MALAM ABBA KYARI: A GREAT PUBLIC SERVANT

A tribute by Malam Mamman Daura

Coronavirus is a law, yet lawless unto itself. As of yesterday it had claimed 183,424 lives worldwide and 28 Nigerians.

One of those lives lost was Malam Abba Kyari’s, Chief of Staff to the President. Malam Abba succumbed to complications after contracting and recovering from Coronavirus a week today.

Malam Abba Kyari was a man blessed with mountainous gifts and uncommon attributes of intelligence, diligence, hard work, loyalty to friends and worthy causes. One could exhaust superlatives to do him full justice.

I first set eyes on Malam Abba about 47 years ago. I was at my desk at the New Nigerian newspapers office scribbling something or other when the gate messenger brought a sheet of paper with a name “Abba Kyari Chima” wanting to see the Editor. When he came in he looked winsome and slightly diffident. After pleasantries I wanted to know his reason for coming to New Nigerian. He said he read and liked an Editorial in the paper a few days earlier headed: “Solution looking for a Problem” and he resolved to work with us. After swift enquiry, I was told there were no vacancies in the Newsroom nor in Sub-Editing. But a lowly position existed as proof reader as someone had just left. I was about to apologise to him that what was available was beneath his station. Malam Abba quickly said: “I will take it.” After formalities he was enrolled as a staff of New Nigerian.

By “taking it” he was taking a sizeable cut from his previous teaching job’s pay as the salary scales in the New Nigerian where Malam Abba and I worked were historic in their frugality. You couldn’t get fat on the wages of the New Nigerian in the mid-70s.

Anyway within weeks Malam Abba had moved to the Newsroom and was an articulate member at the daily editorial conferences. Moreover he and I became firm friends ever since. If I recall correctly we both left the services of New Nigerian within a short time of each other.

After New Nigerian, Malam Abba worked at NNDC and Zamfara Textiles – a state-sponsored investment company and a private manufacturing outfit – valuable experience in later life – and soon grew out of those jobs.

Constantly striving to improve himself he went to Warwick University in England -where General Gowon also attended after leaving Nigeria as Head of State – and acquired an Honours Degree in Sociology and thence to the world-famous Cambridge University where he graduated in Law before returning to Nigeria.

When a group of sponsors including Malam Ahmed Joda, Mr. Philip Asiodu and Malam Isma’ila Isa Funtua floated a new newspaper, The Democrat, Malam Abba was nominated and unanimously accepted as its Editor. His previous experience in the New Nigerian and his quality education enabled him to run the newspaper with aplomb.

Malam Abba served as Company Secretary with the burgeoning African International Bank. But as I said Malam Abba grew out of every job he held hitherto.

And when Mr. Hakeem Bello-Osagie assembled a team of investors and managers to help revive the collapsing UBA, Malam Abba was persuaded to join the group and after weeks of diligence the group acquired UBA and Malam Abba joined the Bank as a Senior Executive. Needless to relate, he eventually became the Bank’s Chief Executive and on retirement was persuaded to remain as non-executive Vice-Chairman.

These times coincided with the country’s return to democracy and Malam Abba was among those enthusiastically espousing the cause of General Obasanjo. On his selection as PDP candidate, a group of women and youths in the PDP lobbied Obasanjo to pick Malam Abba as his Vice Presidential running mate. After heated debates, Obasanjo eventually picked Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

In the 2003 elections, Malam Abba was in opposite camps with President Obasanjo. General Muhammadu Buhari had declared his intention the previous year to contest the presidency and Malam Abba joined his team and worked wholeheartedly in all the campaigns through the drudgery and injustices of the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections without losing hope or sight of the ultimate goal.

Perseverance paid off and in 2015 General Buhari under the banner of APC (an amalgam of CPC, ACN, ANPP and break away factions of the PDP and many other smaller parties) won the Presidential elections. To his great surprise, the President appointed Malam Abba as the Chief of Staff.

Fortified by the rigours of a Cambridge education and varied experience in Banking, industry, investment and journalism, Malam Abba set himself the task of defining the role, functions and status of the Chief of Staff. He started by consulting previous incumbents of the position he could reach as a way of educating himself of the challenges ahead of him.

All future Chiefs of Staff will henceforth be judged by the benchmark of Malam Abba Kyari. Next, he assembled a team of very competent staff who worked incredibly long hours, seven days a week to analyse, itemize, disaggregate knotty problems and advise the President. Malam Abba was an exacting taskmaster and his staff were relieved if he travelled outside the country. But to a man they valued, respected some even liked him.

Malam Abba was at odds with many senior members of the government on economic policies. Many Nigerian elites tend to lean towards the Bretton Woods one-size-fits-all solutions long discredited and demonstrably failed in so many so-called Third World countries. Malam Abba tended to look inward for solutions and was not an ideologue. He was heavily influenced by two Nobel Laureates, the great West Indian Economist, Professor Arthur Lewis and the eminent Indian Professor Amartya Sen, the latter Malam Abba frequently called to exchange views.

Despite holding firm views, his advice to the President was dispassionate, even-handed and did not hide unpleasant facts, in the best traditions of public service. In point of intellect, he stood above all Ministers and Special Advisers in this government. But personally he was modest, ever willing to learn, ever willing to help others.

Malam Abba leaves a widow, the inestimable Hajiya Hauwa and four children, Aisha (Amma), Nuruddeen, Ibrahim and Zainab. The children have all been well educated and are able to pursue their own careers.

Few people knew that over ten years ago, he turned his house in Maiduguri (since he no longer resided there) into accommodation for IDPs. At some stage there were 75 people whom Malam Abba was feeding, clothing and looking after; in addition to their children’s education. Later, the numbers got larger. Malam Abba never said a word to anybody about this. Amma and her siblings are not the only orphans Malam Abba left!

He lived a fairly simple life and habitually wore a red cap, white clothing and black shoes. He had to be forced by his friends to change the cap and he wore the shoes to the ground before buying a new pair!

According to hospital reports, his body fought hard in face of deteriorating complications, but his time had come. We remember him with sadness in our hearts and tears in our eyes.

Now that Abba Kyari Is Innocent, Can We Allow Malam Mamman Daura Rest

By Alwan Hassan

With the recent revelations that have come to light after the demise of the former Chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari; it makes sense to conclude that countless Nigerians may have to seek forgiveness from God for branding the man what he was not. This is because, for many years now, columnists and public analysts that report on activities going on in the corridors of power successfully led many Nigerians into believing that the late Abba Kyari was the 'devil' that we must all battle against. However, recent revelations from those who really knew the man have since proven that Abba Kyari was never our enemy — he was the gatekeeper who kept the vultures at bay.


Personally, I have always noted that the late Kyari's accusers have never validated the many accusations levelled against him. There was never any proof of wrongdoing. All the Nigerian public have been treated to were a bunch of unverified claims, grandiose allegations and manufactured political propaganda; all for which late Abba Kyari was criticised, vilified, abused, insulted, hated and even cursed. Now that the curtains have dropped and the truth is surely but gradually coming out, Nigerians must now begin the process of actually seeking out the truth.

I would like to also observe that each and every time the name of Kyari was mentioned in relation to any shady deals or corruption of any type, the name that has always served as a natural accompaniment to that of the late Chief of staff was that of Mamman Daura. Like coffee with cream, and peanut butter with jelly, both men were always packaged into the same box. However, it is important to note that if Kyari has been shown to be innocent of all the alleged atrocities that were levelled against him, common sense demands that his ‘supposed accomplice’, Maman Daura, is also not culpable to any of the false accusations.

Having said this, those who led Nigerians into crucifying the late Abba Kyari are not showing any signs of quitting their mischief. Presently, they have thrown the name of Mamman Daura into the list of likely replacement for late Abba Kyari as Chief of staff.

Personally, considering the age and social standing of Daura, coupled with his bloodline ties to the President, the mere suggestion of Daura as the Chief of Staff is an insult to the old man for which he deserves an apology.

Having come a long way in life, Mamman Daura has no doubt paid his dues and it’ is therefore beholden on all Nigerians of good conscience to allow the septuagenarian to enjoy the remainder of his years — and practice restraint when sharing or participating in the unnecessary political propaganda and slander that has plagued him since Buhari assumed office in 2015.

*PRESS STATEMENT*

21st April, 2020

(For Immediate Release)

*APYF thanks Kwara governor for appointing member as KWASSIP Anchor/Consultant*


The national body of the All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF) received with absolute joy the news of the appointment of one of our pioneer and frontline members, Mr. Mohammed Brimoh by the executive governor of Kwara state, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazak as the consultant for the newly inaugurated Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP).

On behalf of our teeming progressive members across the country, we wish to express our profound gratitude to HE, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazak for finding it worthy to appoint Brimah to this position and as a result help in furthering the vision of our founder for a more deliberate youth inclusion and participation in governance.

Having been a part of the team that pioneered the implementation of the social investments programmes at the federal level since 2015; first as Special Assistant to the President on internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and later Job creation; we have not doubt that Brimah will play a very significant role in shaping the social intervention initiatives of the Kwara state government and deliver on the governor's mandate of catering to the welfare of the most vulnerable.

We would like to remind His Highness that by this singular gesture, he has again reinforced the hope and aspirations of our members, particularly in Kwara, who have always waited for opportunities such as this to showcase their leadership skill within the realm of public governance.

We would like to warmly congratulate Mr. Mohammed Brimah and the entire APYF family in Kwara State. Indeed, we see the appointment of Brimah as a just reward for your collective and undisguised dedication to the struggle that birthed the present government in Kwara state. We're confident that more would still come.

Finally, we are confident that Mohammed Brimah, with his versatile mind, proven leadership ability and his well known empathy for the less privileged, will bring his trademark ingenuity and obvious experience to bear in serving the good people of Kwara state.

We therefore appeal to all our teeming members in the state to support and pray for the success of the new appointee as this will further boost the image and reputation of our great forum.


Signed:

*Ife Adebayo*
National Chairman, APYF

*KWASSIP: Kwara APYF congratulates Braimah on his new role as consultant/anchor*

The All Progressive Youth Forum (APYF), Kwara state chapter, has congratulated the state and one of its national leaders; Mohammed Braimah on his new task as the Consultant/Anchor of the newly established Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) also known as Owo Arugbo.

In a statement by the Kwara sate APYF Coordinator, Comrade Tunde Salau described the Braimah to anchor the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) as a right decision taken by His Excellency Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the Executive Governor of Kwara State.

Part of the statement by Comrade Salau reads; “assigning Braimah the responsibility, is no doubt a round peg in a round hole, with the belief and confidence that he (Braimah) is equal to the tasks and capable of delivering the best of results, due to his previous experience in the NSIP and high level of competence, and above all highly proficient in that regard”. He is young, energetic, cerebral, diligence and very meticulous in carrying out responsibilities." We at the Kwara APYF are therefore confident that Braimah will deliver the task he is assigned."

Comrade Salau, further commended Gov. Abdulrazaq for initiating such masses oriented programmes, like KWASSIP and the Home Grown School Feeding Programme which are some of the ways the government can directly touch the lives of the poor and the less privileged in the state.

He also used the opportunity to commend the state government for its proactive approach towards the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world.

Signed:
Director of Publicity
Kwara APYF

VP OSINBAJO, WIFE CONDOLES WITH PRESIDENT, FAMILY OF CHIEF OF STAFF



Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, released the following statement on Chief of Staff Abba Kyari's transition:

"Dolapo and I express our sympathies to the President, Mrs Kulu Kyari, the children, and members of the family on the passing of the late Mallam Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President. May the Lord comfort and be with you all in Jesus name. Amen."

Released by:
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
18th April, 2020

COVID-19: PDP IS INTELLECTUALLY LAZY - BMO


The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should refrain from taking opposition politics to a ridiculous level with fraudulent claims and antics, as well as hasty generalisations.

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) made this call in its reaction to PDP's allegation that the reviewed fuel price of N123.50 was fraudulent, as well as its position on the Warri Killing.

BMO said in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, that PDP's penchant for twisting facts and figures is becoming worrisome.

"We consider the party's claim that fuel price should be N90 a litre as a product of intellectual laziness and fraudulent manipulation of figures.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the petroleum pricing template is a public document, but surprisingly, PDP could only identify two items out of 11 items that are collectively used to determine the pump price of PMS.

"So its leaders have continued to bandy a jejune figure that has nothing to do with reality in their desperation to discredit the Buhari administration and put it on the same pedestal of corruption and official recklessness that their party is known for.

"We understand PDP's quest to present itself as a populist movement when there is not much in that party's history in power at the centre for 16 years to suggest that it always took the generality of Nigerians into consideration when making decisions.

'On the other hand, President Muhammadu Buhari has in five years paid the backlog of pensions dating back to the Obasanjo years in the case of workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways amongst others, as well as the entitlements of former Biafran Police officers who served during the 1967-70 civil war.

"And who would forget in a hurry how President Buhari looked state governors, especially those owing salaries and pension arrears, in the eyes and asked them how they could manage to sleep at night.

"There's no way a party with a culture of exploiting Nigerians could accuse President Buhari of insensitivity towards the plight of the average Nigerian", it added.

BMO also questioned the rationale behind PDP's position that the President and the All Progressive Congress (APC) should be held responsible for the recent killing of a Warri resident.

"Where were the PDP spokesman and his team when President Buhari announced a two-week lockdown of the epicentres of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country?

"Were they too consumed with the task of identifying the flags on display behind the President, or were they checking if the broadcast was prerecorded, to realise that he named only two States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

"The last time we checked, Delta State was not mentioned, so PDP should direct its needless attack at one of its governors, Ifeanyi Okowa, who ordered the lockdown of the state till further notice, to stop the virus from his domain.

" We are more convinced now than ever before that the group which should be better known as Pseudo Democratic Party has no clue about how to play opposition politics".

BMO again reassured Nigerians that President Buhari would not abandon them now that more parts of the country are under lockdown to check the spread of the virus.

NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM (NEF) IS A DEAD HORSE, FAKE ACTIVIST-BMO


The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has rejected what it described as uninformed and misleading muddling of facts by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), under the guise of criticizing the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government.

It urged Nigerians to ignore the Forum which it called 'a dead horse'.

In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Maduke, BMO said members of the NEF are in the habit of "pretentious activism, largely based on ignorance of the popular wishes of Nigerians, especially the Northerners it purports to represent, by speaking out of turn over serious national issues".

The group was reacting to suggestions by the NEF that the payment of N20, 000 conditional cash transfer (CCT) to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians, to cushion the economic effect of the partial lockdown against the spread of the Coronavirus was belittling the recipients.

"This is a demonstration of deep ignorance of the benefits the payments bring to the beneficiaries.

“The partial lockdown in the frontline States where the infections of COVID-19 occurred are aimed at stopping its spread and protecting the health and well-being of Nigerians against the virus. Lockdown and self-isolation are common measures recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for all countries where the disease reared its ugly head,” the BMO pointed out.

“Leaders of the NEF, like its spokesperson, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who was ranting against his own country on a foreign radio station, are as elitist as their fellow travellers in the leadership of similar moribund bodies across the nation. They are totally bereft of actionable ideas that can improve the welfare of Nigerians, especially the Northerners in these challenging times.

"To pretend that the sum of N20, 000 paid to the most needy was nothing, betrays their arrogance and lack of social and economic touch with the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians whose poverty President Muhammadu Buhari feels so much to the extent that his administration expanded the number of households in the CCT programme in 2016 with the view to minimising their pains".

The BMO drew the attention of Nigerians to the fact that all the donations announced by individuals and corporate bodies did not involve any cash remittance to the coffers of the Federal Government. "Donors made it clear that the donations would be in the form of equipment and medicaments required to fight the virus, treat its victims and stop its further spread in the country.

"In addition to continuing and fast-tracking payments under the Conditional Cash Transfer, the Buhari-Administration is evolving a modality for delivering food vouchers to 'holidaying' school children in the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, has released 70, 000 tons of foodstuff for distribution to the most vulnerable citizens and is working with the National Assembly to authorize virement of N500 billion to tackle the COVIC-19 pandemic.

“It is surprising, if not disappointing, that the leaders of the NEF have chosen to ignore the N1.5 trillion funds the Central Bank of Nigeria is making available to real investors as an economic stimulus, and the fact that the United Nations has commended the federal government for its steadfastness in the mechanism it put in place to minimise the damage Coronovirus could do in Nigeria.”

The statement advised the NEF "to always do its homework properly before making utterances that expose its leadership as a collection of ignorant elders who are groping for relevance in the darkness.

Mallam Abba Kyari’s Sins, by Mohammed T. Abiodun

There is almost no Nigerian that does not have a word of complaint to make every now and then about Nigeria’s power crisis. Even the elites who can afford to run 24/7 generators are faced with the humongous expense to fuel them. Any government that means business, must have tackling power at the frontline of its agenda. No investor finds a country without adequate power supply - at the minimum - attractive. Nigeria does not even deliver adequate.

On the 22nd of July, 2019, Nigeria signed a six-year power deal with Germany’s Siemens. The deal targets producing at least 25,000 Megawatts of electricity by 2025; an over 300% increase from our current production. This is a feat, that once met would result in a turn-around for Nigeria. It is estimated that only 40% of Nigerians are connected to the power grid - that is bad enough. Worse, all of these negligible 40% are not even assured of consistent stable power supply.

This country has witnessed several fraudulent attempts to fix the sector. Most of the moves ended up as blank cheques to corrupt leaders and their cronies.

The deal with Siemens - delivered through government-to-government contracts - is easily Nigeria’s most transparent roadmap to fixing its power supply deficit. By the very nature of the deal, corruption is eliminated as there are no middle-men.

The details of the deal, when it was first signed in July 2019, were not spelt out. It was only an agreement to make power happen. Fleshing out the nitty-gritty was what took Mallam Abba Kyari, the President’s Chief of Staff, and the Minister of Power, Mr. Mamman Saleh, on the President’s instructions, to Germany to meet with the Siemens delegation led by its Global Chief Executive, Mr Joe Kaeser.

Mallam Abba was only doing his work: being the President’s foreman when it most mattered. Unfortunately, he returned with the Coronavirus - at a time when Germany and the UK were not yet designated high-risk countries. Consequently, he had spent over a week in Nigeria before he exhibited symptoms of an infection.

Whether he is running high-level errands in Germany, sending out memos to appointees and staff of the President, calling them to duty, or simply taking the heat for his principal, Mallam Abba’s sin for those who detest him is doing his job, with the utmost loyalty and dedication to President Buhari.

And he doesn’t quiver at the critics or their vile words. He maintains, like his principal, a sanctimonious silence while focusing on his assignment. I can bet that he is in fact working from where he is in isolation - it was not surprising that his doctors said he is responding well to treatment, but needs to sleep and rest more. The life of a workaholic indeed.

Those who today act like they are more concerned than even the President about the whereabouts and well-being of Mallam Abba Kyari, do so not out of love, but mostly out of the transfer of a deeply-seated hatred against the President Buhari administration.

“Where is our Chief of Staff?” rants a certain lady in a video that has gone viral on the internet. And I am compelled to ask, when did he become “Our Chief of Staff”? This unusual affection is obviously suspicious.

Then there are those who have taken the hate a notch higher, and have claimed that he is vegetable. A deranged blogger claimed that there was a death in Aso Rock - knowing fully well that Mallam Abba was treating the coronavirus.

Another Twitter user, Keith Richard, an obvious pseudonym, claimed Mallam Abba was in a certain hospital in St. John’s Wood - wherever that is. He topped his claim with the icing, saying that his source saw him personally. How delusional!

Mallam Abba, the new found darling of social media users, is simply enjoying the attention of being the President’s right hand man.

President Buhari is known for being immune to the noise-making and chaotic rants. He stays focused to those values he has and the proposal he presented to deliver to Nigerians, who voted en-masse for him, re-electing him for a second term. He shows no bother to the vulgar thrown at him. Perhaps this is why their fiery darts of hate have found Mallam Abba Kyari, his trusted ally and wing-man as a good-looking target.

It is not unexpected. He is the Chief of Staff to the President. That is why Chris Whipple, describes this office as the Gatekeeper: the one who takes the heat for the president, and brings the President’s “No” to those who the President cannot tell that to. He corners the President’s enemies for himself.

The President Buhari administration has an assignment towards the nation. One earned over the ballot - through the overwhelming votes of millions of Nigerians. Mallam Abba Kyari has the duty to manage the President’s affairs and ensure his principal meets the targets he has set for himself. He does a yeoman’s job. And it involves getting in the way of people, stepping on fat, boisterous toes, inconveniencing some and unseating vested unproductive interests. For some, these are sins, but for Nigeria, this is service.



Mohammed T. Abiodun, a writer and collector of historical texts, writes from Abuja.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE
 
VP CHAIRS NEC SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING ON COVID-19, URGES MORE PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT ON SERIOUSNESS OF THE PANDEMIC
 

The Special Committee of the National Economic Council on COVID-19 is working hard to develop additional measures to alleviate the challenges being faced by Nigerians because of the implications of the global pandemic in the country.
 
The Committee chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, held its second meeting this afternoon as it continues its task of coordinating the Federal and State governments’ responses to the impact of the disease.
 
Present alongside the Vice President at a meeting held via videoconference anchored from the Presidential Villa are Governors Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti; Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna; Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa; Mohammed Abubakar, Jigawa; Godwin Obaseki, Edo; David Umahi, Ebonyi; Dapo Abiodun, Ogun; and Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi. The meeting was also attended by the Finance Minister, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed and the Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze among several other top officials.
 
The NEC Committee received the report of its Technical Working Group which proposed an array of policy options and recommendations on how federal, state and local governments can bring relief to the people and take other adequate measures in containing and responding to the adverse economic effects of the pandemic.
 
Speaking at the meeting, the Vice President emphasized the importance of the assignment and the urgency required, asking that public enlightenment and sensitization on the seriousness of the pandemic should be further intensified at all government levels so that more and more Nigerians would become aware of the compelling and critical dimensions of the situation.
 
He assured the governors that the FG is already packaging further resources for a comprehensive economic response to alleviate the challenges of the pandemic, support the States and provide succor to Nigerians in a timely and effective manner. He disclosed that the newly created Economic Sustainability Committee, ESW, constituted by the President will also be meeting this week to start its work and respond to the situation appropriately.
 
 
 

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President

1st April 2020

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE



COVID-19: WHAT PRESIDENT BUHARI HAS DONE, AND IS DOING, BY PRESIDENCY



In his broadcast to the nation on Sunday, March 29, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari declared that “in Nigeria’s fight against Covid-19, there is no such thing as an overreaction or under-reaction. It is all about the right reaction by the right agencies and trained experts.”



Lest we forget, below is a chronicle of some of the reactions by the agencies and trained experts, under the leadership of President Buhari. All these are apart from the impressive job being done by some state governors.



· January 28, 2020, (one month before the first case of Corona Virus). Federal Government assured citizens of the country of its readiness to strengthen surveillance at five international airports in the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The government announced the airports as Enugu, Lagos, Rivers, Kano and the FCT.



· January 28: The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also announced that it had already set up coronavirus group and was ready to activate its incident system if any case emerged in Nigeria.



· January 31: Following the developments on Covid-19 pandemic in mainland China and other countries worldwide, the Federal Government set up a Coronavirus Preparedness Group to mitigate the impact of the virus if it eventually spreads to the country. On the same day, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed Nigeria among other 13 African countries identified as high-risk for the spread of the virus.



· February 27: Nigeria reports its first Coronavirus case



· Early March: Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, announced that 60 persons who had contact with the index Italian patient were under isolation – 40 in Ogun State and 20 in Lagos State.



· March 9: President Buhari established a Presidential Task Force for the control of the virus in the country.



· March 17: Nigeria postponed the 20th National Sports Festival that was billed to hold in Benin City, Edo State from 22 March to 1 April.



· March 18: Presidential Task Force Press Briefing during which the Federal Government announced that travellers from 13 countries would no longer be allowed to enter Nigeria until the Coronavirus pandemic was over.



· Nigeria is restricting entry into the country for travellers from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States, Norway, United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland. These are countries with over 1,000 cases domestically.



· The government also stopped issuance of visas from the countries.



· The Federal Government also suspended the issuance of visa on arrival to travelers from the earlier named countries. All travelers returning from these countries prior to the restriction will be in supervised self-isolation, monitored by NCDC and Port Health Services.



· March 18: The Management of the National Youth Service Corps suspended the 2020 Batch A stream one 21 days orientation exercise indefinitely. The orientation exercise commenced on 10 March and was expected to end on 30 March, before it was suspended after just 8 days.



· March 18: Nigeria placed a travel ban on 13 countries with high cases of the virus namely: United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, China, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Japan and Iran.



· March 18: The Nigeria Football Federation suspended all football activities for four weeks.



· March 19: Nigerian President’s daughter in isolation after returning from Britain.



· March 20: Nigerian government announced the closure of tertiary educational institutions, secondary and primary.



· March 20: Nigeria extended travel ban to two more countries, Sweden and Austria.



· March 20: Nigeria announced the closure of international airports in Enugu, Port Harcourt and Kano.



· March 21: The Nigerian Railway Corporation announced the suspension of all passenger services from 23 March.



· March 21: Nigeria announced the closure of the remaining two international airports in Abuja and Lagos.



· March 23: The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad ordered all courts in Nigeria to shut down from 24 March.



· March 23: Nigeria announced the suspension of Federal Executive Council, (FEC) and National Council of State (NCS) meetings indefinitely.



· March 23: The Independent National Electoral Commission announced suspension of all activities for 14 days.



· March 24: The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board suspends activities for two weeks.



· March 24: The National Examination Council announced an indefinite postponement of the 2020 common entrance examination into 104 Unity schools in Nigeria, which was scheduled to hold on 28 March.



· March 24: The Federal Capital Territory Administration ordered the immediate closure of shops in the markets and neighbourhood centres, except those selling food items, medicines and other essential commodities.



· March 24: FCT also directed the immediate suspension of gathering in churches and mosques.



· March 25: Government announced the closure of Asaba airport with effect from March 27; land borders from March 29.



· March 26: CBN announced Covid-19 fund contributions by seven Nigerian billionaires and banks. Access Bank Plc, Nigeria’s biggest lender by assets, is teaming up with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to provide treatment and isolation centres across Africa’s most populous nation as it braces for the impact of the coronavirus.



· March 26: Federal Government received 107 boxes of medical supplies from China, comprising surgical masks, protective clothing, face shields and detection kits.



· March 27: Federal Government released 10 Billion Naira to Lagos State, and 5 billion Naira special intervention fund to NCDC to equip, expand and provide personnel to its facilities and laboratories across the country.



· Closure of the nation’s international Airports and Land Borders for four weeks in the first instance, to enable the country put up the appropriate policies, processes and infrastructure to cope with suspected and confirmed cases at home, without risking compounding of the situation with more imported cases.



· Only cargo vessels that have been at sea for more than 14 days would be allowed to dock in the ports, after the crew have been tested and confirmed disease-free by the Port Health Authorities.



· NCDC to draft all its recent retirees back into service to beef up manpower.



· Furthermore, all NCDC staff and experts who are away on training or international assignments are to return immediately. Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducting an evacuation mission to bring back some of Nigerian specialists in Central Africa, to enable them support the national response.

· March 27: President Buhari commends the monetary policy authorities for their financial intervention to support entrepreneurs and companies. Government also looking at fiscal measures to minimise the negative impact of this pandemic on the livelihood of millions of Nigerians.



· Government begins the process of reviewing the federal budget.



· President Buhari directs the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, to work with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), to ensure that production of essential items such as food, medical and pharmaceutical products continues.



· The Minister of Health stated that of the 65 Coronavirus cases, 40 had immediate travel history to one or more of the Coronavirus affected countries in the last two weeks;10 are close contacts of confirmed cases; 6 had neither a recent travel history nor a known contact and 6 were detected on an offshore oil vessel. He further revealed that, 3 persons had been discharged from treatment and one fatality was recorded. The Minister affirmed that 61 currently active cases are clinically stable with mild or moderate symptoms.



· The Minister of Health hinted that Lagos State is currently the epicentre of COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, stating also that the Lagos State government and the ministry of health had scaled up their response activities as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control supports them as well as other affected states, through the rapid response teams deployed.



· The minister emphasised that health facilities and health workers at all levels should be on high alert and maintain a high index of suspicion to give full cooperation to contact tracers everywhere. He added that while train stations, land borders and international airports remained closed, precautionary measures should be taken by FG to protect sea ports.



· The minister emphasized the containment strategy of social distancing which he said, had been repeatedly announced. He added that directives had been issued at National and State levels to limit large gatherings, including religious, social and political gatherings, school events etc.



· March 27: A circular was issued by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) directing public servants on Grade Levels 12 and below on non-essential roles to work from home.



· Contact-tracing is on-going to identify persons who had been in close contact with confirmed cases.



· The Federal Ministry of Health is working closely with States and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to review response activities, and initiate measures to protect the health and wellbeing of Nigerians. The Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), led by NCDC coordinates it and other national response activities



· NCDC launched a WhatsApp APL, a free to use service to provide a central source of accurate, verified and current information on COVID-19 in Nigeria.



· The Minister of Health also emphasized that the NCDC hotline is available 24/7 and toll free and that various states also have hotlines that could be called for direct state specific questions on COVID-19, while urging citizens to use them legitimately for reporting and enquiries.



· March 29: Presidential Broadcast.



· March 30: President Buhari signs Covid-19 Regulations, 2020 into law.



· March 30: 11pm: Lockdown begins in FCT and Lagos, as directed by President Buhari.



Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

April 1, 2020

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT PRESS RELEASE
 
VP OSINBAJO EXPLAINS HOW THE LAW SUPPORTS PRESIDENTIAL RESTRICTION ORDERS

*Says the President invoked an Act of the National Assembly 
 
Questioning the legality of the presidential order restricting movements in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States is quite unnecessary as the action taken is not only important but very well backed by extant Nigerian laws, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
 
Prof. Osinbajo made this observation in Abuja while responding to questions on Monday at the Google Hangout programme organized by HACK COVID-19 Call Centre - a private sector initiative supporting Nigeria’s battle against the pandemic.
 
According to the Vice President, “regarding the legality of the shutdowns announced by the President yesterday, -Sunday-I think it is entirely legal. These steps are proactive, very relevant, important and backed by law.
 
“I am not so sure some of the people who have commented on the issue have come across the Quarantine Act.  There is a Quarantine Act of 1926, it’s been published in all of the Laws of Nigeria, every edition of the Laws of Nigeria, it is there.” 
 
Referring specifically to the part of the legislation that empowers the President to order movement restrictions in any part the country, Prof. Osinbajo said, “what the Act does is that it allows the President to designate any local area, any part of the country, as a place that may be infected or under the threat of a communicable disease, and he can then make regulations of any kind. 
 
“For instance, he can say, people should not go out; no public gatherings etc. So, it is a regulation that gives the President powers and these powers come from the National Assembly because, of course, it is an act of the National Assembly."
 
(The Vice President also later explained that by virtue of the constitutional rules, the 1926 Act is deemed to be an Act of the National Assembly.)
 
“So, the President has extensive powers under the Quarantine Act of 1926. Also, Governors have extensive powers under the same Quarantine Act.” 
 
Prof. Osinbajo urged all interested individuals and groups to personally go through the legislation in order to understand the provisions therein, noting that “it is barely a one page legislation, so it is not particularly difficult to find the relevant provisions and it is not particularly difficult to read, very straightforward. So, the President has all the powers.”
 
Speaking further about the legal precedent for the President’s ‘no movement order’, Prof. Osinbajo said “many of us are not familiar with the Influenza pandemic that killed several millions around the world in 1918. At that time regulations were made here, very similar to what we have today, although that was under the colonial authorities. 
 
(The Influenza pandemic was referred to as the Spanish Flu and it killed thousands in Nigeria and millions across the world then.)
 
“They also banned public gatherings, banned gatherings in places of worship then. So, there is even good historical precedence for some of what we are doing today.”
 
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President

31st March 2020

VP Osinbajo Chairs Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC)

_"The President today constituted an Economic Sustainability Committee he asked me to chair, on how to implement strategies to alleviate sufferings of Nigerians at this time,"_ VP Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, said at a Google Hangout where young Nigerian tech innovators discussed impact of COVID-19.

The Committee is to take care of the economic challenges and fallouts of the pandemic and consequential restrictions.

Besdies developing further palliatives, the committee will also develop a sustainability plan on repositioning the economy and growing the non-oil sector.

Members include Ministers of Finance, Budget and Planning; Industry, Trade and Investment; Labour; Petroleum Resources - state; CBN Governor, GMD NNPC, with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Secretary.

The Google Hangout was organized by HACK COVID-19 Call Center in Abuja, earlier today.

The *HACK COVID-19* is a private sector initiative to share solutions, public information and ideas on COVID-19 and how public and private sector can collaborate on the response to the pandemic.

The Google Hangout was moderated by *Ore Disu* and other tech innovators who participated online.

*Laolu Akande,*
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President of Nigeria,
Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON.
30-03-2020.

*Office of the Vice President*
_Press statement_

*WE CELEBRATE A VISIONARY AND TRANSFORMATIVE LEADER, SAYS VP OSINBAJO, AS ASIWAJU CLOCKS 68*

Today we celebrate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a visionary, transformative leader and patriot. Your exceptional political career and service has inspired millions. It is true that few leaders have developed as many leaders from the ranks of their protégés as you have done. 

Your incredibly large and generous heart, political astuteness and uncommon intellect have become the stuff of legend. 

Today, but for COVID-19, we would, as we have done in the past twelve years, celebrated this day with the *Bola Tinubu Colloquium,* where we do what is your greatest passion, proffering answers to developmental questions. We will by God’s grace still do this and many more. 

I pray for you sir, that as your days, so shall your strength, wisdom and favour be with God, in Jesus name.

*Happy Birthday, Asiwaju!*

*Yemi Osinbajo, SAN,*
Vice President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo is in self-quarantine over suspicion that he could have contracted Coronaviirus.

Senior Special Assitant on Media and publicity to the vice president, Laolu Akande, made this known via his twitter page on Tuesday.

Laolu said, “VP Osinbajo yesterday at the office conducted his meetings via video conferencing, while observing social distancing.

He added that the vice president who is in seif-quarantine has been working from home in accordance with National Centre For Disease Control protocols.

He said, “Today, he continues his work from the home office, as he is in self-isolation in accordance with NCDC protocols.

This revelation is coming after Chief of Staff to president Muhammadu Buhari, Aba Kyari tested positive for Corona virus.

Other three staff working with the COS in the Villa have reportedly tested positive.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE

OSINBAJO AT LATE ESCORT RIDER’S VILLAGE, EXPRESSES GRIEF, PRAISES OFFICER’S DILIGENT SERVICE

*Assures family, community of government’s support


“Late Inspector Ali Gomina was an officer that was loved by many, he served very dutifully and diligently. We are all very sad when this happened. It is terrible.”


Those were the words of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, earlier today when he paid a condolence visit to the family of late Inspector Ali Gomina and the entire Gui community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.


Prof. Osinbajo arrived the community at about 3.45 pm accompanied by aides and was received by the Chief of the village, Alhaji Alhassan Yussuf and other leaders of the community.

After prayers by the Imam of Gui community mosque, Abubakar Jibril and the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor in the community, Pastor Adegbe Julius, the Vice President spent time interacting with the family especially the widow of the deceased, Asiya Ali Gomina and his first son, Ali Kabiru Gomina, expressing his condolence and encouraging them.

Addressing the chief of the village and others shortly after interacting with the family, Prof. Osinbajo said “We all loved him. He served very dutifully and diligently. We are all very sad when this happened. It is terrible. We were all there and saw it happen and we are very pained by it. This is the reason we have all come, to commiserate with the family and the community.”

Assuring the family and the community of government’s support to both the immediate family of the late officer and the community in general, the Vice President said “I am here today myself to see his children, and see what we can do to help the family, and in his honour, what we can do to help his community.”

Prof. Osinbajo then prayed “God will help and sustain his family, we pray that all will be well with his family and community.

“We will also see what we can do to assist the community in whatever way. God bless you, well done.”

Late Inspector Ali Gomina, aged 45, one of the police escort riders in the Office of the Vice President, was killed in a road accident while on official duty on Friday 13th March 2020.

Gomina died after a runaway Toyota Camry car ran into him, knocking him and throwing him down against a moving tanker way ahead of the convoy on the expressway to the airport in Abuja.


Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President

14th March 2020

*HOW ABUJA WOMEN THREW SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR VP OSINBAJO

Gowon to VP: “You are doing an exceptionally herculean job, we are proud of you”

VP invites girl who jumped over fence to meet him during campaign to villa chapel.

FCT football academy & presidency staff too, hold events.

A group of market women from from Karu and Jikwoyi, Abuja suburbs, threw a surprise reception for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday to celebrate with him on his 63rd birthday.

This was after former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), and a number of State governors had worshipped together with Prof. Osinbajo at the Aso Villa Chapel thanking God for the VP’s life.

In celebration of the day that coincided with the 2020 International Women’s Day, the women sang birthday songs for Prof. Osinbajo as he joined them at the De George Resort in New Karu. The women numbering over 100 held a short reception for the VP and took turns taking photographs with him.

Addressing the women during the brief reception in his honour, Prof. Osinbajo thanked the women for their solidarity and prayed for God’s continued blessings in their lives and families.

He said: “I want to thank every one of you for this wonderful surprise birthday party. Those of you who are not yet 60, will be 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, in Jesus mighty name.
“All of you and your children will prosper in this land and experience promotion. Everything that you ask from God he will do for you, so my next birthday will be bigger and better than this and I will attend your own birthdays too.”

From the brief interaction with the women groups, the Vice President proceeded to the Jikwoyi Mini Stadium where he met with the management and players of FC Liberty International.

He spoke to the players about the importance of hard work in everything that they do, noting that “everything can be achieved by hard work. Talent is good but even if you have very little talent, with hard work, you can achieve what you want in life.”

Welcomed by the General Manager of the Club, Mr B.O.B Oluwale, the Vice President watched a brief training session of the team before interacting and taking photographs with the players and staff.

He said players of the club have excelled in local and international competitions and some have secured professional contracts to play football in bigger clubs at home and abroad.

Earlier at the Aso Villa Chapel where a Church service was held to mark the occasion, an SSS 1 girl, Damilola Oriowo, who had jumped over a fence to meet the Vice President during the 2019 electioneering campaigns in Kubwa, Abuja, joined other Nigerians at the service to celebrate Prof. Osinbajo’s 63rd birthday.

Damilola and her parents were recognized at the service by the VP and the Oriowos joined in the VIP photo session after the church service. The Vice President mentioned how Damilola had made determined efforts to personally meet him during the 2019 electioneering campaigns, praising her resolve and welcoming the friendship.

During the service, General Gowon, who prayed for God’s continued blessings and guidance for Prof. Osinbajo, commended the commitment and dedication of the Vice President to the service of the nation.

According to him, “let me join all the good people, sons of God here, to wish you very happy birthday; and to ask for God’s blessings on you; and to say how much we all appreciate you.

“You are the one who is standing for all us, Christians throughout this country. When the darts are thrown at the government whether individually or collectively, and when everything is said, we know it is you that is standing firm for all of us who are of faith and I will like to say to you that we all appreciate you.

“We know that you are doing an exceptionally herculean job and we are proud of you; and continue to bless you and wish you many happy returns.”

In the same vein, staff of the Vice President’s Office on Sunday played a novelty football match to mark the occasion with the Department of State Services (DSS) team emerging winner of the inter-unit mini football competition.

The competition held at the football pitch of the Family Worship Centre, Abuja had staff of the Media, Protocol, Police and Department of State Services (DSS) units, competing for the top position.

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who was on ground to present trophies to the teams at the end of the game, commended the staff of his office for their unity and for rejoicing with him on his birthday.

The staff joined by friends of the Vice President also joined the celebrant in cutting a cake presented to him to mark the occasion.

All prizes won by the various teams have been donated to charity in the spirit of the celebration.

Why We Must Deal With Small Arms Proliferation Now - Osinbajo

A clear cut set of strategies to curb and curtail the proliferation of small and light weapons would be developed soon, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo hinted this at a meeting he held this morning with top security chiefs and members of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons on the instruction of the President.

At the last National Security Council meeting, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Vice President to chair a committee to review the report of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM) constituted in April 2013 by the then Federal Government.

In line with that Presidential directive, Prof. Osinbajo on Monday chaired the inaugural meeting of the review committee, calling for the development of clear cut, specific line of action to address the serious problems of small arms and light weapons many of which fuel the insurgency in the Northeast and other security challenges in the country.

The Vice President noted that the seriousness of the matter had necessitated the setting up of the review committee said, “the problem we have at hand is really enormous”, adding that this is why the President is keen on effective and prompt solutions.

Members of the review committee present at the meeting include the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami; the Ministers of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno; the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu; the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd); Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman; and the Chairman of PRESCOM, Amb. Emmanuel Imohe.

Others include the representatives of the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Ministry of Defence.

Bishops to Osinbajo: We feel we are together when you are with us

In a candid review of the security situation in the country and a down-to-earth observation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's disposition to matters of faith, and passion for the people, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Lordship, the Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama has commended the Vice President's demonstration of love and solidarity with Nigerians including the Church at all times.

Archbishop Kaigama expressed this sentiments in his sermon at the opening mass of the first 2020 plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja on Sunday. According to Kaigama: “I am so happy that our vice president is here; it is not just being here but there is very profound sacramental blessings that he is here; when you are with us and we are suffering, we are together but when there is a gap with you, there is a feeling of insensitivity.

“We need to have access to our leaders; we need to have access to the president and to the vice president; to the ministers; they need to be closer to the people that elected them. This is very important.” The vice president, on the invitation of the CBCN, attended the opening mass which is a prelude to the plenary meeting of all Catholic Bishops of Nigeria annually. Speaking further about the need for a much closer relationship between political leaders and their constituents, the Archbishop, citing the example of Prof. Osinbajo's uncommon love and concern for the development of society, said, “so much is happening in our country today that is why we need more patriotic Nigerians to help overcome some of the issues.”

He said: “We need to also work together to eradicate or at least reduce the level of poverty; the level of diseases, sickness and ignorance, unnecessary deaths and other issues affecting us. So much is happening and that is why we need more patriotic Nigerians to come forth and help address these issues.”

Continuing on the role of religious leaders in maintaining harmony and order in the society, Archbishop Kaigama said the habit of condemning political leaders and people in positions of authority, in places of worship was harmful to society and inimical to its growth and hence should be stopped. According to him: “Our primary task as religious leaders is to steer the people to conversion and holiness, but because of poverty and hardship being suffered by the people, preachers are forced to become miracle workers or political revolutionaries throwing verbal bombs, missiles, grenades, poisonous gas and all sorts of things at political leaders from the pulpit.

“Now if you go to preach anywhere, all they want you to do is to abuse the authority for causing the poverty and social deprivation that we have but that is not the message of the Gospel. “Yes, we must denounce evil; we must denounce corruption; we must denounce reckless spending that cost the poor of their dignity; we must do that at all times. But why should churches become the altar and the Mosque become places where we antagonise our leaders instead of seeking solutions?”

He urged the Church to continue to pray for political leaders at all levels for the progress and development of the country and called on government to collaborate more with faith-based institutions in order to deliver the basic needs of the people. Dignitaries at the meeting include the Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, amongst others.

Our Plans To Address Skills Gap & Employability In Nigeria – VP Osinbajo At Inauguration Of National Council On Skills
In addition to the efforts made by the Federal Government in the past four years to address unemployment, the inauguration of the National Council on Skills will further boost the employability of young Nigerians and as a result reduce unemployment in the country, according to Vice President Osinbajo, SAN.


The Vice President who stated this on Thursday at the inauguration of the National Council on Skills (NCS) at the Presidential Villa, said the council’s inauguration was an indication of the commitment of the Buhari administration to address problems associated with the skills gap and youth unemployment in the country.


While inaugurating the council, Prof. Osinbajo, who also chairs the council said, “the present administration has really prioritized the skilling and employment of Nigerian youths and this is borne out of what we have in our Economic and Recovery and Growth Plan.”


According to him, “We consider that vocational and digital technology skills are critical in the effort of this government not only to provide employment for our young people but also as an important feature of diversifying our economy.


“There is no question at all that one of the critical questions that come up all the time is the employability of our young men and women. It is becoming increasingly evident that it is not enough to have the certificate to compete favourably today. It is important that young men and women have requisite skills, technical and digital skills to enable them to find a place especially in the job market of this challenging 21st century.”


Speaking further on the responsibilities and objectives of the council the Vice President said the council shall amongst other things “formulate skills development policy and also layout plans and strategies for skills development in Nigeria.”


“The council will direct the conduct of regular skills survey to identify the skills gap in the country so that training will be demand-based and to fast track the institutionalization of the National Skills Qualification Framework in Nigeria, and also to enforce legislation on the use of certified professionals in the country.


“The council will also bring coherence to skills development in the country by the facilitation of policy formulation,” Prof. Osinbajo added.


The Vice President expressed hope that the national council which is the highest decision-making body on skills development in Nigeria, “is a major step forward for us in our human resource development plan”.


The council has Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, as first Deputy Chairman, while Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote is second Deputy Chairman. Members include: Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Industry Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Ali Isa Pantami; Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola; Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare, Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen. Minister Adamu was represented at the inauguration by the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.


Chairman of the Governors Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; his Borno State counterpart, Prof. Babgana Zulum and the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who represented Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, were present at the inauguration. Other Governors who are members of the council include Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Mr Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo; Mr Willie Obiano of Anambra; and Alhaji Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.


The membership of the council also includes the representatives of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), National Universities Commission (NUC), UK Department For International Development (DFID), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), while the Director, Technology and Science Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, is the secretary.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
28th February 2020

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE

HOW EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT IS MANAGED, BY NEC MEMBERS
*Governors dismiss allegations of depletion

Media speculations regarding the Excess Crude Account being depleted have been dismissed by state governors who explained that the operation of the Account is conducted with their knowledge and due approvals of the National Economic Council, NEC.

Answering reporters’ questions at the end of the NEC February meeting today, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State explained that the change in balance of the ECA from USD$325 million last month to USD$71 million is due mainly to the new USD$250 million investment in the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), approved by the Council.

According to him, “the Authority is doing very well, they are handling infrastructure so nicely that the governors and the Federal Government are investing well. When the investment was made both the Federal Government, State Governments and Local Governments all get their investment certificates, so we are together in this.”


Continuing, Governor Umahi explained the other expenditure of USD$4 million being significantly reduced consultancy cost approved by the Council besides the USD$250 million NSIA investment. According to Umahi, who spoke on behalf of the Council members, “So no money is missing.”


The National Economic Council holds monthly and is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, comprising the 36 governors, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Governor of Central Bank.


Other highlights of the meeting include reporting balances on the Excess Crude Account which stands at the sum of $71,813,941.84. The balance on the Stabilization Account stands at N34, 186, 655,761.82, while the balance on the Natural Resources Account stands at the sum of N101, 889,686,452.53.


A presentation was made by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Lessa Fever. He said “103 confirmed cases and 13 deaths reported from 18 States (Ondo, Ebonyi, Edo, Bauchi, Plateau, Benue, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kastina, Kogi, Sokoto, Taraba, Delta, Rivers, Adamawa, Nasarawa and Lagos). Of the confirmed cases 72% are from Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi states,” noting however, that there is a decline in the number of new cases in Benue.


On the efforts at addressing Lassa fever, the Health Minister said National Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) has been activated while state Health EOCs are activated in affected states, adding “intensive sensitization of the public on safety measure needs to be carried out.”


Ehanire also assured of the country’s readiness to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), saying multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group has been established, 4 diagnostic testing facilities are ready at National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, LUTH in Lagos, Irrua in Edo State and Redeemer’s University in Osun State.


NEC was also updated on the status of ownership structure of the Electricity Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs) by the Council Committee set up for the purpose. According to the Committee, it has received responses from the public, while forensic audit of the DISCOs are being conducted.


While requesting for additional time to complete the report, the Committee stated that state governments would provide it with details of their investments in the electricity companies.


Council was also informed that Edo State is hosting 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) from Sunday, March 22nd, 2020, while the new governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri was introduced and welcomed by the Council.



Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President.

27th February, 2020

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE

HOW BUHARI ADMINISTRATION IS PUSHING THROUGH MAJOR SUPPORTIVE INITIATIVES FOR MSMEs


*VP Osinbajo to FG agencies: we need to do a lot more

*$20M fund for technology & innovation

*N90B single digit loan scheme for small scale agric, 7000 beneficiaries already shared N20B

Bank of Industry has now approved a $20M technology fund for young innovators, Central Bank is offering a N90B soft loan facility for small scale agric enterprises, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it is now poised more than ever to register more Nigerians venturing into the food and drug businesses.

These and more form the highlight of a meeting to assess the progress of the MSMEs programmes of the Buhari administration, whose flagship is the MSMEs clinics initiative driven by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN and has now reached 26 States including the FCT.

Recalling at the meeting, the plan of President Muhammadu Buhari to pull out 10 million Nigerians annually out of poverty in the next ten years, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN said “clearly we need to do a lot of things on scale”.

Addressing several heads and representatives of Federal Government agencies interfacing with MSMEs after they had all given reports and made presentations at the meeting held later on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Prof. Osinbajo said “we have all the competence we need in this room, we even have the erudition. What we need is to coordinate and the willingness to implement. We need to get things done. We have all it takes.”

According to the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr. Kayode Pitan, the $20 million technology fund was part of measures of the bank to support the Buhari administration and encourage technology innovators grow the technology sector. He disclosed that the Bank’s board has approved the soft loan fund already.

He explained that technology innovators and startups would be supported through the fund to grow viable businesses in the technology sector, adding that National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), represented also at the meeting would monitor progress made by beneficiaries of the fund.

On his part, the Director General of NITDA, Mr Kashif Inuwa said in line with the Federal Government’s agenda on leveraging technology in diversifying the economy, the agency has so far licensed 27 Data Protection Companies.

In the agricultural sector, the Central Bank through the National Microfinance Bank is offering N90 billion soft loan facility to small scale agricultural enterprises under the Agric-Business/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS).

So far, and in just within weeks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the 56 branches of the National Microfinance Bank across the country has disbursed N20 billion to 7000 beneficiaries already, with plans to give out N5 billion monthly to more beneficiaries in the country.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on the other hand, says it is now poised more than ever to register more Nigerians willing to venture into the food and drug businesses by unveiling its e-registration platform for ease of registration and is offering a 75% reduction in the cost of product registration to commence soon.

The NAFDAC DG, Prof. Moji Adeyeye said the move was to address challenges faced by owners of small businesses in the registration of their products. She said the agency believes this will also lead to job creation.

Equally, the Corporate Affairs Commission is reviewing its business name registration processes by removing unnecessary interferences that cost prospective business owners extra money to register with the commission.

Under the new arrangement, prospective business owners can walk into any CAC office nationwide and register a business name by themselves without the assistance of a lawyer, an accountant or any middle-person.

In the same vein, the Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, disclosed plans to commence the registration of MSMEs in the country as part of measures to build a comprehensive database of MSMEs for the purposes of planning, coordination and development.

Present at the meeting were the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum, CEO of NEPC, Mr Segun Awolowo; MD of BOI, Mr. Kayode Pitan; MD of NEXIM Bank, Mr Abubakar Bello; MD of Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abdulhameed; MD of Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Kabir Adamu; Directors General: of SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda; NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye; NITDA, Mr Kashif Inuwa; Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim; and representatives of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), amongst other stakeholders.


Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President

26th February 2020

How Innovation & Technology Will Drive Progress In The New Decade

As innovation in technology continues to reshape opportunities and challenges across different fields of human endeavour, the need to review Nigeria’s curriculum of higher education to focus more on technology and creativity has become a necessity rather than an option, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Friday at the Fifth Convocation Lecture of the Federal University, Duste, Jigawa State attended by a cross-section of Nigerian academics, public intellectuals, and traditional leaders including the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Kano and the Emir of Dutse among others.

In a lecture titled “Facing the New Decade,” the Vice President said “Education today must be education for employability, not just for its own sake. So, our curricula must be versatile and dynamic.”

According to him, “the focus must be on innovation, critical thinking, interdisciplinary thinking, design thinking, synergizing and collaboration with others across the world to solve problems.

“The era of cramming teacher’s notes and regurgitating for high grades is over. The graduate of the future is a problem solver, a thinker, an entrepreneur.

“Our educators, policymakers, schools, universities must now adapt their curricula, policies and projects to improve the skills that enable the graduate to nimbly and constantly respond to the ever-changing face of the economy and the workplace.”

And speaking directly to the students the VP said “the exciting future ahead of us, the opportunities are limitless. Go for it!”

He further noted that the need to prepare school graduates adequately for the challenges of the future, the Vice President said “there will be a truly international market place of ideas, talents and opportunities, but to access that market place you need to become a global citizen by your own effort. Self-education will be important. Second, technology in its various iterations and applications will be crucial in all and every aspect of human existence.”

He said Nigerian graduates of higher institutions of learning would only fit into the future driven by technological advancement if the management and teachers in the institutions review the entire system in order to adapt to realities in their environment.

According to Prof. Osinbajo, “there is no question that an exciting future lies ahead, there are breakthroughs in radical technologies, capable of disrupting whole industries, and perhaps even our very conception of work itself.

“For higher institutions who are getting graduates ready for the world of work, for the graduates and near graduates who are here today, what does the disruption of the workforce by emerging technologies signify for both livelihoods and employment?”

Speaking specifically about areas that require improved skills training to increase access to opportunities, the Vice President said that adding value to what already exists is what can create more wealth in societies hitherto fixed on old methods and ways of doing things.

He said: “So today the most successful businesses are those adding value, even our culture can become a great wealth creator but only if we add value.”

“In our future, there is truly something for everyone. We should all take advantage of digital technology, especially social media and the various platforms on offer, to grow a customer base, gain traction and advance businesses.

“You can write a blog, develop a website to sell your products or even your ideas – whatever it is you know how to do best. People are running fully-fledged commercial businesses on Instagram without a single physical shop, an opportunity only made possible by the internet.”

Continuing on the need for graduates and young Nigerians to leverage innovation in technology to rewrite the history of their communities, Prof. Osinbajo said: “We are an entrepreneurial people, a society of multitaskers who thanks to the virtual economy, can make real opportunity out of anything we are passionate about.”

Citing examples of some Nigerians who have dared to tap from limitless opportunities in creative collaborations in hitherto unknown ventures, the Vice President challenged young Nigerians to be creative and courageous enough to break new grounds.

“ What is your passion? How can you take the skills that you have, and add value to the world around you?

“I have seen videos tutorials on how to make the best soups, or bake the best cakes, getting hundreds of thousands of views on Instagram and YouTube.

“YouTubers like Dimma Umeh are showing us how to do makeup, how to master that highlight and contour, and she told us in one video that she made her first million from YouTube!”

“Thanks to the social media age, whatever ideas and skills that you have can be leveraged for benefit. Your knowledge is of immense importance and you have to find creative ways to take advantage of that. While it is easier than ever to sell your knowledge and skills, it has also become easier and cheaper for you to acquire them.

“The Mobile Prof” in Lagos, for example, is teaching people how to code from their mobile phones, you don’t even need a laptop anymore! The future is about self-education and self-development.”

He urged Nigerian Universities and other higher institutions of learning to support and nurture students that would face the emerging future starting with this new decade, driven by the limitless opportunities in creativity and technology.

*OUR PEOPLE CAN SOLVE MANY OF OUR PROBLEMS – VP OSINBAJO*

_Osinbajo lauds West African surgeons for thousands of free surgeries_

Given the impressive performance and achievements recorded by Nigerians across diverse fields, at home and abroad, it is evident that many of the country’s problems can be solved by Nigerians themselves without recourse to foreign aid, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo said this on Friday when he received a delegation from the West African College of Surgeons (WACS), in his office. (The College formed by a group of young Nigerian surgeons 60 years ago predated the Economic Community of West African States)

The delegation led by Prof. Ibrahim Yakasai, mni, was at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa to brief the Vice President about the activities of the College including its planned 60th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference scheduled for Abuja. Yakasai is the Local Organising Committee chairman.

Speaking after listening to a brief on the achievements of the WACS, the VP said “I am glad to hear the good things that have been done by the college through the years.

“I believe that a lot of our problems, some of the aids that we need, can be provided by ourselves. We have the resources including human capacity to do it.” He thanked the delegation for the visit, assuring the College of the Federal Government’s continued support.

Earlier in his remarks, the immediate past President of the College, Prof. King-David Yawe highlighted some of the achievements of WACS especially with regards to free medical outreaches to several Nigerian communities.

He said while working with the Presidential Committee on North East (PCNE), the College has conducted 9, 000 surgeries on 49,000 patients in the Northeast with the insurgency in the region, adding that the body was currently conducting free medical outreaches in 14 hospitals across the FCT, some North Central States and Maiduguri.

Prof. Yawe added that as part of the 2020 pre-conference events, the College is currently conducting free surgeries in the FCT, Borno and other States, noting that 700 such surgical operations have so far been conducted in the past one week with a target of reaching 1000 before the commencement of conference.

He also said that the outreaches which started 14 years ago include eye surgeries, orthopedic, paediatric & plastic surgeries, brain tumor amongst many others complicated health challenges that otherwise cost patients several millions of Naira, and for which many travel out of the country to treat.

Continuing on the activities of the surgeons, Prof. Yawe said the College has accredited training centres in Gombe, Borno and Yobe States.

He commended the Buhari administration’s support to the association in partly funding some of its activities and meeting its responsibilities especially in solving its 20-year-old problem regarding a request for land in the FCT.

Prof. Yawe informed the VP that the land has been allocated to the College for the establishment of a Skills and Simulation Centre to train surgeons in West Africa in hi-tech surgeries.

The leader of the delegation, Prof. Yakasai also informed the VP that the College works in partnership with the ECOWAS and has surgeons from 18 countries with over 7000 fellows across West Africa. The College conducts training, postgraduate education and research activities

While Yawe is the immediate past President of the College, Yakasai told the VP the current President is from Senegal. (Prof Serigne Magueye Gueye.)

*Laolu Akande*,
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,
Office of the Vice President.
15th February 2020.

*Emir of Lafia: How Osinbajo revolutionized judiciary in Nigeria*

By Gabriel Olawale The Emir of Lafia, Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (rtd) has described Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a pacesetter who revolutionized the nation’s judiciary sector, saying that the federal government learnt so much from the Vice President as the Attorney-General of Lagos between 1999-2007.

The Emir, who is a former Supreme Court judge, disclosed this when he played host to Prof. Osinbajo at his palace in Lafia , saying that history would be kind to the VP  with the introduction of multi-court house and several reforms that have contributed to the development of justice dispensation in the country.

Recounting his experience with the Vice President when he was the Commissioner for Justice in Lagos, the Emir said many  legal professionals would not forget in a hurry how Lagos Judiciary under Osinabjo leadership was used as yardstick and a pace setter for all other states, including the federal government.

The Emir said:“ I feed delighted to receive you in this ancient palace. It has always been my dream in life that one day the Almighty will bring you here. I have my special reason for that.

This is because those of us in the legal profession will appreciate the fact that your Excellency, you are a pace setter as far as what is made out today modern judiciary in Nigeria is concerned.

Those of us who were close by have noticed since that your appointment as the Attorney General of Lagos has brought about the revolution we are having today in the judiciary.”

The emir further explained that as far as far-reaching reforms were concerned Lagos under Osinbajo as the Attorney was the rallying point for many legal professionals and many states who were poised at reforming their judiciary sector. “It is in your coming as the AG that we have the first major review of rules of court.

We’ve never had that in Nigeria. These rules of courts that became the first of its experience in Lagos, we then at the FCT,  we went to borrow to see what was going on in Lagos. “Today, that has become a reference point in Nigeria. We will never forget your tenure as the Attorney General in Lagos.

This is because, is was the first of its kind in the history of this country that a prosecution of matters in this country has profile and really makes sense in this country.

Your Excellency, it is at your time some of these innovations going on that have done so much in the delivery of the justice system which has made it easy. Because your time as the Attorney-General that we saw for the first time in this country, the coming in of the  multi-door court house,” the Emir added.

He expressed optimism that Nigerians would benefit immensely from the wealth of experience of the Vice President, adding that combination President Muhammdu Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo was a clear indication of brighter rewarding future for  the nation.

“We know as a matter of time,  this country, Nigeria will continue to  benefit from your tremendous experience,  your good character exemplified by what the two of you, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and you as the Vice.

There is no doubt about the fact that the two of you are the best in character and exemplary leadership.”

*OSINBAJO TO REPRESENT NIGERIA AT FORMER KENYAN PRESIDENT MOI’S STATE FUNERAL TOMORROW*

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the State Funeral for former President Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya, in Nairobi tomorrow.

Moi who died on Tuesday, 4th February, aged 95, was the second and longest-serving President of Kenya from 1978 to 2002.

Prof. Osinbajo would be joining other African Heads of State and world leaders expected at the occasion scheduled to hold at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

The Vice President, who would be accompanied on the trip by senior government officials, leaves for Nairobi today and is expected back in Nigeria later tomorrow, 11th February, 2020.

*Laolu Akande,*
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President,
Office of the Vice President,
10th February, 2020.

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT NIGERIA VISA POLICY (NVP) 2020

The announcement of the Visa on Arrival policy last December by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aswan Forum, in Egypt, was greeted with loads of condemnation from some quarters, largely due to misconception, and, perhaps, mischief.

Chief among the allegations was that it was a ploy to import more killers into the country under official cover, and that foreigners would come to take available job opportunities meant for Nigerians.

With the official launch of the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) 2020 by President Buhari on Tuesday, here are some salient points to note:

-A greater part of 2019 was devoted to conceiving and enunciating the policy, with retreats, conferences and engagements with stakeholders by the Nigeria Immigration Service. These held in August, October, and December, in Lagos, Benin, and Abuja, respectively. It was, therefore, not a hasty decision.

-NVP 2020 is a global visa system, and there is biometrics linked to online applications for each applicant. Chances of criminals beating the system are negligible. Biometrics is to be conducted at port of entry.

-Visa on Arrival to be issued only at airports, not at land borders.

-There are three categories of visas: short visit, temporary, and permanent residence.

-From the previous six, there are now 79 classes of visa.

-There is Visa for Diaspora Nigerians by birth, with dual citizenship.

-Visa on Arrival is only for short visits, and there is little chance that visitors will come in to take jobs which should have been for Nigerians.

-The system is automated. No cash transaction, so the chances of corruption are reduced.

-NVP is part of a wider reform ‘NIS Border Strategy, 2019-2023.’

-It holds immense economic benefits for the country. As President Buhari said; “The Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 is intended to attract innovation, specialized skills and knowledge from abroad to complement locally available ones...it will support the attainment of a globally competitive economy for Nigeria by building on the efforts of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council. The policy is expected to improve the business environment, attract Foreign Direct Investment and boost tourism without compromising national security.”

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
February 5, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari’s op-ed published in Speaking Out; a guest opinion column for Christianity Today.

BUHARI: PASTOR ANDIMI’S FAITH SHOULD INSPIRE ALL NIGERIANS

President of Nigeria eulogizes Brethren leader executed by Boko Haram, and criticizes terrorist efforts to divide Christians and Muslims in Africa’s most populous state.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI
Nigerians everywhere, those of belief and those of none, are mourning the death of pastor Lawan Andimi, taken from us by Boko Haram for his refusal to denounce his Christian faith.

I did not know Pastor Andimi personally. Yet Nigerians and I both know him and his church by their works: healing, caring, feeding and educating, particularly in the northeastern regions of my country—in those areas threatened for too long by terrorists. Every day, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN) places itself there bravely where the brotherhood of man is most in need of sustenance.

Pastor Andimi’s ministry was located only 60 miles from the town of Chibok, from where in 2014 the world witnessed the shocking kidnapping of 267 schoolgirls. That even one individual—this time a man of the church—could still be taken by the terror group seven years later might be viewed as evidence the terrorists are fully functional, and undefeated. But it is not.

Since I was first elected to office in 2015, 107 of the Chibok girls have been freed. Today we seek the others. Boko Haram are no longer one, unified threat, but fractured into several rivals. These splinters are themselves degraded: reduced to criminal acts which—nonetheless no less cruel—target smaller and smaller numbers of the innocent. We owe thanks to the Nigerian defense forces, bolstered by our partnership with the British, American militaries and other countries that we are winning this struggle in the field.

But we may not, yet, be completely winning the battle for the truth. Christianity in Nigeria is not—as some seem intent on believing—contracting under pressure, but expanding and growing in numbers approaching half of our population today. Nor is it the case that Boko Haram is primarily targeting Christians: not all of the Chibok schoolgirls were Christians; some were Muslims, and were so at the point at which they were taken by the terrorists. Indeed, it is the reality that some 90 per cent of all Boko Haram’s victims have been Muslims: they include a copycat abduction of over 100 Muslim schoolgirls, along with their single Christian classmate; shootings inside mosques; and the murder of two prominent imams. Perhaps it makes for a better story should these truths, and more, be ignored in the telling.

It is a simple fact that these now-failing terrorists have targeted the vulnerable, the religious, the non-religious, the young, and the old without discrimination. And at this point, when they are fractured, we cannot allow them to divide good Christians and good Muslims from those things that bind us all in the sight of God: faith, family, forgiveness, fidelity, and friendship to each other.

Yet sadly, there is a tiny, if vocal, minority of religious leaders—both Muslim and Christian—who appear more than prepared to take their bait and blame the opposite religious side. The terrorists today attempt to build invisible walls between us. They have failed in their territorial ambitions, so now instead they seek to divide our state of mind, by prying us from one from another—to set one religion seemingly implacably against the other.

Translated into English, Boko Haram means “Western teachings are sinful.” They claim as “proof” passages of the Quran which state that Muslims should fight “pagans” to be justification for attacks on Christians and those Muslims who hold no truck with them. They are debased by their wilful misreading of scripture—at least those of them who are able to read at all.

Of course, there is much of Christianity and Islam—both in teaching and practice—that are not the same. Were that not so, there would be no need for the separateness of the two religions. Yet though these unread terrorists seem not to know it, there is much between our two faiths—both the word and the scripture—that run in parallel.

For the Bible teaches, “Each one must give as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion” (2 Cor. 9:7), while the Quran states: “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256). Similarly, the Bible states:

“For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror” (James 1:23). The Quran concurs: “Those who believe and do good works, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward” (35:7).

I call on Nigeria’s faith leaders, and Nigerians everywhere, to take these words of concord—and the many more that exist—to their hearts and their deeds. Just as my government, and our international partners, quicken our campaign to defeat Boko Haram within and without our borders, we must turn our minds to the future. There is no place in Nigeria for those who seek to divide us by religion, who compel others to change their faith forcibly, or try to convince others that by so doing, they are doing good.

Rather, we might all learn from the faith and works of Pastor Andimi. There seems little doubt he acted selflessly in so many regards—giving alms and prayers to both Christians and Muslims who suffered at the hands of the terrorists. And he passed from us, rightly refusing to renounce his faith that was not for his captors to take, any more than his life. His belief and his deeds are a lesson and an inspiration to all of us.

Muhammadu Buhari is President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

HOW WE DRAFTED APC MANIFESTO IN 2014 FOCUSING ON SOCIAL INVESTMENTS – BY OSINBAJO 
 



Adds: Social safety nets not acts of sovereign kindness but sovereign obligation
                 

Convinced that government owed a duty to the poor, the weak, the vulnerable and those who cannot work, the APC in 2014 included in its manifesto a social safety initiative to specifically address poverty amongst other things, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
 
Prof. Osinbajo stated this in his remark at the 5th edition of the Airtel Touching Lives event held in Lagos at the weekend.
 
According to the Vice President, “listening to each story of a life touched this evening must remind us of the many others who need our help, our comfort and our kindness. The poor and vulnerable always need a voice. 
 
“In 2014, Mr Wale Edun, Prof. Pat Utomi and I met at Pat’s home to write portions of the manifesto of the APC. 

“We all agreed that a fundamental pillar of our party’s plans must be to create a social safety net for the people. We were convinced that government owed a duty to the poor, the weak, the vulnerable and those who cannot work. 
 
Continuing Prof. Osinbajo stated that “social safety nets are not merely acts of sovereign kindness; they are a sovereign obligation - a responsibility.” 
 
Making reference to the Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government, the Vice President said the effort of Airtel was commendable especially in complementing the work already done by government in tackling poverty.
 
He said “today, the social safety net scheme is the fore of our Social Investment Programmes where we are feeding about 9.5 million children in public schools in 34 states across Nigeria; we are giving monthly cash to about nearly a million households as part of our conditional cash transfer scheme; we have given, as at the last count, 2.2 million loans to petty traders whose inventories are no more than N5, 000.
 
“We have also engaged about 500, 000 young men and women, who have been unemployed (over different periods of time) under our N-Power programme. But we are still very far from touching majority of those who need help.
 
“It is clear that to do so, we need far more resources behind that programme. This is why the work of social conscious companies like Airtel is so vital. Bridging the huge gap between what government can do and what is left to be done.”
 
 

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President

27th January, 2020

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE

NIGERIA IS ON THE PATH OF PROSPERITY, SAYS OSINBAJO

*VP lists notable marks of progress, key projects to be completed in next few years

Having instituted reforms covering critical sectors of the economy over the past four years, Nigeria under the Buhari administration is making steady progress on the path of prosperity, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Saturday in Lagos in a keynote address he delivered at the Redeemer's Men Fellowship Conference themed “Galvanized for Geometric Growth”.

The Vice President, while noting that much still needs to be done in the different sectors of the economy, restated that the country had enormous potential which would be realised.

According to the VP, who referenced the recent US-based Newsweek magazine's special cover edition which described Nigeria as the Black China and Africa's first super-power, “despite our challenges, Nigeria is the ‘last major open market, and like China and India, its population and economic size will enable economies of scale and attract international investment.”

Prof. Osinbajo said reforms by the Federal Government have over the past few years spurred progress and attracted investors’ interests across different sectors comprising agriculture, technology, tourism and entertainment, manufacturing amongst others.

“Just this week, the Spur Group, an IT company from China indicated that it will be establishing a computer hardware manufacturing plant in Nigeria.

“In the course of last year, the Mara Group of Ashish Thakkar had also indicated that it will set up a manufacturing plant for Mara Phones in Nigeria.

“Kobo360, which was one of the start-ups in a group that I led to Silicon Valley in July 2018, aggregates end-to-end haulage operations and raised $30m in a Series A round led by Goldman Sachs and Nigerian commercial banks.

“Using technology, Kobo360 has made it possible for providers of haulage services to find cargoes for their trailers on return journeys, in effect halving the cost of transporting goods,” the Vice President added.

Continuing, the Vice President said the potential of the Nigerian economy has also been boosted by the Buhari administration through direct and indirect investments in agriculture, manufacturing, technology and creative industries.

According to Prof. Osinbajo, “the story of increased rice production in Nigeria is well known, with production of paddy rice in 2019 estimated at 7.3 million metric tonnes compared to about 5 million metric tonnes in 2015.

“A little noticed phenomenon taking place in agriculture is the use of technology to attract crowdfunding into the sector. Given the huge interest in agriculture and the relative ease of investing through such platforms, we will see a huge increase in investment in agriculture and subsequent increases in agricultural output across the value chain.”

In the manufacturing sector, the Vice President said all critical indices have so far indicated significant improvements between 2018 and 2019.

He said, “this positive outlook for the manufacturing sector can be seen from the Leventis Group which, for instance, continues to make substantial investments in the Nigerian manufacturing sector through its subsidiaries, the Nigerian Bottling Company and Beta Glass.

“The Nigerian Bottling Company will soon be commissioning its Asejire Plant, which has taken a substantial part of a recent $500 million investment in Nigeria, while Beta Glass which makes the bottles for the pharmaceutical sector and for beverages like Coca-Cola and Star Beer, has invested another $30 million to expand its furnace capacity.”

The technology sector, according to Prof. Osinbajo, “continues to hold out great promise.”

Citing recent industry reports, the Vice President said, “Nigerian start-ups attracted $122 million out of the $492 million in funding to the African start-up sector in 2019.

"Perhaps more compelling is the increasing use of e-payment channels within the economy. The value of Point of Sale (POS) transactions is reported to have reached over N3.2 trillion in 2019 as compared to N2.3 trillion in 2018, an increase of 38%, while the volume also increased by 153 million transactions to a total of 438 transactions in 2019.”

In the area of infrastructure, the Vice President disclosed that the Federal Government’s interventions through the various reforms would yield greater results.

Noting the efforts of the Buhari administration to address the country’s major infrastructure deficit, the VP said, “So our focus in the last few years has been on investing in roads, rail, and power. We have a major road project going on in every state of the federation.

“Some of the road projects scheduled for substantial completion in 2020/2021 include: Dualization of Suleja-Minna road, Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa/Bokani road, Nnewi-Oduma-Mpu (in Enugu)-Uburu (Ebonyi), Yenagoa-Okaki-Kolo-Nembe-Brass road, Bodo-Bonny road with a bridge across the Opobo channel, the rehabilitation and expansion of Lagos-Badagry expressway and, of course, the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.”

He added that 19 other road projects measuring about 800 kilometres have been prioritised in 11 states across each of the six geo-political zones, which would be done by 10 local companies that have applied to join Dangote group and NLNG in the Investment Tax Credit Scheme of the Federal Government encouraging private sector investments in infrastructure.

Also speaking on the new Finance Act 2019, the Vice President said the law is government’s fiscal response to the issues of limited revenue sources and the need to improve the business environment, especially for small and medium businesses.

“The Act has two main purposes with extremely beneficial effects on the Nigerian economy. It addresses the issue of domestic revenue mobilization on which Nigeria has often paraded quite a low record.

“However, even while achieving this objective for the public sector, the Finance Act is calibrated to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria and actively foster private sector growth.”

The event was also attended among others, by the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina and the National Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Nigeria, Pastor Joseph Obayemi, who is also President of the Fellowship.

Earlier in his own speech, Dr. Adesina, commended the Buhari administration for the achievements recorded in the agricultural sector, noting that the efforts of the Federal Government have revolutionized agriculture in the country. Pastor Obayemi also delivered a welcome message.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
25th January, 2020

Office of the Vice President

Press Statement

FG, SOUTHWEST GOVERNORS AGREE ON AMOTEKUN 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, met today with South West Governors, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police.

The meeting was at the instance of the Governors who had asked to see President Muhammadu Buhari over the controversy surrounding the Amotekun Initiative. However due to the President’s foreign engagement, he asked the Vice President to host the meeting.

The meeting was very fruitful and unanimous resolutions were made on the way forward.

Having regard to the need for all hands to be on deck in addressing the security concerns across the country, it was agreed that the structure of Amotekun should also align with the Community Policing strategy of the Federal Government.

It was also agreed that necessary legal instruments will be put in place by each of the States to give legal backing to the initiative and address all issues concerning the regulation of the security structure.

Re: Goodnight from Aso Rock, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, By Olaitan Joseph

Just last week in January, during a one-day working visit to Kano State, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, was busy as usual doing his job, as he has done with dedication since the onset of the Buhari administration in 2015.



During the visit to the State the VP commissioned some projects, including the Aminu Dantata flyover of over 2km, at the Murtala Muhammad Way, and the Tijjani Hashim Galadima Kano underpass way, in Kofar Ruwa.



In Abuja, the VP received the new US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Mary Beth Leonard, on a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa. During the meeting, he noted that the increase in activities and threats by terrorist groups in the Sahel region can be largely curbed by stepping up relations between Nigeria and the United States of America.



Also, last Tuesday, Prof. Osinbajo received at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, a Turkish business delegation led by Turkey’s Minister of Trade, Ruhsar Pekcan. He noted that Nigeria is open to more investment from foreign companies, including from Turkey, in the areas of construction, manufacturing, technology and other sectors.



Osinbajo also attended the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Parade held at the Eagles Square, alongside President Muhammadu Buhari.



In a nutshell, the Vice President has continued to do his job with dedication and excellence to improve Nigeria’s image, economy, and development; in line with the objectives of the Buhari administration. Raising unfounded allegations and insinuations about the VP’s position would not change that.



For the writer to insinuate that “if you’re looking for where to read newspapers in Aso Rock, visit the Vice President’s office, is simply outright fabrication aimed at amusing some readers. This is because the article is not only laced with falsehood and mere conjectures.



The impact of the EMT and the world bank’s rise in ease of doing business reforms driven through PEBEC. Since 2016, Nigeria hase risen by an aggregate of 39 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings. Also, the World Bank also rated Nigeria as one of the 10 best reforming economies in the world.



This is as a result of the efforts of the Osinbajo chaired Presidential Business Enabling Council (PEBEC) and the Economic Management Team (EMT) through the ease of doing business reforms among other initiatives to improve the business climate in Nigeria.



Even the National Economic Council (NEC), comprising the 36 Governors of the Federation, FCT Minister and Governor of the Central Bank, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo for driving Ease of Doing Business reforms.



That the EMT has been replaced with the Economic Advisory Council does note negate the great work it has done under Osinbajo. Instead, the new Council would build on the strong foundations it has laid to improve Nigeria’s economy.



On the issue of poverty, Nigeria, the Buhari administration is ramping efforts to to lift Nigerians out of poverty. Recall that on June 12 last year, the President noted that his administration “intends to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years”.



No matter what critics say, this government is committed to that goal and is already on track with its Social Investment Programmes (SIP), which provides the largest social safety net in sub-Saharan Africa and is impacting the lives of millions of Nigerians



Under the SIP, there is the GEEP programme, which includes TraderMoni and MarketMoni, which has provided microcredit to almost 2 million petty traders. Under the Trader Moni micro credit scheme, the Federal Government (FG), through the Bank of Industry (BOI) provides interest free and collateral free loan to petty traders and artisans. The loan ranges from N10, 000 to N100,000 per beneficiary. Last year, the programme won the AfDB prize for financial inclusion because of the work that was done with TraderMoni.



Also, under the SIP, here is the N-Power job scheme which provides employment for over 500,000 young Nigerians in all the Local Government Areas nationwide; the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme, which provides monthly stipends to the most vulnerable in society; and the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, which feeds almost 10 million school pupils a free nutritious meal day.



Asides from that, the Federal Government is putting up measures and policies to improve the country’s infrastructure to provide more jobs, as well as agriculture, manufacturing, technology and other sectors.



Let’s not forget the humongous corruption in past administrations which would take years to undo. But the good thing is that Nigeria is well on track to becoming a favourite destination for investors with the foundations the Buhari administration is laying.



The writer did state that the vice president has been chairing the governing boards of the National Emergency Management Agency, Border Communities Development Agency, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, and is the Chairman of National Council on Privatisation.



The VP keeps serving his fatherland with utmost dedication. Naysayers would always spin a tale or two to get traction but this does not take away the hard work of the VP as number two working with President Buhari to make Nigeria better.





In case, the writer is also unaware, the constitution empowers the VP and by the constitution, his roles are clearly defined. Order precedes any sane democracy. The Vice President remains the deputy to President Buhari and he is discharging his duties very well as stated by the constitution. Speculations that the VP is nursing the top job remains what it is, mere speculation. What the VP is solely focused on is service to his fatherland.



Then, for the writer to even insinuate that before the VP could take any decision or action now, approval must first be sought and obtained by him from the ‘almighty’ cabal is absolute falsheood. Pray, tell, who is this cabal? The VP is number two man and reports directly to the President. He was elected alongside President Buhari to govern this country. It is absurd and laughable to claim that the VP requires any approval from a cabal before he takes any decision.



Again, on Tradermoni, the VP'S office is no longer directly in charge of SIP, of which Tradermoni is one of the schemes. Since the tail end of last year, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, now superintends that. Nevertheless. The SIP is still ongoing, and has been budgeted for in the 2020 Budget. Several testimonies of beneficiaries are awash the Internet and Social Media. The writer might want to check them out.



Also, the VP’s aides were not sacked, but only moved to Ministries. The VP still has people working for him, and he is still doing his job.



It seems the writer is obsessed with the figments of his imagination on the Vice President and the so-called cabal. But the fact is the VP’s significance remains as strong as ever. Despite the warped narratives being spurned by some cynics, VP Osinbajo has played and continues to play a crucial role in the Buhari administration as it continues to make efforts to improve the nation’s economy, security and curb systemic corruption.