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*OUR GREATEST LEGACY IS TO GIVE YOU A BETTER COUNTRY, PRESIDENT BUHARI TELLS NIGERIAN CHILDREN*

***President, VP spend time with groups of children in Aso Villa

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday celebrated the Children’s Day with a solemn promise to bequeath a better country for the present and future generations.  

As part of the activities to commemorate Children’s Day, observed on May 27, the President hosted a group of Nigerian children at the State House.  

The short ceremony witnessed the cutting of a ‘national cake’, a guided tour of the President’s office, meeting rooms, banquet hall and the zoo at the Presidential Villa.

Describing children as precious blessings who should be nurtured to carry the burden of the society in the future, President Buhari, after spending a memorable time with his august visitors, bid them farewell, saying: “Bye-bye, see you next year.”

The President also received a second group of children visiting from Borno State and had a group photo with them and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who had brought them to meet the President in his office.

*Garba Shehu,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity.*
27 May 2021.

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE

*DEATH IN SERVICE OF ARMY CHIEF, ATTAHIRU, OTHERS REFLECTS DEPTH OF SACRIFICE, SAYS OSINBAJO*

Adds: _"Their gallantry would always be remembered"_

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, received the news of the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, and other military officers in an air crash yesterday with great sadness.

According to Prof Osinbajo _"their death while in active service in the defense of our country reflects the depth of sacrifice our military officers, men and women of the other ranks are often prepared to make."_

*Below is the full statement of the Vice President:*

_"I received with great sadness the news of an air crash involving the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, and other officers of the Nigerian military yesterday._

_"Their death while in active service in the defense of our country reflects the depth of sacrifice our military officers, men and women of the other ranks are often prepared to make. We honour the service of the Army Chief and all those involved in this unfortunate accident even as we continue to demonstrate our profound appreciation to all in our military services and in harm's way. The gallantry of this heroes would always be remembered._

_"I join the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to commiserate with families, friends and colleagues of these gallant officers and men who died in the crash. I pray that God grants them the fortitude to bear the loss. May the memories of the departed remain ever blessed."_

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
22 May 2021.

*STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE*

*NIGERIA WILL CONTINUE PROMOTING AFRICAN BROTHERHOOD, SAYS OSINBAJO*

*VP receives The Gambian President’s Special Envoy*

*We thank Nigeria for all the support – President Barrow’s Envoy*

Nigeria will continue to support the aspirations and activities of the government and people of The Gambia especially in ways that promote African brotherhood, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this today when he received, at the Presidential Villa, the Special Envoy of President Adama Barrow of The Gambia, Hon. Mamadou Tangara who is also the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad.

The Special Envoy came to personally deliver a message from The Gambian President to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We strongly remain in support of all of the activities of the government and people of The Gambia and stand with you in all ways,” the Vice President said while receiving the message on behalf of the President.

“The Nigerian government remains committed to its relationship with The Gambia. It is a long-standing relationship of brothers of so many years, and we consider it an important relationship not just within the ECOWAS sub-region but also we consider that as African brothers, we owe a responsibility to ourselves and to the world, to work together for the best purposes and for the best objectives that we have set for ourselves as a people.”

Extending Mr President warm regards to his The Gambian counterpart, Prof. Osinbajo assured that President Buhari will treat President Barrow’s request with “all the urgency it deserves”.

Speaking shortly after presenting President Barrow’s special message, Mr Tangara said he is in Abuja to solicit Nigeria’s support for his country’s quest to produce the next President of the ECOWAS Commission.

The Special Envoy said Nigeria’s support will be instrumental in actualizing his country’s ambition, and noted that The Gambia is committed to serving the commission with dedication and in accordance with the ideals advocated by Nigeria, especially in repositioning the commission for better results.

Appreciating Nigeria’s contributions to the prosperity and progress of The Gambia, Mr Tangara said his country owed much of its growth in the different sectors to the immense assistance provided by Nigeria.

He noted Nigeria’s support to The Gambia in the areas of the judiciary, military, and education, among others, stating that if Nigeria was to withdraw its technical support, for instance, “The Gambia’s judiciary will crumble and be in total chaos… We thank Nigeria for all the support.”

Other members of The Gambian delegation included the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Mohamadou Musa Njie, while the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda led other officials from the ministry to the meeting.

*Laolu Akande*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity*
*Office of the Vice President*
*19th May 2021*

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

2023 PERMUTATIONS A DISTRACTION, OSINBAJO HAS NOT DECLARED INTEREST IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE

The attention of the Office of the Vice President has been drawn to a website:supportosinbajo.ng that is calling on Nigerians to join a volunteer group mobilizing support for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

Details of this website and the solicitation of the group are currently trending on WhatsApp with a suggestion that Prof. Osinbajo has "quietly" declared interest in the 2023 election.

The Office of the Vice President is not in any way connected to this website or the group behind it and considers such an enterprise an unnecessary distraction. Prof. Osinbajo has not declared any interest whatsoever in the 2023 election, but he is rather focused on working in his capacity as Vice President in the current administration to address all the compelling issues in the country and concerns of Nigerians, including finding effective and lasting solutions to the security challenges.

Therefore, we ask that people desist from such unhelpful permutations while we all deal together with the challenges confronting us as Nigerians, and resolve them for the benefit of our people, peace and prosperity in the land.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
17th May 2021

(UPDATED)
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

*NIGERIA'S MANIFEST DESTINY AS AFRICA'S ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE CAN'T BE ABORTED, SAYS OSINBAJO*

*VP tours world-class smart card facility in Lagos

*Says FG is democratizing broadband connectivity


It's the first in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the three such cutting-edge facilities on the continent, with top prime global certifications for smart card manufacturing and it is based in Lagos, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, relished yesterday afternoon while touring SecureID company's premises, and affirmed Nigeria's extremely bright economic future, which he said cannot be aborted despite current challenges.

According to him, "the economic future of our nation is extremely bright. Yes, we have challenges today and they may look daunting. But let me assure you that these issues will be resolved. The march of this nation to its manifest destiny as Africa’s leading economic power will not be aborted. We are more than able to overcome."

An impressed Prof. Osinbajo said the Buhari Administration in "following the recommendation of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, has determined that manufacturing will be our main focus in bringing about dynamic growth, jobs and exports. This will mean retooling our business environment for greater competitiveness, especially with the take off of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.

"We are rethinking our tax regimes, sorting out external and internal trade issues, getting our regulatory authorities; SON, NAFDAC, and even Customs, to see their roles more as business facilitators rather than policemen or revenue generators. Our environment must be friendly for local businesses first, foreign investments will follow enthusiastically."

Commenting on the efforts of the administration to position the country as a leading economic beacon on the continent, the VP also stated that the Buhari administration was ramping up efforts in improving the country’s infrastructure and digital space.

He said, “aside from the work we are doing with other infrastructure such as rail, roads and power we are committed to a plan of democratizing broad band connectivity. Our programme, which we have reiterated in our Economic Sustainability Plan, is broadband connectivity for all by 2023.

“The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy launched the National Broadband Plan which is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25mbps in urban areas and 10mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population at affordable prices by the target date. Broadband connectivity is as important as electricity in the digital age unlike electricity we do not have to make several mistakes before getting it right."

While commending the efforts of the founder and Managing Director of SecureID, Mrs Kofo Akinkugbe, Prof. Osinbajo described SecureID facility as a place of history, innovation and creativity.

He said, “This world-class manufacturing facility is reputed to be the first certified smartcard manufacturing plant in sub-Saharan Africa, the only smart card production and personalization plant in West Africa and one of only six on the continent and one of only 80 in the world.

"The facility serves 21 countries across Africa and is fully certified by major commercial card companies - VISA, Verve and MasterCard. SecureID has shown that this country can be at the cutting edge of development in technology and digital enterprises. The world in which companies like SecureID operates, providing comprehensive end-to-end payment, identity management and digital security solutions is one that thrives on innovation.

Continuing, the VP said, "the company has in these few years of her existence provided notable innovative offerings to the financial services sector, telecommunications, government, education, healthcare and private enterprises. Equally remarkable is the fact that with this facility, the company can produce all the payment cards, SIM cards, loyalty cards and the various identity management cards (residency cards, voter registration cards, drivers’ license and national identity cards) required here in Nigeria, with capacity to spare.”

"Congratulations also for your successes in getting the certifications that will help to meet the demands of customers, such as Global System of Mobile Applications (GSMA), Visa International, MasterCard Incorporated, Verve, Card Quality Management (CQM), and ISO 9001/2015 for Smart Card Manufacturing and Personalization of credit and debit cards.

"In particular, we must also congratulate SecureID for earning the GSMA certificate last year; this is a world class security requirement for SIM card manufacturing and personalization. Your rapid expansion is also worthy of commendation, especially as you have added a number of subsidiaries, one of which is the digital arm of the business: SID Digital, while the other is involved in transport payment infrastructure. This has put the company in good stead to provide services ranging from identity management to tax collection, school management systems, health management systems, digital cards for the banks and, of course, e-ticketing for all forms of transportation, including road, rail and water."

Speaking earlier at the event, the founder of SecureID, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe, highlighted the significance of the Vice President's visit, noting that the VP has come to see some of the much-touted potential being realized. She added that SecureID was a good entrepreneurial story of an abiding faith in God and the nation, proving the viability of investing and staying in the course.

Akinkugbe commended the federal government for establishing institutions and agencies to support and encouraged start-ups, MSMEs and other enterprises that had offered assistance to the company.

In his remarks, the representative of the Bank of Industry, its Executive Director, Mr. Simon Araronu, said he was excited to partner with SecureID, being a pioneer of world-class status in the industry, as well as making world class products, while generating foreign exchange earnings and creating jobs.

Others who spoke at the event were the Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi; Deputy Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Shobo.

The representative of the Governor of Lagos State, His Lordship, the Anglican Bishop of Lagos State, Bishop Humphrey Olumakaiye, alongside other top government functionaries, also attended the event.

Accompanying the Vice President were the Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Ade Ipaye; and the Economic Adviser to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Ambassador. Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu.


*Laolu Akande*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity*
*Office of the Vice President*
*12th May, 2021*

*STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE*

*VP OSINBAJO TO REPRESENT NIGERIA AT MUSEVENI’S INAUGURATION TOMORROW IN UGANDA*

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.

Prof. Osinbajo would be joining several other Heads of State and Government for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, May 12 at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, the nation's capital city.

Nigeria and Uganda share historical antecedents and enjoy good diplomatic relationships, including working together as member-states of the Commonwealth, the African Union, and the United Nations among others.

Both countries have signed Bilateral Agreements on Technical Aid Corps, Trade, and on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

The Vice President who earlier today participated at the resumed National Security Council meeting presided over by the President at the Presidential Villa later traveled to Lagos for a tour of the manufacturing facility of SecureID. (SecureID is one of the three smart card manufacturing companies in Africa.)

He departs Lagos this evening for Kampala and would be accompanied by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, and the Special Adviser on Economic Matters to the President, Ambassador Adeyemi Dipeolu.

He is expected back in the country later tomorrow.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
11th May 2021.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

DARE ADEBOYE REPRESENTED FUTURE OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY WITH HIS COMMITMENT TO PREACHING UNVARNISHED GOSPEL - OSINBAJO

*VP attends Service of Songs celebrating life of Pastor Adeboye's son at Redemption Camp

Pastor Dare Adeboye lived a life filled with zeal, speed, and emphasized what was important and needed to be done at the right time according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof Osinbajo stated this in a tribute to the pastor and son of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye who passed on last week

The Vice President's tribute was read at a service of songs that was held this afternoon at the Redemption Camp by Pastor Bisi Akande, Pastor in Charge of Lagos Region 35, although the VP was in attendance at the event alongside his wife, Her Excellency, Pastor Dolapo Osinbajo.

Describing the attributes of Pastor Dare, the Vice President stated that “he knew what was important to do and to emphasize and he worked very hard, everywhere, with the zeal and speed of one who knew that we don’t have all day.”

“He understood the dynamics and urgency of reaching young people with the gospel, especially because of their fundamental role in the sustainable growth of the church of God.”

According to the Vice President, Pastor Dare was in many ways, a representative of the future of Christian Ministry, “a new generation birthed in a period of great turbulence in ideas and doctrines, a surfeit of distractions, but committed to ensuring that the unvarnished gospel is preached to that generation.”

He further went on to say that despite the late pastor’s position of privilege, “he was deeply and unpretentiously respectful, not just of elders and those in authority, but of everyone, even his subordinates.”

Speaking on his personality, Prof Osinbajo noted that “everyone has a story to tell of Dare’s warmth, compassion, friendliness and his open displays of affection for others.”

The Vice President once again offered his condolences to Pastor Dare’s wife, Temiloluwa; his children, Oluwatishe, Ireoluwa and Araoluwa; Daddy and Mummy G.O, his siblings, family members and the entire RCCG family.

At the event were the former Governors of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; of Ondo State Mr. Segun Mimiko; the wife of former Imo State Governor, Mrs. Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha and the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Bishop Wale Oke, and several other dignitaries.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
10th May 2021

*STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE*

*IMPROVED COLLABORATION BETWEEN FG & STATE GOVTS, THE WAY TO GO, SAYS OSINBAJO*

_*VP lauds Delta Gov, commissions FRSC training school in Owa-Alero donated by State Govt._

Effective collaboration between the Federal Government through its agencies and State Governments will bring about more dividends and improved service delivery to Nigerians, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this Thursday at the inauguration of the Federal Road Safety Corps Marshal Inspector Training School in Owa-Alero, Delta State. The Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration in the State built and furnished the school and donated it to the Federal Government.

According to the Vice President, “it is an excellent exemplar of the benefits of collaboration between State Governments and Federal Government agencies. And as it should be, the ultimate beneficiaries are the good people of Delta State and the Country at large.”

Continuing, the VP who praised Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the construction of the modern, fully furnished buildings noted that this "far-sighted and thoughtful contribution of the State Government is worthy of commendation.

“I am persuaded to encourage all levels of government to emulate Delta, Enugu, Plateau, and Oyo States which have exemplified this spirit of cooperation for development by their tremendous support for the Road Safety institutions within their jurisdictions.”

The Vice President also commended the cordial relationship between the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) and the FRSC which according to him “has led to the establishment of two additional training institutions in the last one year.”

Lauding the efforts of the FRSC management over the years, Prof. Osinbajo said “indeed the choice of Nigeria as one of the Centers of Excellence for road safety in Africa by the Africa Development Bank is a clear acknowledgment of the considerable contributions of the FRSC to the development of road safety in the region.”

“The Corps has continued to show appreciable determination to build staff capacity as a major requirement for the understanding of road traffic matters as well as tackling the associated challenges.

“These laudable efforts of the Corps are in alignment with the Policy thrust of the Present Administration in its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). Part of the critical focus of the ERGP is capacity building and skill acquisition interventions,” Prof. Osinbajo explained.

Prof. Osinbajo noted that “the Federal Government will continue to support organizations that demonstrate commitment to their statutory duties”, and appreciated the government and people of Delta State for the huge financial resources dedicated to the project.

“It is certainly an investment with long-term returns to the immediate community, the State, and the country in general. I wish to charge personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps to put this institution to the best of use”.

Besides Governor Ifeanyi and the FRSC Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, other dignitaries at the event included Minister of State for Labour and Employment Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN who accompanied the Vice President, the Obi of Owa-Alero, His Royal Majesty Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, who is also the Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, among other top Federal and State government officials.

Before commissioning the school, the VP paid a courtesy call on the Obi of Owa-Alero, where the traditional ruler commended the Vice President for his progressive politics that he observed transcends partisanship. He added that the people of Delta State "will work for the unity of this country."

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
6th May 2021

*STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE.*

*_WORKING TOGETHER, NIGERIA WILL REALIZE ITS TRUE POTENTIALS_* — *OSINBAJO.*

*Former Ogun Gov Daniel tells VP:* _We know your job is not easy, but we are proud of you._

Though Nigeria is facing diverse challenges, it will overcome the problems and realize its potentials especially if people who share progressive views continue to work together in the interest of the country, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this Wednesday when he received on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, members of a SouthWest Think-Tank known as IMODOYE led by former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. (Imodoye means knowledge is valuable)

According to the Vice President, “I am very hopeful that this country will truly realize its potentials and I believe that all of us working together can make that happen. If the progressive ideas are put forward and we focus, then this country indeed will work.

“The country is ours, we should make it happen, there will be many challenges but I think that we must be prepared to face it until progressive views of improved welfare for the citizens that we represent, eventually prevail.”

Speaking on the efforts of the Buhari administration to address some of the challenges confronting Nigerians, the Vice President noted that “the best way out of where we are today is to have a massive plan for investment because that is really how to create opportunities for jobs, which is what we are hoping to achieve with the Economic Sustainability Plan, creating opportunities through the solar investments with 5 million connections, the Farms for Jobs Project and the Social Housing Scheme.”

The Vice President then reiterated that the welfare of the people and the progress of the country has always been and will remain the priority of the APC and the Buhari administration.

Earlier in his remark, former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, said the visit was to identify with and support the cause of Prof. Osinbajo whom he described as “intelligent, hardworking, articulate” and a very proud son of the Southwest region.

His words: “we want to let you know that you are appreciated, we are proud of you and the work that you are doing, we know it is not an easy job. We also want to let you know that we want to join you in nation-building, if there is anything, any assignment you want us to undertake, we are at your service, that is why we are here.”

Former Governor Daniel who is now an APC member led the Imodoye delegation which included some other new entrants into the party.
He said having joined the party he has visited the President, Governors, and other leaders including Chief Bisi Akande.

With him yesterday at the VP's office were Mr Dare Babarinsa, a veteran journalist; and Otunba Opeyemi Agbaje, a policy analyst. Others were, Mr Ayodele Olaoye, Mr Kole Omololu, Mr. Kole Abe, Mr Deola Sosanwo, Mr Steve Oliyide, Mr John Obafemi and Mr Demola Folarin.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
6th May 2021.

*STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE*

*OSINBAJO TO POLITICAL ELITES: LET US TELL OUR COMMUNITIES THE TRUTH*

*VP adds: _“…every conflict is a result of elite failure to speak up._

Nigeria cannot afford a war and elites in the country should rise up, speak the truth against forces of division in order to preserve the unity of the country.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, stated this Tuesday evening in Abuja while speaking with All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders from the South-East, particularly chieftains and members from Anambra State.

According to Prof. Osinbajo, “we cannot afford a war in this country…it is the political elite that will determine what will take place. If we keep quiet, if we say nothing and hope that things will just normalize, we may be wrong. And we may find ourselves heading for something much worse than we are seeing today.”

His words: “if the political elite does not speak up, if we don't see anything wrong in what is going on, if we allow it to continue to slide, we will endanger ourselves and endanger the future of our country.

The VP noted that “I know that every conflict is a result of elite failure, the elite failure to speak up and tell the truth to their communities, that's the cause of every one of these civil conflicts.

“So, I would urge that we speak up. I would urge that we stand for something. Sometimes it’s dangerous to stand for something. But the greater danger of course, is to keep quiet.”

Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo cautioned that “the thing about the kinds of conflicts in these parts of the world is that it is usually a war without end. Everyone who thinks that they have some money stored up somewhere is wrong, you will eventually run out.

Recalling a personal experience he observed in Somalia in the 90s when he went there to work with the United Nations, the VP said he saw a Supreme Court Justice whom he had known before queuing up for food in the aftermath of civil conflicts in the country.

“Everyone who thinks they can go and hide somewhere, you won’t even find a place. In the end, everyone will suffer. Parents, children, young people, old people, will suffer.”

Speaking about the forthcoming primaries for the governorship election in Anambra State, the Vice President said a fair process or fairness of justice will be fundamental in ensuring victory for the party at the polls.

Prof. Osinbajo further noted that “to be fair and just is not the responsibility for spirits, it is the responsibility for men and women of our party, especially the leadership.”

Party chieftains present at the meeting included former Senate President, Mr Ken Nnamani; Minister of State for Mines & Steel Development, Mr Uche Ogah, Minister of State for Labour & Productivity, other party leaders and members from the South-East, and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, among others.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
28th April 2021.

*STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE*

*VP OSINBAJO TO REPRESENT NIGERIA AT SIERRA LEONE’S 60th INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION*

President Muhammadu Buhari would be represented by his deputy, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, at Sierra Leone’s 60th Independence Day celebration taking place today in the country’s capital, Freetown.

Prof. Osinbajo would be joining several other heads of State and Governments from Africa and beyond who are expected at the event.

Historically, both Nigeria and Sierra Leone have shared cherished and cordial relations at least right from colonial times. The relationship has continued and evidenced in the socio-economic, technical and security cooperation over the years.

The Vice President who leaves Abuja this morning would be accompanied by the Foreign Affairs Minister of State, Ambassador Zubairu Dada among others and he is expected back in Abuja later today.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
27th April 2021.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE



OSINBAJO TO US:

SUPPORT JUST TRANSITION TO NET-ZERO EMISSIONS, GLOBAL ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINE


*Wants American foreign policy reset to increase security cooperation with Africa


*Nigeria’s VP is effective, says US don



Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN has urged the United States to lend its weight to the call for a just global transition to zero emissions, lead the effort to ensure easy access to COVID-19 vaccine by all countries, and generally reset its foreign policy agenda with the African continent in ways that bring about economic prosperity, increased security, and improved governance.

Prof. Osinbajo expressed these views today in a speech delivered virtually at the 2021 Johns Hopkins University’s African Studies Programme Conference on the theme “Africa-US Re-engagement: A New Foreign Policy Agenda”. The conference was organized by the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), of the university.

According to the VP, “the United States and Africa should work together to tackle climate change and moderate global warming including through an energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies. African countries have made commitments in this regard towards implementing the Paris Climate Change Agreement targets.”

“Given the long term commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, there is a growing trend among development finance institutions to withdraw from fossil fuel investment, including the World Bank’s decision to cease funding for upstream oil and gas development and the new restrictions on financing downstream gas development currently being considered by the European Union, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States.

“While well-intentioned, this move does not take into account the principles of common but differentiated responsibility and leaving no one behind, that are enshrined into global treaties around sustainable development and climate action.”

“The United States must lend its weight to stopping this manifestly unfair trend that can undermine the sense of collective responsibility we all have towards mitigating climate change. What is required is a just transition to zero emissions,” the Vice President added.

Prof. Osinbajo has in recent times advocated for a just transition to net-zero emissions, particularly calling on multilateral agencies, and western countries to stop the planned defunding of gas projects in developing countries.

At different national and international forums, including recent meetings with a delegation of the European Union (EU), and at the Africa Regional Heads of Government Commonwealth Roundtable, among others, Prof. Osinbajo had maintained a firm stand against ending investments in gas projects in developing countries during the transition to zero emissions.

Commending the US for helping to improve healthcare outcomes in Africa including through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief (PEPFAR), Prof. Osinbajo called for “the same spirit of collaboration with regard to making COVID-19 vaccines available to African countries.”

His words: “the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need to coordinate actions to prevent and tackle pandemics while also building up public health infrastructure in developed and developing countries alike.

“This is not a time for vaccine nationalism and export bans but rather of working together towards universal vaccination against the disease. The United States can lead in the effort to ensure that all countries and their peoples can access vaccines irrespective of the resources available to them.”

Calling on the US to reset its foreign policy agenda with Africa, Prof. Osinbajo noted that the reviewed cooperation with the continent “should promote a partnership that brings about economic prosperity, increases security, combats disease, improves governance and mitigates climate change.”

“Africa is in many ways the last frontier for economic development and it has the potential to be a global growth pole. Indeed, as other parts of the world are looking inwards, Africa is moving confidently to integrate its economies through the African Union Agenda 2063 as well as the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” the Vice President added.

Speaking specifically about the implementation of AfCFTA, the Vice President said “the United States is well placed to lead trade and investment ties with Africa. And it has a good leg-in with the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA). The legislation, which removed all tariffs on 6,400 products available for export to the US, saw some African countries benefiting considerably.”

Continuing Prof. Osinbajo noted that “as the African Continental Free Trade Agreements are set to kick-in, AGOA must now be implemented consistent with the AFCTA. AGOA expires in 2025. But a new and improved AGOA that takes these challenges into account can be negotiated before then.”

On improving the support of the US in combating terrorism in the Sahel region, the Vice President said a more robust intervention towards clearing the reign of terror in the region is desirable.

“While it is evident that the threat of violent extremist organizations is growing, it will appear that US policy (United States Africa Command) has since 2020 shifted from a strategy of degrading violent extremist organizations in West Africa to simply containing their spread.

“The escalation of the attacks and the synergies being created amongst these extremist groups call for a review of that position. It may be the moment for a more robust intervention along the lines of US-backed operations in clearing terrorists and insurgents in the Middle East.”

The Vice President also strongly advocated that the US-Africa relations need not be uni-dimensional, noting that “since the United States is also a global leader in economic and military terms as well as through its contributions to the norms that shape the global order, it should work with Africa either under the auspices of the African Union or indeed through individual countries like Nigeria to build a better world.”

“Africa should not be seen or used as a pawn in great power games nor as an arena in the contest to secure strategic minerals and natural resources but rather as a partner in building a more secure, peaceful and prosperous world,” Prof. Osinbajo added.

Before his speech, organizers of the conference commended the VP for his leadership and commitment, expressing delight, according to Prof Elliot Cohen, Dean of the School of Advanced International Studies, that a professor rose to the height of a Vice President in any country at all.

Also, Prof. Peter Lewis, the Chair of African Studies in the university described the Vice President as “a figure known for his integrity, dedication, and effectiveness.”

After his speech, the Vice President also took questions from conference participants.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
19th April 2021

*STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE*

*FG, AfDB COLLABORATING ON SPECIAL-AGRO PROCESSING ZONES ACROSS THE COUNTRY*

_*7 States, FCT set for phase 1 rollout_

_*Osinbajo commends progress so far_

As part of the Buhari administration’s efforts to transform agricultural productivity in the country, the Federal Government in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other stakeholders is set to roll out a Special-Agro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme aimed at concentrating agro-processing activities in demarcated areas to boost productivity and integrate production, processing and marketing of selected commodities.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, commended the progress in the plan earlier today at a meeting at the Presidential Villa where he was briefed about the status of the collaboration. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Nanono and his counterpart in the Industry, Trade and Investment Ministry, Otunba Niyi Adebayo were also at the meeting.

Under the programme, the Nigerian government, in collaboration with the AfDB and working with other stakeholders such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Bank of Industry, will demarcate areas across the 36 States and the FCT where the agro-processing centres will be established. About 140 of such centers are being envisaged across the country.

The agro-processing centres will be provided with basic infrastructure such as water, electricity and roads as well as facilities for skills training. Small-holder farmers in the catchment areas will be linked to markets across the value chain.

To set off the plan in the opening phase, 7 States representing most of the geo-political zones in the country have been selected in addition to the Federal Capital Territory. The States are Ogun, Oyo, Imo, Cross River, Kano, Kaduna, Kwara. All the other States in the country would be added later as the scheme progresses.

The programme aligns with the Economic Sustainability Plan and the Next Level programme of the Buhari administration regarding agriculture.

Briefing Prof. Osinbajo on the progress made so far in the implementation of the programme, AfDB’s Acting Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Ms Toda Atsuko said the bank in collaboration with other stakeholders was ready to start the first phase of the Special-Agro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, having completed a joint appraisal mission across the 36 States with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Atsuko who commended the Buhari administration for its efforts said the success of the project is hinged on the political will of the Buhari administration, adding that the plan will create jobs, and leverage on technology with significant youth participation.

“I am very pleased to see that work has advanced and quite a bit is already being done. There is a need to synergize really concretely with Green Imperative (which is the partnership with the Brazilians), I think there are areas where these two programmes can complement each other,” according to the Vice President.

According to him, “I am absolutely certain that we have enough room given the sheer size of the agric enterprise in Nigeria, we have enough room to accommodate these programmes, especially when they are synergized in a way that it will benefit the entire sector.”

Emphasizing the need to also ensure effective synergy with the 36 States, the Vice President said “again, synergy will be crucial with the States because there is no way of getting this thing done without a close collaboration with the States because the States are where these projects will be cited.”

Prof. Osinbajo then commended the efforts of all stakeholders on the project noting that “this is a very good progress that we have made and we must ensure this actually works. Particularly with the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Nanono welcomed the partnership to establish agro-processing zones across the country, noting that it would be to the benefit of farmers and the agric sector at large.

He also emphasized the need for synergy of ideas and efforts to ensure that the Special-Agro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme complements the Green Imperative initiative of the Buhari administration.

On his part, Associate Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mr Donal Brown who joined virtually, said the organization would co-finance the project with the AfDB with the view to creating an important opportunity for small-holder farmers in Nigeria to improve their farm yields, enhance their income and livelihoods. Already, IFAD is working with about 150,000 Nigerian small holder farmers.

Besides the Ministers, other officials at the meeting included the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu; the MD/CEO of Bank of Industry, Mr Kayode Pitan; Senior Special Adviser to the AfDB President on Industrialization, Prof Oyebanji Oyeyinka, among other senior officials from the AfDB and IFAD.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
16th April 2021.

EXAMINING ARTS AS A UNIFYING ELEMENT

Archaeologists and anthropologists heavily rely on arts and artefacts to fill in the blanks in their study of man’s way of life. Arts express the strength of human imagination and provide the cultural trajectory of people’s culture and societies. Hence, arts is the window to our past and the time capsule for our future.

The global art market is valued at about $67 Billion with over 40 million artefacts sold and Nigerian arts made their own contribution to this exotic trade. It is natural for the lucrativeness of the business to attract illicit transactions and create a very busy black market; to this also, Nigeria has fallen victim.

For instance, in 2014, the Museum of Fine Arts returned 8 artefacts from the Royal Palace in Benin with one stolen as recently as the 1970s. In 2020, a terracotta sculpture of Ile-Ife origin believed to be about 600 years old, was returned from the Netherlands.

As more artefacts are making their way back home, they may have left the shores of the country belonging to a particular ethnic group or culture, but they return amidst national cheer and jubilation, as national treasures as symbols of Nigeria's commonality of culture despite our diversities. This perfectly describes the unifying factor of arts.

In the words of Australian artist and illustrator Leni Kae, "art inspires us to visit the concept of unity and see ourselves as part of a bigger universe". Arts encompasses our dance and musical performances, colourful fabrics and literature.

Meanwhile, all kinds of visual arts exist within a spectrum which ranges from purely aesthetic purposes at one end to purely utilitarian purposes at the other. Such a polarity of purpose is reflected in the frequently used terms, Artist and Artisan, the latter being understood as one who gives considerable attention to the utilitarian.

Moreover, the arts, also known as fine arts in its entirety utilizes modes of expression that uses skills or imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences which can be shared with others.

In music, our traditional rhythms and melodies birthed the likes of Palmwine Music, Akpala and Afrobeats which remain our foremost exports to the rest of the world. From, the Calabar's Ekombi Dance, Yoruba's Bata Dance, Igbo's Nkwa umu-Agbogho Dance, to the Hausa-Fulani's Koroso Dance or the Tiv's Swange dance; our colourful and flamboyant dances are famous in Africa and beyond. They may be ascribed to their respective ethnic groups here in Nigeria but they are simply identified as Nigerian dance to the rest of the world.

Also in literature, the likes of Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka and more contemporary authors such as Chimamanda Adichie, have educated people of the cultural richness of Nigeria through their art. With our craft, we have painted a unified picture of our nation in the face of our apparent current disunity.

Little wonder that a Southeastern Cyprian Ekwensi was comfortable to promote a typical northern lifestyle through the vivid authoring of the bestselling 'Passport of Mallam Ilia'.

It is safe to say that Nigeria has been contributing to universal unity through our arts since the 15th century. However, going by the spates of agitations and skirmishes in the country, we are in dire need of that same commodity we have so graciously been giving the world - the unifying factor of Nigeria's arts.

Therefore there's serious need to rejuvenate our Arts and improve on it just like other countries because it's neglection will rather continue to birth so much disunity amongst us.

By Asiwaju Adekanmbi Olufemi, a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ondo State.

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*RAMADAN: A TIME REDEDICATE TO HIGHER VIRTUES OF KINDNESS,  LOVE & GENEROSITY,  SAYS VP OSINBAJO*

As the Ramadan fast progresses, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has called on Muslim faithfuls in Nigeria to rededicate themselves to higher virtues of kindness, love, and generosity towards each other, regardless of faith or ethnicity.

Speaking to State House Correspondents on his way out from the Council Chambers after the Federal Executive Council meeting which he presided over, Prof. Osinbajo said “I must express my very sincere greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters who have begun the Ramadan Fast already, and to say that, this is not just the time for abstinence from food, drink, and other worldly pleasures, but also a time for us to rededicate ourselves to higher virtues of kindness, love, generosity towards each other as brothers and sisters, regardless of faith or ethnicity.”

The Vice President added that “ for our nation, it is a time I believe, to recommit ourselves to unity, to brotherhood, to peace and reconciliation in various ways so that our country will achieve all of the objectives that we have all set for ourselves.”

He then wished “our Muslim brothers and sisters a very happy period of Ramadan. Ramadan Kareem.”

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
14th April 2021.

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*OSINBAJO TO NEW ACTING IG: RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN POLICE FORCE.*

_*It’s time to improve police welfare, VP adds_

The police force must work hard to regain the trust and confidence of the public by stamping out the excesses, abuses, and culture of impunity exhibited by some elements within the police according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof Osinbajo stated this on Wednesday at the decoration ceremony of the new Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Akali Baba, at the State House in Abuja.

The Vice President emphasized that under the leadership of the new Acting Inspector General, “the police must now rebuild the broken bridges of trust with the public and regain the confidence of the citizenry.”

Continuing, Prof Osinbajo reiterated the need for community policing as a way of also securing the lives of Nigerians and called for “implementing the community policing policy and reconceptualizing policing as a task carried out in partnership with local communities and by officers who are members of these localities.”

He noted that the welfare and working conditions of police officers must improve significantly and under the leadership of the Acting IG, officers “must live up to all of the highest standards of professional conduct and compliance to the rule of law.

“You must stamp out the excesses, abuses, and the culture of impunity illustrated by some elements of the force which provoke public outrage against the institution.”

The Vice President admitted that the Acting IG assumes his office at “a very turbulent time in the life of our country,” noting “multiple threats to law, order and public safety.” He stated further that, “the role of law enforcement and in particular that of the Nigeria Police Force as the primary agency charged with maintaining law and order, has never been more important.”

Speaking about the new Police Act, Prof Osinbajo said, “last year, Mr. President signed the new Police Act, the first police reform legislation to be enacted in almost 50 years.”

“The Act is the centerpiece of our commitment to reinventing the police as an institution that we can all be proud of. It articulates this administration’s vision of a modern, competent police force as an institution committed to the preservation of human rights and human dignity and the protection of the public against all criminal threats.”

He charged the Acting IG to embark on a mission of restoring “the dignity and high repute of the policing profession,” adding that the Buhari administration “stands ready to work with you to reposition the Nigeria Police Force and take it to unprecedented heights of professionalism, competence, and excellence. I, therefore, welcome you as a key partner in this administration’s comprehensive programme of reform aimed at repositioning the NPF as a modern, responsive, and citizen-centered law enforcement service.”

The Vice President also noted that the selection process of the new Acting IG by the President is different from past practice "when the selection of a new Inspector General of Police often meant the immediate retirement of a cohort of senior police officers whose vast experience and training would no longer be available to the country."

Also present at the decoration ceremony were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, the former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and other top government officials.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
7th April 2021

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*EBONYI ATTACKS: NO ILLUSIONS, WE 'LL ENSURE JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS, BEEF UP SECURITY, SAYS OSINBAJO*

_*I’m here on behalf of the President, VP tells affected communities_

_*Adds: Relief materials will be provided to help rebuild affected communities_

The Federal Government will do everything to ensure that security is beefed up in communities affected by recent communal clashes and violent attacks in Ebonyi State, while ensuring justice for victims, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

He condemned the attacks, and sympathized with the victims, describing such acts as cowardly, wicked and “very deeply distressing.”

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Easter Sunday afternoon during a visit to Ebonyi State after attending Resurrection Sunday service at the Aso Villa Chapel.

At the State, the Vice President stopped at the Egedegede community in Ishielu Local Government Area, which suffered suspected herdsmen attacks recently and Ezza/Effium communities in Ohaukwu Local Government Area where communal clashes had occurred. Announcing at each stop that he is visiting at the direction of the President, the VP later held an interactive session with stakeholders at the State capital before returning to Abuja late last night.

The Vice President was accompanied on the visit to the affected areas by the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi, who received him at his first stop at Ishielu LGA. He had earlier been welcomed by the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu from where he drove to Ebonyi State.

On the VP's delegation were the Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of State, Mines & Steel Development, Mr. Uche Ogah; and the Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, among other dignitaries.

According to the Vice President, “there is no way we can, by saying sorry, fully compensate for the lives that have been lost and property destroyed. I want you to know that one way we can do something is by seeking justice and providing for the families of those who have lost their homes and we would do so.”

He added that government will ensure justice is done and the perpetrators brought to book, while urging the people of the communities to remain calm and avoid reprisal attacks.

Said the Vice President: “let me assure you that we will seek justice on behalf of those who have died not just because they are Nigerians, but because they are human beings and they deserve justice.

“Anybody who watches another person killed next to him and does not feel angry and pained, and doesn’t feel the person deserves justice must answer to God ultimately. So, don’t be under any illusion, we will make sure, so long as it lies within our power, that we will seek justice and get justice.

“Which is why I will urge you, as you have done, and you have done the right thing in my view - you have peacefully presented the case, you have very peacefully conducted yourselves, reported to the authorities and sought the right support from the government.

“It is up to the government to provide the best that they can. But we must be careful also not to seek revenge because we don’t know where it will end.”

Assuring the people of improved security in the affected areas, the Vice President stated that government will beef up the security in the communities to forestall a reoccurrence.

“We are in conversation with the GOC and the Army, about ensuring that there is more security provided here. I know that the GOC has already made more provisions, but obviously, there is a need for even greater security provided here,” he said.

At the Ezza and Effium communities in Ohaukwu LGA, the VP noted that the President was extremely concerned about the recent unfortunate incidents.

“Mr. President was particularly concerned about these, and of course, we spoke to the governor and he - the President - thought it would be good for me to come here on his behalf to speak to the communities, especially the leadership of the community.

“I want to say that it is a very deeply distressing thing and I sympathize, not just with the governor and the people of Ebonyi State, but in particular, the people of the communities that have been affected,” he said.

While emphasizing the need for politicians and other category of leaders to prioritize the welfare of their people, Prof. Osinbajo stated that, “politicians who try and create a crisis by milking the death of their people... that is completely irresponsible.

“There is no excuse for it. It is the duty of leaders, political leaders to moderate their statements and make sure that their statements don't worsen matters and create a crisis,” he added.

The Vice President added that the Federal Government will collaborate with the State Government to ensure peace in the affected areas and justice for the victims of the separate incidents.

Noting some of the steps articulated by the National Economic Council (NEC) to resolve lingering conflict in communities across the country, Prof. Osinbajo said, “we (both the Federal Government and State Governments) will jointly pursue the ends of justice. We will also make provisions, as much as it is possible, between the Federal and State Governments, for those who have lost their lives, for their relations and whatever can be done to support those communities.”

He added that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would assess the incidents so as to provide support to victims and help in rebuilding the affected communities.

According to the VP, “the first line of peace is the community itself and the leadership of the community. As I've said to His Excellency, the Governor, who as you've heard from everybody, has done an excellent job of trying to ensure that peace is brought and returned to this place.

“I have said to him, - yes, we'll make sure that we commit to bringing more military, more police, more law enforcement and whatever we can do about rebuilding the communities, rebuilding houses that have been destroyed, providing succour to those who need it in form of reliefs from NEMA. The Federal Government will do its very best, but we must make sure as community leaders that we take responsibility.”

Later at a townhall-like interactive session with community leaders and stakeholders across the state in Abakaliki, the Vice President assured the people of Ebonyi of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that lasting peace returns to Ebonyi and elsewhere in the country.

He however urged all leaders in the state to resist all temptations of revenge attacks on communities noting that “no conflict that started anywhere in recent time has ended.”

On his part, Governor Umahi, while thanking the President, Vice President and the entire Federal Government for the steps taken so far to address the concerns, noted that justice and fairness were the only demands requested by the people of the state.

He appealed to the Vice President to support the rebuilding of the affected areas, even as measures should be taken to provide immediate relief to displaced persons.

Other dignitaries that accompanied the Vice President on the visit include Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Kelechi Igwe; the former State Governor Martin Elechi, top Ebonyi State officials and senior officials from several FG security agencies among others.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
*5th April 2021*

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

OSINBAJO'S EASTER MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS: ALL WILL BE WELL WITH OUR COUNTRY

*VP says there will be grace and mercy 

As Christians all over the world celebrate the Easter season, Nigerians should have great hope that things are going to get better for the country, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. 

Prof. Osinbajo stated this during a brief chat with journalists after the Easter Sunday service at the Aso Villa Chapel earlier today. 

"I just want to thank God for our nation, and pray that our nation will experience the grace and mercy of God in so many different ways that we are expecting His grace and mercy. All will be well in Jesus' name," the Vice President said. 

While wishing Nigerians a Happy Easter celebration, the VP added that the message of Easter is a message of the special and exceeding love and grace of God. 

He said, "God's plan for humanity was that Christ will die and will resurrect. The resurrection is evidence of the fact that those who believe would be saved eternally and would live eternal joy and peace with the Almighty. And that promise is open to every single person. 

"Whoever you are, that promise is open to you. That is, if you subscribe to that plan if you accept that Christ died for you and rose again and that the plan is fulfilled in the resurrection." 

Prof. Osinbajo further stated that the Easter season was one "of great joy because we celebrate the evidence of the plan of God. In some way, God has given us a receipt of our salvation and it's really exciting." 

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
4th April, 2021

*Ganduje’s Colloquium And The Race To 2023 by Shettima Mai Ungwa*

It is no longer news that my dear friend Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is playing host to my brother from the west, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his yearly Colloquium where the master politician gathers intellectuals and politicians to discuss on contemporary political and social issues, while proffering solutions where necessary.

Asiwaju means well when he hosts these events yearly. But he is a man with methods. He does not just come out dancing, except he has gathered the drummers and informed them the rhythm they must play.

This year’s Colloquium would not be different from the many others the South West’s leader has hosted. But it would have a significant touch of the master planner’s road to achieving his presidential ambition for 2023.

The most significant reason that this colloquium would be the most political, if I may use that word, is that it is being hosted in the seat of the North’s machinery for churning out votes—Kano State. And to embellish this fact, is the fact that the host, my friend, Dr. Ganduje, has been given promises, and he has made his too.

Kano State gave President Buhari over 77% of the votes cast in the last election. A whooping 1.4 Million votes. This is the equivalent of the total of votes from three to four South Eastern States. All handed to Mai Gaskiya. Asiwaju knows that to fulfil his 2023 ambition, he must earn the love of the North, and their votes, too.

His choice of Kano is not perchance. It is a calculated selection. But there are many other reasons that Kano has become the darling of the West’s master planner.

*The Dollar Connection*

Dr. Ganduje owes a lot to Asiwaju. His life in fact is owed to Asiwaju.

When the embarrassing video of Ganduje showing off his babariga stashed with dollars from an alleged bribe he was seen collecting, the man’s career was in the mud. He became a pariah at once. He was the symbol of stark naked corruption. Ganduje, notorious for his AIKI! AIKI! AIKI! did not make any appearance on this matter, and kept mum for weeks.

His re-election at the primaries was only a few months away. The party was worried about the perception crisis this ugly scenery was going to give to the party. There were one or two alternatives being propped up here and there, and Ganduje’s life and career were about to be cut off.

Then came Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Asiwaju was quick to rally those he could and sent gifts to those he could not. He is reported to have provided the needed funds that Ganduje’s pockets could not provide, and paid off the media, the noisy politicians and their social media warriors.

Ganduje made it to the primaries, pumped Asiwaju’s dollars into the delegates stomach’s and moved to round two, where he got stuck at with a re-run.

He tactically manoeuvred the system and emerged the winner of the elections. But that was not the end for Ganduje.

*Asiwaju Comes Through Again!*

With a very suspicious win, Ganduje was in the court rooms defending his Asiwaju-earned electoral victory. This was too much a burden for him. My friend did not have enough friends to pull an Wike-Odili-card that would ensure a smooth ride in the courts.

Then again, Dr Ganduje turned to the West. Our brother Asiwaju came through again. 

During the 2019 Colloquium, he showered Asiwaju praises from heaven to earth. Called him all sort of sweet names, that a man wooing a woman would use. 

Asiwaju deserved it, he had literally made Ganduje all that he was!

*The Promise of a Vice President*

Asiwaju is a taunter. He throws a promise here and there to his friends and makes them happy. If you think I am lying ask Rotimi Amaechi. In 2015, under the bunkers of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Asiwaju promised that if Amaechi could rally all the Governors to support Buhari in the primaries, he would give him the slot for the Vice Presidential candidate.

Ganduje has been offered this same promise. It is not surprising that Ganduje is mobilising all resources available to deliver Asiwaju in 2023.

He is heard to have promised to finance Asiwaju’s campaign for the 2023 elections.

Now he is setting the campaign mood for his benefactor.

*The Emirs Are Gathered*

On Monday the 29th of March 2021, Dr. Ganduje would gather a host of Northern bigwigs and kingmakers to come and pay homage to the man he is sponsoring for President.

Among these wide range of Northern elites would be several Emirs. They would come and bless Asiwaju’s 2023 ambition with their presence and their sweet words.

Ganuje’s Colloquium for Asiwaju Tinubu indeed tells the story of the Common Bond between the two, more than it is of Nigeria.

Shettima Mai Ungwa is a political activist, commentator and lives in Kano State

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*HOW BUHARI ADMINISTRATION’S ESP HELPED NIGERIA TACKLE COVID-19 CHALLENGES - OSINBAJO*

_*VP highlights impact of Sustainability Plan in saving jobs, sustaining livelihood, improving healthcare sector_

_*Calls for global action in access to vaccines for African countries in Chatham House event_

Nigeria’s priorities in a post-COVID-19 world include restoring economic growth in the immediate term, building resilience in the health sector, and repositioning the economy on a sustainable footing in the medium term while saving jobs and building domestic capacity and local production in critical areas.

These were the summations of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, during a virtual Chatham House interactive session on Tuesday themed: “Priorities for Nigeria’s Post-COVID Recovery”.

During the Chatham House interaction, the Vice President discussed the challenges posed to Nigeria by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the Nigerian government’s response aimed at ensuring lasting socio-economic recovery and development.

Prof. Osinbajo highlighted the significant impact of the Buhari administration’s Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) as a crucial pivot in helping the country respond to the fallouts of the pandemic.

He explained that “the Buhari administration’s first priority was to protect people and their livelihoods in response to the fallout of the pandemic. One of the ways was to support the critical MSMEs sector through the Survival Fund scheme, a component under the ESP.”

According to the VP, “one of the specific interventions under the ESP was what we describe as the Survival Fund, which essentially was a fund to protect jobs and to ensure that during the course of the pandemic and immediately thereafter, informal workers in particular or private sector workers especially those in the informal sector, were at least able to continue to earn some wages."

Prof. Osinbajo stated that through the Survival Fund scheme, over 300,000 beneficiaries, as well as businesses have been supported during the pandemic “by providing salaries for three months for beneficiaries, which include private school teachers, artisans, road transporters, taxi cab operators, and commercial tricycle operators in the urban areas.

“We also sought to protect the most vulnerable, in particular, the urban poor who were also hard hit. What we did was to provide direct cash transfers to the urban poor, many of them who are captured in a social register. In the first phase of that, we are able to benefit about 1 million beneficiaries, and we are now in a position using the same social register to scale up the programme to about 20 million beneficiaries.”

The Vice President also highlighted the work being done by government in the areas of improving broadband connectivity and expanding the country’s national identity base, which he stated would help in developing the country’s existing social register and other pro-poor programmes under the Buhari administration’s Social Investment schemes.

Also, to stimulate production in the economy, Prof. Osinbajo noted that the Federal Government is “focused on energising existing value chain in agriculture, construction and renewable energy,” even as he highlighted the impact of the ESP’s agriculture scheme and social housing programme in improving local productivity and creating jobs.

“Our agriculture programme (under the ESP) aims at expanding productivity, creating a total of about 5 million jobs. What we have done so far is that we've been able to register and geotag about 5 million new farmers to farmland areas. The programme is also supporting smallholder farmers by linking them to extension services and low-interest input financing.

“We also have a mass housing programme which is designed to deliver affordable homes through direct intervention in the housing construction sector aimed at creating 1.8 million jobs together with the construction of 300,000 homes in the first phase. At the moment, the programme is ongoing in 12 states which will be expanded to all of the states in the federation.”

The Vice President further explained that the ESP was developed as a short-term strategy to address the two-fold challenge posed by the pandemic: to both public health and the national economy.

For instance, in the health sector, Prof. Osinbajo stated that a critical area for government in the fallout of the pandemic “is in doing far more with our research institutions and investing far more in these institutions.”

He said, “since February 2020 (when Nigeria confirmed its first COVID-19 case), we have significantly ramped up our testing and case management capacity. We have activated from about five molecular laboratories to about 120, most of them public laboratories.

“We have expanded the footprint of our sovereign public health response capacity, especially at the sub-national level, and in areas where such capabilities didn’t exist before.

Prof. Osinbajo further said government was also focused on promoting a culture of preparedness across all levels of the country’s health care system by building resilience in the health sector.

“Going forward," he said "we are committed to building on the exemplary dedication of our health workers and strengthening the capacity of our health systems to withstand shocks created by infectious diseases and pandemics such as we are experiencing.

“One reason why we've been able to manage this pandemic better than expected is that we did have some existing public sector infrastructure to work with, the Ebola outbreak in 2014, our ongoing battles with Lassa fever, our successes with polio eradication all helped us to tighten our pandemic contingency plans, strengthen our emergency coordination and surveillance capacity and also enhance investments in public health laboratories.”

The Vice President highlighted the government’s efforts through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in tackling the pandemic, adding that it also prioritized the strengthening of the country’s public health infrastructure

“While it is true that in many respects, our hospital infrastructure still lags behind in standards, especially when compared with richer countries of the world, we've been able to draw on the resilience and adaptability of our tried and tested community health system,” he noted.

The VP also called for global action in ensuring access to vaccines, especially in poorer countries, noting that, “there are justifiable concerns, in my view, about the certainty of fair and equitable access to vaccines, as well as the likelihood that poorer countries would be left behind if the distribution of these vaccines is determined by the nationalistic sentiments.”

“As part of our recovery efforts, Nigeria has taken delivery of about 4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines under the international COVAX scheme and we have commenced vaccination of our people. This year, we will receive 84 million doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine under that same scheme, which would be enough to vaccinate about 20 per cent of our population.”

According to the VP, “in our globalised environment, national self-interest is insufficient to address the challenge of a global pandemic, Indeed, in a world that is interconnected as ours, any plan other than a global plan is bound to be counter-productive.”

The Vice President further stated that a policy imperative of the Buhari administration is also hinged on encouraging value addition in every sector of the economy, especially to consolidate areas where the country had comparative advantage.

The live event was chaired by a senior official of Chatham House; Dr. Renata Sevan.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
23rd March 2021

APC North-Central Stakeholders Visit Gov. Lalong, Makes Case For Zoning Of APC Chairmanship To North-Central

APC Stakeholders from the North-Central under the auspices of APC North-Central Stakeholders forum today paid a courtesy visit to the Plateau State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), Gov. Simon Lalong where they solicited his support for zoning of the National Chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming National convention to the North-Central.

The coordinator of the group, Com. Dominic Alancha stated that the North-central which played a crucial role in the victory of the ruling party in 2015 and 2019 have not been fairly treated. He recalled that in 2019, the North-central brought the third highest votes haul for the APC after North-West and North-East, asserting that the time is now to pay back the region by supporting its quest for the ruling party's National Chairmanship.

Com. Alancha stated that the forum thought it pertinent to first consult with Gov. Lalong as a key leader of the North-Central and the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF). He noted that it is their belief that the clamour will receive the requisite attention if the Governor throws his weight behind it.

Gov. Lalong thanked the group for the visit, and for their patriotism. He stated that the North-central had hitherto fought for positions despite her immense contribution to the fortunes of the governing party.

"Truly the North-central deserves better and will henceforth agitate for better inclusion, beginning with the quest to get the Chairmanship of the APC zoned to the region", he stated, to the elation of concerned stakeholders at the parley.

He assured that all Governors in the zone are united in supporting one of their own to emerge as APC helmsman at the forthcoming National convention, promising to do all that is necessary to achieve a national consensus, in that regard.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

FG COMMITS TO SPEND HALF A PERCENT OF GDP ON RESEARCH & INNOVATION

*How Nigerian scientists conducted groundbreaking genome sequence of Corona Virus

*President commends Nigerian scientists, researchers, others for rising up to challenges, proffering solution to pandemic

Henceforth the Federal Government will allocate half a percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to research and innovation in a determined effort to enhance the country’s economic growth and development.



President Muhammadu Buhari made the disclosure in a speech delivered today on his behalf by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN at the opening of the 2021 Technology and Innovation Expo themed “Science, Technology and Innovation for Economic Recovery and Sustainability Amidst COVID-19 challenges”.



Speaking about the efforts of his administration in the past few years especially in budgetary allocation to the sector, the President said the measures adopted over the years have helped to increase research and innovation with the aim of achieving sustainable development.



According to him, “We are happy that this has been achieved in line with the decision taken by the African Union's Executive Council in 2006 to establish a target for all member States of 1% of GDP investment in Research and Development (R&) in order to improve innovation, productivity and economic growth.



“We are aware that only a few African countries have met this target, but as a result of the challenges of this critical sector of the economy, we will allocate a minimum of 0.5% of our GDP to research and innovation as a way to fast track meaningful development.”

Commending the heroic contribution of Nigerian researchers and scientists in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, President Buhari said “the COVID-19 Pandemic has asked tough questions of our national capabilities in the area of research and innovation. I am gratified to report that we are competently answering these questions through the commendable efforts of our researchers and scientists.”



Recalling how the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Nigeria, the President stated that “what is less well known is that shortly after the patient was identified, a sample of the virus was sent to the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), at Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State.”



Continuing, he stated that “there, a team led by Professor Christian Happi, analysed the sample and was able within 48 hours to share the very first genome sequence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from Africa with the global science community.



“This finding was shared faster than what was being done in some developed countries. More importantly, it was also much faster than sending it to a laboratory overseas. That last bit is very important as it is ground-breaking.”



Stressing the significance of the scientific breakthroughs, President Buhari said “not so long ago (before then), test samples had to be flown out of the country for examination. This is no longer the case because thanks to the efforts of our medical scientists and agencies like the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) we now have the capacity to process samples internally. Last December, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) launched a new set of COVID-19 test kits that can produce results in 57 minutes. The new kit was designed by Joseph Shaibu, a molecular virologist at NIMR.



“These are a few examples of how Nigerian researchers, scientists and technologists are answering the demand of the present moment and providing solutions to our problems.



“As a Government, we are committed to providing an enabling environment for the Science and Technology Sector in order to unlock the enormous potential for innovation, wealth creation and economic growth.”



Speaking about the collaboration with the States to improve broadband penetration and connectivity, the President said “we are currently working to bridge the digital divide by increasing access to broadband with our National Broadband Plan with was launched this year.”



“The plan is aimed at achieving 90% broadband penetration by 2025. The plan will give special attention to the unserved and underserved areas when deploying telecom services. To achieve this, the Federal Government has also engaged with the State Governors at the National Economic Council on right of way charges for laying of broadband infrastructure such as fibre optic cables, this reduces the initial cost for broadband service providers to lay the infrastructure needed to provide broadband services, many states have already complied and reduced the rates to as low as 140 naira per meter, while some states have completely removed the charges.



“We are pursuing this cause because we recognize that internet access and broadband penetration are pillars of the innovation economy,” the President added.



The President expressed confidence that “through hard work and determination and by effectively harnessing our potential in science, technology and innovation, we will overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and build a nation that meets the aspirations of all our citizens and earns the respect of the world.”



He referenced the issuance of Executive Order No. 5 ("EO5" in February 2018, as another demonstration of support and confidence in the Science and Technology sector by the administration especially in promoting domestic goods and services.



Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, acknowledged the support of the President and the commitment of the administration in enhancing the growth of Science and Technology in the country.



He expressed confidence that with improved funding for the sector, Nigerian researchers will proffer home-grown solutions to some of the challenges affecting the country.

Shortly after presenting awards to winners of the 774 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award (774-YONSPA), the Vice President embarked on a tour of the exhibition pavilion in company of Ministers of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Pauline Tallen; Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi; the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, among other guests.

The 774-YONSPA award winners include Edeani Izuchukwu Godswill from Enugu State who won the first prize; Akinwande Oluwatomisin from Ondo State won the second prize, while Etukudoh Emmanuel Imeh from the FCT won the third prize.



Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
15th March 2021

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

HEALTHCARE MAY BECOME FASTEST GROWING SECTOR IN NIGERIAN ECONOMY - OSINBAJO

Investments in top medical care and the overall healthcare sector in Nigeria is set to birth one of “the fastest growth areas in a resurgent Nigerian economy”, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof Osinbajo stated this today during his virtual remarks at the official unveiling of the Evercare Hospital in Lekki, Lagos.

Evercare Hospital, part of the Evercare Group, operates as an integrated healthcare delivery platform in emerging markets across Africa and South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya and Nigeria. The international group has set aside a $1billion healthcare fund.

“The business case for more top quality medical care in Nigeria has always seemed quite obvious, but I think the fact that the Evercare Health Fund, (a US$ 1 billion emerging markets healthcare fund) has chosen to invest in healthcare in Nigeria, clearly confirms even to the greatest skeptics that we are seeing the birth of what may well become one of the fastest growth areas in a resurgent Nigerian economy,” Prof. Osinbajo submitted.

Speaking on the importance of having such a medical institution in Nigeria, the Vice President observed that “we must reverse the trend of outbound medical tourism” and there is the need to “attract, not just medical tourists from our neighbors in the region, but also become the place of choice for even developed countries’ medical tourists looking to jump long queues for specialized procedures at home.”

He also emphasized that the emergence of the Evercare Hospital would bring about a U-turn in the brain drain of medical personnel trained in Nigeria who are engaged in hospitals abroad because of better remuneration and better facilities.

Noting the peculiarity of the situation in Nigeria in terms of accessibility to healthcare, Prof Osinbajo pointed out that “we have by far the largest number of middle-to-low income communities and individuals in sub-Saharan Africa who require affordable, high quality healthcare.”

The Vice President expressed his optimism and excitement in the facility with “first-of-its-kind-purpose-built, 165-bed state-of-the-art international private hospital, that offers an extensive range of specialty medical and surgical services.” He also expressed his pleasure at the fact that “in addition to its local world class personnel, the hospital will leverage technology to consult with international specialists across the 29 hospitals and 16 clinics currently in its portfolio.”

According to the Vice President “we are certainly set for exciting times in the Nigerian healthcare story.”

In his own remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, commended the management of the hospital for their collaboration with citizens of Lagos, local and foreign investors in building a first-class edifice catering to the people.


Others present at the event were the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budgeting, Mr. Samuel Egube, Chairman of Evercare Hospital, Mr. Tosin Runsewe; Chief Executive Officer of Evercare Hospital, Mr. Rajeev Bhandari; Chief Medical Officer of Evercare Hospital, Dr. Ayo Shonibare and other dignitaries.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
11th March, 2021

*Osinbajo is a man to follow, says VP’s Spokesman Akande*

As Nigerians celebrate the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo who turns 64 today, his Spokesperson, Mr. Laolu Akande is sharing insight into the VP’s leadership qualities in an interaction with the media last night soon after the President described the VP "as a reliable and dedicated deputy.”

Akande said the kind of relationship that exists between the President and the VP inspires “many of us, and can definitely energize significant national rebirth and development even at a time like this.”

He added that by following the President dutifully and faithfully, Prof. Osinbajo has demonstrated that good leaders are first good followers and to use the word of the President, "reliable" team members.

“Because Osinbajo is reliable in the discharge of his duties and cool-headed as Mr. President noted, he becomes an example that many are so willing to follow and emulate in life. I do,” the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, in the Office of the Vice President disclosed.

According to Akande, “ the reason why many younger people seek after Prof Osinbajo and their quest to have him attend to issues is because many see him as someone who is believable and they can relate with.

“The Prof. has effortlessly and managed quite comfortably to connect with the younger people and his messages easily resonate with them.

"Even his peers and in many instances those older than him also find him exemplary, all you need to do is to review what many of these or those ahead of him have said about him publicly. The latest is from the President when he said his deputy “is an incredibly patient politician who demonstrates remarkable intellectual and mental energy in the discharge of his duties.”

Continuing, Akande noted that “Greatness comes in twin pieces. You follow well and learn leading well. You work hard and understand the value of reward. Osinbajo is following well and  working hard."

He concluded that “So in moments when the seat is hot and the atmosphere is charged, people like Vice President Osinbajo, endowed with an incredible manifestation of the Grace of God, can stay in the game and point us as a nation and a people to what is increasingly possible when we follow right and lead well. Happy birthday my dear Prof!

*PRESIDENCY: FG POISED TO DO MUCH MORE THROUGH THE ESP*

*As GDP grows by 0.11% in Q4 2020 & Nigeria exits recession*


Nigeria’s prompt exit from recession is a key indicator of the success of the ongoing Economic Sustainability Plan approved by the Federal Government and Nigerians should expect more as the implementation of the Plan is gathering even greater momentum.

This indication was given over the weekend by Mr. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President while updating the media on ESP progress and reacting to the latest GDP figures for the last quarter of 2020.

The President and the Federal Executive Council had approved the Plan last June and the Vice President was asked to lead the implementation of the Plan. The plan is aimed, among others, at preventing a deep recession and putting cash in the hands of Nigerians after the economic fallouts of the pandemic.

Akande notes that right from the 2020 third quarter, the economy was already on a rebound adding that the latest fourth-quarter figures show that indeed, the recovery of the Nigerian economy is a steady one.

“Like we explained late last year after the release of the third-quarter figures, the Economic Sustainability Plan, which was a calculated intervention by the Buhari Presidency, is driving the Nigerian economy in the right direction-upwards, and Nigerians can expect more because the administration is unrelenting in its determination to pursue the steady recovery and growth of our economy,” Akande noted.

The Presidential spokesperson said the Economic Sustainability Plan is entering into an even more potent phase with the revving up of plans to install 5 million solar installations across the country and the social mass housing plan that will result in hundreds of thousands of affordable houses for ordinary Nigerians. Both aspects he noted, will yield several hundreds of jobs besides giving the national economy a significant spur like never before.

He explained that so far, the Survival Fund is making waves with MSMEs, artisans, transport workers, hundreds of thousands receiving cash stimulus, and the payroll support where an equal number of people running into hundreds of thousands employed by businesses are collecting N50,000 monthly. He said the payroll support covers three months' salaries for beneficiaries.

Already about 311,000 employees have received the payroll support coming from 64,000 businesses nationwide and over 165,000 artisans have also benefited from the Survival Fund. In all, the Survival Fund is on course to safeguard at least 1.3million jobs

Underway also, according to him, is the Government Off-take Scheme, GOS, where the Federal Government will pump an additional N15billion to support Nigerian-owned businesses by off-taking a number of products in a bid to keep businesses alive and create jobs.

The GOS will cover products such as facemasks, liquid soaps, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and other processed foods and spices. Altogether, the GOS will benefit 100,000 MSMEs, while an additional 100,000 Nigerians will also be benefiting from a one-off N50,000 MSME grant different from those already paid to artisans, transport workers and separate from the payroll support.

Commenting on the quarter 4 GDP figures, Akande quoting a Presidency review on the latest GDP figures, said that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 0.11% in Q4 2020 following two consecutive quarters of negative growth, “showing an exit from the pandemic induced recession. This positive quarterly growth in Q4 2020 contributed to overall GDP, which contracted by -1.92% for the full year in 2020.”

“This GDP report is important for a number of reasons. It is a reflection of the growing importance of the non-oil sector, as its contribution to GDP has increased from 92.68% in Q4 2019 to 94.13% in Q4 2020. The non-oil sector performance was mainly driven by growth in Information and Communication, as the pandemic meant greater use of ICT services.

“Growth in Agriculture, Manufacturing, Mining, Construction, and Real Estate also contributed to the improvement of the non-oil sector.

The Presidency review noted that however “in contrast, the oil sector fell by -19.76% in Q4 2020 (6.36% in Q4 2019) as average oil production declined to 1.5 million barrels per day (1.5mbpd). This can be attributed to Nigeria’s compliance with OPEC+ quotas.”

It was observed that the “report indicates that Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 induced shocks, the Economic Sustainability plan and the timely revision of the Federal Government budget, were effective.”

Besides, Akande explained that “the Nigerian Economy outperformed various analysts’ expectations like the IMF and World Bank. In addition, Nigeria’s quarter on quarter growth of 9.7% surpassed China (2.6%), USA (4%), and Japan (3%) despite these countries having larger stimulus packages.”

In conclusion, it was stated that “the Nigerian economy performed reasonably despite the earlier lockdown, trade disruptions, #EndSars protests, and oil price volatility. There is optimism as oil prices continue to stabilise, COVID-19 cases reach a plateau, success of an imminent vaccine rollout, and continued effective implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan.”

APC Chairmanship: Why Major Blocs Zero In On Al-Makura By Segun Tomori

As the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) brace up for its proposed National Convention in June, permutations and consultations are already on-going across the country. Considering the crisis that engulfed the party early 2020 and inadvertently led to the dissolution of the former National Working Committee (NWC), the need to have someone at the helm who is a unifier, a pacifier and a renowned administrator that is level-headed cannot be overemphasised. No wonder a name is ringing bells, and featuring prominently in the projections of party leaders – Sen. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

Sen. Al-Makura, a serving Senator representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District, is also a former two-term Governor of the North-Central State. Not many know that Al-Makura has been involved in politics from his youth, in the hey days of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic. In 1980, he became the Youth Leader of the defunct NPN in the old Plateau State and was elected member of the Constituent Assembly representing Lafia-Obi Federal Constituency of what is now Nasarawa State (1988-1989). His political trajectory continued into the ill-fated Third Republic where he emerged the Plateau State Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) from 1990 to 1992.

At the advent of democracy in 1999, Al-Makura was a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but later left to join forces with President Muhammadu Buhari and other progressives to form the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). His political dexterity and mass appeal came to light in 2011, when he defeated the incumbent PDP Governor to emerge the Governor of Nasarawa State where he served meritoriously for two terms. It will be recalled that Nasarawa State as the only CPC-controlled State provided the platform for CPC to negotiate its merger with ACN and ANPP to form the broad-based APC.

Since the emergence of the APC, the party has produced Chairmen from ACN and ANPP blocs respectively, the odd one out is the CPC bloc. Former Chairmen Chief Bisi Akande and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole belong to the ACN bloc, while Chief John Oyegun and current interim chair, Mai Mala Buni emerged from the ANPP bloc. With the seeming consensus that power will return to the South in 2023, and with ACN holding the ace in that region, major stakeholders are now looking in the direction of the CPC bloc to produce the next National Chairman. That is where Sen. Umaru Al-Makura comes in.

Sen. Al-Makura comes into the race as an experienced party administrator, a successful businessman and a suave Politician who can unite the diverse interests in the APC. With the fissures in the APC becoming more pronounced after the dissolution of the defunct NWC, a man like Al-Makura endowed with a calm temperament, imbued with diplomatic niceties and renowned for his experience as a performer and a bridge-builder, holds the ace.

The National convention scheduled for June will just leave the new Chairman with barely a year before electioneering activities for the 2023 General Elections kick off. Within that one year, APC must solidify its ideological base, galvanise the major blocs of the party for its common purpose and entrench justice and fair play - with focus on a reward system in the party. Sen. Al-Makura has been identified as “the square peg, in the square hole” to lead that charge, and more. With him, the task of repositioning and reforming the governing party becomes a joint task!


Segun Tomori is an APC stakeholder and political analyst based in Abuja.

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*PRESIDENT BUHARI APPROVES FORMATION OF TRILLION NAIRA COMPANY TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT*

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a Public Private Partnership styled Infrastructure company named Infra-Co with an initial seed capital of N1 Trillion.

It is envisaged that, over time, the entity will grow to N15 Trillion in assets and capital.

Infra-Co will be one of the premier infrastructure finance entities in Africa and will be wholly dedicated to Nigeria’s infrastructure development. The entity has been developed with concept designs from the National Economic Council (NEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The President had asked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to chair a Steering Committee tasked with setting up the company.

The initial seed capital for the entity will come from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, and the Africa Finance Corporation.

The board of Infra-Co will be chaired by the Central Bank Governor and include the Managing Director of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, President of the Africa Finance Corporation, as well as representatives of the Nigerian Governors Forum, and the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning. The Board will also have 3 independent directors from the private sector.

To address Nigeria's infrastructure deficit, the Buhari Administration continues to explore innovative options, including through financing initiatives such as the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) designed to cater for the 2nd Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, and other projects.

There is also the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme which is being used for the funding of the Bodo-Bonny Bridges and Road (with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG), and the Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki Expressway (with Dangote Group), among others.

Infra-Co will finance public asset development, rehabilitation and reconstruction as well as invest in cutting edge infrastructure projects for Roads, Rail, Power and other key sectors.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
12th February, 2021

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*WHY NIGERIA IS CHANGING TO CLEANER ENERGY BY OSINBAJO*

_*Nigeria’s plan is to reduce carbon emission by 20% by 2030 as FG commissions another university-based solar plant*_

*_*VP also chairs inaugural meeting of Cabinet Committee to review Draft National Transport Policy_*

With the commissioning of yet another solar hybrid power plant by the Federal Government in one of its universities, Nigeria’s energy transition plan to renewables is on course.

And this is in line with the globally endorsed Climate Change agenda and the Buhari administration’s effort to connect more communities to off-grid power and reliable energy sources, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Thursday in a message delivered virtually at the commissioning of a 1.12 MW Captive Solar Hybrid Power Plant at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

The project executed under the Energizing Education Programme (EEP), an initiative of the Federal Government, is aimed at providing 37 Federal Universities and 7 Teaching Hospitals with captive energy solutions that will ensure sustainable and reliable power for students and faculty.

According to the Vice President, “renewables are the fastest growing segment of energy today and will certainly be a key economic driver well into the future.

“Indeed, Nigeria intends to have 30% of its electricity supply from renewables by the year 2030. Our future workforce therefore need to be ready for this energy transition. The training centers constitute a critical additional benefit of this project.”

Continuing, he noted that “besides, this programme reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to global best practice as we transition to cleaner sources of energy in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

“These projects being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency are strategic to fulfilling our commitments to the agreement as they strive to reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint.

“The leveraging of renewable energy technology is in line with the Federal Government’s mandate and related activities. Nigeria’s plan to reduce carbon emission by 20% unconditionally and 45% with international support by 2030, aims to limit the damaging effect of climate change.”

Speaking on the benefits of the EEP, Prof. Osinbajo said “already, 22,000 students and faculties across the country are connected to completed projects in Kano, Ebonyi, Benue and of course, now in Bauchi. But apart from providing a reliable source of captive power for these institutions, each institution will have a renewable energy workshop and a training center to provide training for students on renewable energy.”

He said “the project also entails the installation of street lights and the electro fitting of existing ones for better illumination and provision of security on the campus and its environs. And there is provision for on-the-job training for 20 female students undergoing STEM courses in the beneficiary institutions. The training focuses on the design and installation of various components of the project.”

While commending the implementing agency, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) for its hard work and resourcefulness in the implementation of the programme, Prof. Osinbajo charged the agency to redouble its effort in “rolling out the Energizing Education Programme with speed and quality across the country”.

In the same vein the Vice President acknowledged and commended what he described as “a strong display of partnership between the Federal Ministries of Power, Education and Environment, the National Universities Commission and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission”, in making the project a reality.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government, under the EEP has inaugurated 3 solar off-grid hybrid power plants in 3 universities located in Kano, Ebonyi and Benue States.

In August 2019, through the Rural Electrification Agency, the Federal Government completed and inaugurated the first plant under the  EEP, a 2.8MW first solar hybrid power plant at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) in Ebonyi State. The project also included lighting of 7.5 KM of solar powered street lights in the university.

In September of the same year, the Buhari administration commissioned the largest off-grid solar hybrid power plant in Africa at Bayero University, Kano (BUK). The project which is providing students and faculty with constant electricity supply also includes provision of 11.41 kilometres of solar-powered street lights as well as a world-class renewable energy training centre.

In the same vein in December 2020, the Federal Government commissioned a 8.25M Solar Hybrid Power plant at Federal University of Agriculture (FUAM), Makurdi, Benue State. As a result, FUAM students and faculty now have access to electricity supply from the solar power plant. The project also includes installation of 13.23km solar powered streetlights for illumination and safety on the University campus.

All universities, under the programme are also provided with world-class renewable energy workshops and training centres.

In another development the Vice President presided over the inaugural meeting of the Cabinet Committee for the Review of the Draft National Transport Policy.

The terms of reference of the Committee include the determination of "which ministry or agency has statutory authority to administer tolls on Nigeria roads," and to determine the "appropriate roles of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Ministry of Works and Housing vis a vis the Ministry of Transportation in respect of the Road Fund proposed by the policy."

Committee members at the meeting held at the Presidential Villa include the Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola and Budget and National Planning Minister of State Clem Agba who represented the Finance Minister.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*
11th February 2021