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Tag: Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo congratulates France President-elect, Macron

    Osinbajo congratulates France President-elect, Macron

    The Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his election as the next President of France.

    In a congratulatory letter to the President-elect, Osinbajo said he received the news of the election of the 39-year old Macron with satisfaction, noting that under successive governments, the relations between Nigeria and France had blossomed.

    The Acting President expressed the optimism that the incoming government will further strengthen the bond of friendship between both countries.

    Under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, according to the Acting President, there has been a very close collaboration between Nigeria and France in the war against terror.

    He commended the role played by France in the successes so far recorded in the implementation of the regional initiative against terrorism.

    Osinbajo observed that Macron’s election was a source of inspiration, especially for the French people and portends a greater future in which the French Republic will continue to play its active role boosting relations with Europe, Africa and the rest of the world.

    The Acting President however noted that the Buhari administration is looking forward to working closely with President-elect Macron to promote international cooperation, advance peace and security, consolidate mutual trade relations and strengthen economic partnership for the benefit of citizens of both countries.

     

     

  • Invest in government to promote economic growth, Osinbajo tells private sector players

    The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday advised private sector players to invest in government to promote the country’s economic growth.

    Osinbajo said this while addressing the third Quarterly Business Forum at the Conference Centre of the Presidential villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the crucial partnership plays itself out in many of the administration’s technology-driven ease of doing business initiatives.

    “What we think will work is to create that environment such that private investment in this particular area thrives.

    “Government simply cannot provide any or all of these services; most times it just has to be private-sector driven and we will do our best to provide the enabling environment to make that happen.

    “So we are doing the best options to deepen broadband internet penetration and we are also seeking the best partners in this respect.

    “So our plan of going forward is really quite simple, we will demonstrate our belief and commitment to this partnership by making ourselves as accessible to you as possible.

    “So that we are able to engage, even in between this quarterly business forum and talk and exchange ideas and hopefully be able to develop working relationships that will endure.’’

    The acting president noted that government had decided to work with a private sector broadband infrastructure provider to manage the problematic Corporate Affairs Commission’s online platform.

    He said government expected that the provider would be fully operational in the next 30 days and that it guaranteed that up time would be 99 per cent.

    “We think that those kinds of partnerships and interventions are important.

    “The only way to make government work is if the private sector invests in government.

    “Not in investing its money but more investing in terms of time, attention and the kinds of partnerships that we are building here,’’ he added.

    Osinbajo mentioned that the issue of broad band internet penetration was one that the government had to deal with.

    He told the forum that government had created points of contacts to enable them to contact the administration to receive ideas and strategies and also give feedback.

    He thanked the business community for availing itself of the opportunity to dialogue with the government in providing solutions to the economic malaise.

    He noted that expertise existed in the private sector which the administration would tap from.

    The Budget and National Planning Minister, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, earlier noted that the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of government was to take the country out of recession.

    He also said that the plan was to move the country on the path of growth, adding that while progress was recorded a lot still needed to be done.

    Udoma said government was ready to remove the constraints hindering business development and economic growth.

    “We want to leverage the power of the private sector. The power of the private sector is unlimited and we want to ensure that Nigeria becomes an investment destination,’’ the minister added.

    Udoma said that the ERGP was hinged on science and innovation, adding that to drive competitiveness, the country needed to harness technology.

    An investor, Chief Paul Okonkwo, said the forum was okay but noted that some government policies discouraged investments.

    Okonkwo, the Chief Executive Officer of Pokobros Group in Onitsha, said the request for end user certificates before some raw materials imported into the country could be cleared at the ports should be reviewed.

    He suggested that government should inform manufacturers ahead of policy changes and ensure that it should also offer short periods for the release of clearance documents.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • Osinbajo, Saraki, Dogara pay farewell visit to President Buhari

    Osinbajo, Saraki, Dogara pay farewell visit to President Buhari

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Bukola Saraki on Sunday night paid a farewell visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is scheduled to leave for London on medical trip.

    The President, who confirmed this development on his twitter handle on Sunday in Abuja, said he also received the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in the Presidential Villa on similar mission.

    President Buhari posted: “I received Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara at home this evening ahead of my trip tonight.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari had earlier hosted the 82 rescued Chibok schoolgirls to a light reception shortly before the arrival of Osinbajo, Bukola and Dogara.

    The President had planned to leave Sunday afternoon for the London trip, but decided to tarry a bit due to the arrival of 82 Chibok girls who arrived Abuja earlier in the day.

    The President, at the reception, described the rescue of 82 Chibok schoolgirls as a pleasant 2nd anniversary gift to Nigerians.

    Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, announced in Abuja on Sunday that Buhari was travelling to London to see his doctors for a follow up.

    President Buhari had travelled to London in January for a similar check up. He returned on March 10.

  • Buhari will fulfill his campaign promises

    Buhari will fulfill his campaign promises

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said President Muhammadu Buhari will fulfil the promises he made to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria during the campaigns for the 2015 general election.

    Osinbajo said this on Thursday in Jos during the golden jubilee celebration of St. Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, with the theme, ‘Remembering our past, shaping our future’.

    He was reacting to the comment made by the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah.

    Osinbajo said the promises included the prosecution of people who use religion as an excuse to destroy homes, schools and places of worship, and the protection of lives and properties.

    Buhari also promised in rebuilding destroyed places of worship; giving full compensation to all destroyed/lost properties.

    Kukah had quoted Buhari as addressing the CBCN in Abuja on February 11, 2015 during the election campaigns.

    Buhari was quoted as saying, “Government has no business preferring one religion to the other. The role of government is to protect the lives and properties of citizens and to respect and protect their constitutional rights.

    One critical thing that every government must strive to protect is the liberty of citizens to practice their respective faiths, whether they are Christians or Muslims and others, in a lawful manner without fear or hindrance and to prosecute those who use religion as an excuse to destroy homes, destroy schools and destroy places of worship.

    “When government fails in this duty, they must assist in rebuilding these places of worship.”

    While responding, Osinbajo said, “The President remains firmly committed to the promises he made before the Catholic bishops and God will help us abide by those principles.”

  • SGF/NIA Probe: Osinbajo panel to submit report to Buhari on Monday

    SGF/NIA Probe: Osinbajo panel to submit report to Buhari on Monday

    The Presidency on Wednesday said the presidential committee investigating the suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke; and the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, will submit its report to President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.

    Akande said the committee chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was scheduled to complete its assignment on Wednesday.

    “The three-man Presidential Investigative Committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, under the chairmanship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to inquire into the Discovery of Foreign and Local Currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at Osbourne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos and the Allegations of Due Process Violations in the Award of Contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East is completing its assignment today and is scheduled to present its reports to the President on Monday, May 8, 2017,” the statement read.

    There have been media reports that the committee that has the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) as members would present its report on Wednesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the committee was set up on April 19 and was given the mandate of turning in its report within 14 days.

  • JUST IN: Again, Buhari absent at FEC meeting, as Osinbajo presides

    JUST IN: Again, Buhari absent at FEC meeting, as Osinbajo presides

    President Muhammadu Buhari who resumed duties on Tuesday, (yesterday) failed to preside over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting today (Wednesday) for the fourth time in a roll.

    Although reports claimed his itinerary for the week shows he will be available for the meeting, vice-president Yemi Osinbajo is currently taking charge of the meeting.

    The presidency confirmed this in a tweet, which said: “The Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting has started. Vice President @ProfOsinbajo is presiding.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the president failed to convene FEC meetings for three consecutive weeks, fuelling speculation about his health.

    However, he resumed at his desk on Tuesday and took briefs from Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    FEC, which is made up of the president, vice-president and all Ministers, is the highest decision making organ of the government.

     

  • SGF, NIA Probe: Osinbajo panel to submit report Wednesday

    SGF, NIA Probe: Osinbajo panel to submit report Wednesday

    Barring any last minute change of plans, the Presidential committee investigating suspended Secretary General of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ayo Oke, would submit its finding tomorrow (Wednesday).

    The Minister of Justice and Attorny-General of the Federation, AGF, Abubkar Malami who is a member of the panel headed by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo dropped the hints on Tuesday.

    He spoke to State House correspondents after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.

    He, however, refused to speak on whether the committee would yield to the calls of not making the report public, saying “it will be preemptive”, as the committee’s 14 days life span is yet to elapse.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had set up a three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to conduct investigations into allegations leveled against Lawal and Oke.

    The Committee is to submit its report to the President within 14 days.

     

  • Empowerment: Osinbajo inaugurates National MMSE Council

    As a way of ensuring empowerment, employment generation and entrepreneurship, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday in Abuja inaugurated the National Council on Micro, Medium, and Small Enterprises (MSMEs).

    Osinbajo also announced the reduction of the membership of the MSMEs from 43 to 21.

    Osinbajo said at the inauguration of the council that the reduction was to ensure effectiveness and proper coordination.

    In his words: “This Council shall be the apex body on MSMEs development in the country, providing guidance and coordination on the establishment of strategies and policies for the wholesome support of MSME development in Nigeria.

    “The next few years will be decisive for Nigeria in many profound ways.

    “Our ability to create a modern industrial economy able to provide livelihoods for millions and a future for multiples will be tested.

    “The challenge calls for our sharpest minds and best talents.

    “And you ladies and gentlemen who form this council are of that required caliber, we simply cannot afford to fail.’’

    The vice president described the council as a fresh, streamlined and refocused National Council on MSME.

    He said that the council “was the coordinating platform for the implementation of all development programmes within the sub sector, especially the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP)’’.

    He said NEDEP was the administration’s repackaged and strategic platform to deliver growth and sustainability within the MSMEs subsector.

    He said the importance of the MSMEs was enormous as they were the bedrock of the nation’s industrialization and inclusive economic development and also the most important component of industrialization.

    “This is the primary driver of employment, wealth creation and poverty alleviation for our government,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo recalled the survey by SMEDAN and National Bureau of Statistics showing that over 37 million MSMEs existed in the country employing no fewer than 59.7 million persons, contributing 48.4 per cent to GDP and 7.27 per cent to exports.

    He, therefore, said that if each MSME employed an additional person the administration would create over 37 million extra jobs.

    “With NEDEP we are making MSMEs a central part of our national growth and economic policy.

    “This is a new model for national enterprise development and would reach every one of the 774 local governments in Nigeria.

    “We have identified and are supporting at least one product in each of the local governments based on each local government’s area of competitive and comparative advantage.

    “NEDEP will unlock the Nigerian MSMEs sub sector by resolving the issues that most small businesses have to contend with.

    “These are access to finance, access to markets, weak business development dearth of technical skills, lack of infrastructure and insufficient market information,’’ he said.

    The VP said that with NEDEP the administration would create enterprise zones with the required infrastructure for small businesses to succeed.

    Osinbajo said the programme would transform the country through employment generation, facilitating economic linkages and engendering rural industrialization.

    “As we look ahead, it is important that we not only sustain the momentum of NEDEP and other development programmes such as the highly successful nation-wide MSME clinics but we must coordinate their impact for effectiveness and sustainability.

    “This is the crucial relevance of the National Council on MSMEs,’’ he said.

    “The Council will effectively coordinate the enterprise development efforts made by the various tiers of government, International Development Partners (IDP) and the private sector towards job creation, wealth creation and poverty alleviation in Nigeria.

    “The Council will draw its membership from the public and private sectors and its secretariat shall be the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

    “It is important to re-emphasize the point that this Council will have the same success delivery platform as the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Committee (PEBEC).

    The VP outlined the responsibilities of the Council to include coordinating the activities of all stakeholders in both the private and public sectors to ensure that all efforts and activities are geared towards the priority sectors of the economy.

    Others are guiding the Federal Government on the formulation of broad policies and strategies to drive the wholesome development of the MSMEs sub-sector in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the council will be coordinating the roles and responsibilities of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), State and Local Governments and other stakeholders responsible for MSME development.

    It will be promoting inter-agency synergy and cooperation in MSME development and encouraging and strengthening Public-Private- Partnership and Public-Public-Partnership in MSME development.

    It is to ensure the creation of an enabling environment to facilitate the development of MSME clusters, infrastructure upgrade, access to finance, MSME capacity building and fostering increased awareness and ensuring stakeholders’ buy-in on MSME development programmes, initiatives and projects.

    The council will also ensure the institution of an effective framework for monitoring and evaluating the impact of MSME policies, programmes, projects and initiatives as well as ensure that the principles of the National Policy on MSMEs are achieved and reviewed as the need arises.

    TheNewsGuru.com that the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar, in an address said the Council looked forward to creating an MMSE sub-sector that could drive the administration’s diversification programme.

    Also the D-G of SMEDAM, Dr Dikko Radda, said that the inauguration was good for the development of the economic sector and showed the importance the administration had given to MSMEs in the development of the nation’s economy.

    According to him, the creation of additional 37 million jobs being proposed to the council, will eliminate joblessness in the country.

     

     

     

     

    NAN

  • Nigerian terrorists collaborating with ISIS to wreck havoc – Osinbajo

    Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said that terrorists operating within the country are now working in collaboration with the deadly militant Islamic group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS.

    The Vice President therefore called on other countries affected by activities of the terrorists to put hands on deck in tackling the evil collaborations.

    Osinbajo spoke while receiving the Bangladeshi Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Abu Belal Muhammad, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    He said networking among terrorists groups had increased the need for countries to close ranks to counter the threats posed by their activities.

    He said, “We are concerned about terrorism not just within our borders, we have also seen the influence of terrorists across borders and how terrorist organisations have cooperated with each other.

    “We are aware for instance that some within our own borders are cooperating with ISIL and we think that this sort of evil collaborations must have a response from countries that share similar experiences and can present a credible force against terrorists.

    “Terrorism is a major problem and perhaps the most significant problem that the free world will face in the coming years.”

    On the Nigeria-Bangladesh relations, the Vice-President said improved cooperation between the Bangladeshi and Nigerian military would go a long way in curbing threats posed by terrorist groups within and around borders of the two countries.

    “We have benefitted a lot from some of your experiences in fighting insurgency in Bangladesh and we hope that we benefit even more from those experiences.

    “We have had similar problems with Boko Haram and I know that you have also had problems of some sort with terrorist groups within the borders of Bangladesh,” he added.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Bangladesh Army has pledged to support the Nigerian Armed Forces in the areas of training and capacity building to fight Boko Haram insurgents.

    Gen. Abubilal Shafiulhuq, Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Army, made the promise after being conducted round the Nigerian Army museum in Abuja on Monday.

     

  • N13bn probe: Osinbajo panel summons NIA finance officials

    …panel to commence hearing today

    The Prof. Yemi Osinbajo panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ayo Oke, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has dispatched letters of invitation to some NIA officials demanding they appear before it on Monday (today).

    The invited persons were also asked to come with some relevant documents, which would be submitted to the panel.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Oke is under probe for the NIA’s role in the seized $43.4m, N23m and £27,000 (N13bn) in the Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Lawal, on his part, was suspended in connection with a contract scandal in the Internally Displaced Persons camp in the North-East as alleged by a Senate ad hoc committee.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that both Oke and Lawal were suspended by Buhari on Wednesday last week.

    A probe panel, headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, was constituted to investigate allegations against the top government officials.

    The committee also has the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the National Security Adviser, Babagana Moguno, as members.

    Part of the tasks of the committee is to investigate why the NIA kept $43.4m, N23m and £27,000 (N13bn) in the Ikoyi house.

    The money was seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission based on a tip-off from a whistle-blower.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the suspended NIA DG had on Friday informed Osinbajo and the NSA that the money, which was originally, $289,202,382, emanated from the National Petroleum Investment Management Service on February 25, 2015, based on the instruction of the then President, Goodluck Jonathan.

    According to a report by The Punch, some of the invited officials from the NIA were aides to the suspended NIA DG.

    An anonymous source in the Presidency confirmed to The Punch: “We have invited some officials of the NIA to come and explain to us why such a huge amount of money should be kept outside a financial institution.

    “Some of those invited are from the finance department. The panel hopes to understand the workings of the NIA and how it spends cash relating to projects and security matters.

    “The invited persons will also explain what the money was spent on and what sort of security projects the NIA had done which required such a sum of money.”

    The source, however, added that the suspended NIA DG had not been officially invited by the probe panel.

    Meanwhile, the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has submitted his report on the seized N13bn to the Osinbajo committee.

    Magu has since appeared before the three-man committee to testify on the matter.

    A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that Magu said he had all reasons to believe that the N13bn ($43.4m, N23m and £27,000) was warehoused for suspicious reasons.

    He said, “It is true that Magu has appeared before the committee but it will be wrong to say that he was quizzed. That word sounded as if he is also being investigated.

    “The truth is that if not for the EFCC boss, that money was meant to be shared by some people,’’ the source said.