₦airaland Forum

He alleged that the fleeing truck and its occupants ran over Army barricade and defied soldiers’ order stopping them to be searched.

Buratai insisted that soldiers that chased the truck into Kanu’s house did not fire any shot, saying it was the occupants of the fleeing truck that deliberately ignited the ammunition they were carrying.

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Thursday in Abuja, said it would be a factual lie to claim that the war against corruption had been won by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu made the remark at the Banquet Hall of the State House when he delivered the keynote address at the launch of a book titled, “Making Steady Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Properity,” a mid-term scorecard of the administration, authored by the trio of Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu and Laolu Akande, the president’s media advisers.

Tinubu also said though the anti-terror war had not been won, it was not in doubt that Boko Haram had been largely decimated, recalling how the insurgents wreaked havoc on the nation and proceeded to claim a territory within the Nigerian nation.

He said never again would the sect’s flag be seen in the country’s territory.
Tinubu, who described corruption as a dangerous tree that needed to be axed, did not mince words when he said it would take some time to win the anti-corruption war.

Nevertheless, he was swift to add that concerted efforts must be made by the government to ensure the battle is won.
“President Buhari has set an axe to the root of this dangerous tree. I would be lying if I said the war against large-scale corruption has been won. It has not.

“It will take time and countless swings of the axe to fall such a deeply-rooted tree. But try we must. This is what the President is doing,” Tinubu said.
The former governor then proceeded to lash out at former President Goodluck Jonathan whom he alleged won a gold medal in corruption and secured a red card in governance.

According to him, corruption was so rampant during the last administration that the nation’s institutions were not only inflicted with the menace but corruption became an institution.

Taking a further swipe at the past administration, Tinubu said the former government turned the national treasury into a charity box while corruption grew fat and developed wings, citing how a former minister and those he described as “her rogues gallery” looted the national treasury with impunity.

“The prior government used the public treasury as a private hedge fund or a charity that limited its giving only to themselves. So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could.
“That which could have been spent on national development was squandered in ways that would cause the devil to blush,” he said.

However, Tinubu, who said that era of impunity in Nigeria had eventually been conquered, was swift to add that much still needed to be done to track down agents of corruption.
He also called for the review of salaries of civil servants, adding that people of character and competence must be appointed to office to stop corruption.

“One minister and her rogues’ gallery picked the pocket of this nation for billions of dollars. While poor at governance, these people could give a master thief lessons in the sleight of hand.

“In governance, they earned a red card but in the corruption, they won the gold medal.
“It was not that our institutions had become infected by corruption. Corruption had become institutionalised. Gone are the times when a minister can pilfer billions of dollars as easy as plucking a piece of candy from the table.

“We have much to do to combat this disease. Not only must we track down the takers. In the long term, we must review the salaries of public servants and create universal credit for our people to reduce temptation.

“We must also take greater care by placing people of character, competence and goodness into key positions. When they fail, they must be removed without remorse or favour.
“Unlike its predecessor, this government has demonstrated the will to walk this path. While this might not cause much fanfare or celebration, this cleanses the institutions upon which a nation’s wellbeing is founded with a future assured,” the APC leader said.

On the state of the nation’s economy, Tinubu said the biggest long-term challenge confronting the administration was the economy, pointing out that whereas the previous administration operated in the era of plenty, the incumbent who he said was grappling with meagre resources was duty bound to salvage the system, then proceeded to reel out the improvements made so far by Buhari’s government.

“The economy remains our biggest long-term challenge. The prior government operated during times of plenty. The opposite is the case now.

“Sadly, that plenty was stolen or directed towards policies of no lasting consequence to the average Nigerian save to compel them to say another opportunity had been wasted.
“Through no fault of its own, this administration had to grapple with a rapid fall in oil prices. That fall brought recession and collapsed our exchange rate regime.

“More fundamentally, it showed that the very economic model upon which this nation operated was outmoded and flawed. Unfortunately, the past administration did nothing to re-calibrate the economy.
“With fewer resources at hand, this government is compelled to do more. It must respond to immediate needs in a way that leads to long-term economic reform.

“This will be a complex journey. This government has taken the first steps in the right direction.
“We are inching out of recession. The exchange rate has stabilised. Internationally, we are seen being as on the mend and have been recognised for making significant progress in the ease of doing business,” he stated.

The former Lagos State governor who tasked the government to take cognisance of the plight of the downtrodden people of Nigeria, whom he said had been denied their pride of place for so long, said today’s investments by the government are for their comfort in future.

“While we work towards this good end, we must recognise the situation of millions of our people. Wrongfully denied for so long, they suffer still. But we ask them to take heart. Don’t forfeit hope.
“Understand that tomorrow will not be as the past when what was built and bought was not intended for you.
“What we are now building, is meant for you. This is your government and you will be the beneficiaries of its policies and programmes. You are no longer the forgotten. You are the hope and promise of a nation and its future.

“As this government implements its economic plans, the griping poverty you have long suffered will give way and ultimately turn into the fertile progress and prosperity that only good governance can bring. We do this with a sense of urgency!” he added.

Tinubu then proceeded to make three suggestions which he asked the government to consider, stating that no nation has ever experienced prosperity without building a huge industrial capacity.
He tasked the government to learn from countries such as the United Kingdom, which he said became prosperous because it was built on its industrial strength.

He also counselled the government not to pay lips service to the industrial revolution but to evolve it in reality and draw up infrastructure plans, invest in research and assist farmers to grow their income by returning the nation to the path of the commodity exchange board.
In his remarks, Buhari who said he could not adequately thank Nigerians for their prayers and goodwill when he was ill and had to travel to London for treatment, said the only way he could repay them was to deploy his energy to serving them.

He also promised to deploy his energy towards fighting corruption, improving security and repositioning the economy, warning that anyone caught by the long arm of the law for corruption, should be prepared to face the music.
Buhari said concerted efforts were being made to secure the release of the last set of Chibok girls, adding that the government was according topmost priority to the violence of herdsmen.

He added that Nigeria had been repositioned and had gained the respect of the international community.
“I thank the media team in its efforts in recoding recording events and our scorecard. But I cannot thank Nigerians enough for your prayers and goodwill during my health vacation.

“I can only repay you by resolving to work by putting every ounce of my energy to protect your interest.
“We have gone through your difficult times due to the global economic recession. We are coming out of the recession and government’s efforts are targeted at easing economic hardship with more jobs, social security platforms for vulnerable families and the unemployed, and infrastructure progress.

“I would at the same like to assure all Nigerians of my commitment to improve security, fight corruption and restructure the economy.

“On the current issue on herdsmen/farmers clashes, kidnapping and armed robberies within the confines of our limited resources, we are giving top priority to security.
“During the year it was my great pleasure to secure the release of 102 Chibok schoolgirls. We are doing our best quietly and effectively as possible to get the rest released.

“We are working day and night with our international partners to release the remaining girls as soon as possible, women and children.
“We are all aware now that if you steal public funds and you are caught, you will face the law.
“Internationally, Nigeria is now a respected nation. I can’t keep up with the invitations to visit other countries, much less other countries’ leaders that want to visit us.

“A number of world leaders are expressing the desire to visit Nigeria virtually monthly.
“Our credit worthiness is sound, our first Eurobond offer was over subscribed four times,” Buhari said.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the government of Buhari had “provided exemplary leadership for the country and demonstrated the political will and solid commitment to the task of building a new Nigeria in line with the change agenda promised to the electorate”.

According to him, the administration has strived to diversify the economy, create jobs and engage in social welfare programmes, in accordance with the party’s manifesto.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said war against corruption had been fought by the government the way it has never been waged in the country, adding: “Corruption is no longer possible on the table. It has been driven under, with those still engaged constantly being made to watch their backs.”

Jonathan Responds

But in quick response to Tinubu’s bashing, former President Jonathan said the facts had deserted the former Lagos State governor.
A statement issued Thursday by Jonathan’s media aide Reno Omokri said: “Again my attention has been drawn to disparaging comments made by Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu against former President Goodluck Jonathan and his administration.
“First of all, the only global body for monitoring corruption is Transparency International, which releases an annual Corruption Perception Index.

“It is a fact that Nigeria made her most improvement in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Index in 2014 under President Jonathan when we moved from 144th to 136th place, representing an improvement of eight points.
“Transparency International observed that the Jonathan administration’s fight against the corruption in Nigeria’s fertiliser procurement regime, the use of technology to remove 50,000 federal ghost workers, and the speed at which the then president fired ministers accused of corruption or conflict of interests.

“From that time till today, Nigeria has not made any improvements and has remained at 136 where Jonathan left us because Transparency International deals with facts, not opinions or media trial.
“Other than media sensationalism, there have been no convictions of financial misappropriation stemming from the Jonathan era.

“However, we do know that it is a fact that the allegedly corrupt pension thief, Abdulrasheed Maina, was dismissed and declared wanted by the Jonathan administration.
“We also now know that it is a fact that the present Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, met with Maina in Dubai. We know that Maina’s family revealed in a press conference that Maina was invited back to Nigeria by the present government.

“It is also a fact that Maina was recalled, reinstated and given double promotion by the current administration.
“Moreover, we know from the Head of Service’s leaked memo that President Muhammadu Buhari was aware of this entire saga.

“Perhaps Chief Bola Tinubu mistook the Usain Bolt speed at which Maina was smuggled back into the country and reinstated for the unproven claims of corruption under Jonathan.
“We also know that it is a fact that $25 billion worth of contracts were awarded at the NNPC without due process. It is also a fact that this is the highest ever such amount involved in Nigeria’s history.

“Again, perhaps it is this amount that Tinubu meant when he said, ‘So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could.’ Or perhaps he was referring to Babachir Lawal (former Secretary to the Government of the Federation).

“Nigerians should note that on the 7th of March 2014, then President Jonathan said: ‘I am loyal to Nigeria’s economy. I don’t have accounts or property abroad.’ Till date, nobody has been able to contradict that statement because it is true.
“Can Bola Tinubu or anybody in the APC leadership make a similar claim?”
On the issue of Boko Haram and terrorism, he noted that it was a fact that there is only one global body recognised to monitor terrorism and that is the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) which releases the annual Global Terrorism Index.

“It is a fact that between 2013 and 2014, Nigeria under President Jonathan was unfortunately listed as the fourth most terrorised nation in the world.
“However, in the latest Global Terrorism Index released yesterday (November 15, 2017) by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Nigeria has deteriorated from where Jonathan left it and is now the third most terrorised nation.

“In 2015, President Jonathan ensured that elections held in every local government in Borno State, but last month, the United Nations declared that they could no longer operate in certain local governments of Borno State. So who is fooling who?
“So if according to Transparency International, Nigeria was less corrupt under Jonathan than it is today and according to the Institute for Economics and Peace, Nigeria is more terrorised today than it was under Jonathan, it becomes clear that Bola Tinubu has no factual basis to make the claims he made,” he said.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

madridguy:
I think the likes of Professor Pat Utomi will perform wonders. We have many great economist here in Nigeria why going to Malaysia to import consultants.

ivandragon:
hmm...

so what is the essence of having ministers & special advisers?

a look at the various budgets of this administration shows that funds are set aside for consultants in almost every ministry...

& yet, they still pay millions to a foreign firm to tell them what they know...

well, if the minister, special advisers & other appointees on the economy cannot deliver, then they should be sacked & money for their salaries used to pay the consultants...

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) rose from its weekly meeting in the State House, Abuja Wednesday with a resolution to engage foreign consultants from Malaysia to conduct a forensic study that will boost the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

The meeting, presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, which approved N458 million for the exercise, put the duration of the forensic study at three months to be undertaken in three phases.

The council categorised the three phases of the study as pre-laboratory, laboratory and post laboratory stages, which it said would include the involvement of 100 persons from both the public and private sectors.
The foreign consultants are expected to bring into the economic plan their international experience, which the council believes will enhance the credibility of ERGP.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said the consultants would conduct the forensic tests on power, transportation, gas, manufacturing and processing.

According to Udoma, the move will involve the evaluation of the growth plan in accordance with set targets and progress with detailed account of implementation including performance indicators.

“Today, the Federal Executive Council approved a memorandum that was brought by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to retain some consultants to help us to conduct some pilot laboratories. This is part of our implementation strategy for the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and so, we intend to conduct three labs – one in agriculture and transportation, one in power and gas and one in manufacturing and processing.

“The key objectives of the labs are as follows: one is to identify all relevant key stakeholders from the public and private sectors that are crucial in the delivery and implementation of the ERGP initiative so as to create ownership early in the development process. We will review and re-evaluate the ERGP and sectoral plans against set targets and progress and will include identifying gaps in the current economic system and the key success factors.
“It will further deliver detailed a three-phase implementation programme line by line. We will identify entry point projects. We will identify key performance indicators, breaking down silos and encouraging key players. Now, the focus of the labs is to mobilise private sector investment to finance specific capital projects as you know public resources are limited. So, these labs will bring in private sector players. We will look at the various areas including: infrastructure, manufacturing and bring them in and mobilise private sector financing and resources for the labs.

“So, what council has approved today (yesterday) is that we bring in some consultants who did a similar thing in Malaysia to try to help us build our own capacity. They will just help us at the beginning and after that, we will take over and do it ourselves,” he said.

In his own briefing, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said he presented two memoranda to the council which he said had relations with economic issues.

According to him, one of the memoranda sought FEC’s approval for N27.23 billion contract for the construction of the 117-kilometre Gombe-Biu road while the other had to do with the revised national building code which he said was eight years behind its scheduled date. He said the first code came into existence in 2006 and was revised in 2009.

“The strategic importance of the road is undeniable. It supports agriculture, access to our power plants – Dadin Kowa hydro power plants. It also helps security logistics to move personnel and troops to respond to distress calls. It is also going to be critical in the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPS). It’s part of the North-east development plan. So, it ticks all the boxes in terms of development and so on and also as far as budget implementation is concerned, this is one further step in that direction.

“The other matter which speaks to investment in our people, security of lives and property is the revised Nigeria national building code and this code is eight years behind its scheduled date and the first code was delivered in 2006 and it was revised in 2009 and since then, it was stalled,” he said.
Fashola said the content of the code would improve fire protection systems in buildings and enhance energy efficiency and green building methods in the national standards.

FG Negotiates Release of $4.92bn Mambilla Plant Loan

The federal government also said Wednesday that it has begun negotiating modalities for the release of the $4.92 billion loan it is expecting from the China Exim Bank as part of funding for the 3,050 megawatts (MW) capacity Mambilla hydro power plant.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Fashola, stated this at a workshop on the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) in Abuja.

Fashola noted that having signed the contract for the construction of the hydro plant last Friday with three Chinese firms – China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC), Sinohydro Corporation Limited (SHC) and CGCOC Group Co. Limited, the ministry of finance had taken over the process and was in negotiation with the China Exim Bank to determine the terms in the loan.

He said until this was concluded and Nigeria guaranteed of the loan, it was difficult to state exactly when work on the project would commence.

He, however, noted that preliminary works such as mapping out of travel routes for ease of movement of heavy machineries had started amongst others.

Falola said: “The signing of the contract for the construction had taken place last Friday. It is supposed to be funded by the China Exim Bank. The negotiations for the loan will now start.

“For this period, I am waiting because it is now the ministry of finance that has taken over. They are the ones who do treasury works, and raise loans for Nigeria.”
He added: “So, we do the negotiations and when we secure the loan, then we are able to tell you that this is the start date.

“There is a lot of preparatory works going on and we should have signed a MoU with the Taraba State government. We have already got a liaison office in the state, the governor did that. We also constituted the project team, the contractors have already started route estimation and analysis; how they are going to move heavy equipment and all of that; and there will be a lot more of that to come. It is a big contract.”
Last Friday, the government signed the agreement for the construction of Mambilla within six years with the Chinese companies.

The project, which is expected to cost $5.79 billion, would have its funding come from the Nigerian government and Chinese lenders through the China Exim Bank, on the ratio of 15 to 85 per cent respectively.

Within the deal, the Chinese Exim Bank and other Chinese lenders are expected to provide $4.92 billion representing 85 per cent of the project’s cost while the federal government will put forward $868.87 million which represents the 15 per cent it ought to bring to the table to build the power plant.

Also, the scope of work for the project include four large dams – Nya, Sumsum, Nghu and Api Weir, two underground power house of 12 units of 250MW each, two numbers of 330kV of 700 kilometres transmission lines to Markudi and Jalingo, 120 kilometres of access roads connecting the project site and nearby communities and resettlement of an estimated 100,000 impacted persons.

Already, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved on August 30, the total sum of $5,792,497,062.00 for the project which has reportedly been in the making for over 40 years.

That approval thus paved the way for the signing of the contract document with the China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC), Sinohydro Corporation Limited (SHC) and CGCOC Group Co. Limited, all considered a joint venture.
It also now allowed the federal government to seek finance to meet its counterpart funding obligation to the project.

Similarly, the Mambilla hydro project which is located in Sarduana Local Government Area of Taraba State had its first preliminary feasibility study reportedly carried out by Moto Columbus in 1972. Between 1981-1985, Diyam Consultants with Binnie and Partners UK also carried out another preliminary study and recommended a 3960MW capacity plant.

In 2011 however FEC awarded another consultancy services for detailed engineering design and project management and supervision to Messrs Coyne et Bellier/Decrwon/WADSCO JV Consultants to further review the two previous studies based on new hydrology and geology investigation.

Firefire:
Imagine?

"Several analysts have continued to question the justification for the over $3 billion reportedly sunk into oil exploration in the North by the current administration, in spite of its clamour for economic diversification as well as the global reality of the diminishing significance of the commodity in a couple of years".

Despite its campaign for economic diversification, increasing global shift towards alternative and cleaner energy sources, and futile attempts in the past discovering oil in commercial quantities in Northern Nigeria, the federal government Tuesday justified the continuing search for oil in the Northern part of the country.

Several analysts have continued to question the justification for the over $3 billion reportedly sunk into oil exploration in the North by the current administration, in spite of its clamour for economic diversification as well as the global reality of the diminishing significance of the commodity in a couple of years.

But the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who offered perspectives on government’s oil exploration drive in the North, said Tuesday that many fundamental factors informed the decision to continue prospecting for oil in the region.

Responding to questions at the public presentation of the 2018 budget proposal in Abuja, Kachikwu stated that the government has a real obligation to explore for oil anywhere there is reason to do so, noting that one of the reasons for the exploration activities in the North was the fact that it had been established that oil lies underneath the Lake Chad Basin.
He stated that the fact that the price of oil has fallen was not enough reason to stop exploration activities, adding that the commodity is still the country’s dominant foreign exchange earner.

Kachikwu, who stated that a huge responsibility still lies with oil, noted that the drop in oil prices and increasing world attention towards other energy sources would not stop hamstrung exploration activities.
He said: “Massive exploration activities will continue to proceed obviously in oil producing areas. The contribution of oil in the 2018 budgetary expenditure expectation is almost 60 per cent, that is, if you take the 37 per cent in debt. A huge amount of responsibility lies with oil.”

He, however, pointed out that his personal philosophy in the exploration of oil was that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) should not drive the process.
“My philosophy is that it shouldn’t just be NNPC that should prospect for oil in the North-east. What we are trying to do is to begin an inland basin programme and then we put in enough processes and incentives to bring the private sector to look for oil at their own cost under Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and that will therefore not place a burden on the federal government but at least open up the frontiers which will be for the good of the country,” he said.

In his presentation on the details of the 2018 budget, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said the 2018 revenue projections reflected a new funding mechanism for the oil joint venture (JV) operations, allowing for cost recovery in lieu of previous cash call arrangements.

The minister said that this would come with additional oil-related revenue arising from royalty recoveries, new/marginal field licensing, early licensing renewals, and review of the fiscal regime for the PSCs.
Udoma disclosed that key reform initiatives in the 2018 budget to improve revenue generation included restructuring the government’s equity in the JV oil assets (reduction in equity holding) with proceeds to be reinvested in other assets.
This, he noted, will improve efficiencies in the operations of the JVs and position them for better revenue performance in the future.

He also disclosed that there would be an upward adjustment on the excise duty imposed on alcohol and tobacco.
The minister also spoke on the tax administration improvement initiatives aimed at positively affecting collection across various tax categories, including the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

He disclosed that about N300 billion was provided for roads across the country in the 2018 budget, adding that the federal government was desirous of attracting private sector participation in all facets of the economy.
According to him, “The 2018 budget proposal seeks to continue the reflationary policies of the 2016 and 2017 budgets which helped put the economy back on the path of growth.

“Thus, we plan to continue to spend more on ongoing infrastructure projects that have potential for job creation and inclusive growth; we will continue to leverage private capital and counterpart funding for the delivery of infrastructure projects.”
Udoma stated that as with the 2016 and 2017 budgets, the 2018 budget had been prepared on Zero Based Budget (ZBB) principles.

He stressed that the 2018-2020 Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) and the budget proposal reflected many of the reforms and initiatives in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), “which is our roadmap to economic recovery and sustainable growth”.
But considering present realities, he said the growth projection for 2017 had been revised downwards from 2.9 per cent to 1.5 per cent.

Providing further insight into the performance of the capital component of the 2017 budget, Udoma said as of October 31, N450 billion had been released to the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the government.
The minister also disclosed that the government had also recorded 87 per cent performance in overall expenditure, even as he noted that under the 2017 budget, N1.6 trillion had been recorded as oil revenue.

Udoma said the government was having problems with non-oil revenue, noting that earnings from company income taxes and Value Added Tax (VAT) underperformed.
But he applauded the performance of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), noting that it has almost met its revenue target for the period.

Lamenting the poor performance of independent revenue sources, he regretted that the revenue generating agencies were not meeting their obligations.
On this score, he said the government was considering amending the Fiscal Responsibility Act to check the trend.

Responding to a question on the apathy of citizens to paying tax, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, blamed the discovery of oil for the low tax regime in the country.
She said Nigeria, with a population of 180 million people and oil production of about 2 million barrels per day cannot survive without tax.

The minister stressed that people should not compare Nigeria with Saudi Arabia, with a production of 10 million barrels of oil per day and a population of 30 million people.
“People are not paying taxes, not because of apathy, but because we have gone on for the last 35 years with a culture that when people don’t pay taxes there are no consequences.

“It is fraudulent for anyone to say he does not pay taxes because he does not see what he’s getting from government, so we are going to have to come together as nation for the future and do the right thing,” she said.

Also referring to the Dangote Group, the minister stated that the government never granted any company tax holiday or amnesty for roads construction, adding that government has an understanding with some companies on some roads.
According to her, such companies would repair certain roads while the funds expended on the roads will be recognised as taxes already paid.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

In his visit to the South-east since assumption of office, President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday arrived Ebonyi State where he remarked that the visit was a strong expression of his belief in Nigeria’s unity.
The president also pledged to improve agriculture, power supply and the provision of infrastructure projects in the region when the 2018 budget is passed.

Buhari, whose visit to Ebonyi had been tagged the first presidential visit to the state in the last 17 years, was conveyed by a Nigerian Air Force helicopter with registration number NAF-540 from Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, to the army barracks in Nkwagu in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, at about 11.15 a.m.
He was accompanied by the state Governor, Chief David Umahi.

Umahi was among other South-east governors who had received him at the Enugu airport.
The president, who was received at the army barracks by dignitaries from the state, subsequently commissioned six projects and thereafter proceeded to the Government House where he met notable leaders of the state and traditional rulers from both Ebonyi and the South-east who conferred on him two traditional chieftaincy titles.

The president recalled how some Igbo leaders had visited him at the State House, Abuja, last month to express concern over the poor state of infrastructure in the region, assuring them that resources meant to address their concerns had been captured in the 2018 budget currently before the National Assembly.

The president promised to concentrate on power and agriculture projects as well as other social services in the region when the budget is operational and praised the state governor for the projects being executed by his administration in the state, describing them as laudable.

The president, who was conferred with the chieftaincy titles, Enyioma 1 of Ebonyi, meaning a trustworthy friend of Ebonyi, and Ochioha Ndigbo, meaning the leader of Igbo people, by both the Ebonyi State Council of Traditional Rulers and South-east Council of Traditional Rulers respectively, expressed appreciation for the titles as well as the warm reception accorded him, saying he was glad for the opportunity to interact with people of the state.
He said: “I am delighted to be here in Abakaliki to interact with the good people of Ebonyi State and indeed the South-east region as a whole. I want to express my gratitude to the people of Ebonyi State for their hospitality and warm reception since I arrived the state.

“My presence here today is a demonstration of my strong belief in the unity of Nigeria. As the most populous country in Africa with over 300 ethnic groups, our diversity is almost unique.
“When I met with the leaders of the South-east in Abuja last month, they raised several issues of concern including the state of the roads and infrastructure in the region.

“I will like to commend Governor David Umahi for his vision and commitment to the development of this state. Some of the projects I commissioned since my arrival are laudable.
“I am also grateful to the traditional rulers of Ebonyi State for the honour bestowed on me with the traditional title of Enyioma I of Ebonyi. I thank you for this honour and warm reception.
“I want to assure you that we will deliver on our promises. Our 2018 budget included many projects for the region in the area of power, agriculture and social services.”

The president was emphatic that the Ndigbo is synonymous with Nigeria just as Nigeria is synonymous with Ndigbo.
The president, who celebrated what he described as the ingenuity of the people of South-east and their talent for trade and commerce, said the Igbo ethnic group and Nigeria were inseparable.

“The people of the South-east are known for their ingenuity, industrial and commercial talent. There is no part of Nigeria where you will not find Igbo entrepreneurs, both men and women, contributing to the development of their adopted communities.
“So, I am asking you all not to buy into the senseless propaganda for secession. Igbo is Nigeria and Nigeria is Igbo. Both are inseparable.

“We must therefore continue to commit ourselves to the development of Nigeria, a Nigeria where we sustain our national unity without compromising on our cultural identities, a Nigeria where the aspirations of its people are guaranteed without prejudice to tribe or religion, a Nigeria where we can sleep at night knowing that tomorrow will be better than today.

“The task of nation building is a continuous one. It never stops. Our founding fathers, from all corners of this country, worked together to actualise the creation of one Nigeria.
“After independence, the same founding fathers worked together to maintain this one Nigeria. Yes, they had differences and varied opinions at times. After all, they were only human.

“And yes, they had moments of weaknesses and doubt. But again, no one is perfect. However, one thing they all protected until the end of their lives was having one Nigeria for all Nigerians,” he said.

In his remarks, the Ebonyi State governor congratulated the president on the chieftaincy titles conferred on him and thanked him for his enormous assistance to the state, which he said had resulted in a revolution in the agriculture and solid minerals sectors.

In appreciation of the assistance, Umahi presented 2,000 bags of rice and 2,000 tubers of yams to the president, describing the presentation as the fruit of the state’s prayers that the president would enjoy the fruits of the seeds he planted.
“First is to congratulate our president for this highest honour bestowed on you today. It is an honour that is well deserved, Your Excellency, you have helped us quite a lot especially in the area of the agriculture revolution and solid minerals. And today, sir, you are with us.
“The prayer of everyone is that you plan to see it; you will be alive to tap from the seeds that you are planting. Today, you gave us a giant leap in agriculture and so we have here with us 2,000 bags of rice and 2,000 pieces of yam to give to our president.

“It is a prayer answered because you have sown in the land of Ebonyi and God has given you the strength and health to partake in that seed that you planted. We are grateful to give back to our father who has given so much to us,” Umahi said.

Among the initial projects Buhari commissioned were a 700-metre twin Trans-Sahara bridge linking Enugu and Ebonyi States with Cameroon; the Senator Offia Nwali flyover; the 14.5km Abakaliki-Afikpo road; foundation laying of the Ebonyi city mall; foundation laying of the Muhammadu Buhari bridge; and unveiling of the Akanu Ibiam statue.

Also, at a reception for the president at the state’s stadium, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, thanked Buhari for his visit to the region barely a few weeks after Igbo leaders had visited him in the State House to draw his attention to infrastructure deficit in the South-east.

Nwodo then painted the horrible state of infrastructure decay in the region and appealed to the president to address it.
He said the decay included the rotten state of the Enugu airport, recalling how an Ethiopian Airline aircraft recently lost a tyre while landing as a result of the bad runway.
He also said livelihoods in the region were threatened by the infrastructure decay including the dilapidated state of the Onitsha-Enugu expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, stoppage of work on the Second Niger bridge, unemployment, hunger and starvation, among others.

Nwodo demanded the concession of collapsed major roads in the South-east to the governors of the region to enable them rebuild such roads the way they want them.
The former minister, however, lauded the president’s decision to pay pensions to ex-Biafran policemen and damages to victims of the Nigerian civil war.

Also speaking at the stadium, Umahi urged the president to call some of his appointees to order, accusing them of frustrating efforts by the state to obtain loans meant for the development of the state under the guise of politics.
He also requested the president’s intervention in certain challenges confronting the state such as non-functioning dams in the state totalling 30 in number, which he said would have boosted rice production.

Umahi pointed out that the dilapidated dams had restricted rice production in the state to only the rainy season.
He also sought the federal government’s intervention in the existing hydropower dams in the state for electricity generation, which he said would go a long way in improving the wellbeing of the people of the state.
He also drew the attention of the president to some federal roads that his administration had constructed, lamenting that such projects were not captured for a refund in 2018 budget.

Responding to issues raised by Nwodo and Umahi, the president who was clad in an Igbo Isi-agu (loin head) jumper with a red cap to match, praised the entrepreneurial skills of the people of the South-east, saying Igbos are found in every part of Nigeria.
He deplored the activities of persons he described as misguided Nigerians agitating for secession, noting that they did not witness the debilitating effects of the Nigerian civil war and counselled that as the founding fathers of Nigeria had sustained the unity of the country despite their differences, the nation’s unity must be sustained.

On issues raised by Nwodo and echoed by Umahi, Buhari said his government was working aggressively to improve infrastructure by building roads and improving power supply, adding that efforts were being made to guarantee food security for the nation.
He told the rather excited gathering that his government had recently resolved to mobilise contractors back to the Second Niger bridge.

He also said N10 billion had been earmarked in the 2018 budget for the Enyimba Industrial Park and the Nnewi Auto Park which he said would be implemented in collaboration with the states and the private sector.
The president also disclosed that payments to ex-Biafran police officers had commenced 17 years after they were pardoned, adding that an upgrade of the Umuahia Diagnostic Centre in Abia State was in the pipeline.

He again commended Umahi for his stewardship in the state and expressed appreciation for the chieftaincy titles conferred on him, saying: “I am Enyioma l of Ebonyi. I am Ochioha Ndigbo,” which earned him further applause.
The president will depart Abakaliki Wednesday for Awka, Anambra State, to lead the grand finale of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) campaign rally for Saturday’s governorship election in the state and will return to Abuja later in the day.

Among those who received the president were the deputy governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Kelechi Igwe; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; former governors of the state – Senator Sam Egwu and Chief Martin Elechi; former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu; ex-Minister of Health (State), Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo; former deputy governor of the state, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu; the zonal Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Austine Umahi; and Chief Executive Officer of Orient Global Ltd, Chief Chukwuma Odi.
Other dignitaries who visited the state to welcome the president were Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema; and his Trade and Investment counterpart, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah.

Buhari allocated just 7% to education in 2018 budget, that same buhari is the one crying foul about the poor state of education in Nigeria. This man's hypocrisy stinks to the high heaven's

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday decried the state of education in the country saying it “calls for a serious concern.”

He listed the effects of decades of neglect suffered by the sector to include an estimated 13.2 million children out of school, high illiteracy level, infrastructural deficit and decay as well as unqualified teachers and inadequate instructional materials.

President Buhari spoke at the Old Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja during a special retreat of the Federal Executive Council themed: “Education in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects.”

According to him, it is no longer a secret that the quality of education in Nigeria requires greater attention and improvement, adding that it is common knowledge that the nation is facing numerous challenges in education and other sectors as a result of historical abuses, mindless impunity and corruption.

The president declared that Nigeria must give better attention to the sector, noting that the nation cannot progress beyond the level and standard of its education.

“We must get it right in this country. To get it right means setting our education sector on the right path,” he said.
The president said Nigerians should also “bear in mind that the security and stability of the country hinges, to a large extent, on its ability to provide functional education to its citizens.”

He said his administration was determined to turn around the sector for the better, stating that “We are already making appreciable progress in this respect. This will be part of our deliberate policy of revitalizing education provisioning and capacity building,” he said.

The president added: “Today, it is those who acquire the most qualitative education, equipped with requisite skills and training, and empowered with practical knowhow that are leading the rest. We cannot afford to continue lagging behind. Education is our launch-pad to a more successful, more productive and more prosperous future.

“One of the primary roles of education is to build and sustain individual and society’s development. It renews and improves the economic, social, political and cultural aspects of any nation. Education upgrades the living standard of citizens and enables people to become better and more productive citizens. It is a human right that creates a safe, healthy and prosperous society. It changes the visions and perspectives of individuals, enhances critical decisions and improves democracy. Indeed education is paramount and necessary requirement for all-round development.

“Nigeria’s participation in all relevant international education fora together with our investment in education and collaboration with development partners is an indication of high level of commitment towards ensuring that every capable Nigerian receives good quality education. These efforts are justifiable only to the extent that schooling is effective in promoting the realization of national objectives, attaining the Sustainable Development Goals and Education For All by 2030.These targets are, happily, in harmony with the manifesto and the CHANGE agenda of our Party, the All Progressive Congress. It is also in agreement with my campaign promises during the 2015 elections exercise and in pursuit of the yearnings and aspirations of the generality of Nigerian citizens.”

While charging the summit to work to enhance quality in, and access to, higher education and other challenges in the sector that could debar Nigeria from attaining the SDGs and be among the top 20 economies in the world, the president said the government would come up with feasible, implementable and far-reaching action to make education drive national prosperity and development.

In a reference to the on-going primary school reforms in Kaduna State, President Buhari described a situation where those engaged for teaching could not pass their own examinations as very serious and tragic.

‘It is tragic teachers can’t pass exams for their pupils’
Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai had in October announced plans to sack about 22,000 primary school teachers who failed a competency test.

Buhari stated: “To digress a little bit so that you know that I meant what I read, having been an orphan, I still feel that whatever I did in life so far was built by boarding schools. For nine years, I was in boarding school, three in primary and six in secondary school.

“In those days, teachers treat their students or children like their own children. If you did well, they would tell you (that) you did well; if you didn’t do well, they never spared the rod. When I finished my secondary school, I didn’t work for a day, I refused to work for a day, I left home, I refused to work in the local government, and then I joined the army. And the army of that time, we went through all we went through upto the civil war.

“And then, I listened to one of the Nigerians I respect, he said after his training here in Nigeria and the United States, he went to his alma mater, his primary school, to see what he could contribute. I won’t mention his name, but when he went, he couldn’t differentiate between the students, the children and the teachers.

“And what el-Rufai is trying to do now is exactly what that man told me about 10 years ago. It is a very, very serious situation when teachers cannot pass their exams that they are supposed to teach the children to pass. It is a very tragic situation we are in and this our gathering together, to me, is one of the most important in this administration.”
N1trn needed annually revive sector - Minister

Earlier, Education Minister Adamu Adamu urged improved funding for the sector, saying that it would take Buhari’s administration N1trillion annually for the next four years to fulfil its 13 campaign promises on education.

“Unfortunately, from 1999 to date, the annual budgetary allocation to education has always been between four per cent and 10 per cent,’’ Adamu said, adding that none of the E9 or D8 countries other than Nigeria allocates less than 20 per cent of its annual budget to education.

He also called for the declaration of a state of emergency in education, arguing that “if we get education right, other areas of our national life will be right and they will fall in line’’.
“What is needed is vastly improved funding accompanied by a strong political will. The strong political will needed to do all this is present in this government. What this government must now do is to make the funds available.

“Nobody has the moral and resource capacity to intervene promptly, substantially and sustainably in all areas of education provisioning better than the government,” he said.

He lamented that even in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria remains far behind smaller and less endowed nations in investment in education.

While suggesting ways of eliminating mediocrity in the sector, the minister said: “If we give regulatory agencies the teeth to bite and do their work, mediocre teachers will soon disappear from our classrooms. If we insist on professionalism with appropriate deadlines set for those who teach, the situation will improve phenomenally.”

He said Nigeria’s education system would improve if automatic scholarship is offered to students who take education as well as automatic employment and preferential compensation package to those who take to teaching as a profession.

The minister stressed the need to harmonize the learning and teaching in tertiary institutions as well as redefine national goals periodically.

Nigeria realised N212.73 billion from agricultural product exports at the end of the fourth quarter of 2016.
The was disclosed in excerpts of a book entitled: ‘‘Making steady, sustainable progress for Nigeria’s peace and prosperity: a mid-term scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration,’’

It was authored by the Presidential Media Team.
The book, which will be presented to the public on Nov. 16 in Abuja, was sighted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“At the end of 2016, agricultural goods, as share of total trade, got N212.73 billion and 4.02 per cent.

“Agricultural goods’ exports were 2.7 per cent higher in the fourth quarter of 2016 than third quarter of the year.’’
It stated that the products, which contributed most to agricultural product exports in the fourth quarter, were sesame seeds with N6.46 billion, frozen shrimps and prawns with N4.4 billion.

According to the report, flour and meals of soya beans contribute N2.59 billion; cashew nuts in shell, N0.95 billion, and crude palm kernel with N0.62 billion.

It stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had commenced work on the development of a five-year (2017-2021) action plan on Single Quality Control Management Plan, as recommended by the European Union.
“The plan is to meet international standards, inter-state trading and global acceptance of the nation’s commodities.

“The commodities targeted for exports include cocoa, palm produce, groundnut, cashew, yam (flour and tubers) sesame seed, pineapple, banana/plantain, tea, ginger, coffee, kola nut, shea butter, pulses, hides and skins, potato, fruit and vegatables.’’

The report said the ministry had commenced an undertaking of strategic intervention in the Kenaf value chain for cultivation, processing, and manufacturing of Kenaf/Jute bags for packaging.

“Displeased to share the latest rejection of our produce at the European Union Border Controls, the ministry has commenced steps towards bringing the standards of Nigeria’s agricultural exports to global standards.

“This culminated in two meetings held in Lagos, in January and February 2017, on food safety and zero reject of agricultural products.

“Standards and Quality control measures are now being developed in response to the rejection, last year, of exports (as in beans in the EU and some other commodities),’’ the report said.

It added that the ministry was taking a pioneering role in the mechanisms to safeguard Nigeria’s agricultural exports from being rejected at the frontier markets.

The publication was edited by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity; Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, and Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, (Office of the Vice President).

The book, authored by the Presidential Media Team, is a documentation of the notable achievements of the Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration since it was inaugurated on May 29, 2015.

President Buhari wrote the foreword of the 348-page book, containing milestones of all the federal ministries and some select departments and agencies in the last two years.
The Buhari Media Support Group also contributed to the compendium rich with text and visuals.

The book will be reviewed by Prince Tony Momoh while APC National leader Bola Tinubu is the keynote speaker/book Presenter.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

OKorowanta:
I support you bros.
And I pray make she cry for my shoulder.

Themandator:
Just hope she won't be a pain in the neck of the new wife

optional1:
since this set of adult are controlling their fans with remote control that doesn't have battery.. Taking us back and front rewinding us their fans.. Shior

the hyping don too much biko...
Wed, born pikins make we rejoice..