The letter written by the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Uche Secondus to the United Nations Secretary General accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of several allegations confirm the opposition party as a bad loser, desperate for another chance after they were kicked out for failing the nation and its people.

In the said letter which is no less preposterous and comical, the opposition accused the Nigerian government of “destroying Nigeria’s democracy.”

PDP’s lecture on democracy and the rule of law coming from a party with a tradition of undemocratic rule is a desperate attempt to pervert history and the course of justice. The sermon, is both trite and hollow, coming from a party with intolerance for dissent as its hallmark. A party that humiliated opposition parties and stunted their growth. This was the atmosphere that nurtured the birth of the All Progressives Congress (APC.)

The war against corruption, for which many more politicians may soon be docked, cannot be misrepresented as an attack on human rights and Mr. Secondus should not try to mislead the UN. Nigerian politicians at all levels have been used to dispensing with state funds in whatever manner they please, and to have someone, an administration, finally saying, “No. It doesn’t matter how big or important you think you are; the law must come against you…” That is not something they are used to at all. For the PDP, as has now emerged, national security was the major source of their funding.

The PDP Chairman and all other politicians against whom the country’s anti-corruption agencies have on-going investigations, should be assured that it is only a matter of time before the law catches up with them, and makes them pay for the grief their mismanagement of the past has caused, and is still causing Nigerians. Nigerians suffered because of the poison sowed by the PDP.

If the public were privy to some of the facts and figures on corruption that President Buhari and the anti-corruption agencies are, they would understand the passion that drives the determination to nail these callous men and stop them in their corrupt tracks.

Regarding the accusation that President Buhari is behind the spate of herdsmen and farmer clashes in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, all we will say is that it as an embarrassing charge that the PDP would make, conveying an allegation from the beer parlours of Nigeria to an international body like the UN.

The PDP certainly has no shred of evidence to make such an allegation. These are comments driven by tribalism and that age-old trick of balkanisation in a bid to score political points. This should not surprise anyone given the politics of anger, violence and polarisation that are the stock-in-trade of the PDP.

The various lengths to which President Buhari has gone to end the spate of killings, such as mobilising state resources against the attackers, approving the setting up of new police and army formations in the affected areas, and the recruitment of thousands into the police and other arms of the military, are a few of the several steps taken which a more reasonable opposition will acknowledge.

What can President Buhari possibly gain from the killings? There is no intelligent angle from which you analyse the matter and see any possible gain for this government in the wanton destruction of life and property going on. For the “new” PDP leadership on the other hand, incapable of thinking big about the nation, they see and treat the unfortunate spate of killing of innocent Nigerians as political gift, about which they seem very happy to cite as the basis for a return to power. They feel bad at every turn the country improves, which is beyond comprehension. They should bury their heads in shame.

http://pmexpressng.com/pdp-letter-un-beyond-comprehension/

Everybody is aware that PDP is corrupt stop draging the Osinabajo into this

First of all, let us state the facts that are important to Nigerians. In a time when we have a very sharp decline in National income, this government has been able to do much more for the Nigerian people compared to when oil prices were above $100 and yet so little was done.
 
We have set out a Social Investment Programme, that currently is providing, under one of the clusters, the National Homegrown School Feeding, where we are providing one free meal a day to 7.6 million pupils across 24 States in the Nation. This is at a time when the income of the country is down. The difference between us and the past administration is that we are not thieves. We are using public resources to take care of the people. 
 
In the past, public resources were shared by a gang of looters who found protection within government, and we have given this information and the facts are out there. More such information coming.
 
Make a note of this, there hasn't been any serious contests of these claims for the most part.
 
 So, we have under the Social Investment Programmes, the N-Power. This programme is designed to hire half a million otherwise unemployed Nigerian graduates, we have done 200,000 to date who are engaged in their local communities and receiving 30,000 per month stipend, 200,000 of them. They have a tablet that they can work with, which also gives them exposure and more skills. 
 
We are doing this at a point in time when the income of this country is lower than what it was when they were stealing it. The difference between us and the other government is that we are not thieves. 
 
Look at the micro-credit programme, where we have about 300,000 soft loans that have been written; interest free loans to artisans, market women and men, between N10,000 and N100,000 have been given to over 300,000 people and we are hoping to do a million. We are spending the resources of this country on the people of this country. 
 
The same thing under the Conditional Cash Transfer, we have done close to almost 300,000, we are giving N5,000 every month and again, we intend to do this for one million people. All of these programmes are on, and we have giving N5000 to those deemed to be the poorest and most vulnerable. 
 
We are spending billions of Naira on the Social Investment Programme. We have spent already, 195 billion Naira in the last 2 years and we are doing it at a time when the income of this country is declining. 
 
What about the revitalisation of the fertiliser plants? Plants that have otherwise been moribund in Kastina, and other parts of the country, have been revived and the price of fertiliser has dropped today. 
 
What about rice? The people in the industry, the Farmers Association, the people in the business have said that when we came in there were 5.8million farmers but today there are about 12million rice farmers.
Our rice importation is almost over. With the Anchors Borrowers Programme of this government, we have produced the highest numbers of farmer millionaires in the country. Rice farmers are beginning to be more and more prosperous and they are beginning to do more things. It is happening at a time when the resources of this country is now being focused on the people. 
 
What about infrastructure? We have the highest spend in the history of Nigeria, about 1.3trillion in the 2017 budget that we have spent on infrastructure already. We are ensuring that at least 30% of the National income is being spent on capital expenditure. At a time when Nigeria was making more than 100 dollars per barrel on oil, they were spending less than 10%  on capital expenditure. There is a huge infrastructural deficit that we are trying to fix, we are building roads that have been in the books for years; the East West Road, the 2nd Nigeria bridge, the Lagos Ibadan express way. All of these are now alive because you have a leadership that is not corrupt.
 
Even in Power, our capacity to generate has now increased, it has jumped from about 4000mw to 7000mw. The average of transmitable  power is about 4000. When we came in it was about 1800, to 2000. These are verifiable facts and we are going to do much more. 
 
And so any attempt to try to confuse Nigerians is a wasted effort, because Nigerians know exactly who to trust and who to belive. It is a shame that the PDP thinks they can fool Nigerians, it is not going to happen. 
Nigerians cannot be fooled by the calculated attempt befuddle the issues,  deny and deflect the weighty allegations and the hard facts of grand corruptions and crass stealing that went on under the past administration. 
 
We have presented credible and unassailable information and facts regarding the grand corruption that has taken place under the previous administration. 
 
Here are a few instances, with facts established:
 
In a strategic alliance contract by the NNPC, three people, Jide Omokore, Kola Aluko and former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke made away with 3 billion dollars from Nigerian oil that was lifted without paying to the federal government, this is besides the fact that royalties and taxes were not paid. 

There is an ongoing investigation on this matter. These are publicly known information. None of the three of them has come out to deny.
 
2. We all know about the about  $2.1 Billion arms equipment scandal that was investigated, it is being used in the case against the former NSA, this also happened under the previous administration.
 
 
3. We have released a number of names of people who have been found with questionable funds, allegedly looted from the public till, and some of them, in some instances have actually refunded money that they couldn’t explain where it came from. We have tons and tons of evidence of how under the previous administration grand corruption was the order of the day. 
 
4. As a matter of fact a senior member of the Jonathan government, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has written a book that has provided even more details and insight from an insider of what was going on at the time we are talking about. It gives an insider's backing to the facts that we have presented.
 
Therefore, it is a show of shame to have a group of politicians trying to confuse Nigerians and trying to shift the blame. Nigerians are well aware of their antics, and Nigerians have a right to demand accountability from the government, and we will not relent until justice is gotten for the Nigerian people on this matter.
 
Finally, we also see the attempt to raise insinuations and innuendos and unsubstantiated claims about the administration and its leaders
 
What Nigerians know is that this administration has shown itself clearly to be above board, and has ensured no sacred cows at all where evidence have been tabled. 
 
For instance, the President has fired the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation when a case was established, and an EFCC investigation is ongoing. This is also the same for the former NIA DG, who was removed and investigations are ongoing. There would be prosecutions; these are top members of the administration who have been shown the way out because of the cases established against them.
 
Anytime we find credible allegations against any member of government there are no sacred cows, we would do the needful, and the good things is that Nigerians are aware about the credibility of this government, the personal integrity of the President and Nigerians trust this government, and Nigerians know the difference between this government and the previous government. 
 
This government is a government that is honest with Nigerians, it is a government that is doing more with less, at a time when we are making 60% less in oil earnings, we are actually spending more that what was spent when oil was sold for more than a $100, the best prices of oil now oscillate between $50 and $70 - but we are doing more with this. 
 
We were able to spend about 1.3 Trillion in our last year budget on capital expenditure. This is the first time in Nigeria’s history to have that much spent. And this is happening at a time when our income has dropped.
 
So the PDP folks cannot fool Nigerians, they can fool themselves, but Nigerians know what the truth is, and they know who to believe.

However there is a tweak to it:

Under the subsidy regime of the Jonathan government, oil marketers were paid bogus amounts of monies to cover for their expenses to supply the country fuel and maintain the price at an affordable amount - this led to the enriching of a few and impoverishing of the country, as most of the oil marketers did not even make any deliveries to Nigeria but were paid billions of Naira. Some others took crude oil to Ghana and Benin Republic but where paid as well.

Under the new system which operates under the Buhari’s government, oil marketers do not receive money from government. Instead, NNPC bears the cost of the differential and takes the hit on their own balances by ensuring that the price of petrol remains at N145 regardless of the fact that the landing cost has increased in such a way to make the 145 unprofitable.

In this new arrangement - which is called UNDER-RECOVERY - the Nigerian consumers benefit and not the marketers. If this is not done, the price of fuel would shoot up and the President has said he would never allow that happen.

What the government is doing to put an end to this regime, which is in itself a short term solution - is to fix our refineries including encouraging private sector involvement.

Chief Financial Officer of NNPC, Mr. Isiaka AbdulRazaq, who traced the advent of the subsidy regime to October, 2003 when NNPC was directed by government to commence the purchase of domestic crude oil at international market price without a corresponding liberalization of the regulated price of petroleum products noted that the subsidy regime has changed.

He explained that under the Jonathan subsidy regime, NNPC and other suppliers of refined petroleum products were entitled to file subsidy claims to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Mr. AbdulRasaq, however, noted that unlike oil marketers, under the under-recovery regime NNPC did not receive cash payment for subsidy claims as its claims were deducted out of cost payment to the Federation Account after due certification by PPPRA.

More like Biafra protesters

dudebuck:
I smell lies from a BMC

Point to the lies or remain silent

Buhari-Trump Meeting: You were again Distracted by the compromised and Corrupt Nigerian Media*

Did you know while Buhari was meeting Trump in the US, Nigeria signed the long waited agreement with General Electric (leading four other companies) to invest an estimated $2.2 billion to overhaul and modernise the ageing railway system in Nigeria.

Did you read anywhere that Nigeria and US also finalised negotiations for immediate repatriation of more than 500 million dollars (about N190 billion) of Nigeria’s looted money traced to the U.S.

Did you read it anywhere that Nigeria government while in US, was also finalising a strategic agreement on a $20bn investment in the Nigerian aviation industry in the next few years.

You also may not have read that Nigeria before now has already secured $7.5b loan from the Chinese bank for other rail road projects such as the;

* $1. 4 billion rail gauge from Lagos to Ibadan (to be completed in Dec 2018/Jan 2019)

* $6. 1 billion, Ibadan–Ilorin–Minna-Kaduna– Kano line.

Others to be constructed include;

* Lagos-Ijebu-Ode-Ore-Benin-Asaba-Agbor-Onisha-Sapele-Yenagoa-Port-Harcourt-Uyo and Calabar coastal rail line

* Eastern rail flank linking Aba to Port Harcourt, Makurdi, Enugu and Jos, passing through Enugu, Lafia, Makurdi, Gombe, with branches to Owerri, Onitsha, Awka, Abakaliki, Yola, Jalingo and Damaturu.

* The Itapke-Aladja (Warri) to Abuja and Warri Port; development of Railway Industrial Park in Port Harcourt

You may not have read all of these massive investments on rails along with the hundreds of major road construction going on all over the country, because the Nigerian media is not interested in any progress or development, what they want you to focus on are the intangibles. Why? because next to politicians, and the civil servants is the media in the statistics of the most corrupt people in Nigeria. Their companies and staff are being funded by handouts from those who looted our common wealth. And they will support anyone for as long as they pay. That is why anyone who still want to keep control of his own mind, should not swallow any news hook line and sinker from the regular and especially these hungry online media. Their major grouse is that Buhari is not paying or playing ball. They miss the reckless erstwhile government, and they will compromise the future of Nigerians for their own greedy gains.

Other Infrastructure Development: *Road*

Over N3 trillion has been committed to road construction nationwide. Some of them include;

*Aba-Port Harcourt road portion of the Enugu

* Reconstruction of 81-kilometre Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway,

* 44.625-kilometre Baban-Lamba-Sharam road in Plateau State,

* Dualisation of Lokoja-Benin road, Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road

* Construction of Oju-Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue

* Dualisation of Kano to Maiduguri road

*2nd Niger Bridge

* Dualisation of Kano to Katsina road phase,

* Dualisation of Suleja to Minna roads in Niger state (phase two)

* Construction of Kano Western bypass

* Construction of Kaduna Eastern by-pass road

* Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriage way

* Onitsha to Enugu expressway

* Dualisation of Yenegwe to Kolo to Otuoke to Bayelsa palm road,

* Dualisation of Lokoja to Benin road

* Reconstruction of Benin to Ofosu to Ore to Ajebandele to Shagamu dual carriageway

* Dualisation of Ibadan to Ilorin road section two to be completed, Michael Imoudu -Amayo Road, Afon-Aboto-Oyo State Boundary, llorin-Jebba Road

* 9th mile axis of Enugu-Onitsha Road, Umana-Ndiagu-Agba-Ebenebe- Amensea-Awka federal road

* Funtua to Gusua federal 104 km highway

* Abuja - Kaduna- Kano Road

* Abuja - Lafia Akwanga - Keffi Rd

So much is being achieved because your budget is no longer being stolen by the looters. *Imagine how far this country will go if Nigeria successfully implements its budgets for the next five years and beyond.*

Development of the nations infrastructure is one of the Buhari 3 point Agenda, the others are Agricultureand Security

*In Agriculture* he has done wonderfully well to use agriculture to diversify the economy:

Nigeria presently produces about 90% of its local rice need

* We are the highest producer of yam and cassava in the world

* The second largest producer of sorghum after the US

* Third highest of Millet, and

* Presently Nigeria produces 10 million tons of maize out of 13 million tons required for local consumption

The agricultural boom was aided by the development of Nigeria's 11 local fertiliser blending plants, (producing 300,000 metric tonnes putting a stop to the N60b fertilizer import subsidy scam), and agricultural loans/supports prevented from going going into looters pockets or private farms

A presidential spokesperson on Thursday provided reasons why President Muhamamdu Buhari was still in London when he was supposed to have returned to Nigeria.

Garba Shehu said the president had to stop over in London on his way back from the United States for technical reasons.

In apparent response to a PREMIUM TIMES story published earlier Thursday which showed that Mr Buhari was yet to arrive Nigeria two days after he left Washington, Mr Shehu said the president’s main aircraft is under repairs and he had to use a smaller jet.

“The big jet is under repair. It has been taken for major repairs. So the president is using a small plane and there is a limit to the distance the small plane can cover,” he said in response to inquiries by State House correspondents.

Mr Shehu also said the “technical stopover I talked about is that the journey from U.S. to Abuja is broken into two.

“Technical stopover is that the plane stops at a point, refuel, do some checks and then proceed on the journey,” he said.

Mr Shehu said such stopover is “very normal” adding “there is nothing unusual about it.”

He added that Mr Buhari is already on his way back to Abuja.

“It is a routine thing. The plane can do Abuja-Washington, that’s about 12 hours and the maximum the plane can fly is 12 hours, 40 minutes. But you don’t need to push it to the edge,” he said.

TAKEAWAYS FROM THE AUSPICIOUS MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENTS MUHAMMADU BUHARI AND DONALD TRUMP

BY GARBA SHEHU

This note is written by one who is mindful of the fact that there are Nigerians, I mean the opponents of this administration, who have prayed and prayed very hard that our President in the course of his historic visit to the White House on Monday, April 30, 2018, would stumble badly or come back with nothing.

President Buhari, to the disappointment of this group, delivered a calm, brilliant performance. He refused to be provoked and did not get angry at the taunting. He instead turned his attention to the task at hand and at the end, came home satisfied that he got everything he wanted from the US administration. The Rose Garden worked out very much for him as a routine engagement, certainly not like the make-or-break meeting as some wanted it to be.

It is also important that records be set straight to counter the mischief of opponents, some of whom have started rendering false narratives of a meeting to which they were neither invited nor in any way aware of its details.

The meeting of the two leaders happened in three phases.

First, the one-on-one in which only the two of them were present. Then they had a working lunch, each leader accompanied by ten top officials. President Buhari had with him the Governors of Ogun and Plateau; the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Industry, Trade and Investment; the Chairpersons of Senate and House of Representatives committees on international relations; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA; the Chief of Defence Staff and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States.

The US President had more-or-less the same representation, except that the Secretary of State who just got cleared for the job by the Senate hadn’t assumed so he was represented by the Deputy Secretary of State.

President Trump also brought with him the Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which I must emphasize, is significant to Nigeria given the fact that the U.S. remains the largest contributor to the on-going effort to reconstruct the Northeast and resettle its millions of displaced persons.

The third engagement involving the two leaders was the joint press conference by the leaders, aired live by some major TV networks across the world.

What did the meetings achieve?

First of all, it is important to state that from the very beginning, the two leaders got on very well with one another. They also shared a common respect for each other.

Some key remarks made by President Trump on our president sum this up:

He said President Buhari “is a rare leader”; he said “I respect him a lot” and said our leader had “succeeded in cutting down corruption”. He called President Buhari a “valued partner” and a “strong democrat.”

The two parties had agreed before the meeting that discussions will be on three key issues namely Security/Counter Terrorism, Trade, and Development of Democracy in Nigeria.

On security, the Nigerian delegation was pleased from the onset that the Trump administration had agreed to the major sale of military equipment to Nigeria. Team Nigeria was equally pleased about the much-increased role of the US in assisting the efforts to defeat terrorism in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region in general.

The President expressed appreciation for these and requested additional support to counter insurgency.

On the specific issue of the sale of the 12 Super Tucano A-29 warplanes and weapons to Nigeria to effectively fight terrorism, President Buhari told his American counterpart that we are pleased with this, but want delivery to be fast-tracked, given the security situation in the country.

Expectedly, President Trump said yes to this, and, additionally promised the sale of helicopters and about just everything President Buhari wanted.

Still on President Buhari’s meeting with Trump, it is important to explain the context of the remarks by President Trump where he was quoted as saying the U.S is concerned about the murder or killing, as he put it, of Christians. At the press conference, President Trump towards the end of his remarks, at the briefing, mentioned the protection of ‘‘innocent civilians of all faiths, including Muslims and Christians’’, which reporters left out.

In his remarks, the US President neither chided nor talked down on President Buhari. Saying that “we will do something about that,” is a clear expression of willingness to support Nigeria to bring to an end the unwanted killings. This is contrary to the press reporting which jumped on the issue, conveying a wrong impression that President Trump was only concerned about the lives of Christians. He mentioned Muslim lives as well.

Equally wrong was the hasty condemnation of the U.S. President by some Muslim groups in the country without the benefit of a full view and understanding of what was said and the context in which it was said.

The President also conveyed the country’s appreciation for the U.S. support for the humanitarian situation in the Northeast, with a contribution of 500 million US Dollars in cash and in-kind contributions, the highest by anyone, through the United Nations and other inter-governmental organizations.

But the scope of work to be done is larger than anyone had envisaged and Nigeria wanted the US to do more. President Trump didn’t say no, only that he wanted more access to the Nigerian market for their agricultural goods.

“For a country which we assist with USD 1 billion dollars every year, you must do more to open the market to us,” Trump said. These are matters to be debated and resolved.

This leads us to the next important issue- Trade. Pointedly, President Trump did not mince words when he said: ‘‘President Buhari has also taken several steps to fight corruption and improve the Nigerian business climate. And most of all to me — and again — is ripping down those trade barriers. These measures will make it easier for Nigeria and the United States companies to invest. And we will be investing substantially in Nigeria if they can create that level playing field that we have to very much ask for, and maybe demand.’’

In acknowledging the efforts of President Buhari and the significance of the Nigerian economy on the continent of Africa, President Trump promised to grow trade and commercial ties between the two countries to create wealth and jobs for the benefit of their citizens.

Talks were also held between the Nigerian delegation and American Chief Executive Officers, who came from across various industries especially agriculture, digital economy and increasing value additions to locally produced raw materials.

Some of the broad level discussions on the business side included the planned coming of a John Deer tractor assembly plant to produce 10,000 tractors, which will certainly create thousands of jobs in Nigeria. Also on the table were several investment proposals across the food value chain including the production of chemicals for crop protection; a large-scale seed production company in Nigeria; a food ingredients company that will, among others set up an oilseed crushing plant with a capacity for about 50 million tons and a business engagement with local partners for the facilitation of international merchandising of local farm produce, serving as a firm assurance of buyer at the time of harvest.

There are plans by the Dangote Group and others for new partnerships to bring research and high yielding crop varieties that have seen increases elsewhere from two to six tons of maize and two to seven tons of rice per acreage as achieved in Brazil and other countries.

Other new businesses proposed at the meetings included the setting up of consumer products by big giants like Proctor and Gamble, a refinery in Ogun, Burger King food chain and a plant for the production of Heinz tomato products, in all cases, walking back to integrate local producers of raw materials.

With the blessing of the two leaders, assets recovery is also getting a major boost. The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami was directed to sit down with Jeff Sessions, his US counterpart to have a roadmap for the recovery of USD 500 million of Nigerian stolen assets hidden in the US. They will also finalize on the return of USD 1 million of the Diepreye Alamieyeseigha loot.

Immediately after the bilateral engagement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama and Minister of Justice, Malami, met with their U.S. counterparts. In the months ahead, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, will also meet with his U.S. counterpart, Wilbur Ross.

If the trip to the White House is to be judged according to its set objectives, there is nowhere it came short as some saucy opponents have said. President Buhari got everything we wanted from President Donald Trump.

When he was asked if Nigeria had succeeded in getting American to buy more of our oil, President Buhari said he did not. We have others buying our oil. Must we sell to a particular buyer?

This government will smartly work with the current American government, knowing that American interests are not always ours, as a strategic partner on security, anti-corruption economic growth and job creation.

Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media & Publicity

May 3, 2018

The visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to U.S. President Donald Trump has led to the finalisation of negotiations to repatriate more than $500m (about N190bn) of Nigeria’s looted money traced to the U.S.

Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, told the News Agency of Nigeria  in Washington, DC, that he and the Attorney-General of the U.S. would be meeting last Tuesday to finalise the agreement.

Malami explained that the technicalities involved were being taken care of by both officials of the Nigerian government and also from the U.S. side.

He said: “On the part of assets recovery, we have made considerable progress through this visit.

“There’s goodwill by the two presidents to have a road map for the repatriation of illicit funds and assets traced to the U.S. as proceeds of illicit transactions.

“This illicit funds and assets are to the tune of $500m and above for immediate repatriation. We are looking at the shortest practicable time for it to be repatriated.

“There is political commitment demonstrated by the two presidents.

“The over $500m is not all the recovery, it is only for the immediate repatriation while we continue with our efforts to recover more.”

(NAN)

https://www.google.com.ng/amp/www.punchng.com/buharis-visit-u-s-finalises-repatriation-of-over-500m-to-nigeria/amp/

GRAFT: Under Jonathan I was locked out of Aso Villa because I refused to play ball —Okonjo-Iweala

A former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently narrated how she was embarrassed, and kicked out of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

She also narrated that she was further embarrassed when she fixed a meeting between then President Goodluck Jonathan, and the head of the International Moneyary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde at the Villa.

The former finance minister who made this known during an event preceding the signing of the book, ‘Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines’ in Washington DC, lamented that all these happened because of her stance against a policy that was being used to siphon government funds.

She said, ”About six weeks into the implementation in early December 2011, I received a message that a top ranking presidential aide wanted me to stop by his office any time I was in the Villa. The Villa is the equivalent of the White House. This official was one of the important aides in the Villa. So, I went to his office the next day.

“The presidential aide told me that he wanted to convey a message to me that there were people not happy with the port reforms especially the abolishment of the Cargo Tracking Note. And he asked me, indeed advised me to reinstate it. I was dismayed because the fact that the matter has been brought to his attention meant that whoever the unhappy people were, they were influential. I explained the genesis of the port reforms, the situation of the presidential task force and the approvals for action given by the president.

“By implementing the reforms measures we were just carrying out the presidential approvals. He said he understood but that I should nevertheless find a way to reinstate the Cargo Tracking Note.
“I left his office very troubled. Being on the wrong side of people who had this kind of top levels influence made me uneasy. I knew they could be consequences but I also knew that there was no going back on these important reforms. Clearly the $6 million from the Nigerian Ports Authority from the Cargo Tracking Note not being remitted to the treasury must be going into some influential pockets.

“The morning after meeting with the presidential aide, the consequences began to become clear. I was privileged that part of my daily routine was to join the president and his family and his few close friends in Christian fellowship and morning prayers in the residential complex of the Villa. It was a way to gain strength for each difficult day. The prayer normally began at 6am so by 5:45am every day, I arrived at the Villa gate I was routinely waved in.

“That morning the gates remained firmly shot as I drove up and I was told I could not go in. Taken back I asked why, all I could get as a response was that the gate keepers had received instructions not to let me in for morning prayers. I began to argue but realizing that it was fruitless, I returned home. At that point I felt a mistake had occurred and thought no more about it.

“But for the next three days I was blocked from entering for the early morning prayers at the Villa. By the third day, the security officers at the gate all of whom knew me well told me, ‘Honourable Minister Ma, I think you need to talk to the presidential aide, ‘they gave me the name of the aide and it was the same person who had asked me to restore the Cargo Tracking Note. Then I understood. When I called one of my prayer fellowship friends on phone, Mr. John Kenny Opara and told him about the situation, he said he would discuss this with the villa pastor and they will intercede on my behalf.

“After going to the gate and not allowed in for the fourth time, I pushed the situation to the back of my mind and turned to the preparations for the upcoming visit to Nigeria of the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Madame Christian Lagarde, on December 18-20, 2011. My biggest preoccupation was to ensure that in the raging national debate about the phase out of oil subsidies, Madame Lagarde’s visit was not miscast by the media or anti-government forces as the IMF telling the government what to do on energy subsidies. Madame Lagarde, was equally concerned that her objectives be clearly understood as reviewing our macroeconomic and growth reform and offering encouragement and support.

“The visit proceeded smoothly as Madame Lagarde met with members of the Economic Management Team, the Central Bank and other important bank officials. She was scheduled to meet with the president on the final day of her visit December 20. There are usually many protocols and conventions to observe on high level visits especially when the visitor is accorded head of state’s status as Christine Lagarde was. One of these is for such dignitaries to enter the Villa for a meeting with the president through a gate designated for Heads of State only.

Because Madame Lagarde was to use this gate, I had asked my staff to double check and ensure all was in order and I was reassured that this was the case.
“But when the motorcade reached this gate it was denied entry. Embarrassed, I tried to find out from the security guards what was going on; they said they had no instructions for her to use that gate. And we should proceed to the entrance reserved for state governors, certain designated ministers I was one of them and other dignitaries. We were already running late.

“So I apologised to Madame Lagarde and told her there must be a mix up and asked the drivers to proceed to the other gate. When we got there we were again denied entry. By this time it was clear to me that there was no misunderstanding but that this was deliberate. We were told to go back to the regular entrance used by everybody, park our car there and we will have to walk, five minutes down the villa corridors which were long and leading to the president’s meeting room.
“Such treatment of such dignitary at the level of head of state was unheard of.

Christine, clever as she is had figured out something was wrong but she didn’t know what. She handled it all with gaits and elegance telling me she didn’t really care which gate she went through or how far she had to walk as long as we met with the president. By this time we were about 10 minutes late. We eventually made it to the meeting. When the president enquired if everything was alright, she replied wittily, Mr. President there was a bit of a mix up about gates and we had to walk here. But it gives me the chance to see your beautiful Villa and its lovely gardens. “The President looked puzzled but smiled and started the meeting. I never shared with him or with Christine Lagarde what I thought had happened that day”.

- Ripples, April 30, 2018

*IS NIGERIAN MEDIA ON A NATION-WRECKING MISSION.....*?

In the Press conference at *The White House* reception for the Nigerian President, *Muhammadu Buhari* yesterday, this is one of the statements made by his host, *Mr Donald J. Trump*, the US President, to wit,

Quote :

*"ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENTS IN NIGERIA, LOCAL,DISTRICT,NATIONAL, MUST WORK TOGETHER TO STOP THE KILLINGS OF CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS....."*
Donald J. Trump...

End of quote.

Read the 1st of May, 2018 newspaper headlines in Nigeria ....

- THE PUNCH : *"KILLING OF CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA MUST STOP"*

- TRIBUNE : *"PROTECT NIGERIANS AGAINST SPATE OF KILLINGS"*

- VANGUARD: *"KILLING OF CHRISTIANS UNACCEPTABLE"*

- THE GUARDIAN: *"KILLING OF CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA IS UNACCEPTABLE"*

Question :

*What informed these newspapers from mis-representing a straight-forward statement by President Trump, rending it divisive, emotionally-charged and inflammatory as they did?*

Apart from perhaps The Tribune, all these papers spinned the story to their mischief-making ends.

Both Vanguard and The Guardian literally used the same language.

Are they owned by the same stable or led by the same Editorial Board

For a long time, I have held to the thought that the so-called menace of "Fulani Herdsmen" on the rampage was an invention of the media...

These criminals are likely offshoots of Boko Haram, now expressing their enterprise of terror in other ways; or some sponsors are behind these unwarranted and criminal killings in some parts of Nigeria.

I do not see professionalism in the behavior of these media outfits.

Rwanda started like this, before the pogrom..

Every democracy needs a fair, honest and uncorrupted media.

The Nigerian media is losing it, please....

Corruption is not only material, you are also corrupt when you twist the truth to serve a nefarious end.
This is what these Nigerian newspapers just did......

- *Caxton Fatanmi*

PLEASE HEAR PASTOR OF DEEPER LIFE CHURCH.

"All killings are bad, reprehensible and condemnable. But it shouldn't be deliberately turned into an ethno-religious propaganda tool for mischievous political ends. There are certain persons or groups who would rather have the country go up in flames than to have the country focusing on how much they stole and ruined the country. These killings benefit only them".
PLEASE HEAR PASTOR OF DEEPER LIFE CHURCH.

"All killings are bad, reprehensible and condemnable. But it shouldn't be deliberately turned into an ethno-religious propaganda tool for mischievous political ends. There are certain persons or groups who would rather have the country go up in flames than to have the country focusing on how much they stole and ruined the country. These killings benefit only them".

"Don't fall for their antics".
-Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

Wailers should come and read

TRUMP HAILS BUHARI

Buhari with Trump

United States President Donald Trump has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for fighting corruption and terrorism in Nigeria.

The US President said this on Monday when both leaders were addressing a press conference after their meeting in the White House.

“Nigeria has a reputation for very massive corruption. I also know that the President (Buhari) has been able to cut that down very substantially. We talked about that, he is working on it and they have made a lot of progress and I think they will continue to make a lot of progress,” Trump said.

He also recognised Nigeria’s effort in its fight against terrorism and promised to support the country in that regard.

“Nigeria is one of the first African nation to join the coalition to defeat ISIS and Nigerian forces are currently leading regional efforts to defeat ISIS in West Africa and doing very well as we have. Nigeria is also leading Africa in the fight against Boko Haram,” he said.

This is one of the many reasons OBJ doesn't impress me, he can only impress gullible, myopic,amnesiac,idiots and illiterates " in Udom Emmanuel's voice".


OBJ. LAST DAYS LOOTING .

On 16 May, 13 days to the end of his tenure, Obasanjo announced to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, the award of contracts worth N756 billion. That proposal sailed through the council like a greased pig in a slaughter house. As Frank Nweke, then minister of Information, explained, N70 billion of this would be for the resuscitation of textile industries in Nigeria; N58.6 billion for the second Niger Bridge; its maintenance was to gulp N42 billion. The companies to execute the projects were not named. Three days earlier, FEC, approved N16.53 billion port harbours reconstruction in Lagos; N20 billion, expansion of the Lagos airport; N4.8 billion, building of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, permanent accommodation; and N1.39 billion for the Ministry of Defence’s permanent residence for participants of War College Training Course in Abuja; N1.4 billion, conversion of steam and head for the power plants; N47.4 billion, conversion of the Alaoji Power Plant to double circuit; N3.5 billion for procurement and repair of two boilers at the Egbin Power Station in Lagos and N233 million was for fixing the Agege-Lagos Road.

Professor Daniel Saror, former Minority Leader of the Senate, told TheNEWS in 2007: “Obasanjo was dipping his hand into the Federation Account to execute many projects, including the power stations in the Niger Delta. Billions of dollars are being spent on those projects without the approval of the relevant agencies. No senator can exercise oversight function over them because nobody at the National Assembly knows about the contracts and the companies handling them.
Senator Farouk Bello Bunza had tried to draw the attention of the Senate to this anomaly, but the PDP senators shot his motion down.”

*-Being excerpt from "Corruption In Nigeria Under Obasanjo Administration", written by Ademola Adegbamigbe.*

Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has revealed how some powerful aides of immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan embezzle $6 million yearly from the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) charges.

In her recently released book, “Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines”, Okonjo-Iweala said she became a target of very powerful interests after she sought and got approval from Jonathan for the implementation of the ports reforms, which include the abolishing of a Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) a regime which importers argued added costs to them for duplicate services.

Excerpts: “During my second month in office in September 2011, the issue of port congestion Okonjo-Iwealawas brought to the attention of the Economic Management team by members of Nigeria’s organised private sector, especially the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) as a serious impediment to doing business. Importers were irate about a Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) regime which they argued added costs to them for duplicate services.

“They said that their cargos were already being tracked by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) from origin to destination, so then; there was no reason for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to collect this charge. Upon enquiry, we learned that charges totalled about $6 million a year, so this was consequential. I had never seen this money remitted to the treasury and, in fact, had not known of the existence of the CTN. We recommended that the CTN be abolished immediately.

“On October 14, 2011, the Minister of Transport and I sent a memo to the President that outlined the short, medium and long term problems of Nigeria’s ports, proposed solutions and requested approval for implementation shortly thereafter. Then the problems began. I received an anonymous text telling me the port reforms were bad and harmful and I should rescind them. I learned that some agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and others that had been told to develop alternative collaborative arrangements with the Customs to take care of their responsibilities while staying out of the ports were not happy and were lobbying to be let back into the ports.

“About six weeks into the implementation of the port reforms, in early December 2011, I received a message that a top-ranking presidential aide wanted me to stop by his office anytime I was in the Villa.”

The former Director of World Bank further disclosed that she was locked out of the Villa for refusing to obey the order given by the unnamed influential aide in Jonathan’s administration to restore the CTN with immediate effect.

https://www.abusidiqu.com/how-jonathans-aides-embezzle-6m-yearly-from-npa-okonjo-iweala/

“He wants to be seen as some sort of hero and the personification of virtue and ethics for a new Nigeria. But he is not.” 

These are the words of Shaka Momodu in his piece against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Without joining issues with the author of the write-up, if a ‘hero’ is simply defined as a person who is admired for his or her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities, then the Vice President’s antecedents in his public and private life, clearly dismisses the writer’s irrational allusions.

Prof. Osinbajo’s steady rise and activities from the classroom, private legal practice, activism and the pulpit, to the exalted office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is an example that many who have known him through the years, have spoken glowingly about.

Contrary to the writer’s views, Prof. Osinbajo has never spoken gloriously about himself or vocation at any forum and has also never portrayed himself as a hero. It’s therefore baffling for anyone to situate an argument around the Vice President’s portrayal of a heroic status, except for the show of jealousy and character assassination exhibited in the write-up in view.

On his eagerness to impress his principal, It is pertinent to note that the Buhari administration’s gains on the economic front and stand on corruption goes beyond making a false impression as the writer has put it. In the first place, President Buhari gained the most support from Nigerians, in the race to the presidency, on account of his incorruptible nature and uncompromised integrity. So, the argument that the government was making frantic efforts to impress the world to believe that it is prudent and abhors corruption is rather a figment of the writer’s imagination.

For the avoidance of doubt, several policies of the Buhari administration, clearly depicts its posture on corruption and related vices. The government’s effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the blocking of leakages in the system, strict adherence to due process in the award and execution of contracts and the unusual drive in the fight against corruption are obviously not good news to corrupt persons that hitherto benefited from the old order, hence the impression that the government’s anti-corruption stand and drive is imaginary.

Also, the unprecedented rise in Nigeria’s foreign reserves from $28.6 billion as at May 2015 to $47.37 billion by April 2018 is an evidence of the administration’s prudent management of resources.

So, whatever the Vice President has listed as the gains of the administration were based on facts and were never meant to attract cheap publicity or support from anyone but an account of the stewardship of the administration under difficult circumstances.     

In all his remarks, thoughts and actions on what the present administration has done and is doing, in the economy, security sector and fight against corruption, Prof. Osinbajo has remained very consistent. The allusions indicating that his comments have not been consistent with some actions of government is erroneous cannot be substantiated.

A cursory look at his remarks on government programmes on anti-corruption, revamping the economy and tackling insecurity, at different forum are all based on facts and cannot be dismissed as the writer wants many to believe.

Contrary to the writer’s crooked interpretation of Prof. Osinbajo’s disposition to both private and public conduct, the Vice President has never portrayed himself as a tough character.

Unfortunately for the writer, Prof. Osinbajo prefers a quiet and humble lifestyle than a boastful and egocentric one, as suggested by the writer. Despite his academic and professional qualifications, the Vice President carries himself as a noble Nigerian that sees himself first as a human being. His humble persona has today become a model of emulation that many office holders both at home and abroad have alluded to.  

Then the writer talks about public evidence of malfeasance going on under this government. But the question is what malfeasance? Is it that the Buhari presidency is nearing its third year, yet the only criticism of the government in the area of anti-corruption is that it has been selective, as if to say, those being investigated or prosecuted did not commit the crimes or the allegations levelled against them were only meant to intimidate or cow them to do the bidding of the government in power.

The other point is that, after three years in office, it is difficult to identify mind-blowing corruption incidences that have characterized government dealings as was the case in the previous administration.

As far as corruption is concerned, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo have both been the most vocal leaders in the history of Nigeria. These, they have demonstrated in all their utterances and actions, and again, government policies have aligned to this stand.

It is on record that the Buhari government maintains a zero tolerance for corruption as persons serving in the government and indicted for indulging corruption are being prosecuted or investigated by the relevant authorities.

The writer also describes Osinbajo’s visits to airports, markets and filling stations as publicity stunts, but the truth is Vice President Osinbajo’s tours to public places such as airports, markets, filling stations, etc. truly redefine effective leadership and one that is not only result-oriented but motivational. It is okay for anyone to contend that they were all publicity stunts but the results that followed such visits are all evident for all to see today – the improved services at the airports, feedbacks from the markets to improve ease of doing business, the stabilized petrol supply system, cannot be seen as mere publicity stunts as they are tangibles that Nigerians have continued to benefit from on a daily basis.

It is however heartwarming to note that the writer admitted that the visits addressed the underlying problems of mismanagement and lack of maintenance, again, by previous governments.

Clearly, the visit to airports has improved service delivery at the airports which contributed to the gains Nigeria recorded in the last ease of doing business rating released by the World Bank. The filling station visits, as the writer is aware, was meant to gauge the pulse of Nigerians in the wake of the fuel scarcity crisis and to monitor the implementation of measures initiated by government at the particular time. All these depict the entrenchment of effective leadership by the present administration.

To suggest that the Vice President is an hypocrite or that his hypocrisy is getting bigger by the day is a joke. It is obvious that Prof. Osinbajo’s courageous and consistent voice against corruption and corrupt tendencies has not augured well with the strong and mighty in some quarters. It is not a surprise at all that labels such as a ‘hypocrite’ and a ‘liar’ have been stamped on the Vice President which an evidence of corruption fighting back, but good enough, he has never been distracted or even bothered by such dissenting voices and remarks. It is a known fact that, in the face of adversity and glaring opposition, Prof. Osinbajo has maintained his frankness in his views and thoughts about the polity and situations.

Besides, it is the Vice President who is being labeled because of his, loyalty to a leadership that depicts honesty, integrity and humility, and commitment to improving the welfare of the masses; refusal to be dragged into the deceitful debates couched in religious and ethnic contentions.

That the writer would defend the looters list shows what he stands for and who he is. Arguably, no anti-corruption fight can be said to be completely perfect or even objective given the peculiarities of the conditions and situations under which the investigations were conducted.

The argument that the looters’ list released by the government was partisan and therefore an exoneration of the offenders is laughable and only speaks volume of the deceit that officials of the last government has continued to feed Nigerians with. What should matter to any progressive-minded person is the amount stolen by a few individuals in just a short period of time. As the Vice President has always said, “No nation can survive the shocks from the stealing of resources in the magnitude that Nigeria witnessed under the last administration.”  

For the writer to say Osinbajo’s pastoral morality had served as a cover for hypocrisy is ludicrous. The assertion that Osinbajo’s morality, whether pastoral or otherwise, as a cover for hypocrisy will fail, can best be described as mere political hallucinations ahead of the elections in 2019 as his morality clearly stands him out among the current breed political elites in the country. Those who know the Vice President very well cannot seriously refer to him as a hypocrite or liar because he is never know to shy away from the truth.

Even among fellow preachers of the Gospel, Prof. Osinbajo has been consistent with his messages about peaceful coexistence, stand against corruption and the true position of government policies and programmes. 

To say Osinbajo is tied to the apron strings of Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State is just not true. But for his free mindedness and strength of character, Prof. Osinbajo would clearly not have been selected as President Buhari’s running mate in 2014 and he has proven time and again to be a man of himself and his words.

And just the same way not every official of the previous administration are being prosecuted for corrupt activities, not all officials of every administration whether at the state or federal level can be said to have corruptly enriched him or herself.

It is also on record that no commission of inquiry or court in Nigeria has indicted Bola Tinubu of indulging corruption hence the question about Prof. Osinbajo’s culpability as far as fraud is concerned does not even arise in the first place.

Moreover, Prof. Osinbajo’s tenure as Attorney-General of Lagos state has not been blighted in anyway by acts of fraud. Instead, his tenure is remembered for the revolutionary reforms in the state judiciary that later became a model for other states and even the Federal Government.  

Again, the writer seem to be the only one in contemporary Nigeria with the view that Prof. Osinbajo lacks the initiative of a leader, a notion, even his greatest critics, will disagree. Without delving into the realms of what qualities a true leader should poses, Prof. Osinbajo’s humility has over time overwhelmed even people in the opposition. This he exemplified in different places he visited and in various forums.

To put it succinctly, Prof. Osinbajo is learned, humble, caring, thorough, hardworking, courageous, steadfast, prayerful, committed and loyal to the causes he believes in, these, I believe are the hallmark of a true and committed leader.

To say that under his watch as the acting president, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, issued a reckless six-month ultimatum to people of Igbo extraction and he did nothing is another. Many have rightly argued that Nigeria did not plunge into anarchy under the watch of the then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo due largely to the manner in which he handled the ultimatum issued by some northern youths to Igbos living in the north. One now wonders why any sane mind would conclude that he failed the country at that particular time or at any point in time at all.

The issue of the NNPC approvals has been addressed even by the parties themselves (NNPC management and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources) and the Vice President himself in an interview with journalists also cleared the air on the matter, so responding to the allusions of the writers would only be stoking a tired old horse to run.  

The writer also claimed that Osinbajo has so far failed to utter any statement of condemnation, until this week’s killings in Benue. Like we all know, the farmers-herders conflict is a very sensitive issue that must be handled carefully and should not be a subject of some careless, frivolous commentaries as the assertions made by the writer.

As they say, “actions speak louder than words”. The Vice President’s intervention in the farmers-herders conflict has indeed been commendable. Commendable in the sense that, he is more prompted and motivated in finding lasting solutions to the problem than adopting the cosmetic measure of condemning the acts, as writer and many of Prof. Osinbajo’s critics had sought from him.

In the resurgence of the crisis across the country, the Vice President visited Adamawa and Kaduna states, he has held talks with different groups in the affected areas, and most importantly, he chairs a committee working on finding lasting solutions to the conflict.

So, how much more could he have done that could be more effective than the steps he took and is still taking in addressing the conflict.

It is sarcastic to assume that the Vice President is comfortable with the present situation of killings in the country as clearly no sane mind would value the lives of cow over humans.

But as already stated, government is adopting measures that will hopefully and permanently end the conflict.

The writer then criticized Osinbajo for saying Buhari’s appointments were in favour of the South. Since Buhari’s appointments comprise of human being that are known and can be seen or traced to states and not just names that don’t exist, the writer should have at embarked on a fact-finding mission. So, the unending debate that the Vice President’s comments are untrue should not arise in the first place.

If the Vice President says the appointments favours the South, then it actualy favours the South because his arguments are based on facts and not mere conjectures. The facts are open for all to see, it is therefore an insult on the sensibilities of Nigerians for anyone to dispute the facts as the appointees are easily verifiable. Onus rests on doubters to crosscheck the appointees and their states of origin.

To say no man has ever succeeded in separating himself from his shadow, is saying Osinbajo wants to change who he is. The Vice President has never tried to separate himself from his shadow, as he has always said, “I remain a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, am only on loan to the Federal Government of Nigeria,’’. He has always associated himself with the Christian community and individuals, attending forums organized by different denominations across the country. He has also regarded himself as an illustrious son of the Southwest region and has attended important forums organized for and by states in the region.

Nathaniel C Adoji

Nigerians ask Atiku to travel to the US

Five Buhari Administration Initiatives You Should Know About.

*Anchor Borrowers Programme:*
The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), established by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) on November 17, 2015. It is intended to create a linkage between anchor companies involved in the processing and small holder farmers (SHFs) of the required key agricultural commodities. The ABP provides farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm labour) to small holder farmers to boost production of these commodities. At harvest, the SHF supplies his/her produce to the Agro-processor (Anchor) who pays the cash equivalent to the farmer’s account. Find out more here

QUOTE // CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, February 2018: “Since commencement of the [Anchor Borrowers] Programme in November 2015, the CBN in partnership with state governments and several private sector groups, have disbursed a cumulative sum of N55.526 billion to over 250,000 farmers who cultivated almost 300,000 hectares of farmland for rice, wheat, maize, cotton, soybeans, cassava, etc. Two years into the implementation, the programme has contributed to the creation of an estimated 890,000 direct and 2.6 million indirect jobs."

*Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI):*
Launched in December 2016 as the outcome of a partnership between the Governments of Nigeria and Morocco, and implemented as a Public -Private Partnership in Nigeria, led by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN).
Find out more about it here: /PFING

*Youth Farm Lab:*
The Youth Farm Lab is an Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with Synergos, to train Nigerian youths on livestock production and sustainable urban agriculture. It seeks Nigerians between the 18 and 35 years who are passionate about Agriculture and believe in its profitability potentials.

*Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative (PEDI):*
Launched in July 2017, the Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative (PEDI) supports the revival of moribund industries (especially in Agro-processing) by facilitating new investments, reducing regulatory bottlenecks and enabling access to credit. PEDI has made breakthroughs in the agribusiness sector in Imo and Ondo States.

*Food Security Council:*
The Council, to be chaired by the President, was inaugurated on Monday, March 26, 2018. It has as its members: Governors of Kebbi, Taraba, Plateau, Lagos, Ebonyi and Delta States; Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Chief of Staff to the President; National Security Adviser; Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development; Finance; Interior; Industry, Trade and Investment; Water Resources; Environment; and Budget and National Planning; Chief of Defence Staff; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Directors-General of the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency; and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The broad objectives of the Council include developing sustainable solutions to the farmers–herdsmen clashes; Climate Change and Desertification and their impact on farmland; grazing areas and lakes, rivers and other water bodies; oil spillage and its impact on Niger Delta Fishing Communities; piracy and banditry; agricultural research institutions and extension services and the problem of smuggling. The Council will also take interest in regional and global policies and trends that bear implications for food security in Nigeria.

See the achievements of President Buhari in power, agriculture and foreign reserves.

Those that are still asking what Buhari/Osinbajo's Government has done, here are 100 things out of a lot more presented by BOSF (Buhari-Osinbajo Solidarity Front)

*BUHARI OSINBAJO SOLIDARITY FRONT PRESENTS 100 SOLID ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE BUHARI-LED ADMINISTRATION*


51. SIP: Ongoing Government Enterprise and Empowerment (GEEP) Scheme; commenced in November 2016 in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, where soft loans ranging from N10, 000 to N100, 000 have been given to over 189,000 market women and traders across different states.

52. SIP: Home Grown School Feeding Programme, where almost three million schoolchildren have been fed, while tens of thousands of cooks have been engaged in their respective states.

53. SIP: Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, under which about 25,000 less privileged Nigerians so far are now being funded with the monthly N5,000 stipend in 9 pilot States (Bauchi, Borno, Cross Rivers, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun and Oyo). More beneficiaries are expected to be added in more states.

54. The establishment of MSMEs Clinics, a small Business support programme to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in different states.

55. Establishment of One-Stop-Shops to support policies on Ease of Doing Business.

56. Phasing out subsidy for petroleum products, elimination of fuel scarcity and queues in petrol stations.

57. Implementation of the FG Niger Delta new vision, a comprehensive road map to improve livelihood and social infrastructure.

58. Improved power generation nationwide adding $500million to Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund and about $87million to its excess crude account.

59. The creation of the N30billion Solid Minerals Development Fund.

60. Encouraging the patronage of local contents and increasing export in agriculture.

61. Signing of Executive Order 001 which is the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment - to ensure that public servants offer prompt service in a predictable and transparent manner, and sanction undue delays.

62. Signing of Executive Order 002 which is on prompt submission of annual budgetary estimates by all statutory and non-statutory agencies of the Federal Government including incorporated companies wholly owned by FG.

63. Bailout of cash crunch states; about N689 billion to 27 states of the federation to pay salaries in 2015 which has never happened in the history of the country.

64. Complete refund of Paris loan deductions to states (unprecedented).


65. Modification of the tax system so that it is more efficient.


66. Reforms at the nation’s seaports (Issues with cargo clearance at the ports addressed)

67. Improved duration (under 48 hours) for visa approval especially for investors.

68. Resuscitation of the nation’s refineries which are now working at 50 percent capacity for the first time in over a decade.

69. Eleven of the dead 33 fertilizer plants have been resuscitated while four others are to be revived shortly and this has profound impact on the ongoing revolution in the agricultural sector.

70. Cancellation of the Joint Venture cash calls with oil multinational companies operating in Nigeria (For the first time in the history of the industry) which has led to savings of billions of dollars lost to fictitious contract payments.

71. The new development bank of Nigeria (DBN) is finally taking off with initial funding of $1.3billion (provided by the World Bank, German Development Bank, African Development Bank, Agence Francaise De Development) to provide medium and long term loans to MSMEs.


ANTI – GRAFT WAR.

72. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC): The Commission recovered in excess of 500 billion Naira in 2017, including 473 billion in Naira, 98 million in USD, 7 million in Euros, and 294,000 in Pounds Sterling.

73. Improving Nigeria’s international image and regional cooperation with neighbouring countries in fighting insurgency.

74. Anti-corruption war: Prosecuting alleged corrupt public officers and recovering billions of naira of stolen public funds; the successful establishment of the whistle-blower policy.

75. Signing of Executive Order 004 – Voluntary Income Asset Declaration Scheme (VAIDS). This aims to increase tax awareness and compliance, and reduce incidence of tax evasion.

76. Signing of agreements with a number of nations to provide Automatic Exchange of Information.

77. Signing of the Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) toward strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.

78. Establishment of PACAC – a think-tank that has provided leadership, direction and also built capacity of personnel in the fight against corruption.

TRANSPORTATION

79. Improving transport infrastructure (rail and road); construction work ongoing on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

80. Reforms in the airports (reconstruction of the Abuja airport runway and ongoing work at the Lagos airport). Completion of Abuja – Kaduna Railway among others.

81. On February 5, President Muhammadu Buhari signed Instruments of Ratification of Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Nigeria and the Governments of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, the People’s Republic of China, the State of Qatar, and the Republic of Singapore. The execution of these instruments will significantly improve Nigeria’s aviation links with the respective countries, and will open up new flight routes that the planned National Carrier can benefit from.

*Key milestones in Aviation within the last year:

82. March - April 2017: Reconstruction of the Abuja Airport runway, within budget and on schedule.

83. September 2017: The Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos earned International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) certification, for the first time ever. Shortly afterwards the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja was also certified. The certification means that the Airports' facilities and operations meet international best-practice standards.

84. November 2017: The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) awarded the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria, Kaduna State the status of a Regional Training Center of Excellence.

85. 21- 23 November 2017: Nigeria hosted the world at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) World Aviation Forum In Abuja. This was the first time the Forum took place outside the ICAO's headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

86. 7 December 2017: Nigeria signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

87. 15 December 2017: Emirates Airline resumed flights to Abuja, suspended in October 2016. The Airline also resumed its second daily flight to Lagos.

88. December 2017: Nigeria retained its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category 1 status, after a routine audit. This status, first awarded in 2010, means that Nigerian-registered airlines can fly into the United States, and US airlines are allowed to fly to Nigeria.

89. 29 January 2018: Nigeria joined other African countries to launch the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Benefits of the SAATM include more opportunities for an increase in the number of direct flights between African countries, which will increase customer comfort and convenience, reduce travel costs, shorten journey times, and create more jobs for the aviation industry.

90. January 2018: Aero Contractors launched its Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos. With the MRO facility, aircraft C-checks -- one of the most comprehensive levels of maintenance carried out on an aircraft -- can now be done locally on Boeing 737s -- the most popular model used by Nigerian airlines -- saving Nigeria an estimated $90m annually.

OTHERS

91. Eradication of polio disease in the country.

92. Eradication of deadly Ebola virus disease.

93. The introduction of the One Primary Health Centre per ward programme of the Federal Government.

94. Minister of Health: "By the end of the April, eight million Nigerians stand to benefit from basic health care through the first phase of implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, BHCPF."

NIGER DELTA

95. MARITIME UNIVERSITY, DELTA STATE:

· The new Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State, has now commenced operations, inviting job applications for academic staff.

· The take-off of the Maritime University was one of the major requests tabled before the Federal Government when the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, went on a series of tour to all the Niger Delta states during the year, following President Buhari’s meeting with leaders of Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) last November.

96. Investment in Ibaka Deep Sea Port:

· The Federal Government has budgeted N1 billion towards the development of Ibaka seaport in Akwa Ibom.

97. Investment in Bonny-Bodo Road Project: The N120 billion Bonny-Bodo road project was flagged-off in October 2017 by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. The 34-kilometre road project, linking Bonny Island to the mainland was first mooted about 40 years ago.

· When completed, the 34-kilometres road would connect several major communities in the Niger Delta region and boost socio-economic development and improve the lives of people in the Niger Delta region.

98. EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE (EPZ):

· The Federal Government approved the establishment of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) comprising the Gas City Project at Ogidigben, and the Deep Seaport in Gbaramatu, Warri South-West local government area, Delta State.

· When fully operational, these projects are expected to boost socio-economic activities and improve the security landscape of the Niger Delta region.

99. Nigerians now celebrate freely during festive periods without any fear of bomb blast or any attack by Boko Haram - it was an impossible dream years ago before this government came on board.

100. Work is at various stages of completion on these strategic roads with immense socio-economic benefits:

a. Rehabilitation of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Road;

b. Dualization of Oyo-Ogbomosho-Ilorin Road;

c. Rehabilitation of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road;

d. Dualization of Kano-Maiduguri Road

e. Rehabilitation of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega Road and Kotangora-Makera Road that transverse Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger States;

f. Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Enugu-Port-Harcourt Road;

g. Rehabilitation of Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway Road;

h. Rehabilitation of Aleshi-Ugep Road and the Iyamoyun-Ugep Section in Cross River State;

i. Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Expansion of Lagos-Ibadan Dual Carriageway Road;

j. Construction of Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States; and

k. Construction Gokanni Bridge along Tegina-Mokwa-Jebba Road in Niger State.

• The Bonny-Bodo Road is being jointly funded by the Federal Government and Nigeria LNG Limited. This project was conceived decades ago but it was abandoned.

This Administration restarted the project and when completed, it will enable road transportation access for key communities in the Niger- Delta region; and

The Apapa Wharf-Toll Gate Road in Lagos State is also being constructed by private sector investors in exchange for tax credits.

The Buhari Osinbajo led administration is very much committed to achieving 95% of what it has promised. Nigerians all around can testify to all of these achievements in a pace of less than 3years. We at #BuhariOsinbajoSolidarityFront will continue to support a working, corrupt free and progressive governance of this administration.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

Those that are still asking what Buhari/Osinbajo's Government has done, here are 100 things out of a lot more presented by BOSF (Buhari-Osinbajo Solidarity Front)

*BUHARI OSINBAJO SOLIDARITY FRONT PRESENTS 100 SOLID ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE BUHARI-LED ADMINISTRATION*


51. SIP: Ongoing Government Enterprise and Empowerment (GEEP) Scheme; commenced in November 2016 in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, where soft loans ranging from N10, 000 to N100, 000 have been given to over 189,000 market women and traders across different states.

52. SIP: Home Grown School Feeding Programme, where almost three million schoolchildren have been fed, while tens of thousands of cooks have been engaged in their respective states.

53. SIP: Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, under which about 25,000 less privileged Nigerians so far are now being funded with the monthly N5,000 stipend in 9 pilot States (Bauchi, Borno, Cross Rivers, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun and Oyo). More beneficiaries are expected to be added in more states.

54. The establishment of MSMEs Clinics, a small Business support programme to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in different states.

55. Establishment of One-Stop-Shops to support policies on Ease of Doing Business.

56. Phasing out subsidy for petroleum products, elimination of fuel scarcity and queues in petrol stations.

57. Implementation of the FG Niger Delta new vision, a comprehensive road map to improve livelihood and social infrastructure.

58. Improved power generation nationwide adding $500million to Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund and about $87million to its excess crude account.

59. The creation of the N30billion Solid Minerals Development Fund.

60. Encouraging the patronage of local contents and increasing export in agriculture.

61. Signing of Executive Order 001 which is the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment - to ensure that public servants offer prompt service in a predictable and transparent manner, and sanction undue delays.

62. Signing of Executive Order 002 which is on prompt submission of annual budgetary estimates by all statutory and non-statutory agencies of the Federal Government including incorporated companies wholly owned by FG.

63. Bailout of cash crunch states; about N689 billion to 27 states of the federation to pay salaries in 2015 which has never happened in the history of the country.

64. Complete refund of Paris loan deductions to states (unprecedented).


65. Modification of the tax system so that it is more efficient.


66. Reforms at the nation’s seaports (Issues with cargo clearance at the ports addressed)

67. Improved duration (under 48 hours) for visa approval especially for investors.

68. Resuscitation of the nation’s refineries which are now working at 50 percent capacity for the first time in over a decade.

69. Eleven of the dead 33 fertilizer plants have been resuscitated while four others are to be revived shortly and this has profound impact on the ongoing revolution in the agricultural sector.

70. Cancellation of the Joint Venture cash calls with oil multinational companies operating in Nigeria (For the first time in the history of the industry) which has led to savings of billions of dollars lost to fictitious contract payments.

71. The new development bank of Nigeria (DBN) is finally taking off with initial funding of $1.3billion (provided by the World Bank, German Development Bank, African Development Bank, Agence Francaise De Development) to provide medium and long term loans to MSMEs.


ANTI – GRAFT WAR.

72. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC): The Commission recovered in excess of 500 billion Naira in 2017, including 473 billion in Naira, 98 million in USD, 7 million in Euros, and 294,000 in Pounds Sterling.

73. Improving Nigeria’s international image and regional cooperation with neighbouring countries in fighting insurgency.

74. Anti-corruption war: Prosecuting alleged corrupt public officers and recovering billions of naira of stolen public funds; the successful establishment of the whistle-blower policy.

75. Signing of Executive Order 004 – Voluntary Income Asset Declaration Scheme (VAIDS). This aims to increase tax awareness and compliance, and reduce incidence of tax evasion.

76. Signing of agreements with a number of nations to provide Automatic Exchange of Information.

77. Signing of the Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) toward strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.

78. Establishment of PACAC – a think-tank that has provided leadership, direction and also built capacity of personnel in the fight against corruption.

TRANSPORTATION

79. Improving transport infrastructure (rail and road); construction work ongoing on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

80. Reforms in the airports (reconstruction of the Abuja airport runway and ongoing work at the Lagos airport). Completion of Abuja – Kaduna Railway among others.

81. On February 5, President Muhammadu Buhari signed Instruments of Ratification of Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Nigeria and the Governments of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, the People’s Republic of China, the State of Qatar, and the Republic of Singapore. The execution of these instruments will significantly improve Nigeria’s aviation links with the respective countries, and will open up new flight routes that the planned National Carrier can benefit from.

*Key milestones in Aviation within the last year:

82. March - April 2017: Reconstruction of the Abuja Airport runway, within budget and on schedule.

83. September 2017: The Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos earned International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) certification, for the first time ever. Shortly afterwards the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja was also certified. The certification means that the Airports' facilities and operations meet international best-practice standards.

84. November 2017: The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) awarded the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria, Kaduna State the status of a Regional Training Center of Excellence.

85. 21- 23 November 2017: Nigeria hosted the world at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) World Aviation Forum In Abuja. This was the first time the Forum took place outside the ICAO's headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

86. 7 December 2017: Nigeria signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

87. 15 December 2017: Emirates Airline resumed flights to Abuja, suspended in October 2016. The Airline also resumed its second daily flight to Lagos.

88. December 2017: Nigeria retained its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category 1 status, after a routine audit. This status, first awarded in 2010, means that Nigerian-registered airlines can fly into the United States, and US airlines are allowed to fly to Nigeria.

89. 29 January 2018: Nigeria joined other African countries to launch the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Benefits of the SAATM include more opportunities for an increase in the number of direct flights between African countries, which will increase customer comfort and convenience, reduce travel costs, shorten journey times, and create more jobs for the aviation industry.

90. January 2018: Aero Contractors launched its Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos. With the MRO facility, aircraft C-checks -- one of the most comprehensive levels of maintenance carried out on an aircraft -- can now be done locally on Boeing 737s -- the most popular model used by Nigerian airlines -- saving Nigeria an estimated $90m annually.

OTHERS

91. Eradication of polio disease in the country.

92. Eradication of deadly Ebola virus disease.

93. The introduction of the One Primary Health Centre per ward programme of the Federal Government.

94. Minister of Health: "By the end of the April, eight million Nigerians stand to benefit from basic health care through the first phase of implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, BHCPF."

NIGER DELTA

95. MARITIME UNIVERSITY, DELTA STATE:

· The new Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State, has now commenced operations, inviting job applications for academic staff.

· The take-off of the Maritime University was one of the major requests tabled before the Federal Government when the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, went on a series of tour to all the Niger Delta states during the year, following President Buhari’s meeting with leaders of Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) last November.

96. Investment in Ibaka Deep Sea Port:

· The Federal Government has budgeted N1 billion towards the development of Ibaka seaport in Akwa Ibom.

97. Investment in Bonny-Bodo Road Project: The N120 billion Bonny-Bodo road project was flagged-off in October 2017 by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. The 34-kilometre road project, linking Bonny Island to the mainland was first mooted about 40 years ago.

· When completed, the 34-kilometres road would connect several major communities in the Niger Delta region and boost socio-economic development and improve the lives of people in the Niger Delta region.

98. EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE (EPZ):

· The Federal Government approved the establishment of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) comprising the Gas City Project at Ogidigben, and the Deep Seaport in Gbaramatu, Warri South-West local government area, Delta State.

· When fully operational, these projects are expected to boost socio-economic activities and improve the security landscape of the Niger Delta region.

99. Nigerians now celebrate freely during festive periods without any fear of bomb blast or any attack by Boko Haram - it was an impossible dream years ago before this government came on board.

100. Work is at various stages of completion on these strategic roads with immense socio-economic benefits:

a. Rehabilitation of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Road;

b. Dualization of Oyo-Ogbomosho-Ilorin Road;

c. Rehabilitation of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road;

d. Dualization of Kano-Maiduguri Road

e. Rehabilitation of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega Road and Kotangora-Makera Road that transverse Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger States;

f. Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Enugu-Port-Harcourt Road;

g. Rehabilitation of Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway Road;

h. Rehabilitation of Aleshi-Ugep Road and the Iyamoyun-Ugep Section in Cross River State;

i. Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Expansion of Lagos-Ibadan Dual Carriageway Road;

j. Construction of Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States; and

k. Construction Gokanni Bridge along Tegina-Mokwa-Jebba Road in Niger State.

• The Bonny-Bodo Road is being jointly funded by the Federal Government and Nigeria LNG Limited. This project was conceived decades ago but it was abandoned.

This Administration restarted the project and when completed, it will enable road transportation access for key communities in the Niger- Delta region; and

The Apapa Wharf-Toll Gate Road in Lagos State is also being constructed by private sector investors in exchange for tax credits.

The Buhari Osinbajo led administration is very much committed to achieving 95% of what it has promised. Nigerians all around can testify to all of these achievements in a pace of less than 3years. We at #BuhariOsinbajoSolidarityFront will continue to support a working, corrupt free and progressive governance of this administration.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

Those that are still asking what Buhari/Osinbajo's Government has done, here are 100 things out of a lot more presented by BOSF (Buhari-Osinbajo Solidarity Front)

*BUHARI OSINBAJO SOLIDARITY FRONT PRESENTS 100 SOLID ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE BUHARI-LED ADMINISTRATION*

POWER, WORKS AND HOUSING

1. “Despite 60% less revenue, we have, by stopping grand corruption, made the highest capital spend in the history of the country in the sum of about N1.3 trillion. We are, for the first time, taking on the game-changing infrastructure projects.” - VP YEMI OSINBAJO

2. The capacity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to transport energy has grown to 7,125 MW as at December 2017, up from about 5,000MW in 2015.

3. The road projects being funded by the 100 billion Naira Sukuk Bond raised in 2017 are ongoing. Each geopolitical zone got 16.67 billion Naira.

4. (QUOTE) Minister of Power, Works and Housing: "More power is coming to Nigeria in 2018, from Azura (450 MW); Katsina Wind (10 MW); Gbarain (115MW); Kashimbilla (40MW); Afam III (240MW); Gurara (30MW); Dadin Kowa (29MW); Kaduna (215MW) to mention a few... not [including] mini-grids and solar systems in various stages of development."

5. Impact of the 1st Phase of the Federal Government's Energizing Education Programme (EEP), planned for 2018. The EEP, being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) aims to provide dedicated and reliable electricity to a total of 37 Federal Universities and 7 University Teaching Hospitals across Nigeria. The University of Lagos has been enjoying this.

6. From the Niger Delta Power Holding Limited (NDPHC): The Niger Delta Power Holding Company, (NDPHC), jointly owned by the Federal, State and Local Governments, has commenced the construction of an US$18m power transmission and transformation substation, in Lafia, Nasarawa State, to improve power supply across the country, particularly in Abuja, Nasarawa and neigbouring states. The substation is scheduled for completion and inauguration before the end of 2018.

7. From the Rural Electrification Agency: The #EnergizingEconomies Initiative of the REA aims to provide 24/7 electricity to economic clusters across the country which have a high impact on the economy. Its first phase, the deployment of solar home systems to 500 shops in Sabon-Gari Market in Kano State, has just been completed. Future deployments planned for Ariaria Market in Abia State, Somolu Printing Community in Lagos State, and Sura Shopping Complex also in Lagos.

8. "We are also building, after 40 years, the Mambilla hydro project, while work on the Second Niger Bridge is going on daily." - VP YEMI OSINBAJO

SECURITY & RELATED MATTERS

9.Release of N2 billion take off grant for the Maritime University as part of measures to address agitations in the Niger Delta region.

10. Release of 106 Chibok girls, as well as over 16,000 persons in Boko Haram captivity.

11. Tackling insurgency, decimation of Boko Haram in the North East.

12. Recovering 14 local governments and territories previously under Boko Haram control in the North East, rebuilding lives of citizens there; about one million displaced persons in the NE have returned to their communities in two years of this administration.

13. Curbing the incidence of kidnap across the country. (Arrest of kidnap kingpins and dismantling of kidnap cells across the country)

14. Restoring morale of the Nigerian military; re-organizing and better equipping the Nigerian Armed Forces with prompt payment and various incentives.

15. Purchase of 12 Super-Tucano aircrafts worth $600 million to aid the Nigerian military’s current operations in the North East.

16. Ensuring continued peace in the Niger Delta through consistent funding of the FG amnesty programme for ex-militants.

17. Introduction of an improved mechanism for distribution of aid to IDPs in the North East through the establishment of the Special Intervention Programme of the Federal Government. (Door-to-door strategy)

18. Securing Benue And Ending Farmers Herders Clashes:

. January 31: President Muhammadu Buhari wrote a letter to the Senate titled “Re: Report on the Review of the Security Infrastructure on Nigeria on the Emergency Visit to Benue,” enumerating several courses of action that had been taken by the Federal Government since the farmers- herdsmen crisis began.

February 1: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over the meeting of the National Economic Council Working Group on the Herdsmen/Farmers conflicts in parts of the country at the Presidential Villa. A number of State Governors are members of the NEC Working Group. Governors of Adamawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Kaduna, and Zamfara States, and Deputy Governors of Benue and Oyo States were present. Also in attendance were the Ministers of Agriculture and Interior. At the end of the meeting, the Working Group constituted a Sub-Committee to visit frontline States, and hold consultations with stakeholders on how to end the conflicts. The Sub-Committee will visit Benue, Taraba, Zamfara & Adamawa States, to understand the different conflict dynamics and develop long-term solutions.

Sustainable Public-Private Solutions:
One of these long-term solutions is the implementation of the recommendations and outcome of the National Conference on the Transformation of the Nigerian Livestock Industry held in Abuja from September 11 to 15, 2017. The conference, organized by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, had in attendance stakeholders across the academia, agriculture/development institutions, security agencies, representatives of farmers and herdsmen associations, community and religious leaders. One of the Conference recommendations is the modernization of Nigeria’s livestock industry through the establishment of Ranches:

These Ranches will be Public-Private Partnerships, involving the Federal and State Governments, local communities, and private investors.

They will offer Land, Water, Pasture and Security, and include facilities for production of livestock, fodder and pasture, grain for livestock feed, as well as processing and service facilities.

Funding will come from a variety of sources including a proposed 'Anchor Growers Scheme' to be developed by the CBN and modeled after the existing Anchor Borrowers Scheme launched for smallholder farmers in November 2015.



ECONOMY

19. We used to spend almost $3 billion on rice importation, now rice importation has been cut by 80%. Reduction in rice imports has a result of government's policies that has encouraged massive rice production across Nigeria.

20. More support to State Governments than any other government since 1999.
"As at September 2017, total support (excess crude account koan and budget support facility), excluding Paris Club Refunds, is in the order of #876.3billion, and if we add Paris Club Refund Refund, we have disbursed #1.91trillion." - VP Yemi Osinbajo

21. Central Bank of Nigeria: Nigeria’s foreign reserves have risen to $41 billion as at February 8, 2018, from $40.4 billion as at early January 2018.

22. The Ministry of Finance has so far released N1.2 trillion under the capital expenditure component of the 2017 Budget -- which took effect from June 2017. In terms of capital spending, the 2017 Budget is on course to eclipse the 1.3 Trillion Naira released in the 2016 Budget -- the highest ever in Nigeria's history.

23. From the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS): Tax revenue collected totalled N4.03 trillion in 2017, 82.38% of the N4.89 trillion target set for the Service by the Federal Government during the period, and N720 billion (22 percent) more than the N3.31trillion generated in 2016.

24. From the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN): Nigeria’s manufacturing sector is outperforming some of its African peers with capacity utilisation moving up from 44.3% in 2016 to 55% in 2017 while the Nigeria’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), as measured by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) expanded for the tenth consecutive month in January 2018, at 57.3 points.

25.From the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC): Nigeria secured US$66.36 billion worth of investment commitments for 112 projects across 27 states and the FCT in 2017. The oil and gas sector currently account for the highest announced investments with deals worth $25.26bn, 38% of the total.

26. The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), conceived by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in collaboration with global development partners as a wholesale bank to support MSMEs in Nigeria, and licensed by the Central Bank in 2017, has so far disbursed 5 billion Naira to three National Microfinance Banks -- Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc, LAPO Microfinance Bank Ltd and NPF Microfinance Bank -- for on-lending to more than 20,000 MSMEs across Nigeria.

27. Ministry of Finance: Nigeria is set to issue a US$2.5 billion Eurobond; a follow-up to the US$3bn Issuance in late 2017. Transaction Advisers have been appointed for the Issuance.

28. From Bloomberg: "Net foreign inflows to Nigerian equities totaled 337 billion naira ($940 million) last year, the first time flows have been positive since at least 2013. December was the best month since Bloomberg started compiling data at the beginning of 2014, with net inflows of 140 billion naira, signaling a switch in sentiment toward equities in Africa’s biggest oil producer."

29. As part of efforts by the Federal Government to block revenue leakages (about N100 billion was discovered as tax revenue shortfall by contractors between 2012 and 2017), on January 9, the Ministry of Finance ordered vendors of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to display their Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) on their invoices before payments are effected by the MDAs.

30. The Nigerian Ports Authority: The Nigerian Ports Authority has declared total revenue of N299.56bn for the 2017 fiscal year. The 2017 revenue exceeded the previous year’s N162.20bn by 84.65 percent and is the highest ever generated by the agency.

31. From the Debt Management Office (DMO): N196.3 million was raised through the first auction of the Federal Government Savings Bond issued in the second week of January 2018.

32. Buhari administration's Social Investment Programmes reach over 7 million Nigerians

33. The correct figures of the total Federal Government support to states so far stands at N1.91 trillion and not N1.19 trillion as reported in some media reports. A breakdown of the disbursement comprises N876.3 billion for excess crude account loan and budget support facility while the balance of N1.034 trillion is for the Paris Club refund.

34. From the Social Investment Programme (SIP): Over 246 million meals have been served to date to primary pupils across 20 states in the country, since the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) kicked off in December 2016. The total figure is expected to reach 313 million meals by the last week of February 2018. Also, the school Feeding Programme now feeds 6,044,625 pupils in 33,981 public primary schools across 20 states.

35. The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) has so far recorded over 280,000 beneficiaries in 21 states, while about 300,000 Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP) interest-free micro-credit loans have been disbursed nationwide.

36. N-power scheme, which is targeted at providing jobs for unemployed young graduates, has recruited 200,000 youths, and will increase that number in 2018.

37. Recall that as a direct outcome of the work of PEBEC and its operational arm, the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES), Nigeria in 2017 moved up 24 places to 145th in the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business’ report, and for the first time the country was recognized as one of the top 10 most improved economies in the world.

38. Total Direct Beneficiaries from all the SIP Programme is 7,812,201

· Secondary Beneficiaries – 1,500,000, mainly farmers and cooks

· Total actual spending in 2016 and 2017 = 15.58% of the budget

39. Implementing the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) to aid economic recovery, taking the country out of her worst recession in 29 years, despite fall in oil prices.

40. N1.2 trillion expended on capital/infrastructure projects nationwide, a milestone in the nation’s history.

41. Effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account, and increasing government revenue by over N3 trillion as well as entrenching transparency and accountability.

42. Implementation of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), thus tackling corruption by plugging loopholes for siphoning of public fund and tracking of illicit funds through multiple accounts

43. Ease of doing business: the Federal Government signed into law two bills from the National Assembly (Acts are the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, 2017 (otherwise known as Collateral Registry Act) and the Credit Reporting Act, 2017) which has facilitated access to more affordable credit for Nigerians, fast tracked budget submissions and promotes Made-in-Nigeria products.

44. Establishment of the Presidential Quarterly Business Forum to enhance interaction and private sector participation in the development of the economy.

45. Institutionalizing E-governance setting the foundation for the creation of a truly digital economy.

46. Creation of opportunities for youths to leverage innovation in technology through the introduction of the Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD) through which over N700 million has been disbursed to young entrepreneurs.

47. The revitalization of the Made-in-Nigeria campaign. (Emphasis on consumption of local products gain grounds)

48. Implementing reforms in the civil service which has led to the elimination of over 30,000 ghost workers, thereby saving the country billions of naira monthly.

49. Massive investments in agriculture, e.g, Anchors Borrowers Programme to improve local produce, improving fertiliser distribution and access across states through the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative.

50. Completion of over 33, 000 Hectares for Irrigation Projects that have increased water availability in key food producing states.

The Herdsmen crises started befor this govt came to power. Senator Gemade I part of the legislators which is also part of the government he is blaming.Wwhat has he done to find soltion to the crises.

What about the Fulanis that are killed I that part of ethnic cleasing?

#VPTechTour: The Vice President was in Lagos toady on a tour of technology hubs. The visit was aimed at spurring innovation and boost technological drive

The VP Osinbajo was accompanied by a small convoy including the Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu, DG of NITDA Dr. Isa Pantami, Lagos State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Hakeem Fahm, and Commissioner for Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, Yinka Saidat Oladunjoye.

He was at Paystack, Andela, CrowdFarmy, Veniabiz hub, Co Creation Hub

This is a validation that the government really care enough tech ecosystem in Nigeria

Kudos to the VP and his team for putting this together

In 1993, I had the opportunity of giving a keynote address at our conference in Abeokuta and I said if we didn’t do something about corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria and that is what we are experiencing gradually. During this synod, I congratulated the president for having the ‘liver’ to talk about a war on corruption and allowing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to do their work. Those criticising this government, as far as I’m concerned, are wasting their time. Corruption is so endemic. I have said they should beam the searchlight on the civil service and other parastatals. When people begin to say this administration is one-sided, they don’t know what they’re talking about. Face the side you see and deal with it; when the other side gets power, let them also face the other side. I think the greatest insult to Nigerians is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when they start to talk about the fact that they want to return to power. The apology means nothing. When Jesus said to Zacchaeus ‘salvation has come,’ Zacchaeus said he would give half of his belongings to the poor. Let the PDP return the loot; they have deprived Nigerians. What I expected to hear was that they wouldn’t seek power for another 10 years for them to show to Nigerians that they are truly repentant. I think the fight against corruption must go on, in the church, anywhere. Let us all know and swallow the shame as a people. Let the searchlight beam everywhere. God intends for us to be better people, that’s why we must strive to pursue peace and holiness, otherwise, there is no future. The fight against corruption is a war that we must win to keep Nigeria.

- Methodist Archbishop of Ibadan!

Mr. Laolu Akande is the latest target in the seemingly determined fight back of the defenders of our national commonwealth.

He is no slouch in media matters, being an accomplished reporter and leading journalist who became a national editor way back in 1997 before his 30th birthday. His last reportorial assignment was at the US where he represented The Guardian newspaper including reporting from the White House and the UN. Since he left the paper is yet to fill the vacuum he filled for very many years before returning to Nigeria in 2015. Laolu Akande’s journalism credential is sterling and he has brought this to bear in the way he relates with reporters and media practitioners on his present job.

If one newspaper reporter chooses to isolate himself when most media practitioners have always commended his way of handling thorny media issues, then it’s unfortunate and shows something else including bad belle is at play here.
The art of information management requires that synergy exists between reporters/media and the government. It does not necessarily imply that a frosty relationship must exist between the media and government. The basic knowledge we acquire in mass communication class is the need to communicate so that the society will continue to develop and not to use the power of the pen to destroy. This does not obviate the watchdog role of the media.

To the best of my knowledge, Laolu Akande has in the course of his duties passed the integrity test and indeed surpassed the expectations of many Nigerians in his job performance. In discharging his assigned duties he has always been calm and collected. His human relations has remained a source of pride to many of his colleagues in the journalism profession.
A close contact with Mr. Laolu Akande will prove to any discerning mind that his humility is disarming and sense of judgement inspiring. For many people Laolu Akande has utilised any available opportunity to mix well with his colleagues and he does not have a record of begrudging people, even his adversaries.

In the estimation of many Nigerians Mr. Akande’s decision to leave America and return to serve in the present administration is a mark of patriotism and it is only deserving that we avail him of our support as he continues to serve the nation in his present capacity.

Nigeria is at a stage when all hands must be on deck to support the Buhari administration in its efforts to reposition the country, and this can only be realised with the cooperation of all Nigerians including the media. It does not augur well for practitioners in a strategic sector like the media to be pulling apart when they can work together for the interest of the ordinary Nigerian.

As a proof of the impression most Nigerians have about the Vice President's spokesman Mr Laolu Akande, here are some of the reactions on social media:

'' I am interested in knowing Laolu Akande, the man; quietly being an indispensable figure at the villa, for good reasons'' - Alexander Nochie Onukwe (@nochieonukwe).

'' When you are good, you are good! Laolu Akande, Welldone Sir....'' - Siraj (@sirajabdsamiu).

'' I can't but admire the candour with which Laolu Akande is reporting the activities of the Acting President" Son of David (@osy_suave).

The above randomly selected quotes aptly speak for themselves about the person of Laolu Akande and his job rating. I rest my case.

By Chukwudi Enekwechi (JP)
An Abuja-based Journalist

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