Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has lauded the people of Akwa Ibom for trooping out in large numbers to witness last Friday’s official flag off of the Presidential campaign of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 general elections, saying the development was an eloquent confirmation that President Muhammadu Buhari is head and shoulders above the other candidates.

Speaking to reporters at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Governor Ambode said it was particularly instructive that such a massive crowd received the President and leaders of APC across the country, adding that it was gratifying that the sterling achievements of President Buhari in office so far were being noticed and appreciated.

According to him, “This is a great day for democracy and good governance in Nigeria. The crowd that came to the stadium for the rally eloquently reaffirms the invincibility status of President Buhari.

“I mean if such a large crowd could gather at the stadium to receive the President in the South South, it means the people have seen the light which President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo represent for this country.”

He said as promised by the President, the re-election of President Buhari come 2019 would translate into improved infrastructure, economy, security and anti-corruption drive, among others, saying that a solid foundation to put the nation on sound pedestal had been firmly established in the last three and half years.

“What I want Nigerians to know and appreciate is that the re-election of Buhari/Osinbajo ticket in 2019 can only translate to improved security, economy, quality infrastructure and massive scaling up of anti-corruption drive, among others.


“In the last three and half years, President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo have laid a solid foundation to put the country on a sound footing for economic growth and development. They have initiated social inclusion policies and constructed critical infrastructure across the federation thereby positively torching all the fabric of the nation.

“At this critical point in time in the trajectory of this country, we cannot afford to go back to the old inglorious days by bringing back a PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) government. They led us astray but the APC government is rebuilding Nigeria and taking us to enviable heights in the comity of nations. The PDP cannot just overnight be the solution when the party is the problem.

“What is left is for the people to face the 2019 elections with a determination to take Nigeria to the next level and the only sure way to do that right now is the re-election of President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo,” Governor Ambode said.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/buharis-re-electionll-translate-to.html

President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, in Abuja said his re-election campaign will focus on the scorecard of his administration in the key areas of security, economy and the fight against corruption.


Speaking at a Christmas Homage by residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) led by the Minister, Mohammed Bello, President Buhari said those three overarching issues were still as relevant to the country as it was before the 2015 polls that brought the APC-led government to power.

‘‘Very soon we will go to the geopolitical zones to remind the people of our promises in 2015 on three fundamental things: [security, economy and the fight against corruption].


‘‘Unless we secure the country, we cannot manage it properly… that is why shortly after I was elected, I went to Chad, Niger, Cameroon and the Republic of Benin to seek their support in the fight against the insurgency.

‘‘People in the North East know that we have recorded remarkable improvement in the fight against Boko Haram,’’ he said.

President Buhari also used the occasion to reassure Nigerians that his administration remains committed to tackling kidnapping and banditry in addition to finding a lasting solution to the conflict between herders and sedentary farmers.


President Buhari told the gathering, comprising religious, political and traditional leaders in the FCT that his administration has done more work with less resources in agriculture, infrastructure and social investments, considering the state of the economy it inherited from the previous administration.

On agriculture, President Buhari said he remained grateful to God for the bumper harvests experienced by farmers in different parts of the country in 2016, 2017 and 2018 despite devastating floods.

‘‘I am very happy that all the people who returned to agriculture have not regretted it,’’ he said.

On the fight against corruption, the President pledged that he will continue to do his best to recover what rightly belongs to Nigeria, guided by the rule of law and respect for constituted authority.

The President jocularly said people were calling him ‘‘Baba Go Slow’’ because he had jettisoned the military way of fighting corruption and opted for due process under a constitutional democracy.

‘‘When I was going fast I was arrested so why should I go fast again. It is not Baba that is slow it is the system. So whatever the case I will not stop pointing fingers at those who have illegally abused trust by taking [public] funds entrusted to them,’’ he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the FCT Minister while congratulating the President for an eventful year with remarkable achievements, said: ‘‘we in the FCT are your flock and we know you will continue to lead us to the Promised Land.’’

On his part, the Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, who spoke on behalf of the Christian community, thanked God for sustaining the President with good health.

The Anglican Primate urged political and religious leaders in the country to take a cue from the FCT and replicate the religious harmony between Christians and Muslims.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/buhari-speaks-on-his-achievements.html

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria will stop importing rice by next year.

According to Laolu Akande, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Osinbajo said this on Sunday at the palace of Musa Dogonkadai, the Seriki of the Hausa community in Agege, Lagos.

He said leaders of those countries help their farmers to expand their farms so that they can earn money.

The vice-president said the federal government, through its anchor borrowers programme, had given over 760,000 farmers soft loans to produce rice, millet and sorghum.

Osinbajo said the federal government would continue to work towards improving the welfare of all Nigerians.

SOURCE:http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/osinbajo-well-stop-importing-rice-by.html

“Look at what is happening in the north now because of the Anchor Borrowers Programme. We gave many of the farmers, over 760,000 farmers, soft loans. So, now they are producing rice, producing millet, producing sorghum,” Osinbajo said.

“We are not importing rice now. We are bringing rice from Kebbi, from Sokoto, from all over the country. By next year, we will not import rice. All our rice will be produced here. When you do that farmers will be rich. Farmers in other countries they are rich people. They are not poor. I’ve been to a country where farmers own airplanes. Why? Because their leaders are not thieves. Their leaders help them so that they can farm; they can expand their farms and they can earn money.

“I went to speak to them in Kebbi. Two of the farmers came to me and said, since this our government (came into power), they have been doing very well. One of them said, “now I have my money, I can pay for my hajj.” Another one even told me that he has married a second wife and I said no, no. I said don’t do that because one wife is enough. He said since he is getting some money be can marry a second wife

“But the truth of the matter is that there is enough money for us in this country. I believe that we must give President Muhammadu Buhari enough votes to lead this country for four more years. If he leads this country for four more years, you will see the difference.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo thrilled some residents of Abuja to ‘Next Level’, a song composed from All Progressives Congress, APC, campaign slogan for the 2019 general elections.

The vice president addressed a crowd of enthusiastic residents, then paid a visit to the family of Abdulwaheed Yusuf in Garki Area 1, before visiting the family of Col. Ahmed Zubair (retd) in Wuse Zone 7.

Addressing cheering residents of Wuse Zone 7, Osinbajo bellowed “APC!” and the crowd responded “Next Level!” as many times as the vice president mentioned Next level.

The vice president, who spoke partly in Pidgin English, told the residents that the message he had for them from President Muhammadu Buhari was: “No shaking, na Next level we dey go; we don finish with the kind leaders wey dey chop money.”

He said people that looted Nigeria’s money would not be allowed to come back. “Dey no go come back again; Baba Buhari na mai Gaskiya; he will not steal your money; he will use the money for the benefit of the people.

“From now on, we are making sure that people have money to do their trading and young people have jobs; the only way to do that is only if we do not allow these people who want to steal to come back.

“They will not come back; we are going forward; we are going to the Next level; by the Grace of God, four more years.

“There is one song that we sing now on radio; we are going higher, higher, Next level; we are going higher, higher, we are going higher, higher, higher Next level,” he sang.

The excited residents sang in unison with the Vice President and later switched to repeatedly singing “Four plus four, Next level; four plus four, Next level.”

Earlier in Garki Area 1, Osinbajo told the residents that Buhari would not allow any form of looting as he would deploy Nigeria’s resources to improve the lives of the people.

According to him, the Buhari-led administration will use Nigeria’s money to help Nigerians.

“Traders will have more money for their trading; people who are working will have more; young people will have jobs; our women will go to market to sell; enough things to sell so that every Nigerian will prosper.

“Mr President has said that he will not allow a situation where people steal our money; that is why we are not going back to the past.”

“Our money must be used for Nigerians; for all of you who are here.

“That is why we are doing MarketMoni, TraderMoni; every trader will have something to do; every young person will have a job.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/2019-campaign-osinbajo-thrills-abuja.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has accused the national assembly of inflating the debt of the federal government to states.

The national assembly had approved the refund of N488.7 billion to state governments for projects they executed on behalf of the federal government.

But in a letter read on the floor of the upper legislative chamber by Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, Buhari said while the federal executive council (FEC) approved N487,842,888,574.74, the national assembly approved N488,743,526,204.77.

The president said the assembly approved “N890,537,630,03 higher than the amount approved by FEC.”

“You may wish to refer to the letter from the national assembly REF:NASS/CNA/106/Vol.10/277 dated 27 th of July 2018 which communicated the approval by the national assembly of the promissory note programme and a bond issuance to settle inherited local debts and contractual obligations on refund to state governments on projects executed on behalf of the federal government in the sum of N488,743,526,204.77,” he said.

“The senate may wish to know that in view of the approval by the national assembly, the following were observed:

“While the federal executive council (FEC) approved the total of N487,842,888,574.74 only, as reimbursement to the state governments, the national assembly approved N488,743,526,204.77, implying that the amount approved by the national assembly was N890,537,630,03 higher than the amount approved by FEC.

“While FEC approved reimbursement to 25 states, national assembly approved reimbursement to 21 states.

“National assembly did not approve any reimbursement for four states; Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba whereas the FEC had approved reimbursement for them.”

The president said the amount approved by the national assembly for reimbursement for 21 states is higher than the amount approved by FEC for 25 states.

He said the amount presented to the national assembly by was duly approved by FEC.

“Furthermore, I wish to request for review of the reimbursement earlier submitted in favour of Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba Sates. Meanwhile, the federal government shall proceed with the implementation on the following basis: Where the amount approved by the National Assembly is the same as the amount approved by FEC, the jointly approved amount will be reimbursed,” Buhari said.

“The states ate Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger. Where the amount approved by the National Assembly is higher than the amount approved by FEC, the amount approved by FEC will be reimbursed.

“The states are Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Benue, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara and where no amount is approved by national assembly, no reimbursement will be made. The afftected states are Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba.”

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/buhari-accuses-nassemblys-of-increasing.html

Your English is what is trash here

officialJP:
Reason why I won't read it, is because I know is a trash

Ahead of the 2019 elections, President Muhammadu Buhari says he will give the opposition party opportunities he never had in the past.

Buhari said this when he received a delegation from the US’ International Republican and National Democratic Institute at the presidential villa on Monday.

He promised to ensure a level playing field for all contestants into various political offices in the 2019 elections.

Buhari said he knows what it feels to be cheated, having contested the presidential election three times before he won in 2015.

According to him, the practice before the 2015 elections was to award votes and tell who was dissatisfied to seek redress in court.

“I am glad you are here to assess our pre-election preparations. It reminds me of the visit by the then secretary of state, John Kerry, before the 2015 polls,” he said.

“We appreciate the concern of America for stability in developing countries.

“Having run for president three times, ending up at the supreme court all three times, before God and technology made a way for me the fourth time, I know what it is to be cheated at the polls.

“What they used to do was just to award votes, and tell anyone who was dissatisfied to go to court. But we won’t do that. I am prepared to give the opposition the opportunities I was not given in the past.”

The president assured his visitors that he has instructed heads of security agencies not to be partisan but to do their work professionally and allow the will of the people to prevail.

He noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would keep faith with its priorities of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, adding that he was happy that the opposition has not been able to “successfully fault the focal areas of the government”.

“We have done fairly well in the areas we focused on. We know how many local government areas in the north-east were under Boko Haram occupation before we came,” he said.

“That does not happen again, save for cowardly attacks, using young girls as suicide bombers. Other areas of security challenge like farmers/herdsmen clashes are receiving attention, and would be sorted out as much as possible.”

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/ill-give-opposition-opportunities-i-was.html

President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Abuja, pleaded with Nigerians to understand his intentions, give him more time and continue to pray for him.

Buhari said this after a special parade that the guards brigade of the Nigerian army organised in commemoration of his 76th birthday.

The president, whose mood was light, jocularly asked a reporter why he reduced his age.

“Why would you reduce my age by one?’’ the president asked

He called on Nigerians to continue to pray for him and the country at large, charging them to continue to show more understanding of his administration’s policies aimed at transforming the nation.

“Nigerians should continue to pray for me and understand my intentions and give me time,” he said.

He said the government would continue to remind Nigerians of its achievements in the last three and half years.

“We will keep reminding Nigerians about what we have done, how we met the country, what we were able to do from the time we came in to now with the resources available to us,” he said.

The ceremony began with a special rendition that ushered the president into the forecourt where the special parade was mounted by the guards brigade.

This was then followed by a special performance by the silent drill squad of the brigade, which included the formation of words like PMB @ 76

The brigade band also wished the president “Happy Birthday’’ with their musical gadgets.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of birthday cards to the celebrant.

While Mansur Dan-Ali, minister of defence, presented a birthday card on behalf of the country’s armed forces, Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, presented on behalf of members of cabinet and Abba Kyari, chief of staff to the president, presented a card on behalf of presidential aides

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/give-me-more-time-buhari-pleads-with.html

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, said wicked people tagged his principal ‘Jubril of Sudan’ because they wanted him dead.

He said this in a birthday tribute in honour of the president.

Titled “Why we love Buhari”, Adesina described the president as a man of integrity, man of accountability, one whose word you can take to the bank.

He wrote: “Don’t misunderstand me. Not all estimated 196 million Nigerians share this sentiment. Not possible. There are those who are passionately opposed to the President. They are a very vocal minority, who abhor his integrity, hate his sense of accountability, and even want him dead. But we are not talking about those who Fela Anikulapo-Kuti called “opposite people.” On this day of his 76th birthday, we are talking of the teeming masses who love Buhari, and who can go to the ends of the earth for him.

“I have said it before, and say it again. It will take a while before Nigeria will see another political leader with such ability to pull an unsolicited and uninduced crowd like Muhammadu Buhari. Anywhere he goes, he doesn’t have to procure the crowd. They turn out in their numbers to see and hear him. They will trek from Africa to China, walk from Cape Town to Cairo, all to see, hear and cheer the man they love.

“Why? Many reasons. He is an honest man. My father, that stern educationist, who ran the home and the schools he administered with an iron hand, used to tell us: “Honesty is the best policy.” That was true over 50 years ago when he drummed it into our ears, and it is still true today. And will remain true tomorrow, and forever. That is why we love Buhari. He is an honest man, who will tell the truth to his own hurt.


“At a recent meeting with governors, while discussing the seemingly knotty issue of minimum wage, the President told them to level with him. He said he knew that general elections were by the corner, “but I don’t like to lie to anybody. I will still like to tell Nigerians the truth, and nothing but the truth, as to what we can truly afford to pay.” Consultations are still ongoing.

Some people will give you fibs, just because they want to hoodwink you, and get your votes. They will announce that they’ve increased the salaries of fictitious workers, even when truly they are owing many of their employees. But not President Buhari. Nothing for him is a matter of life and death. Truth is the best thing in a man’s keeping. Make yourself an honest man, and there is one rascal less in the world. That is why we love the man.

Accountability. I will never forget a promise Buhari made to the crowd at a campaign rally in Lagos in 2011, when he ran with Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly. Two honest men. “Every kobo that comes into the treasury will be used for the good of Nigerians.” That’s the accountable man, who would not dip his hands into the treasury for private gains, who will not line his pocket at the expense of the people. That is why we love him.

Just over a week ago, I met a man who was an accountant at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), when the then Gen. Buhari was chairman. Executive Chairman, who could do anything he wanted, since the place was awash with billions of petrol money.

“I told him his salary would be N200,000 monthly,” the man recounted.

“He said it was too much, since he still drew pension from public coffers as a retired General and former head of state. I don’t know how he calculated it, but he said he would rather be paid N84,000 monthly. And that was what he earned.”

Yet some people say don’t follow this honest man. Till he has one tooth left in his mouth, and is bent double over his walking stick, we will, no matter what they say. Honesty is still the best policy. Today, tomorrow, and forever.

See all the positions he has held in this country. Governor of North-east, then made up of what is now six states. Minister of Petroleum for over three years. Head of State for 20 months. Chairman of PTF for many years. Yet he remains a man of modest means. That is why we love him.

In the early days of this administration, when oil prices had crashed to as low as 39 dollars per barrel (from as high as 115 in preceding years, stabilizing at over $100 for a long time, yet we had no savings, no reserves), it was usually a spectacle to see the President and the then Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, seated and apportioning funds for the week. Depending on what was in the coffers, they prioritized spending, just like traders with low capital base.

Nigeria had been run into a hole. No reserve for the rainy day, and we were being badly beaten by the rain. Yet salaries must be paid as at when due. At least 27 states could not meet their obligations, till President Buhari gave them a lifeline. And then, one day, a counsel was given at a meeting: “This is the time to ideally cut the strength of the federal civil service by at least half, as we may not be able to carry the load for long.” It made a lot of fiscal sense. But to the President, it was nonsense. “If it lies within my powers, I will ensure that no single person loses his or her job. Yes, it may be the right thing to do, looking at the state of our finances, but I won’t do it,” President Buhari said.

And you say we shouldn’t love this President? We will love him till Africa and China meet.

A confederacy has arrayed itself against the honest man. A crooked confederacy. Anybody that is anybody in the pantheon of questionable character is there. Are Nigerians fools? After their eyes have been opened, will they willfully afflict themselves with blindness again? Not on their lives! The country will never go back to the slave market. Not after we have known prudence, experienced accountability, and we are are inching out of the morass in which we were soused and marooned.

For more than five decades, mere lip service was paid to diversification of the economy. But we remained a mono-product country. Oil. So, whenever the price of oil crashed in the international market, we simply crashed with it. Now gradually, and inexorably, we are on the road to a diversified economy. Wonders are being done in agriculture. Mining is flexing muscles. Manufacturing is showing prospects. All in less than four years.

What of infrastructure? The sum of N2.7 trillion spent in two years. The roads are roaring to life. The rail is snaking in. Power is powering back. Wonders are being unfolded in different parts of the country. And we shouldn’t love this President? We will, no matter what the naysayers say.

Hear pensioners rejoice: This is the best administration we’ve had since the advent of Contributory Pension Scheme 14 years ago.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State spoke at a meeting of governors with the President last Friday. He said since the creation of the state, this was the first time pensioners were being paid, adding that pension liabilities have been cleared by about 40%. Just because there is a President that cares.

Former Nigeria Airways workers. Railway workers. Former Biafran policemen. And many others, have had their pensions paid. And we shouldn’t love the ‘birthday man?’ They should tell it to the marines.

When you have a heart for men, it is God himself that keeps you alive. We have seen a practical demonstration in President Buhari.

From the brink of death early 2017, there is now an unmistakable glow in him, evidence of good health from the inside. It is God at work. No wonder wicked people came with the idiocy of Jubril of Sudan. Otiose. Hollow. Products of addled minds. That was why we ignored them, till the President himself responded to a question from Nigerians in Poland two weeks ago.

For millions upon millions of Nigerians who love this President, it is an unconditional love. The full cost of our love is no charge. Happy birthday, Mr President.”

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/why-buhari-was-called-jubril-of-sudan.html

By Garba Shehu



On Monday December 17, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari who is seeking re-election for a second term of office will be marking his 76th birthday and, in his own words, “still going strong.”

His age is no longer an issue in this campaign because by the will of God, not by any design, his main challenger is equally in the same age bracket. This election in February next year then comes down to what each candidate will offer.

There are many reasons why President Buhari deserves to be re-elected. I shall speak to a dozen of them here:

He is the best ever President we got so far and here are my reasons: In his character, President Buhari is a well-behaved man. He is globally recognised as an honest leader, working very hard to cure a wounded nation by righting past wrongs. He leads from the front, that is, leading by example. He is self-confident and has a calm demeanour. In carrying out his duties, he is never impulsive; he does his duty with self-assurance and confidence.

A typical example was his handling of the theft of 105 girls from a school boarding house by the Boko Haram terrorists in Dapchi, Yobe state. Amidst sobbing, lamentation and sorrow, he stood there before the principal, distraught parents and students to give assurances, in a sharp and unbroken voice that “your girls will be brought back” (and so were they, with the exception of Leah Sharibu who, God willing will equally return).

He likes to attack problems from their roots. Few of our leaders are endowed with as much patience. He doesn’t lose his calm and composure and knows when to fight and when not to fight. When there broke a huge uproar over the assertion before the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and Her Majesty the Queen of England by the former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, that Nigeria was “fantastically corrupt”, President Buhari’s calm demeanour was on display. When an apology was offered, all he said was “I want no apologies. What would I do with apology? Return our stolen money.” With that, he grabbed, not only the moral high ground but the international news headlines as well.

When the President is confronted with a rankling criticism as had happened many times, he never loses his calm. He delivered a joke in response that blighted what would have been frightening episodes. One great asset he has, is his good sense of humour especially while tackling criticism or attack on his person. Many have derisively called him “Baba Go-slow”, in a clear misunderstanding of his calm demeanour, which is not a sign of inactivity but an underlying ability to think hard without losing one’s cool.

Unlike one or two of our past leaders, he has no aura of being a messiah or a saviour. President Buhari would never be seen in public breaking the code of dignity by, either slapping someone or seizing a horsewhip from a policeman to flog an audience member.

On the many occasions I have reflected on how hard my job is, I try to think of the President. One needs to put oneself into his shoes, carrying the responsibility of more than 200 million people on his shoulders, yet he is a man who maintains a steady, level headed approach towards solving problems; he remains calm and focused on his goals.

With Muhammadu Buhari as President, Nigeria is in very safe hands; he knows what is good for the country and its people.

When he won in 2015, one of his main pledges was fighting terrorism, criminality and banditry. He met the tragic situation of perpetual fighting between farmers and herders in the Middle-Belt, spreading southwards, up to the coastal states. He sought the help of state governors for a solution but they offered very little, if any. They were and are still divided over the issue. He pushed the police, the army and other security agencies very hard for the solution. Today, and notwithstanding the visible hands of politicians in it, he has brought the entire situation in the Middle Belt under control. He has ended the fighting which would have brought Nigeria to destruction.

A further reason for the President’s re-election is the success he has recorded fighting terrorism. If numbers count, bombings and killings have drastically been reduced under the Buhari administration. Specifically in the North-East, the Nigerian Armed Forces have scaled up their act pushing the Boko Haram terrorists to the very fringes of the Lake Chad and with the on-going revitalisation of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MNJTF, the ability of the terrorists to launch attacks and retreat into neighbouring territories is being addressed.
Arising from the successes achieved, the El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club has returned to their home base in Maiduguri. Emirs of Askira, Uba and other towns have returned to their palaces. Public secondary schools have resumed in 2016, two years after closure. All roads leading to and out of Maiduguri have been reopened. Sambisa forest has been retaken; Arik Air and other airlines now operate scheduled flights to Maiduguri. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said 2017 marked the most peaceful Christmas. Of the many who were taken against their will by Boko Haram, about 20,000 terrorists have been released, including 106 Chibok girls, 105 of the Dapchi school girls, Police women and University lecturers.

Under the Buhari administration, three Air bus helicopters and another three Dauphin helicopters were provided for the Air Force; 18 new aircraft acquired and 13 previously unserviceable planes reactivated. In addition, 12 Super Tucano aircraft are also on order from the United States.

The administration has set up a Naval outpost in the Lake Chad and established the 8 Task Force Division in Monguno to further strengthen the 7 Division and the Operation Lafiya Dole in the North East.

Another reason for his re-election in his undeterred commitment to rid Nigeria of systemic corruption. Grand Corruption, by which leaders will ask the Central Bank to bring out money to be shared across the table has by now been abolished.

The new whistle-blowing policy has so far yielded N13.8 billion from tax evaders and N7.8b, USD378 million, £27,800 recovered from public officials.

The increased oversight of ministries, departments and agencies has been addressing the issue of poor remittance by the MDAs; the Presidential Initiative on continuous Audit has flushed out 54,000 fraudulent payroll entries with savings of N200 billion.

The administration has expanded the coverage of the Treasury Single Account, TSA which implementation now stands at 92 per cent. By this, the administration has a comprehensive overview of cash flows across the entire government. It has ensured the deployment of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) system to verify the basis of payments to beneficiaries and vendors and has created the Assets Tracking Managing Project to allocate, identity, assess and evaluate all the measurable and un-measurable assets on real time basis. A central Asset Register to keep a record of all government assets is now in one place, the Ministry of Finance.


In 2016, the President enlisted Nigeria into Open Government Partnership and a National Plan of Action (2017 -19) is already in place. This aims to deepen and mainstream transparency mechanisms and citizen’s engagement in the management of public resources.

In addition, the creation of Efficiency Unit to spearhead the efficient use of government resources and ensure reduction in recurrent expenditure has brought about savings of about N34 billion from travel and transport in 2016, and N10 billion in 2017.

In the oil and gas sectors, NNPC has been publishing its performance chart monthly and the administration made a saving of USD 1.7 billion by negotiating down accumulated cash call arrears in its joint ventures.

Without any controversy, President Buhari is deservedly christened as the champion of infrastructure. This administration has demonstrated a single-minded commitment to upgrading Nigeria’s transport, power, housing and health infrastructure.

Two major rail projects have been completed and commissioned: Abuja metro light rail and the Abuja-Kaduna rail. Lagos-Ibadan is due early next year. Lagos-Kano has been signed and Lagos-Calabar and Port Harcourt-Maiduguri are being negotiated. About 500 roads are being constructed and hundreds of kilometres of roads are being rehabilitated. The second Niger Bridge is under construction, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano expressway is being constructed while Lagos-Ibadan as well as the East-West road, Lagos-Port Harcourt expressways are being expedited. Federal spending on works has grown from N18.1 billion in 2015 to N394 billion in 2018. The Abuja Airport runway was reconstructed within a six week period. Several water projects long abandoned have been completed and more than 70 ecological fund projects have been awarded and completed.
Power sector has witnessed a phenomenal growth within this period. Generation capacity has increased to 7,000MW; transmission capacity is now up 8,000MW and distribution 5,222MW from 2,690MW.

Under President Buhari, 30 per cent of the budget allocation is for capital spending, an unprecedented allocation of N2.7 trillion was made for infrastructure in 2016 and 2017 fiscal year.

Obviously, there is so much the nation can gain from the President’s long term thinking when it comes to the diversification of the economy. He has promoted agriculture, solid minerals and manufacturing to the point that the economy is increasing its resilience even as it grows and consolidates.

His policies have brought down inflation by about half of what it used to be three years back; external reserves have grown and exports in 2017 were about 70 per cent more than what they were in 2016. Agriculture grew by 180 per cent last year; raw materials export by over 100 per cent and there was 27 per cent growth in manufactured goods. Six million new tax payers were added to the tax base. Ease of doing business report has moved Nigeria up by 14 places; tax revenue in 2018 is projected at N2.529 trillion, that is 42 per cent increase over the 2017 figure. Under the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, 16 moribund and under-performing blending plants have been revitalised, producing 12.7 million bags of NPK Fertilizer in 2017.

Landmark initiatives in the promotion of the economy include the stabilisation of the currency, the Naira making for a predictable exchange rate; the merger of the official and unofficial rates in the markets, helping in the stabilisation of the microeconomic environment; the achievement of agriculture and national food security and driving industrialisation through the Small and Medium Enterprises in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP. This administration invented and is implementing the biggest ever social investment programme on the continent, feeding 10 million children in school and engaging 500,000 graduates, now going up to one million, in nation building.

As a compassionate leader and administrator, President Buhari approved N54 billion for the payment of 33 per cent of outstanding pensions arrears and claims, with some of these going back to 2010 when the minimum wage was increased to N18,000. Under this scheme, 3,542 pensioners in the liquidated Delta Steel Company have been placed on pension; 9,216 of NITEL pensioners are now pay rolled; Retired Biafran Police officers dismissed by the Federal Government in 1971 have been paid; those of the New Nigerian Newspapers and many others have received gratuities and are now placed on pension.

The compassionate side of the President has equally given so much to state governments in distress. This was to enable them meet salary and pensions obligations. Most, if not all have received Budget Support Facility, Paris Club refunds, Infrastructure Loans, Loan Restructuring Facilities with the Central Bank and other commercial banks, and a reduction in their monthly debt service burden.

In just under four years, President Buhari has shown clearly that he can steer Nigeria above politics, religion and ethnicity. He has delivered on all promises: security, economy, corruption and infrastructure. We have a strong leader with a mass appeal who is seeking a renewal of his mandate in accordance with the Constitution. He is one of the most influential leaders in today’s world, considering how he brought OPEC and non OPEC Oil producers to cut their losses and bring up fallen oil prices. He is leading the continent in the war against corruption. President Buhari is a gift, not only to Nigeria but to Africa and the world. He deserves a second term to consolidate on-going achievement.

//HappyBirthdayPMB

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/a-dozen-reasons-for-president-buharis.html

The immediate past Commissioner for Works in Lagos State, Ganiyu Johnson (GAJ), on Sunday said debates would not determine who would win the 2019 presidential elections in Nigeria.

Johnson, who recently resigned to run as the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Oshodi Isolo II Federal Constituency, made the assertions at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.


He spoke against the backdrop of the debate between vice-presidential candidates of five political parties on Saturday and the upcoming Presidential debate scheduled for Jan.19.

It was organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

Johnson argued that though, debates might have counted in other climes, in Nigeria majority of voters do not watch such debates, but vote based on benefits from governance.

He was, however, optimistic that that President Muhammadu Buhari would have a landslides victory at the polls.

Johnson said: “Debates are good for the enlightened, but you cannot use it to judge.

“Most of the viewers are not voters. You can make statistical judgment from it, but it doesn’t affect results or show voting patterns.

“How many market women or ordinary Nigerians tuned in for the debate?

“The elites who did are the ones crediting or discrediting the contestants based on their affiliations and these group of Nigerians hardly vote. Their criticisms and choices end on the internet.

“This is not to say that such debates are bad as it gives an idea of the performances of the present administration and an opportunity for the opposition parties to tell Nigerians who watch and the International community what they could have done differently.


“In this case, it was obvious that there is no alternative to the present administration, having watched the debate and realising that no other party has better plans than the APC.”
Johnson said that the achievements of the Buhari-led administration were being felt by Nigerians across the country and the administration have scored over 80 per cent in performance in less than four years.

“It is the elites that are exaggerating what is not. If you benchmark us today, you will see that our performance is so high in spite of the fact that we met the problems we are tackling.

“We met 16 years of rot, and we have tried to contain them and move the country forward. APC will take Nigeria, not only to the next level, but the desired level,” he said.

On the Wharf Apapa road gridlock, the former Commissioner of Works, said that the only solution was an alternative route.

“While there is need for expansion and serious rehabilitation of the road, only a dedicated route that will run from the port via Snake Island , through Mowe to the Lagos-Ibadan can resolve the gridlock.

“We have already identified this, but it is capital intensive. There must be financial backing to implement such projects,” he said.

Explaining why he resigned to run for election, GAJ said his people clamoured for it, saying “they want me as their representative based on my pedigree of having their interest at heart.

According to him, I also cater for them through my foundation which provides scholarships, support for widows and the elderly, among others.

Johnson said he would bring his experience to bear at the lower chamber of national assembly, if elected.
SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/debates-will-not-win-election-buhari.html

The Initiative to Save Democracy (ISD), a socio-political group, says the performance of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in Friday’s debate shows he is the best vice-president in the history of Nigeria.

The debate was organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).

Peter Obi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ganiyu Galadima of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Khadija Abdullahi-Iya of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Umma Getso of Young Progressive Party (YPP) locked horns with Osinbajo.

The group, in a statement by Sunday Akinloye, its president, said “Osinbajo riveted his class as the best Vice President in Nigeria’s history.”

Quoting the replies Osinbajo gave to questions asked, ISD said “Osinbajo used verifiable facts to buttress his points compared to other candidates.”

“Stating categorically how the ruling government will take Nigerians to the next level when re-elected, Osinbajo noted that the government will continue to build on infrastructure and human capital development,” the statement read.

“The Vice President drew the biggest cheer of the debate when he replied Peter Obi, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP insinuated that the ruling All Progressives Congress had left its shop and was chasing thieves.

“In response, Prof Osinbajo said, “If you allow criminals to steal all the inventories in the shop, there will be no shop. That’s the problem and the World Bank said that corruption is the major impediment to Nigeria’s development.”

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/vp-debate-has-shown-osinbajo-is-best-vp.html

The Initiative to Save Democracy (ISD), a socio-political group, says the performance of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in Friday’s debate shows he is the best vice-president in the history of Nigeria.

The debate was organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).

Peter Obi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ganiyu Galadima of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Khadija Abdullahi-Iya of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Umma Getso of Young Progressive Party (YPP) locked horns with Osinbajo.

The group, in a statement by Sunday Akinloye, its president, said “Osinbajo riveted his class as the best Vice President in Nigeria’s history.”

Quoting the replies Osinbajo gave to questions asked, ISD said “Osinbajo used verifiable facts to buttress his points compared to other candidates.”

“Stating categorically how the ruling government will take Nigerians to the next level when re-elected, Osinbajo noted that the government will continue to build on infrastructure and human capital development,” the statement read.

“The Vice President drew the biggest cheer of the debate when he replied Peter Obi, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP insinuated that the ruling All Progressives Congress had left its shop and was chasing thieves.

“In response, Prof Osinbajo said, “If you allow criminals to steal all the inventories in the shop, there will be no shop. That’s the problem and the World Bank said that corruption is the major impediment to Nigeria’s development.”

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/vp-debate-has-shown-osinbajo-is-best-vp.html

SORUCE: Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has revealed what the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari has done within the last four years to change the economic fortunes of the citizens.

According to him, the government has succeeded in blocking the leakages in the treasury, fought grand corruption in the handling of government affairs, and made a N500bn social investment in the welfare of poor people.

Osinbajo stated this yesterday while giving his closing remarks at the Vice-Presidential debate organised by the Nigerian Election Debate Group, NEDG, in Abuja.


He said: “Nigeria is where it is today because of 16 years of misrule. Poverty in 2004 was 80 million. As at 2014, it went to 112 million in Nigeria.

“What we set out to do from 2015 was to reduce the poverty and contain it. That’s why we set up a social investment programme of N500bn despite the fact we are earning 60 percent less.

“What we have tried to do in the past four years is to reduce the damage that has been done. First of all, we have prevented leakages, and fought the corruption that has brought us to where we are.”

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/what-we-have-done-to-free-nigerians.html

To keep politicians accountable at the vice-presidential and presidential debate, Online news medium, TheCable was live-checking the supposed facts and figures being bandied by those seeking the highest offices in the land.

The participating parties are; Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP).

Peter Obi of the PDP, and APC’s Yemi Osinbajo are debating alongside Ganiyu Galadima of ACPN, Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya of ANN and Umma Abdullahi-Getso of YPP.

OBI: There are about two million vehicles in Nigeria.

CHECKED: False. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria has a total vehicle population of about 11,547,236 as at the third quarter of 2017.

OSINBAJO: [/b]Lagos-Ibadan expressway was “practically” abandoned for 16 years under PDP.

CHECKED: False. The Goodluck Jonathan administration made many interventions on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, awarding a multi-billion naira contract to Julius Berger and RCC. The administration fixed the Ibadan to Ogere section of the road.

[b]OSINBAJO: [/b]A bag of fertiliser now sells for N6,000 to N7,000.

CHECKED: Largely correct. Price of fertiliser has experienced a drastic drop following the Nigeria-Morocco fertiliser deal. Current prices are between N5,500 and N6,500. As at 2016, a bag of fertiliser sold above N10,000.

[b]OBI: Nigeria has fallen on the global competitive index from 124 to 127.

CHECKED: False. According to the latest (2018) World Economic Forum report, Nigeria rose on the index by 10 places. Obi’s claim was true in 2016.

OBI: [/b]Total loans from the banks in Nigeria is N19trn and only 0.5% goes to SMEs

CHECKED: Yet to be verified.

[b]OSINBAJO: There is a tax threshold for SMEs, SMEs get to a level before they pay taxes.

CHECKED: True. There is a lower tax rate of 20% applicable to small companies in manufacturing, agriculture and mining within their first five years of business. The problem with the law is that the turnover threshold to qualify is only N1 million which is not in tune with current realities.

OBI: Nigeria’s foreign direct investment for 2015 was $21bn, while it fell to $12bn in 2017.

CHECKED: False. According to NBS capital importation reports, Nigeria’s total imported capital stood at $9.6 billion in 2015, and $12.3 billion in 2017. Perhaps Obi meant 2014, when Nigeria’s total capital imported stood at $20.7 billion.

OBI: African trade today is less than 9 percent.

CHECKED: False. According to Afriexim Bank, Intra-Africa trade is around 15 percent. In 2016, intra-African exports made up 18 percent of total exports according to Brookings Institution.

OSINBAJO: [/b]Nigeria went down by 64 places under PDP, but has risen by 24 places under APC

CHECKED: Partly False. Nigeria went down from 120 to 170 between 2008 and 2015, under PDP rule. Under the APC, ease of doing business has risen from 170 in 2015 to 146 in 2018, according to the World Bank Ease of Doing Business report.

[b]OBI: [/b]Oil gives you 80% of foreign exchange earnings.

CHECKED: Point valid, figures near accurate. As at 2017 NBS figures showed that Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings from oil the oil sector stood above 90%.

[b]OBI: [/b]To bring out goods from Apapa cost more than it takes to bring goods from Europe

CHECKED: Unverified

[b]GALADIMA: We have four refineries in Nigeria, and none is working.

CHECKED: The refineries according to NNPC reports are working at sub-optimal levels. Not totally dysfunctional.

UMMA GESTO: [/b]Nigerian Airways was one of the largest in the world.

CHECKED: Unverified.

[b]OBI: The federal government spends only N5 on the health of each Nigerian citizen per day.

CHECKED: True. Based on budgetary and population calculations, the federal government allocates N4.7 to every Nigerian’s health per day.

OBI: Apple Inc’s market cap is bigger than the economies of Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt.

CHECKED: Apple’s market cap today is $788.57 billion. The economies of these three countries are bigger than Apple. When Apple was $1 trillion a few months ago, it was bigger in dollar terms.

OSINBAJO: Nigeria producing 90% of the rice we consume.
CHECKED: Dicey. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, the country’s rice import has dropped drastically with a surge in local production. The CBN estimates that Nigeria has legally imported less than 25,000 tonnes of rice in 2018 — validating Osinbajo’s claims.

Africa Rice Centre says Nigeria produces 75% of its rice consumption, adding that rice smuggling is a big problem in Nigeria. Nobody tracks the amount of rice smuggled into the country.

According to the Thailand Rice Exporters Association, the rice exported to Nigeria between January and October 2018 was 6,121 tonnes, representing a drastic drop when compared to 2016 when all-year import stood at 58,260 metric tonnes.

But the rice exported to Benin Republic, where most of Nigeria’s smuggled rice comes from, has increased from 805,765 metric tonnes in 2015 to 1,214,568 metric tonnes as at October 2018.

However, the United States Department of Agriculture says Nigeria’s imports rose in 2018 and Nigeria is projected to produce 4.79 million metric tonnes in 2019 and import as much as 2.4 million metric tonnes in 2019.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/fact-check-verifying-osinbajo-obi-at-tv.html

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says he is not a spare tyre to the president, emphasising that his roles as the number two citizen are spelt out in the constitution.

Osinbajo said this during the vice-presidential debate organised by the Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).

He said this differs from the constitution of other countries.

Asked how taking the job of the vice-president has been since he assumed office over three years, Osinbajo said the demand of the role has since increased his grey hair.

He, however, said despite the herculean nature of his job, it has also been rewarding.

“I am sure that those who know me quite well know that my hair was not this grey when I started out in 2015. So really, it has been tasking,” Osinbajo said.

“And it has also been an incredibly rewarding experience especially looking at it from the point of view of the ability to do the things that one wanted to do all along as an individual.

“The role is one where you are in many senses the chief adviser to the president of the country and possibly the one person that would represent him when when he is absent for a meeting and even when he is absent for a longer period.

“So there is a sense in which the role of the vice president is one that very closely mirrors the role of the president in very profound ways.

“But our vice-presidency is different from that of other countries. Because unlike other countries, even countries that have similar constitutions, our own constitution actually specifies role for the vice president. The vice president is the chairman of the national economic council…that is a constitutional role.

“In some senses, those who say the role of the vice president is like a spare tyre have it wrong because they are probably looking at other jurisdictions. In our jurisdiction, there are specific roles that the vice-president is entitled by law to perform.

“The vice president is also the chairman of the NCP, that is the national council of privatisation , the vice president is also statutory chairman over 22 parastatals and agencies and these are defined by law.

“That role is one that a good degree of trust is required between the president and the vice president. The role of the vice-president is one which also requires, I think, a great deal of patience because you may not always agree with the policies.”

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/im-not-buharis-spare-tyre-says-osinbajo.html

Yakubu Dati, Plateau commissioner for information, says President Muhammadu Buhari will win 100 percent votes in the state during the 2019 presidential election.

Although the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the governorship election, ex-President Goodluck Jonatahn got more votes than Buhari during the 2015 elections.

Speaking to journalists in Kaduna, where he attended the 47th meeting of the national council on information, Dati said this time around, Buhari will win the state.

According to Dati, the Buhari administration has impacted positively on the people of Plateau, saying they will vote for him massively.

“I assure you that Plateau will vote Buhari 100 per cent this time around,” Dati said.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is going to win Plateau state this time around because of the steps he has taken to strengthen the state.

“As I speak with you, more than 5000 rice farmers have been empowered with farming implements and seedlings.

“The school feeding programme is ongoing, safety nets programmes are also there. People are benefiting at the grassroots level. We are also benefitting directly because Mr. President, for the first time, when we had crisis, he and the vice-president came.”

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/plateau-commissioner-all-votes-in-our.html

According to Mr. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Osinbajo was responding to questions during a town-hall meeting where he said that those who have made away with the nation’s resources should be made to account for them.

According to him “the greatest problem Nigeria has is one of grand corruption; that is the biggest problem we have, not the problem of planning or plans; and grand corruption is the reason why we are not moving as fast as we should in our country.”

He said that, “there is no country in the world that can survive if its resources are stolen the way Nigeria’s resources are stolen”.

The Vice President noted that most of the issues raised by the Nigerians in Diaspora at the meeting around lack of energy, infrastructure, quality and extensive health care services, education and security can be traced back to the management of resources, while calling on Nigerian citizens to hold leaders accountable for the nation’s wealth.

The Vice President spoke and took over 30 questions at the town hall meeting in Berlin, described by many of the attendees as the first of its kind since 1999, when civil rule was restored in Nigeria.

Prof. Osinbajo stated that one of the key issues the Buhari’s administration was dealing with in partnership with European leaders now was the repatriation of the country’s stolen assets stashed abroad.

He added that the Federal Government was equally having conversations with European countries on the subject of migration of Nigerians to Europe.

He told the gathering that government was concerned about whole migration issue and has started negotiating with European countries.

He added that European countries can partner with Nigeria by investing in the country thereby discouraging the kind of migration of young people that is now prevalent. He was optimistic the challenge can be effectively addressed through Nigeria’s collaboration with its European partners.

Explaining Federal Government’s efforts at addressing unemployment challenges, the Vice President observed that a young population of about 60 per cent creates a yearly addition of about 1.4 million graduates to the unemployment market.

He, however, revealed that the Buhari administration is addressing the matter from several fronts such as the Federal Government employment of 500,000 graduates under the N-Power scheme, as well as through other social investment programmes like MarketMoni and TraderMoni.

Still on government efforts, he noted that, “one of the areas we are hoping to get employment is through agriculture.

What we have done with agriculture is we have given 760,000 farmers direct loans under the Anchor Borrowers scheme”; generating more interests among farmers especially in the North, which is where a lot of farming is going on.

Responding to the issue about the wild insinuation that made the rounds to the effect that the President died last year, Vice President Osinbajo told the audience, which included cross sections of Nigerians in Germany, Ambassadors of Nigeria to Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium, that it was ridiculous for anyone to suggest that the President was dead.

He said it did not make sense to say the President died abroad and that no one knew. Continuing, he said: “Is it possible that anyone will die here in Germany and no one will know he died and somehow he will be flown out quietly out of a country like England?
I think it is just so absurd. I think it is not something we should take half seriously. I think we should be properly informed.”

On health care delivery services to majority of Nigerians, Prof Osinbajo agreed on the need to extend good health care to all Nigerians, but he pointed out this can only be achieved through compulsory health insurance policy.

Underscoring the urgent need to develop a functional educational system, the Vice President announced that the Buhari administration was developing a robust education policy, saying “education is the basis of all we’re doing.”

In the next number of years by 2050, “we are going to be third most populous country in the entire world. So if we don’t get education right we are in deep trouble, it means if we don’t get our education policy right, we are going to have millions of young people out there doing nothing; nothing can be more dangerous than that.

“But if you look at our education policy and what we are trying to do a lot of it is technology based.

We are working on our curriculum with some technology institutions and companies like MIT, Oracle, Cisco, and quite a few, just to develop the curriculum.

The educational policy is what we call STEAM; we have added Arts to STEM and we are looking at how to deliver that policy in the cheapest and quickest possible way using technology.

“Part of our plans is to reconstruct 10,000 classrooms annually; it is not just to fix the structure, it also involves technology; to put technology into those classrooms to make sure we have the model right and we have so many countries that are interested in partnering with us”.

“Technology in my view is really the way to go; to expand our capacity to train teachers and to train them quickly and this is contained in our Next Level document”, he stressed.

On the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Vice President said negotiation between the Federal Government and ASUU was continuing and he expressed hope that an agreement can be reached with soon.

The Vice President is today headlining the Nigerian-German Business Dialogue in Berlin.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/grand-corruption-problem-of-nigeria.html

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerians against voting for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Osinbajo said PDP stole Nigeria’s money during its 16 years in power, hence must not be allowed to return in 2019.

He spoke at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Door-To-Door-Campaign and flag off of the Professor Yemi Osinbajo, PYO, Support Group over the weekend in Lagos.

Osinbajo also stated that President Muhammadu Buhari will not allow people in power steal the country’s money.


He stressed that the difference between Buhari and other presidential candidates seeking office in 2019 was that he won’t steal money, while others are pushing for a return to power so as to steal money.



The Vice President stated that there are leaders who want to steal and those who want to use Nigeria’s money for the common good of citizens.

According to Osinbajo, Buhari belongs to those who want to use the country’s money for the common good.

He said: “We should not allow those who have stolen our money in the past to come back. They stole all the money and they want to come. People are saying, enough is enough.

“In four years, PDP spent 383 US dollars. And they want to come back. Sixteen years is enough.

“After 16 years of ensuring that the country did not make progress, they want to come back. They will never come back.”

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/why-pdp-will-never-come-back-in-2019.html

The Federal Government yesterday said it would float People’s Money Bank in the country next year.

It added that the bank, when established, will have branches in all the states of the federation for traders and artisans to have access to credit facilities.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said this in Ilorin, Kwara State capital at the launch of ‘Tradermoni’ micro-credit scheme.

Prof Osinbajo made the disclosure during a talk in a private radio station, Sobi FM Ilorin, after launching the programme at Ipata and some other markets in the town.

He said that there is no politics involved in the administration’s ‘Tradermoni’ micro-credit scheme.

The Vice President said the government considered petty traders for the programme because it is always difficult for them to access bank loan because of the belief that they would hardly refund.

He said though there was no collateral for the loan, refund may not be difficult with the design that a beneficiary who refunds will receive bigger one.

He explained that beneficiaries at the start are given N10,000 while after refund they receive N15,000 with the progression to continue up till N50,000.

He said that the government targeted a total of two million petty traders across the states of the federation for the programme with minimum of 30,000 beneficiaries per state.

He added that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, it was neither buying vote with the programme nor favouring members of the All Progressives Congress with the programme.

He said contrary to the criticism that the government launched the programme at election time, the programme started in 2016 and fully took off after the National Assembly approved money for it about seven months ago.

Osinbajo said the programme was for the benefit of the masses, petty traders, saying that once the people enjoy the benefit, it is out of place to be complaining about the timing, asking: “Is there any time wrong to do the right thing?”

He denied that the micro credit was being given to only members of the APC, saying that beneficiaries are not considered on account of party affiliations but on merit.

“It is false that only members of the APC are being considered for the money. Nobody even asks anybody about his or her party or trying to know whether you are APC or PDP. Even those who belong to no party are part of the beneficiaries,” he stated

He said that the Marketmoni version of the micro credit programme meant for artisans and marketers of higher status would commence with N50,000 for the beneficiaries and explained that the people could receive up to N300, 000 when they do not derail in refunding.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/fg-to-float-peoples-money-bank-next.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to state governments to stop making things difficult for miners across the country.


This was as he urged state governments to shun unfriendly policies or laws inhibiting the growth and development of Nigeria’s mining industry.

Addressing the leadership of the Miners’ Association of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday, Buhari also pledged to look into the challenges facing the association.


The President promised to ensure that the activities of the mining sector across the country was boosted.

He said, “I have listened very carefully to your address and I believe the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will articulate your address and forward it to me so that whatever we can do through the supervising minister, we should encourage you in terms of understanding of the state governments that are interfering with your activities.

“I’ll also look at the question of Customs, not looking other way but being very professional and patriotic so that you won’t mind when they insist on what is due to the country in terms of revenue and of course not making it too difficult for you.


“I’m very pleased with this visit, I’m pleased that we have got some royal fathers that are part of your management team in terms of supporting you, I believe they can influence your state governments, the state governments that are maybe making things difficult.”

He also directed the Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Mr Bawa Bwari, to ensure that the problems of the association were addressed.

“I think the minister should take this on, that is why he is there to make sure that he makes it worthwhile for you to invest more, to attract more foreign investors that can bring capital and technology.

“As I said, the interest of the federal government is really employment and the revenue and we hope your foreign partners will invest more in bringing technology and equipment to bear on the industry,’’ he added

Buhari says ‘state govts making things difficult’

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/buhari-says-state-govts-making-things.html

President Muhammadu Buhari says he rejected the electoral amendment bill because it could affect the 2019 elections.

The president said this in a letter sent to the national assembly.

In the letter, the president said signing the bill into law could “create uncertainty and confusion” during the forthcoming elections.

“Pursuant to section 58 (4) of constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I hereby convey to the House of Representatives, my decision on 6th December 201 to decline Presidential Accent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill , 2018 recently passed by the National Assembly,” he wrote.

“I am declining assent to the Bill principally because I am concerned that passing a new electoral bill this far into the electoral process for the 2019 general election which commenced under the 2015 Electoral Act, could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process.

“Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process.”

Buhari appealed to the lawmakers to revise some clauses in the bill, expressing optimism that it would take effect after the elections.

“This leads me to believe that it is in the best interest of the country and our democracy for the national assembly to specifically state in the Bill, that the Electoral Act will come into effect and be applicable to elections commencing after the 2019 General Election,” he said.

“It is also important for the following drafting amendments to be made to the Bill: section 5 of the Bill, amending section 18 of the Principal Act should indicate the subsection to which the substitution of the figure “30” for the figure “60” is to be affected.

“Section 11 of the Bill, amending Section 36 should indicate the subsection in which the proviso is to be introduced.

“Section 24 of the Bill which amends Section 85 (1) should be redrafted in full as the introduction of the “electing” to the sentence may be interpreted to mean that political parties may give 21 days notice of the intention to merge, as opposed to the 90 days provided in Section 84 (2) of the Electoral Act which provides the provision for merge of political parties.

“The definition of the term “Ward Collection officer” should be revised to reflect a more descriptive definition than the capitalized and undefined term “Registration Area Collation Officer.”

This is the third time that the president would reject the bill. In March, Buhari withheld assent to the bill saying the proposed law would usurp the constitutional powers of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to decide on election matters.

In September, Buhari turned down the bill for the second time, asking the national assembly to revise some clauses.

The national assembly had passed the bill on July 24 and transmitted to the president on August 3.

Among the controversies on the bill are the reordering of the sequence of the 2019 elections, placing the presidential poll last, instead of the governorship and state assemblies, and also exclusion of the use of card readers during elections.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/revealed-why-buhari-rejected-electoral.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to the amended electoral bill (2018).

Ita Enang, senior special assistant to the president on national assembly (senate), said the president has communicated his decision to the national assembly.

Although Enang avoided making a categorical statement on the bill, he was clear about the National University Commission Amendment Act which the president assented to.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has taken decision on Electoral Act Amendment bill 2018. In accordance with his power under the 1999 Constitution and has communicated that decision to the Senate and House of Representatives in accordance with the law,” Enang told reporters on Friday.

“President Buhari has also assented to National Open University Amendment Act, which allows the National Open University to operate as all other universities, having the same power and functions and the same administrative structures eliminating possible discrimination as some use to want to have on its products and programmes.

“It has also allowed the establishment of some centers to be called study centers and given conditions for the establishment of such study centers.”

Asked whether the bill was assented or rejected, he said “the president has taken a decision in a accordance with the powers vested in him according to the constitution. And by convention that decision contained in the communication can only be revealed by the person to whom that decision is addressed. But the electoral bill has left Mr. President because he has taken a decision and has remitted it back.”

Pushed further Enang said, “Thank You very much but this is all the law allows me to say by convention. Mr. President has sent that communication to the national assembly.”

When asked if it is safe to say he rejected the bill, he said “it is safe to say that the president has taken decision as allowed by low and has communicated that decision to the senate and the House of Representatives.

“The implication of the decision is that the president has taken action on the bill within the time allowed by law.”

Opposition parties had mounted pressure on the president to sign the bill, with the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) challenging Buhari to sign the bill to prove that he had not been cloned.

This is the third time that the president would reject the bill. In March, Buhari withheld assent to the bill saying the proposed law would usurp the constitutional powers of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to decide on election matters, including fixing dates and the order they would go.

In September, Buhari turned down the bill for the second time, asking the national assembly to revise some clauses.

The national assembly had passed the bill on July 24 and transmitted to the president on August 3.

Among the controversies on the bill were the reordering of the sequence of the 2019 elections, placing the presidential last, instead of the governorship and state assemblies and exclusion of card readers.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/breaking-buhari-rejects-electoral.html

Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has urged Npower beneficiaries nationwide to reciprocate the gesture of their engagement by the present administration by re-electing president Muhammadu Buhari and his vice in the forthcoming general election.

The governor who gave the charge at an interface with Ondo state beneficiaries in Akure, the state capital noted that this move would enable other people benefit from the scheme to improve their socio economic well being.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA)to the president on job creation, Afolabi Imoukuede led the volunteers to Gani Fawehinmi Arcade, Akure after a road show in solidarity with Buhari /Osinbajo administration .

Akeredolu who noted that the scheme has given many Nigerian youths opportunity to explore their God given talents called for continuity in the scheme.

He said the President and his Vice have kept to their promises to Nigerian youths also thanked them for the initiative.

The Governor emphasized that his administration would continue to play all required roles for the success of the numerous social investment programmes of the federal government in the state.

The SSA to the President on job creation, Imoukuede said about N15b is being expended on the 500,000 participants across the country.

Imokuede emphasized that the Npower programme was being repackaged to connect beneficiaries to numerous economic opportunities beyond the monthly stipends.

According to him, all structures and processes are being put in place to create more windows of opportunities that would take them to the next level with the hope of making them more useful to the society and their immediate families

Some of the beneficiaries including Bayisemore Orioye, Afolabi Akinjide and Oluwatoyin Adebayo hailed the President for the scheme.

They enumerated the impact the programme has made in the lives of over 16,000 beneficiaries in the state as many have gone further in their education while many have also become employers of labour.

The SA to the governor on public and intergovernmental relations, Mrs Bunmi Ademosu, appealed to the beneficiaries to get their permanent voter cards to ensure the re-election of President Mohammad Buhari come 2019.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/pay-buhari-back-on-vision-for-npower.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to sign the petroleum industry bill (PIB) once it is transmitted to him.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the 40th anniversary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the president said he is a worker-friendly president.

Buhari was represented by Chris Ngige, the minister of labour and employment, urged the workers to support his administration towards ensuring better welfare for workers.

The theme of the anniversary is, “Nigeria Oil and Gas Workers; Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,”.

“(I am) a worker-friendly president who is concerned about better working conditions for workers,” he said.

“(I) respect the rule of law and the law of the land. (I) promise to sign the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill once it is brought to (me).”

In his address, Williams Akporeha, NUPENG president, said there is a wrong perception about the union.

“The enormous challenges confronting our union, most especially with regards to the employers, government and general public perception of our enormous powers, influence and ever constant solidarity,” he said.

“We know that most often many employers are scared of relating with us and this wrong perception is sometimes responsible for the hostile attitude to our efforts in organising their employees.

“In the light of this realisation, our administration will embark on massive public image polishing and mending relationship with all aggrieved stakeholders.

“We pledge to be more cooperative and collaborative in our dealings but without compromising on the best interest of our members and global labour best practices.

“We have further resolved to be more open and engaging in social dialogue with all stakeholders.

“We urge everyone, government, employers and the public to know that we are fully committed to rendering efficient, effective and public/stakeholders friendly services to our dear country and its citizens.”

The president had refused to sign the petroleum industry governance bill for ‘legal and constitutional reasons’.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/i-promise-to-sign-pib-once-it-is.html

Undaunted by the hullaballoo on the 2019 presidential election, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his usual calmness, assured the nation that the results of the polls would be a reflection of the wish of the people.


President Buhari, who has persistently insisted that no one should be intimidated or insulted in the political campaign, said that he understood the yearnings of Nigerians.

The president told his supporters to continuously showcase achievements instead of mudslinging and violence.

President Buhari spoke when he received Letter of Credence from Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Dr Jyrki Juhani Pulkkinen.

He also said he believed in the collective dream for a greater country. Buhari said Nigerians reserved the right to elect leaders at various levels in 2019, adding that all efforts would be made to safeguard the integrity of the elect oral process.

The president said: “I respect the people’s feelings. I assure all that we will have a free and fair election next year.’’

He congratulated Finland on its 101 independence anniversary, Dec. 6, 2018 and commended the growing relations between Nigeria and Finland, especially in areas of Information Communication Technology (ICT), trade and education.

In his remarks, the Ambassador called for extension of the relations between the two countries for mutual benefits especially in the area of electricity, smart technology and crises management initiatives.

“We will like to contribute to Africa rising, and we know that Nigeria is the biggest country on the continent, so we are very interested in the growth of Nigeria,’’ he said.
At the level of the United Nations, Pulkkinen said his country would continue to support the restructuring of the multilateral institution to give greater roles to African countries like Nigeria.

Buhari also received Letter of Credence from Ambassador of France, Mr Jerome Pasquier.

He said at the occasion that French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, and the stopover in Lagos, was really impressive in bolstering both countries’ relations.

The President also said he was impressed with relations between France and its former colonies in Africa, noting that France had continued to play positive roles in promoting security and economic growth in the countries.

“France is investing so much in Nigeria and we are grateful,’’ he said. The President, however, called for more support in the fight against terrorism, noting that the networks kept expanding with fighters moving across borders to support insurgents.

Responding, France Ambassador said President Macron would continue to support Nigeria, especially in the ongoing war against terrorism, with specific interest in gathering and sharing of intelligence.

He commended Buhari for Nigeria’s role in resolving the crisis in Togo and Guinea Bissau. Buhari also received Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of Czech Republic, Mr Marek Skolil, assuring him of improved economic relations in areas such as solid mineral exploration. Mr Skolil said his country would continue to support Nigerian military in the fight against terrorism in the North-East. “Nigeria is a very important country for us. We look forward to stronger ties, particularly with the armed forces,’’ he said.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/the-will-of-nigerians-is-my-command.html

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon(Rtd), on Sunday in Abuja thanked God for his goodness to Nigeria and also prayed for a more prosperous nation.

Osinbajo and Gowon were at the State House Chapel for the annual End of Year Thanksgiving Service.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the service, Osinbajo said that Nigerians had every reason to be extremely thankful to God.

“It has been a year where God has shown his faithfulness in some many ways; I think what God is also telling is that the coming months and the coming years will be even better.

“Our country is going forward; our country is getting better and better; our country will prosper; our country will be a place of abundance; all of us will enjoy the fruit of this land.

“So my message is that we should continually thank God because God has helped us a great deal and he is set to help us even more,’’ he said.

The Vice President had earlier during the service offered a special thanksgiving prayer to God for His mercy, grace and kindness to Nigeria.

On his part, Gowon said that his message for Nigeria was to pray ceaselessly.

He prayed God to accept the genuine prayers offered by Nigerians.

“Let God answer all the good prayers for Nigeria; what he thinks is best for Nigeria.

“That is my message and prayer; so that we contribute to the peace of Nigeria,’’ he said.

Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, Assistant General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, who delivered the sermo said, that Nigeria was still a country was a good reason to thank God.

He said that Nigeria had passed through quite a lot as there were lots of signs and signals pointing towards disintegration but Nigerians still remained together.

“`That one is more than enough to thank God for,’’ he said.

The Chaplain, State House Chapel, Pastor Seyi Malomo, said that thanksgiving was something Nigerians should do continuously.

“Thanksgiving is something that is expected on a continuous basis; in fact, that is one of the requirements of God from us.

“ We thank God; God will make us whole; in every relationship, you do not see perfection; even in your life but when you thank God, that imperfection will be perfected.

“So, I see a perfection for Nigeria; I see a wholeness for every one of us,’’ he said.

The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Silas Agara, on his part, thanked God for guiding President Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo in the last three years.

He said that Nigerians should be thankful to God for giving the nation God-fearing leaders, unlike other nations, Nigeria was not at war.

Agara also prayed God to give the president and vice president another opportunity to lead Nigeria for another four years, so that the nation could witness more blessings from God.

The thanksgiving service was also attended by the Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Pastor Sani Uguru, representatives of the Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Army Staff.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/there-is-brighter-future-for-nigeria.html

The Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organization has attacked Senate President Bukola Saraki for criticising the Federal Government’s ‘trader moni’ scheme.

Saraki, who is the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council of Atiku Abubakar, had allegedly made false allegations about the President Muhammadu Buhari’s scheme.

Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has been seen in markets in different states of the federation giving out small loans to traders.

Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organization in a statement on Saturday, said, “For the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make such wild and false allegations is degrading.

“Saraki’s statement makes his position untenable; for it is preposterous for him to criticise the Executive for implementing a programme in the budget duly passed by the National Assembly which he leads.

“Does it now mean that the implementation of programmes of government equates to vote-buying? Should governance be suspended because of politics?

“Is his so-called empowerment scheme presently ongoing in Ilorin not a better example of vote-buying?

“His claims that the programme has a political coloration is just the height of subterfuge.

“It is on record that the Trader Moni loans are given to petty traders and artisans all over the country irrespective of political leanings as nobody is asked for their party cards in the markets before they are enlisted on the programme.

“Like other National Social Investment Programmes, it has been launched in every state of the Federation irrespective of political affiliation.

“To underscore the non-partisanship of the Social Investment Programmes, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme of the Federal Government started in the APGA- controlled Anambra State while Rivers State which is controlled by the PDP had the highest number of N-Power participants at inception in 2016.”
SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/2019-presidency-saraki-under-fire-for.html

International detective, Sam Nwanti, has jettisoned his presidential candidature on the platform of the Labour Party to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2019 general elections.


He made this known during the weekend in a terse statement issued to journalists via email by his publicist, Emeh ThankGod.

Nwanti revealed that the decision to step down his ambition was based on the need to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption as well as efforts to get the country working again.


The statement quoted him as saying “I withdraw from contesting for the presidential race on the platform of Labour party and back to All Progressives Congress APC.

“I am back to APC to support President Buhari for his second term bid because he needs our support to get things aright once again.

“I will help All Progressives Congress and the Buhari-led administration fight corruption and as the only detective who is contesting in 2019, it may split the support of President Muhammadu Buhari.”


The American-based detective from Mbieri, in the Mbaitoli Council Area of Imo State, however, maintained that he will immediately commence preparations for the 2023 race for the highest office in the land.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/labour-party-presidential-candidate.html

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Akure said universities in the country are pivotal in boosting national development.

Buhari spoke during the combined 29th and 30th convocation of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in which 5,402 diploma and degree students and 1,238 Postgraduate diploma, Masters and Doctorate students graduated.

Represented by Mr Abiodun Sanni, the Director of Administration of the National Universities Commission, Buhari said his administration would ensure improved access and quality of the educational system.

He also said efforts would continue toward ensuring improved infrastructural development and increased funding of universities.

“In this age of ICT, we believe that our Universities of Technologies are pivotal to the actualisation of national development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations,’’ he said.

The president further implored all FUTA staff to always perform their duties with dedication and selflessness.

Buhari also congratulated the graduating students, saying they had been sufficiently equipped with the knowledge required to meet the challenges of contributing to the socio-economic and political environment of the nation.

“With the quality of specialised and rigorous training received, there is no doubt that you already have what it takes to surmount any obstacle on your path to a life of fulfilment and great achievement,” he said.

He also appealed to Nigerians to eschew violence as the country prepared for the forthcoming 2019 general elections, saying there should be politics of decorum and ideas as against hate and violence.

“We must not light the fire of religious bigotry and ethnicity which will be difficult to put out after elections have been won and lost.

“Peace and peaceful coexistence are very essential for individual and national progress, and we must all work to attain peace in our nation,” he said.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/how-varsities-can-boost-national.html

A former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Femi Bamisile, has called on Nigerians to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Bamisile, an APC House of Representatives candidate for the Ekiti South Federal Constituency II in the 2019 general elections, told journalists at Omuo-Ekiti that it was insulting for the PDP to wish to return to power.

He said: “It is insulting and embarrassing for a party like the PDP to come around again to promise to reposition the country it had earlier destroyed through bad leadership.

“There is no doubt that the coming general elections would also be another game of integrity and performance test, and the question will now be to compare a four-year term of the APC to a16-year term of the PDP in Nigeria.

“President Buhari had in the last three and years laid a solid structure for economic recovery and development with infrastructure in all the six geo-political zones”.

Bamisile said: “The difference is clear and axiomatic. The country will not fold arms and watch bad people to bring back destructive tendencies of the past into the current reformation strides of President Buhari.”

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/why-nigerians-ll-vote-for-buhari.html

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo , says the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programmes(SIPs) are designed to provide solutions to the problems of poor Nigerians. VP Osinbajo.

Newsmen report that the programmes include, N-Power, National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), National Cash Transfer Project (NCTP), and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP). N-Power, veritable technology platform to boost education – Osinbajo

Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said Osinbajo spoke at a conference in Lagos.

Osinbajo delivered a speech at the 90th birthday of Chief Olu Akinkugbe and the Fifth anniversary of the Olu Akinkugbe Business Law in Africa Fellowship conference, at Lagos Business School on Thursday.

The vice president said that the Buhari-led administration was focused on uplifting the poor in society through its SIPs.

He said that the programmes were aimed at ensuring that more Nigerians improved their lives and contributed more to the nation’s economy.

Osinbajo said that the problems of the poor in society must be addressed to help economic growth.

“A lot of our ideas in our social investment policies are micro credit loans to market women and petty traders and all of that are borrowed heavily from the Indian model.

“ A lot of the programmes that we are working on today; the Conditional Cash Transfers that we give to the poorest in society are based on many of these models.

“But these models are the products of a legal framework; they’re a product of a way of thinking about dissolving the problems of the poor.

“And we if we do not dissolve the problem of the poor, no matter how fancy our economic models or policies are, the vast majority of our people will be poor, consumer spending will be low, and generally speaking our economies cannot be where they ought to be, because the vast majority are so far behind,” he said.

According to the vice president, the rule of law remains the most potent weapon for socio-economic revolution because the success of African economies and commerce will depend largely on the enforcement of laws and regulations.

He further said that it was time for Africa to rethink and re-engineer its jurisprudence.

Osinbajo highlighted some challenges confronting Africa ranging from how to provide opportunities for millions of young men and women, to extreme poverty, illiteracy and disease, desertification resulting in famines and conflicts over land and water.

“All of these challenges clearly will define how the future of the world itself will shape up in the coming decades; simply because Africa has the population and continues to increase in that population day by day.

“Commerce and economic development cannot thrive where the majority is desperately poor, illiterate and exposed to diseases all the time.

“The country’s effective market, any country’s effective market, GDP, and human development indices depend on the standard of living of its people. The law and administration of justice can change the bleak narratives on poverty,” he said.

He said that Africa needed the capacity to undertake complex economic studies of its diverse situations and present alternative or comparative perspectives, which could form the basis for more confident negotiations.

Felicitating with Akinkugbe on his 90th birthday, the vice president described him as a quintessential Nigerian business icon with a legacy of ethical conduct.


He said that the Olu Akinkugbe Business Law in Africa Fellowship was, itself, an investment in knowledge and scholarship, in people, and in the future of Africa.

On his part, Akinkugbe described Osinbajo as one that gave Nigerians hope for the future of the country. “It is often not the case that you have people with complete understanding of the problems that we face in the country.

“He (Osinbajo) has intervened in the different struggles in this country. “ May God help you to continue to give your best to Nigeria,” Akinkugbe said.

Newsmen report that on Aug. 2, the federal government said the sum of N140 billion out of the N500 billion budgeted for its SIP in 2017 has been released.

It also said for 2016, only N80 billion of the budgeted N500 billion, was released bringing total sum released to N220 billion out of N1 trillion within the period for the implementation of the four major components of the programme.

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/11/fg-programmes-aimed-at-solving-problems.html