TheNewsGuru

Tag: Osinbajo

  • 2019: Buhari, Osinbajo to inaugurate Southwest campaign office Saturday

    2019: Buhari, Osinbajo to inaugurate Southwest campaign office Saturday

    As the 2019 election year approaches, President Muhammadu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are leaving no stone unturned to realise their second term bid as the Southwest campaign office of the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign office will be inaugurated on Saturday (tomorrow) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The campaign office will be managed by the Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group, an initiative of the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu.

    The venue is Oritsejolomi Thomas Hall of the International Conference Centre at the University of Ibadan (UI) at 11 a.m.

    In a statement, Shittu, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), said former Abia State Governor Orji Uzo Kalu will be the guest speaker.

    Other prominent Nigerians expected at the event include the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (special guest of honour and grand patron of the group); former Senate President Ken Nnamani (chairman of the occasion); a former Minister of Petroleum, Don Etiebet and Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (chief host).

    The statement also listed Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and APC’s former Interim National Chairman Bisi Akande as guests of honour.

    Governors listed to attend the inauguration are: Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).

    Former Senate Leader Alli Ndume; the senator representing Katsina Central, Abu Ibrahim and MBO National Patron, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, are guests of honour.

    The statement said all governors as well as APC Deputy National Chairman (Southwest), Segun Oni; Chief Pius O. Akinyelure; Chairman, APC, Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke; National Coordinator, MBO, Usman Ibrahim; National Secretary, MBO, Isaac Peace Agunloye and National Woman Leader, MBO, Ogechukwu Michael are expected at the event.

    Shittu said the group stands for unity, peace and development of Nigeria as well as its heterogeneous tribes.

  • Farmers/herdsmen clashes: Osinbajo, nine governors form committee to tackle menace

    As part of deliberate attempts to end the farmers/herdsmen incessant clashes that have cost several lose of lives and properties across the country, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and nine state governors have constituted a committee with the mandate to end the killings.

    The Vice President is chairman of the committee.

    This was one of the decisions reached at a meeting of the National Economic Council held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

    The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting presided over Osinbajo.

    Ganduje named members of the committee to include governors of Kaduna, Zamfara, Taraba, Benue, Adamawa, Edo, Plateau, Oyo, and Ebonyi states.

    The governor said the committee would collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing impunity regarding killings and violence.

     

    Details later…

     

  • Osinbajo to deliver lecture at Harvard today

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the invitation of Harvard University, Boston, United States, would be delivering the inaugural, keynote lecture at the university’s “Africa Rising” course at Harvard Business School today, (Tuesday, January 16).

    In extending its invitation to the vice president, the university noted that it deeply admired the immense progress that Nigeria has made under the Buhari presidency, including the work of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC.

    “It would be the highest honour for us were you to accept our invitation as we deeply admire the immense progress that Nigeria has made during your tenure not only as the country’s Vice President, but also as Chairman of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council. By all accounts, this Council has spearheaded crucial initiatives and we very much hope that you will speak to those, as well as to Nigeria’s rise in world economic rankings and the vast range of business initiatives that are ongoing in your country,” the university said.

    The top US university further described the lecture as a historic moment as it would be the first time that an Africa-focused course will be offered at Harvard Business School.

    During the lecture, Mr. Osinbajo, a law professor, would highlight the progress made by the Buhari administration in improving the country’s economy and investment climate.

    In the latest World Bank Doing Business index, Nigeria climbed up 24 places and was placed on the list of 10 most reformed economies globally.

    Alongside the president, the vice president has been a strong advocate in the future of a greater Africa, and has proffered solutions on how to make the continent work better for its people and the rest of the world.

    In a keynote address at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London recently, Mr. Osinbajo emphasised the continent’s depth of talent and innovation across Agriculture, ICT, Hospitality, Fashion, Energy, Manufacturing, Entertainment, and many other fields.

    The vice president, who will leave for Boston today, is expected back in Abuja later on Wednesday.

    Earlier in the day, Mr. Osinbajo had, alongside President Muhammadu Buhari, laid wreaths in honour of fallen heroes of the Nigerian Army at the National Arcade, Abuja, to mark the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

  • Osinbajo presides over first Economic Management meeting for 2018

    Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Monday presided over the first meeting of the Economic Management Team for the year.

    Osinbajo is the chairman of the team while selected ministers and other top government officials are members.

    The meeting was held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    In a message posted on his Twitter handle, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, disclosed that the oil and gas sector, as well as pension matters, were top on the agenda of the meeting.

    Akande reiterated the present administration’s assurance that things would get better for the country.

    He promised that the government will continue to work hard to make things better.

    He wrote, “Vice-President Osinbajo opens the week presiding over first 2018 Economic Management Team meeting of Buhari administration.

    “It’s a full house and time to ramp up and consolidate.

    “Oil and gas sector, pension, Family Homes Fund and other issues top the agenda.

    “We”ll keep working hard, things must get better.”

  • Stop playing politics with Benue, Rivers massacres – Osinbajo warns politicians

    Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday warned politicians to desist from playing politics with the murder of innocent lives in Benue, Rivers and other parts of the country to avoid igniting another crisis.

    Osinbajo cautioned that under no condition should Nigerians allow anyone to create a religious crisis.

    The vice president sounded the warning during an inter-denominational church service to mark the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.

    He insisted that due to the prevailing circumstance regarding the violence and loss of lives in parts of the country, President Buhari had ordered the police and the armed forces to deal decisively with the situation and ensure that the perpetrators were found and punished.

    He recalled that it was the politicisation of Boko Haram at the early stage of the group that gave rise to its heinous activities, and enjoined Nigerians not to fall into another trap regarding the problems associated with herdsmen.

    Osinbajo said: “We must recognise that as dangerous and as deadly and heartless as these killings are, there is also the danger of our allowing politics to play a part as this could lead to what we sometimes say “pour petrol into an already burning fire.”

    “We must not permit the politicisation of this tragedy. One of the reasons why for years Boko Haram thrived, was because of the politicisation of the insurgency.

    “There were those who are planning to benefit politically from the tragedy and they painted the opposition then as the perpetrator.”

    The Vice President continued: “Again, we see some today who want to benefit politically from the killing of women and children in Adamawa, Benue, Jos and several other places stoking the embers of ethnicity and religion.

    “By their hate speeches, they want to fix the criminal acts of the few individuals on who thrives and hold people and they would want to create a religious crisis if they are allowed.

    “Our obligation is to stop them from playing dangerous politics that could threaten our unity and stability just as we continue to enforce the peace in the troubled areas.”

    Vice President lauded the commitment and dedication of Nigerian military personnel to service, particularly the fallen heroes, stating that save for their efforts, Nigerians would not have been enjoying the peace.

    Osinbajo said: “I am especially honoured to be here today to join family and friends of our departed heroes to mark this day when we remember the incredible sacrifices that they made to fill the vacuum.

    “We have seen in the past few years how this rights have been challenged by the mindless extremism of the Boko Haram in the North East and how again our gallant military, the police and even the civilian population have risen jointly to rout these criminal combatants and restore peace to most communities in that zone.

    “We have also seen even recently the killings that have resulted from the attacks of herdsmen and farmers and communities and also where farmers and communities have attacked herdsmen.”

    “The president has also in almost daily meetings and strategic sessions with relevant security and law enforcement agencies work to find lasting and enduring solution to this issues,” he added.

    In his sermon, Bishop of Jos Diocese Anglican Communion, Bishop Benjamin Kwashi, who represented Primate Anglican Communion, Archbishop Nicholas Oko, noted that the Armed Forces remained the only institution of hope of Nigerians.

    According to him, the Nigerian military personnel laid down their lives against the Boko Haram terrorists ,against Fulani herdsmen, against kidnappers, against men and perhaps women who do not wish the country well.

    He urged Nigerians to intensify prayers for peace, unity and progress of the country, he regretted that many of the nation’s military personnel have died in line of duties in their commitment to keep the nation peaceful and safe for the citizenry.

  • Osinbajo, family jet out to UAE on vacation

    Osinbajo, family jet out to UAE on vacation

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and his family on Wednesday travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on his annual vacation.

    This was revealed by the Vice President’s spokesperson Laolu Akande, in a tweet Wednesday.

    “VP Osinbajo, his wife & children have been resting abroad on his annual leave. He is expected back in the country this weekend from the UAE,” Akande said.

  • FG working towards take-off of 10 modular refineries in Niger Delta – Osinbajo

    …says Ogoni clean-up recording progress

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo assured stakeholders that the promotion and establishment of privately financed modular refineries in the country remain a top priority of the Federal Government.

    According to Osinbajo, the objective is to increase local refining capacity, create jobs and ensure peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.

    The policy featured prominently at the last interactive session between federal government officials led by Osinbajo and a delegation of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).

    Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the vice president, Mr. Laolu Akande, said the initiative would also reposition the petroleum industry and ensure self-sufficiency of petroleum products, while serving as a disincentive for illegal refineries and oil pollution.

    He quoted the VP as saying “the federal government, in line with its Niger Delta New Vision, is targeting measurable objectives in its efforts towards implementing development projects in the region.”

    The December 22 meeting, according to Akande, “received a report that 38 licensed privately financed green field and mini-modular refineries investors have so far indicated interests in the establishment of refineries in the region, and at least ten of the licensed refineries investors are at an advanced stage of development.

    “The advanced stage of development means that these projects have passed the Licence to Establish (LTE) stage, while some have the Authority to Construct (ATC) licence or close to having it because they have met some critical requirements in the licensed stage.

    “There are three stages in the process of refinery establishment; Licence to Establish (LTE), Authority to Construct (ATC) and Licence to Operate (LTO).

    “So far, 10 modular refineries are located in five out of the nine states in the Niger Delta region; namely Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Imo states.

    “Also, two out of these 10 – Amakpe Refinery meant to be located in Akwa Ibom, and OPAC Refinery to be based in Delta State – have their mini-refineries modules already fabricated, assembled and containerized overseas, ready for shipment to Nigeria for installation. The total proposed refining capacities of the 10 licensed refineries stands at 300,000 barrels.”

    Vice President Osinbajo directed the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to keep providing the necessary support and creating the enabling environment for positive investments in modular refineries by engaging key government agencies.

    Such agencies include the Niger Delta Development Commission ((NDDC), Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and financial institutions, including the International Finance Corporation, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Bank of Industry, amongst others.

    The Vice President stressed the importance of ensuring that the oil communities have a stake in the modular refineries and directed that an appropriate model be developed to achieve that.

    Other issues addressed at the end of the year meeting include the Maritime University, Ogoni Clean-up, and other related issues such as increasing support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the region.

    On the Maritime University take-off, the Vice President noted that further support would be given by the federal government to ensure the training of staff to give the best to the incoming students of the institution.

    On the Ogoni clean-up, the Project Coordinator for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, (HYPREP), Dr. Marvin Dekil briefed the meeting that progress has been made in several areas of the clean-up.

    He listed the evaluation of existing water facilities in the four local government areas in Ogoni land in the process of providing clean drinking water, demonstration of remediation technologies at sites in some of the impacted communities; hiring of and the technical training of Ogoni scientists. The Coordinator added that health impact assessment would be conducted in some communities in the coming weeks.

    At the meeting were the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Unguru Usani; Education Minister Adamu Adamu; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jubril.

    Others include the Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Corporation, Mr. Nsima Ekere; and the Special Adviser to the President on the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-General Paul Boroh (rtd).

  • Fuel scarcity: Osinbajo allays fears, says ‘No plans to increase pump price of petrol in 2018’

    The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday restated that the Federal Government had no plan to increase the pump price of petrol in 2018.

    Osinbajo gave the assurance during his visit to fuel depots in Lagos where he monitored the loading of trucks to ensure a steady supply of petrol to designated filling stations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo visited some major fuel depot terminals and stakeholders in Apapa and other parts of Lagos on Christmas Day.

    According to the Vice President, the fuel scarcity facing the country is as a result of shortage of supply to depots across the country.

    “The President is very much concerned about Nigerians and how we can quickly end the fuel scarcity crisis in the country.

    “The fuel crisis presently confronting the country is as a result of shortage of supply of fuel to depots across the country.

    “We hope that in the next couple of days, we would be able to end the fuel queues,” Osinbajo said.

    He said that any marketer who hoarded petroleum products for the purpose of making extra profit would be dealt with by the enforcement agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating the sector.

    Earlier at the stakeholders interaction meeting, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said that the long queues would be over by Wednesday.

    Kachikwu, who noted that over 150 trucks were supplying fuel daily, added that there had been series of meetings and consultations with the oil marketers.

    He said that he would meet with the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, to put together structures and additional plans to end the fuel shortage currently facing the country.

  • Seasons greetings from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, wife Dolapo

    Vice President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo and his wife Dolapo Osinbajo have shared lovely photos in the spirit of Christmas.

    The photos show the couple with Christmas hats on their heads as they stand beside a Christmas tree.

    The Vice President captured the photos on his page with “Merry Christmas and may 2018 be your best year yet.” while Dolapo Osinbajo captioned the photos with “Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you!

  • Buhari and I receive meager salaries – Osinbajo

    …canvasses better remuneration for journalists, lawyers

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said the take home pay of himself and President Muhammadu Buhari does not commiserate with the huge demands of their offices.

    Speaking at the end-of-year seminar of the State House Press Corps at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Vice President said he earns about N1.5m as Vice-President; President Buhari earns about N1.75 million.

    He criticised the private sector for not respecting the national minimum wage law, which puts the lowest pay at N18,000.

    The vice president also expressed misgivings about the remuneration of journalists and lawyers, saying journalists’ case is unique because many media owners make big revenue but simply refuse to pay good wages.

    He recalled his brief encounters working with media houses as legal adviser and how in all the months he worked he was not paid despite the irregular hours he put in.

    Osinbajo spoke of entry into journalism as not rigorously regulated or enforced by professional bodies because untrained persons are allowed in.

    He added: ”I realised first of all that this (journalism) is not a profession from which one could make a decent living in the first place unless you find a really good way of doing so.

    ”But more importantly for me is that you are just on your own. Journalism as a profession is so wide open.

    ”There are a few reasons in my view why remuneration is poor.

    ”The first is that it is just simply cheating. There are owners of media that are just cheats. They just want to get something from nothing and that is not uncommon, it is a general malaise, it is not necessarily restricted to the media.

    ”It is also the same in the legal profession. There many lawyers if they tell you what they earn, you will certainly not want to be a lawyer.

    ”The private sector does not respect the minimum wage. Even if a minimum wage is set nationally, it is not necessarily respected by the private sector and this is something that should be factored in to the status of a company and whether a company is even complying with the requirements.”

    The Vice-President urged journalists to brighten their prospects and future by always seeking ways of improving themselves and getting better job opportunities with attendant improved income.

    Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Kwara, was the chairman of the ceremony.

    He said: “It is important to note that a good retirement plan starts the very day you are employed, knowing that whatever has a beginning has an end; 35 or 60 mandatory years of service are certainly not eternity.

    ”It must also be stressed here that it is not too late to plan even where you have just few years to retire from service.

    ”The most important thing is that you have a plan either of money saved or of the job you intend to carry on after retirement. Put every other factor in place such as your age, strength and the mental capacity to carry on.” he advised.

    He added “It is important to state, therefore, that the uncertainty on payment of entitlements has continued to worry Nigerian workers, making them fear retirement.

    ”This has led to prospective retirees falsifying their age just to enable them stay put in the service.

    ”In this regard, a lot of corruption induced activities have continued to infiltrate the MDAs and the organised private sector responsible for managing pension,” he said.

    Kwara listed 10 ways to prepare for retirement, including saving, knowing your retirement needs and contributing to an employer’s retirement savings plan.

    Others, according to him, are learning about employer’s pension plan, considering basic investment principles, not touching your retirement savings, asking employer to start a plan, think of creative ways to be self sustaining, find out about one’s social security benefits, and asking questions.

    The guest lecturer and Chairman of Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu, said retirement should not be synonymous with being tired or giving up as it should be a stepping stone.

    He advised working journalists to pursue their purposes with passion, stressing the need to increase capacity in readiness for the next phase

    He said: “Entrepreneurship is not a function of age. Set your milestones and work towards accomplishing the milestone.

    ”Entrepreneurs are resilient; they persevere to succeed. You don’t need to give up easily, it requires sacrifice, discipline.”

    Others who presented goodwill messages were Minister of Information Lai Mohammed; Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to the President Femi Adesina.