News From Nigeria
In continuation of its determination to touch the lives of communities and strong commitment’s to its Corporate Social Responsibility in its operational sites, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has again donated boreholes and toilets to schools on its Abuja-Kano Road Project corridor.
At Government Girls Secondary School, Yadakwari, the excitement that enveloped the entire school made up of over 800 students caught up with the teachers and community leaders who also sang praises of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc “for its very healthy sense of Corporate Social Responsibility by which it gives back to benefit its host communities.”
After a brief introduction by the Leader of Julius Berger CSR team at the event, Engr. Yusuf Ibrahim, the Principal of the school, Wasila Shuaibu, who appreciated the gesture stated: “We are very pleased with the outstanding contributions made by Julius Berger. We now have borehole and toilets in our school premises. To others, it might be a small one, but to us here at Government Girl’s Secondary School, it is a very big move made by the company. On behalf of the Management and students, we say a very big thank you to the construction giant for finally putting smiles on our faces.”
The Village Head of Yadakwari, Mohammed Daniya Ibrahim, who was also present at the event said, “Good water has been one major problem of the Community and I’m extremely grateful to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for extending its effort to provide us with good water that will not just benefit the school, but the Community at large. Now, we can comfortably have good water to take home to our children and families.”
At the Government Junior Secondary School Co-exist, Tariwa, Kano State, it was also commendation galore for Julius Berger’s CSR efforts even as students and National Youth Corp Members danced and sang praises to Julius Berger, displaying appreciation placards.
The Head Teacher of the school, Mallam Iliyasu Ibrahim, was effusively full with thanks and prayers for Julius Berger. “…on behalf of the Staff, Parents and the Pupils of Government Junior Secondary School, Tariwa, I say thank you for what you have done for us, and we pray that God in His infinite mercies bless you richly. The company shall grow higher and God’s favour will not elude you.” An excited Corp member, Mr. James Dantata, said, “we really love the work done here by Julius Berger, the company has a way of doing its Corporate Social Responsibility often and taken it to the rural areas as well. Thank you for bringing quality water to us here. We will also like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Management of Julius Berger, please accept our sincere appreciation and thank you for your kind CSR gesture.”
The Representative of the Village Head of Tariwa, Ado Lawal, who was also present at the event said, “The Village Head extends his gratitude to the management of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for the newly constructed borehole and toilets. Words won’t be able to show how happy we feel. I pray God rewards the company and continuously bless the works of their hands. Once again, Thank You.”
The Julius Berger delegation to the event was led by the AKR Project Coordinator, Engr. Yusuf Ibrahim. Other JBN Officials included, Content Writer, Corporate Communications, Michael Ashofor; and Press Relations Officer, Olivia Uzoma.
Stakeholders in the politics of the North-East geo-political zone on Thursday reacted to the spate of criticisms and outright falsehood against the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, saying it was in bad faith.
The leaders described Omisore as a man of profound moral rectitude.
The leaders in a statement in Damaturu, capital of Yobe State, said influential Yoruba leaders should rise in condemnation of the uncomplimentary remarks on Omisore, crude propaganda and the obviously desperate moves to please his paymaster, a former South-South Governor and a major donor to the Nobel laureate’s organisation that twisted the minds of many young Nigerians most of whom are now adults regretting toeing the path of Prof Soyinka in their teenage years.
‘’The current posturing of Prof. Wole Soyinka is totally in bad taste and drips with malice .He is attacking Omisore on account of the inability of his benefactor to hijack the national leadership of the party, which he fears will deny the former South-South governor the opportunity to become the presidential candidate of the party without any positive track record of performance in governance.
The statement by the chairman of North-East Unity and Advancement Forum (NEUAF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa, commended the APC National Secretary for his invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s development and the challenging task of nation-building.
‘’Senator Omisore is a patriot, a thinker and a fighter for good causes’’
The statement cited Omisore for honesty, industry and patriotism.
The group also praised President Muhammadu Buhari and the esteemed members of the ruling party for electing Omisore the party’s National Secretary.
The statement emphasized Omisore’s rich and inspiring profile, meritorious services to the nation and humanity, peaceful disposition and gentility.
The leaders accused Soyinka of dabbling into politics, threatening thunder against Omisore, whilst encouraging mediocrity and protecting a former South-South governor for supporting him in the last ten years.
‘’We know the tactics of Wole Soyinka. He likes to grandstand as an independent man. Many believe he is speaking for the people, campaigning for good governance and quality leadership while the reverse is the case. There are many questions begging for answers in Soyinka’s relationship with the ex-South-South governor for anyone to take him seriously’’
‘’Wole Soyinka knows that his sponsor is a weakling who obviously finds himself where he doesn’t belong’’
They argued that Soyinka’s recent remark on Omisore was borne out of selfishness but warns that Nigeria is not for sale.
‘’The energy and vigour with which Soyinka undertook a fierce political crusade against the APC National Secretary left no one in doubt that his target was to divide the ruling party, draw Omisore into a controversy and then distract him’’
The leaders urged Soyinka to stop chasing shadows that would definitely not help the cause of a current minister and former governor in the South-South geo-political zone.
‘’We have watched in astonishment how Soyinka turned himself into such a burden to the former South-South governor’’
Wole Soyinka recently lashed out at Omisore on account of the choice of the ruling party to elect the former Osun State deputy governor its National Secretary.
‘’Wole Soyinka ought to be more decent with his choices of words in addressing Omisore and should not undermine the fact that his sycophancy might land him into trouble’’
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “enforce the judgment by the ECOWAS Court of Justice compelling your government to delete the offence of ‘insulting or stalking public officials online’ from the Cybercrime Act.”
SERAP urged him to “urgently send an executive bill to the National Assembly to repeal the unlawful provisions, and reform all laws, which are inconsistent and incompatible with freedom of expression and media freedom.”
The judgment, delivered by the court last week in Accra, Ghana followed the suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/09/19 brought by SERAP.
SERAP also urged him to “direct Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to withdraw all pending charges of ‘insulting or stalking public officials online’ against activists, critics and journalists, and immediately ensure their release from unlawful detention.”
SERAP urged him to ensure that “those who have faced unfair prosecutions under the unlawful provisions receive adequate compensation.”
In the open letter dated 2 April, 2022 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “This judgment is a victory for many Nigerians who continue to face harassment, intimidation and unfair prosecutions solely for peacefully exercising their human rights online.”
The provisions of section 24 of the Cybercrime Act among others criminalise sending or causing to be sent an “offensive, insulting or annoying” message via a computer system or network.” The offence is punishable including by a fine of up to N7,000,000.00 or imprisonment of up to 3 years or both.
SERAP had argued before the ECOWAS Court that, “The Federal Government and several state governments have used the vaguely worded provisions of the Cybercrime Act to trample on the rights to freedom of expression and information of bloggers, journalists, activists, and social media users.”
In its judgment, the court agreed, and ruled that “section 24 of Cybercrime Act is inconsistent and incompatible with Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”
The court then ordered the Federal Government to “amend section 24 of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act in accordance with Nigerian obligations under Article 1 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
The letter, read in part: “The immediate enforcement and implementation of the judgment by your government will be a victory for the rule of law, the right to freedom of expression and media freedom online. This will improve citizens’ participation in their own government, and provide an impetus for the anti-corruption fight.”
“By implementing the judgment, your government will be demonstrating Nigeria’s leadership within the ECOWAS sub-region, and sending a powerful message to other countries to embrace the rule of law and human rights.”
“With the ECOWAS Court judgment, all federal and state authorities must now stop using the provisions of section 24 of the Cybercrime Act to target, harass, intimidate, arbitrarily arrest and detain and unfairly prosecute social media users, activists, and journalists who express views perceived to be critical of governments.”
“SERAP notes that Article 15(4) of the ECOWAS Treaty makes the Judgment of the Court binding on Member States, including Nigeria. Also, Article 19(2) of the 1991 Protocol provides that the decisions of the Court shall be final and immediately enforceable.”
“Furthermore, non-compliance with the judgment of the Court can be sanctioned under Article 24 of the Supplementary Protocol of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, and Article 77 of the ECOWAS Treaty.”
“SERAP trusts that you will see compliance with this judgment as a central aspect of the rule of law; an essential stepping stone to constructing a basic institutional framework for legality, constitutionality. We therefore look forward to your positive response and action on the judgment.”
“The judgment read by Hon. Justice Gberi-De Quattara (Presiding Judge), Hon. Justice Dupe Atoki (Member) and Hon. Justice Keikura Bangura (Member), chronicled details of Nigerian government officials using the Cybercrime Act, particularly its section 24 as a pretext to harass, intimidate, detain, prosecute and imprison activists, journalists, bloggers, and social media users.”
“In its judgement, the ECOWAS Court held that ‘The court has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit. In a plethora of decisions, the court has upheld that the mere allegation of human rights violations is sufficient to invoke this human rights mandate pursuant to Article 9 (4) of the Supplementary Protocol.’”
“In view of the fact that this application is premised on human rights violations pursuant to Article 9(4) of the supplementary protocol, the court holds that it has jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit.”
“According to the ECOWAS Court, ‘The allegation of SERAP before the Court for determination on merit is whether the provision of the Cybercrime Act has violated the right to freedom of expression, information, opinion, and privacy in contravention of Article 9(1) and (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.’”
“The ECOWAS Court then stated that, ‘Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act is not in conformity with Article 9 of the African Charter and Article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. As for reparation, Nigerian Government is ordered to amend section 24 of the Cybercrime Act, in accordance with the obligations under Article 1 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights.’”
“SERAP also notes that by virtue of Article 24(4) of the Protocol A/P.1/7/91 relating to the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice as amended by the Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/01/05 in January 2005, every member state of the Economic Community of West African States is required to designate a National Authority for the enforcement of the judgments of the Community Court of Justice.”
“Pursuant to the provisions of the article 24 of the Protocol of the Community Court, the Federal Government decided in 2014 to designate the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as the Competent National Authority for the enforcement of the decisions of the court in Nigeria.”
The letter was copied to Mr Malami.
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
3/4/2022
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202
PRESIDENT BUHARI HAILS OSI OF OWU KINGDOM, CHIEF FATAI,
President Muhammadu Buhari warmly felicitates with Chief Fatai Olaniyi Adegbenro, Osi of Owu Kingdom and Baaloro of Egbaland, on his 80th birthday, April 3, 2022.
The President joins family, friends and associates of the leader and administrator in celebrating the milestone, heralded by many years of service to the nation and humanity.
President Buhari extols Chief Adegbenro for always putting the interest of the nation first in his undertakings, willingly counseling leaders on the right path to honour, dignity and unity of the country.
As the revered leader turns 80, the President prays for his good health and strength.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 2, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI GREETS EVANGELIST EBENEZER OBEY AT 80
President Muhammadu Buhari rejoices with music superstar and Evangelist, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey on the occasion of his 80th birthday, April 3, 2022.
The President pays tribute to the musician, who used his art and skills to fly Nigeria’s flag round the world, bringing joy and merriment to people with his sonorous voice, and didactic songs, for over six decades.
President Buhari remarks that though he is from Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, Obey’s music has been a blessing not only to the entire Southwest but he has garnered tremendous recognition and adulation nationally and internationally.
He has used his music to champion Government programmes such as:
#Change of lane in 1972 (Keep Right)
# Change to the Naira (Naira/Kobo)
# Operation Feed the Nation, and many others.
The President notes that the musician/ preacher has sang on virtually every area of human endeavour and activity with countless gold discs and many platinum discs to his credit, leading to being honored with the prestigious award of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2001.
President Buhari lauds the fact that on 7th of July, 2014, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State conferred on Chief Commander Obey the status of Professor of Music, as a visiting lecturer in the Department of English and Performing Arts of the University.
Successfully blending the secular and spiritual, the President urges the younger generation to borrow a leaf from the musician, who was formally ordained into the ministry on his 50th birthday on the 3rd of April, 1992. He is the General Overseer of Decross Gospel Mission, Lagos and the President of Ebenezer Obey Evangelistic Ministries.
President Buhari wishes the celebrant longer life, good health, and further service to God and humanity.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
April 2, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI WELCOMES RAMADAN FASTING, ASKS MUSLIMS TO FEED THE POOR
President Muhammadu Buhari joins world leaders in welcoming the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting and intense devotion for Muslims.
In a message to Nigerians and Muslims all over the world, the President said the period offers a unique opportunity to ”feel the hunger experienced by the poor so as to feel what it is like to be deprived and marginalized.”
“Muslims,” the President emphasized “should seek greater personal discipline, which is necessary for the realization of a great nation.”
He advised Muslim elite against food waste and extravagant spending while others face hunger and destitution, urging that they should care for their neighbours, the poor and the marginalized.
He also called for prayers for peace in the country and beyond, and for healing and harmony throughout the world.
He wished all Muslims a successful completion of the 30-day fasting period.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 1, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI WELCOMES $200M AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT CENTRE BY MICROSOFT, SAYS NIGERIA READY TO LEAD IN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja said Nigeria stands poised to welcome more initiatives and investments in digital technology, while appreciating Microsoft for an engineering hub, African Development Centre, worth $200 million.
Receiving the President of Microsoft Corporation, Brad Smith, at the State House, accompanied by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the President said:
“I have been informed that the African Development Centre in Nigeria is Microsoft’s first engineering hub in Africa as the current investment stands at about $200 million.
“I have also been informed of Microsoft’s skilling initiative that aims to train five million citizens and provide 27,000 jobs over the next three years. These initiatives are commendable and I urge you to expand them and continue to prioritize Nigeria as you roll out your global initiatives.’’
President Buhari told the visiting Microsoft team that as the largest economy and most populous country in Africa, Nigeria was positioned to play a strategic role in the global technology ecosystem and seek the right partnerships to harness the potentials.
He said one of such key partnerships was in the area of capacity building.
This administration, according to the President, had shown great commitment in providing conducive environment for investors and the massive jump in the Global Ease of Doing Business Ranking was proof that the efforts were yielding positive results.
“Our emphasis on the development of our Digital Economy has also positioned the sector as a prominent factor in the Nigerian economy. As the fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy in 2020, the Information and Communications Technology sector played a very important role in supporting our country to exit the recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are keen to build on the momentum as we continue to implement our National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, along with other related policies.’’
Apart from partnership in the area of skills building, President Buhari said he looked forward to further partnerships that will support the digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem, with regard to emerging technologies.
“I believe that this meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss how the Nigerian government can support the growth of your business here and how Microsoft can contribute to the growth of our economy through the active support of our policies and programmes,’’ he added.
President Buhari said he launched the Nigerian National Broadband Plan on the 19th of March 2020, with the aim of expanding broadband access across Nigeria and Microsoft’s connectivity initiative aligns with the plan.
“I believe it would be very useful and mutually beneficial to both Microsoft and Nigeria if your connectivity project is expanded beyond the current four locations in this country.
“Emerging technologies play a key role in digital transformation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a number of indigenous companies have developed very useful solutions. We are willing to partner with Microsoft to make Nigeria the epicenter for innovative emerging technology in Africa.’’
The President commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and all industry stakeholders for their support for the sector.
“In order to sustain the momentum, I further direct that you and other stakeholders in the technology ecosystem keep government fully informed of your ongoing and proposed activities that support the growth of our digital economy.
“We have the potential of becoming your most lucrative market in Africa. As such, we urge you to continue to support the development of our digital economy. We also urge you to step up your Corporate Social Responsibility programmes and support for Research and Development that will enhance your services in Nigeria and on the African continent,’’ the President said.
In his remarks, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy said he represented President Buhari at the commissioning of the African Development Centre, adding that Microsoft had over 200 Nigerians working for them in the country, and Seattle.
Prof. Pantami noted that 320,000 Nigerians have also been trained on digital skills by the technology company.
The President of Microsoft and Vice Executive Chairman said the company will keep creating jobs to help build technology that will change the world, noting that the “multi-tasking approach’’ also stretches to digital infrastructure.
“We pledge to train five million people in Nigeria in the future,’’ Smith said, noting “60,000 people had already enrolled for courses while 300,000 had completed various courses.’’
The President of Microsoft said the company had gone into partnership with other companies to increase Internet and broadband penetration, while efforts have been advanced in innovating technology that will fight corruption and preserve cultural heritages, like languages.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 1, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI APPROVES RECONSTITUTION OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LABOUR STUDIES
Following the expiration of the tenure of the former Board of the National Institute for Labour Studies, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of the new Board as follows:
The Council will be inaugurated by the Supervising Minister of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, on a date to be communicated to all appointees.
Their appointment is for a period of four years.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media and Publicity)
March 31, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI FELICITATES WIFE OF FORMER HEAD OF STATE, MARYAM ABACHA AT 75
President Muhammadu Buhari sends warm greetings to wife of former Head of State, Mrs Maryam Abacha on her 75th birthday, congratulating the former President of Nigeria Army Officers Wives’ Association (NAOWA), 1985-1990, on the milestone.
The President notes the warmth, large-hearted and charitable works of the matriarch of Abacha family, who used every God-given opportunity to reach out to the poor and underprivileged, formalizing her good intentions by setting up a historic health institution like National Hospital for Women and Children, which was later turned to the National Hospital, Abuja.
President Buhari congratulates Mrs Abacha, her family and friends on the auspicious occasion of her 75th birthday, affirming that her initiative and leadership transformed many lives across the country, particularly wives of military officers, girl-child, rural women and children.
The President extols the former first lady for leading campaigns and funding education and self-improvement skills for women, opening up opportunities in Small Medium Scale Enterprises, operating farms and encouraging many into agriculture, and inspiring the African First Ladies Peace Mission, Poverty Alleviation Programme, National Programme on Immunisation, Family Support Programme, Family Support Basic Education Programme and Family Economic Advancement Programme.
President Buhari prays for the wellbeing of Mrs Abacha and her family.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 30, 2022
April 1, 2022
Press Statement
PDP Suspends Anambra State Congress
…Extends Sale of Forms
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its Anambra State Congress which was earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, April 2, 2022 to elect new State Executive Officers for the Party in Anambra State,
A new date for the PDP Anambra State Congress will be communicated as soon as it is decided.
Meanwhile the sale of Forms for the Anambra State Congress has been extended. A new date for the closure of the sale of Form will also be communicated.
The PDP regrets the inconveniences the announced suspension of the Anambra State PDP Congress may have caused.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
South-South women drum support for Akpabio
South-South women on Friday described the threat to issue a warrant of arrest against Senator Godswill Akpabio as a ploy to coerce the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to toe an odd line and the Federal Government into accepting to pay for inflated, bogus and fictitious projects in the past.
‘’This is a threatening measure designed to retard the progress of the region, strip the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of the transparency qualities it had developed in the last two years and return it to its most corrupt days’’.
They also commended stakeholders in the Niger Delta region for joining hands with Akpabio to lift the region high.
In a statement in Asaba by the spokesperson of the South-South Women Political Front (SSWPF), Dr. Doris Ogba, the women described Akpabio as a transformational figure, towering statesman and a visionary hero.
They commended the former Akwa Ibom State governor for initiating programmes and projects that directly benefited the people in various areas such as security, health, education, roads, housing, electrification, transportation, agriculture and tourism
The well respected women applauded Akpabio for redirecting the region on to the path of development.
‘’Senator Godswill Akpabio is a thoughtful, decent and progressive fellow. His humility is boundless’’.
Particularly, the women scolded political detractors for throwing sand in the gears of the current administration to transform the region, making misleading statements and orchestrating a campaign of calumny against Akpabio, with a view to impugn his integrity.
The statement emphasized Akpabio’s politics of performance, virtue in waiting, deep appetite for change, rapid infrastructure development and peace in the Niger Delta region.
‘’The Wailing Women of the Niger Delta, The Integrity Friends for Truth and Peace Initiative (TIFPI) and others are spoilers’’ the statement added.
March 30, 2022
Press Statement
2023: PDP Exposes Plans by Buhari Presidency, APC to Alter Electoral Act
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts Nigerians of a clandestine plot by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to alter the newly passed Electoral Act 2022 to introduce clauses that will compromise the 2023 general elections.
The APC, having realized that it is running out of time and cannot meet up with the already released electoral timetable now seeks to frustrate and derail the on-going electoral process.
The PDP has it on good authority that the Buhari Presidency has perfected plots to use the APC leadership in the National Assembly to orchestrate an amendment to the Electoral Act to create opening for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to alter its already released 2023 Election Timetable and Schedule of Activities to accommodate the APC.
Our Party has information about how the APC has been mounting pressure on INEC to push forward the already scheduled dates for the 2023 general elections.
The PDP vehemently rejects this plot by the APC which amounts to shifting the goal post in the middle of the game and cautions INEC to resist such heinous design against our democracy.
The election timetable has already been released, political parties have commenced processes, Nigerians have since set their minds on the election dates to vote out the APC and there is no going back on that resolve.
The PDP therefore cautions the Buhari Presidency and the APC leadership in the National Assembly to note that any attempt to alter the timetable is an invitation to serious political crisis in the country as Nigerians will firmly resist them.
While directing all PDP members in the National Assembly to be vigilant and firmly resist this plot, our Party also calls on all lovers of democracy; the Civil Society, the media, Organized Labour and the International Community to stand against this attempt by the APC to derail the democratic process.
The PDP will not hesitate to call out millions of our members, teeming supporters of our Party and Nigerians at large should the APC continue in this nefarious scheme.
The APC should have nobody but itself to blame. It must bear the full consequences of its recklessness, arrogance, disregard for rules, order and gross violation of its own constitution.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
March 30, 2022
Press Statement
Extension of Sales of Forms and Rescheduling of Screening Exercises
The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the extension of sales of Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for all elective offices in the 2023 general elections from the initial date of Friday, April 1, 2022 to a new date of Friday, April 8, 2022.
In the same vein, the last day for the return of already completed Forms as well as the Screening Exercise for both the State House of Assembly and National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) have been rescheduled as follows:
Last Date For Submission of Already Completed Forms:
Screening of Aspirants:
All other dates remain as already published.
For the avoidance of doubt, the last day for purchase of all Forms is now fixed for FRIDAY, April 8, 2022.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
Press Statement
Wike’s Declaration For Office Of President, Timely, Redemptive – Dekor
Rt. Hon Dumnamene Robinson Dekor has applauded Governor Nyesom Wike’s declaration to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, describing it as most timely, to save Nigeria from further assaults from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Rt. Hon Dekor, member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, and Chairman House Committee on Host Communities said the depth of economic downturn in Nigeria occasioned by the lack of vision and the ineptitude of the APC leadership has made it necessary to have a president with the capacity of Gov Wike to stop the country from total collapse.
According to the federal lawmaker, one time Commissioner of Works and Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, the antecedents of Gov Wike qualify him as the best man for the job especially in this critical time of the nation’s chequered political history.
Gov Wike’s developmental strides in Rivers State since he took oath of office in 2015, the Ogoni-born politician noted, have launched the state into the league of best democratically led and developed in the country and could be replicated in all parts of Nigeria if given the opportunity to occupy the number one seat in the country.
“Without mincing words and if we can be true to ourselves, there is every need to change the country’s present narratives. The Nigerian citizens are dying per minute per hour of hunger, hardship, frustrations and many more are lost to banditry, kidnappers, terrorist attacks, armed robbery etc due to the collapse of the nation’s security architecture. To turn the economy around and get Nigeria walking again, a man with the capacity and the political will, a detribalized and selfless leader is the person we need. In all of these, I am most convinced that the person the cap fits is His Excellency, Chief Barr Nyesom Wike,” Rt. Hon Dekor declared.
The lawmaker who wants Nigerians not to miss this golden opportunity said he welcomed Gov Wike’s boldness and submission of himself to carry the burden of rebuilding Nigeria, and also pledged his unwavering support and that of his constituents to Gov Wike’s presidential bid.
Signed
Rt. Hon. Dum Dekor Media Team
Press Statement
PDP Dissolves Kano State, LG, Ward Excos, Sets Up Caretaker Committee
Following the recent developments in the Kano State Chapter of our great Party, the National Working Committee (NWC), after careful deliberations and extensive consultations, on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and pursuant to Sections 29(2)(b) and 31(2)(e) has dissolved the State, Local Government and Ward Executive Committees in Kano State with immediate effect.
In their place the NWC has approved the appointment of the Kano State Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the Party in the State for a period of 90 (ninety) days beginning from today, March 29, 2022, pursuant to Section 24(2) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended).
The Members of the Kano State Caretaker are as follows:
The PDP urges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in Kano State to remain united and focused for the task ahead.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
NIGERIA MUST OPERATE EFFICIENT TAX ADMINISTRATION TO BOOST REVENUE, SAYS PRESIDENT BUHARI
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja expressed his administration’s commitment to an efficient tax administration in order to improve tax revenue in the country.
Declaring open the second National Tax Dialogue Week, the President expressed concern at the current tax system in the country, characterised by fragmented administration, multiple and sometimes, overlapping taxes.
”In most tax-efficient nations, tax administrative processes and practices are harmonised within a single system.
”One key deliverable of this year’s tax dialogue is to promote synergy in tax administration among the different tiers of government.
”Harmonising taxpayer identification across the country is a good start; but we must do more to promote ease of doing business (including ease of tax compliance) in Nigeria.
”On our part, we have started by clarifying in the 2021 Finance Act that FIRS is the sole authority to administer tax for the Federal Government.
”This clarification became necessary in order to avoid taxpayers being burdened with multiple tax compliance obligations towards different agencies of the same government.
”Multiplicity of tax administration is as undesirable as multiplicity of taxes; it creates uncertainty and instability; and above all, it is inefficient,” the President said at the Dialogue themed ”Tax Harmonisation for Enhanced Revenue Generation.’’
In the face of dwindling revenues from commodities, President Buhari told participants at the Tax Dialogue that there is an urgent need to maximise domestic revenue within the extant tax policy and laws.
He, therefore, proposed improved tax revenue for the country which will not necessarily impose new tax rates on Nigerians.
”We all know that good intentions are not enough as they simply cannot pay for infrastructure, security or social amenities. We must therefore improve tax revenue without necessarily raising new taxes.
”Revenue from commodities, including crude oil, are too volatile and unreliable. Therefore, I pledge government’s support for any viable initiative for improving tax revenue that should emanate from this dialogue,’’ he said.
On Nigeria’s Tax-to-GDP ratio, the President declared that the country also needs to do more in securing a buoyant domestic revenue base of the country that bequeaths an enduring economic foundation, political stability and social harmony to the next generation.
”According to the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in its Revenue Statistics in Africa 2021, the average ratio of Tax-to-GDP of 30 selected African countries in 2019 was 16.6% while Nigeria recorded a mere 6.0%.
”It is obvious that much needs to be done in the area of tax revenue mobilisation.
”It is my expectation that the discussions at this 2022 National Tax Dialogue will be focused on what we must do to maximise legitimate revenue collection and massively improve the Tax-to-GDP ratio. ”
On the importance of the Tax Dialogue, which was instituted by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), President Buhari noted that the first edition in 2021 was very productive and integral in influencing tax policy, as well as legislative and administrative changes that were introduced last year.
He added that the most important testament to the success of the first edition is the fact that the FIRS achieved 100% of its collection target in 2021 and surpassed N6 trillion revenue threshold for the very first time.
Congratulating FIRS on the achievement, the President assured Nigerians that the present administration would continue ”to maintain prudent management of our collective resources.”
In her remarks, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed said the dialogue was designed to engage stakeholders in the Nigerian tax-space in meaningful discourse so as to glean information, ideas and experience in the aid of policy formulation and improved tax environment.
According to the minister, the main tax revenue objectives of the Federal Government include developing an economy that does not lean too heavily on resource wealth.
She explained that Nigeria’s economic history provides enough facts that resource wealth alone cannot lead to sustainable development, self-sufficiency and sustainable.
The other tax revenue objectives are:
”To institutionalise a healthy tax culture among Nigerians. The right attitude towards taxation will enable every Nigerian to become a co-guardian of the tax system and the commonwealth.
”To create a participatory system of taxation whereby the taxpayers and other stakeholders understand and accept that they have equal stakes in the tax system.”
The Chairman FIRS, Muhammad Nani, thanked the President for his directive to government agencies to enable FIRS connect to their ICT systems; noting that this singular pronouncement softened the grounds for the Service to roll-out its system for seamless acquisition of data.
”We are confident that by the time all the agencies achieve 100% compliance with the President’s directive, Nigeria shall be the envy of other countries for tax compliance and domestic tax revenue mobilization,” he said.
On the remittances of the Service to the Federation Account, the FIRS Chairman announced that h statistics from March 2022 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting show that out of a total revenue of N803.072 billion from all revenue agencies, tax revenue contributed by FIRS was N513.522 billion (63.94%) while non-tax revenue from all other agencies amounted to N289.55 billion (36.06%).
The Chairman noted that that the average tax or FIRS contribution to FAAC in 2021 was 59.45%.
”I mentioned in my welcome address to the 2021 edition of the Tax Dialogue that the world had begun a tax race of which Nigeria must be a winner.
”The revenue profile of the country in 2021 has clearly shown that our continued survival as a nation depends on tax revenue.
”This trend is set to continue for some time to come. As such, all hands must be on deck to support the tax system and make it function efficiently.
”However, it is surprising that some people have begun to play politics with tax revenue generation.
”We humbly invite the President to step-in to dissuade political tax gladiators to sheath their swords. Tax revenue is an inherently apolitical issue; it should be treated as such by all, irrespective of their political leaning, ” he said.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 29, 2022
March 29, 2022
Press Statement
Kaduna Train Attack: Life is Near Worthless Under APC, Buhari – PDP
…Urges Nigerians to Unite to Save the Nation.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in the strongest terms the continuing insecurity and near worthlessness of the lives of Nigerians under the insensitive and cruel All Progressives Congress (APC) government as evidenced by the vicious terrorist attack on innocent Nigerians travelling in a Kaduna State-bound train on Monday, March 28, 2022.
The successful ambush of the train on the Abuja-Kaduna service by terrorists who killed many Nigerians, abducted scores of others in an operation that lasted for over an hour, again confirms PDP’s stand that the security command and control coordination structure under President Buhari has collapsed.
More alarming is the fact this particular attack took place within two days of the deadly terrorist attack on the Kaduna International Airport on Saturday, March 26, 2022 in the same Kaduna State controlled by an APC government.
The PDP insists that the complicity of silence by the Buhari administration on the Saturday’s airport attack emboldened the terrorists to assault the train; a development which also validates PDP’s position that the APC administration has conceded sovereignty over parts of our country to terrorists.
The continued silence and obvious helplessness of the Buhari Presidency on these deadly attacks on our nation’s key transportation sectors raises apprehensions of possible complicity at the very top level of the APC administration.
It is callous and unfortunate that the APC government, in its usual insensitive nature attempted to suppress information by keeping mute over 24 hours after this horrendous attack which claimed the lives of promising Nigerians among whom was a young medical doctor, Dr. Chinelo Megafu who was fatally shot in the ill-fated train travel.
Nigerians can recall the confession by a former APC leader that these assailants are terrorists brought from neighboring countries by the APC as “political mercenaries” to rig the 2019 general elections.
In 2021 over 10,366 Nigerians were killed by terrorists with over 2,900 abductions in countless terrorism related attacks in which no fewer than 964 security agents were killed, as revealed by SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence Report published in the Guardian Newspaper of Thursday, January 3, 2022.
Those killed in 2021 represents a scary 47% increase in the 7063 massacred by terrorists in 2020.
More alarming is that the killing spree has continued in 2022 unabated. More than 536 Nigerians have been killed by terrorists since the beginning of this year. In the first three weeks of January 2022, about 486 Nigerians were killed by terrorists as reported in Premium Times of Sunday, January 23, 2022.
Again, only last week, 50 innocent Nigerians were reportedly hacked to death by terrorists in the same Kaduna State!
This is beside the hundreds of Nigerians, including students who were abducted by terrorists with many of them still languishing in their abductors’ den.
The question to ask is, how many more Nigerians can our nation afford to lose because of the recklessness and arrogance in failure of the APC? Nigeria bleeds, families are hurting, parents mourn and agonize, yet the APC government is on vacation.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
March 28, 2022
Press Statement
PDP Holds Anambra State Repeat LGA Congress, Tuesday, March 29 …State Congress to Hold On Saturday, April 2, 2022
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slated Tuesday, March 29, 2022 for the conduct of Repeat Party Congress in 12 Local Government Areas of Anambra State to elect Local Government Area Executive Officers and one (1) National Delegate per Local Government Area.
The affected LGAs are: (1) Oyi (2) Aguata (3) Ihiala (4) Onitsha south (5) Onitsha North (6) Ayamelum (7) Anambra West ( Orumba South (9) Orumba North (10) Dunukofia (11) Anambra East (12) Ekwusigo.
In the light of the above, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has approved the nomination of the following party members to serve in the Electoral Committee for the exercise.
The members of the Electoral Committee are;
In same vein, the PDP has scheduled Saturday April 2, 2022 for the conduct of Anambra State Congress to elect new State Executive Officers for the Party in Anambra State.
The PDP urges all Party leaders, critical stakeholders and members in Anambra State to remain united as the we collectively strengthen our great Party for the task ahead.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
KADUNA TRAIN ATTACK: PRESIDENT BUHARI DIRECTS IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF SECURITY SOLUTION; CONDEMNS INCIDENT
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate conclusion of all the processes for the implementation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution for the Abuja to Kaduna railway line and that this be extended to cover the Lagos-Ibadan railway line.
He also directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation management to speedily repair the damaged lines and resume normal service without delay.
The President gave these directives in Abuja, Tuesday, after receiving briefs from the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Faruk Yahaya, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, as well as Major General Samuel Adebayo, the Chief of Defence Intelligence and the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi in the State House.
Additionally, the President charged the law enforcement chiefs to bring back all passengers kidnapped and ensure that each of the callous terrorists are hunted down and made to face justice for their heinous acts as no one or group should be allowed to make the country prostrate.
President Buhari reiterated his earlier directive that the military should deal ruthlessly with terrorists. He asked them to be more decisive and not spare anyone unlawfully wielding the AK 47 weapon.
“No one should be allowed to hold the country to ransom,” said the President.
President Buhari strongly condemned the bombing of the passenger train, describing it as a “matter of grave concern.”
According to the President, “like most Nigerians, I am deeply pained by its occurrence, the second of its type, which has resulted in the death of a yet to be determined number of passengers and others who suffered injuries.
“The attack on the train, a safe means of transport to many, is callous; and our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers for the injured,” he said.
The President commended the Law Enforcement agencies for their prompt response and emergency personnel who were responsible for the evacuation and treatment of the injured persons.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 29, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI WELCOMES NEW APC LEADERS, COMMENDS MEMBERS FOR ABUJA SHOW OF UNITY
President Muhammadu Buhari formally congratulates the Abdullahi Adamu-led 79-member National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that emerged at the just concluded convention in Abuja, saying that the unity of members put on display puts the party on a firmer footing for victory in next year, 2023, General Elections.
The President who returned to the Convention ground at the Eagle Square, Sunday morning, along with the Vice President and the Senate President to witness and celebrate the inauguration of the elected party executives, remarked that the smooth conduct of the election raises the prospect of a mouth-watering APC victory next year.
“The APC Convention hosted this weekend sets the scene for an APC victory in the presidential and general elections next year. It is a victory over naysayers who believed the party was divided but are now disappointed,” said the President.
We believe that it is equally a victory for the president who has ensured unity across all party positions; and it is a victory for the voters of Nigeria who can now be assured of a smooth succession to new leadership in 2023.
What the Convention made clear was how the media has been peddling fake news of division, when the hard reality of unity, cohesion, and indeed personal warmth between members of the party’s leaders – incoming and outgoing – was evident for all to see.
Of course, the blame for this mindset ought rightly to go to the opposition who in all these years had done the work to only divide the country, leading to all manner of separatist agitations. But this is not the wish, nor is it in the character of the citizens, as was clear for everyone to see at the Eagle Square.
When their fake news of disunity was undone by the facts, some in the opposition could not help themselves but take to the newspapers and the airwaves to find another way to shore up their reputations. That some of the APC’s new leadership were once in the opposition was the new line to take to the media, somehow suggesting that those who have left one party should not hold positions in another. Yet, do the Scriptures not teach us of the virtue of sinners who repent and change their ways?
What the Scriptures say less is of sinners who repent, change their tune, and then choose to re-sin in full public view by returning to their former ways. Given that most important leaders of the opposition PDP first left the party before they returned to it, we might expect the media to ensure criticism of them is damning and absolute. It is incredulous that anyone would consider them trustworthy or acceptable candidates for any public office.
The stage is now set for the APC primary elections later this year when the party’s new flag bearers will emerge. No doubt some will attempt to argue the impossible – that an APC primary election is a source of division while an opposition primary election is a source of consensus. But the good voters of Nigeria can see through such acrobatics and know the facts that, when the contests for 2023 come, APC offers a track record of success and leadership, while the opposition has only decades of failure and complicity in response.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 27, 2022
March 27, 2022
Press Statement
Convention: PDP Mocks APC Over Adamu Abdullahi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mocks the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the imposition of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, a man who was arraigned in Court on 149-count charge of alleged fraudulent award of contracts and stealing of public funds estimated at N15 billion, as its National Chairman.
The PDP describes the APC jamboree in the name of a National Convention as a Convention of lies, celebration of illegality, corruption and arrogance in failure adding that any leadership birthed through such process can only be overtly corrupt, debauch and illegal.
It is clear that with the combination of the corrupt, deceitful and rudderless Buhari-led APC government and the illegitimate Abdullahi Adamu-led party leadership, corruption, economic hardship and rudderlessness in the APC government will worsen in our country in the remaining one year of the APC in government.
The composition of the APC national leadership is a clear confirmation that President Buhari has never been committed to the fight against corruption as well as his willingness to further open our national vaults to ravenous treasury looters in the APC.
The PDP challenges members of the illegitimate APC national leadership, particularly Sen. Adamu to come clean on corruption charges against them.
The new APC Chairman should inform Nigerians why he was not courageous enough to submit himself to trial at the Federal High Court, Lafia, Nasarawa State rather than hide under technicalities. Senator Adamu should therefore come clean to Nigerians on the said case before parading himself as a saint.
It is therefore pathetic to see Sen. Adamu showboating on stage to impress his puppet master by attempting to denigrate other Nigerians and our great Party, the PDP.
Our Party has only pity for Sen. Adamu and does not intend to confer him an undue relevance with a response. Sen. Adamu should however be conscious of the fact that time does not run against the State in criminal matters. He should therefore not have any illusion that being an APC Chairman will avail him a perpetual cover.
Moreover, it was appalling to see APC leaders come out one after the other at their national jamboree to spew out lies and false performance claims on the economy, infrastructure and security even in the face of biting economic hardship, high cost of living, excruciating fuel emergency, lingering crisis in the education sector and escalated insecurity that was happening real time and simultaneously when the ridiculous claims of achievement were being made.
Is it not shameful that while APC leaders were lying on stage in Abuja, terrorists were busy attacking the Kaduna International Airport, located in an APC controlled state?
In any case, the PDP restates its cautions that the purported APC National Working Committee (NWC) does not have the legitimacy of office as the process that produced it under the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) remains unconstitutional and flawed.
The PDP cautions aspirants intending to participate in the 2023 general elections under the APC to note that they are on a journey to nowhere with the APC.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
March 27, 2022
Press Statement
Kaduna Airport Attack: Buhari Fiddles While Nigeria Burns -PDP
…Says APC Has Conceded Sovereignty to Terrorists
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts that the Saturday, March 26, 2022 invasion of the Kaduna International Airport by terrorists (code-named bandits by the APC) is a clear confirmation that our nation’s security, command and control structure under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration has completely collapsed.
The alarming invasion of the airport by terrorists at a time outlaws, kidnappers and marauders have taken over our highways and railways has further heightened security concerns that nowhere is safe in the country under the APC.
The refusal and failure of President Buhari and the APC to take action on the airport attack but continued to jamboree in Abuja in the name of a National Convention reveal and confirm that the Buhari administration has conceded sovereignty over parts of our country to terrorists.
President Buhari’s nonchalant disposition to this grave security challenge indicates that his administration is unable, unwilling and or complicit in this particular attack as well as various other acts of terrorism in our country.
It is indefensibly suspicious that while an international airport in our country was under attack by over 200 terrorists with many Nigerians being held hostage and traumatized, President Buhari and the APC continued in their carnival in Abuja without acknowledging or expressing concern. Is this not a case of “Buhari fiddles while Nigeria burns?”
The APC government has failed, become numb to violence against our citizens and can no longer perform its primary duty under Section 14 (2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which provides that “security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.
President Buhari’s failure to address the Kaduna Airport attack is consistent with his characteristic abdication of duty at critical times. Nigerians can recall how in January this year, Mr. President cancelled his scheduled visit to Zamfara State, a state that is daily traumatized by terrorists.
By that action, Mr. President allowed shared sovereignty with terrorists over a part of the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This acquiesce emboldened the terrorists to now expand their control to the international airport in Kaduna ostensibly with the possibility of using it to import arms and ammunition as well as coordinate terrorist activities in our country.
One of the main features or determinants of sovereignty is the ability of an authority to impose taxes, enforce collection, control commercial activities as well as exit and entry points including airports.
Under President Buhari terrorists have established sovereignty in substantial parts of the country especially in the North West and North East regions, where terrorists execute laws and impose penalties, collect taxes, control commercial and transportation activities and now scaringly take control of an international airport with grave negative consequences to our national image in the world.
Our country has never had it this bad with such a weak, uncoordinated and clueless President with an inhumane, visionless and propaganda-driven political party like the APC.
Nigerians should therefore rally round the PDP in our mission to rescue our nation from the precipice and restore the unity and security of her people.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
2023: Nyeson Wike Declares For Presidency
~Says he’s the best man to wrest power from APC
Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike has declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saying he is the best man to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike who stated this when he visited his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom at the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital on Sunday said he was making his intention to contest for presidency known for the first time in Benue.
“To remove APC from power, I’m the person who can tell them enough is enough. We must take this power and I’m ready to take it for PDP.
God is with us that’s why APC keeps failing everyday.”
The Presidential hopeful who urged stakeholders to give him their mandates and not to sell their votes, assured that he has the capacity to, “face this evil government.
“He queried those founding fathers who ran away from the party and still want to be recognised, saying, ” by the time you ran away, you sold your share as a founding father so you can no longer retain your position of founding fathers.
“I stood for this party. I work for this party since 1998. I have nowhere to run to and that’s why anything that happens to this party I take personally. I have never relented.
“In 2015, those who ran away made us loose election. Today, they are crying but some of us stood and said PDP will not die.
“Some people want to use Nigeria to buy back their personal business. They talk about private sector. Mention the private business that survive. Is it banks that your father had? Everybody is an employer of labour. Even in my house I have 50 people who feast from me.
They should stop deceiving us. I have performed as a governor and carry my shoulders high anywhere. I have the capacity to face this evil government. Just give me the mandate. I will speak the truth to power and nothing but the truth. I have the capacity to move this country forward,” he said.
The presidential hopeful promised that if elected, security would be his topmost priority.
PRESS RELEASE
APC NATIONAL CONVENTION: SANWO-OLU CONGRATULATES ADAMU, NWC MEMBERS, ZONAL EXECUTIVES
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Ou has congratulated the newly elected National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and zonal executives of the ruling party.
He charged the Adamu-led National Working Committee to work tirelessly with APC leaders and stakeholders to make the ruling party stronger for it to retain power in 2023 at the federal level and win more states in addition to the 22 states currently governed by the party.
The Governor also praised President Muhammdu Buhari for his fatherly and leadership roles in ensuring that APC national and zonal executives emerged through a consensus arrangement, noting that many aspirants, especially the national chairmanship aspirants stepped down because of the respect they have for President Buhari and other leaders of the party.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was excited with the outcome of the APC national convention, also commended the aspirants who voluntarily stepped down for members of the NWC and zonal executives at the six geo-political zones to emerge through a consensus arrangement.
Sanwo, who is the Chairman of the Finance Committee for the APC National Convention, praised over 7,000 delegates from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for participating in the convention.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also congratulated the representatives of Lagos State in the National Working Committee, Mr. Dayo Israel, who was elected as APC National Youth Leader as well as the former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, who emerged as South-West Zonal Organising Secretary.
He implored them to work hard with APC national, zonal and state executives, as well as party leaders and members for victory of the ruling party in Lagos State, South-West region, and Nigeria at large during the 2023 general elections.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
27 MARCH 2022
Press Release
GROUP COMMEMORATES WORLD WATER DAY WITH CAPACITY BUILDING OF YOUNG FEMALES IN STEM
…Moves Against Open Defecation
As part of activities to commemorate 2022 World Water Day and International Women’s Day, the Network of Female Professionals in Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (FEMinWASH) said it would launch a national program to build the capacity of younger women in the stem-related areas.
The program, according to the President of the Network, Dr. Bolu Onabolu, would be launched on April 13, 2022, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
Onabolu disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), Mrs. Funke Adepoju, who incidentally is also the Vice President of the organization.
She said under the first batch, a number of young females will be selected for training in plumbing, while the Network will make efforts to assist the beneficiaries with a work placement within the sector.
“We also plan to launch on that day the capacity building arrangement that we have with the Water Institute of South Africa for accredited professional development.
“We are partnering with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in some key strategic ways. For example, the Grand Patron of the Network is the Hon Minister of Water Resources, an outstanding sector professional, and also the Ambassador for this Network is the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, a distinguished female professional with a passion for water resources and gender.
“As professionals, members of the Network are deploying our collective expertise and passion to ensure that Nigeria moves forward in terms of provision of water and sanitation to the most vulnerable people in various ways,” Onabolu said.
She added that the challenge before the country in the WASH sector was massive, adding that the Network of Female Professionals recognized the fact that the government cannot do it alone, and therefore honored the call of the government for partnership.
Onabolu said it was inspiring that the Ministry of Water Resources had indicated its openness to ideas from the Network, especially around how to move the country forward with regards to sanitation, particularly to ensure eradication of open defecation.
She also said that organizations within the Network are working on various sustainability projects needed at the community level such as training and provision of tools for operation and maintenance, which according to her, are important and critical factors to bring about sustainability.
“These are some of the things we are doing to contribute our quota to the efforts of the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the country follows best practices.
“Our interventions are to show the way by developing models and working in partnership with training institutes to ensure that this is actually scaled up, while it is expected that government and other stakeholders will further take it up from there,” Onabolu said.
SERAP writes INEC, seeks details of safeguards on privacy and security of election data
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to “widely publish the details of safeguards and mechanisms put in place to protect the privacy and security of election information and data in the custody of INEC, including in its servers, databases and other electronic formats.”
SERAP urged him to “clarify whether any third-party is involved in the collection, control and use of election information and data, the legal rules and processes guiding the choice of any such third party.”
SERAP also urged him to “clarify the other location or locations where election information is stored apart from Abuja, and the details of any third-party who has access to such a database, the safeguards and contingency plans put in place by INEC to address any threats to the privacy and security of election information.”
In a Freedom of Information request dated 26 March, 2022 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Ensuring adequate safeguards and mechanisms to protect the privacy and security of election information and data would improve the ability of INEC to effectively discharge its constitutional and statutory duties.”
SERAP said: “This would also help to remove risks of attack and unlawful interference by any unauthorised person with election information and data.”
According to SERAP, “Widely publishing the details of safeguards and mechanisms of election information and data would also contribute to improving the sanctity and integrity of the electoral process, and public trust and confidence in the process.”
The letter, read in part: “Putting in place adequate technological security measures to prevent unauthorized access to election information and data would improve the credibility of the electoral process and the enjoyment of people’s right to participate in their own government.”
“As an institution, which collects, controls and uses election-related information and data in the discharge of its constitutional and statutory duties, INEC has a legal responsibility to ensure adequate protection of such information and data from threats and vulnerabilities to attack or interference.”
“Any interference by unauthorised third-party in election information and data may be used for corrupt, political and other unlawful purposes, and would expose election systems to fraud and meddling, as well undermine the right to participation and the country’s democratic system.”
“The right of people to participate in their government is a fundamental feature of any democratic society, and any infringement of privacy and security of election information and data would strike at the heart of representative government.”
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.”
“SERAP notes that voter registration systems and voting systems are the most vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation by corrupt politicians and other actors.”
“As the experiences in other countries have shown, election information is often susceptible to unlawful interference by corrupt politicians and other actors, which can be damaging to the integrity of the electoral process and democratic practices.”
“The experiences of other countries demonstrate the need for INEC to take effective and transparent measures to ensure and protect the privacy and security of election information and data, which would protect the integrity of the country’s democracy.”
“Any privacy or security weakness in any component of any of the election systems can be easily exploited to cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process.”
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s international obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.”
“SERAP notes that Section 9(2)(a) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that INEC ‘shall keep the Register of Voters in its National Headquarters and other locations as the Commission may determine.’ The provision also states that INEC ‘shall keep the Register of Voters in electronic format in its central database.’
“Section 153 of the Act defines ‘electronic format’ to include ‘the electronic version of the Register of Voters or National Electronic Register of Election Results, as the case may be, created, recorded, transmitted or stored in digital form or in other intangible forms by electronic, magnetic or optical means or by any other means.’”
”Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights protect against arbitrary or unlawful interference with one’s privacy.”
“Interference with the privacy of election information and data would clearly undermine the security of any such information and data. Similarly, Article 9 (1) of the African Charter provides that, ‘Every individual shall have the right to receive information.’”
“Article 2(10) of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance requires states parties including Nigeria to ‘promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation, transparency, access to information, and accountability in the management of public affairs.’”
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
27/3/2022
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202
Senate Seat: Mrs Akeredolu Consultation With Stakeholders.
The wife of Ondo State governor, Chief Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has kicked off consultation with stakeholders on her intention to contest the 2023 poll to enable her represent Imo East Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
She disclosed this at a meeting held on Thursday, March 24 at Igolo Abiam Plaza located on Wetheral Road, Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu said she was pained by the rate the country has deteriorated and cannot sit by to watch the country continue on her descent to the precipice.
She lamented the lack of attention being given to the youths which has made many of them take to hard drugs especially the latest fad, Mkpurumiri, which is wreaking havoc in the lives of many youths.
The First Lady regretted that the society resorts to flogging in order to whip Mkpurumiri users into line instead of rehabilitating and implementing policies and programmes that would make intake of hard drugs unattractive to the youths.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu also bemoaned the rising maternal deaths in the country, asserting that every woman is entitled to safe delivery if the right things were done.
According to her, the SOLAYO intervention she is implementing in Ondo State has ensured that pregnant Ondo women not only give births safely but also nurse their babies in good health.
The First Lady pointed out that she is interested in occupying the Imo East Senatorial seat at the National Assembly in order to be in a position to deploy legislative interventions to engender good governance the country.
She urged other women to step forward and contest for various positions of choice, insisting that only women know where it pinches them most and once in a position of authority could direct interventionist measures to solve their myriad of challenges.
She maintained that good people cannot afford to sit on the fence while bad people continue to run the country aground.
The Ondo First Lady said she was prepared and ready for the contest and assured the people of Imo East otherwise known as Owerri Zone that they would get the robust representation they desire and deserve from her.
On why she is angling for a senatorial seat in her state of origin instead of state of marriage, Anyanwu-Akeredolu said she is first and foremost an indigene of Imo State, an identity which marriage cannot erase.
Hear her; “I’m from Emebiam Community in Owerri West LGA of Imo State. And marriage cannot change that”.
Also speaking, her aide, Pastor Ikechukwu Onuoha emphasized the need for Owerri zone to have Anyanwu-Akeredolu as its senator.
According to Onuoha, the first lady had been rendering impactful service to Owerri zone without being a senator for the zone.
He listed numerous projects she had either executed or attracted to the zone to include the reconstruction of Emebiam-Okolosi Road valued at more than N1.6billion.
Imo East comprises nine local government areas of Owerri Municipal, Owerri West, Owerri North, Ikeduru, Mbaitoli, Aboh Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise and Ngor-Okpala of Imo State.
Individuals who had represented Owerri Zone include Bright Nwanne, Evan Enwerem, Ama Iwuagwu, Eze Ajoku, Chris Anyanwu and Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu.
The incumbent senator is Ezenwa Onyewuchi.
WE MUST REMAIN STRONG AND UNITED, PRESIDENT BUHARI TELLS APC MEMBERS, CANVASSES SUPPORT FOR INCOMING LEADERSHIP
President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday called on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to remain united and strong and also support the incoming leadership of the party.
Speaking at the Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the National Convention of the party, the President said:
“This Convention is coming at a crucial time when we prepare for another round of a general election. Therefore, the need to remain strong and united for the Party to exploit the rich and abundant potentials at its disposal cannot be overemphasized. We appreciate the right to hold different opinions and aspirations, however, such differences must not be to the detriment of the Party.
“l passionately appeal to you all to support the incoming National Working Committee (NWC) to promote unity and avoid sentiments that are capable of causing disaffection and disunity. For those aspiring for party and public offices, your failure to realize such aspirations for Party offices or to fly the Party’s flag, should not be a basis for a campaign of calumny against the party. We should have the spirit of sportsmanship and always support the party to succeed.”
President Buhari enjoined the new NWC members to promote internal democracy and equal opportunities and ensure that party primaries are not influenced by “highest bidders” going into the 2023 elections.
He commended the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee for steering the ship of the party this far including; reconciling aggrieved party members, purchasing a new party secretariat and launching an aggressive membership drive that saw three governors defecting into the APC, among others.
“I want to congratulate us all for being part of this history-making event and to specially appreciate the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) which has been on a rescue mission under the leadership of His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, the Yobe State Governor, for successfully piloting the affairs of the Party in the last 18 months and organizing this Convention to elect a new National Working Committee that will take over from the Caretaker Committee.
“I am glad the Party under the Caretaker Committee has bounced back to life with the reconciliation of several key and critical stakeholders and groups who had hitherto left the party or were on the verge of leaving the Party. The reconciliation process gave the aggrieved stakeholders a true sense of belonging and assurance.
“It is gratifying that the Party recorded massive and unprecedented defections under the Caretaker Committee administration. APC received three sitting Governors, a Deputy Governor, Senators, Members of the House of Representatives and State Assemblies, and other key officials from opposition parties who defected along with millions of their supporters.
“I am impressed to learn that the membership registration and revalidation exercise undertaken by the Caretaker Committee, has recorded over 41 million members. This has proved that we are indeed Nigeria’s leading and largest political party. It also exhibits our numerical strength and the potential to win elections at all given times fairly and squarely.”
The President who adduced reasons for his recent intervention in the affairs of the party, assured that it was not intended to muzzle dissenting voices.
“Recently, l had cause to intervene in the leadership crisis which was about to cause confusion in the Party. Such internal disputes are common in young democracies such as ours, but we must avoid overheating the polity and not allow our differences to tear and frustrate the Party.
“Like I said earlier, it does not do anybody or the Party any good, when we, as leaders, go down so low and resort to backstabbing and name-calling in the media.
“We should learn how to resolve our differences without jeopardizing our personal relationships and the fate of the Party. I want to thank the Progressives Governors’ Forum for heeding to my advice and suggestions in settling the leadership dispute,” the President said.
President Buhari called on all politicians and the electorate to abide by the new Electoral Act “ to promote the process of election, enhance transparency, fill in existing gaps and add value to Nigeria’s democracy for our democracy to thrive.”
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 26, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS FIRST FEMALE VICE CHANCELLOR, PROF. GRACE ALELE-WILLIAMS
President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with the family of first female Vice Chancellor in Nigeria and renowned mathematician, Prof Grace Alele-Williams, 89, sharing the painful loss with the academia and all associates.
The President affirms that Prof. Alele-William’s achievement in scholarship and administration removed the glass ceiling for many women in Nigeria, Africa and the black race, and continues to inspire a generation who have found their passion and voice in research, teaching and lifting the nation with ideas, especially in science and technology.
President Buhari believes the scholar’s brilliance and outstanding character reflected in every opportunity and position she served, particularly playing a major role in the educational development of the country, and serving as consultant to many international institutions, including UNESCO.
As the first female to obtain a doctorate degree in Nigeria, 1963, and first female VC of the University of Benin, 1985, the President says the entire country will sorely miss the scholar, and cherish the memories of her diligence, discipline and refreshing candour.
President Buhari prays for a peaceful rest for the soul of the departed, and God’s comforting arms over her loved ones.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 26, 2022
I AM IMPRESSED WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE, PRESIDENT BUHARI TELLS NASARAWA GOVERNOR
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja commended Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for his performance as well as taking advantage of his proximity to the seat of power.
Receiving the Governor who led a delegation of leaders from Nasarawa State on a thank-you visit at the State House, the President said:
“I am very impressed with what you have been able to do. I am certainly comfortable seeing what you have done and again monitoring federal projects in your state as well as the way you understand the importance of a good neighbor.
“I believe you are happy that you have a strong neighbor in terms of the federal government in that the projects that are placed in your State are useful for the people. I thank you for your clear vision.”
Governor Sule, in his remarks, paid special tribute to President Buhari for his 2-day official visit to the State in February, and for his vision and support which led to the construction and commissioning of some landmark projects in the country including the Dangote Fertilizer Plant which the President recently commissioned in Lagos.
The Governor also expressed his gratitude for the Federal Government appointments of indigenes of the State, pledging the continued goodwill, overwhelming support, cooperation and unalloyed loyalty of the good people of Nasarawa State.
The Nasarawa State delegation also included Dr. Emmanuel A. Kabe, Deputy Governor, former Governors Abdullahi Adamu, and Umaru Al Makura, as well as the Emir of Lafia, among others.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 25, 2022
Muhammadu Buhari ; The Foxy Political Strategist
By ABDULLAHI O. HARUNA (Haruspice)
Underrate him at your peril, he holds the ace of strategic impulse, deeply unassuming but perilously a master strategist. Still a grand guru of unpredictability and a political mystery. Till date, no one has been able to dissect and give an exact diagnosis of the man called Muhammadu Buhari. Experts in the study of body language and gesture are still in awe of the man, political clairvoyants are still in limbo on the impenetrable nature of the man, close aides have been rendered strangers to the inner workings of the mind of this Daura born political enigma. Like he once said, indeed, his mind belongs to everyone and to no one – the very reason he has remained a mystery.
In the last one month, the All Progressives Congress , APC was in the eyes of a tumultuous storm, the party was embroiled in a litany of political intrigues, manipulations and fierce internal struggles. Camps outwit camps as groups battle groups in wits and propaganda. It got to a point where all hell was let loose as the actors went publicly ballistic in embarrassing fights of attrition. All these narrowed down to one forte; the 2023 general elections. Who becomes who and what were the crux of the fierce battles and the house was near its collapse. Until one man who undoubtedly is the rope that ties the broom waded in and in a telepathic switch everything returned to the default setting, and the ruling party roars back to life.
He first warned in measured words, that the party must not make the mistake of ever allowing the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP return to power. With this sinking into the consciousness of the party faithful defined in belligerence interests, the president reeled out his intervention in what pundits now describe as mechanical and choreographed traces of purposeful leadership.
Indeed politics is consultation laced with deep reflections given the recent happenings in the APC. The conclusion is that the President is not only fully aware of everything and everyone and all the schemings under him but has a tap on every move to the minutest details. He was just observing like a veteran war General awaiting the clinical time to strike.
Mr President is not only in charge but fully in charge.The four meetings held within the last 48 hours is proof that he understands Wetin dey play. First with the governors, followed by the party aspirants, the National Assembly caucus of the party and then the founding fathers of the party. These deft moves show the man genuinely means well for APC and Nigeria as I have always known and hold in respects all critical stakeholder and the value they bring onto the table. You do not ever take a General for granted or undermine their war strategy.
A day to National Convention and PMB has met with virtually all critical stakeholders of the Party. Leaving everything to this injury time is to me a strategy anchored on appropriate timing and period when there will be no time to RETREAT to REGROUP.
Make no mistake every of those stakeholders are fully under the radar. ‘If you no fear Military, try fear General’ especially the old fox with unpredictable acumen. President Olusegun Obasanjo did same in 2007 for PDP and BOOM President Umaru Yar’Adua appeared.
If you remember President Buhari’s famous bombshell of January 2022 during his chat with Channels TV where he said “If I reveal my preferred successor they will eliminate him” then you can understand that the man is undoubtedly a strategist of inimitable pair.
*Abdullahi O. Haruna (Haruspice) a core Buharist and author of ‘The Buhari in Us’ writes from the School of Musing thoughts and reflection.*
Press Statement
Campaign Posters: PDP Demands Emefiele’s Immediate Resignation, Investigation
…Says It’s Height of Impunity
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demands the immediate resignation and investigation of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, following his appearance in All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign posters which confirms his partisan affiliation and entanglement with the APC.
The PDP asserts that the appearance of the CBN Governor; the banker of the federation, who by law, ought to be non-partisan and apolitical, in APC campaign material is the height of impunity of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, which amounts to poking its fingers in the eyes of Nigerians and daring them to do their worse.
This action by Mr. Emefiele is contrary to the provision of Section 9 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act which provides that “the governor and the deputy governors shall devote the whole of their time to the service of the bank and while holding office, shall not engage in any full or part-time employment or vocation, whether remunerated or not…”
By engaging in partisan politics to the extent of appearing in APC campaign posters, Mr. Emefiele has knowingly and deliberately violated the provision of the CBN Act stated above.
Mr. Emefiele has also desecrated the sanctity of his office as CBN Governor, compromised the integrity of the apex bank, stripped it of the confidence reposed in it by Nigerians and the International Community and as such, cannot legitimately continue to hold and function in that office.
This further confirms that under Mr. Emefiele, the CBN, as the custodian of our national economy, has become an appendage and cash cow of the APC in their reckless pillaging of our national resources, the resultant effect of which is now evident in the near collapse state of our economy.
The CBN Governor must therefore resign immediately and subject himself to investigation by anti-corruption agencies on various allegations of financial misfeasance including reportedly opening our national vaults to the cabal in the APC administration and operating a special fraudulent, corrupt and discriminatory foreign exchange regimes for APC leaders to fleece our nation.
In addition, this further confirms allegation in the public space that the CBN had secretly released billions of naira through various petroleum sector underhand dealings to finance the APC National Convention.
It is now crystal clear that President Buhari and the APC are not committed to providing a level playing field for free and fair general elections in 2023. As the banker of the federation, Mr. Emefiele is in a position to have undue access to public funds to finance APC’s campaigns.
Moreover, being in control of all the accounts of other Nigerians, the CBN Governor is also in a position to use his office to clamp down on the finances of other contestants and stifle them of funds.
It is only under the APC with its impunity and disregard for rules and sanctity of Institutions that campaign posters with the portrait of the CBN Governor side by side with that of the President can be condoned. That presupposes an endorsement of impropriety and we demand that President Buhari come clean on this monumental corruption of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
History will note President Buhari’s legacy of destroying every segment of our national life; from security to electoral process, unity of our nation and now the sanctity of the Central Bank. Our Party cautions that the consequences of this are better imagined.
Now that Mr. Emefiele has openly identified with the APC, he should immediately resign and face an ill-fated career in the fizzling APC.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
PRESS RELEASE
…Governor commissions 60-bed hospital, as Lagos varsity holds 25th convocation
…Tinubu endows N1 billion for Leadership Centre, delivers graduation lecture
With a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.97 over a scale of 5.0, Benjamin Damilare Olowu became the overall Best Graduating Student at the 25th convocation of the Lagos State University (LASU) in Ojo.
The valedictorian, who hails from Epe Local Government Area of the State, finished from the Department of Mechanical Engineering with the highest grade point in the faculty’s record.
Also, 111 others graduated with a First Class across the 10 faculties in the school. The graduands were awarded the degrees at the convocation held at the campus, on Thursday.
The Visitor to the school, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, applauded the feat attained by the university, stressing that the school had sustained the established culture of excellence and quality tertiary education.
The Ojo campus of the school was agog with activities, as dignitaries from various parts of the country trooped to the campus for the ceremony.
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, delivered the convocation lecture titled: “Global Trends: Nigeria’s Rightful Place in the World”. Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari chaired the lecture.
Sanwo-Olu, in his address, said LASU had evolved from its humble beginnings to attain a world-class status, noting that the quality of graduates churned out by the school testified to LASU’s tenacity of purpose, teamwork, drive for innovation in teaching, learning and research.
With Lagos ranked the fifth largest economy in Africa, the Governor said the State offered possibilities that could support the graduands’ creativity and entrepreneurial dreams.
He said: “Lagos State University has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1984 to its current world-class status. Our administration is proud of the great heights the institution has attained. I congratulate the management team, staff, students and other members of the university community for continually striving for excellence. Feats achieved by today’s graduands are testimonies of LASU’s tenacity of purpose, teamwork, and drive for innovation in teaching, learning and research, which are in line with the vision of the founding fathers of the university.
“As a Government, we will continue to provide the enabling environment for our youths to engage in meaningful educational and economic activities to add value to themselves, while also contributing meaningfully to the rising profile of Lagos as the economic and industrial hub of Nigeria and Africa. We have the market, as well as the population, that offer possibilities to support creativity of young people and their entrepreneurial ideas. Lagos, which is the 5th largest economy in our continent, is the place to be, to dream big and to implement even bigger ideas.”
Sanwo-Olu reminded the graduands that the contemporary world of work had changed, stressing that the graduates’ future would be defined by their ability to constantly adapt to ever-changing realities.
The Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to provide requisite support for all State-owned institutions to allow for growth, academic excellence, and to enable them compete well with their peers in any part of the world.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the State Government had awarded the contract for the construction of the first-ever LASU Technology hub as a measure to achieve the vision for sustainable education and technology in line with his administration’s development agenda.
He said: “We have commenced the installation of LED Double Combo Renewable Energy Street Lighting of about 6.6km perimeter spots across the LASU main campus to ensure safety and security of lives of our students and workers during the day and at night. Also, the construction of six blocks of Hall of Residence, which will give 8,272 bed spaces, is on-going. This Public Private Partnership (PPP) project will soon be completed and commissioned for our students’ use.
“New buildings are being constructed for the Faculties of Arts, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Management Sciences, as well as the LASU International School. The Central University Library and the LASU Homes are also nearing completion. The LASU Homes project, which is currently at painting stage when completed, will help to reduce accommodation problems faced by the teaching and non-teaching staff of the university.”
Earlier, the Governor commissioned a Primary Health Centre donated to LASU by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 60-bed fully equipped hospital has an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), operating theatre, laboratory, blood bank and consulting rooms, among other facilities.
Sanwo-Olu said the facility would be further equipped with an ambulance and requisite items to make it function properly.
Delivering the 25th convocation lecture, Tinubu dissected the contemporary challenges bedevilling the nation and offered what could be done to place the country on the path of irreversible growth and greatness.
The APC National Leader, represented by Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, described Nigeria as a nation “endowed with features of greatness”, but has remained locked in a place. Tinubu said the country remained an economy unjustly designed to export raw materials and import increasingly expensive finished products.
The frontline politician said the political class must truthfully acknowledge the lapses and must be bold to make corrections, rather than vilifying one another for the present challenges bedevilling the country.
He said: “Nigeria’s GDP per capita ranked as 17th in Africa and 131st in the world. According to the World Bank, we are the 7th most populous nation as at 2020. But, our economic ranking was not commensurate. One does not have to be a genius in mathematics to know the difference between 7 and 131.
“Our lack of sustained dynamic economic growth does not lend itself to social stability. Economic slowness and destitution place great pressure on people to migrate in search of opportunities. But too much migration too fast and too unimagined results in people competing and contending against one another on dwindling arable land, which undermines social harmony.
“We need a new, more convivial way. A way that will give us the right start at a fair chance for durable prosperity. A large urban population needs a strong manufacturing and industrial base. If not, we invite unemployment, crime, hunger and poverty to become chronic and severe. We must better link formal education with the skills and expertise our business community seeks in modern times.”
Tinubu told the LASU graduands that the occasion of their convocation presented an opportunity for them to play vital roles in changing their immediate communities, their States and the nation for the better.
The former Lagos Governor asked them not to underestimate the importance attached to their respective roles, stressing that the conferment of degrees in various disciplines had placed them on the forefront of an enlightened march that demanded for their passion, knowledge, talent and energy.
To deepen the culture of civic engagement among young people, Tinubu donated N1 billion endowment fund to establish the Centre for Leadership Development in the university. The Centre is to groom aspiring leaders and train human capital for leadership positions.
Also, Sanwo-Olu announced the decision of the State Executive Council to immediately set up a Professorial Chair on Leadership and Good Governance in the school on behalf of Tinubu.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, said the school could not think of a better personality qualified to deliver the convocation lecture other than Tinubu, given the frontline politician’s vast contribution to the development of the university.
Prof. Olatunji-Bello, who was presiding over the first convocation in her tenure as VC, said the school management had mapped out a strategy to build on the achievements of the university and take the school to greater level of development.
She hailed Sanwo-Olu’s support for the school, while pledging the management’s assurance to sustain heights attained by LASU.
The school graduated a total of 7,237 graduands in disciplines across its 10 faculties, with 4,994 bagging first degrees and 1,716 post-graduate degrees.
Seventy-six candidates were awarded doctorate degrees, while 451 got Diploma certificates. Stephen Ogunkoya became the Best Graduating Student in the Masters category.
Two Governors were awarded honorary doctorate degrees. They are Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Doctor of Letters in Educational, Healthcare and Community Development; and Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum (Doctor of Letters in Community Integration, Youth, Urban and Rural Development.
A foremost scholar and former National Universities Commission (NUC) Executive Secretary, Prof. Peter Okebukola, was awarded Professor Emeritus, while Mr. Goodie Ibru was awarded honorary doctorate business degrees in Commerce, Hospitality and Tourism.
Other honorary degree awardees are Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (Doctor of Arts in Broadcasting, Community Integration and Rights Advocate) and Mrs. Ibukun Awosika (Doctor of Entrepreneurship and Human Capacity Development).
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
24 MARCH 2022
March 23, 2022
Press Statement
…Says It Will Not Succumb to Blackmail
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are running from their shadows and haunted by their failures in governance.
PDP’s position is predicated on the outburst by the Buhari Presidency on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 against our Party for asking President Muhammadu Buhari to address the lingering fuel crisis and cautioning that the unrelenting culture of arrogance, impunity, suppression and corruption by the APC administration was akin to “kneeling on the necks of Nigerians.”
From the outburst of the Buhari Presidency, Nigerians now realize that the APC administration does not care about the suffering, agony and life discounting experiences encountered by our citizens daily as a result of APC’s thoughtless and inhumane policies.
If there is anybody seeking to destabilize our nation, it is the sinking, confused and discomfited APC that is clutching to straws and making unguarded statements including boasting that “heavens will not fall” over its refusal to address the lingering fuel crisis.
The APC administration is afraid because its corruption, impunity and recklessness which are responsible for the biting petrol and diesel crisis, collapsed national grid, distressed aviation sector, plummeting currency and near collapse of the production and service sectors of the economy are being exposed by the PDP.
APC is afraid of Nigerians for bungling the once thriving $550 billion economy (largest in Africa and 26th globally) handed over to it by the PDP in 2015 and reducing our nation to the poverty capital of the world where over 80 million citizens, according to official reports, can no longer afford their daily meals and other basic necessities of life.
Why would the APC not be afraid of the people when it opened our nation to terrorists and bandits who it reportedly imported from neighbouring countries in 2015 to help APC muscle and rig the elections, after which APC leaders failed to honour their deal to pay the said mercenaries for the heinous ‘services’ they were contracted to provide against Nigerians by the APC?
The APC is uncomfortable, having been indicted for human rights violations including reported cases of extra-judicial killings, torture, illegal arrests, detentions and other atrocious acts as contained in the June 2021 report of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Moreover, in stating that the October, 2020 peaceful EndSARS protest by Nigerian youths signified “murder, mayhem, mass destruction, even cannibalism”, the APC administration has confirmed reports of its complicity and approval of the violent attacks and gruesome massacre of innocent youths at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
Such stance on the EndSARS peaceful protest by our youths also questions the sincerity of President Buhari’s description of the protest as “genuine concerns and agitation by Nigerians”. The renewed negative tagging therefore appears to be a design by the APC to frame our youths for another onslaught.
The PDP holds that the EndSARS peaceful protest signifies the resilience of Nigerian youths against injustice, suppression and insensitive system being foisted on our nation by the APC administration. Our Party therefore cautions the APC to perish the thought of venting its frustration on the PDP and Nigerian youths.
It is often said that a bad workman complains about his tools; but a hopelessly irredeemable one (which the APC is) complains about others.
The APC must know that the PDP is back. Our Party stands with the people and will never be deterred from exposing APC’s atrocities and fighting for the wellbeing of Nigerians as we march towards 2023 to Rescue and Rebuild our nation from the misrule of the APC.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
March 23, 2022
Special Announcement
PDP to Inaugurate Zoning Committee
The National Working Committee (NWC) of our Great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pursuant to the approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its 95th Meeting announces the appointment of the following party members for the Zoning Committee.
The members of the Committee are as follows:
State Nominees
1 (Abia) Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa
2 (Adamawa) H.E. Boni Haruna
3 (Akwa Ibom) Sen. Emmanuel Ibokessien
4 (Anambra) Prof. A. B. C. Nwosu
5 (Bauchi ) Sen. Abdul Ahmed Ningi
6 (Bayelsa) Rt. Hon. Boyelayefa Debekeme
7 (Benue) H.E. Dr. Samuel Ortom
8 (Borno) Sen. Sanusi Daggash
9 (Cross River) H. E. Liyel Imoke
10 (Delta) Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu
11 (Ebonyi) Amb. Franklin Nchita Ogbuewu
12 (Edo) Chief Tom Ikimi
13 (Ekiti) H. E. Dr. Ayodele Fayose
14 (Enugu) H. E. Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
15 (Fct/Abuja) Mohammed Abdulrahman
16 (Gombe) H. E. Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo
17 (Imo) Chief Fidelis Izuchukwu
18 (Jigawa) H. E. (Dr.) Sule Lamido
19 (Kaduna) H.E. Sen. Mohammed Ahmed Makarfi
21 (Katsina) H. E. Barr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema
22 (Kebbi) Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, San
24 (Kwara) Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje
25 (Lagos) Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, CON
27 (Niger) Prof. Jerry Gana
28 (Ogun) Hon. Daisi Akintan
30 (Osun) Prof. Adewale Oladipo
31 (Oyo) Sen. Hosea Ayoola Agboola
32 (Plateau) H. E. Jonah David Jang
33 (Rivers) Rt. Hon. Austin Opara
34 (Sokoto) H. E. Attahiru Bafarawa
35 (Taraba) H. E. Darius Ishaku
36 (Yobe) Alh. Adamu Maina Waziri
37 (Zamfara) H. E. Barr. Mahadi Aliyu Gusau
The Committee will be inaugurated as follows:
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2022
Time : 11:00AM
Venue: NEC Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja
Signed:
Hon. Umar M. Bature
National Organizing Secretary
PRESS RELEASE
BUHARI INAUGURATES NEW INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL AT LAGOS AIRPORT, 43 YEARS AFTER ESTABLISHMENT
…Aviation project complements, redefines Lagos’ infrastructure narrative – Sanwo-Olu
…Lagos Government, FAAN seal partnership to develop new access roads to airport
Lagos State, Nigeria’s hub of commerce, is set to witness a rapid economic growth, as a major remodelling project undertaken by the Federal Government at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja comes to fruition.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, commissioned the newly built international terminal at the international airport, creating a new travel experience for air passengers passing through the Lagos international airspace.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu joined the president to unveil the new MMIA Terminal 2, designed and built under the ambitious rehabilitation programme of the Federal Ministry of Aviation in which 22 federal airports were marked for upgrade and remodelling.
At the occasion, Lagos State Government signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to construct ancillary road infrastructure that will create seamless vehicular connectivity to the airport through Alimosho axis.
The agreement gives legal backing and concession of right-of-way for the construction of a new perimeter expressway to link Shasha Road to the Airport Complex. The development is expected to decongest the existing Lagos-Abeokuta corridor, and reduce journey time in commuting to the airport.
Gov. Sanwo-Olu and Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, jointly supervised the signing of the agreement by the Lagos Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, and the FAAN Managing Director, Captain Rabiu Yadudu.
Other Lagos cabinet members at the MoU signing ceremony included the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, and Special Adviser on Public Private Partnership (PPP), Mr. Ope George.
Buhari said his administration fully understood the importance of airport infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and socio-economic development, which informed the Federal Government’s decision to prioritise the completion and delivery of five brand new international terminals, which were at 11 per cent progress level when he assumed office in 2015.
The president stressed that the construction of the new terminal aligned with his Government’s aviation roadmap developed in 2016 for the purposes of establishing critical infrastructure, including a national carrier, Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul Centre and improved airport terminals through concession, to boost aviation practice in line with global standards.
He said: “I am confident that the new terminal, with 66 check-in counters, 16 Immigration desks at arrival, 28 Immigration desks at departure, and eight security screening points, among others, will go a long way in contributing to the socio-political and economic prosperity of our great nation.
“This improvement will increase airport operations and management services to about 14 million passengers per annum, with the attendant positive multiplier effects, by creating about 3,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for our youths, increase inflow of Foreign Direct Investments and exponential growth in the Gross Domestic Product.”
Sanwo-Olu, who described the delivery of the new air terminal as “long-overdue upgrade” to the nation’s flagship International airport, said President Buhari, by the achievement, had re-written the infrastructure narrative of Lagos, Southwest region, as well as the nation.
The Governor said the construction of Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail Line, upgrade of Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki Expressway, full rehabilitation Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and development of a world-class Creative Industries Park in Iganmu were a few of the landmark infrastructure brought to Lagos by the Buhari administration.
He said: “We are very grateful to the Federal Government, under President Buhari’s leadership, for seeing to the completion and commissioning of this brand new international terminal building, almost 43 years to the day the old terminal was built. Finally, our dear Lagos has an international airport terminal that is befitting, and that has the capacity to cope with the fast-growing flow of passenger traffic.
“The new terminal is a worthy complement to the various transportation and road infrastructure projects of the Lagos State Government, such as the Airport Road and flyover which you were delivered three years ago, and the Red and Blue Lines of our Light Rail network, which we are working very hard to deliver on as soon as possible.”
Speaking on the infrastructure MoU, Sanwo-Olu said the partnership with FAAN further testified to a new era of productive collaboration between Lagos and the Federal Government, which was not the case between 1999 and 2015.
The Governor said by President Buhari’s commitment, fairness and respectful leadership, Lagos infrastructure story had changed for the better, with the benefits emerging in terms of improved quality of life for the residents.
Sirika said the development of the new terminal was to achieve an efficient and rapid transportation network, which would make Nigeria to remain a key player in the global logistical ecosystem.
Aside facilitating international trade, commerce and tourism, the Aviation minister said improved air services that would be achieved would lead to creation of jobs and boost economy.
In the coming months, Sirika said there would be a partnership with the Lagos State Government on development of rail project to connect the nearby local airport to the new international terminal.
The new terminal is designed as a world-class aviation route, with the capacity to handle 18 million air passengers yearly. Offering best convenience for travellers, the facility was developed on an architectural acreage of 50,887 square metre.
It has 10 Extra-Low Voltage systems, three-dimensional multi-layer baggage sorting system, five arrival and six departure gates, seven boarding bridges, and over 2,000 seat spaces for passengers.
The perimeter expressway will be constructed in four phases across six local councils, with the first phase spanning a 9-km toll road from Shasha to the airport. There will be a toll-free alternative route from Shasha towards Agege Motor Road en route airport.
The second phase of the Lagos-FAAN road project will open the airport to northern connection on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. Other phases include linkage to Egbe, Isolo, Mushin and Okota roads.
Earlier, President Buhari commissioned Dangote Fertilizer Plant in Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), and inspected the ongoing construction of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, and the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
22 MARCH 2022
AVIATION: PRESIDENT BUHARI DIRECTS FINANCE MINISTER TO LOOK FOR SPECIAL FUNDING FOR ABUJA AIRPORT SECOND RUNWAY, INAUGURATES NEW TERMINAL BUILDING AT MMIA
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to look for special funding for the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new Terminal Building, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the President also directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to conclude the documentation of the approved 12,000 hectares of land to accommodate the runway and other developmental projects.
Further, the President tasked the Minister of Aviation to fast-track the airport concession programme, to boost aviation practice in the country and make the aviation industry reflect global standards.
The President noted that the completion and delivery of five brand new international airport terminals since 2015, which were at 11% completion level then, aligns perfectly with the Aviation Roadmap, developed in 2016, for the purposes of establishing critical infrastructure, including a National Carrier as well as maintenance, repairs and overhaul centre, and improved Airports Terminals through concession.
The President, who described the administration’s investments in inter-state rail connectivity, road networks, agriculture, power and telecommunications, despite limitations in resources, as unprecedented noted that robust initiatives have been complemented with specific fiscal policies to drive aviation infrastructure renaissance.
‘‘These include the designation of 4 airports, namely Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt as Free Trade Zones, in which customs duty is not applicable; removal of VAT on all forms of shared transportation, including air transportation; and exemption of commercial aircraft and spare parts from VAT payment.
‘‘Similar projects at both the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Port Harcourt International Airport were completed and commissioned by this administration and our people have since been benefiting from the positive economic impacts of those magnificent terminals.
‘‘The one in Kano has also been completed, and will be commissioned soon, while work continues apace to complete that of Enugu shortly,’’ he said.
The President expressed confidence that the new terminal in Lagos with sixty-six check-in-counters, sixteen Immigration desks at arrival, twenty-eight Immigration desks at departure, and eight security screening points, among others, would go a long way in contributing to the socio-political and economic prosperity of the country,
He added that the improvement would increase airport operations and management services to about 14 million passengers per annum, create 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, increase inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and exponential growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He thanked the Government and People of the Republic of China, through the China Export-Import Bank and CCECC Nigeria Limited, (FAAN), for their commitment and support towards the completion of the project.
The President also commended the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its agencies, particularly, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, for working assiduously towards the realization of the project.
‘‘With the delivery of this project, a new era of safety, security, and comfort has been ushered into the Nigerian aviation industry, and I am persuaded that it will get better with the passage of time,’’ he said.
The Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu said it was instructive that Lagos State in one day had witnessed the evolution of three major infrastructure development projects that will change the Nigerian landscape while commending President Buhari for the infrastructural renewal and redevelopment necessary for a city like Lagos.
He lauded the private sector in the aviation industry for their continued contributions to the growth of the country despite the challenges.
The Governor informed the gathering that Lagos State Government was forming a partnership with FAAN towards ensuring that the new international terminal enjoys easy access which would be achieved by creating a bypass, the Airport – Alimosho Bypass Project, to create an alternative route to the airport.
The signing of the agreement for the partnership was later done by the officials of the Lagos State Government and FAAN.
In his remarks, Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said aviation is the worldwide rapid transportation network that facilitates international trade, commerce and tourism, the only medium for achieving continental integration and interaction towards achieving the AU Agenda 2063.
He commended the administration of President Buhari for efforts towards resolving the problems inherited in the aviation industry in 2015 such as lack of professionalism, scarcity of foreign exchange, obsolete equipment, poor facilities, blocked funds for airlines among others, adding that more still needed to be done.
The Minister said the airport concession project including the new terminals has reached an advanced stage with the Ministry issuing requests for shortlisted firms before the end of March.
According to the Minister, a study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Nigeria in 2020, “showed that the sector created 241,000 jobs, direct and indirect, and contributed $1.7billion to the economy,” with a hope to grow the contribution of the sector from the current 0.68% to 5% or approximately $14.16billion.
Senator Sirika gave assurances that the new terminal will be linked to the railway system.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 22, 2022
DESTABILIZATION: PDP GIVES ITSELF AWAY
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has given itself away as being interested only in the destabilization of the country, peradventure it could then sneak its way back to power.
Less than 24 hours after the Department of State Services (DSS) raised alarm about sinister plots by some elements to cause disorder in the land, using the energy crisis as a smokescreen, the PDP issued a statement, saying; “Our party fears that the situation is getting to a boiling point and can trigger a nationwide agitation that might be worse than the October 2020 EndSARS if not addressed immediately.”
Which patriotic political party or organization ever threatens its country with anarchy, social upheaval and disorderliness, except one still smarting from its snout being yanked from the honeypot, as happened to PDP in 2015?
But we wish to remind the now tepid opposition party that it was Nigerians that gave it the boot 7 years ago, and those same Nigerians have not forgotten the travails they experienced, at a time the country was awash with money: no power, no infrastructure, insurgents ran riot round the nation, and our collective patrimony was looted blind. Those same Nigerians are not ready for another PDP misrule, not now, and perhaps not for a long time to come.
Rather than plot and encourage “agitation worse than October 2020 EndSARS,” which it may well be conceiving, the PDP should work for harmony and cohesion in the country, if it ever understands such concept.
EndSARS signified murder, mayhem, mass destruction, even cannibalism. PDP now wishes Nigeria something worse.
A presidential aspirant of the PDP has warned that the party would die by 2023, unless it wins the Number One position in the country. And die it would, if the party wishes the country nothing except something worse than EndSARS.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
March 22, 2022
PRESIDENT DIRECTS TIMELY COMPLETION OF LEKKI DEEP SEA PORT, WANTS RAILWAY LINK TO THE HARBOR
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Lagos praised the efforts of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, towards making the Lekki Deep Sea Port a reality, and directed him to consult and bring up a memorandum to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to link the facility with the railway network.
As part of his engagements in Lagos, the President inspected the rate of work done at the first Deep Sea Port in Nigeria located in Lagos Free Zone, 65Km east of Lagos.
In the course of the inspection, the President received firm assurances that the port, which has a concession period of 45 years and sits in a land area of 90 hectares, will be completed on schedule by September.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 22, 2022
NIGERIA’S DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTED PRODUCTS TO END SOON, PRESIDENT BUHARI SAYS AT INAUGURATION OF DANGOTE’S 3M METRIC TONNES FERTILIZER PLANT
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday declared that Nigeria’s dependence on imported products in the agriculture sector will soon be a thing of the past with the inauguration of Dangote Fertilizer Plant, which has an installed capacity of 3.0 million metric tonnes of Urea per annum.
Speaking at the commissioning of the plant in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, the President said the plant will further advance Nigeria’s drive towards achieving self-sufficiency in food production, create jobs, increase the inflow of foreign exchange and accelerate economic growth.
He commended the Chairman, Board and Management of Dangote Industries Limited for their business initiative in conceptualizing and building this plant, which is the second largest in the world.
The President expressed confidence that the investment in this plant will replicate the Group’s earlier exploits in the cement sector, where Dangote Cement holds the enviable record as our continent’s largest cement producer, with footprints in ten other African countries.
‘‘This new plant is a renewed testament to the widely acknowledged patriotism of Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the leadership of Dangote Industries Limited. It also demonstrates their commitment to the socio-economic development of our country and the well-being of our people.
‘‘The Group’s investment in integrated cement plants, spanning the value chain from quarry to ‘bagging, has effectively ended Nigeria’s dependence on imported cement products.
‘‘Along with the several other subsidiaries, Dangote Industries Limited has created thousands of jobs across Nigeria. It is the second biggest employer of labour in this country, after the Federal Government.
‘‘This is very pleasing because job creation by private sector operators is vital to security as it takes thousands of youths off the street,’’ he said.
On other benefits of the plant, the President expressed delight that with the commencement of exports to other countries including the United States, India, and Brazil, Nigeria is already gaining extensively in earnings of foreign exchange from the excess production of, and export from, the plant.
He noted that coming on stream of the plant had created huge opportunities in the areas of job creation, trade, warehousing, transport, and logistics, which would, in turn, create significant wealth, reduce poverty, and help in securing the future of the nation.
‘‘In the agricultural sector, another focal point of our economic policy, we expect a boom as fertilizer is now readily available in greater quantities and better quality.
‘‘Many Nigerians who hitherto practiced subsistence farming because of nonavailability of necessary inputs can now take up agriculture as a business.
‘‘We expect the rise of a new breed of agropreneurs who will add value to farming and make the nation self-sufficient in food production,’’ he said.
President Buhari used the occasion to reassure Nigerians that his government is focused on providing an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive, pledging continuity in improving infrastructure, power and security as well as enacting relevant laws and regulations to drive investments in the economy.
‘‘We are partnering with the private sector, through a tax credit scheme, in the rehabilitation of roads across Nigeria under Presidential Order No. 7.
‘‘As we know, good roads contribute to easy movement of goods and services across the nation, thus reducing the cost of doing business and improving productivity.
‘‘We are also rehabilitating our railway lines and building new ones to lessen the burden on our roads and create more effective multi-modal transportation networks,’’ he said.
‘‘I look forward to coming back to inaugurate the Refinery and petrochemical plant later in the year.
‘‘Projects of this magnitude and complexity require the support and collaboration of many persons and organisations. I am grateful to all of them.
‘‘In particular, I would like to commend the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Development Finance Institutions and the Local and Foreign Commercial Banks that have supported the investor to make these projects a reality,’’ the President declared.
Lauding Dangote for helping to rebrand Nigeria through his mega investments across Africa, President Buhari said:
‘‘He has fueled job-led growth and transformation of several African economies. I am proud of his contribution to affirming Nigeria’s leadership status in the continent, and I wish him many more successes in the future.’’
After the historic inauguration, President Buhari inspected the Group’s 650,000 barrels per day Petroleum Refinery and 900,000 tonnes per annum Polypropylene Plant sited within the Dangote Free Trade Zone Complex.
In his remarks, Dangote said the fertiliser complex, which occupies 500 hectares and built at a cost of $2.5 billion will drastically reduce the level of unemployment and youth restiveness in the country, through generation of direct and indirect employment.
”Agriculture accounts for over 20 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, and the country is a leading producer of various agricultural commodities. The sector has the potential of becoming the biggest source of income for our Nation, providing employment and raw materials for industries.
”However, low fertilizer usage has been a major reason for low productivity in the sector. It is common knowledge that non availability of the product, in quantity and quality, rather than affordability, is the primary constraint to the use of fertilizer.
”Our goal is to make fertiliser available in sufficient quantities and quality for our teeming farmers assuring greater agricultural output,” he said.
The Chief Executive of Dangote Industries expressed immense gratitude to President Buhari, for his sustained support and encouragement, and for honoring the invitation to come, in person, and inaugurate the plant.
He also commended the leaders of the host communities and their people for providing a peaceful and conducive environment for the project to thrive, recognizing the many years of enthusiastic teamwork, labour, toil and sweat of the Management and Staff of Dangote Group for their commitment to high performance, perseverance and resilience.
The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recounted the role played by a former governor of the State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the establishment of the fertiliser plant and the refinery.
”The idea of having a free zone in the Ibeju Lekki was conceived by our leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
”I was with him in 2003, when we took a trip to China and we were trying to conceive a free zone and this is where we are.
”The free zone is not only home to the largest fertilizer plant in Africa but will certainly be home to the largest refinery,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He thanked the President for coming to Lagos, adding that he looked forward to receiving him in a few months’ time to commission more projects.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 22, 2022
By Femi Oboro
In view of the serial and unrelenting misrepresentation of facts and mischief orchestrated by forgers, pathological liars and pseudo anti-corruption activists in partnership with an online publication globally notorious for its culture of blackmail and extortion, it is important to set the record straight on the pronouncements of the Court of Milan, Republic of Italy, in the OPL 245 trial. The court discharged and acquitted all defendants of criminal charges on 17 March 2021. Of particular interest to me is the extent of involvement of my client, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN, who served as the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice of Nigeria between 2010 and 2015 during which the OPL 245 dispute was resolved and the oil block was acquired by Royal Dutch Shell Plc and ENI S.p.A. from Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd for a combined consideration of $1.3bn.
Although Mr Adoke was not on trial in Italy, his name came up frequently in the court proceedings because of the desperate desire of Mr Fabio De Pasquale, the Deputy Public Prosecutor for Milan, to criminalise the OPL 245 transaction by impugning the integrity of Mr Adoke and casting aspersions on his legal advice as the Attorney-General of the Federation in which position he acted on the lawful and legitimate instructions of President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR.
In trying to work to an answer, Mr De Pasquale came up with a series of investigative theories, some of which were propounded by the so-called anti-corruption campaigners who were out to win awards as transparency champions by trampling on the truth. To them, all is fair in war. They can cook up anything, forge any e-mail and stage-manage any interview as long as they would get applause from their funders and promoters.
Mr De Pasquale argued in court that the OPL 245 Resolution Agreement of 2011, which was based on a Settlement Agreement reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd on 30 November 2006, was illegal. He argued that it was also illegal to award an oil prospecting licence (OPL) through a court-ordered Settlement Agreement. De Pasquale and his team theorised that the $801 million paid by Royal Dutch Shell plc and ENI S.p.A. to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd to acquire the rights to the oil block was illegal and was a scheme to bribe FGN officials. They alleged that Mr Adoke participated in the bribery scheme and profited to the tune of N300m ($2.2m at the time) from the $1.3bn transaction. Specifically, they said Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, a property developer known to both Chief Dan Etete, the promoter of Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, sold a property worth N700m for N500m to Mr Adoke. They further alleged that the N200m difference was a bribe. The Italian prosecutors tried to use the property transaction as evidence of corruption.
Since some of these expended allegations are sub-judicial in Nigeria because Mr Adoke is still being tried in two honourable courts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the same issues, my comments would have to be limited to the Milan Court decision.
Also, some of the facts are already in the public domain and as such do not require any further comments from me. Luckily, the full text of the 458-page judgment, marked “Judgment No. 3055”, is available on the internet. Anyone interested in reading the document, which I intend to quote generously in this article, should google “OPL 245 full decision” and download it. It documents the key presentations made by the prosecutors and the final pronouncements of the court after nearly three years of trial.
It is significantly of note that no adverse findings were made against Mr Adoke, contrary to the lies being peddled online by the coalition of miserable pseudo activists. I may allow myself to speculate that some of their tantrums might be out of ignorance, because, admittedly, it is not every lay person that can read and understand a court decision. The judges normally summarise presentations by the prosecutors and the defendants before making a pronouncement. It is not uncommon for those not familiar with legal proceedings to take a summary of presentation as part of the court finding or decision. However, because these mischief makers have been on this project for a while, and because they have enjoyed the funding and support of those well versed in law, I am very much tempted to conclude that ignorance is not the case, or perhaps ignorance is just red herring. It is malice.
I will now go into the specifics. It had been alleged that Mr Adoke exerted “unlawful pressure” on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to endorse the Settlement Agreement. But the Milan Court pronounced at Page 241 of its judgment: “We cannot instead accept the comments on the fact that Adoke Bello allegedly exerted unlawful pressure on NNPC and DPR. In fact, as we have seen, it had been the Minister himself who had engaged these departments and demanded that an agreement be made reflecting their suggestions, so that the companies (Shell and ENI) were forced to give ground on recognition of the back-in rights, which were not included in the previous contractual framework, which called for direct purchase from Malabu, considering that that company had been granted a license free of these restrictions.”
On the rightfulness of awarding an OPL based on an out-of-court settlement (and the attempt to link it to corruption), the judges said at Page 248: “The opinions of the Public Prosecutor’s expert are absolutely contradictory and legally erroneous. Although she admitted that licenses in Nigeria may be issued by the government on a discretionary basis, it underscores the anomaly represented by the issuance of a license in the context of an out-of-court settlement agreement that involved a party, Eni, that was considered to have nothing to do with the legal disputes over ownership of the license. On the basis of these erroneous premises of its own expert, the prosecution transforms a fact from common experience (out-of-court settlements of disputes may come about through the intervention of a third-party investor or financier) into circumstantial evidence of underlying corrupt arrangements.”
They continued at Page 249: “Contrary to what was revealed during the trial proceeding, the prosecution argues that there were no other cases of assignments of oil license after out-of-court settlements, although the defense experts pointed out that the use of a Resolution Agreement as the basis for a direct award is not an unprecedented event. Examples are found in the Annual Report 2016 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry published by the DPR, which reports that certain assets were assigned/reassigned on the basis of out-of-court settlement agreements. The circumstance generates no wonder, since the settlement is a typical arrangement, which is common practice in circumstances involving a dispute. In this regard, we should mention in passing that, from the legal point of view, the license was not awarded with the Resolution Agreement, but the latter was used as the negotiating tool whereby the Government assured itself approval by Snud (Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep) and Malabu to reassignment in favor of Snepco (Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Co) and NAE (ENI-Agip). Indeed, the deed of assignment is comprised of a discretionary measure issued by the Minister and of which the Resolution Agreement constituted a simple factual premise.”
On the allegation of conflict of interest, the prosecutors argued that Chief Etete, as Minister of Petroleum in 1998, should not have awarded an oil block to a company in which he had interest. The court agreed with the position of the defence lawyer that it was never raised as a breach of law before any court. In fact, the 1998 assignment was subsequently confirmed several times by the government, even before Mr Adoke became AGF. The court agreed with the defence lawyer who had argued that the “fallaciousness of the prosecution’s reasoning was such that the Public Prosecutor was forced to contradict himself when he explicitly affirmed that confirmation of the license awarded to Malabu had legitimated it to sell the license”. The court then declared at Page 249: “So, the Court agrees with the defense attorneys, and even with the Public Prosecutor, that the confirmation of the license by the Nigerian Government in July 2010, during the pendency of the arbitration proceeding, definitively legitimated the negotiations for acquisition of the license itself.”
On the charge that Adoke’s involvement in meetings and communications with key actors in the OPL 245 negotiations was evidence of vested interest for corrupt enrichment, the judges said at Page 291: “Equally devoid of evidentiary value is the fact that the Minister Adoke Bello intervened in the context of these communications, guaranteeing the legitimacy of the agreements underlying the payments, legitimacy that has already been demonstrated and would in fact also be recognized by the Nigerian judicial authority at the request of the same public official (see the ruling of Judge Binta Nyako). The prosecution’s argument, based on the fact that the defendants knowingly provided the money for the bribe paid by Etete to the public officials, is reasonably contradicted by the outcome of the SOCA authorizations…”. SOCA is the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency which gave JP Morgan the go-ahead to transfer funds to Malabu in 2011 after investigating suspicion of fraud.
At Page 317, the judges, in dismissing allegations of bribery in the OPL 245 deal for lack of proof, reproduced the transcript of the interrogation of a defendant, Mr Vincenzo Armanna, a former ENI manager, by the prosecutor over the issue of kickbacks. Armanna said that, in fact, Adoke threatened to arrest and prosecute ENI officials for negotiating kickbacks. The conversation is reproduced below:
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR: But the meeting, which I can now specify directly because you mentioned it this morning, when the Attorney General said: “They’re bribes, I’ll put you all in jail,” when was that? And who was there?
DEFENDANT ARMANNA: It was the first one with a bigger group, so it was…I think it was after November 15.
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR: And what did he say exactly?
DEFENDANT ARMANNA: That they were bribes and that we were blackmailing Dan Etete and forcing him to pay a fee to Obi and that we would be arrested.
It is, therefore, a matter of public record that Mr Adoke actually warned against bribery in the transaction and threatened to get the commission agents arrested and prosecuted. This is the same Adoke that is being maligned and defamed as a bribe taker. Before Mr Armanna’s testimony, Ednan Tofik ogly Agaev, a former Russian ambassador to Colombia, had also withdrawn his earlier claim to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in which he said Mr Adoke was involved in bribery. Agaev refused to adopt the statement in court, saying he was pressured to mention a name during interrogation and he mentioned Adoke. In other words, Agaev lied to the FBI to get off the hook.
I must, however, regret that there was an allegation against Mr Adoke before the Italian court that was not exhaustively dealt with: the accusation that he bought a house from his supposed share of the kickbacks. Every piece of evidence was purely circumstantial and an over-extension of the facts just to fit the narrative: one, that Mr Adoke previously knew the property developer; two, that the property developer was close to Chief Etete; three, that Mr Adoke tried to buy a house for N500m after the OPL 245 transaction; four, that the property had just been acquired by the developer for N700m; five, that the N200m difference was his kickback; six, that as a public servant, where could he have earned the N500m to buy the property. Of course, the conclusion of the judges was that there was no proof of corruption and while we may say Mr Adoke was exonerated, that will still not totally solve the puzzle around the mortgage and will continue to be used by the mischief makers as evidence of corruption.
But here are the facts, most of which were presented in Italy by the prosecutors but which they deliberately jumbled together because they were shooting at a target. Mr Adoke never denied knowing Alhaji Abubakar, the property developer. He never denied being offered a house at Plot 3271 Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama District, Abuja. What he has said, and quite consistently, is that Alhaji Abubakar approached him to buy the property for N500m. He then approached his bankers, Unity Bank Plc, where he was a substantial shareholder, and asked for a mortgage of N300m. He was to make an equity contribution of N200m to complete the payment. The bank opened a mortgage account, credited it with N300m and transferred the funds to Carlin International, owned by the developer. However, because Mr Adoke could not raise his equity of N200m, Alhaji Abubakar had to return the N300m to Unity Bank. The bank took the money and closed the account. The developer then sold the property to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). All the documents presented in court by the prosecutors as provided to them by EFCC established the facts. Actually, Mr Adoke lost money because he had to pay high interests on the loan. But the prosecutors fiddled with the facts.
Since there was an agenda, the prosecutors said the same property had previously been purchased for N700m by Alhaji Abubakar. What they maliciously hid from the court was that three buildings were being developed on the 5,500sqmtr-plot. They also did not tell the court that it was just one of the three buildings that was offered to Mr Adoke for N500m. They made it look like it was the entire property and cruelly calculated a discounted “benefit” of N200m. This is evil, to put it mildly. Also, they failed to disclose to the court that the property now belongs to the CBN who bought it in 2013 because Mr Adoke could not complete the payment. Mr Adoke said he had been hoping to sell a plot of land in Abuja to raise his N200m equity but he did not get a buyer. He never said he was going to pay for it from his salaries as a public officer. But this was the impression presented to the court.
To sum up, the Italian court has, after an extensive trial, put a lie to the allegations levelled against Mr Adoke over his role in the OPL 245 deal. The Hon. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court declared in 2018 that Mr Adoke could not be held personally liable for carrying out a lawful presidential order. The US Department of Justice investigated the transaction and brought it to a close in October 2019 without any charges. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) closed its own investigation in April 2020. As yet, no court of law has concluded that the OPL 245 deal is a scandal. It is just the narrative cooked up by self-serving pseudo activists and forgers, and vented by notorious online blackmailers. The truth will eventually prevail and those who participated in the defamation should know that they will pay when the stage-managed storm is finally over.
My intervention is aimed at those who may not know the truth and are confused or have wrongly believed the concoctions being served online in the name of activism. To be frank, I am not hoping that my clarifications would stop the mischief makers from continuing with their malicious project. They are not reasonable characters. All they want is miscarriage of justice so that they would be decorated with murderous medals for destroying an innocent soul. They will never succeed. But if the intention of Mr Adoke’s traducers is just to destroy his name and keep him busy with having to declare his innocence every day, they have succeeded to some extent. I congratulate them. They should continue to enjoy their pyrrhic victory. It is just a matter of time before they stew in their own juice. No matter how many miles a lie travels, it takes the truth just a nanosecond to pursue and overtake. In fact, with the truth now coming to the fore, many of them are already regretting their actions and apologising in private to Mr Adoke. But their day of inescapable reckoning beckons.
. Femi Oboro, Solicitor at Gromyko Amedu Solicitors wrote via femi.oboro@gromykoamedusolicitors.co.uk
As a prelude to the Diamond Jubilee Anniversary of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, CVCNU, the nation’s premier university, the University of Ibadan, kick started the celebration with a unique event tagged ‘Soap Box’ a discussion forum to commemorate activities lined up for the Diamond Jubilee ceremony slated for October 2022
The event which took place at the South West Zone of the University Campus , weekend, attracted notable scholars within the University Community with a theme ‘Sixty Years in Sixty Minutes: Exploring Trends in The Nigerian University System.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of CVCNU, Professor Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumo who was represented by Professor Kabiru Aderemi Adeyemo, Vice Chancellor, Lead City University, lauded the Premier University for accepting to host the first leg of the event to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and appreciated the institution for the goodwill CVCNU had enjoyed over the years as partner in progress
He therefore urged the leadership of the tertiary institution not to relent in her efforts to continue working harmoniously with CVCNU for the common good of the nation’s education sector.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of CVCNU, Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu in his glowing remarks expressed profound gratitude to the leadership of the premier University for accepting the onerous task of hosting the first event marking the Diamond Jubilee
Ochefu recalled the enviable role played by University of Ibadan to birth CVCNU in 1962, and added it was a great honour to the institution to be part of the Diamond Jubilee event
Consequently, Professor Ochefu reiterated the resolve of the association to continue to work assiduously towards the promotion of landmark activities that will continue to support the growth and development of the university education in Nigeria
Ochefu also highlighted other programmes of the Diamond Jubilee event
The opening session of the discussion event code named ‘’soap box’’ had one time Vice- Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Emeritus Professor O. A Bamiro, FAS who set the ball rolling with a talk on Transformation of University Education, while the current Vice Chancellor,
Professor K.O Adebowale, FAS, MNI spoke On Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Other panelists that featured at the auspicious event include ; Professor E. O. Ogunkola, a Council Member and Chairman, IGR Committee, University of Ibadan; Professor A. K Aremu former Chairman, University of Ibadan Council Committee on Campus Security; Professor S. B Olaleye, Editor in Chief African Journal of Biomedical Research; Professor Elsie Adewoye, President University of Ibadan Alumni Association Worldwide; Mrs. Olubunmi O. Faluyi MCIPM, Registrar, University of Ibadan and Mr. Adeyinka Adewale, President, Student Union, University of Ibadan,
The eminent scholars spoke on wide range of topical issues such as Funding and Generating Internal Revenue, Campus Security, Plagiarism, Alumni Experience, Business of Recycling and Data as Resource for Universities
The gathering attracted scholars from other universities. It was a melting point to brainstorm and further suggest ways on how to make the university environment more conducive, comfortable and convenient for academic activities, research learning for students, university teachers and the university management