TheNewsGuru

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Presidency confirms shooting in Aso Rock

    ImageFile: Presidency confirms shooting at Aso Rock
    President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Nigerian government has confirmed that there was shooting at the nation’s seat of power, Abuja on Wednesday, saying it was an “accidental discharge” while assuring that the Villa is safe for Nigerians and foreigners alike.

    This was contained in a State House press release signed by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity.

    “Following an incident involving the accidental gun discharge in the State House on Wednesday, the Presidency wishes to reassure all Nigerians and foreigners of the safety of the seat of power in the country,” the statement read.

    It was reported that an incident of shooting occurred at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday involving one of the security agents attached to the Presidential Villa, which left a lady severely injured.

    But Buhari’s aide has said “the security official involved is not attached to the State House”.

    “He came on invitation as a witness in an ongoing investigation and was required, as is the rule, to surrender his weapon at the gates before entry,” he said, adding that “It was in the process of conducting the normal safety precaution as professionally required that the pistol accidentally fired”.

    The media and publicity aide to Buhari, however, confirmed that the lady was hit by the “accidental” shot. He also said the security operative was affected as well.

    “Unfortunately, the security operative and the lady by his side, a caterer in the State House, were hit by a pellet of the bullet,” Shehu said.

    “Both of them were attended to at the clinic and discharged,” he added.

  • PHOTOS: Buhari presides over 1st FEC meeting of 2017

    President Muhammadu Buhari is today presiding over the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of 2017 at the Council Chamber in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, with key discussion that will shape the New Year expected to be discussed.

    FEC held its last meeting of 2016 21st of December as ministers proceeded for the Yuletide celebrations. At the last meeting of the year 2016, the Council approved the whistle blowing policy as well as further work on second Niger Bridge.

    Today’s meeting is attended by most ministers and chaired by President Buhari.

    Here are photos from the meeting:

    ImageFile: Buhari presides over 1st FEC meeting of 2017
    President Muhammadu Buhari pictured to the far right.
    President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by his aides.
    Nigeria’s Minister of Finance captured in a hearty chat.

     

    Details of the meeting to follow shortly…

  • Rice will remain expensive for the foreseeable future – Yemi Osinbajo

    The deputy president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that rice, the staple food of most Nigerians will remain expensive for the foreseeable future.

    Osinbajo made this revelation when a Nigerian citizen challenged him on the soaring price of the staple food in the country while he was on an unscheduled visit to Mpape mechanic village in Abuja yesterday.

    The prices of staple foods and everyday consumables have continued to soar high recent times in Nigeria, and in the midst of dwindling price of crude oil and the ever increasing exchange rate. With so many factors working together, the Nigerian economy has pronged into recession.

    Although, government representatives have envisioned that Nigeria would be lifted off recession in the New Year 2017, economic analysts have said there is no light in the horizon yet.

    Deputy President Yemi Osinbajo has probably buttressed the stand of the analysts and he has said the price of rice will continue to remain the way it is until the country reaches self-sufficiency with rice production.

    At the unscheduled visit of the deputy president to the Mpape area of Abuja, the Nigerian whose name could not be confirmed as at the time of filing this report, queried the deputy president saying, “With the way things are going, we are suffering. We don’t really know. We thought that as you people are coming in, we are going to rejoice. But now, we are suffering”.

    “How can we buy a bag of rice for 19,000 or 18,000 naiar?” the young man who might be in his late twenties queried.

    “We cannot afford that; and there is no work we do here. So, the thing is paining us,” he added.

    In response, the deputy to President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by the Nigerian Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed, said, “Let me tell you first about this rice. You see, the thing about government is that, government is a people, flesh and blood like you and I that run the government and we must run it with sense”.

    “Look at this rice; in Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano; all those places, there are farmers. Many of them or none never had any work because all the rice was imported from China, Thailand, India, everywhere.

    “Many of the rice are old, nine years, ten years, but they bring them here, and they are cheap because they are all imported, but our farmers have not work.

    “Now, we said, we must provide work for Nigerians; Nigerians must farm. They must mill the rice, distribute the rice, locally. That is what we are trying to do now; so, hundreds of thousands of farmers in all the places where they are farming rice, millet, sorghum in Nigeria, they are producing rice now,” the deputy president added.

    Osinbajo at this point has to plead with the visibly irritated young man and the crowd he was addressing to calm down for him to conclude his rice speech.

    He continued that although the country is not producing enough rice yet, he stressed the price of rice will remain quite expensive at the interim because that is the only way the nation can make progress.

    “It will be expensive first, it cannot be cheap immediately. It will first be expensive. When it is expensive, there will be some suffering, but that is the only way by which we can make progress.

    “We can’t make progress any other way,” the deputy president concluded.

  • Buhari’s govt signs Joint Development Agreement, to boost power supply

    The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has yesterday signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with key investors with the view to securing investment into the 100 MW (DC) Nova Scotia Power plant located in Dutse in the Northern Nigerian state of Jigawa.

    Signing the agreement, the stakeholders said the project has the potential to significantly contribute to the plan of the authorities of the State of Jigawa to attract USD 2 billion of investments into Jigawa and implement President Buhari’s plans to provide jobs and economic opportunities especially for the nation’s youth.

    The signing ceremony of the JDA was held in the presence of the deputy governor of Jigawa state, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; Borge Brende, the visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Chairman of Africa50’s Board of Directors as well as officials from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading among others.

    The JDA which was signed with Africa50, an African Infrastructure Fund sponsored by AfDB and more than 20 African States; Norfund, the Norwegian Investment Fund for Development Countries, and Scatec Solar, the deputy governor of Jigawa said, “New local power generation capacity is a key element to attract sizeable investment into the State and region, especially into new industries such as light manufacturing and agricultural processing”.

    Recently, the AfDB appointed MCB Investment Management (MCBIM), a subsidiary of MCB Capital Markets, as fund manager for its first multi-jurisdictional Fixed Income Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) in Africa.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the AfDB and Chairman of Africa50’s Board of Directors, said “I am pleased that Africa50 is already making its first investment, which fits in squarely with our priority to light up and power Africa,” adding that “Africa50 has been created by African governments, including Nigeria, the AfDB and institutional investors to mobilize private sector for funding infrastructure projects in Africa”.

    Apart from the three equity investors, the American Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Islamic Development Bank and the AfDB are expected to be senior debt providers for the project.

    With an estimated investment of USD 150 million, a production of 200,000 MWh of electricity per year and 120,000 tons of CO2 emissions avoided annually, the stakeholders said “the Nova Scotia solar plant will help Nigeria rapidly increase its generation capacity, provide economic opportunities, fight desertification caused by climate change, and contribute to fulfilling Buhari’s commitments to develop renewable energy as part of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

  • Amina Mohammed’s Statement on appointment as UN Deputy Secretary-General

    The opportunity and responsibility to serve people and planet as the next United Nations Deputy Secretary-General is truly humbling.

    I am most grateful for the confidence and trust demonstrated by the United Nations Secretary-General-designate Antonio Guterres and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    As directed by Mr President, I will continue in the meantime to lay strong foundations with various important ongoing initiatives critical to the government’s success in the Environment sector. These include our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Climate Agreement, the successful launch of the first Sovereign Green Bonds in 2017, the ongoing Ogoni clean-up and development of the Great Great Wall.

    The next phase of my continued service to the people of Nigeria at the global level will certainly build on the rich insights and lessons drawn from engaging with leaders, colleagues and stakeholders across our beloved nation.

    Over the last 3 decades and during my contribution to the Millennium Development Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals and recently working for environmental protection as part of President Buhari’s vision to transform Nigeria, I have been blessed with the unwavering support and inspiration from leaders, my colleagues, activists, and stakeholders from the polluted creeks in the Niger Delta, to the eroded (Kumaro and Alpha) and overflowing (Makoko) communities in Lagos, Nnaka erosion site in Anambra and others, through the polluted Sharada industrial sites of Kano, the drought affected areas(Bama) in Borno as well as the degraded dunes in Yobe and others parts of the catchment area of the disappearing Lake Chad.

    I will continue to work for the rights of the poor, especially women and the youth, ensuring we leave no one behind.

  • Presidency, politicians jostle for Ibori’s support ahead release

    By Tamunoebi Youdouwei

    Citing renewed violence in the Niger Delta and the former governor’s wide support base in the region, top presidency officials are waiting to bait Chief James Ibori to lead a project to pacify the region and build goodwill in the region.

    ImageFile: Presidency, politicians jostle for Ibori’s support ahead release1
    Chief James Onanefe Ibori.

    Ordinarily Chief James Ibori, who is likely to be released from prison in London before Christmas should be a pariah, but the unstable and unsettled political calculations in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, from which he hails, has thrown up the former Delta State governor as a beautiful bride for politicians from across the country.

    Sources say top politicians who are gauging the state of the country see in Ibori a man with tremendous goodwill and political sagacity to take hold of the Niger Delta, a region he is versed in and where he championed the resource control campaign that won him both supporters and enemies, especially in the federal government in Abuja. That campaign that drew fire from President Olusegun Obasanjo is part of the reason Chief Ibori was hounded to jail in London, aside other allegations over which he is still claiming his innocence.

    In 2000, while serving as governor of Delta State, Chief Ibori along with Akwa Ibom State governor Victor Attah and Bayelsa State governor, Late DSP Alamieyeseigha, led a sustained effort at fiscal federalism that caught the Obasanjo federal regime flatfooted; they tested the waters of Nigeria’s federalism and made the point that states should have a significant level of control over their resources, an effort that ensured that the federal government continued with the 13% derivation payment. It was a campaign that won the heart of some governors of resource rich states such as Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu, who was then on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) but is today a building-block of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    That wide contact and effective mobilisation is what politicians are looking to mine, aside the fact that while he was governor Ibori was a leader who was on ground. His groundbreaking effort at resolving the hitherto intractable Warri crisis of violence among the three indigenous ethnic groups and massive infrastructural works as governor put him in good stead among the people but his disagreement with some local political leaders led to the orchestrated campaign that landed him in jail in the UK.

    Already, news of his impending release has gotten politicians in Delta State active and many outside the region are looking with great interest.

    One source close to the presidency justified the interest in Ibori despite the impression that he would be clamped in jail once he comes back: “There has to be a basis to jail him. The fact that he has been convicted in the UK does not mean he will automatically serve time when he comes back home. The cases against him and other politicians are ongoing and if he has any, it will follow that route. I think it will be an overkill to ignore several politicians who have cases to answer and have not been convicted and keep on flogging Ibori and they are very many, from the former governors to ministers and even former presidents.”

    The man who is well-connected to the current federal administration sees a use for Ibori. “I can tell you that there are people in government that are asking themselves what value will be gained from harassing Ibori vis-a-vis tapping his contacts to restore peace to the Niger Delta?”

    While he did not expatiate further, there are concerns that President Buhari has not been able to manage the sabotage of oil industry facilities by renewed militancy attack because he does not have the right people leading the effort. As governor, Ibori was one of those who laid the groundwork for the enduring peace that prevailed in Delta State and other states in the Niger Delta from late 2007, when he served as late President Musa Yar’Adua’s political diplomat in the region, helping to prepare the nation for the adoption of the amnesty programme that came to be the foundation for the stability of the oil industry for the next few years. Unfortunately, other items on the agenda were not followed through after Yar’Adua’s death in 2010.

    Perhaps to underscore his political value, different groups in Delta State are planning to receive him in a grand way. Several of them have stationed in London to await his release to his London home from where he would return to Nigeria once the asset forfeiture cases are resolved. Many of his old political soul mates are looking to receive him also.

    It is an astonishing turnaround for a man who was vilified and taken as the poster-boy of corruption by the previous federal government. The reason is not far-fetched. Even among his archenemies, including Obasanjo, Ibori was acknowledged as a leader who not only dreamed big, but walked the talk. While commissioning some of four bridges Ibori built to link up island communities during a state visit, President Obasanjo remarked that he had not seen anything like them and called him the ‘bridge-builder’.

    It is one reason there is excitement that Ibori is being released, aside many political actors today who he nurtured and empowered. That quality is why politicians and the Nigerian presidency are looking to see to what value Ibori can be put to work on Nigeria’s many seemingly intractable problems.

  • Presidency reacts to Minister of Environment UN announcement

    Presidency reacts to Minister of Environment UN announcement

    Nigeria’s Presidency has reacted to reports on the alleged appointment of Amina Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, as Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) of the United Nations (UN), saying “she remains our Minister of Environment”.

    TheNewsGuru reported that the Nigeria’s Minister of Environment is to become the new UN DSG to newly elected UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, according a tweet by CBS news reporter for the United Nations, Pamela Falk.

    But, Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari has made a number of tweets to assure Nigerians would be fully informed on any development on the matter.

    “There is a lot of exuberance on the net concerning a UN job for Mrs @AminaJMohammed,” the senior special assistant tweeted, adding that “She remains our Minister of @FMEnvng”.

    He stressed “If there is anything on this that is released officially, we will let Nigerians know”.

    “I am pleased to know that she enjoys so much goodwill,” he added.

    If the reports making the rounds are confirmed, the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, is expected to be deputy to Antonio Guterres, who will assume office as UN Secretary-General effective January 1, 2017.

    Mohammed, who hails from Gombe State in North-East Nigeria, had formerly served as adviser to the outgoing UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon.

    Mohammed was appointed minister of Environment by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015. She was also recently appointed by President Buhari to serve in the African Union (AU) Reform Steering Committee as Nigeria’s Representative.

  • Buhari condoles families of deceased NYSC members, orders investigation

    Buhari condoles families of deceased NYSC members, orders investigation

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the families of three National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who lost their lives recently during the 2016 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Programme in three States, while giving orders for the investigation into the case of Ifedolapo.

    Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who made this information available, said the President, who describes the demise of these young Nigerians as “shocking, sad and unfortunate,” regrets that they died in the course of answering the national call to serve.

    President Buhari urged the families, friends and associates of the deceased to be consoled by the knowledge that their loved ones paid the supreme price while on national service and not for ignoble reasons.

    The President also extended condolences to the Director-General and Management of the NYSC over the transition of the youth corps members, Chinyerum Nwenenda Elechi, Ifedolapo Oladepo and Monday Asuquo Ukeme, in Bayelsa, Kano and Zamfara States respectively.

    While enjoining the Management to do all within its powers to protect the lives of those under its charge, the President calls on parents and guardians of current and potential NYSC participants not to panic over the recent tragic deaths.

    On the particular death of Miss Ifedolapo Oladepo in Kano State, President Buhari has ordered an independent investigation to unravel the true circumstances.

  • Buhari swears in 6 INEC Commissioners

    Buhari swears in 6 INEC Commissioners

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday swore in six Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and expressed concern over the integrity of the nation’s electoral processes.

    The president charged the commissioners to be firm and fair in the discharge of their duties, urging them to help consolidate the integrity of the electoral body

    “This administration is extremely concerned with the integrity of the electoral processes. You are people of great integrity, renowned throughout the country. This administration will depend on you to be firm and fair.

    “What this administration expects after we have gone, Nigerians will read the political history and know that we served Nigeria.

    “Woo Nigerians to use Permanent Voters Card (PVC), cross checked by card reader, that they have been given the opportunity,” he said.

    The president, who frowned at the way bye-elections were conducted in some states of the federation, said government would continue to ensure violent-free elections in the country.

    He congratulated the commissioners for their new appointments.

    Responding on behalf of the commissioners, Mr Okechukwu Ibeano, pledged that they would discharge their duties diligently.

    He also thanked the president and Nigerians for giving them the opportunity to serve the nation.

    “On behalf of my five colleagues, I thank the President and Nigerians for giving us this special and challenging opportunity to serve this country.

    “We pledge to discharge our duties, responsibilities and functions as contained in the oath of allegiance and oath of office which we have just sworn to.

    “We seek the support and prayers of the government and people of Nigeria so that we can discharge our functions to the best of our abilities and contribute to improve the advances and achievements that have been recorded in our electoral processes so far.

    The six INEC commissioners sworn in by the President are Okechukwu Obinna Ibeanu (Anambra), May I. Agbamuche-Mbu (Delta) and retired AVM Ahmed Mu’Azu from Gombe state.

    Others are Mohammed Kudu Haruna (Niger), Mr Adekunle Ogunmola (Oyo) and Abubakar Nahuche from Zamfara.

  • End of Boko Haram is here – Buhari

    End of Boko Haram is here – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Dakar, Senegal assured the international community that the end of Boko Haram terrorists was in sight, and also hailed the increased cooperation between Nigeria and its neighbours in the fight against terrorism.

    This was stated in a press release issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Tuesday.

    While Speaking at a Panel of Heads of State at the 3rd Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, the President also assured the international community that the security situation in Nigeria had improved significantly.

    “About a month ago, I spoke with the President of Chad and I was pleased that a number of Chadians and Nigerians that were Boko Haram members are surrendering to him en-masse.

    “The good news I have is that the end of the raining season has come in the North eastern region of Nigeria.

    “Members of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) are in their respective positions and at an agreed time they will move simultaneously and spontaneously for us to see the end of Boko Haram.

    “We are now operating in the Sambisa Forest and as far as Boko Haram is concerned in the Lake Chad Basin area, I think they are done for,” the President declared.

    Highlighting the gains of the cooperation among the Lake Chad Basin Commission countries comprising Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Benin Republic and Nigeria, the Nigerian leader told the gathering that Boko Haram is no longer holding any territory or Local Government Area (LGA) in his country.

    “Those who live in the North East know that Boko Haram is no longer holding a single territory in the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.

    “But they have a system of using IEDs and they indoctrinate mostly teenage girls and send them to soft targets to churches, mosques and market places; that too is becoming very rear.

    “I think Boko Haram shot themselves in the foot when they gave their ideology a religious connotation by killing children in their schools, people in the mosque and churches and shouting Allahu Akbar.

    “This is a major contradiction as no religion advocates hurting the innocent. You can’t kill people and say Allahu Akbar. You either do not know what you are saying or you don’t believe it,” President Buhari said.

    Noting that Nigeria is capable of surmounting its security challenges, he appealed to the international community to focus more attention on addressing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and unemployment in Nigeria.

    “In the southern part of the country, stolen Nigerian crude is being illegally transported through the Gulf of Guinea and installations offshore are being subverted. We also have the problem of unemployment in Nigeria.

    “With a population of 180 million people of which 65 per cent are under the age of 35, young Nigerians are looking for any kind of job to survive.

    “We are addressing the situation (unemployment) by turning to agriculture and solid minerals because we are lucky to be blessed with arable land, water and resources,” the President noted.