits and other criminals.

    Mohammed said with the renewed onslaught against bandits and certain measures taken by the governors of the states where bandits are operating, they are winning the war.

    He said the governors had learnt from the mistakes of the past and had resolved that they would not negotiate with bandits but to go after them and not spare them.

    Mohammed said measures, such as suspension of mobile telecommunication networks in certain areas and the ban on sale of petroleum products in jerry cans and at filling stations around the land borders are yielding fruits.

    He added that the ban on sale of fairly used motorcycles in some markets and restriction on the use of “junction motor parks’’ in the states are also yielding results.