TheNewsGuru

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari appointment of Odibo as NPC commissioner excites Urhobo nation

    Buhari appointment of Odibo as NPC commissioner excites Urhobo nation

    Senator Ovie Omo-Agege representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate has said the Urhobo nation is excited at the appointment of Sir Richard Odibo as an Honourable Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC).

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Sir Odibo and 22 other commissioners of the NPC were sworn into office on Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari following clearance by the Senate.

    Senator Omo-Agege in statement signed by his legislative aide, Nathaniel Dortie, said the Urhobo “people are very proud of Mr. President’s decision to appoint Sir Odibo who is undoubtedly one of Delta’s finest leaders and technocrats”.

    “We have full confidence that the highly respected Sir Odibo will add great value to the NPC with his huge wealth of leadership experience, deep wisdom and management skills”.

    The Delta Central Senator vowed to continue to pray and work with President Buhari and the Federal Executive under his leadership and all relevant stakeholders to promote his agenda for the greater good of the nation.

    “It is the earnest desire of the Most Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege that our very best leaders, technocrats and seasoned professionals should take their rightful place of true service in our national affairs.

    “Finally, it is our prayer that God Almighty grants Sir Richard Odibo good health and extraordinary strengths and wisdom to serve with patriotism, distinction and honour,” the statement read.

     

  • President Buhari and the hunting ghost of a certificate

    By Godwin Etakibuebu

    The controversy surrounding President Muhammadu Buhari’s certificate is gradually moving from “not-too-sweet-taste to extremely-bitter-taste”.

    That is just one aspect of the drama that can be accommodated. But there is this other side of the episode that is too crucial a pain to bear.

    And this “other side” is when opprobrium of an individual, albeit Nigerian President, has become a reproach of a nation and its entire people.

    This certificate matter is now a national disgrace and embarrassment to all Nigerians at every material particular, not necessarily for the reason of its non-existent or otherwise, but more for the poor management of the President’s affairs by those going by the name of image-makers and media assistants.

    It is this group of people that have thrown our beloved president into this seemingly ocean of embarrassment. I will explain.

    The challenge of Muhammadu Buhari’s certificate started in the year 2014 as he was coming back into the race of contesting for the Nigerian presidency; a race he tried three times without success.

    We need to pay attention to this observation, to wit: each of those previous efforts, nothing was heard of Major General Muhammadu Buhari certificate not being available, missing or not being at the disposal of the Nigerian Electoral Body [INEC].

    It is very critical that we take judicial recognition of this fact.

    It is this same man coming back into the same race in 2014, under another mega political party formed – All Progressives Congress, going through the same process he had followed for 12 years that a hurricane of Certificate scandal landed upon.

    By the way, it is important also to note that Muhammadu Buhari had always contested the presidency; each time, under a different political party, starting with All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP], Congress for Progressive Change [CPC] and now All Progressive Congress [APC].

    The point being made here is not much to his lack of stability with one political party but the fact that there was nothing said about lack of certificate in all his previous attempts.

    Looking into the disparity compelling the revelation of lack of certificate may leave us with two conclusions.

    One, it could be that the Electoral Bodies that were responsible for the elections of those previous years General Muhammadu Buhari contested were not diligent enough to have detected that the man had no elementary certificate for the contest he entered into.

    Two, it might as well be that they knew that the retired General had no certificate but allowed the perfection of the system to be corruptly compromised, as similar casesoccurred from time to time in our land.

    A third likely scenario might also be in existence on this critical evaluation. And that is the likely presence of something thick, salient, valuable or most important, which uttered the rules of engagement for the 2015 election contests so drastically, that commanded additional and a more thorough scrutiny of the contenders’ certificates.

    Whichever and whatever the events of the time, General Muhammadu Buhari could not support presentation of his documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] but instead, swore an affidavit that the original of his Secondary School Leaving Certificate was with the Military Secretary [Army].

    Swearing affidavits has always been part of the political game in Nigeria – I mean all types of affidavits; from the normal to the abnormal, mentally balanced to the insane, even from the most ridiculous to what-have-you.

    There was one of our political leaders of blessed memory from Kaduna State who swore too many affidavits during his active days until the late Senator Abraham Adesanya; another great politician and an astute lawyer, later challenged this affidavit-swearing legend in the court of law about the authenticity of his age.

    It was proved judicially that one of the numerous affidavits the man sworn put his age two years younger than his first son while another affidavit was actually sworn on a Sunday. It is just the Nigerian way of doing things.

    Maybe, it was for this reason, albeit Nigerian way of doing things that two faults were found in the affidavit General Buhari submitted to INEC in 2014.

    The affidavit claimed that the original of his certificate or his credentials was with the Military – specifically with the Military Secretary [Army].

    It would have been very normal that photocopies of those credentials; the ones with the Military, attached to his forms and submitted to the INEC, more so when the originals were not available. But this was not to be.

    That became the first challenge of that affidavit and it would remain a major narrative as long as this issue subsists. The second being the fact that Major General Muhammadu Buhari, somewhere along the line of his beautiful military career, was a Military Secretary for the Army.

    It became a little curious ipso facto, that he, expectedly, would have sufficient knowledge of how such matter [the Military retaining certificates submitted for purpose of evaluation only and within a period, also only] is handled.

    It was for this reason that the Military High Command’s denouncing the claim of its former Commander-in-Chief on the certificate signaled such a monumental embarrassment to the respected General, and the fact that the matter might not be “dying” too soon.

    The denial of General Buhari [I am referring to him as General here because he had not become democratically elected President when this argument started in 2014]’s claim by the Military High Command amounted to “total disrespect and mark of absolute disloyalty to a Commander-in-Chief”, according to retired Brigadier General Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali [later to be appointed Minister of Defence by President Muhammadu Buhari]’s harsh judgment on every member of the then Military High Command.

    Could this total disrespect and absolute disloyalty be the reason why President Buhari threw out the entire Nigeria Defense Academy [NDA] Courses 26, 27 and 28 by picking his Chief of Army Staff [the current CAS] from Course 29, thereby wasting mercilessly such huge investment by Nigeria in training those officers to the rank of Major Generals? It is only time that shall answer this question.

    Let us fast-track the discussion forward a little.

    One or two facts were established while the episode of this certificate lasted between 2014 till 2015 when Muhammadu Buhari contested and won the election before being subsequently sworn-in as President on May 29, 2015.

    One of those facts was that the examination President Buhari wrote in 1961 was never conducted by the West Africa Examination Council [WAEC] but instead conducted by the prestigiousUniversity of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate[UCLES], now Cambridge Assessment. This fact was attested to in the past. It means that President Buhari was not a candidate of WAEC.

    It is a statement of fact that on January 22, 2015, WAEC; in replying to clarification on Buhari’s certificate, placed on them by MOVEONNIGERIA [a nebulous body that operated at that time] said that “we could not produce any CTC [certified true copy] on Mohammadu Buhari who attended the Provincial Secondary School in Katsina, Nigeria”.

    At the same period, the University of Cambridge confirmed that they did not use the “alphanumeric grading system in 1961 which appears in Buhari’s certificate”.

    Another fact that is in the public domain is that Muhammadu Buhari was enlisted into the Nigerian Army and had very successful career training all through, until he attained the rank of Major General and at every point of such numerous training he was awarded certificates.

    The much l know about the Army, as it operated then, tells me that Buhari would not have “majored” if he did not pass that significant examination that separates “the majors from the minors”.

    The minor ranks ends in “Captain” while the major rank starts from “Major”. Buhari wouldn’t have made it beyond the rank of Captain if he did not pass his examination at that point.

    There is yet additional fact on this matter and that is the Constitutional qualification of the person that wants to be President of Nigeria. Section 131 [d] of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, says a person “shall be qualified for election to the office of President if he has been educated up to at least school certificate level or itsequivalent”, in addition to the person being a citizen of Nigeria by birth; attained the age of forty years and being a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party”.

    Let us look at Section 318 [1] which added value to the issue of qualification to contest for the office of President.

    “School Certificate or its equivalent” means (a) a Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, or Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary School Certificate level; or (c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and- (1) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for a minimum of ten years, and (11) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totaling up to a minimum of one year, and (111) the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission; and (1V) any other qualification acceptable by the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

    All stated above by the Nigerian Constitution, no doubt, approved Buhari as qualified to run for the office of the Nigerian President. Then, where is the challenge therefore?

    The issue here is the clumsiness surrounding that Secondary School certificate purported to have been issued to him from the Kastina Provincial School. Let us look at this very carefully as they might help us to understand the noise about the issue.

    In 2015 [January 22] WAEC wrote to say it could not authenticate Buhari’s certificate issued in 1961 because the name “Mohammadu Buhari is not on our record” and Buhari never claimed to have been a candidate of WAEC but instead, of Cambridge [or even Oxford] and if this same WAEC sent its Registrar; Mr Iyi Uwadiae, on Friday, November 2, 2018, to present “ATTESTATION” [of the missing certification] to President Buhari in Abuja, then the truth about this matter has been buried somewhere along the journey of history.

    What is expected by the good people of Nigeria and the international Community is for those handling the President’s public image to come out clean in admitting a few things which had gone wrong in the past, apologize for their misbehavior and set the record straight.

    Because if the truth is to be told, the certificate scandal, as it stands today, is bordering more on offense of perjury [for affidavit sworn on oath] or fraud for obtaining attestation from WAEC that had earlier admitted of not having his record conducting.

    This sure will be a better option of removing Nigerians from this calamity of shame and saving the president from this bitter agony.

     

    Godwin Etakibuebu; a veteran Journalist, wrote from Lagos.

    godwin@thenewsguru.ng

    Mobile: +234-906 887-0014.

     

  • Buhari’s ICT policies saved Nigeria N30bn, says NITDA Boss

    Buhari’s ICT policies saved Nigeria N30bn, says NITDA Boss

    Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Isa Pantami, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the issuance of the Presidential Executive Order 003 and 005.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Pantami lauded Buhari in his remarks at the opening of the three-day 11th edition of e-Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition organized by the NITDA at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.

    The conference has “Promoting Digital Economy in an Era of Disruptive Technologies through Effective Regulation” as its theme.

    The Executive Order 003 mandates all ministries, departments and agencies to give preference to locally manufactured goods and services in their procurement of information technology services, in order to strengthen its implementation as well as provide clear policy directions.

    Presidential Executive Order 005 which was also issued in February, is part of the administration’s deliberate efforts and strong commitment at strengthening the role of Science, Technology and Innovation in the country’s socio-economic development.

    According to him, Federal Government is working to reposition the country from a resource-based to knowledge-based economy through the deploying of Information Technology.

    Pantami disclosed that over N30billion had so far been saved by the federal government following the implementation of its IT and ICT policies and programme.

    He said “the Information Technology sector under the administration of President Buhari has enjoyed tremendous support by approving Executive Orders to encourage indigenous products.

    “Through the approval of those executive orders, the IT sector has contributed 12.41 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter of 2018.

    “In the second quarter, IT sector contributed 13.63 per cent to the GDP and from Dec. 31, 2017 to Aug. 31, 2018, NITDA was able to save over N30 billion for the Federal Government”.

    He added that the agency was repositioning the IT sector through digital inclusion, IT regulation, digital job creation, cyber security, digital capacity building, among other intervention strategies.

    Declaring the conference open, President Buhari commended the NITDA, while warning that the Federal Government would sanction public establishments found to have breached its IT Clearance policy.

    It will be recalled that in April 2006, the Federal Government directed that all MDAs planning to embark on any IT project should obtain clearance from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for proper guidelines on the purchase of local IT products and services.

    NITDA, therefore, has a mandate to clear IT projects and procurement of IT products and services in MDAs for quality service delivery.

    Buhari said that the warning became necessary in view of his administration’s determination not to fail in its quest to eliminate corruption in government businesses and in the wider society.

    He noted that NITDA’s initiative focused on the Registration of IT Contractors and Service Providers in collaboration with other regulatory bodies with special emphasis on competencies.

    According to him, this will ensure the delivery of quality IT projects, as well as facilitate the development of indigenous IT companies in line with global best practices.

    “You may also recall the remark about NITDA’s efforts at enforcing Federal Government’s directive on ensuring that all ICT projects in the country are cleared by it before implementation.

    “This will ensure that government’s ICT procurements: Are transparent; Aligned with government’s IT shared vision and policy; Lead to cost savings through promotion of shared services; avoid duplication; ensure compatibility of IT systems and improve efficiency in government business; enforce the patronage of indigenous companies where capacity exists and uphold the highest standards for service delivery.

    “In this administration’s efforts at ensuring full realisation of these objectives, a new circular was issued in August this year, to reiterate this directive.

    “NITDA is expected to work with all relevant government agencies to ensure full compliance with this directive. Defaulters of IT Clearance among the public establishments are to be reported to government.

    “We are serious about fighting corruption. We must not fail in our quest to eliminate corruption in government businesses and in the wider society.’’

    The President lauded NITDA’s work on the Nigerian ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vision that focuses on the development of Digital Infrastructure, Education Reform, Skills Development and Research and Development as well as supporting the ecosystem.

    He stressed the need for the public service to be highly competitive, innovative and digitally-enabled to deliver public services and effectively drive government programmes and policies.

    Buhari observed that NITDA and other relevant government agencies had taken this up by creating the enabling environment through the development of policies, frameworks, standards and guidelines.

    He said, “I am aware that some of these regulatory instruments have been subjected to critical scrutiny and revision through a series of stakeholder engagements.”

    He, however, maintained that efforts should be intensified to make them public and to sensitise the public about the value of the regulatory instruments.

    The President noted with delight the enforcement of the use of the policy on Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the impact they had made on the administration’s public financial management reforms.

    Buhari added that the consolidation of accounts and elimination of ghost workers that resulted in a combined monthly savings of about N24.7 billion, the TSA facilitated the recovery of huge sums of money, including the N1.6 billion that was recently recovered from a single account.

    He said the policy initiatives had reinforced his administration’s fight against corruption by ensuring transparency and accountability in government business transactions.

    According to the President, the success of his administration’s Social Investment Programme, which is seen in many quarters as the largest and most ambitious social safety net programme in recent history, relies heavily on the application of ICT.

    He observed that the components of programmes such as the N-Power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), the Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) all leverage on ICT.

    He disclosed that the programmes had so far benefited over nine million Nigerians.

    The president revealed that the NITDA, in collaboration with the National Social Investment Office (NSIO), was coordinating federal government’s initiative of establishing eight Innovation Hubs.

    He added that the eight Innovation Hubs would be sited one in each of the six geo-political zones and one each in Lagos and Abuja.

    President Buhari explained that the purpose of establishing these hubs was to facilitate digital capacity building for immediate employment, entrepreneurial skills development, job and wealth creation.

    “All these are aimed at promoting the digital economy in an era of disruptive technology through effective regulations,’’ he said.

    The president, therefore, enjoined the Conference to come up with “innovative ideas, workable and implementable recommendations that would help and enhance government’s efforts at creating the enabling environment for the promotion of the digital economy in an era of disruptive technologies, considering our peculiarities as a country.’’

     

  • Buhari warns MDAs against breaching FG’s IT Clearance policy

    Buhari warns MDAs against breaching FG’s IT Clearance policy

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday declared open the 2018 e-Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition, with a warning that the Federal Government would sanction public establishments found to have breached its IT Clearance policy.

    The President gave the warning in Abuja at the e-Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) at the International Conference Centre (ICC).

    It will be recalled that in April 2006, the Federal Government directed that all MDAs planning to embark on any IT project should obtain clearance from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for proper guidelines on the purchase of local IT products and services.

    NITDA, therefore, has a mandate to clear IT projects and procurement of IT products and services in MDAs for quality service delivery.

    Buhari said that the warning became necessary in view of his administration’s determination not to fail in its quest to eliminate corruption in government businesses and in the wider society.

    He noted that NITDA’s initiative focused on the Registration of IT Contractors and Service Providers in collaboration with other regulatory bodies with special emphasis on competencies.

    According to him, this will ensure the delivery of quality IT projects, as well as facilitate the development of indigenous IT companies in line with global best practices.

    “You may also recall the remark about NITDA’s efforts at enforcing Federal Government’s directive on ensuring that all ICT projects in the country are cleared by it before implementation.

    “This will ensure that government’s ICT procurements: Are transparent; Aligned with government’s IT shared vision and policy; Lead to cost savings through promotion of shared services; avoid duplication; ensure compatibility of IT systems and improve efficiency in government business; enforce the patronage of indigenous companies where capacity exists and uphold the highest standards for service delivery.

    “In this administration’s efforts at ensuring full realisation of these objectives, a new circular was issued in August this year, to reiterate this directive.

    “NITDA is expected to work with all relevant government agencies to ensure full compliance with this directive. Defaulters of IT Clearance among the public establishments are to be reported to government.

    “We are serious about fighting corruption. We must not fail in our quest to eliminate corruption in government businesses and in the wider society.’’

    The President lauded NITDA’s work on the Nigerian ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vision that focuses on the development of Digital Infrastructure, Education Reform, Skills Development and Research and Development as well as supporting the ecosystem.

    He stressed the need for the public service to be highly competitive, innovative and digitally-enabled to deliver public services and effectively drive government programmes and policies.

    Buhari observed that NITDA and other relevant government agencies had taken this up by creating the enabling environment through the development of policies, frameworks, standards and guidelines.

    He said, “I am aware that some of these regulatory instruments have been subjected to critical scrutiny and revision through a series of stakeholder engagements.”

    He, however, maintained that efforts should be intensified to make them public and to sensitise the public about the value of the regulatory instruments.

    The President noted with delight the enforcement of the use of the policy on Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the impact they had made on the administration’s public financial management reforms.

    Buhari added that the consolidation of accounts and elimination of ghost workers that resulted in a combined monthly savings of about N24.7 billion, the TSA facilitated the recovery of huge sums of money, including the N1.6 billion that was recently recovered from a single account.

    He said the policy initiatives had reinforced his administration’s fight against corruption by ensuring transparency and accountability in government business transactions.

    According to the President, the success of his administration’s Social Investment Programme, which is seen in many quarters as the largest and most ambitious social safety net programme in recent history, relies heavily on the application of ICT.

    He observed that the components of programmes such as the N-Power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), the Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) all leverage on ICT.

    He disclosed that the programmes had so far benefited over nine million Nigerians.

    The president revealed that the NITDA, in collaboration with the National Social Investment Office (NSIO), was coordinating federal government’s initiative of establishing eight Innovation Hubs.

    He added that the eight Innovation Hubs would be sited one in each of the six geo-political zones and one each in Lagos and Abuja.

    President Buhari explained that the purpose of establishing these hubs was to facilitate digital capacity building for immediate employment, entrepreneurial skills development, job and wealth creation.

    “All these are aimed at promoting the digital economy in an era of disruptive technology through effective regulations,’’ he said.

    The president, therefore, enjoined the Conference to come up with “innovative ideas, workable and implementable recommendations that would help and enhance government’s efforts at creating the enabling environment for the promotion of the digital economy in an era of disruptive technologies, considering our peculiarities as a country.’’

    In his remarks, the Director-General of NITDA, Dr Isa Pantami, lauded President Buhari for the issuance of the Presidential Executive Order 003 and 005.

    The Executive Order 003 mandates all ministries, departments and agencies to give preference to locally manufactured goods and services in their procurement of information technology services, in order to strengthen its implementation as well as provide clear policy directions.

    Presidential Executive Order 005 which was also issued in February, is part of the administration’s deliberate efforts and strong commitment at strengthening the role of Science, Technology and Innovation in the country’s socio-economic development.

    Pantami disclosed that over N30billion had so far been saved by the federal government following the implementation of its IT and ICT policies and programme.

    The conference has “Promoting Digital Economy in an Era of Disruptive Technologies through Effective Regulation” as its theme.

     

  • UPU accuses Soldiers of aiding killings in Delta, calls for probe

    UPU accuses Soldiers of aiding killings in Delta, calls for probe

    The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government and security authorities to probe allegations of partisanship on the part of soldiers drafted to quell crisis between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Delta State.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports, Aladja, an Urhobo community, and Ogbe-Ijoh, an Ijaw community, both in Delta State, have locked horns in crisis, running years, leaving several persons, including children reportedly killed.
    President-General of the UPU Worldwide, Olorogun Moses Taiga, who was speaking against background of renewed clashes between the two warring communities in which over eight persons were feared dead, stated that “Soldiers were grossly partisan in the recent incidence by firing shots at helpless residents of Aladja”.
    “For how long are we going to allow the breach of peace of peace and the disregard for the sanctity of human lives in these two communities because of other considerations not favourable to truth, justice, equity and peaceful co-existence?.
    “I call on the federal government to investigate allegations that Soldiers were grossly partisan in this recent incidence by firing shots at helpless residents of Aladja, killing many,” Taiga stated.
    He also called on Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to show political will and summon moral to, as a matter of urgency, resolve the lingering dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Delta State.
    The Leader of the Urhobo ethnic nationality frowned at allegations that certain individuals in high places are exacerbating the crisis, submitting that “such persons, if it is true, should search their consciences and be warned that history and the Creator will be unkind to them for any role they play in the wanton killings and destruction.
    “This dispute has lingered for too long and has taken much blood, lives and property. I call on the State Government led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to show political will by looking at the reports of the various committees set up to look into the dispute and carry out their recommendations fearlessly.
    “Governor Ifeanyi Okowa should etch his name into the golden books of history by resolving this crisis permanently by upholding the tenets of truth and justice, no matter whose ox is gored,” he said.
     

  • Global Competitiveness: Nigeria ranks 107 in ICT adoption

    Nigeria has been ranked 123rd in adoption of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) out of 140 countries assessed in the 2018 Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the GCR is an annual ranking which compares the national competitiveness environment of 140 countries based on 12 pillars – four grouped under basic requirements, six under efficiency enhancers and two under innovation and sophistication factors.
    GCR ranked countries on the ICT adoption pillar based on mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions, mobile-broadband subscriptions, fixed-broadband Internet subscriptions and fiber-to-the-home/building Internet subscriptions.
    According to the GCR, Nigeria, with 25.7% of Internet users and ranking in 107th position in number of Internet users out of the 140 countries surveyed, emerged in 123rd position with the score of 26.2 over 100 in ICT adoption.
    The 2018 GCR of the WEF placed the population of Internet users in Nigeria at 48 million out of 188.7 million people.
    While 75.9% of Nigerians are connected to the Internet through mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions, 19.9% are connected through mobile-broadband subscriptions.
    According to the GCR, no Nigerian is connected to the Internet using fixed-broadband Internet subscriptions and fiber-to-the-home/building Internet subscriptions.
    Overall, Nigeria ranked 115th out of the 140 countries assessed in the 2018 GCR of the WEF, and the country improved in three out of four pillars classified as Enabling Environment pillars: Institutions, Infrastructure, ICT adoption and macro-stability pillars.
    Meanwhile, speaking on Monday at the 24th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES), Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said in the past two years, the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has spent quite a bit of time and resources looking at how to prepare for a technology-driven future.
    “We have launched one of the most aggressive drives for promoting business in the tech space. We have partnered with local and international tech companies and innovators, in the building of tech hubs, and promoting innovation.
    “Our aim is to democratize access to support for innovation and cyber commerce and to create jobs,” Osinbajo stated.
     

  • Buhari’s Visa-On-Arrival policy yielding results, says Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government’s Visa-On-Arrival Policy has started yielding fruits, especially in the tourism sector which has been boosted by the policy.
    The Minister made the assertion in Abuja on Monday, when he received members of the Latin America Motorcyclists Association (LAMA), who are in Nigeria for a tour of heritage sites and other tourist attractions in the country.
    ”All our visitors here today got visa on arrival. That shows that the Federal Government’s visa-on-arrival policy is working,” he said.
    Alhaji Mohammed said the presence of the international bikers in Nigeria is a testimony to the fact that the Administration’s quest to promote the country’s cultural heritage and tourism sites is yielding fruits.
    ”As you tour Nigeria, under the ‘Rediscover Heritage Bikers Tour of Nigeria’, and visit historical heritage sites, you beam the searchlight on those sites for the world to see.
    “You will see these heritage sites for yourselves as you travel through our culturally-rich and diverse nation. These sites include museums, monuments, homes of national heroes and other tourist sites,” he said.
    The Minister therefore enlisted the support of the bikers to become Nigeria’s heritage ambassadors by spreading the news of the country’s hidden treasures and their experiences while in the country.
    In his remarks, the President of LAMA, Mr. Mario Nieves, said the group, which consists of members from 24 countries, is in Nigeria to rediscover the country’s culture and heritage as well as promote unity among the human race.
    “We are just a group of humble motorcyclists that decided to arrange and create some type of impact in our society. We believe that it is more important to be human than it is to be black or white or oriental or Indian, because we belong to the human race and we believe that we are all one people,” he said.
    Mr. Nieves said Nigeria has set a good example for them in humility, respect and hospitality, and that when they return to their respective countries, they will spread the good news about Nigeria.
    While giving a background on the tour, the Acting Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr. Abdulkarim Kadiri, said the bikers, from Brazil, US and Mexico, among others, and their Nigerian counterparts will tour 11 states of the Federation in order to rediscover Nigeria and its rich cultural heritage.
     

  • NASS to mount pressure for presidential assent of PIGB, says Saraki

    President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki says the National Assembly will continue to mount necessary pressure to get presidential assent on the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).
    Saraki spoke at a dinner as part of activities at the ongoing 24th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Monday.
    The dinner which ended late in the night, was attended by trade experts, industrialists, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operators and financial experts among other dignitaries.
    According to Saraki, the resolve by the legislature to mount pressure to ensure the bill gets presidential assent has become necessary, given its importance to development of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.
    President Muhammadu Buhari had withheld assent on the PIGB following its passage by the National Assembly.
    The President had also communicated its decline of assent to the PIGB 2018, citing constitutional and legal reasons in the bill.
    The Senate president said that it was unfortunate that the bill had not been assented to, adding “we took it as a responsibility to drive that bill to a level it has never been in a decade’’.
    “That bill, a lot of people when we started said we cannot do it, but we demonstrated we have the political will and the commitment to do it.
    “We passed the governance bill and it went to the executive.
    “What I expected considering the kind of work that was done was for us both arms to seat down, because the issues that were raised are not issues that are not surmountable.
    “Unfortunately, after so many months, the bill has come back with query that can easily be trashed out in a day session.
    “Those in the petroleum sector will agree with me that they have never seen the engagement we saw in the governance bill.
    “Secondly, we had the fiscal bill and we have taken it to the point that has never been archived, but I believe a lot of the operators will want to ask what will happen to the fiscal bill if the governance bill was not assented to.
    “Our intension is to go back to the executive and seat down with them in the interest of Nigeria.
    “This is a very good bill as most operators and the technical people in the sector commended it.’’
    He said the observation made on the bill was not enough reasons to stop its assent because of the huge positive impact it would make in investments in the sector.
    “Because as you know, there is no serious investment going in the oil and gas sector because people are not sure of what to expect.’’
    On cost of governance, Saraki said it was huge but added that there were some wastages that could be reduced.
    The Senate president said the fight against corruption must be transparent, and credible, adding that effort should also be made to prevent it.
    “For example, the main area where we produce our major revenue is mainly in the oil and gas sector.
    “But when you look at corruption cases, I am not sure you will find many of the cases in that sector, the fight is so selective.
    “But if it is transparent, you should start from where you are producing your large source of revenue.
    “Because if you can tackle corruption in the sector, there will be less leakages down the line.
    “For example today, we are back to spending close to 3.6 billion dollars petroleum subsidy, so apart from the national assembly, which anti-corruption agency is looking at that?
    “The point I am making is that there should be a transparent process and approach in fighting corruption.
    “If we can make the petroleum sector most efficient which accounts for large revenue, government will be more efficient.
     

  • Buhari misses NES24 plenary on corruption, rule of law

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday represented President Muhammadu Buhari, who was unavoidably absent at the opening of the 24th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) scheduled for October 22 to 23 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports President Buhari was expected to address the summit opening, and also immediately headline a plenary on corruption and rule of law, that was moderated by Prof. Ngaire Woods, Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, and Professor of Global Economic Governance, University of Oxford.
    Headlining the event on behalf of Buhari, Vice President Osinbajo said the government is doing so much to tackle grand corruption and systemic corruption; stating that since he became vice-president, he has seen how much impact corruption can have on a country, and its more than he ever imagined.
    He also stated that one of government’s biggest frustrations in the fight against corruption is the speed of prosecution, which he said is slow, and many times constitutionally so.
    He added that the two convictions of former executive governors secured by the federal government showed that the hand of justice may be slow, but it would eventually catch up.
    He noted that reforms, including the criminal justice reform, have been helpful, but regretted FG cannot reform States judiciaries.
    When asked by Ngaire Woods on who calls him before he sacks corrupt government officials, Osinbajo said he gets many calls from religious and political leaders.
    “I would like to refer to the Nigerian elite, and it’s probably not fair to be that broad, but practically, every segment, because people who have access to you, they could be political leaders, religious leaders, business leaders, whoever has access to you.
    “We have a system where people just feel like, ‘why don’t you just give this guy a break?’ Which again is part of the problem. You don’t get one call, you get several calls,” he stated.
    TNG reports the Vice President sacked Lawal Daura, former director general of the Department of State Services (DSS). He was also involved in the suspension of Ayo Oke, former director general of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).
    Theme of NES24 is “Poverty to Prosperity: Making Governance and Institutions Work.
     

  • Amosun dismisses alleged defection from APC after meeting Buhari

    Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has dismissed as mischief the insinuation that he had defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or planning to dump the party over political developments in the state.
    Amosun stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondent of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Sunday.
    Prior to Sunday’s meeting with the president, Amosun had visited the presidential villa for over four times within the past three weeks where he met separately with the president and the vice-president Yemi Osinbajo.
    The APC National Working Committee is believed to have forwarded the name of Prince Dapo Abiola to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections.
    Abiola was declared winner of the Ogun State APC governorship primary by the APC NWC panel sent to conduct the primary in the state.
    This declaration was against Gov. Amosun’s preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, who was elected as the governorship candidate of the party in another primary conducted by the state’s APC officials.
    Amosun had allegedly accused some political interest group of `misinforming’ President Buhari about `political equation’ in Ogun.
    But, the governor pledged his political loyalty to the president and vowed to support his political ambition in 2019, saying, however, he would hand over the mantle of leadership to his preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, in 2019.
    Amosun, who was accompanied on Sunday’s visit to the presidential villa by the Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Gbadebo III and a former Minister, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, renewed his allegiance to the APC.
    He said: “We will stalk with (President Buhari) him. So, I want them to know that we are not going anywhere.
    “I’m going to be with the APC, we are in the APC and even after his second term, which by the grace of God and the support of all Nigerians he will win.’’
    Oba Gbadebo, who also spoke after the meeting, said his visit to President Buhari, whom he described as his boss in the army, was a routine one.
    Anisulowo, onetime minister of state for education, said the people of Ogun would vote massively for President Buhari and all APC candidates in 2019.
    “Ogun is very peaceful and is a very progressive state. Ogun is Baba Buhari’s state and we cannot allow anything to happen contrary to our wishes for him for his second term in office,’’ she said.