₦airaland Forum

President Bola Tinubu’s engagements at the G-20 Summit took a significant turn, as he advanced his economic diplomacy initiatives with two major counterparts, Germany and South Korea.

The president met with the heads of state of three nations identified as key partners in his economic development diplomacy drive for local investment and wealth creation.

According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, for the Leader of Africa’s largest economy, a meeting with the chief executive officer of Europe’s largest economy, Germany, presented a unique opportunity to expand ties of prosperity for the people of Nigeria, but with a pragmatic approach toward ensuring the effective execution of agreements struck.

“It is not, for us, only a matter of designing the financial architecture for an expanded economic partnership. It is also about the practicality of aligning the perspectives of your large-scale manufacturers, such as Volkswagen and others, with the reality of the new incentives my government is putting in place for them to come and prosper across multiple value chains and sectors inside of our country,” he quoted the president as imploring.

Apparently intrigued by the specific economic focus of Tinubu’s proposal, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, responded by acknowledging the mutually-beneficial nature of an escalation in the scale of economic ties with Africa’s largest economy.

“Thank you for this important discussion, Mr. President. I can appreciate this opportunity to advance our economic relations. Your market is unique and our companies have history in Nigeria. We acknowledge the business-friendly reforms you have put in place. I am happy to inform you of my desire to visit you in Nigeria in October, which will allow us to carry forward these initiatives,” the German leader confided.

Following President Tinubu’s acceptance of the German Chancellor’s request to visit, the president proceeded to sit down with the leader of Asia’s fourth largest economy, South Korea, during which South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol commended the president’s regional leadership in upholding democratic tenets and norms.

“I wish to commend your strong leadership, following the peaceful transfer of power to you from your predecessor and we see a stable country in West Africa that is growing in stature,” he said.

Tinubu responded by swiftly steering the discussion toward his economic focus, as he immediately advanced proposals for an enhanced South Korean presence in Nigeria’s local manufacturing sector.

“We will leave nothing hanging. We will finalise what we agree to and we will execute. We will work point by point with you to secure rapidly implementable MoUs across sectors of partnership that will involve the active presence of your biggest firms, not just in terms of Nigerian consumption, but in local Nigerian production, from telecommunications to technology, and oil & gas,” the Nigerian leader affirmed.

The South Korean President responded in agreement, noting specifically that Nigeria’s education, technology and energy sectors are of utmost interest to South Korean investors and that he will mobilize his business community to take advantage of new Nigerian incentives for local industry.

Offering an invitation to visit Nigeria, President Tinubu would conclude formal discussions at the G-20 with the Asian giant and host nation, which had invited Nigeria to the G-20 Summit, as he met with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

“There are many lessons our nation can learn from the rapid progress that India has made under your leadership. We see fantastic opportunities between our nations across sectors, such as agricultural development, but specifically, there is more we can do to advance ICT innovation and the emergence of Blue-Chip FinTech growth in Africa. Nigeria has the local players who can drive it from the front,” the Nigerian leader confidently asserted.

The hosting head of state responded in the affirmative to the economic partnership proposal, even as he expressed gratitude for the Nigerian leader’s invitation to visit.

“Our teams must now stay close in touch to detail our priority areas of upscaled cooperation with respect to agriculture, defense industries capacity building, and even FinTech growth. I see your commitment. We believe there are immense prospects for Nigeria in the UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and we will ensure that we come together and make progress on these fronts very rapidly,” the Indian leader concluded.

During the G-20 sideline meetings, President Tinubu also had substantive, informal exchanges of views with U.S. President Joe R. Biden; European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen; and World Bank President, Ajay Banga, amongst many others.

TemplarLandry:

bigdawg7:
A drug dealer at what age?

President Bola Tinubu says he stood out academically when he was a student.

The president, who is currently in India for the G-20 Summit, said this during an interaction with Nigerians on Thursday evening.

According to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, the meeting was attended by several Nigerian students studying in India.

Tinubu told the students that with dedication, honesty, determination, and a change of mindset, they can reach for the top in their respective careers.

He said: “Good education brought me here and I am happy to stand before you here as the President of Nigeria. I started small. I was a security guard. I was a tutor in school. I was a brilliant student. I joined Deloitte and was trained by one of the biggest accounting firms in the world, because of my education.

“When I joined them, I asked them, do you have branches in Nigeria and they said, ‘we have a lot of clients that will take you, if you want to go home.’ That’s how I got to Exxon Mobil and was a very successful accountant, auditor-general, and treasurer, until I joined politics with a can-do attitude.

“You can also do it; do not be despondent in any way. Nigeria is ready to accommodate all. It does not matter which part of Nigeria you are from.”

The President called on Nigerians to harness the country’s rich diversity as a uniquely powerful tool for advancing prosperity and national development for the benefit of all citizens.

“We are here to present a new future to you. A future of a country that is so rich, endowed, and highly populated. Very dynamic, unique in its culture, tradition, and ethnicity. That is what will make our prosperity possible, if only we can make use of our diversity for prosperity,” he said.

President Tinubu also told the meeting that he ran for the highest office in the country because of the fact that, despite the great human and natural resource wealth of the nation, the leadership and public sector management deficit in the country held Nigeria back from manifest destiny.

“We are not poor in knowledge. We are not poor in human resources. We are only poor in management and leadership, and that is why I ran for president, to help all of us mould the soul of our country in the right direction,” the President said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that President Tinubu’s foreign policy thrust included four Ds, with one of them being Diaspora, which focuses on improving the quality of services that Nigerians in the Diaspora receive at Nigerian Missions abroad.

“The issue of passport delays will be a thing of the past. You won’t have to wait indefinitely for your passports to be ready. Secondly, you are the first point of contact between Nigerians and other countries. We can’t grow beyond what our people project. That is why it is very important for you to project a consistently positive image of Nigeria online and off-line,” Tuggar said.

Earlier, Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, told pressmen that Nigeria was the best place to invest and that a bet on Nigerians is one of the best bets anyone can ever make, citing Nigerian success in all countries of the world.

“We believe in Africa, but especially in Nigeria. An investment in Nigeria promises a return that is scarcely found anywhere in the world and I do business across several continents,” Elumelu said.

A respected Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gero Argungu, has passed away on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, after a brief illness.

Sheikh Dr. Abdullahi Bala Lau, the chairman of Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), disclosed the news of Argungu’s death.

Sheikh Abubakar Gero Argungu earned deep respect within the Muslim community due to his contributions to the Islamic faith and his role as a spiritual leader.

The teachings and guidance he offered have impacted the lives of numerous individuals, and his departure has created an emptiness in the hearts of those who followed him.

The funeral prayer for Sheikh Abubakar Gero Argungu is scheduled to take place at 2:00 pm on Thursday at the Idin Sarki mosque in the town of Argungu, situated in Kebbi State.

Sheikh Abubakar Gero Argungu’s memory will forever shine as a beacon of knowledge, spirituality, and inspiration within the Islamic community and beyond, serving as a guiding light for generations to come.

President Bola Tinubu’s victory at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) yesterday elicited a myriad of reactions from members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and support groups.

While some said that the judgment was a welcome development and an excellent step to actualising the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Others said it would strengthen democracy in the country.

Among the prominent APC leaders were Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Yahaya Bello, and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.

Pro-Tinubu and APC support groups that mobilised near the headquarters of the court ahead of the judgment, called on the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party(LP), Peter Obi, to join Tinubu in the task of developing Nigeria.

Sanwo–Olu and the APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi in their separate reactions, said the judgment would promote governance in the country.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said Nigerians had spoken through the ballots and that the court had validated their decision.

Sanwo-Olu congratulated President Tinubu, saying that APC members across Nigeria and the President worked hard for the victory enjoyed at the February 25 presidential election.

The governor said: “What we are witnessing today is the beauty of democracy and the rule of law. We ordinarily thought the losers should have displayed the good spirit of sportsmanship by congratulating President Tinubu, but they chose to contest the results, which is within their rights. Now that election and the results have been upheld by the Court. I hope they will do the needful.

“I congratulate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, on his well-deserved victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal Court.

“I also congratulate the leadership and members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this very landmark judicial victory.”

Sanwo-Olu also enjoined Nigerians across party divide to team up with President Tinubu to deliver the real dividends of democracy to Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying ‘today’s judicial verdict is a victory for democracy and the rule of law.’

It’s a resounding victory, says Abiodun

Governor Abiodun described the verdict as resounding victory for Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The Ogun helmsman said the unanimous decision of the tribunal has confirmed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi at the February 25 presidential poll

According to Abiodun, the tribunal’s verdict was an affirmation of the trust reposed in the President by Nigerians as evidenced in the outcome of the presidential election.

He described the judgment as sound, detailed and comprehensive, noting that the judges displayed unmatched courage in the discharge of their duties.

He said: “It is heart-warming that the tribunal judges did not succumb to intimidation by the opposition, who deployed various antics to sway the judgement in their favour.

“The judgement is a further testament to the fact that the judiciary is the last hope of our people.”

Bello : victory is affirmation of peoples will

Kogi State Governor Bello also congratulated the President and Vice President Kashim Shettima on their victory.

Bello said the triumph at the tribunal stands as a testament to the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and reaffirms that our courts remain the hope of the common man.

He added that the judgment was a significant milestone, as it upholds the will of the people, as clearly demonstrated during the elections on February . It underscores the importance of fair and transparent electoral processes in our great nation.

Ojelabi: we are satisfied

The mood was exciting at the Lagos APC Secretariat in Ikeja where the party members and faithful watched the proceedings live.

At intervals, they would clap and sing after certain parts of the judgment were read out.

Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, described the judgment as satisfactory.

He said: “We are glad and happy with the result. We are satisfied with the judgment. APC is not surprised because we diligently worked for this victory. President Bola Tinubu particularly worked hard in telling the people his intentions and plans for them when he became president. It also shows that integrity matters. The integrity of Asiwaju gave APC the edge in this matter, and we will keep at it.

“Labour Party’s rejection of the judgment is expected because of their expectations. But the judgment has proven that Nigerians really voted for the APC.”

Ojelabi also thanked party members and faithful for staying true to the party and urged them to continue to be steadfast. He assured them rewards will come sooner than expected.”

Verdict reaffirms choice of Tinubu, says Jibrin

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin also hailed the judgment affirming the victory of President Tinubu at the poll.

Barau, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, said the judgement has reaffirmed the choice of Nigerians.

While urging all to accept the outcome of the tribunal, he said Nigerians, irrespective of party differences, should team up with the administration to address the challenges facing the country.

Barau added: ‘’ The judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on the presidential poll has reaffirmed the choice of the electorate who trooped out on February 25, 2023, to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president of our beloved country.

“Now, it is time for all to team up with the President to turn around the fortunes of the country positively for the benefit of all.”

The Deputy Senate President reiterated the commitment of the parliament to come up with legislation to support the initiatives of the Executive in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

He stressed: ‘’ On our part, as assured by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, we will come up with necessary legislation to support the executive to address the challenges facing our nation. This will be pursued vigorously for the benefit of all.”

President Bola Tinubu has started a meeting with an investor in India as part of his official visit to the country ahead of the G20 Summit on Saturday and Sunday.

A statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the president entered the meeting immediately on arrival after a 15 hours long intercontinental journey.

The president met with Mr Prakash Hinduja, Chairman and CEO of the Hinduja Group of Companies, a conglomerate with a total asset portfolio exceeding 100 billion U.S. Dollars.

The president received the industrialist within 90 minutes of the his arrival in India.

Accompanied by Nigeria’s Ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, Tinubu said he was in India with a focus to better the Nigeria’s economic fortunes.

He said that Nigeria intends to attract investments with lucrative opportunities, jobs for its citizens and new revenue opportunities for the federal and sub-national governments.

“We are here for business. I am here to personally assure our friends and investors that there is no bottleneck that I will not break. Nigeria will become one of the most conducive places on earth to make good profits and create lasting jobs.

‘’With my support, there is nothing standing in your way of enjoying the unrivaled opportunities presented by our massive market and the ingenious, and hardworking nature of the Nigerian people. We are open for business,” the president said.

The Hinduja Group chairman told the president that he was a living witness to his landmark effort as Governor of Lagos in turning a coastal erosion and water encroachment crisis into a massive free trade zone where industry now thrives.

This, he said, was partially responsible for his excitement to partner with the Nigeria’s new president to create a win-win prosperity for Nigeria’s talented population.

“We believe in you as a leader who has done this before. You know what the challenges are. You know how to fix them.

”We are going to make investments into the billions of dollars under your leadership, because we see you are already addressing the systemic problems. I am ready now to sign an MoU and to begin execution.

”You tell me who to liaise with, and we will get to work immediately, particularly with respect to bus and automobile manufacturing in Nigeria, amongst other areas.

”I have had paperwork stalled in Nigerian bureaucracy for over one year, especially in FCT.

”But I knew that you would be purpose driven in this endeavour and God will help you to turn Nigeria’s rich promise into rich reality for all of its citizens,” Hinduja said.

The president directed thus: “Ministers of Trade and Finance, the two of you will follow this up immediately, and you will draw up the terms to the satisfaction of both parties.

”If there are any issues at all that require my intervention, they must be brought to my attention immediately.”

After the president assigned the task of concluding the agreement to the two ministers in collaboration with Hinduja Group Executives, who were present in the room.

The president concluded that his task of making Nigeria great could only be achieved through teamwork and not in isolation.

He added that when his investors are happy, Nigerians would rejoice by partaking in an inclusive economy where hard work is rewarded and excellence becomes the reputation of the nation.(NAN)

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) on Operation Hakorin Damisa IV have killed six kidnappers and arrested gunrunners in different operations in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states.

The operation, saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace, also said 54 suspected criminals were arrested in connection with various crimes including kidnapping, farm destruction, armed robbery, gunrunning and illicit drug trafficking among others.

The media officer of the operation, Captain Oya James, in a statement said the troops also arrested three kidnappers and a suspected bandit, Dauda Tahiru, in connection with the last attack at Heipang village in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.

“Similarly, following actionable intelligence, troops tracked down and arrested a notorious gunrunner, Da Nyam, and one other at Kwang/Kafanchan communities of Jos South and Jema’a LGAs of Plateau and Kaduna states.

During the operation, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, 55 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one DICON-graded AK-47 rifle with registration number 563706042 and one magazine.

The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation.

James further said the troops arrested two herders, Musa Mamuda and Musa Alhaji, for farm destruction at Yagbak village in Zangon Kataf while 27 cows were recovered in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State.

He added that 41 drug dealers were arrested at Congo Russia in Jos North and were in custody for further action by the NDLEA.