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Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • President Buhari presides over 3rd Ministerial Performance Review Retreat

    President Buhari presides over 3rd Ministerial Performance Review Retreat

    President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over the 3rd Ministerial Performance Review Retreat with the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila in attendance.

    Newsmen reports that others in attendance of the retreat are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and cabinet Ministers.

    Service and security chiefs, Permanent Secretaries and top government functionaries are also attending the retreat.

    Newsmen reports the candidate of the All Progressives Congress ((APC), Bola Tinubu and other presidential aides also attended the opening ceremony of the event.

    Kenyatta, is expected to present a keynote address as participants are expected to deliberate on the overview of the third year scorecard and summary of Ministerial/MDA performance during the retreat.

  • Osinbajo makes case for Africa to draw benefits from blue economy

    Osinbajo makes case for Africa to draw benefits from blue economy

    Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has called on African States, non-governmental organisations, private organisations and other stakeholders to synergise efforts at harnessing seabed resources to boost the continent’s Blue Economy.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Osinbajo made the call on Wednesday in Abuja in his keynote address at the 4th African Deep Seabed Resources (ADSR) Workshop organised by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in collaboration with the Federal Government, African Union (AU) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

    Prof Osinbajo said that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provided for all nations to explore and exploit mineral resources on the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for benefit of mankind.

    “Notably, various nations have drawn benefits from exploration and exploitation of minerals in the area. Countries such as Germany, India, Korea, China, Japan, UK, Jamaica and many others have signed various contracts for the explorations of minerals with ISA.

    “Unfortunately, no African country has either as a state or through its private contractors made any move in this direction. This is what gave impetus to the idea of African Deep Seabed Resources Workshop.

    “This is to also enlighten African countries on mineral exploitation opportunities which are abound not only on their continental shelves but beyond these boundaries.

    “In this regard, there is need for Nigeria and indeed African industrial stakeholders, private organisations, entities and NGOs to synergies efforts towards strengthening the engagement of African states in activities in the international seabed area.

    “This will significantly improve data awareness and sharing, advance technical capacity and technically enhance the decision making in Nigeria and African maritime domain,” Osinbajo said.

    According to him, the workshop will engender thought-provoking discussions and provide implementable decisions based on guidelines and also awake the consciousness of African states for the sustainable development of African Blue Economy through exploration of abandoned deep-seabed minerals.

    Osinbajo was represented at the event by the Minister of State for Transportation, Mr Ademola Adewole Adegoroye.

    Also speaking, the ISA’s Secretary General, Mr Michael Lodge, said the African Deep-Seabed Resources (ADSR) project was designed to promote international cooperation for sustainable development of African Deep-Seabed resources to support African Blue Economy.

    Lodge explained that the initiative of ISA was implemented in partnership with AU and NORAD.

    He said the objective of the project was to better inform the decision making process of African states in relation to deep-sea exploration, strengthen technical capacity and stimulate reflection and discussions.

    “The situation today is that Africa remains the only regional group that has not yet taken full advantage of the provisions of UNCLOS to take part in deep-sea mineral exploration. This need to change.

    “This is the reason why after taken office in 2017, I have made it a priority for ISA to seek to establish strategic partnership with relevant international regional organisations like AU and others to better identify and respond to specific needs of African States.

    “I sincerely hope that the discussions in the next couple of days would lay the foundation of the strategies for African States to make the best possible use of the opportunities available to them for their benefits,” Lodge said.

    Similarly, the Nigerian Permanent Representative at ISA, who doubles as Nigerian High Commissioner to Jamaica, Dr Maureen Tamuno, expressed appreciation to ISA for giving Nigeria the opportunity to serve as the Vice President of Council at 26th Council of ISA.

    “Our gathering here is to explore how African continent can fully benefit from this sustainable development of African blue economies through the development of deep-sea minerals.

    “Without a doubt, the potential benefit desirable from the sustainable development these sea resources could be a major driver for the development of African economies and growth, particularly Nigeria.

    “The deep seabed mining is relatively a new terrain. This workshop will create awareness about the importance and opportunities associated with the development of African continental shelves,” Tamuno said.

    Speaking, the Deputy Head of Mission in the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria, Ms Anita Krogan, said increase in population had also led to increase in the need for mineral resources.

    “In international context, ISA has a vital role to play. The ISA has the capacity to assist developing states, as well as the transfer of technology in seabed activities.

    “One of the purposes of the ADSR’s project is to create awareness of the potential benefits for African states in mining activities,” Krogan said.

    The worship attracted officials from National Boundary Commission, Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and many others.

  • Osinbajo wants African countries to explore seabed minerals

    Osinbajo wants African countries to explore seabed minerals

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says African countries must evolve strategies for the sustainable development of the continent’s blue economy through exploration and exploitation of seabed minerals.

    Osinbajo said this while declaring open the 4th Africa’s Deep Seabed Resources (ADSR) sub-Regional workshop in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The vice-president, who was represented by the Minister of state for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, said Nigeria was blessed with abundant deep seabed minerals ready for exploration.

    He said while countries like Germany, India, China, United Kingdom and Jamaica had signed various contracts for the explorations of seabed minerals, no African country had made any move in this direction.

    He, therefore, urged Nigeria to take the lead in Africa.

    The 3-day workshop was organised by the International Seabed Authority, in collaboration with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
    Other partners are the African Union, Ministry of Transportation, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Navy, among others.

    “The UN Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides for all nations to explore and exploit mineral resources on the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the common benefit of mankind.

    ”This is in accordance with regulatory framework provided by ISA.

    “There is the need for Nigeria and indeed Africa’s industry stakeholders, relevant organisations and private entities to synergise toward strengthening the engagement of African States in the activities undertaken in the international seabed area”, Osinbajo said.

    Meanwhile, the minister has reaffirmed Federal Government’s commitment toward developing the nation’s premier maritime education and training centre, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom .

    The minister disclosed this during his working visit to the Academy in company of the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Mr Michael Lodge and the Nigerian High Commissioner to Jamaica, Dr Maureen Tamuno, among others.

    Adegoroye described the learning environment as one of the best in the country, saying he was truly impressed with the learning facilities for practical training at the Academy.

    He promised that the Federal Government would continue to support the institution to grow to enviable  heights.

    The secretary-general of the International Seabed Authority, while addressing the Cadets of the Academy, said the Authority was responsible for managing the exploration of all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area.

    Lodge added that new job opportunities would be created in the future as mining vessels that would require new technologies would be stationed offshore.

    Earlier, the Rector of the Academy,retired  Commodore Duja Effedua, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Transportation and NIMASA for their unwavering support toward the realisation of its aspirations.

    The rector then pledged to continue to do his best to sustain the development of the institution.

    “We are excited to have you in our school today.

    ”Now, Nigeria has a maritime academy that is respected internationally, and for that we are grateful to the  ministry  and the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency”, he said.

  • APC Campaign Council List Amaechi, Zack Orji, 420 others

    APC Campaign Council List Amaechi, Zack Orji, 420 others

    The APC Presidential Campaign Council has released a 422 members list following weeks of postponements and anxiety.

    One of the talking point of the list is the absence of names of key party people including the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the former speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and others.

    The list however has names of political heavyweights including APC governors, ministers, lawmakers, ambassadors as well as serving and past public office holders.

    In the latest list released by the council’s Secretary, James Faleke in Abuja on Friday night, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, retained his position as Director-General just as Deputy Director-General (Operations), Adams Oshiomhole, and Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga.

    However, there are shocking omission of party stalwarts, many of whom have been at loggerheads or engaged in cold war with Tinubu over his preference for the contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket.

    They include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and one of Tinubu’s sweat merchant, Adebayo Shittu, who heads one of his biggest support groups — Asiwaju Tinubu-Shettima Coalition for Good Governance.

    While the camp of Osinbajo had distanced itself from the former Lagos governor after his emergence as winner of the APC presidential ticket, the duo of Dogara and Lawal had remained a perennial thorn in Tinubu’s flesh for selecting ex-Borno Governor Senator Kashim Shettima, a fellow Muslim, as running mate.

    Dogara had predicted on Tuesday that the adoption of a Muslim-Muslim ticket was a fruitless political effort that was “doomed to end in spectacular failure.”

    The ex-speaker made the statement while delivering his keynote address at a summit tagged ‘Meet The Church,’ organised by the Nigeria National Christian Coalition.

    Lawal, on the other hand, vowed that the introduction of a same-faith ticket by the APC was a deliberate plan to further create divisions in the north.

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    The disgruntled former SGF, who spoke during an interview on Arise Television, declared that he was working with about 40 Christian leaders in the north to ensure that the contentious APC ticket failed.

    Despite defending his principal stoutly on all fronts including live political television programmes, Shittu’s sin remained largely unknown.

    The inclusion of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who have been indicted of alleged anti-party activities in the last month has come as a surprise.

    While Amaechi had subtly accused Tinubu of financially inducing delegates for votes at the last Convention, Aregbesola was believed to have worked for the victory of the governor-elect of Osun State , Ademola Adeleke, at the expense of the incumbent and fellow party member, Adegboyega Oyetola.

    Faleke’s statement on Friday read, “We are pleased to announce the nominees of the leadership of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, as per enclosed. All nominees are kindly advised to pick their appointment letters from the undersigned on Monday, 26th September, 2022 at 12noon.

    “The venue is Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council on Plot 781, Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Area Abuja. All other members will be contacted by the leaders of their respective directorates.”

  • Osinbajo spotted wearing black “agbada” to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

    Osinbajo spotted wearing black “agbada” to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday was spotted dressed in black agbada while attending the state funeral for the late Queen Elizabeth ll at Westminster Abbey.

    Hundreds of world leaders and foreign dignitaries are gathered in the UK for the queen’s funeral including United States’ President Joe Biden.

    Nations not invited included Syria and Venezuela because London does not have normal diplomatic ties. Britain also did not invite representatives from Russia, Belarus or Myanmar after it imposed economic sanctions on those countries.

    The main service began shortly before 11am (10:00 GMT) at Westminster Abbey in central London, followed by a committal service at 4pm (15:00 GMT) in Windsor. A private service will be held at 7:30pm (18:30 GMT).

    Osinbajo departed Abuja for London on Saturday, September 17.

    Upon his arrival in London on Sunday, according to his media aide Laolu Akande, the vice president paid respects at the queen’s lying-in-state at Westminster.

    He also signed the condolence register, saying, “Nigeria joins government, people of UK, Commonwealth, and rest of the world in expressing our sincere condolence to the royal family on the passing of a monarch for all seasons. May the Lord bless her memory.”

    Prof Osinbajo was received by UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, James Cleverly.

    At the meeting, Cleverly expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s solidarity with the UK at its time of grief and both men discussed the interest of the British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, in deepening the relationship with Nigeria.

    On Sunday evening, Osinbajo and several other world leaders – including members of the Commonwealth, heads of state, governors-general, prime ministers, and foreign royal families – were received by King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla in Buckingham Palace.

    Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died aged 96 on September 8 at Balmoral, Scotland.

    Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022.

    She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and 15 at the time of her death.

  • Buhari, Aisha, Osinbajo jet out of Nigeria

    Buhari, Aisha, Osinbajo jet out of Nigeria

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday departed Abuja for London, UK,  to represent Nigeria at the state funeral for the late Queen Elizabeth ll.

    Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to depart Abuja on Sunday to attend the 77th General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA77).

    Mr Femi Adesina, Buhari’s aide and Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande disclosed this in separate statements on Saturday.

    According to Akande, the vice-president would join members of the Royal Family and other world leaders  at a number of events lined up for funeral.

    Members of the Commonwealth, Heads of State, Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and foreign royal families  will be at the ceremonies, including the funeral service scheduled to hold at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

    Ahead of the service, the vice-president will be among guests and dignitaries to be received by King Charles lll and Queen Consort Camilla, at a reception in Buckingham Palace, on Sunday.

    Earlier on that day, Osinbajo will hold a bilateral meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly.

    Queen Elizabeth ll was the Head of the Commonwealth and the longest serving British monarch. She passed on at 96 on Sept.  8 at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

    The vice-president will return to Nigeria after the state funeral on Monday.

    On the other hand, Adesina disclosed that President Buhari is going to address the UNGA on Sept. 21.

    “Aside his National Statement, the president will also participate in high level meetings and side events including the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum (NIEPF),” he stated.

    The forum is convened by Nigeria in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding. Adesina added that the president would also participate in the EFCC-NEPAD programme on combating illicit financial flows.

    “President Buhari will also hold strategic bilateral meetings with world leaders, renowned investors and heads of multinational organisations while in New York,’’ he added.

    The theme for the 77th session which opened on Tuesday, Sept. 13 is: “A watershed moment: Transformative solutions to interlocking challenges.”

    Key topics of discussion at the UNGA this year include the war in Ukraine, the global energy crisis, climate action, and ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The UNGA will also hold a special summit of transforming education. On the entourage of the president are his wife, Aisha, some governors, ministers and top government officials.

    The president is expected back in the country on Monday, Sept. 26.

  • Osinbajo arrives in Nairobi for Ruto’s inauguration

    Osinbajo arrives in Nairobi for Ruto’s inauguration

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has arrived in Nairobi, Kenya to represent Nigeria at the Kenyan presidential inauguration.

    The event, which comes up on Tuesday at Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi, will be Kenya’s fifth presidential inauguration.

    Osinbajo was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, by former Governor of Kwale County, Salim Mvurya, Nigerian Ambassador to Kenya, Yusuf Yumusa and other senior government officials.

    Deputy President, William Ruto was on Aug. 15, declared winner of Kenya’s presidential election held on Aug. 9.

    Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, said Ruto had won almost 7.18 million votes or 50.49 per cent, against 6.94 million or 48.85 per cent, for his rival, Raila Odinga.

    Kenya’s Supreme Court, on Sept. 5, upheld Rutho’s electoral victory.

    The vice-president is accompanied on the trip by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu.

    Nigeria and Kenya, both former British colonies, enjoy good diplomatic relationship and had signed agreements on trade and agriculture, among other areas of cooperation.

  • TNG Special Report: Nigeria seeks easy way out of N41. 6 trillion debt burden, plans to borrow more

    TNG Special Report: Nigeria seeks easy way out of N41. 6 trillion debt burden, plans to borrow more

    The Nigerian government has proposed a Debt-For-Climate (DFC) Swap deal, as an easy option out for its mounting public debt which peaked at N41.6 trillion in the first quarter of 2022.

    The DFC swap is believed to have the potential of becoming a useful instrument to expand the fiscal space for underfunded climate investments. This instrument represents an exchange of the existing debt contract with a new one, where the previous contract is normally discounted.

    Typically, the creditor country or institution agrees to forgive part of a debt, if the debtor country would pay the avoided debt service payment in a local currency into an escrow or any other transparent fund and the funds must then be used for agreed climate projects in the debtor country.”

    Delivering a lecture last Thursday at the Center for Global Development in Washington D.C, the U.S., Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said that if accepted, the swap will help solve many of the debt burden challenges in the country.

    “The proposed Debt-for-Climate swaps would be a very useful intervention and helpful as it will reduce debt burdens,” while advancing the Climate Change objectives of the international community,” Osinbajo said.

    Nigeria’s bloated debt portfolio is the outcome of decades-long economic mismanagement and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has projected that “the Nigerian government may spend nearly 100 percent of its revenue on debt servicing by 2026.

    The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning Zainab Ahmed, recently disclosed that, at N1.94 trillion, the cost of debt servicing had surpassed the government’s retained revenue of N1.63 trillion and the World Bank warned that the country’s debt, while seemingly sustainable, was “vulnerable and costly”.

    According to Ahmed, the federal government is yet planning to borrow over N11 trillion and sell national assets to finance the budget deficit in 2023. This amount is about the sum of N5.2 trillion and N6.258trillion which represents the budget deficit for 2021 and 2022.

    “We have been running a deficit budget for many years…Until the issues of personnel, overhead, and capital expenditure are properly addressed in the budget, borrowing would not stop,” Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO) Patience Oniha, told lawmakers last week.

    A performance report released by the government in July showed that despite higher oil prices, oil revenue underperformed due to significant oil production shortfalls such as shut-ins resulting from pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft as well as high petrol subsidy cost due to higher landing costs of imported products.

    In the last few years, the nation has relied heavily on the CBN’s deficit financing through its Ways and Means provision that allows the government to borrow for short-term or emergency finance. According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Ways and Means balance at the end of 2021 was N17.4 trillion but has now risen to approximately N20 trillion as of June 2022.

    Chief Executive of Economics Associates Ayo Teriba, said it would be extremely difficult to achieve a balanced budget under the fiscal condition and believes the recourse to debt funding is a matter of policy choice and not a necessity.

    “I think we would have to take it as the legacy of the administration; that it was an administration that handed over more or less 100 per cent deficit. The next regime would have to pay the debts accumulated by the regime and find the revenue to cover its expenditure,” Teriba said.

  • JUST IN: Osinbajo makes first trip out of Nigeria after surgery

    JUST IN: Osinbajo makes first trip out of Nigeria after surgery

    After meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors on Tuesday in Abuja, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, in the early hours of Wednesday travelled out of Nigeria for some important meetings in the United States of America (USA).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that this will be Osinbajo’s first international trip after recovering from the knee surgery he had, following a successful surgical operation and rehabilitation at the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.

    While in the U.S., VP Osinbajo will lead a federal government (FG) delegation to Washington DC, pitching the recently launched Energy Transition Plan, according to a tweet by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Office of the VP.

    The meetings, which start on Sept. 1, are to promote the plan and secure global support from the U.S. government, the private sector, and other development partners.

    The vice president is also scheduled to speak on Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan at the Centre for Global Development in Washington DC.

    “VP Osinbajo leaves Abuja today leading a FG delegation to Washington DC pitching the recently launched Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan. He will be meeting American VP Harris in the White House, World Bank Group President, other top US govt leaders and private sector interests,” Akande tweeted.

    Osinbajo is leading Nigeria’s Energy Transition Implementation Working Group (ETWG) on the U.S. mission for meetings.

    The ETWG, which is chaired by the vice president, comprises relevant ministers and other top government officials.

    Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, inaugurated the previous week at a global virtual event, is a homegrown, data-backed and multi-pronged strategy developed for the attainment of 2060 net-zero emissions.

    Their commitments are in 5 critical sectors — Power, Cooking, Oil and Gas, Transport and Industry.

    Nigeria needs 410 billion dollars to deliver the Transition Plan by 2060.

    Among other highlights, the plan needs at least 10 billion dollars per annum above business as usual spending for effective implementation.

    At the inauguration, the World Bank and a renewable energy organization – Sun Africa, pledged 1.5 billion dolars each, totaling an initial 3 billion dollars investment to support the implementation of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan.

    TNG reports that the Vice President was discharged from the hospital on July 25 following a successful surgical operation on July 16 and rehabilitation at the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Following the surgery and recovery, Osinbajo only attended official functions virtually. He was first physically present at an official government engagement at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on August 24.

    TNG reports that the vice president’s delegation to the U.S. include Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning,  Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu.

    Others are Minister of Environment,  Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General/CEO for Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi.

    Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Uzoma Emenike, will also join the delegation.

    The vice president will return to Abuja early next week.

  • Why we visited VP Osinbajo – APC Govs

    Why we visited VP Osinbajo – APC Govs

    Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, received the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors.

    Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Tuesday, said the governors were on a felicitation visit to the vice- president as he recovered from the leg surgery done in July.

    The vice-president expressed his appreciation to the governors for their visit and good wishes.

    He harped on the need for urgent measures to address issues on the economy and the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

    The vice-president and the governors agreed to engage the pressing issues further with a view to bringing fast resolution for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

    “We all need to work together on these critical issues. We need to think through things, and we need to do it fast,” he said.

    Osinbajo also commended the expertise of Nigerian doctors, and the availability of cutting-edge medical facilities existing in the country.

    The vice-president regretted that doctors were restrained by regulations from advertising and as a result many people were unaware of the level of quality medical services available locally.

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, spoke with State House correspondents shortly after the meeting with the vice-president.

    He said that the governors were excited that the vice-president had recovered from a serious medical procedure that he had.

    Bagudu said the governors appreciated Osinbajo, particularly for showing confidence, yet again, in the Nigerian medical establishment as he had the procedure in Nigeria.

    “We had the opportunity to ask him how capable the team that helped out was and how he would recommend that and how many Nigerians should take steps to find out the amazing opportunities and capacity that are in our medical establishments.

    “We felicitated with him and we thanked him for his leadership of the National Economic Council,’’ Bagudu said.

    Present at the meeting were Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa.

    Others were Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara; Abubakar Bello of Niger, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun,  Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state, and the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi, Kelechi Igwe.