₦airaland Forum

The February 16, 2019 Presidential election will be Nigeria’s date with destiny as it will determine whether the country will make progress or go back to the days of corruption and impunity, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

The Vice President stated this in Abuja on Tuesday when he addressed a cross-section of Nigerians at the “Drive 4 Buhari/Osinbajo Rally” - an initiative of the “I am Ready Campaign Group”, organized to mobilize support for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, “February 16, 2019 is our date! It is the date of our country with destiny; that is the date we will decide whether we want to go forward or we want to go backwards.

“All that President Buhari has tried to do in these past four years, is first of all, clean up the big mess that we met. The major problem of our country has always been corruption; stealing of the resources of the people. I have never heard it before, where a person after stealing your money says: “I am the one who can come back and help you”.

The “Drive 4 Buhari Osinbajo” Rally – one of the highpoints of Prof. Osinbajo’s Tuesday outings, started as early as 9 a.m. with thousands of volunteers within and around the FCT converging on the Eagle Square arena to register their support for the Buhari presidency.

The drive-through rally involved thousands of volunteers many of whom drove their cars and tricycles adorned with President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s posters from satellite towns of Gwagwalada, Zuba, Nyanya, Kuje and other suburbs of the FCT, through the various parts of the city to the Eagle Square, all indicating their support for Buhari’s re-election.

At the Eagle Square, thousands of admirers and supporters of Buhari and Osinbajo chanted victory songs to welcome the Vice President as he made a grand entrance into the arena for the final phase of the programme.

Also on ground to spice up the event were entertainers who danced and sang popular songs to the admiration of all.

Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo said the choice of whom to vote for in the coming elections should not be very difficult as President Buhari is renowned for his integrity, “even Buhari’s worst enemies know that he is an honest man, even the thieves know that he is an honest man.”

Speaking specifically about the programmes and projects executed by the Buhari-led Federal Government, the Vice President said the achievements recorded so far were as a result of prudent and transparent management of resources.

He said: “for the first time, our country is spending money on roads and railways. They have been talking about railways since, for the past 16 years, but we have just started building the Lagos – Kano railway now.

“We are earning less money but we are doing far more. We are also building the Itakpe - Warri railway and even the 2nd Niger Bridge. They commissioned the 2nd Niger Bridge before, but when they commissioned it, there was no design. Today, we have started to build the 2nd Niger Bridge.

“In every State in Nigeria, we are building a major road; we are going to complete the Lagos – Calabar railway, by the grace of God, Port Harcourt – Maiduguri is also going to be completed.”

In the Power Sector, Prof. Osinbajo said “after 16 years, 3000MW of power is all that we had, but today we are at 7000MW. But we have not even started yet, because we know that power is still a problem, so we are trying to solve the problem.”

He said the Federal Government in its determination to address the challenge had adopted measures to address issues of both generation and transmission.

“In Sabon Gari market, we have a separate solar power plant and many of the shops have power now. In Ariaria market in Abia, we have also done the same thing, we also did the same thing in Sura market in Lagos, and we also put power in Edaiken market in Benin.

“Very soon, our country will have enough power with the plan that we have, to provide power separately, only through the National Grid, but to provide power to the different parts of our country so that our country will have power”, the Vice President added.

Prof. Osinbajo assured Nigerians that “President Buhari has a plan, and he is an honest man, and he is making sure that he executes that plan”.

In a related development, the Vice President on Tuesday inaugurated the Buhari Media Centre; continued the Family Chat series, all in Gwarimpa and also interacted with artisans and traders at the UTC complex and the Tipper Garage market, all in the FCT.

At the UTC Plaza in Area 10 - a popular printing hub in the FCT, the Vice President paid a visit to artisans and traders, interacting with them on the activities and programmes of the Federal Government.

On arrival at the plaza, the Vice President was welcomed amidst cheers and dancing by the mammoth crowd.

Prof. Osinbajo interacted with some artisans and traders at the plaza, assuring them of a better Nigeria with President Buhari on the saddle beyond 2019.

Earlier in Gwarimpa, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo inaugurated the Buahri Media Centre in Abuja and had a brief interaction with Nigerians via a live Facebook interview on the activities and programmes of the Buhari administration.

He said: “there is no reason why young Nigerians can't be trained and equipped for outsourced jobs from big technology firms around the world to troubleshoot and handle customer care questions and be paid by those global tech firms. This explains the Federal Government's push towards technology.”

The Vice President emphasized that the business of improving Nigeria's economy is not just by talking and wondered why “those trying to come back did nothing, for example, to fix the Lagos-Ibadan expressway or the Second Niger Bridge for which there was not even a design until the Buhari presidency did it”.

He also made an unscheduled stop at the Tipper Garage Market in Gwarimpa where he interacted briefly with traders, shoppers and people in the market, many of whom received him with cheers and singing in what was an exciting atmosphere.

*VP receives rousing reception from huge crowds in Oke-Ogun towns, Oyo State

The forthrightness and sincerity of the Buhari government is not in doubt and Nigerians should stand with this administration in the coming elections, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this over the weekend during his visits to Igbeti, Igboho, Kisi, and Saki, in the Oke-Ogun areas of Oyo State, where he was given rousing receptions by huge crowds at different stops.

The Vice President further said that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is a government for the poor and common man who lives in every local government area of the country.

According to him, "all the Social Investment Programmes of the Buhari administration is to empower the common man and the poor."

Speaking to the excited crowd at Igbeti town during a campaign rally/street chats on Friday, Prof. Osinbajo said the TraderMoni, MarketMoni and the N-Power programmes are designed to take the common people out of poverty."

"The TraderMoni is to empower the small, small traders, it is not for big business. Those in big businesses have their own, which is called the MarketMoni. We want to reach every village so that the people here will also benefit from this government, all of us will be going up, up, up," the VP emphasized.


He assured that hardworking people like artisans e.g tailors will be assisted with money to enhance their businesses, adding, "even those who are not graduates, but can read and write will be given a stipend monthly like those in the N-Power programme."

Singing a campaign song which he composed in Yoruba, "Up, up, we are going, up, up we are going," the VP enjoined the people to join hands with the government whose leaders will use the money meant for the masses to work for them and should not allow those leaders who will be stealing people's money to return.

“We have been able to do more with less resources,” Prof. Osinbajo added.

On his courtesy visit to the Paramount ruler (Onigbeti) of Igbeti Land, Oba Emmanuel Oyekan Oyebisi, Ofasegbejo III of Igbetiland, Prof. Osinbajo, commended the Oba and thanked him for a warm welcome.

Earlier, the Oba commended the Social Investment Programmes of the Buhari administration, describing it as the people's programmes, and requested for the development of natural resources such as different types of marbles available in the town for the betterment of not only the indigenes but the country at large.

While assuring the Oba that his requests would be looked into, the VP said, "Kabiyesi, this coming election is for progress, we have already seen it but if we are not cautious we may be drawn back, but God forbid it."

Following his visit to Igbeti town, Vice President Osinbajo also went to Kisi, the headquarters of Irepo Local Government Area of Oyo State, where he was received by a mammoth and excited crowd.

Prof. Osinbajo urged them to stand with the government in the coming elections.

On Saturday, on his visit to Saki Local Government Area, the Vice President also received a rousing welcome by huge crowds at different stops.

On arrival, Prof. Osinbajo paid a courtesy call to the Bagii of Saki, High Chief Abdrasheed Gazali Adegoke, where he met with traditional rulers in the area, who commended him for being “a great Vice President.” They noted that the Buhari administration deserves a second term for its efforts in improving the welfare of Nigerians.

Also, in continuation of the Family Chats, Prof. Osinbajo on Saturday visited the families of Alhaji Ganiyu Akere and Mr. & Mrs Sunday Kolajo, in Saki, Oyo State.

At Saki, the Vice President addressed rallies where he emphasized the Social Investment Programme and the Next Level plan of the Buhari administration. He noted that one of the plans include the establishment of the People’s Moni Bank that would give soft loans to Nigerians.

Prof. Osinbajo added that the people of Oke-Ogun have seen the good thing that has happened to them within this short time. He noted that the Minister of Communication, Barr. Adebayo Shitu who accompanied him on the visits was from Oke-Ogun.

Continuing, he also assured the Saki people that their request for potable water, road infrastructure and power would be looked into, as the Buhari government would continue in its efforts to improve the lives of all Nigerians.

He assured that the people would benefit from the Trans-border International Market since Saki shares border with Republic of Benin and Togo.

At the Sango area, also in Saki, the Vice President addressed a huge crowd of people in the predominantly Hausa community, where he, again, assured them of President Buhari's concern for the poor.

He said, "the next level of change is to lift everyone from poverty and provide more infrastructural development."

The people of Saki pledge their unalloyed support for the re-election of President Buhari in the forthcoming presidential election, noted Barr. Abdulwaheed Lawal who spoke on behalf of APC, in Saki. Lawal added that the people would support the Buhari administration's Next Level agenda.

Earlier in the day, Prof. Osinbajo had attended the wedding ceremony of the son of the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, in Ibadan, while he also interacted with the League of Imams and Alfas, also in Ibadan, before he proceeded to Saki Local Government, wrapping up a two-day focus on the Oke-Ogun areas of Oyo State.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
6th January 2019

by Yemi Ola

I stumbled on an opinion piece by a columnist, Dele Sobowale titled *TALK OF SOUTH WEST PRESIDENCY IS ABSURD AND UNPATRIOTIC.*
The piece was an apparent reaction to a statement purportedly made by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN regarding the possibility of a South West Presidency in 2023, as an aftermath of a South West aided Buhari win in 2019.

First and foremost, reading through the verified reports, it is clear that certain elements have decided to play mischief with the Vice President's visit and closed door discussion with the revered Alaafin of Oyo.

It is disturbing that the same mischievous elements dreg up falsehood and then generate a debate around it using their media collaborators.

Regardless however, Sobowale’s piece does stand history on its head on many of the issues raised.

*The Zoning Issue*

Nigeria has at least 250 major tribes, all now agglomerated to 36 States and more than 700 local government areas. This is contrary to the 6 geo-political zone fiction that has been fed to us over time. The PDP instituted an unwritten rotation of the Presidency between the North and the South commencing from 1999. Accordingly, once President Obasanjo rounded up his 2nd term, the serious PDP presidential nominations in 2007 were almost unanimously from the North. Does this however make the zoning arrangement binding on every party or every possible contestant? My answer is NO!

As a pointer, there were several Southern contestants for the Presidency in the 2007 elections. This was notwithstanding the fact that the South just completed 8 years in the presidency.

In fact, the *South East presented 5 candidates for the 2007 Presidential elections!*
It would be disrespectful to argue that high caliber personalities such as *Dim Emeka Ojukwu (who contested as flag bearer for APGA) and Chief Orji Uzor Kalu (who contested under PPA) were unserious contestants.*

Assuming without conceding that zoning the Presidency is binding, it has *never* been tribal. To argue the contrary would mean each of the 250 tribes in Nigeria must serially occupy the office, perhaps in alphabetic order. If it was tribal, how come the Northern occupants of the office in this 4th Republic have all come from Katsina State in the North West and how come all South-West occupants from 1960 till date have come from Ogun State, Abeokuta to be precise?

Even if we are to tow the geo-political zone line, it is important to note that while the Igbos produced 2 leaders in the 60s – Nnamdi Azikiwe (albeit ceremonial) and General Aguiyi-Ironsi (1963-1966), there are many other equally important and illustrous ethnic groups yet to produce any president/head of state till date and are therefore more deserving of any so-called zoning preferential treatment.

*Numbers & Candidature*

The truth of the matter is that in a democracy, parties would most likely always choose a candidate from its largest support base. No party would choose a candidate from a zone where it is not supported.
Conversely, for a geo-political zone to stand a good chance during a presidential election, it should either align behind one serious contender (as did the North in 2015) or trade-off with other zones to be the only serious front runners (as did the SW in 1999).

This perspective on candidature exposes the fallacy in Sobowale’s allegation that late Dr. Ekwueme would have been elected as President in 1999 to heal the wound of the civil war. First, the unanimous concession to the SW in 1999 was compensation for the June 12 debacle and the demise of Chief MKO Abiola. Except Sobowale is attempting to rewrite history, he would remember that the 1979 choice of a SE Vice President was partly to bring the SE back to the mainstream after the civil war. *Even at that, the NPN lost massively in the 2 SE States of Anambra and Imo.* The respected Ekwueme (who earlier lost governorship nomination to C. C. Onoh) could not even deliver the minimum 25% in those States. How can anybody posit that he could have won in 1999?

Secondly, nobody serves power a la carte. Many dispassionate observers contend that the South East would still lose the election even if all main stream political parties decide to zone the Presidency to the South East.

*In this regard, the experience at the last NBA elections represents a good pointer* .

All zones had an unwritten agreement to zone the NBA presidency to the South East. Unfortunately, the South Eastern bar associations could not agree to work together and present a single candidate.

The aftermath was the emergence of *Paul Usoro from the South-South.* The new President was rumoured to be a reluctant candidate who took advantage of the division in the ranks of the South East lawyers. *He scored 4,509 to emerge winner after defeating Mr Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) who scored 4,423 votes and Prof Ernest Ojukwu (SAN) who scored 3,313. Imagine if one SE candidate had stepped down for the other!*

It is also a wrong and irresponsible tactic to threaten *Civil War 2 if the Presidency is not zoned to the South East* . Or is Sobowale suggesting that the boko haram insurgents would be assuaged by zoning the Presidency to the North East? Dissemination of information, thoughts and opinion through the media deserves a bit of discretion. It is a trust that must not be abused in such a cavalier manner. It is very insensitive to wish civil war on a country battling insurgency if voters do not elect a South Easterner as President.

*Who Bells the Cat?*

Either by freak of nature or by collusion, no 4th Republic mainstream party has ever nominated a presidential flagbearer from the South East.
This is undesirable as the South East has eminently qualified individuals. The followership is however an issue. Beyond the late Nnamdi Azikwe, the South East has not trusted any of its men with pan- Igbo leadership. In 2007, we had an array of stars from the SE putting their names on the ballot. *If the South East could only give 5 illustrious sons a total of a paltry 813,000 votes, why should voters from other zones give them more?* If the SE voters do not trust presidential candidates from their region, why should others? Why would an Atiku step down after one term for an Igbo Presidency when the touted candidate as APGA governor of Anambra State could only command 155,947 votes for APGA in the 2007 Presidential elections? This is even with his deep pockets, the source of which is shrouded in shady rumours. Let us not forget that the 2007 elections held when Obi was at the peak of his powers as Anambra governor. That he could not deliver 25% votes in Anambra State to APGA tells a lot about the scam he perpetrated on Anambra while he was governor. It was indeed a latent defect that started unraveling when the governor he installed to cover his tracts turned against him.

Why would the South West, with proven leaders like Tinubu, Fashola, Fayemi, Amosun, Osinbajo, Ajimobi, Amosun etc jettison a chance to be president to favour a South East zone that spurned the chance to produce a Senate President when it did not produce a single APC Senator from the SE?

According to a Yoruba saying, (at least before the days of photoshop), there is no cheating in photography, you would see yourself exactly the way you positioned yourself. The South East has a golden chance to play profitable politics for once. A massive support for the APC can convince other stakeholders that the APC can win the 2023 Presidency with a candidate from the South East. It can be argued that the SE stands a chance in the PDP if Atiku serves only one term. However, Atiku has refused to commit any such promise to paper, opening the door of deniability. Secondly, would anybody in his right senses rely on Atiku’s word? This is especially as there are more verifiable facts of his public lies than truths.

So, as we all prepare for the 2019 elections, I strongly advise the so called Mr Sobowale to avoid rewriting history right before our eyes!

It is mischievous, but not entirely out of character, for former Governor Ayo Fayose to mindlessly attack TraderMoni, the interest-free N10,000 loans given to petty traders.



For the records, the issue of TraderMoni has been addressed several times in the public space. It is infantile for the PDP and Fayose to keep rehashing outright falsehood. It is clear from their actions that Fayose and his cronies are bereft of workable ideas and do not have any clear-cut ag coolenda for their campaigns, so they have no choice but to resort to regurgitating spurious allegations like this. Their resort to the unending generation of fake news as a campaign strategy is not shocking, coming especially from Fayose, but it is nonetheless pitiful.



But Nigeria can see through the deception. It doesn’t matter how long they keep trying, the truth would stand. The TraderMoni scheme is not just helping the lives and businesses of ordinary Nigerians like petty traders at the bottom of the economic ladder, it is, again, proof that the Buhari administration is irretrievably focused on improving the lives of the common man.



In case Fayose has forgotten, or better still pretends not to remember, under the Buhari administration, N2.7 trillion has been spent in two budget cycles on capital, the highest in the nation’s history. This would not have been possible if not for the prudent management of resources and the absence of grand corruption for which his party PDP is well known. This government has been able to do far more with less resources, than what was obtained under past administrations, where profligacy & gross mismanagement of the country’s resources were rife.



Thus, Fayose’s feeble attempt to lump the Vice President or the Buhari administration into the sordid happenings under the PDP in past administration through spreading falsehood is not only mischievous, but a disrespect to hardworking Nigerians in their millions who are now enjoying the impact of the Social Investment Programmes of this administration.



It must be emphasized that, for the records, the repatriated $322m is now currently being applied to support the Buhari administration’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme under the Social Investment Programmes. Part of the conditions under which the looted funds were restored to Nigeria is that the World Bank would be involved in over-sighting its disbursements, which is what is being done now.

Thus, any claim of re-looting of any kind is totally false and must be ignored by Nigerians. Fayose and his ilk merely cry wolf where none exists; a shameless habit for which he is now well known.



Currently, almost 300,000 Nigerians in 21 states are benefitting from the CCT, where they receive a monthly stipend of N5,000. The beneficiaries are registered in the National Social Register across these states and the process of selecting beneficiaries is transparent; it is based on the World Bank’s Community Based Targeting whereby the different communities themselves identify the beneficiaries in a transparent process that is open to review and public auditing, even by Fayose, if he chosen to be that reasonable.



That the Vice President is championing the scheme across the states is because of the commitment of the administration to the common man and to ensure effective implementation.



It obviously appears that the PDP are riled by the impact of the TraderMoni scheme, where over 1.2 million petty traders are beneficiaries at the last count. The disbursement process of the TraderMoni loans is transparent and direct, while the enumeration is technology-driven, whereby enumerators meet traders at their business locations to get their data, which includes names, phone number and account number. This process is largely tied to a phone number which also doubles as a mobile money wallet. The registered phone numbers are then credited with the loan via a mobile money platform, from which the agents transfer the money to the beneficiary’s bank account or give physical cash of N10,000 in cases where no account exists. The Bank of Industry facilitates the loan disbursements in partnership with third-party agents to ensure transparency, accountability and efficiency of the process.

What is reassuring is that Nigerians are aware of the desperation of people like Fayose, who are rehashing old, baseless and worn-out allegations because they really have nothing to offer Nigerians, nor any shard of honour left to their names.

Signed by:

SIP Response Team, Presidency

A political group in Nigeria says Prince Uche Achi-Okpagha is tarnishing the image and acceptability of apex Igbo socio-political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Oganiru-Igbo Union (OIU) said statements credited to Achi-Okpagha does not represent what Igbos stand for, stressing that, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been hijacked by some self-seeking individuals.

President of OIU, Chief Christian U. Amadi explained that Igbos and indeed Nigerians can see through the likes of Achi-Okpagha who have added no value to Nigeria and even Igbos.

“It is not Ohanaeze Ndigbo that is the problem, it is people like Achi-Okpagha (National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze) who is led by his belly. People like him add no value to our country, they only seek to divide us.

Amadi said only last month, the group’s youth council was praising President Muhammadu Buhari for all the road construction in the region.

In November, National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro praised President Buhari in Abakaliki and said the Igbos were happy with him.

Quoting Isiguzoro, Amadi said, “I must tell you that the people of South East region are happy with President Buhari’s ingenuity particularly in the area of road rehabilitation, like the Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Okigwe and Port Harcourt highways.”

Amadi noted that groups like Ohanaeze Ndigbo should unite Nigerians and not divide the country. “Achi-Okpagha is causing people to believe that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a divisive group that is not serving the interests of Igbos.

He added that South East governors have openly commended President Buhari and those are the people who lead the South East.

“The Home Grown School Feeding Programme has been endorsed and lauded by South East governors. The infrastructural achievements by this administration is there for all to see,” he said.

“N-Power, TraderMoni, FarmerMoni and other Social Investment Programmes have positively affected all Nigerians including Igbos.

OIU also rebuked Achi-Okpagha for saying Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is allowing President Buhari use him like toilet tissue.

“This group has no moral justification for such as statement, Amadi said, “The combination of Buhari and Osinbajo is the best Nigeria has had, they are two people with integrity, credibility and dignity.

“The chemistry between them is beyond the understanding of opposition groups like Ohanaeze,” he argued.

Amadi added that Buhari and Osinbajo will be re-elected based on the good job they have done in the last three and half years.

Peter Obi is not just intellectually deficient - all bombastic and no substance - he is also poor with figures.

Here are 7 notorious claims which he made during the Vice Presidential Debate which are outright FALSE!


1. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: There are about two million vehicles in Nigeria.

FACT: False. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria has a total vehicle population of about 11,547,236 as at the third quarter of 2017. The number of cars in the South West axis alone is far more than 2 Million.

2. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: African trade today is less than 9 percent.

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

3. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: Oil gives you 80% of foreign exchange earnings.

FACT: False. As at 2017 NBS figures showed that Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings from oil the oil sector stood above 90%.

4. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: Total loans from the banks in Nigeria is N19trn and only 0.5% goes to SMEs

FACT: FALSE. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) money and credit statistics, banking sector credit to private increased to N22.72 trillion at the end of October 2018, compared with N22.56 trillion it stood at the end of September 2018.

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

FACT: This is not true. Apple’s market cap today is $788.57 billion. The economies of these three countries are bigger than Apple.


6. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: Nigeria has fallen on the global competitive index from 124 to 127.

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

7. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: The number of people living in poverty has grown by 6% every minute.

FACT: If this wild assertion were to be expounded, according to Peter Obi 6% of Nigeria’s population at 180 Million people, that is 10,800,000 people, become poor every minute. That means before the debate ended - an hour after he made that assertion - 648,000,000 persons had become poorer. (That is more than 3 times the population of Nigeria.) And by the next day, 15,552,000,000 - over 15 billion - people would have been poorer. That is about two times the world’s population.


Asides cooking up figures, Peter Obi must also be good at creating poverty.

By Nnamdi Chukwuemeka

The Federal Government launched the Trader Moni scheme as part of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) in July 2018. The TraderMoni scheme entails the provision of N10,000 in interest free credit to table top traders. Beneficiaries have up to six months to repay the loans and thereby qualify for higher sums of money.
Since the launch of the scheme, which has been received by great enthusiasm by the beneficiaries, there have been various reactions ranging from genuine interest in knowing how the scheme works to name calling by political opponents of the APC Government who have called the loans bribes and vote-buying. It is difficult to understand how money that will be paid back can be considered as bribes. This short paper outlines the economic case for the TraderMoni scheme and the benefits that it will entail for the country.
The starting point for understanding TraderMoni is to see it as part of the broad ranging financial inclusion strategy of the Federal Government. Financial inclusion entails making financial services available to households and businesses in an affordable way. Several studies have shown that access to financial services helps to reduce poverty by facilitating payments and savings for households and businesses as well as enabling households to smooth out expenses and access services like micro-credit, micro-insurance and pensions. It also helps to improve lives, spur economic activity, reduce the cost of financial transactions and improve the delivery of social services, especially government payments. Financial inclusion also helps micro-enterprises to access cheaper credit and invest in order to grow their businesses.
Financial exclusion is considered expensive for economies. This means that with up to 41% of Nigerians lacking access to formal financial services there is need for urgent action. Financial exclusion in Nigeria is quite high compared to countries like Ghana where the rate of financial inclusion increased from 29% in 2011 to 58% in 2017. In South Africa which still suffers from the legacy of apartheid, up to 75% of the population has bank accounts as compared to 46% in 2004. in Kenya there has been a drastic increase in financial inclusion with up to 75% of the population having bank accounts, which is a 50% increase over the past 10 years partly due to the impact of digital payments systems. The common denominator in the examples of South Africa, Ghana and Kenya is that their governments took innovative and urgent action to speed up the pace of financial inclusion.
Empirical evidence from random controlled trials shows that small businesses benefit from increased access to credit because it enable them to invest in assets to expand their businesses, diversify into new products and cope better with business risk. Indeed, the relatively longer tenor of TraderMoni loans means that small entrepreneurs can venture into expanding their inventory and/or production.
Given Nigeria’s relatively poor performance in financial inclusion, the Federal Government has taken a strategic and innovative approach to ramping up financial inclusion in Nigeria. It has done this by:
• Recognising the need for urgency
• Introducing innovative programmes • Using fintech
• Working with major stakeholders
In recognising the need for urgency, the Federal Government to an approach to financial inclusion that would bring a large number of people into the financial net in a very short space of time. Accordingly, its target for TraderMoni was to have 2m people engaged in the scheme by the end of 2018. In the same vein, the programme ensured geographical coverage so that each State would be entitled to at least 30,000 participants in the TraderMoni scheme in the first phase.

The innovative programmes introduced to boost financial inclusion are to be found in the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) which provides micro-credit to existing businesses, which means the focus in on empowerment. GEEP has several components such as TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni and involves giving interest free loans to existing businesses. The advantages of the GEEP programme are exemplified by Trader Moni whose features include:
• N10,000 loans
• The credit is interest free
• Participating traders have to be table top, bottom of the value chain micro enterprises
• These micro-enterprises have to be carefully enumerated and captured into a database
• The loans have to be repaid in six months which entitles the borrower to borrowing a higher
amount of N15,000
MarketMoni which grants loans from N50,000 to N300,000 requires participants to open or have bank accounts (immediate financial inclusion) also uses an innovative risk mitigation arrangement whereby participants have to be part of a cooperative in order to qualify for the credit.
Studies have shown that microcredit works well when the participant already has an existing business and when interest rates are not exorbitant. TraderMoni meets this requirement given that participants not only have existing businesses but they are actually part of established retail chains, albeit at the lowest end. The interest free credit is to be contrasted to interest paid on loans from microfinance banks which attract interest rates of up to 30% to 60%.
TraderMoni also supports financial inclusion because it is bringing two million people into the financial system. Participants get paid by electronic cash transfers and are required to open bank accounts including KYC requirements and BVN at point of requesting additional loans. This innovative micro-credit scheme will also help to avoid dependence on unreliable, insufficient and expensive informal mechanisms which traders currently rely on.
As a micro-credit scheme, TraderMoni can be seen as a good starting point for wider economic inclusion as the enrolment and data generated will propel the movement towards micro-savings, micro-insurance, micro-pensions and micro-payments for services like health provision. It will also encourage a second generation of innovative business ideas such as micro-leasing for ‘okadas’ and solar power. This will be backstopped by the fintech arrangements being used to process TraderMoni loans such as Eyowo.
Working with the Committee of Bank Chief Executives, the TraderMoni scheme will also be giving telephone hand sets to participants who do not already have one. This will help reduce the resort to sharing handsets and also ensuring that electronic payments get to the intended beneficiaries. The banks are working speedily towards expanding their agent network across the country while also making greater use of technology to ensure interoperable systems. Ultimately, with an envisaged general saving account somewhat like the government saving account in India, financial inclusion will enable more people to access additional services like micro-insurance, micro- payments, etc. TraderMoni is similarly preparing the previously financially excluded to use the Payment Services Banks which are set to be licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The strategy of using micro-credit and technology contribute to higher degrees of financial inclusion which is positively and causally related to growth and employment. It is estimated for instance that the roll out of SANEF by the Bankers Committee will lead to an additional 500,000 jobs in the wider economy.

In his memoir 'My Transition Hours' , which has been described as a glorified fiction, former President Goodluck Jonathan, tried to rewrite history and turn logic on the head when he claimed that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is not fighting corruption and that it has made corruption worse. But the facts of the matter do not agree with that assertion. Sometimes, if you don't quickly call a thief by his name, he will try to seize the initiative and call the property owner the thief.

~Over N794 billion, $261 million, £1,115,930.47, €8,168,871.13, and 86,500 CFA, have so far been recovered from people who looted Nigeria dry under Jonathan. Parts of the monies were used to fund critical infrastructure in the 2016 and 2017 budgets.

~Hundreds of properties such as filling stations, petroleum products, land, jewelleries, automobiles, real estate, vessels, hospitals, company shares and heavy machinery and broadcast equipment have also been seized from the same set of 'Jonathanian' looters between 2015 and 2018.

~Over 703 convictions of corrupt elements achieved by the EFCC alone in the last three years which is unprecedented in the country’s history.
 
~These convictions include graft cases involving former governor of Taraba, Jolly Nyame, and that of Plateau, Joshua Dariye, as well as Joseph Nwobike (SAN), all of whom were hitherto considered untouchable.

~The EFCC has also commenced extradition proceedings from UK for the fugitive ex-minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who under Jonathan's supervision smashed global records and set new landmarks in kleptomania. She has been implicated in some of the most ambitious cases in the global history of official graft, worth of hundreds of billions of dollars.  

~The present administration has also recovered some 322 million dollars Abacha loot which the Jonathan's administration could not recover because of its integrity deficit (of course the World Bank knew it would have been re-looted). The money is now being used to fund parts of the masses-friendly Social Investment Programme (SIP) of the present administration.

~The Whistle blower policy, a signature initiative of the Buhari administration has helped to recover over 500 billion naira from 'Jonathanian' looters.

~The implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) by the Buhari administration is saving for the country about 24.7 billion naira monthly that would have been lost to the private pockets of unscrupulous government officials and their bank accomplices. Meanwhile, the Jonathan's administration could not implement the policy due to its lack of courage and romance with corruption.

~Over 200 billion naira has also been saved through the elimination of ghost workers from the federal government 's payment system.

It takes an intuitive, engaging, analytical mind and high sense of imagination to truly understand and appreciate the beautiful mind of a man like Osinbajo who in his capacity as Vice President conducts himself responsibly and dutifully.

Close associates and those who have personally encountered him can attest to the fact that he is stickler for hardwork, passionate about service to humanity and a trusted ally and team leader. Even those who disagree with him can hardly question his intellectual strenght, moral uprightness and capacity to deliver on tasks assigned to him.

Above all, when we carefully peruse the minds of Osinbajo’s students and those he has led in the house of God before he became the Vice President, we will come to attest to the professor’s sense of purpose, humility, godliness, loyalty and brilliance.

Amazingly, Osinbajo’s family is an epitome of humility, godliness with full of simplicity worthy of emulation.Teach your children humility, contentment, respect and the fear of God; they will not depart from them when they grow up, so say the holy book. These are the fine attributes that define the man Osinbajo.

Meanwhile, one of the qualities of Osinbajo that is dazzling to mind is his undeterred and unfettered emulative spirit that is unattractive to little minds. The ingenuity he brings to bear in handling crucial state matters is top-notch and has made him the darling of most Nigerians.

Given his deep understanding of life, Prof. Osinbajo scorns the finer things in life and ensconces himself in moral values, frugality and simplicity. He carried out the business of government with much candor, respect and to the admiration of all. Check out the ease with which he relates and interacts with market women, traders and Nigerians alike.

There is hardly any part of Nigeria that Prof. Osinbajo hasn't visited in the last three years. He sees nothing wrong or difficult in leaving his comfort zone to fraternise with Nigerians across states, towns and villages.

Truth is, apart from Osinbajo’s managerial skills, pastoral and leadership qualities, this erudite lawyer and professor is a frugal and disciplined family man who’s always in tune with the reality and existentialism of everyday life.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's urbane nature, pristine academic and professional backgrounds, patriotic disposition, love for God and humanity as well as his avowed determination to contribute to Nigeria's growth are attributes that keep him far ahead of his contemporaries, both within and outside politics.

*Recent attacks on VP contrived, Says Sen Ojudu

Recent desperate attempts to smear the person and reputation of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will not deter or distract him or the Buhari administration from the work of protecting and empowering every Nigerian.

This view was expressed by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the Presidential Aide on Political Matters, while responding to press inquiries about information circulating in the social media on plots to target the Vice President hatched at the meeting of a major political party abroad, regarding 2019 election.

Sen. Ojudu said the recent NEMA probe report which social media account say may have been outlined at that meeting in a foreign country, was one of such efforts plotted to attack the Buhari administration by tarnishing the image of the Vice President.

“We have read reports in the media that the meeting in a foreign country of the major opposition party was centered on trying to attack the Buhari administration by targeting the Vice President using different tactics.

“It is now evident through the NEMA report, that the opposition is indeed making frantic efforts to tarnish the image of the Vice President,” he said.

He explained that even after Hon. Ali Isa, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness had publicly admitted that the Vice President was not mentioned in the report, the opposition still found it expedient to continue, baselessly, to attack the reputation of Prof. Osinbajo by claiming without proof or any shard of evidence that fraud was committed in the N5.8b Emergency Food Intervention Fund for North-East.
Giving more insights on the issue, Sen. Ojudu said, contrary to insinuations in some quarters, there were no violations in approval of N5.8b Emergency Food Intervention Fund for North-East and the then Acting President did no wrong in approving fund for the emergency intervention.

He insisted that the presidential approvals were well within the clear constitutional authority of the then Acting President.

“First of all, the action was in response to the threat of hunger and starvation based on strong warning received from the United Nation World Food Programme in April, 2017. The organization had issued a warning that it would be reducing its vital support to about 1.8 million IDPs by as much as 85%, due to the corresponding reduction in funding by the donor countries. Around the same time, the United Nations Commission for Refugees in Geneva also warned of the growing risk of mass deaths from starvation among people living in the conflict areas.

“Secondly, it is also important to note that the procurement process was not ignored in the release of funds, as alleged. Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act makes provision for emergency procurement, in which case the procuring entity is allowed to engage in direct contracting for goods and file a report thereafter with the Bureau of Public Procurement.


“Also, the BPP issued a ‘certificate of no objection’ to NEMA on the emergency procurement, and this addresses all issues relating to the alleged breach of due process,” Sen. Ojudu said.

The presidential aide said the action of the opposition in the ensuing political drama indicates that the NEMA probe report is being politicized and only a lame attempt at ruining the good works of the Buhari administration.

He said the Vice President will however not be distracted by the naysayers’ actions to discourage the Buhari administration from providing for the common man or to abandon the Social Investment Programme which it has budgeted half a trillion for in the past two years.

Sen. Ojudu added that the administration will continue to cater for Nigerians especially those at the bottom of the ladder, regardless of the antics of the opposition party.

“We know what is happening, but the administration will not be distracted. Our goals and objectives to put Nigeria on the solid path of greatness is now unstoppable and Prof. Osinbajo will not relent in that effort,” the presidential aide concluded

There is no iota of doubt that the President Buhari administration has been the kindest, most generous and most receptive of the people of the South East. Forget sentiments and the curse of our brother Goodluck Jonathan that has blinded our eyes to the favourable bias President Buhari has for the region. Oh yes, favourable bias.

Perhaps in the bid to show that he loves our people, President Buhari has done the double whenever it comes to the South East.

Take a look at the historical cries of marginalisation that the south east has cried and place them side-by-side with who is working on them.

Out of a total of 250 ongoing Federal Highway Projects as at December 2017 across the country, 49 are situate in the South East, the highest in any region.

Key roads are being constructed and rehabilitated in our region: the Enugu - Portharcourt express way is a ready example. The National Housing Scheme is in all states of the South East and is currently ongoing.

Our Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha - a project as old as 2012 - only received a boost when President Buhari came on board. It is about 80% completed. The Mausoleum is there for people to see, I have also seen pictures on social media - it is real.

There is also the critical Second Niger Bridge. A critical item of infrastructure that has been on the promising lips of politicians years before the millennium. Yet the closest we saw to its reality was drawings and pictorial presentations.

Today the very hope of a Second Niger Bridge is more than paper work: it is in fruition, pillars have been sunk in, and piling work has gone to over 50%. It has moved from promise to reality.

Across the South East are terrible roads that evince government neglect over the decades. What is more surprising is that we have had powerful Nigerians from this region who have only gone to Abuja to fill up their pockets, buy jets and live large. Forgetting the welfare of Ndigbo.

Today the scornful sights of dreaded unmotorable roads has been turned to construction sites across the South Eastern region.

As an Ndigbo man, I am pleased with this. We don’t deserve promises, we deserve development.

Lest I forget, the lightning of the Ariaria market in Aba is another testimony to sincerity of the Buhari administration.

The Social Investment Programmes have not discriminated the South East, every state has a fair share of the government’s investment in the poorest peoples. There is no discrimination.

There is so much more I could list. I have chosen just a few items to highlight how much this three and a half year old administration has done - with very little resources. It tells us that there is sincerity of purpose, there is a desire to deliver and there should be a chance for consolidation.

The people of the South East don’t need promises from insincere political nomads who could have carried out the promises they make now then when they had the power and resources to do so. Our people need work done. And we are seeing this with President Buhari. He has my support.

Dr. Thompson Udenwa

With international organistaions and local agencies running out of funds, and with food shortage at its crescendo, the acting President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo approved N5.8 billion for supply of food to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the NorthEast, thereby saving hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who were going to die out of starvation. The noble action of the Vice President has been misinterpreted in some quarters even though he acted within the ambit of the law. In this interview, Gloria Adagbon, a lawyer and human rights activist makes a case for the Vice President and warns against politicizing everything.



Why didn't the acting President involve NASS in the process before releasing N5.8bn?

Given that the law allows the Vice President to release such funds in an emergency, he seized the opportunity to do so. The national assembly has proven to be anti-progressive, it took them over six months to pass the budget, we could not let Nigerians die away while they padded the North East Emergency budget. The acting President needed to act and that was why he constituted the Presidential Committee which included Minister of fast Finance, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Minister of Agriculture, CBN governor, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, SSA to the President, Office of the Chief of Staff, SSA to the President Planning and Coordination among others. It was an emergency and it would have been suicidal to go through the national assembly, given their greed and self-centeredness. The process was transparent, FG bought local grains from Nigerian farmers and the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Military including the Air Force, were actively involved providing essential and logistical support. There is nothing clandestine by the process, it was there for all to see.



Why was procurement process ignored before money was released?

The procurement process wasn’t ignored or bypassed. Like I explained earlier, this is an emergency and the acting President needed to act fast. Waiting for the agencies to ponder over procurement would have translated to massive loss of lives. The VP was never going to allow that happen under his watch as Acting President. Section 43 of the BPP Act empowered him to approve the funds in an emergency, which was what he did. He acted in good faith and he saved hundreds of thousands of lives by doing this. We must understand that international organisations including the World Food Programme, UNHCR, International Committee of the Red Cross and others were involved in this process, this was carried out transparently and in order. The international aid agencies like WFP were already dealing with shortage of funds to provide humanitarian aid, as funding was cut down by about 85%. This necessitated urgent collaboration between the Government and NGOs, in order to save lives of Nigerian citizens



Why didn't the VP oversee and ensure the distribution of the rice donated by the Chinese govt?

You will recall that the acting President kicked off the multi-billion naira relief intervention plan for grain distribution in the NorthEast. At the time, about 1.8m people would be reached regularly and 40,000 metric tonnes comprising rice, maize, sorghum and soya beans grown locally by Nigerian farmers would be distributed. But to ask the acting President to monitor NEMA activities alone and leave other pressing issues in the country is ignorance on the part of such persons. Agencies were set up to be managed on day-to-day basis by persons that have been appointed and were qualified to do so. It’s not the duty of the acting President to micro-manage and monitor the delivery or distribution. Duties were delegated, and this was done appropriately.



What is the scope and job duties of the VP as NEMA chairman?

He has an oversight function he does not oversee the day to day running of the agency. It’s like asking the Chancellor of a university why some lecturers involve in sex for marks. This falls on the lap of the Vice Chancellor because he is involved in the day-to-day administration. It’s important to understand that the role of the chairman is somewhat ceremonial and that is why you will not find his picture or profile on the website of the agency. People demanding that he did not act as chairman are uneducated and mischievous, and if adults cannot understand the organogram of agencies, you fear for the kind of orientation of what they are passing on to the younger generation.



Why is the House calling for the reinstatement of the six NEMA directorsand sack of the NEMA DG?

This is the clearest case of corruption fighting back. The directors in NEMA were accused of corruption and financial misappropriation. EFCC found monies in their accounts that could not be accounted for, but instead of insisting that these directors be probed, House of Reps led by a certain Ali Isa jumped to their defence insisting that they be reinstated. The House had claimed that Civil Service Rule was grossly abused, and natural justice turned upside down even after the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita and acting EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu had appeared before the Committee to explain that their suspension was in order. EFCC explained that they were suspended in order to allow detectives unfettered access to vital documents. The directors knew what investigators would find and they immediately got corrupt lawmakers to make noise out of nothing. This is a shame and that is why this administration has insisted that if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us.



Did the VP release N5.8bn or N33bn?

The VP only approved N5.8billion as against the N33billion peddled about in the media by some unscrupulous persons. These are agents of fake news who are trying all they can to tarnish the blistering career of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo but unfortunately for them, Nigerians are wiser now. We know our left from our right and we can see clearly. If you have read all the reports from NEMA to the House of Reps report, you will find that the VP approved N5.8 billion which was very much in order. We must not allow agents of fake news to derail us in our fight against corruption.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's consistency in talking about and exposing the massive corruption that took place before the Buhari government came on board in 2015 is largely responsible for the coordinated attacks against his person and office in recent days.



Apparently, those fingered in the various graft cases are unhappy and have resolved to malign the Vice President through whatever means possible, including planting lies in the media just to discredit and portray Professor Osinbajo as corrupt, dishonest and untrustworthy. The grand plot is simply to divert attention from government's resolve to name and shame those who looted the nation's commonwealth.



So, Osinbajo, being one of the custodians of verifiable facts and figures about graft perpetrated by the last administration, has become their prime target. These guys are not comfortable with the way and manner the VP exposes all that transpired throughout the period the PDP was in power.



Unfortunately for them, the Buhari government, through statutory government agencies, has expressed its readiness to fight graft and ensure that those who shortchanged the country face the consequences of their actions.



The allegation of illegal authorisation of release of funds for emergency activities brought up by the House Committee on Emergency Preparedness against the Vice President is a deliberate plot to smear the name and integrity of the VP because Section 43 of the same Public Procurement Law they referred to made provision for the such swift response in the case of an emergency situation. Osinbajo who was then the Acting President had to make those approvals to respond to life-threatening, acute food shortages involving IDPs in the northeast.



The allegation that the contracts were not also fully delivered is also false because the monitoring process involved all relevant government agencies and reputable international NGOs and United Nations agencies.



This is a clear example of corruption fighting back. Given his background as a reputable lawyer, he cannot be ignorant of our procurement laws and approval for release of funds. So, the allegations are as baseless and hollow as they come.



Without fear of contradiction, though a human being, Professor Osinbajo is the wrong person to accuse of corruption in whatever guise. This is one big lie that cannot stand at all. Even his accusers know too well that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is a man of pristine character and integrity who is guided by love for God and humanity.



Like his boss, President Buhari, Professor Osinbajo has never been involved or mentioned in any corruption case since his foray into partisan politics. The records and facts are there for all to see. Undoubtedly, the VP maintains a clean sheet and record as far as public service is concerned.



Yunusa Abdullahi

The House of Representatives say it did not indict the vice president Yemi Osinbajo in its probe report on the national emergency management agency as reported in some quarters of media.

Chairman house committee on NEMA and disaster preparedness representative Isah J.C made the clarification while raising a matter of privilege Tuesday at plenary.

Adds: 1 Million beneficiaries targeted in next phase, FG committed to creating more opportunities for Nigerians to prosper

Following the successes recorded in the N-Power programme of the Buhari administration and the growing need for government’s direct intervention in job creation, the Federal Government will expand the N-Power scheme to accommodate 1 million beneficiaries in the next phase, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

The Vice President who stated this while responding to a variety of questions from Nigerians across different professions and persuasions, at a town hall meeting in Abuja yesterday, said the programme would become the largest post-tertiary job scheme in Africa.

According to him, “the idea of N-Power is supposed to be government’s own programme of direct employment and training. At the moment, we have taken up to 500,000 and in the next phase we are looking at another 200,000 and closely followed by another 300,000.

“In all, we will be employing up to a million, and that will be the largest post-tertiary job programme in the entire Africa. The reason why we have done this is because of the employment problems that we have, we may not be able to engage everybody but at least government must give some direct provision of jobs.”

Prof. Osinbajo explained further that though government could not pay more than the N30,000 currently paid to beneficiaries and also fix all the unemployment issues, it is working on creating the enabling environment to ensure that beneficiaries as well as other unemployed Nigerians become useful to themselves.

He said: “It is infrastructure that will create the opportunities to provide more jobs, especially through manufacturing and Industry.

“So, we are doing roads and rail, providing power; that is the way we can develop industry. We are energizing our markets at the moment, putting solar power in the markets. We have designated 300 markets, we have done Ariaria in the South East, Sabon Gari in Kano, Surat in Lagos, Isikan in Ondo, Gbagi in Oyo and we are expanding so that more people can work.”

On the need to engage more women in productive activities, Prof. Osinbajo said: “one of the ways the Buhari administration is engaging more women is through our GEEP loans.”

He said: “56% of our GEEP loans go to the women. So there is a lot of preferential advantage that we give to women and this is because women are effective managers of resources; they pay back these loans when they are given.”

Speaking on the misconceptions about the borrowing arrangements of the Buhari administration, the Vice President said, the country, under President Buhari, was not in a terribly bad debt situation as insinuated in some quarters.

According to him, very frequently you find people creating fear about the issue of debt and saying that this government has borrowed more than previous governments.

“I want to give you the facts and figures on the debt issue. The dollar denominated debts of Nigeria – that is the debts of the Federal Government, the States and Local governments.

“In 2010, Nigeria’s debt was $35 billion; 2011, it was $41billion; in 2012, it was $48 billion, in 2013, it became $64 billion; 2014, it rose to $67 billion; 2015, it fell to $63 billion; 2016, $57 billion; 2017, $70 billion; 2018, it is $73 billion. So, the difference between 2015 and now is $10 billion.

“One of the things that I always want you to bear in mind is that when oil prices are at their highest, between 2010 and 2014 that was when we had the sharpest rise in debts.”

Continuing on the debt issue, Prof. Osinbajo said “the other thing that I want us to bear in mind is what is called debt to GDP. Our debt to GDP is one of the lowest among the countries that are frequently compared to us. Our debt to GDP is 20%. When you compare it to other countries, you will see that Ghana is about 68% whereas Ethiopia’s is 48%. In terms of the size of our economy and debt, we are doing okay”

He, however, agreed that “Nigeria may have an issue with debt to revenue”, noting that “we are not collecting enough revenue compared to what we want to spend.”

“Are we collecting enough taxes? If you look at the FIRS figures, it says 914 Nigerians pay the self-assessed tax of more than N10 million. Of the 914, 912 live in Lagos and the other 2 live in Ogun state, no other Nigerian outside of Lagos and Ogun pay the self-assessed tax of more than N10 million. So, we are simply not collecting enough revenue,” he added.

The Vice President said the Federal Government in collaboration with the States was working on harmonizing tax collections in order to address issues relating to multiple collection of taxes.

He said: “this is a problem that we are dealing with all across Nigeria. It is one of the issues we are dealing with under the ease of doing business. We are addressing the sub-national. How we can harmonize taxes. The second phase of our ease of doing business is focused on the collection of multiple taxes; there is no reason why that should continue.”

On the ASUU strike, the Vice President said that government is engaging the leadership of the union, noting that “the next meeting is on Thursday, November 15, 2018”.

He, however, explained that “we are dealing with a population of about 200 million people who depend on a budget of about N8.6 trillion and of that amount, 70% of it goes to salaries and overheads, and it goes to less than 2 million people. It is impossible to answer to all of the monetary needs of people by the size of the federal budget”.

On healthcare financing, Prof. Osinbajo said the Buhari administration has done much even as it has earned 60% less than the previous administrations.

According to him, “the first thing to bear in mind is that health care financing has suffered over the years even when we were earning the most money, we were underfunding healthcare.

“In 2015 when we came in, the healthcare budget was N22.7 billion and as of today we moved that to N86.5 billion and we are earning 60% less. Education was N23 billion in 2015, now it is N102 billion. The issue really is one of government commitment. For the first time, in the 2018 budget, we are setting aside 1% of our consolidated revenue to the health sector.”

Earlier, the Ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola; Industry, Trade and investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah; Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; and Agriculture, Dr. Audu Ogbe, responded separately to issues relating to their various ministries.

The town hall meeting was organized by Act Now, a non-political group that works in promoting transparency and good governance as well as youth participation in governance.



Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity

Office of the Vice President

13th November, 2018

There is absolutely something unique about Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's personality which endears him to many, especially the Nigerian youths. Given the way he freely interacts, relates and reaches out to Nigerians during most of his official outings, many see and regard him as a true friend of the common man.

President Muhammadu Buhari wasn't wrong, after all when he entrusted his administration's Social Investment Programmes in his care. His choice of Professor Osinbajo as the Chief implementor of the scheme tells of the importance government attaches to it. Such an important and very critical assignment of ensuring that every Nigerian, especially the common people directly feels the impact of governance requires the stamp of a man of impeccable character and integrity for it to succeed.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo has not only acquitted himself in the transparent manner he discharges his responsibility as the coordinator of SIP, but has displayed capacity, competence and transparency in the handling of the various components of the entire programme. The general consensus out there is that the SIP initiative which is principally targeted at empowering ordinary Nigerians is the most impactful, transparent and accountable social intervention programme ever introduced in our chequered political history as a country. Nigerians have since taken ownership of the various aspects of the SIP scheme which has for the very first time brought government closer to the people.

Vice President Osinbajo, like his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, is so passionate about the welfare of Nigerians, which he says occupies a significant position in the overall programme of the President Buhari administration. The Vice President has continued to reiterate government's resolve to touch the lives of all Nigerians through faithful implementation of all government programmes and policies.

The truth is, Nigerians, especially the youth population are happy with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's style of handling official matters. There is hardly a day that the Vice President isn't out there interacting with ordinary Nigerians on how best to meet their yearnings and aspirations. Apart from sitting to hold regular talk sessions with the youths, market women, artisans and petty traders across markets, Professor Osinbajo always welcomes suggestions, ideas, criticisms and opinions on how to achieve the Nigeria of our dream. One outstanding attribute of the Vice President is that he's a listening leader. He believes strongly in the fact that every Nigerian should have something to offer in our desire to develop our dear nation.

By now, Professor Osinbajo's security men have become so used to the huge crowd that often struggle to either see or have a handshake with him during his numerous official engagements. He's made himself very accessible and easy to locate. I've lost count of the number of youth-based programmes that Professor Osinbajo has graced and held frank discussions with young Nigerians. He's made it a point of duty to always honour such invitations himself, an indication of the fact he attaches much importance to issues that pertain to our youths.

Only recently at the 30th Biennial Conference of the Student Christian Movement of Nigeria held at the Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd, Enugu, he urged youths to see themselves as key players in Nigeria's march to greatness, adding that contrary to the belief that the young people were the leaders of tomorrow, the time for the youths to showcase themselves was now.

Even when he hosted a delegation of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement, sometime ago he charged them to remain steadfast and committed to the task of realizing our full potential as a country.

“My dear young people, we need your energy, passion, charisma and creative abilities in our march to greatness. The time has come for all of you be deeply involved in politics and governance".

Nigerians are always pleased to see the country's number two citizen daily visiting towns, villages and cities to explain government's programmes and policies to the masses across markets, bus stations, campuses and social gatherings. This is a complete departure from the way and manner officials of past governments treated us. We now welcome top government functionaries to our homes, not the other way round.

This is one task the VP is so passionate about. He clearly understands the fact that, it is the responsibility of elected and appointed government officials to keep the people abreast of developments, especially on issues of welfare and security.

It is our expectation that the Vice President, under whose office and supervision the SIP scheme is domiciled would continue to do his very best to ensure that the various components of the scheme like the N-POWER, Conditional Cash Transfer, MSMES Clinics, Trader Moni, Farmer Moni, Market Moni etc are meaningfully implemented in line with the change agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has throughout his campaigns so far accused the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of dividing the country along its fault lines and claimed that he is the one with the magic wand to bring everybody together and unite the nation.

The lie in the claims was however exposed recently with the choice of Peter Obi - who is arguably Nigeria’s most divisive, bigoted and sectional politician alive – as running mate. How can someone who has never hidden his disbelief in One Nigeria unite Nigeria?

~In 2011, Peter Obi as Governor of Anambra State deported 29 Akwa-Ibom State indigenes without any justification other than the fact that he didn’t consider it the duty of his administration to accommodate and care for people who are not of the Igbo ethnic stock.

~Traders and residents of northern extraction had a torrid time living in the state under Obi as state government officials constantly demolished their homes and mosques and barred them from moving round peacefully.

~Peter Obi once directed all non citizens of Anambra residing in the state to apply for official identity cards as requirement for living or doing business in any part of the state.

~Obi has also been named as a major sponsor of the secessionist movement – Independent of People of Biafra (IPOB) and has never hidden his solidarity with their agitations and support for their violent rhetoric/campaign.

~Obi’s Igbo irredentism was confirmed in August 2012 when his company, SabMiller introduced a new alcoholic drink called ‘Hero’ into the market. The logo of IPOB was (and is still) conspicuously placed on the bottle and can of the product, which has now become the most popular drink of the southeast people.

Afrobeat icon Femi Kuti has professed his friendship for Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the 2018 edition of Felabration which held Sunday night at the New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, Lagos.



Femi, son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti said he will however remain politically neutral going into the 2019 general election despite his long-standing friendship with Osinbajo.



He explained that his decision to be neutral is a political ideology inherited from his father, who was known to be politically neutral.



Prof Osinbajo graced the grand finale of Felabration showing support for Nigeria’s growing entertainment sector.

Felabration which is held every year on the week of Fela's birthday began from October 15 and ended on 21.

In his short speech at the celebration, Vice President Osinbajo reiterated that Nigeria is on its way to achieving it goals and that the people will enjoy from the inclusive government of President Muhammadu Buhari.



Osinbajo, a senior pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God prayed for the rousing audience and for Nigeria at the event.



He said, “Our country will be greater no matter what happens, this country will be great and greater and all of us who are here will be great and greater in this nation,” he prayed, to which the crowd replied with a thunderous ‘Amen’.



Just before he left the microphone, he muttered, “Let everybody, say Yeah, Yeah,” to the delight of the crowd which responded accordingly.



Speaking in Pidgin English, after the Vice President’s speech, Femi Kuti said, “Prof Osinbajo is my friend, he said he understands and he respects my view, but I have told him that I cannot support any political party because of my father (Fela Anikulapo-Kuti).



“He is my friend, you understand what I’m saying, he said he wanted to come to shrine and I am happy he did.”

Mr Kuti then went on to hug Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as he made his way to the backstage of the podium.

Osinbajo is renowned for promoting Nigerian talents and selling Nigeria’s entertainment sector both locally and internationally.



Last summer in the United States, he canvassed Hollywood heavyweights including leading movie and entertainment companies like Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Lions Gate, IMAX Entertainment, Warner Bros, Walt Disney, BET International and even the National Association of Theater Owners to invest in Nigeria’s entertainment sector especially Nollywood.



Osinbajo also met with renowned film, music and entertainment industry, including Innocent Idibia, popularly known as Tuface; New York-based Nigerian visual artist, musician, singer/songwriter, Laolu Senbanjo; CEO, Ebony Life TV, Mo Abudu, Chocolate City CEO, Audu Maikori; founder/CEO Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austen-Peters; New York artist, Sesan Ogunro among others to project the future of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.



The Buhari administration also set up a working group on Creativity and Technology as part of the Industrial Competitiveness Council chaired by the Vice President. That council and the working group meets regularly including in the last week to being players in the private sector to help government develop policies for the sectors.

President George Weah of Liberia has showered praises on Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo describing him as good role model for other Vice Presidents to follow.

Prof Osinbajo who is in Liberia to speak on leadership and women empowerment at the International SHEROES Forum paid a courtesy call on President Weah in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia on Wednesday.

Mr Weah who spoke glowingly of Osinbajo said Africa needs more leaders like him, given his brilliance and loyalty, particularly during his stints as acting President of Nigeria.

"You kept your country together in peace while President Muhammadu Buhari was away. That is a good model for other vice presidents to follow," President Weah said.

But President Weah was not alone in praising the good works and integrity of Prof Osinbajo.

Also commenting on Osinbajo’s giant strides at the SHEROES forum, keynote speaker Joyce Banda, who is the former President of Malawi said she was perplexed while listening to VP Osinbajo’s speech.

"When I heard you speak (as VP in Nigeria) I asked who is he? They said he is a pastor. I was grateful because what we really need in State houses in Africa are God-fearing men."

Banda also echoed the sentiments of President Weah urging more African leaders to follow the footsteps of Nigeria’s Vice President.

While in Liberia, Prof Osinbajo participated in the formal launch of the Jewel Starfish Foundation.

The foundation is an organisation founded by the Vice President of Liberia, Jewel Howard Taylor, to provide educational opportunities to women and empower young women with capacity building tools that would enable them to achieve sustainable means of livelihood.

It also aims to inspire and provide mentoring for women, among other numerous objectives.

Other distinguished personalities at the event include former Liberian President, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who is the keynote speaker; former Vice President of Zimbabwe, Dr Joyce Mujuru, among other personalities.

Did you know that David Oyedepo never ever paid a dime as landing charge or airport tax on his Private Jets throughout Jonathan presidency? He got presidential waiver.

But something changed in 2015 because PMB made him to do the needful. Did you know that he put two of his jets on sale immediately he started paying necessary charge?

Can you now see why he has started dancing round AtIku ?
God is watching !

On August 2011, the Government of GEJ gave a comprehensive concession to Living Faith Church AKA Winners chapel to pack 4 private jets belonging to the church free of charge in any of the airports in the country. An import waiver was also issued by the former government to Living Faith Church. This guaranteed that the ministry paid next to nothing on whatever they import into the country.

This concession was revoked by the FG on Feb. 2016 and import waiver canceled. The church unable to meet up with the huge charges being accumulated on packing fees for 4 private jets, sold off two of the jets by July 2016.

We may now understand why Bishop David Oyedepo never sees anything good in this present government just because this government insisted on things being done properly.

For me, why should multi-billion naira mega cooperate churches be given concessions and import waivers when small legitimate business are made to pay through their nose whenever they import? In the same way, why should companies like Dangote, Bua group, Milan ground, Golden Penny enjoy concessions and import waivers when these companies make billions in profit after tax?

I always have the opinion that 90% of the accidental billionaires we have in this country are living on government concessions and waivers. Take that away from them and they will be like every one of us.

Concession and waiver agreements were abused by the former government as was revealed by 2016 Senate Ad hoc committee on import duty waivers which revealed that the FG from lost between 2011 to 2015 N447.42bn through fraudulent concessions and waivers. Consequently to this report, the present government canceled all forms of import waivers in 2016 and some organizations made to pay the FG what they owe the government.

We may now understand how Nigeria’s custom was able to remit N1trn in 2017. All these policies and checkings created enemies for BUHARI’s government. People who have been ripping off the country for years being asked to pay the right fees for their imports, automatically made them enemies of Buhari and his government.

Truly, this government is fightingj for the masses and that’s why we have less and less accidental billionaires under this government. The free monies have dried up.

"May this gang up against Nigeria,not even PMB never work. The Hyenas,Foxes and hawks are gathering to feast on our Commonwealth. It will never be well with the enemies of Nigeria. Enough is enough"

Just trying to make sense of our situation �


Obasanjo Farm, Otta is now a ghost farm, over taking by weeds and rodents. Only the security guards at the gate retain the old glory of the once thriving enterprise. Two massive transformer, possibly hijacked from Papalanto power plant are rusting away near the security post.

Only the Obasanjo Farms extensions at Obada, Abeokuta, Eruwa etc are functioning and they are mostly under Chinese management. Those farms depend on imported inputs like fertilizer, maize, soy beans etc to survive. Their outputs are not designed for Nigerian markets either. Another 4 years of Buhari in power will bring down those fraudulent enterprises because of high import bills.

Nigerian elites are predatory opportunists. They lay siege on the nation and grab it at its weakest part and moment. All the new gladiators, Atiku, Obasanjo, Oyedepo, Gumi, Kuka are struggling for the control of the nations resources. They are bonded together in wickedness. It is not an accident that the owners of the 3 most expensive universities in Nigeria (Atiku, Obasanjo and Oyedepo) are in union of anger against Buhari.

They are not united for the progress of this nation. They are united in anger because Buhari deprived them access to the Commonwealth.
�����

Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President showed why he is renowned for oratory prowess and why he stands far ahead of his peers as he delivered his lecture off hand.

For those who have had the privilege of listening to him before or sitting across him at a table it was another pleasant opportunity to be dazzled again but for those who were listening to him for the first time, they were left spell bound.

Staring firmly at the former Lagos Attorney General of Lagos, they wondered where all the facts, figures and statements he reeled off were coming from. They were perplexed by his ability to narrate the Buhari’s administration successes without a prepared speech or even a piece of paper in hand.

Beyond that, he sold Africa, he sold Nigeria, and indeed he sold the black race before going on to inaugurate the Oxford Board of African Studies. It was a delight and a huge moment of pride for all Africans at the gathering.

Prof Osinbajo was one of their own and he was making them proud. Discussing Osinbajo, some said they’ve not seen a person so charming and gifted like him in Africa since Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan. He stood in a class of his own.

During the lecture, Prof. Osinbajo highlighted ongoing investments, efforts and plans of the Nigerian government and the progress it has made in improving the country’s Human Capital Development indices and investment climate, as well as the widespread impact of the National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP).

Despite the enormous challenges of Human Capital Development in Africa, the Vice President further called on African governments to unlock the “opportunities to significantly move the needle in the journey to vastly improved standards of existence for our people.”

Talking job creation and job sustainability, Prof Osinbajo explained that 349,000 new bank accounts have been open, while almost half a million small businesses in Nigeria have accessed the loan under the MarketMoni scheme - a short tenor interest-free credit of between N50,000 and N300,000 for small businesses under the auspices of their cooperative societies as a risk management device.

He also explained that by the end of 2018, two million petty traders nationwide would have benefitted from the TraderMoni, which provides them zero collateral and interest-free N10,000 loans.

Prof. Osinbajo also noted that out of the targeted one million, so far, almost 300,000 households have benefited from the N-SIP’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, in which the poorest and most vulnerable households in the country are given N5,000 monthly.

He said the administration’s Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) was an important tool for financially empowering small businesses, artisans, market women, petty traders, and table top traders.

If the impact he made on the room was in doubt, the opportunity for photo ops pretty much sealed it. Like kids who were star struck, the audience flocked towards Prof Osinbajo to take pictures, it was a moment to savour then and in the future,and no one was willing to pass up on it.

Prof. Osinbajo who also inaugurated the International Advisory Board of Oxford University Area Studies Centre, under the School of Global and Area Studies, was received by Nigerian-born, first Black African Rhodes Professor at St Antony's College, Oxford, Professor Wale Adebanwi.

The other members of the inaugurated board are eminent leaders from across the world, including several African countries like Nigeria and South Africa.

​Bernard Okri is a founding member of the Global Economic Policy Initiative​

Fresh facts have emerged detailing how the Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services) of Niger Delta Power Holding Development Company Limited (NDPHC), Mr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, is allegedly making relentless efforts to unseat the Managing Director, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo from office.

Findings showed that Enginner Oyedele, who assumed position in 2016, has vowed to use his connections and influence as a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to malign the image of Mr. Ugbo.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2016, appointed Mr. Ugbo as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), and Mr. Oyedele, as the Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services), respectively.

The appointment followed the dissolution of the James Abiodun Olotu-led management.
Recent happenings within the company however revealed that Mr. Oyedele is not happy with the appointment of Mr. Ugbo as the Managing Director.

Engineer Oyedele and Mallam Babayo Shehu, Executive Director (Finance and Administration), are framing him up on unfound allegations.

One of Mr. Oyelede’s missions to label Mr. Ugbo as incompetent and ethnic bigot include sponsoring a faceless group to submit a petition to the Federal House of Representatives, accusuing Mr. Ugbo of financial discrepancies.

Mr. Oyedele had accused Mr. Ugbo of abdicating his authority to Mrs. Nkechi Mba, the General Manager of Procurement. These allegations follow Mr. Ugbo’s refusal to yield to the tunes of Mr. Oyedele and Mr. Shehu to allow them breach the public procurement act, and initiate inappropriate award process for the procurement of goods and services.

Mr. Ugbo’s strong adherence to due process and diligent financial transaction has earned him enemies who are hell bent on frustrating his stay in the office and have vowed to use their influence in the Aso Villa to remove him from office. Thus, efforts made by Mr. Ugbo to ensure power stations under constructions across the country are completed are being countered by Mr. Oyedele and Mr. Shehu.

The many sins of Mr. Ugbo, as been allegedly confessed by Mr Oyedele to his friends include Mr. Ugbo’s continued opposition to the unprofessional manner procurement is being handled and the many illegalities being committed by Mr. Oyedele and Mr. Shehu.

Mr. Oyedele confessed to his friends that on different occasions, Mr. Ugbo has stopped the award of “loaded and frivolous” contracts unilaterally processed for award by him. These contracts planned using incompetent companies are drain pipes aimed at siphoning the resources of the company.

Mr. Oyedele’s alleged dubious effort to blackmail Mrs. Mba to succumb to his will met a brick wall. The refusal of Mba ro yield to his request resorted to personal attack against her person and the Managing Director, which has already been described as “completely false and lacking in substance and a mere exercise of the twisted imagination”.

With the coast not clear for Mr. Oyedele to orchestrate his inappropriate award process, all his wrongful allegations against Mr. Ugbo has been debunked by, Yakubu Lawal, the NDPHC general manager, communications and public relations

Responding to the allegations of improper procurement and breach of the public procurement act, Lawal said the company had been using the services of the current law firms before the appointment of the new executives.

On the installation of CCTV at two power plants, Mr. Lawal explained that Chubas Ideal Communications Limited, the company involved, was asked to survey and suggest security equipment required at the plants.

He said, however, the company went ahead to fix the cameras without approval from NDPHC. However, when management refused to pay for the equipment since there was no contract; Chubas reported its non-payment to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

“As part of its efforts to resolve the matter, NDPHC decided to pay for the work done, but only upon audit and verification of the works,” lawal explained.

Also on the contract for the construction of the Ugwuaji road in the “princely sum” of N649, 218, 186.90, lawal said contract for the road is yet to be awarded by NDPHC.

According to him, the road leads to a town that hosts one of the major transmission substations constructed by NDPHC and in which NDPHC still maintains a large warehouse.

“The road was seriously damaged during the construction process. NDPHC’s heavy equipment and machinery continue to ply the road. This has been a source of agitation for repair of the road by the host community,” he said.

“Recognised probity is the surest of all oaths.” - Suzanne Curchod.



On the 14th of September, the former minister of finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun honourably tendered her resignation letter to the President, Mohammadu Buhari, bringing to an end, near three years of purposeful management of the nation’s economy with epitomized probity. However on a controversial note.



Nonetheless with this singular act, Kemi Adeosun has not only etched her name in our history books, but has also justified the fact that in public service, integrity, probity, ethics, transparency and self discipline can still be found.



The former minister made history as the first political office holder to quit her position on the basis of integrity and probity. She has justified the federal government’s credo of integrity by throwing in the towel even when the old order of manipulating the system in view of the caliber of political clouts around her would have been the order of the day.



The ruling party, APC described her resignation as actions of honour, strength of character and integrity. And I do not disagree with them. Most Nigerians don’t. In fact they were shocked she would take this rare but honourable path.



In the previous administrations in the country particularly since the emergence of our most recent democracy 20 years ago, no minister or political office holder had resigned his or her position despite in the face of allegations of corruption or malfeasance or misconduct or fraud.



Still fresh in the minds of Nigerians are the cases of former aviation minister, Stella Odua and that of Minister of Interior, Abba Moro. Both Ministers under former President Goodluck Jonathan.



Stella Oduah, currently a senator of the Federal Republic, was enmeshed in two scandals of certificate forgery and maladministration.



Oduah claimed she attended St. Paul’s College, Lawrenceville in Virginia, US, from 1978 to 1982, obtaining a first degree in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in 1983. But the college disclosed that it had never in its 125-year history had a graduate school or graduate programme.



Her claim to have obtained an honorary doctoral degree in Business Administration from Pacific Christian University based in Glendale, was also found to be dubious.



Following these revelations, the then Minister had since amended her biographies on the internet revising her profiles on the web with a view to cleaning up any reference to St. Paul’s College in her history. While the PhD allegedly received has also been deleted from her Wikipedia profile.



The former minister was also involved in reckless financial meddlesomeness.



She was rocked in financial misappropriation following her refusal to follow due process in the award of contract for the purchase of two bulletproof cars at the sum of N255 million; a total sum that was grossly inflated.



Consequent upon the scandal, the committee set up by then President Goodluck Jonathan to probe the scandal in the Aviation Ministry indicted Ms Oduah. The report of the presidential committee tallied with some findings of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on the corruption case.



The development sparked a wide controversy within and outside the country with many Nigerians and groups calling for her sack as well as the House committee’s recommendation that the minister be relived of her duty. None of the calls nor recommendations were heeded.



While the minister refused to resign in the wake of the two proven cases of outright forgery and breach of public trust, the then president, Goodluck Jonathan still retained her until she voluntarily resigned in order to contest the 2015 senatorial election in her state of Anambra.



On his part, former minister of Interior, Abba Moro, conducted a most embarrassing and tragical recruitment exercise in the country’s history when on Saturday, March 15, 2014, his Ministry conducted recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.



Tagged “Nigerian Immigration Service Recruitment Tragedy” afterwards, the exercise, poorly planned and implemented, led to the death of about 20 applicants in various recruitment centres across the country, involving over 520,000 Nigerian graduate applicants who paid N1,000 each to be qualified to take the test.



After the NIS tragedy, several Nigerians demanded the resignation or dismissal of Mr. Moro and the then Comptroller-General of Immigration, David Parradang, as well as their criminal prosecution for involuntary homicide, but none of such happened as their boss then, Goodluck Jonathan turned a blind eye to the pains and anguish of Nigerians and retained him till his government was voted out in 2015.



Other cases of scandals that rocked past administrations abound but never did one of them throw in the towel even when such cases were proven beyond reasonable doubts that the actors committed perjury or gross misconduct.



Though, in her resignation letter, Mrs Adeosun still maintained her innocence having submitted the same certificate to different government institutions in the course of her public service to her state and Nigeria in general; her innocence remains a debate for the court room where it would be expected that she makes a case that she knew nothing about the fake certificate and had no hand in procuring it.



One thing Mrs Adeosun would be remembered for is this: She brought discipline into the country’s finance systems, implemented policies that her predecessors were scared to touch; she identified and pursued a path to long term sustainable economic growth for the country.



Under her stewardship, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has laid the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation.



Beyond the certificate scandal, Mrs Kemi Adeosun would be remembered for being a role model, and a quintessential persona when integrity and honour is called among Nigerian politicians and leaders.





Amaechi Agbo is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja

avameche@gmail.com

On 7th August this year, the Federal Government commenced the Tradermoni scheme in Lagos.



Tradermoni scheme is designed to help petty traders expand their trade through the provision of collateral free loans of an initial sum of N10,000.



The scheme was launched in partnership with the Bank of Industry, BoI, in order to enlarge government’s financial inclusion agenda down to the grassroots, the bottom of the ladder, considering the contribution of petty traders to economic development of any nation. It is a federal government empowerment scheme to help alleviate poverty in Nigeria by empowering traders and artisans.



Tradermoni is similar to MarketMoni which is another cash transfer loan scheme of the the Federal Government under the same Social Investment Programmes, but they are not the same. While Marketmoni loans start at N50, 000 and target medium-scale traders, market women, artisans, and youth in market associations. Tradermoni loans on the other hand starts at N10, 000 and target petty traders and petty artisans.



There have been lots of misconceptions with people questioning what the petty traders can do with N10,000. But one cannot wish away the impact it will have on the fufu seller on the street whose capital is N3,000. As little as it seems, an added sum of N10,000 to her capital would lead to her expanding her business and serving more customers.



To an average income earner, N10,000 does not sound so big a money to help in business but to the rural traders, it is not so. N10,000 will make a significant impact in the business of the roadside corn seller, akara (fried bean) seller. The ugu (pumpkin) seller as well as the groundnut, garri, shoe maker/reparier, beans and all other petty traders who are the beneficiaries of this scheme.



These loans come from a recognition of the genuine contribution of petty traders to the growth of the nation’s economy. Consequently the loan will not only help the local traders to expand their businesses, but also change their standards of living thus aiding in poverty alleviation and stability in the country's economic outlook.



This programme aims at reducing short-term poverty by direct cash transfers and fight long-term poverty by increasing human capital among the poor through conditional cash transfers.



Under the scheme, beneficiaries can get access to a higher facility ranging from N15,000 to N50,000 when they repay the initial N10, 000 within the stipulated time period of 6 months. Accordingly, beneficiaries have the options to repay the loan with flexible options of N85 daily or N430 weekly.



Since coming into power via his change mantra, President Mohammadu Buhari has never hidden his desire to change the economic well-being and welfare of the poorest Nigerians - the masses. Access to credit to help boost the output of their petty businesses has proven to be one route he has taken in providing succour to Nigeria’s lowest income earners.



The Vice - President Yemi Osinbajo over the week told beneficiaries of the Tradermoni loan scheme in Gbagi Market, Ibadan, Oyo state, that more funds would be committed to the scheme as soon as the traders begin to pay back. This emphasises the need for the sustainability of the programme, which in itself can only be sustained through the collective efforts of the traders - simply paying back the small loans they have collected.



Tradermoni scheme is not only a justification of the current Federal Government's unrelenting drive to take Nigerians away from the clutches of poverty but also a determined initiative to ensure that government reaches out to the unreached, and create a more equitable society.



The scheme has been implemented, successfully, in 10 states so far. These states are: Lagos (the pilot state) which was launched on August 7, Kano state kicked off on August 18, 20th of August saw Abia state integrated into the scheme while Akwa Ibom was on 21st of August.



Katsina got into the initiative for the take off of the scheme in the state on September 1st; Osun, Kogi, Cross River and Oyo states kick started the scheme on 3rd, 8th, 11th and 13th of September, respectively. The programme was also launched in the Federal Capital Territory on the 6th of September at the Utako Market.



With the scheme currently being implemented in 10 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, the Vice- President, as part of his outreach in ensuring a smooth and successful implementation of the free loan scheme, visited the market in Ibadan to assess how the loan was being executed and to ensure that all registered traders got the money.



It is unfortunate that there are Microfinance banks in the country which invariably are saddled with the responsibility of granting or providing loans to small traders but have made their interest rates so high that no low income trader would dare consider. This initiative by the Buhari administration helps close the gap.



The intention of the programme is to reach all 36 States of the country and the FCT. It has started on a remarkable note and can only get better. Testimonies from some of the beneficiaries have already filled the media space - attesting to the impact it has made in their little businesses. The testimonies resound what ought to be: government should be for not just the elites, but the lowest cadre of society. And this is what the Buhari administration is achieving with the TraderMoni initiative.





Amaechi Agbo is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja

avameche@gmail.com

The issues surrounding restructuring in Nigeria have remained topical at least since 1999, but it assumed a new level of resonance recently as the 2019 general elections approach. As expected, different pressure groups, socio-cultural associations and politicians have joined the fray. The most discernible motive for the high tempo in the resurgence of discourse about restructuring mainly centres around the ploy by some opposition politicians to take advantage of it to harangue the Buhari/Osinbajo administration as if all Nigeria’s problems will be solved with restructuring.

In their attempt to pull wool over our eyes on the topical issue and profit from it politically, they have tried to hinge the myriad of problems besetting Nigeria on restructuring, thereby insisting that the Buhari/Osinbajo administration must restructure Nigeria in their own terms and conditions.

As a responsible government, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo made an intervention on the need to focus more on rebuilding the country for the benefit of all citizens which is evident in the administration’s programmes, and equally acceding to fiscal federalism as a restructuring model.

Some politicians who ab-initio had hoped to gain mileage with the advancement of a holistic restructuring will not listen or accept the Vice President’s line of argument rather they chose to pour invectives on him.

Being a gentleman and patriot, Professor Yemi Osinbajo further adduced reasons to justify his position for fiscal federalism, rather than geographical restructuring as being canvassed by some politicians. For any discerning mind, Professor Osinbajo’s postulations on fiscal federalism as a type of restructuring is not only patriotic but realistic and workable especially if we consider the heterogeneous nature of the country. As a country with divergent ethnic, cultural, religious and political backgrounds it will be chaotic and disruptive to embark on a geographical restructuring of the country at present, yet in a bid to benefit from the clamour of the crowded streets, some opportunistic politicians are insisting otherwise.

It is however important to remark that any long-lasting tinkering of the Nigerian political firmament as it is presently constituted must be weaned of the shout or plaudits of the throng, because in the end the essence of government is to guarantee the security of lives and properties of the citizens as well as cater to the needs of the people. I think it is within this prism that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo tried to reason with the other schools of thought on the issue of restructuring. Unfortunately while as a statesman he is endeavouring to toe the patriotic line which will be acceptable to all the strata of society, his traducers chose to play to the gallery ostensibly for immediate political gains.

Therefore as the controversy over restructuring rages it important that Nigerians come to terms with the position of the Vice President, bearing in mind that this is one man who has never failed to stand shoulder to shoulder with Nigerians in their moments of need. There is no doubt that he has remained altruistic, devoted, committed and determined to sink and swim with Nigerians in the quest for an egalitarian society, and this is in line with the stand of President Muhammadu Buhari who has seen in him an undiluted level of patriotism and love for Nigeria, hence his decision to run again with him in the 2019 presidential election.

Nigerians must be wary of the later day restructuring converts to avoid any disappointment in the future. In the three and half years of the Buhari/Osinbajo administration it has become crystal clear that they have a clear focus of where to take the country, and using the three enablers of providing security, reviving the economy and tackling corruption Nigerians have seen the duo as partners in progress in whom they can entrust their future. As we approach the 2019 elections, we must distinguish mere rhetoric, deceitful political propaganda and realistic postulations as advanced by the Vice President of Nigeria Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

It is rather disappointing that some politicians in bid to gain momentarily from a prevailing situation will throw caution to the wind and condescend to the level of being impervious to reason. Lest we forget, Professor Osinbajo is not averse to restructuring as he has consistently promoted the creation of state police which is an aspect of restructuring, but he has always maintained the need for fiscal federalism which tends to devolve more powers to the sub-national governments rather than geographical restructuring.

By Chukwudi Enekwechi JP
Kwechis19@yahoo.com

​Many Nigerians have wrongly claimed that the TraderMoni train travelling across Nigeria is designed to induce voters ahead of the 2019 election, in some cases, like we saw in Osun, they believe that the scheme was designed to influence the governorship election holding on 22 September.

But a critical look at the scheme shows that all those politicizing the scheme got it wrong. Firstly, TraderMoni is a ‘Federal Government’ empowerment programme to alleviate poverty in Nigeria by empowering traders and artisans. It was conceived in 2016, three years before the general elections in 2019.

Secondly, Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) are not required to benefit from the scheme. This means it’s immature and poorly thought for anyone to describe it as vote buying. There’s no certainty that the beneficiaries have PVCs or will vote, so how does it translate to vote buying?

“The petty traders are not required to show PVC, or any document for that matter, they are only expected to show they are petty traders and this is why the enumeration is done in the markets and wherever the traders ply their trades,” said Laolu Akande, the spokesperson to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.



Many of these people forget that TraderMoni is a loan. They often think its free money, but you can’t blame them, they are used to freebies from previous administration.

With this microcredit scheme, petty traders get LOANS that are interest and collateral free but not FREE money. After the loans are repaid, they become eligible to access more loans.

Thirdly, talking of the train stopping by Osun, TraderMoni train has a timeline and that included Osun. The traders had been briefed and they were expectant and that is what government is all about, serving the people.

There are some that are of a different school of thought. They claim N10,000 is too small to start a business but they are totally naïve. For those who watch CNN, perhaps you might have had the chance to see Richard Quest’s advert, it simply says, “It Begins with 'Just a Penny' in CNN's 'Quest Means Business”.

We’ve heard stories of big businessmen and women who started very little and became household names. Take a second and look at hawkers on some of Nigeria’s major roads and you’ll realise that many of them require far less than N10,000, but still they jump onto the streets and start chasing after cars.

If these hawkers get N10,000 collateral and interest free loans, they will be off the street and on to better things. With N10,000 you could get a stall and start selling fruits, vegetables, food items, etc.

Here’s an interesting fact about microcredit scheme like TraderMoni. Globally, the Services sector contributes a whopping 75% of the global GDP and overall employment. In other words, the Services sector contributes more to world leading economies than oil and agriculture combined.



In India, microcredit schemes are the most powerful engine of the country’s growth, accounting for the swelling numbers in the Service sector but in Nigeria, it’s seen as a political tool.

TraderMoni has been launched in Kano, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Osun, Abuja, FCT, Kogi and Cross River. Hopefully we will learn not to politicise issues that are of utmost importance to many who need them.



​Akinloye James writes from the FCT​

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has said that the Buhari administration will continue to focus on the common man and taking Nigerians out of poverty through its social investment programmes, while calling for unity among all Nigerians.

Prof. Osinbajo said this during a townhall meeting on Tuesday in Bariga/Somolu LCDA in Lagos State to felicitate with Lagosians on the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

The Vice President, who addressed a gathering comprising APC chieftains in the state, youth groups, state government officials and the LCDA Chairmen of Somolu and Bariga, noted that the administration’s National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP) were geared towards improving the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

“The President focus has always been on the common man. So, when we came, we decided on a few things to tackle youth unemployment. First, the N-Power programme to engage as many young people who are graduates as possible. We started with 200,000, and just this month, we have employed another 300,000. So, in our N-Power programme, we have 500,000 young graduates who are employed in the programme. Now every local government in Nigeria has N-Power graduate."



Prof. Osinbajo further stated that the Buhari administration has been able to embark on the completion of more infrastructure projects and achieve more with less funds because of President’s Buhari’s honesty and the seriousness of the administration to improve the country’s fortunes.

He said, “In the past four years of the previous administration, over US$393 billion was earned in oil proceeds alone. In the past three years, we have earned US$94 billion, look at the difference. And the reasons are very straightforward. The price of oil was about half of what it used to be. But with the same $94 billion, we have been able to do far more.

“When we got into office, 24 states had not paid salaries for over six months and we ensured that these salaries were paid. And President Buhari said then, “Look, I have been a salary earner all my life, I have never done any business; the only thing I ever done is government work, either as a soldier or in government. I cannot imagine how anybody can go to sleep as a governor without paying the salaries of his workers.” So, we made sure that we paid salaries and we have done so many other things.

“In investments, look at the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; for almost 12 years, with all that money, it was never done. Now we have set about and we are doing it, we will complete it. Also, the Lagos-Kano railway project, so many of us know that we are moving towards Ibadan now. And we are going to complete it.

The Vice President further said the Buhari administration will continue to support petty traders and small businesses to ensure that more Nigerians are taken out of poverty.

He said, “The other thing we have done is GEEP (Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme), a micro-credit scheme for market women and others. We are doing one now for petty traders that is called TraderMoni. We have done it in Lagos we are going to do at least 100,000 in Lagos and 2 million across the country. The traders here in Bariga must benefit from it. We also have the one for people far bigger than that which is called GEEP.

“I want to emphasize that everything we are doing, our focus, first of all, is to ensure that people are taken out of poverty. Our country is a very big; over 200 million people, many young people coming out everyday. Aside from that, we also want to ensure that anybody who is doing anything at all, who is trading, artisans, mechanics; we are able to support them.


The reason is that when you look at the way government operates in the past; when you look at the government budget, it focuses on the middle-class, those who have industries and manufacturing plants, and those kinds of people. But the majority are at a very low level, doing little things. Those are the people that we must first of all (focus on), so that the poorest are able to do better. If the poorest do better, it would be better for all of us.”



Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
22nd August 2018

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has become famous among Nigerians for gainfully using the powers of his office to advance the socio-economic agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. For example in the heat of the Niger Delta crisis when militants resorted to blowing up oil installations, which crippled the country’s economy Professor Osinbajo took up the gauntlet and waded into finding lasting solutions to the problems in the Niger Delta region.

His interventions as manifested in his engagement with the Niger Delta leaders under the umbrella of Pan Niger Delta Forum led to the acceptance of dialogue by the Niger Delta agitators who eventually dropped their arms and saved the country from a total economic collapse and perennial restiveness in the region.

While it clear that some demands of the Pan Niger Delta Forum have not been fully implemented by the federal government, yet we see an obvious commitment on their part to fulfill most of their obligations to the Niger Delta region, and Professor Osinbajo is at the helm of seeing all these come to fruition. His inclination towards the maintenance of peace in the region has helped to stop the incessant interruption in the production and exploration of oil as a result of militancy, thereby improving the country’s economy and development.

In finding solutions to the problems confronting the region he has adopted some pragmatic approach, and the results are visible to all Nigerians. The reopening of Maritime University Okerenkoko in Delta state and establishment of modular refineries resonated well with the people and stakeholders of the region. The setting up of the modular refineries is a practical solution to the degradation of the region’s environment traceable to oil exploration.
Gladly the Buhari/Osinbajo administration is committed to the environmental remediation of the region as exemplified in the start of Ogoni clean-up programme.

The various empowerment programmes of the federal government which are targeted at supporting the youths of the region to lead useful lives have helped to provide the youths with gainful employment. In addition, the impartation of knowledge in various skills to the youths has played an important role in enhancing the productivity of the companies and other public institutions in the region.
The strengthening of the capacity of the Niger Delta Development Commission to deliver maximally on its mandate has raised the tempo of development in the region, especially in the area of infrastructural development and improvement in living standards.

As Nigerians continue to applaud Professor Yemi Osinbajo for his proactive leadership style, especially in the latest sacking of the director general of Department of State Services, Mr. Lawal Daura for acting ultra vires in the security siege at the National Assembly, it is discernible that the duo of Acting President, Professor Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari are determined to bring succour, not only to the people of Niger Delta but to all Nigerians.

His timely intervention in bringing the National Assembly siege to a stop played a significant role in restoring the confidence of Nigerians to the security agencies, and reemphasised that rule of law remains sacrosanct in Nigeria.

By Chukwudi Enekwechi (JP)
An Abuja based Journalist
Kwechis19@yahoo.com

If Prof Yemi Osinbajo’s rankings in the last week were to be measured by the stock market, they would say he topped the Gainers’ Table closing the week at a record N5000 per share.

If it was to be judged in footballing terms, Osinbajo would have emerged World Footballer of the Year, Ballon d’Or and Most Valuable Player all in one breathe.

If it were to be judged by the astronauts, they would say he defied all odds, all logic and all conspiracy theories to reach the sun and back.

What if it were the bookmakers, Osinbajo will probably be at 1000/1 odds. That’s smiling to the bank than you could ever imagine.

But since we are talking politics, then ‘That Is Very Presidential’ is apt. His boss, President Muhammadu Buhari could be tempted to extend his vacation.

What a week, what a man, what a(n) Acting President.

Way to go Osinbajo!!!

Nathaniel C. Adoji

Professor Yemi Osinbajo has recently been announced as the acting president of Nigeria as President Muhammadu Buhari proceeded on a ten day’ vacation to the United Kingdom. He had on other occasions discharged the same responsibility in very satisfactory ways, and to the admiration of most Nigerians.

Of course, his principal President Buhari continues to repose full confidence in him, mostly based on his competence and sincerity of purpose. Professor Yemi Osinbajo is a man of genteel disposition and his ability to proffer solutions to some very knotty national issues has continued to endear him to Nigerians. He has under the auspices of the federal government spearheaded various assignments that have elevated Nigeria at the international fora.
He had in line with the federal government Economic Recovery and Growth Plan embarked on an investment drive to the United States of America where he diligently showcased the information and communication technology potentials in Nigeria. He succeeded largely in winning the goodwill of Google, the world’s largest search engine firm towards Nigeria, especially as it relates to the efforts of the federal government in the diversification of the economy using technology as an enabler for more foreign exchange earnings.
He also extended the support of the Buhari administration to Google’s Next Billion users plan which is aimed at guaranteeing greater digital access in Nigeria and globally. This approach will afford millions of Nigerians access to the internet and enhance content distribution during his recent visit to Silicon Valley in the United States. In totality his recently-concluded trip to the United States was a win-win for Nigeria. The vice president had also embarked on an investment road show to the United States which took him to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The major reason for the renewed interest on Nigeria by leading global information technology giants like Google and Facebook cannot be far-fetched considering the emergence of a new generation of internet users and the future potentials. Three key ways Nigerians are keying into the new technology are through the use of smart phones to access the internet, an instinct for universal computing and a demand for localised content.

As he ascends the mantle of leadership at the highest level, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will surely not disappoint as he has an uncanny way of mobilising mass support for the administration especially as their many achievements in security, economy and fight against corruption are daily becoming manifest. For the first time in Nigeria’s history there are noticeable improvements in the infrastructural development of the country.

There is also a consciousness among Nigerians today that corruption is a cankerworm that does not do anyone good hence the unalloyed support for its reduction or outright eradication. The Buhari/Osinbajo administration has given a good account of itself in this sector. It is needless to restate that corruption has contributed to underdevelop us as a people, and with the undaunted commitment of the administration there is hope that Nigeria will soon heave a sigh of relief.

As a conscientious leader, acting President Yemi Osinbajo never fails to galvanise the collective goodwill of Nigerians and rally them at critical moments for the overall development of the country. In doing this his sincere disposition while tackling some intractable national problems is not lost on Nigerians and this was demonstrated in his past engagements with the Niger Delta stakeholders.

On the whole Nigerians are expectant that the next ten days of acting President Yemi Osinbajo will not be a dull moment, and will be used to consolidate on numerous achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari and his humble self.

As a testimony to his proactive leadership qualities, acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had in the aftermath of the security siege at the National Assembly queried the former director general of Directorate of State Security, Mr. Lawal Daura on the rationale and authority for the unlawful action. Based on the unsatisfactory response and public outcry Professor. Osinbajo sacked Mr. Lawal Daura as the boss of the DSS and the singular immediately restored calm and peace to a country full of anxiety.

Many Nigerians including the opposition also lauded Professor Osinbajo for punishing the erring official and promoting rule of law. Of course this is not the first time will play a pivotal role in seeing that Nigerians ‘yearning for the full observance of the rule of law is given full expression and the result is the unquantifiable applause and support Nigerians have continued to give to the Buhari/Osinbajo administration.

By Chukwudi Enekwechi (JP)
An Abuja-based Journalist and Politician
Kwechis19@yahoo.com

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has convened a stakeholders forum to find a lasting solution to the Apapa traffic gridlock in Lagos.

The forum tagged “Dialogue With Stakeholders on Apapa Traffic Gridlock” was held at the Western Naval Command in Apapa was attended by business owners and residents in the Apapa axis.

After listening to various solutions proffered by the stakeholders, the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo assured the stakeholders that the Federal Government had embarked on a roadmap to resolve the multi-faceted issues in the axis.

Professor Osinbajo who hinted that President Muhammed Buhari had directed him to handle the Apapa gridlock issues with utmost seriousness and urgency said more dialogues would be held with stakeholders as the event unfolds.

Promising that the stakeholders would witness more improvement in the situation in the next two weeks, the Vice President stated that all approval required for the completion of the roads under rehabilitation in the area would be granted.

He said the security situation hindering the usage of other ports in the country were being reviewed.

This is the second time the Vice-President would be visiting Lagos within a two-week period over the Apapa traffic issue.

The meeting had in attendance, the Governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, the MD of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman and the Commander of the Western Naval Command, Commodore Okon

Despite the cacophony of opposition voices against President Muhammadu Buhari, it is crystal clear that the mass of the Nigerian people are still in full support of his administration. This is also not surprising as the president has continued to keep faith with his promise to serve the interest of all Nigerians especially the downtrodden among us.

Towards this end his administration has enunciated several life-changing programmes and policies aimed at bringing development to all parts of the country. Take for example his administration’s commitment to not only commence new projects but also complete those ones started by previous administrations. It must be acknowledged that such projects were in the first place abandoned due to the pervasive corruption obtainable prior to President Buhari’s assumption of office.

Today, most of the inherent encumbrances in the award and execution of federal government projects have been reduced to the barest minimum as a result of President Buhari’s zero tolerance for corruption.

His administration is also reviving the Nigerian railways sector which was completely abandoned and the solutions seemed intractable. Presently work is going on at various locations in the country. Similarly the administration is focussed on rehabilitating the road infrastructure in the country considering the important role this can play in driving the country’s economy. The power sector is also receiving attention with the astronomical increase to about 7000 megawatts.

For the first time in Nigeria’s recent history we are witnessing less interruption in power delivery sometimes for upwards of one month. What this implies is that constant power is possible in Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to stay the course.

As a strategy for the fast revival of Nigeria’s economy President Buhari’s administration embarked on an economic diversification programme which has seen Nigeria reaping incomes from some other sources, rather than our usual dependence on oil. Were it not for President Buhari’s vision in this direction Nigeria would have been caught in the web of volatility associated with global oil market.

Nigerians are also gladdened that the Buhari administration is waging a major battle on corruption in the country and the transparency they have brought to bear on the use of the recovered looted funds is commendable. For example the federal government has earmarked the sum of N120 Billion from the recovered looted funds for the construction of major roads across the thirty six states of the country. This is money that ordinarily would have ended up in some people’s pockets.

Definitely it takes a sincere government to use public funds to spread development in the country rather than a situation where few individuals corner the resources for themselves. Were it not for the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria would have continued in the past corrupt activities of some corrupt public officials and their collaborators. One thing that is decipherable from the Buhari administration’s style of governance is that they are focussed on making life more meaningful for the ordinary people, rather than using any available opportunity to appease the rich and powerful.

For a long time Nigerians had to contend with the negative ripple effects of corruption in high places and the determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to restore sanity to Nigeria’s public life is attracting erasures among the beneficiaries of the old order. It must be appreciated that the essence of government is to serve the interest of the generality of the people at all times, but our lot in the past was that institutions of state were deployed for the benefit of some narrow vested interests.

By Chukwudi Enekwechi (JP)