₦airaland Forum

Atiku will never get it, If he said he was returning northern states, I would have understood even if i know that it is not even possible, This is alarming,to think that Atiku feels he will be the next president of Nigeria concerns me so much because Nigeria.

I don't see President Buhari losing come 2019, this is because the president has done a lot in less than four years that has guarantee his continuity, the president has a lot of projects going on, the patriotic Nigerians will definitely want his return for an effective completion of those projects

It's funny how people will go to any length just to tarnish the image of the buhari led government, The president also deserve some accolades, he has actually tried in his quest to make this country a better place for all.

With the recent situation on ground, no party can actually come out to say that they will come out victorious over the other. but the fact is that Aregbesola just woke up and decided not to pay salaries, even if Adeleke come out victorious, nothing is going to change, unless he is ready to sack 50% the workers to pay salaries or stop very vital programs. which the apc government can do, Whatever happens, there is a price to pay and no amount of dancing can help.

The president has tried by signing the bill that will enable the youth to take part in the decision making of this country, it's definitely not going to be the likes of Sowore. He's clueless and has no idea on what true leadership implies. He has no leadership qualities

Nothing meaningful can come from the Saraki led NASS, its funny how this people have decided to play politics with National issues. Saraki cannot deceive us all, everyone knows that he wont reconvene . That guy destroyed kwara throughout his tenure and even as senate president he has done nothing for kwara.

Begging Omisore is not the case, he is not Osun, the SDP candidate is a single individual that has the right to cast just one vote, the fact is that every state is vital for 2019. I see APC doing the needful on thursday and they won't care if PDP goes to court because by the time the final judgement is delivered, the 2019 elections would have long been decided.

The Federal Government has approved the sum of N22.68bn for the payment of retirement benefits to former workers of liquidated Nigerian Airways Ltd.

The amount which was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari is about 50 per cent of the N45.3bn entitlements of the former workers of the company.



https://punchng.com/breaking-buhari-approves-payment-of-n22bn-to-nigerian-airways-retirees/

The Presidency, weekend, reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to complete the East-West Road project. Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters(Senate), Senator Ita Enang, gave the assurance at a special rally organised by All Progressive Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial district to support the President’s second term bid and governorship ambition of Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere, at Uyo Township Stadium. President Buhari departs Abuja for New York ahead of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly on 23rd Sep 2018 Enang, who represented the President, disclosed that the Federal Government has also awarded contracts for the dualisation of Abak/Ekpara Akwa/Ikot Abasi Road, Itu/Calabar Road, among other projects in the state and its environ. Ekere’s promise Also speaking at the event, Obong Ekere, a frontrunner for the governorship ticket, said he would run a united and inclusive government anchored on agriculture, commerce and industrialisation of the state with a view to creating wealth for the people of the state if he emerges. His words: “I will promise you one thing; once you vote for me and APC government in Akwa Ibom State in 2019, we will run a unity government where all our leaders will be honoured. “We will run a government that will look at the interest of all the people of the state; a government that will create wealth in agriculture, commerce and industries. “The Ibaka Deep Sea Port has been abandoned. We must build it. It has the capacity to jump-start the economy and development of the state.” On his part, Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, Umana Umana, commended President Buhari for his giant strides, saying the support for him was “truly well founded.” Chairman of the state APC caucus, Otuekong Don Etiebet, said: “I am calling on you (Governor Emmanuel Udom) to throw in the towel and come over and we shall accommodate you. But we have already a governorship candidate.” Also, Senator Godswill Akpabio pledged that an APC government would change the development index in the state for good.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/buhari-ll-complete-east-west-road-presidency/

There are four things of strategic importance which are lacking largely in most African economies and have resulted in the retardation of growth and development and prevalence of poverty in the vastly endowed continent. They are, industrialisation, ‘’agriculture miracle’’, robust financial systems and inspiring leadership. Industrialisation is the key driver of modernisation and development. It helps to improve the living condition of the people. But it has been noted that there is little industry in Africa- the continent has failed to industrialise in the 25 years since the first African Industrialisation Day. Also, the ‘’agriculture miracle’’ which transformed other developing countries has not been witnessed in Africa even as African financial markets lack depth and breadth, without creative financing mechanisms and developed capital markets. Above all, leadership in Africa has not been inspiring, and grossly short changed development and raped the people. Effective leadership results in productivity and positive change. Lee Kuan Yew transformed Singapore and has become a case study in leadership. Gandhi challenged India when he announced that if India could not clothe its citizens by producing needed textiles locally, they should all go naked. India transformed to become a super power in textile manufacturing. It is the same for most East Asian countries – the Asian Tigers – which emerged through inspiring leadership to be reckoned with in the global economy. The narrative is different for Africa, thus the high rate of poverty and low Human Development Indices, HDI, that are pervasive in the continent. It has been reported that Africa is the poorest continent on the planet and half of the African population live in poverty. The rate of poverty in Nigeria is 62.60 per cent with about 100 million people living below US$1 per day. The Misery Index is 48 per cent, ranking Nigeria as the fourth on the global index according to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS. Nigeria’s population growth rate outstrips economic growth. And it has been projected that the population will hit 234 million in 2025 at a cumulative average growth rate, CAGR, of 2.5 per cent which poses a threat to national security vis-à-vis unemployment rate and youth unemployment. In a report on Monetary Policy and Unemployment: Is there a Dynamic Relationship?, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, noted that ‘’with global unemployment projected to reach 215 million by 2018 experts fear for Africa, particularly Nigeria’s share of the global scourge might increase disproportionately, with attendant unsavoury consequences unless the country immediately adopts pro-active and holistic approach to halt the rising youth unemployment.’’ Nigeria’s high rate of poverty has been linked to petrodollar. The country has been over dependent on oil, but it has been postulated that no country becomes rich by exporting raw materials without an industrial sector. Experts have noted that Nigeria had a good head start in the beginning with a robust plan towards industrialisation but lost the trajectory because of petrodollar. The economy needs to be redirected based on knowledge and understanding of economic dynamics, creative strategies and political will. Four key sectors which constitute the dynamics of an economy are the financial, fiscal/government, external and real sector. The financial sector is the lifeblood of the economy which channel funds from surplus to deficit ends. A robust financial system ensures stable macro-economy which enables businesses to plan conveniently, and helps to attract foreign capital. Though Nigeria’s financial system has undergone transformational changes which enhanced the landscape, there is need to evolve more creative financing mechanisms and optimally utilise the instrumentality of the capital market to close financing gaps and catalyse industrial growth faster for greater job opportunities. The fiscal/government ensures enabling environment and macro-economic stability by sustaining aggregate demand which also enables economic agents to plan with confidence. The fiscal authority may need to harmonise and synergise more with the monetary authority for quantum leap developments in the economy. The external sector interacts with economies of the other countries as in exports and imports. Nigeria as an import-dependent economy is disadvantaged in this regard because of unbridled importation. We import virtually everything such that we have been described as the ‘’junk yard’’ of the world. Unbridled importation creates jobs abroad to our detriment. The real sector is the engine and driving force of the economy. It comprises manufacturing and agriculture where goods and services are produced through the combined utilisation of raw materials and other production factors such as labour, land and capital. According to the CBN, ‘’the real sector creates more linkages in the economy than any other sector. It has capacity to generate high employment and income generating potential. It satisfies aggregate demand and is connected to the standard of living of the people and used to measure the effectiveness of macro-economic policies.’’ The key to industrialisation is a combination of robust financial system (encapsulating creative financing mechanisms and optimal utilisation of the capital market), and well funded and vibrant real sector, all things being equal. At its July 2018 Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, the Central Bank of Nigeria stressed the need to channel greater and long-term capital flow to the real sector of the economy through the Real Sector Support Facility, RSSF, and Corporate Bonds, CBs, to encourage local manufacturing, bolster economic recovery and stimulate growth and reduce poverty. The RSSF would be for the financing of Greenfield (new) and Brownfield (new/expansion) projects in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors only, and such projects would have high local content, foreign exchange earnings, potential for job creation and import substitution among others. Trading activities and refinancing of existing projects are prohibited from accessing the facility. The RSSF would be accessed through the Cash Reserve Requirement ,CRR of deposit money banks at an all-inclusive interest rate of 9 per cent per annum. Cash Reserve Requirement is ‘’a specified fraction of the total deposit of customers which commercial banks have to hold as reserves either in cash or as deposits with the central bank.’’ It is one of the monetary tools used to regulate money supply in the financial system to avoid banks from over extending themselves so they would not create a knock on effect on other over extended banks. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, banks that are interested in financing projects should request the freeing of funds from their CRR. The maximum facility would be N10 billion per project with a minimum tenor of seven years and two years moratorium. For Corporate Bonds, which are financing instruments issued by corporate bodies, the guidelines stipulate among other things that ‘’such requirements would include publishing through printing of an Information Memoranda spelling out details of the projects for which funds are required together with terms and conditions showing that these are long term projects that are employment and growth stimulating.’’ Also, the tenor would not be below seven years and with a moratorium as specified in the Information Memoranda. The Real Sector Support Facility has been commended as a creative initiative which will trigger credit flow to the real sector to impact growth. Though some economy watchers have noted that CBN would have crashed the interest rate holistically for all sectors of the economy, but it is believed that the apex bank adopted the targeted action approach for strategic reasons. Some experts have noted that it would be dangerous to crash interest rate and create easy money ahead of election time because it would turn expansive in the short-run and trigger long-run inflationary consequences – a development most central banks dread. The objectives of the RSSF and CBs are in line with some other policies of CBN such as the exclusion of 41 items from interbank foreign exchange market which are, to reduce unbridled importation, conserve foreign reserves, encourage local manufacturing, achieve self-sufficiency, create more jobs, reduce poverty and redirect the economy towards industrialization, all things being equal.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/rssf-supporting-real-sector-for-poverty-reduction/

The vice president is really doing well, i appreciate the fact that the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA is coordinating national response to the flooding and will be actively supported by the Military and other agencies and have already declared a National disaster. The president truly care for the welfare of the people he govern no doubt.

Dogara is trying to turn the table around, he is looking for the people's sympathy, the patriotic Nigerians knows that he left the party to pursue his selfish desire for power.

This is definitely a cheap propaganda, Saraki have been insulted in every location he went to in the Southwest, he has been abused as a thief yet people will come out to say that he will win SW votes, If Saraki is the only person in pdp that can defeat Buhari, then Nigeria is in a worse trouble. there is no two ways about it

I think that the DSS appointment is just perfect for the current situation in Nigeria, he has good record, and has done well while in service, Bishi is a Nigerian and if Buhari decides to appoint him as DG DSS, so be it. he knows who he can comfortably work with. i believe this is beyond ethnicity.

i commend the presidency on this one, this immediate intervention by the presidency will go a long way in assisting the areas affected by the disastrous flood.

A reform of the education sector in Nigeria is in progress as iBass Institute of Learning has brought its international partner, the University of Greenwich, to help reform the sector.

The institute and its technical partner met with a number of Nigerian education agencies including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) and National Universities Commission (NUC) in July to discuss and gather information on the current state of Nigerian basic and higher education systems.

In the course of the stakeholder engagement, a non-executive director of the institute, Luqman Idris, said they gathered that the Nigerian education agencies were not well integrated, and therefore hindering proper flow of the existing big data, which in turn, affects key performance indicators.

“Our work will focus on reforming and integrating the units that makes up our basic education system to ensure each adds value.

“With NCCE, we discussed improvement to standard, quality assurance and curriculum design for pre-service training.

“With FCT UBEB, we identified continuous teachers development as an area needing support among others. With UBEC, a number of issues including one of the principal challeges facing the country —creating access to quality education for average Nigerians, were discussed,” Mr Idris said.

The company said it is currently engaging administrators and teachers of basic education institutions (primary and junior secondary schools) across the Federal Capital Territory as its corporate social responsibility (CSR), training them on how to be more effective on the job.

The FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) has also mandated iBass Institute of Learning to carry out a pilot study towards identifying shortfalls and other factors affecting effective teaching and learning across the FCT, the Managing Director, Mohammed Abass informed PREMIUM TIMES.

According to the executive summary of a report on the progress so far, the project adopted a phased delivery approach with twelve schools within Kuje, Bwari and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the first phase and another twelve schools in Abaji, Kwali and Gwagwalada for the second phase.

He explained that the method was adopted to maximise engagement.



Mr. Abass said his institute has concluded the first phase of the project where four schools were visited in each area council. The covered area councils include AMAC, Bwari and Kuje.

“Each school was allocated an implementation duration of one week, to assess teachers current skills, behaviour and attitude towards teaching and learning, and to improve shortfalls in capacity that is required by teachers to impart knowledge to students with our Teacher and Administrative Engagement Programme” The summary highlighted.

Mr Abass said the first thing a teacher should be able to bring out in a pupil is the inherent potential God has embedded in him or her.

“To do that takes a lot of process, that is why teachers need to know about psychology, philosophy and sociology, it is very important

“For you to have knowledge that cuts across all these areas you must be competent and professional. For majority of teachers in Nigeria the competency is not there

“It is one thing to call yourself a teacher, it is another to know how you can impart knowledge, there is a difference between I have known and the process of knowing,” he explained.

In the agricultural sector, iBass Solutions UK Limited is working towards building the capacity of Nigerians in milk production.

According to Mr Idris who is a Director at the company, “building such capacity would help alleviate the stress placed on Nigeria’s foreign reserve and the jobs exported by local milk processors through importation of milk powder”. He says there is a binary choice, it is either we carry on with the current trend and continue to be a dumping ground for many industrialised nations, or change course towards becoming self-sufficient in milk production.

Enterpreneurship development is another area of focus for iBass Solutions, he explained.

“The goal is to support the government towards developing an enterprise economy by equipping graduates of Nigerian higher education institutions with entrepreneural tools to help drive the national economy forward as well as to support MSMEs. These tasks will be done collaboratively with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry (through SMEDAN),” Mr Idris said.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/284758-institute-to-help-nigerian-govt-reform-education-sector.html

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Sanni Aliyu, says no fewer than 1.1million persons living with HIV/AIDS are currently on treatment in Nigeria.

He said this at a briefing to recount the activities of the Nigeria AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) on Thursday in Abeokuta.

Mr Aliyu, who said 17,000 persons and 800 pregnant women were currently receiving treatment for HIV in Ogun, noted that only the survey could ascertain the baseline.

“What we’re not certain of is the gap that currently exists. Out of those 17, 000 on treatment, what proportion are we currently having? Is it more than a 100, 000 or less than 50, 000.

“We’re not sure of those figures; which is why we’re doing the survey.

“The survey will give us more precise estimate of the HIV prevalence in Ogun. It’ll allow us to do more effective advocacy and seek for resources that can be used judiciously.

“We’ll also be able to identify the hot-spots and target them,” he said.

He explained further that the survey which began nationally in June would last for a six month period in each zone, just as it would last four weeks in each state visited.

According to Mr Aliyu, the NAIIS is the largest single country HIV survey ever done in the world, “and just like science, if you’re sampling, the more people you sample, the more accurate you get.

“This is why we’re putting in resources to define the epidemic more clearly,” the director general said.



He said the survey in Ogun had been successful; 90 per cent of the enumerated areas had been covered in three weeks.

He, however, attributed the success to the hard work from his team, commitment from state government, community leaders and religious institutions.

“We started three weeks ago and we’ve covered 20 local government areas and 112 enumeration areas which represent 90 per cent of the total enumeration areas.

“We have just one week to finish with Ogun and move to Ondo.

“Three out of every four households we visited have accepted to be part of the survey, which made it easy for us,” Mr Aliyu said.

The NACA boss advised sexually active and non-sexual active persons alike to endeavour to know their status.

He, however, said the total results of the survey would be available by June 2019.

Earlier in an address, the Ogun commissioner for health, Babatunde Ipaye, commended the team for working tirelessly to achieve the desired goal.

Mr Ipaye, who was represented by Nofiu Aigoro, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, thanked the director-general for making the state to benefit from the survey.

He said the current administration was committed to the health of its citizenry, pledging to provide total support to the agency.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/284801-1-1m-nigerians-living-with-hiv-aids-currently-receiving-treatment-naca.html

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has opened bids to pre-qualify contractors for its 2018 projects with over 1000 participating.

Ben Iloanusi, the NRC director of procurement, revealed this to journalists during pre-qualification exercise at the NRC headquarters, Ebute Meta, Lagos, on Wednesday.

Mr Iloanusi said about 1,000 submissions were received across the various categories.

“The projects numbering 12 as advertised recently by the corporation in some national dailies were bided for by over 1000 companies.

“The projects included emergency repair and maintenance of tracks, bridges and culvert, renovation.

“Also inclusive are upgrade of railway stations nationwide, procurement of locomotives, coaches, wagons, railway inspection vehicles and cranes, rehabilitation of locomotives and coaches.

“Others are procurement, rehabilitation and installation of equipment for mechanical, electrical, security, printing and ICT facilities; procurement of rolling stock consumables and spare parts and provision of insurance services,” he said.

The director further disclosed that the exercise may be concluded by the end of October as the procurement team had been directed to conclude the evaluation process in one month.

Niyi Ali, the director of operations, promised that the process would be transparent, saying the corporation will be fair to all in the pre-qualification and selection stages.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about N12 billion was approved by the Federal Government for the corporation’s projects in the 2018 budget.

Representatives of the various companies were on ground as the team verified the documents submitted by them amid tight security.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/284665-1000-contractors-apply-for-nigerian-railway-corporations-projects.html

The Statistician General of the Federation, Yemi Kale, says the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) will commence the Nigeria Living Standard Survey (NLSS) from September 27.

Mr Kale disclosed this at a sensitisation workshop on NLSS in Keffi.

He said: “Work is going to start next week; for us to be sensitising the public, it basically means that we are ready to go.

“All the background work, all the plenary exercise have been done and we are informing people so they can ask their questions and help us sensitise the public.

“From next week, trained field officers will be deployed to selected households in enumerated areas across the country over the next 12 months.

“They will collect information on consumption, expenditure, assets and general living conditions,” said Mr Kale.

According to him, the accurate provision of this information will ensure that indicators that reflect the true living condition of households in the country are produced.

He said it would also ensure that the government and its partners had the best possible information to work with, thereby giving their policies and programmes the best chance of success.

Mr Kale said a lot of quality assurance measures and checks had been put in place to ensure good results from the field.

“Like all NBS household-based surveys, this round of NLSS, will for the first time be carried out using electronic means of data collection.



“Field staff, trainers and monitors have been undergoing rigorous and extensive training in preparation for the data collection.

“The purpose of all these quality assurance measures and methodological improvements is to ensure that we collect the best possible information from the field, and in turn generate good living standard estimates for the country.

“There is a lot going on right now in the country, with all the visible socio-economic challenges being experienced,” the official said.

He said government and its partners require information on security, unemployment and environmental challenges to understand how they affect households and communities in the country.

“It will further assist them in designing policies and programs and assist them in monitoring and evaluating existing programs for the maximum benefit of the citizens,’’ Mr Kale said.

According to him, the NLSS is a very important exercise, not just for NBS or the statistical system in Nigeria, but also for the nation.

He said: “It is from this exercise that we derive statistically sound indicators for measuring poverty and inequality in Nigeria.

“It also serves as a major source of data for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda for tracking Nigeria’s attainment or otherwise, of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The subject of poverty is very critical to a developing country like Nigeria, most, if not all of government effort is geared towards ensuring that citizens are able to attain a decent standard of living.

“We will be failing in our mandate if we are not providing the public, government and policy makers with useful and reliable statistics to deploy in designing and implementing poverty-alleviating interventions and programs across the country.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/284714-nbs-begins-survey-on-number-of-poor-people-in-nigeria-statistician-general.html

Before anyone mock the Buhari led government, we should first of all know that Nigeria is a country that is full of corrupt officials, the president was able to introduce a program that will help in the reduction of corrupt activities in the country, in Nigeria history, Buhari's government was the one that has addressed the most abandoned projects in the country, various operations has been introduced to counter insurgency where the military has had a successful operations, the list goes on, what i am saying is that Nigerians should learn how to contribute in the solution instead of always analyzing.

Defection in this country is no longer news, what baffles me is how people that wanted change tend to be against the change, Nigerians should learn how to do away with people always running from one party to the other in search for greener pastures.

Nigeria needs the loan from China to correct infrastructure deficit, achieve economic recovery as well as its growth plan within the shortest time frame.

Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, the special assistant to the president on justice reform sector and National Coordinator, Open Government Partnership, said this when she reacted to criticisms that loan from China would mortgage the future of the country.

Mrs Ibekaku-Nwagwu, a senatorial aspirant in Enugu West on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said this in Enugu on Tuesday.

“How can we genuinely experience any economic growth without infrastructural development, especially when the country lacks the capacity to fund such under this current economic crunch?

“World over, developed countries build their economies by augmenting with foreign loans, so long there is a well-structured plan to repay. President Muhammadu Buhari has the discipline and prudency to manage such funds.

“The problem we experienced under previous administrations was that they were reckless in spending, especially when they borrowed to service recurrent expenditures which gave room for such monies to end up in the pockets of individuals.’’

She said that Mr Buhari’s administration had tied each loan to specific capital projects with terms and conditions of contract clearly spelt out with prospective contractors before China released such funds.

According to her, some of the debts incurred are self-liquidating.

“It is better to collect a loan and use it to build standard roads that can be repaid with monies collected from toll-gates than allowing such roads in deplorable conditions.”

On the complaint that projects to be financed with such loans would go to Chinese firms, she said that the bottom line was delivering quality projects and not who gets what.



“They must justify the huge tax payers’ funds they are giving out as loans by creating employment for her citizens and ensuring that Chinese firms are awarded the contracts.

Nigeria’s partnership with China, she added, had resulted in the execution of vital projects on infrastructure valued at over five billion dollars across the country in the last three years.

Mrs Ibekaku-Nwagwu said that the projects were in the areas of infrastructure, human capacity development, power, transport and agriculture.

She urged the people of Enugu West to support the president and his aspiration to help make appropriate legislation in the 9th Assembly for the good governance of the zone and the country at large.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/284411-chinese-loans-will-help-correct-nigerias-infrastructure-deficit-presidential-aide.html

Nigeria needs the loan from China to correct infrastructure deficit, achieve economic recovery as well as its growth plan within the shortest time frame.

Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, the special assistant to the president on justice reform sector and National Coordinator, Open Government Partnership, said this when she reacted to criticisms that loan from China would mortgage the future of the country.

Mrs Ibekaku-Nwagwu, a senatorial aspirant in Enugu West on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said this in Enugu on Tuesday.

“How can we genuinely experience any economic growth without infrastructural development, especially when the country lacks the capacity to fund such under this current economic crunch?

“World over, developed countries build their economies by augmenting with foreign loans, so long there is a well-structured plan to repay. President Muhammadu Buhari has the discipline and prudency to manage such funds.

“The problem we experienced under previous administrations was that they were reckless in spending, especially when they borrowed to service recurrent expenditures which gave room for such monies to end up in the pockets of individuals.’’

She said that Mr Buhari’s administration had tied each loan to specific capital projects with terms and conditions of contract clearly spelt out with prospective contractors before China released such funds.

According to her, some of the debts incurred are self-liquidating.

“It is better to collect a loan and use it to build standard roads that can be repaid with monies collected from toll-gates than allowing such roads in deplorable conditions.”

On the complaint that projects to be financed with such loans would go to Chinese firms, she said that the bottom line was delivering quality projects and not who gets what.



“They must justify the huge tax payers’ funds they are giving out as loans by creating employment for her citizens and ensuring that Chinese firms are awarded the contracts.

Nigeria’s partnership with China, she added, had resulted in the execution of vital projects on infrastructure valued at over five billion dollars across the country in the last three years.

Mrs Ibekaku-Nwagwu said that the projects were in the areas of infrastructure, human capacity development, power, transport and agriculture.

She urged the people of Enugu West to support the president and his aspiration to help make appropriate legislation in the 9th Assembly for the good governance of the zone and the country at large.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/284411-chinese-loans-will-help-correct-nigerias-infrastructure-deficit-presidential-aide.html

THE Federal Government, yesterday, indicated interest on flood resistant seeds from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in order to reduce farmers’ losses during flooding and other climatic disasters. Underwater in Jigawa. This was made known by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, during a courtesy visit by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, Mr Shameem Ahsan, to his office in Abuja. Lokpobiri who was surprised at the rate of Bangladesh’s investment on food security and making that country self-sufficient in food within a short space after independence said Nigeria will like to get the same seeds that are flood resistant in order to boost food security and mitigate farmers’ losses in the sector. He also described the achievement of Bangladesh in food production and security as “silent revolution in agriculture”, and noted the massive investments the country has made in boosting its research and technology base to feed its population. He said: “Biggest mistake in our economy was the neglect of agriculture. Bangladesh is younger than Nigeria because of dedicated investment in research and technology you are already self-sufficient in food production. “Food security is indeed the real security of any country. When there is hunger here is bound to be all sorts of social problems. “Nigeria is happy about this proposed partnership because of our common historic antecedents. Most of the problems in Nigeria did not just start today. “It is as a result of several years of neglect in investing on food security. Past governments did not invest in research, technology. “We will glad to strengthen our ties, we will partner with you to see how we can get improved seeds, especially on seeds that are flood resistant, which currently farmers are grappling with flood in most parts of the country.” The Minister decried the long neglect of agriculture, which successive administrations went on to focus on oil and gas after discovery of it in commercial quantity in the 1950s. He said despite the Nigeria’s about 30 research institutes and Colleges of Agriculture, food security has remained a challenge, and said that, “ It is this government that has started showing interest and turning the sector around and positioning it as mainstay of the economy from oil and gas, which now has made tremendous impact. The objective of government now is to achieve rice self-sufficiency in 2019.” Earlier in his remarks the Bangladesh envoy, Ahsan said his country has been faced with climate change challenges, therefore making it vulnerable as some other countries in the world, but were not deterred but delved into agric technology and research to surmount some of those challenges, which now they are self-sufficiency in food production. “These seed varieties can withstand water logging and produce well. Nigeria plays a leadership role in Africa, we need closer cooperation with both countries so we can benefit mutually”, he stated. Related

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/fg-indicates-interest-on-bangladeshs-flood-resistant-seeds/

President Buhari has always moved for fairness;coming from Mr President he has made a promise to continue to be fair and equitable and so he will.....he is a man of integrity and would not fail to be fair in all his appointments...I believe PMB has nothing to hide, it is only does that think negative of him that go around shading the President on all negative speeches, but he always puts them in check, PMB is one who has worked hard for a better Nigeria.

This is commendable, and yet these people who are blinded by hate will still come here with their hate speeches saying Negative things about the government.. I believe this is a positive move made by the PMB Administration, i believe people should learn to appreciate rather than condemn this government.. when it is obvious the government has put in effort to better the country..this government is working hard to see to the growth of this country.
God bless PMB
God bless Nigeria

Does he think Lagos people are like those he gives Eba in Ilorin? Even, the patriotic people in kwara knows better now. Let's wait and see whether he wi'll defeat his opposition this time around in Kwara. This is the Era of change, things that worked back then cannot work any longer.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he has directed all seaports in the country to have rail complemen t.

He stated this during the opening of the International Association of Ports and Harbours Conference in Abuja on Monday.



The President said, “This administration that I am privileged to lead is committed to rebuilding infrastructure that supports multimodal means of transportation from the ports to the hinterland.

“So, for starters, I have directed that every port must have the complement of rail infrastructure. Our projection is that by the end of 2021, we will have standard gauge railway across the main North-South trading route.”

He added that the same level of serious attention was being given to the improvement of road infrastructure, saying, “At the moment, 25 major highways and 44 roads are under construction across the six geopolitical zones of the country, just as we have insisted on the stimulation activities on our inland waterways.

“Major inland river channels are being dredged with adequate channel markings for ease of navigation all the way through the eastern and northern parts of the country. That is the only way to go if we plan to remain competitive in the maritime industry.”

The President expressed satisfaction that it was at a time that Nigeria had the privilege of the vice presidency of the IAPH that the idea of a continental conference came up for the first time.

Buhari added, “This is a testament to our commitment to the even development of the continent and its maritime industry in this particular instance.”

https://punchng.com/were-formulating-policies-to-effectively-utilise-roads-waterways-buhari/

Anytime u mention Buhari some people who does not know what it takes to manage a country full of corrupt official will always come out to show their hatred for the Buhari led government. Omokri will always use every opportunity to be on the news headline, he should understand that buhari doesn't have your time. Lions have no business with little insignificant maggots. This is the era of change cheap talks without evidence no longer work in this country.

As part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve basic health care in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari will perform the national inauguration of the basic health provision fund in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.

Dr Niyi Oginni, the Executive Director of Osun Health Insurance Scheme, who disclosed this at a news conference on Sunday in Osogbo, said the flag off would be performed by the President and the Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on September 20.

Oginni said that the basic health provision fund, which was signed into law under section 11 of 2014 Health Act, would be inaugurated along side Osun Health Insurance Scheme by the President.



He said that after the ceremony, malaria treatment, high blood check, diabetics screening would be free of charge for all residents.

READ ALSO: Osun lawmaker’s nude goes viral as court remands alleged blackmailers

Oginni said that under the scheme, delivery, anti-natal, post-natal and family planning would be free for pregnant women, while immunisation would be free for children.

He said other pilot states where the basic health fund scheme would be inaugurated include Abia, Niger, Katsina, Yobe and Edo.

Oginni said the basic health fund would be disbursed through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency and Social Health Insurance scheme.

He said the primary health care development agency would be responsible for personnel, infrastructure and purchase of consumables and drugs.

“While the health insurance scheme will capture the data of those who have received services under the basic health fund,” he said.

Oginni explained that under the insurance scheme, those who require further services, which basic health fund could not cover, would have to be enrolled into the scheme.



He said for civil servants and those in organised formal sector, who would be enrolled into the scheme, 1.5 per cent would be deducted from their basic salary while their employers would contribute 3 per cent on a monthly basis.

He said the beneficiaries could add their spouse and four children who are under the age of 18 years.

He said those in the informal sector could also be enrolled under the scheme.

Oginni said the health insurance scheme would provide robust health services for the people of the state.

https://punchng.com/buhari-to-inaugurate-basic-health-provision-fund-in-osogbo/