₦airaland Forum

Magu: Reports linking Osinbajo to stolen EFCC billions another PDP Dubai strategy by fake news merchant Jackson Ude - BOSF*

Jackson Ude, a fake news merchant, PDP Dubai Strategist and partisan hack is in the news again, making fictional claims about fake revelations regarding the ongoing investigation into the activities of the Ag. EFCC Chairman. His claims that Magu gave money to the Vice President is not only an irresponsible lie, but a concocted move that continues a long running smear campaign against Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Ude, who worked as Media Aide under the PDP Jonathan Presidency is determined to tarnish the enviable image and steerling reputation of the Vice President ahead of 2023. He will use any and all opportunities his devious mind sees to achieve that. While he claims knowledge of ongoing Magu investigation, the truth is that Ude has no information whatsoever neither is he connected to any credible source that might hint him about goings on.

His past records of Fake News are enough to nail this partisan operative whose mindless and baseless reporting are becoming legendary.

This is why we, nationwide members of the Buhari Osinbajo Solidarity Front, (BOSF) have decided to call out this shadowy and despicable character called Jackson Ude, as a fraud, mercenary and paid political hireling.

Since Ramon Olorunwa Abbas aka Hushpuppi was linked to PDP leaders, people like Ude and his paymasters have been desperate to divert attention. Pictures of Hushpuppi and PDP leaders like Atiku Abubakar, Yakubu Dogara, Dino Melaye among others leaked after the failed Dubai strategy of the 2019 presidential election. The current vexations against Prof. Osinbajo, (a man a widely admired across all section of Nigeria and who many Nigerians have come to respect and admire) is part of an unending desperation of political interests, fearful of another round of defeat from the hands of Nigerians come 2023.

BOSF totally dismisses the claims by Ude that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was mentioned like he claimed during a Presidential Panel grilling of the boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.

Jackson Ude is nothing but a fake news merchant and a fraud. He has a long history of spreading falsehood and lies against people with the aim of blackmailing them for money.

On the allegation levelled against Magu, it is on record that the EFCC chairman never mentioned the Vice President’s name and that all the news by Ude was concocted. Not only is he not close to the proceedings, he lacks credibility of any kind.

Here are a few catalogues of some of the fraudulent activities and lies by Ude:

*Not many remember that this element called Ude once tried to dupe former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala after threatening to publish fake news about her ownership of a billion naira mansion in Abuja using Chinua-Ogwu, a dismissed police officer to perpetuate his criminal act.

So this is not the first time Ude will claim an authoritative source gave him an information. It was a lie then and he is still an active liar.

*Ude also once claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari and late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, were secretly flown out of Nigeria for COVID-19 treatment.

He tells this lies with a straight face and after each and every of his lies are exposed, he keeps silence for a while and then comes back with a new salacious offering. Nigerians have come to realise his folly and should pay no attention to this son of a gun!

*This element, Ude also once swindled Mrs Oyindamola Amuka (wife of Uncle Sam Amuka, Vanguard Publisher) of £20,000.00.

*He also once claimed via his Twitter account that former Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola had been dropped from the list of ministers compiled by President Buhari.

*If that was not enough, he tweeted a picture and wrote categorically that the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele had been sacked.

There are countless more cases where he claimed an authoritative source told him this or that, revelling in hearsay as though he has any shard of credibility!

*He once claimed that the names of Custom and NPA bosses were among the ministerial nominees and in another instance that the leader of proscribed IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu is being detained inside Nigerian Navy war ship off coast in Bayelsa.

All were lies, he concocts from his Bronx, New York base, where we would now be seeking means to bring him to some accountability. We shall be making international contacts on the best strategies to properly and legally go after Ude and especially showcase him in the US as an illegal operative and fraudulent character.

Ude is a petty criminal and should be treated as one. We urge Nigerians to disregard this new Dubai strategy from a petty criminal like Ude, they are only trying to divert attention.

In the last two weeks, PDP leaders have been linked to Hushpuppi and they are desperate to deflect attention to something else, so they believe that mentioning Osinbajo is the right fake news strategy but they have failed.

The Vice President’s integrity is rock solid and no amount of fake news can undo his reputation. He built it over the years and has been described as an upright man all across the world.

BOSF calls on well meaning Nigerians to understand what is going on and ignore all fake and evil news designed to cause confusion and mislead.

Signed:

Liberty Olawale Badmus

National Coordinator

Buhari Osinbajo Solidarity Front

BREAKING: Buhari presides over sixth virtual FEC meeting

Is there any Nigerian that has not lost a friend, acquaintance, family or loved one(s) to banditry, kidnapping and other unprovoked killings? Sizeable percentage of Nigerians might answer in the negative. Captain Abubakar Siddiq (my acquaintance in the picture below - we grew up together in Suleja, Niger State) got killed by bandits three days ago along Abuja-Lokoja highway while driving from Lagos to Kaduna to resume short officers' course in Jaji, Kaduna State haven served about 4 years in the North-East fighting to safeguard his fatherland. He did not die on duty (which he signed for) but rather fell to the callous hands of bandits while his newly married wife and aged mother were abducted. Like hundreds if not thousands others, this youngman was cut in his prime largely due to the security failings of his country, led astonishingly, by a former military general!
Mr President, the truth is, whether you build 2nd to 10th Niger Bridge, make Nigeria a replica of Dubai or London, or perhaps make Nigerians enjoy 24 hours electricity while PMS sells for NGN50 per liter, these wanton killings daily recorded in Nigeria from East, South, West to North will erode all those aforementioned achievements.
I worked majorly in the travel sector. In 2016 when SAA launched Abuja to Johannesburg route, my colleagues and I went through hell to convince high powered South African delegates to experience Abuja for few days. After signing many life guarantee forms, we provided enormous security for the delegates just to visit Zuma Rock and other selected tourists sites in Abuja.
Putting myself in the shoes of the slain officer, I have in the past, more than 4 occasions driven my family from Lagos to Suleja where I grew up and my parent lives till date, but I am beyond terrified to do that now. Just last week, the EU ban Nigerian travellers from visiting Europe, but alas majority of Nigerian travel sellers rarely package local travels all due to the issues of insecurity. In fact, just in March 2020, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) was to hold its 45th electoral AGM in Kano, less than 1 percent of the over 7,000 members based in Lagos and southern parts of the country indicates interest to travel to Kano. The reason? You guessed right, insecurity!
Mr President sit up! Accord security of Nigerian lives and their properties utmost priority even more than covid19. The humonguos budget allocated to covid19 by both federal and state government should also be accorded security. Perhaps, temporarily, I think the NYSC should urgently be transformed to serve military and security purposes. The Punch Newspaper reports over NGN83 Billion was budgeted to service 350,000 NYSC members in 2018. Imagine injecting 350,000 security personnel into the Nigerian system every NYSC circle. Of course with proper security training, 350,000 personnel will go a long way in reducing to the barest minimum the issues of security in our country. I am sure you know Mr President, you are accountable for every Nigerian (this is the teachings of your faith and the Nigerian constitution you swore). Sit up Mr President! May Buhari succeed. May Nigeria WIN!

PS. May the soul of Capt. A. Siddiq and all other Nigerians killed rest in peace, amen. Meanwhile, we pray that Capt. A. Siddiq's wife and mother alongside all other captives be rescued soonest, amen.

There are 10 personality traits a great leader should possess.

God truly Blessed us with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who possesses all 10

1 Kindness
2 Intelligence
3 Integrity
4 Compassion
5 Empathy
6 Honesty
7 Humility
8 Strength
9 Courage
10 Loyalty

*29th June*
Prof. Osinbajo virtually received the National Defence College Course 28 research report titled “Border Management & National Development: The ECOWAS Protocol Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Residence & Establishment in Perspective”.

Key recommendations included the adoption of a comprehensive border surveillance programme, the creation of National Border Management Service, amongst others.

*30th June*
VP Osinbajo participated in the virtual flag-off ceremony of the 614km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project, alongside His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, leaders of the National Assembly and Members of Cabinet.

The Vice President also partook in the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) meeting virtually presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Later that same day, VP Osinbajo met with Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker Gbajabiamila and Members of the Federal Executive Council, over the deferment of planned electricity tariff hike.

*1st July*
On this day, the Vice President partook in the Virtual Federal Executive Council (vFEC) Meeting, presided over by President Buhari.

*2nd July*
VP Osinbajo joined President Muhammadu Buhari as he swore in board members of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) and the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) at the Council Chambers, State House Abuja

POLIO-FREE STATUS: PRESIDENT BUHARI PRAISES MERKEL, OSINBAJO, SULTAN OF SOKOTO, OTHERS FOR JOB WELL DONE, PLEDGES TO REVITALIZE NIGERIA’S PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

President Muhammadu Buhari has written world leaders and partners to appreciate their support towards helping Nigeria attain a Wild Polio Virus (WPV) free status, pledging that his administration would sustain the momentum and strengthen the primary health care system.

The President also commended Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chairman Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication, and his team, for making Nigeria proud and saving her children from the scourge of poliomyelitis.

‘‘This is to express our profound appreciation for your leadership of the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization.

‘‘The declaration of Nigeria as a Wild Polio free country is the result of your effective coordination of the Nigerian Polio eradication program through the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization, Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

‘‘Please extend my personal appreciation to all members of the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication for making Nigeria proud and saving her children from the scourge of Poliomyelitis.

‘‘I urge the Taskforce under your leadership to sustain this coordination especially in mobilizing State Governors to provide the needed oversight and resources to sustain the momentum and strengthen the primary health care system by improving routine immunization, maternal, newborn and child health services.

‘‘I urge you to sustain the momentum as I look forward to us leveraging on the polio infrastructure and experience to drive other health interventions,’’ the President wrote in the letter to Prof Osinbajo.

The President also wrote a separate letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, thanking the European country for decades of financial support to Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) programme in Nigeria through KfW.

‘‘Please be assured that my Government will remain committed and focused to ensuring the needed resources will be provided to sustain the momentum and strengthen the primary health care system of our great Country,’’ the President said in his letter to Chancellor Merkel.

President Buhari also thanked traditional and religious leaders, who through their leadership built community trust for the polio programme thereby increasing acceptance and ensuring all eligible children are reached with the polio vaccine.

Specifically, he wrote Alhaji Muhammad Saad III, Sultan of Sokoto, the leadership of Jama’atul-Nasirl Islam (JNI) and the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The President also wrote separate letters of appreciation to Bill Gates, the European Union, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization, Dr. Robert R. Redfield, Director, U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund, David Malpass, President, World Bank Group and John Barsa, Acting Administrator, United States Agency for International Development.

Others are, Global Affairs Canada, Professor Shinichi Kitaoka, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the International President, Rotary International.

President Buhari also appreciated the support of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman Aliko Dangote Foundation, Sir (Dr) Emeka Offor and Governor Kayode Fayemi, in his capacity as the Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 3, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari says the recently developed Economic Sustainability Plan, aimed at stimulating the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, will extend protection to very poor Nigerians and other vulnerable groups through pro-poor spending.

The President spoke in a recorded video message to a virtual high-level UN meeting on trends, options and strategies in poverty eradication across the world.

The event took place at UN headquarters in New York, Tuesday and also served as the official inauguration of the Alliance for Poverty Reduction (APE), an initiative of the President of the General Assembly, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.

Warning that COVID-19 pandemic risks reversing decades of progress achieved in the efforts to eradicate poverty globally, President Buhari apprised the UN meeting on steps to revive the nation’s economy in the wake of the pandemic.

''It is my conviction that devoting our efforts towards human capital development, efficient management of our resources, greater financial inclusion and transformation of the agricultural sector to ensure food security are crucial to poverty eradication.

''In this regard, Nigeria continues to strengthen its existing social safety net initiative by increasing access to enrolees who fit the various programmes in the scheme.

''Nigeria will also continue to provide easier and increased access to financial services for micro and small-scale businesses through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme. But we are determined to do more.

''Nigeria holds the view that education is a critical driver of sustainable development and has an immense capacity to eradicate poverty.

''Educating our children, especially the girl-child, contributes significantly to the fight against poverty, environmental sustainability, and improved health, as well as building peace and resilient societies,’’ he said.

President Buhari also used the occasion to reiterate the commitment of his administration to poverty eradication, highlighting the national programme of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

''Nigeria attaches great importance to poverty eradication.

''It is, for this reason, that in May 2019, on my inauguration for a second term in office, our Government committed itself to starting a Programme of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within a 10-year period,'' he said.


On the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, President Buhari said in Nigeria, as in many other countries, the domestic supply chains and trading corridors have come under enormous strain, bringing to fore the health versus economics debate.

On poor and vulnerable people, the Nigerian leader expressed concern that more than 700 million people or 10% of the world’s population are classified as living in extreme poverty.

‘‘All the while they struggle with the most basic needs like nutrition, shelter, health, education and access to clean water and sanitation.

‘‘In this condition, the number of poor people is estimated to triple as livelihoods across almost all economic sectors have been adversely affected,’’ he said.

President Buhari also told the meeting that with a population of about 200 million; a large percentage of Nigerians live in various stages of poverty, adding that the prospect of the population sliding further into extreme poverty is real, stressing, however, that government was also striving to combat and reverse the trend.


Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 1, 2020

*VP commends research report of National Defence College Course 28
As government and other stakeholders continue to seek solutions for more effective border management in Nigeria, renewed efforts will be channelled towards improving synergy amongst agencies involved in border management, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Monday during the virtual presentation of the research report of the National Defence College Course 28 titled “Border Management & National Development in Nigeria: The ECOWAS Protocol Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Residence & Establishment in Perspective”.
Giving his remarks after the presentation of the research report and the interactive session, the Vice President said border management affects the economy very considerably hence the need to get all agencies involved in the sector together.
According to Prof. Osinbajo, “It is absolutely the correct thing to do, to try and see how we can unify agencies concerned with border management so that there is synergy. We must come back to the question of synergy. Why it is that we have the kinds of problems that we have at the borders and ports, and why the delays?”
While commending the participants for a thoroughly researched paper, the Vice President said research paper touched on important national issues and that efforts would be made to adopt and implement key recommendations.
“I commend you for a very comprehensive, thought-provoking and well-researched paper. The point that has been made also is that we can see the importance of synergy even here. Here is a situation where relevant services have come together including international participants with experience in the relevant areas, and have made what I think is really a seminal contribution to our ideas about border management.
“I like the fact that you have addressed very practical issues and also very contemporary questions that we have to deal with not just as matters of security and human trafficking but perhaps on a broader scale for the generality of our people and the Nigerian economy at a very difficult time.
“There is no question at all that whatever we do with respect to border management will affect our economy very considerably.
Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo said “I think that the questions that you have addressed really goes to the root of our economic survival. Some of the things that you have said are spot on. And what we really need to do is to see how to implement some of these suggestions.”
The report identified the lack of coordination as a major weakness in Nigeria’s border management sector while key recommendations include the adoption of a comprehensive border surveillance programme, the creation of National Border Management Service, amongst others.
Participants present at the event include the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Mackson Kadiri, and other principal officers of the College; the Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency, Capt. Junaid Abdullahi; the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Amb. Adeyemi Dipeolu; and the Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.
Representatives of the Course participants that made presentations at the event include; Col. Babatunde Omopariola, who was the lead presenter; Col. Raymond Utsaha; Navy Capt. O A Oshatuberu; Group Capt. Ehimen Ejodame; and Brig. Gen. Jitendra Singh.

https://www.yemiosinbajo.ng/synergy-key-to-addressing-nigerias-border-management-issues/

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja advised members of the governing party, All Progressives Congress (APC), to withdraw all pending litigations against one another, and settle for internal conciliation, warning that the mutating disagreements could lead to self-destruction, with dire consequences.

President Buhari, in his remarks at the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the APC held on a virtual platform, said the gains of the party could be reversed as conflicts overshadow the primary objective of service to the people, urging members to refocus on the larger picture and place more emphasis on uniting the party.

“Fellow party members, this is a very crucial moment in the life of our party and it is with a deep sense of concern that I stand before you today to speak as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has been elected on the platform of our great party - the All Progressives Congress.

“The issues currently confronting our party at this time are such that should worry every party member. At the moment, our great party is faced with internal wrangling; there are on-going litigations amongst some party members and we cannot clearly ascertain the status of certain National Working Committee (NWC) members.’’

The President expressed worry over the shifting loyalty within the party and inconsistency in leadership, which had opened the governing party to mockery.

“There are also other associated disputes as to the legitimacy or otherwise of holders of certain National Offices of the Party. The Party is also contending with Judicial claims and counter-claims, Orders and Counter-Orders and indeed Judgments and Counter-Judgments that are predominantly at cross-purposes.

“Confronted with these issues, it is obvious that the fortunes of the party are currently in jeopardy, administration of our party is becoming impossible and there is consequently an urgent need for intervention to immediately arrest further drifts and internal wrangling which may lead to total disintegration.

“What we see clearly emerging, is that we are beginning to self-destruct. This, my dear party members, is not just regrettable but utterly gut wrenching.’’

President Buhari proposed that:
“The meeting may adopt the developed resolution as contained in the agenda and pass resolutions including: approving the immediate discontinuation of all pending litigations involving the party and its members; ratifying the primary election conducted in Edo State; dissolving the current National Working Committee, and appointing caretaker/Extra-ordinary Convention Planning committee for the party.’’

The President also reiterated the need to discontinue all litigations involving members of the party, which were connected to issues of the party, adding: “The directive had been issued before, unfortunately some members failed to heed the directive. Thus, at this time, it must be made a Resolution of the Party which must be effectively enforced with dire consequences for members who choose to ignore the directive.’’

The President said in order to return to the “winning ways’’, the APC must maintain cohesion by closing its ranks.

“We must be alive to the time and the task that is before us. As we all know, we are immediately confronted with the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo States. Therefore, this is the time to get our acts together.’’

The emergency NEC meeting adopted all the recommendations by President Buhari, and appointed the Governor of Yobe State, Mallam Mai Buni, as Caretaker National Chairman, while Senator John Akpanudoede was designated Caretaker National Secretary.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
June 25, 2020

The Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP), approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on June 24, 2020, was developed by the Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC), established by President Muhammadu Buhari on March 30, 2020.
Chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the ESC comprised several Cabinet Ministers as well as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Terms of Reference included:
- Development of a Plan that responds robustly and appropriately to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Identification of fiscal measures to enhance oil and non-oil government revenues and reduce non-essential spending,
- Creation of a financial stimulus package for the Nigerian economy,
- Articulation of specific measures to support the 36 States and the FCT, and very importantly,
- Support for MSMEs and the creation of jobs.
The NESP was developed in consultation with Cabinet Ministers, Heads of Federal Agencies, the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), State Governors and the National Assembly.

The NESP has been developed as a 12-month, 2.3 Trillion Naira ‘Transit’ Plan between the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the successor plan to the ERGP, which is currently in development.
The NESP will be funded as follows:
• 500 billion Naira from Special FGN Accounts
• 1.1 trillion Naira from the CBN in the form of structured lending
• 334 billion Naira from external bilateral/multilateral sources
• 302.9 billion from other funding sources
The design and implementation of the NESP is driven by the following principles:

LOCAL CONTENT AND SELF RELIANCE: The plan promotes local production, local services, local innovation, and the use of local materials, in line with the Mandate of Presidential Executive Order 5 of 2017, on the Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts and Science, Engineering and Technology, and also based on President Buhari’s mantra to “produce what we eat and consume what we produce.”

ECONOMIC STIMULATION: Ensuring liquidity, preventing business collapse, and staving off the worst impact of a potential recession.
JOB PRESERVATION AND CREATION: The NESP recommends carrying labour intensive programmes in key areas like housing, roads, agriculture, facility maintenance, and direct labour interventions – all heavily utilising local materials.
PRO-POOR/VULNERABLE FOCUS: The NESP will extend protection to vulnerable groups, including women, and persons living with disabilities. It will also cater to the sectors of the economy that have been worst hit by the pandemic.
HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY INTERVENTIONS

1. MASS AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMME (MAP).
The Plan intends to ensure the cultivation of between 20,000 and 100,000 hectares of new farmland in every State, as well as support offtake and agro-processing, with low-interest credit. This will create millions of direct and indirect job opportunities.

2. INFRASTRUCTURE
a. EXTENSIVE PUBLIC WORKS AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME
A minimum of 1,000 young Nigerians will be recruited per local government into what will be the largest public works programme in the history of Nigeria, amounting to 774,000 direct jobs. There will also be extensive focus on the construction and repair of major and rural roads using locally available materials like limestone, cement and granite. The roads component will include the acceleration and expansion of scope of the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme (RITCS).

b. MASS HOUSING PROGRAMME (MHP)
MHP will deliver up to 300,000 homes every year. Young professionals and artisans will organise themselves into small and medium scale co-operative businesses within the construction industry to develop these houses, which will be based on a set of standardized designs. This programme will also prioritize the use of local labour and materials. Doors, windows and other materials will be produced, finished or assembled at mass housing construction sites.

c. INSTALLATION OF SOLAR HOME SYSTEM (SHS)
This targets 5 million households, serving about 25 million individual Nigerians who are currently not connected to the National Grid. Solar equipment manufacturers will be required to set up production facilities in Nigeria, to provide the materials required.
d. INVESTMENT IN HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE

This will be done through a special intervention fund, as well as by tapping into an existing World Bank facility (REDISSE Programme), to support COVID-19 interventions in the States.

3. INFORMAL SECTOR SUPPORT
This will take the form of low-interest loans, and the easing of procedures for registration, licensing, obtaining permits, etc. Mechanics, tailors, artisans, petty traders and all other informal business people will be supported to grow their businesses.

4. BUSINESS SUPPORT FOR MSMEs
This will take the form of payroll support to designated sectors so that they can keep their employees and help maintain jobs; and also loan restructuring and moratorium for existing debt. Also, low-interest loans to boost local manufacturing and production across critical sectors, including but not limited to the pharmaceutical, aviation, hotels and the hospitality industry, private schools, road transportation, technology companies, and the creative industry, amongst others. A Guaranteed Offtake Scheme for MSMEs will function by making government a key purchaser of specific priority products made by MSMEs, like PPE, face masks, face-shields, processed food, pharmaceuticals, etc.

5. TECHNOLOGY
Underpinning the implementation of the NESP will be a focus on digital identification of every Nigerian. It is imperative that every Nigerian has a unique digital identity. The Public Works Programmes for example will, apart from the focus on providing employment, also help advance the financial inclusion and digital identification agenda. Broadband connectivity will also receive a boost, helping to create jobs and opportunities especially for young people. Also, a national programme will be launched to identify and create job opportunities in digital outsourcing.

6. EXPANSION OF THE NATIONAL SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES
The implementation of the NESP will see an increase in the number of cash transfer beneficiaries, N-Power volunteers and sundry traders enjoying small and micro loans through the MarketMoni and TraderMoni schemes. The pre-existing conditional cash transfer will also be extended to cover a larger number of extremely poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

7. CUT NON-ESSENTIAL SPENDING
The President has approved the implementation of the Report on the Rationalization of government agencies. The NESP will also target a reduction in average production costs of crude oil. Also, the Integrated Personnel and Payment Information System (IPPIS) will be expanded to cover all Federal Government MDAs. Non-critical and administrative capital spending will be eliminated, including purchase of vehicles (except for ambulances, fire-fighting vehicles and other essentials).

8. SUPPORT FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS
The NESP offers opportunities for State Governments to collaborate with the Federal Government on Affordable Mass Housing, Agriculture, Off-Grid Power Projects and other projects in the Plan. It also provides for the negotiation of suspension of ISPO payments by States, moratorium on deductions in respect of bailout loans, and encourages States to attain the conditions outlined by SIFTAS and other World Bank programmes, in order to access external support.

The ESC will also monitor implementation of the Plan while the Vice President will regularly brief the President on progress made.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
June 25, 2020

This year, there was some feeling of nostalgia about May 29 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day. When a few persons called me to ask if there were special plans for Democracy Day on May 29, I had to remind them that Democracy Day was now June 12. On June 6, 2018, President Buhari proclaimed June 12 as the new Democracy Day. I guess with time, Nigerians will get used to the new order, and June 12 will “take root” firmly as new Democracy Day. Hopefully no government will show up in the future to reverse what may well be remembered as one of the good deeds of President Muhammadu Buhari. As events turned out, on May 29, this year, many state governors marked either their first or fifth year in office; other states talked about Democracy on June 12. Ahead of June 12 itself, the Federal Government released a document outlining the achievements of the Buhari administration in five years. On June 12, President Buhari addressed the nation. Other political leaders issued statements. But there was no celebration as we knew it. The entire country had been overtaken by the COVID-19 pandemic, with its social distancing, physical distancing, new normal regimental orders. The deadly disease overshadowed everything. As at May 29, 2020, Nigeria had recorded 8, 915 confirmed cases of Corona Virus with 259 deaths.
By Friday, June 12, the number of cases in Nigeria had jumped to 14, 554 cases, with 387 fatalities. The total number of new cases rose to 681. This coincided with the disclosure that the report of the Economic Sustainability Committee chaired by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo had projected a loss of 39.4 million jobs by December 2020 (an unemployment rate of 39.4%), a monthly revenue loss of N185 billion, a sharp fall in GDP rate, with many Nigerians likely to slide into extreme poverty. Twenty-one years after our return to civilian rule and 27 years after June 12, 1993, Nigeria is firmly at a cross-road. It is easy to blame the COVID-19 pandemic which since the first index case was reported in the country on February 27 has kept everything on hold.
But if anything, what COVID-19 has done is to expose macro-level governance issues in Nigeria. May 29 or June 12, each with its own symbolism, both provide an opportunity for government at all levels to give account and submit a report card to the people. This was what President Buhari did in his June 12 national broadcast. Many took that speech with a pinch of salt. A few state Governors used the occasion of their first or fifth year in office or the June 12 day to render account, but for the most part, many state governments did not even bother. Commentators were also distracted. The kind of rigorous assessment that was expected did not happen. But a few states made an effort. On May 29 and June 12, I observed an attempt by the Governors of the following states and their supporters and friends to engage the public: Lagos, Ogun, Bauchi, Yobe, Delta, Kebbi, Kano, Kwara, Sokoto,, Enugu, Borno, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo. In addition, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), on June 12, published an advertorial titled “FCDA Continues to deliver on PMB’s Next Level Agenda”. The many claims made by these state governments need to be subjected to close interrogation and scrutiny. It is not enough to place adverts and congratulatory messages in the media: are the messages true? Are the claims verifiable? And those Governors hiding under the constraints of managing COVID-19 to sleep on the job, is anyone monitoring them closely? We often blame the Federal Government, but the real centres of failure can be found at the sub-national level. Before COVID-19 governance was a major source of anxiety in Nigeria. It is even more so now in the face of this man-eating pandemic, and will still be an issue hereafter.
It is not possible in a short newspaper commentary to attempt a review of the claims made by the aforementioned states in terms of service delivery to the people. For this reason, I have chosen to focus on just one state: Kwara. This particular state featured prominently during the last general elections in 2019. The main battle in the gubernatorial election in that state was between the All Progressives Congress (APC) which had as its candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which fielded Abdulrazaq Atunwa. At the end of the election, Abdulrazaq, the former, was declared winner with a margin of 216, 792 votes to wit: 331, 546 votes (APC) to 114, 754 votes (PDP). The APC candidate won in all the 16 Local Government Areas of the state. The PDP alleged that the election was rigged but what happened was not just an election, it came across as a battle for the soul of the State.
For decades, Kwara politics had been dominated by the Saraki political family. That dominance was entrenched by Dr. Olusola Saraki, Senate Majority Leader in Nigeria’s Second Republic (1979 -1983) and the Godfather of Kwara politics for decades. In 2003, the immensely charismatic and popular Dr. Olusola Saraki “installed” his first son, Dr. Bukola Saraki as Governor of the state. The son will later replace the father as the Godfather of Kwara politics. The Saraki political machinery had a strong hold on the entire state, such that nobody could aspire to any position if such a person was not endorsed by the Saraki Godfather machinery. The ordinary people of Ilorin and other parts of the state depended on the Saraki family, and the man they called “Oloye” for their survival. Saraki, the father, did not disappoint them. His longevity as a power broker was a function of his mastery of populism and the common touch and his dexterity in building bridges to the centre.
In the 2019 general election, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the son who also became the Godfather, fell out with the ruling party at the centre, and back home, he and his chosen candidates faced a bigger opposition. The same APC machinery that Saraki had helped to strengthen in the state in 2015 was turned against him. The people were mobilized to reject the prevailing status quo. Atunwa was seen as Saraki’s candidate. He could well have had the making of a good Governor. But he stood no chance by association. The main slogan for that election was “O to o ge”. Literally, that was a statement of protest. It was an open rejection of the Saraki political dynasty and anything associated thereto. In a well-orchestrated, social media-driven advertisement of this protest, the people of Kwara were shown on the streets of Ilorin chanting and symbolically using the broom, the APC emblem, to sweep away the Saraki influence in Kwara politics. To an ordinary observer, something had changed. Saraki himself lost the February 23 Senatorial election.




But was that enough? Will the new man in the saddle deliver? Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was sworn in on May 29, 2019. Before long, an open quarrel had broken out between the state government and the Saraki family, particularly Senator Bukola Saraki. By February 2020, the public was inundated with stories about how the Saraki family had taken illegal possession of plots of land meant for the public, and how Senator Saraki as Governor had similarly seized government properties across the state. It was a very messy affair. Dr. Bukola Saraki was at the same time facing pressure from Federal Government agencies. There was trouble chasing him around in Abuja. Back home in his state, the new Governor seemed determined to embarrass him. I wrote a piece at the time, and in the concluding paragraph, I advised that Governor Abdulrazaq should face the business of governance, because at the end of the day, he will be assessed on the basis of his achievements, not his ability to humiliate the Sarakis.
It looks like common sense eventually prevailed in the matter. I take special note of the fact that on May 29, the Governor of Kwara State was one of those Governors who had something to crow about. Of him, one Yahaya Seriki writes: “…the government of Abdulrazaq has brought to the state unprecedented developments whose demonstration is now found in the nooks and crannies of our state. There are not progressive claims; they are activities of physical verity. So far 56 percent of his cabinet is made up of women, first of its kind in Nigeria, and yet the most accentuated gender equality demonstration in the country as at present…his government refunded the 450 million naira that was allegedly diverted from the Universal Basic Education (UBE) funds by the previous government… over 8, 000 final years students from Kwara State across varying tertiary institutions in the country were duly paid their bursary…scholarship of 100, 000 Naira was earmarked to students of Kwara origin in law schools across the county and numerous primary and secondary education facilities being built, and some renovated… rehabilitation of Patigi waterworks…roads, healthcare facilities, sewage systems…” (The Nation, May 29, p. A5.).
Two weeks later, on June 12, in a three-page colour advert titled “Democracy Day and a Dawn of Impactful governance in Nigeria, sub-titled “Ise’nlo”, meaning “work is in progress” the Kwara State Government offered a pictorial account of the infrastructure provided by the Abdulrazaq government in Kwara State. (see THISDAY, June 12, pp 55- 57). We are also told: “Abdulrazaq lives in his own house, drives his own car, and inspires his team to be prudent and people-oriented. And he is never tired of talking to any member of the public…” The Governor’s media spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaye in a piece titled “365 Days of Impactful Governance in Kwara would admit that “Kwara, for the record, is not yet an Eldorado. No such state exists.” But, he says, “the administration inherited and has rescued a state that once tottered on the brink of collapse – at least in the area of human capital development indices… just 12 months down the road, the Otoge leader has successfully exchanged the Kwara narrative. From instant payment of relevant counterpart funds, which have brought back development partners, and taken the state off the UBEC blacklist, Abdulrazaq is taking steps to stabilize and reposition the state for growth.” In yet another report, the Kwara State Director General of the Kwara State Bureau of Lands, Hon. Bolaji Edun, wrote in April, that Governor Abdulrazaq has signed 175 Certificates of Occupancy, and taken steps to strengthen the ease of doing business. I hope one or two of those 175 Certificates went the way of the Sarakis as a peace-making overture!
There are obvious lessons to be learnt from the Abdulrazaq story in Kwara state. Here is the example of a Governor who almost lost the plot by focusing on perceived enemies. His saving grace is that he changed track and tactics and chose to focus on what is important. That is why he has a story to tell one year after assuming office. Many Nigerian Governors simply do not know what they are doing. They are confused. COVID-19 is their come-uppance. It has exposed their ignorance and incompetence. There are Governors who are obsessed with petty squabbles, even over the management of COVID-19. They have nothing to show, nothing to celebrate, they call themselves “silent achievers.” I have a strong aversion to that phrase. If the achievement is loud enough, everyone will see it. Nigeria faces a big challenge at the sub-national level. With the survival challenges that COVID-19 has brought upon us, the Nigerian people must indeed “take responsibility” and that includes holding those who lead us to account. It is not a task that can be left to our lawmakers who from Abuja to every part of the country are a self-seeking bunch. We can restructure, reduce the cost and size of government, but if the wrong set of people continue to rule, Nigeria’s journey will remain recursive. The big, defensive response that I get to this is: “Look at America!” My response: Trump-ism is a virus worse than COVID-19.

https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2020/06/23/governance-beyond-covid-19-back-to-kwara-by-reuben-abati/#disqus_thread

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on local and federal authorities to provide assistance to victims of the fire incident in Oba Market, Benin, Edo State.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their shops and wares.’’

The President also directed an investigation into the cause of the inferno, in order to avoid the “horrific’’ situation in the future, while condoling with all those that were affected.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
June 22, 2020

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has constituted a 14-person committee to look into the recent civil disturbances in Patigi and Lafiagi area of the state.

The committee, which is chaired by former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Benjamin Yissa, is to ascertain the level of damage and recommend reliefs to the victims, among other things.

It has a week to submit its week after inauguration, according to a statement on Monday by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Rafiu Ajakaye.

Members of the committee include Hon. Musa Guyegi, member of the House of Assembly; Hon. Adamu Rufai, member of the House of Assembly; Hon. Joanah Nnazua Kolo, Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development; Hon. Yinka Aluko, Special Adviser on Special Duties to the Governor; and Hon. Attahiru Ibrahim Abdulkadir, Special Adviser on Sports and Youth Development to the Governor.

Others are Bala Aliyu Likofu; Bala Mahmud; Babo Lata; Izaiah Samuel Mayaki; Engineer Saba Umar; Dr Johnson Oyeniyi (Ministry of Health); Raheem AbdulBaki (Ministry of Works); and S. AbdulGaniyu (Secretary).

Calm has since returned to the affected communities following the state government’s immediate interventions which included visits by a high-level delegation led by the Secretary to the Government Prof Mamman Saba Jibril and deployment of security agencies to maintain peace.

Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
June 22, 2020.

Corporate2020:
YES, it was your father that fired the Head of DSS - Daura when DSS stormed the National Assembly at the time Buhari was way in London.

Osinbajo fired Daura in his capacity as an acting President.

MOST OF OUR EXPECTATION FROM OSINBAJO ARE BEYOND HIS EXECUTIVE ROLES

The Vice President of Nigeria can’t do any of the following, unless he is Acting as President or on the ORDER of the President. 

1. FIRE APPOINTEES: VP cannot fire any appointee even if they’re found wanting. he will have to wait for president.

2. ORDER THE MILITARY: President apart from being the head of the executive branch of govt, is also the C-in-C of the armed forces. Put succinctly, President is the only civilian that the military takes orders from.

3. APPOINTMENTS: the VP cannot make any appointment, Act establishing most government agencies and departments state expressly that “the President shall appoint.” Even the VP’s personal staffers are appointees of the President, only seconded to his office.

4. WRITE THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: Unlike the United States where the Vice-President is also the Senate President, Nigeria’s VPs doesn't have any dealings with the Office of the Senate President except when the Vice-President is acting as the President.

5. SIGN BILLS: Vice president can’t sign bills (he can only sign bills if acting as president

6. DECLARE WAR/STATE OF EMERGENCY: Section 305 of the Constitution states expressly that only the President can declare a state of emergency or war.

The above are what the vice president can’t do unless he is acting President or acting on the order of the President.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE

HOW BUHARI ADMINISTRATION’S SUSTAINABILITY PLAN WOULD BOOST ECONOMY, BY OSINBAJO

*Healthcare funding increases with Stimulus package, VP adds

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic globally, the Buhari administration will not relent in its efforts towards improving the country’s healthcare infrastructure and economy, while creating more jobs for millions of Nigerians in different sectors, supporting small businesses, local production and manufacturing, as well as extending the social safety net for the most vulnerable in society, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Friday during his participation as a guest panelist in the Emmanuel Chapel's “Economic Sustainability Beyond COVID-19” webinar.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari last week Thursday at the Council Chambers received the Osinbajo-led Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) Plan entitled “Bouncing Back: The Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan.”

The President had earlier at the wake of the global pandemic late March directed the VP to chair the Committee to develop a clear and overall Economic Sustainability Plan in response to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

INCREASED HEALTH CARE FUNDING
Speaking on the Buhari administration’s efforts to cushion the effects of the pandemic on Nigerians, the Vice President stated that improving healthcare infrastructure remains a major objective of the administration.

With the introduction of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which is one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the Vice President noted that perhaps for the first time, the kind of provision made for healthcare has increased significantly, especially in the period of a global pandemic.

He said, “Out of the N500bn initial stimulus fund that is factored into the current budget, N126bn of it is going into healthcare.

“We’ve all noted how states have risen up to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic and how resuscitated healthcare facilities, new isolation centres, new ICUs are coming up. The number of testing centres has also increased. We are hopeful that we’ll be able to sustain that momentum.”

BACKGROUND
It would be recalled that the 2020 health budget recorded the highest budgetary allocation to the health sector over the last five years. In 2018, N356bn was allocated to healthcare out of the total budget of N9.1tn. In 2019, the figure was N372bn out of the total expenditure of N8.91tn. This is a 13.3% increase of N372bn that was budgeted in 2019.

Of the total N10.59tn budgeted for 2020 by the Federal Government, N427.3bn was allocated to health. The 2020 budget also made provision for N44.5bn for Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which is part of the Federal Government’s total expenditure on health.

INCOME TAX REDUCTION
The Vice President noted that one of the ways the administration is supporting small businesses is by reducing Company Income Tax.

“In our case, our Tax-to-GDP has been extremely low, VAT in particular. Nigeria’s 7.5% VAT rate is probably the lowest when compared with some other African countries. For example, Kenya has about 16%, South Africa is about 15%, Algeria has 19%. Besides, at the moment, domestic revenue mobilization is an issue.

“A major source of revenue for government is tax. But you must also take account of the fact that we’ve also reduced Company Income Taxes generally, especially for small businesses, which are the engines of growth for the country. So, there is a conscious effort to ensure that we don’t tax businesses out of business.”

SOLAR SYSTEMS MINI GRIDS IN POWER SECTOR
On the issue of improving the power sector, the VP stated that one of the proposals of the Economic Sustainability Plan was the adoption of renewable energy, especially solar, and working with the private sector to install mini grids and solar home systems across the country.

He said, “We’ve done quite a bit of that already. We have in places like Sabon Gari, Ariaria markets: a private sector deployed solar systems that is paid for by stall owners in those markets. We’ve done micro grid in Sokoto state. Interestingly, this is entirely private sector driven and the consumers are prepared to pay for service. You find that they pay even higher than the tariffs people pay for grid power.

“A private sector-driven solar power system, such as the one we are planning as part of the Economic Sustainability plan, is one that we think would work and stands a good chance of providing power to about 25 million (individual) Nigerian homes, places and homes where there has been no power previously.”

300,000 HOMES IN 12 MONTHS
On the Federal government’s plan to tackle unemployment, the VP stated that one of the proposals by the Economic Sustainability Committee, is to build 300,000 homes across the country within 12-months’ time frame, which he noted would provide more jobs for Nigerians.

Prof. Osinbajo added that small and medium scale local businesses and young professionals within the construction industry would benefit immensely from the policy.

Explaining, the VP said, “this is also an opportunity for us to develop the local industry, especially the construction industry. That is exactly the plan in developing the housing programme, because we thought it would generate the jobs that are required now, aside from the fact that we have a housing deficit.”

MASSIVE LOCAL PRODUCTION
He added, “The second point is that we intend to use local materials, locally produced, as much as is possible in construction. It is also a fantastic opportunity for the private sector to bring in equipment and set up factories that could be used to manufacture some of these things. It would be a massive game changer if we are able to deliver it in the way that we planned.”

Prof. Osinbajo noted that some of the reforms the administration is putting in place to improve the economy include massively improving local production, while reducing the country’s dependency on imports.

According to him, “this would be more crucial in the coming years and it is entirely possible. We preserve the value of our Naira if we are able to do more locally, and we have the capacity to do this. For example, we are now doing more in terms of local production of rice, and there is more value to the farmer, with increase in local production.”

EXPANSION OF SOCIAL INVESTMENTS, MICRO CREDITS
The Vice President further emphasized that the Buhari administration will expand its Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) to benefit more Nigerians. "We think this pandemic is also an opportunity for some kind of an enhanced welfare programme for Nigerians, so that they can at least live very decent lives,” he said.

He added, “One of the critical things that we suggested in the Economic Sustainability Plan is increasing or widening the safety net, the SIPs; and in many cases, we are increasing by almost a 100 per cent.

To further tackle the issue of unemployment among young Nigerians, the VP stated that the administration intends to increase the number of those that are being directly engaged through the N-Power scheme, which has so far engaged over 500,000 young Nigerians.

Besides, the VP noted that the "President recently asked that another million households of the extremely poor should benefit from the SIPs Conditional Cash Transfer, of which we are already doing about a million beneficiaries, which means they would get about N5,000 every month, which we are doing at the moment.

“We’ve done several microcredit loans through the Tradermoni, Farmermoni and Marketmoni schemes. And we are thinking of increasing microcredits to petty traders, artisans, farmers etc.; we are looking at doing almost four million new microcredit loans.

"While we are waiting for all the initiatives around industries, creation of jobs to catch up, there is a need for us to answer the questions around, “how do poor people survive,’ while we are waiting for the trickle down of industries, and all of that. That’s why expanding the Social Investment Programmes the way we are doing is important for us,” he said.

MILLION JOBS IN AGRICULTURE
Speaking further, VP Osinbajo stated that the Economic Sustainability Plan also proposes to engage more Nigerians through farming, which he said could generate direct and indirect jobs for millions of Nigerians.

“Our Economic Sustainability proposal is that we are trying to bring in 20,000 and 100,000 hectares of land per State for agricultural use, and we are looking at how to work with the states to deliver that, which means we are going to bring in far more farmers into the net and this would mean more jobs for people in the rural areas. The same for the mass housing scheme. There are major opportunities here.”

The webinar which was moderated by Prof. Konyin Ajayi, SAN, and Dr. Chinny Ogunro, featured other panelists including, Board Chairperson of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; former president of the African Development Bank, Mr. Donald Kaberuka; and the immediate past Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
20th June, 2020

The increasing rate of gender based violence, rape and sexual assault have been described as an unacceptable behavior which have no place in our society by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Speaking at a virtual meeting with the National Human Rights Commission, on Friday, Prof. Osinbajo said the Federal Government "will continue to use the platform of the National Economic Council to encourage States who are yet to domesticate the Violence Against Person's Prohibition Act of 2015 and the Child Rights Act of 2003 to do so."

Speaking at a virtual meeting with the National Human Rights Commission, on Friday, Prof. Osinbajo said the Federal Government "will continue to use the platform of the National Economic Council to encourage States who are yet to domesticate the Violence Against Person's Prohibition Act of 2015 and the Child Rights Act of 2003 to do so."

Osinbajo while describing the assaults as an "unacceptable behaviour and a blemish on our collective humanity and dignity as a people and as a nation", affirmed that "gender based violence, rape and sexual assault have no place I'm our society".

It could be recalled that protests have been staged in various states across the country over the rape and murder of females across the nation.

In a series of tweets via his official Twitter handle, the VP added:

"Had the opportunity to discuss rape and gender based violence with the National Human Rights Commission at a virtual meeting today. We will continue to work with all actors to detect and punish the perpetrators of these sickening acts and work even harder to prevent their occurrence."

The Nigerian police had on Monday confirmed 717 rape cases recorded between January and May.

A ‘GOOD SETBACK’ BY 60 YEARS

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has a fixation with 60 years. At the height of its heady days in power, it challenged its Chi (personal god) to a wrestling contest, vowing that it would rule Nigeria for minimum of 60 years. We know how the story ended. The Chi gave the boastful party a thunderous pin-fall. So great was the fall that not all the king’s horses nor all the king’s men could put Humpty Dumpty together again.
The Sugar Candy Mountain of 60 years ended in 16 years, with the bloody nose Nigerians gave PDP at the polls through the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.
Since that time, however, PDP has not stopped fantasizing about 60 years. Addressing the media recently on the 5th year anniversary of its nemesis, President Muhammadu Buhari, in power, the party, through Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, said the President and his team “have taken our country 60 years backward.” Lol. What a neurosis with 60 years.
When the PDP lies, it speaks its mother tongue, its natural language, “for he is a liar and father of all lies.” The party has become willfully blind and deaf to all progress going on in the country.
Back to English Literature class in secondary school, we were taught what an oxymoron was: figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. That is why we want to examine the ‘good setback’ the Buhari government has given Nigeria, taking her back 60 years, according to the PDP.
There are minimum of 600 road projects going on in different parts of the country today. What a good setback. The Buhari government is doing what Napoleon couldn’t do, and so, it is taking the country ‘backward.’
Hear the story of the Bodo-Bonny Road. It had been on the drawing board for 48 years. It is supposed to be the first link road between Bonny, where the country’s cash cow, the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project is sited, and the rest of Rivers State. But no access, except by boats and helicopters.
For almost five decades, the Bodo-Bonny Road was only in the realm of imagination. Till Muhammadu Buhari came. Work commenced on the $333 million project in 2017, and estimated time of completion is 2022.
The 38 kilometers long road runs through low lying marshland swampy terrain, with many culverts, two creek bridges of about 500 meters in length, and a major river bridge of about 713 meters length. Yet, Buhari is building it, in conjunction with NLNG. What a backward movement!
We have said a lot about the Second Niger Bridge. And we shall never stop talking about it. The project makes our heart to beat Du du ke, du du ke, each time we remember it.
The first bridge was built in 1965, and is the major gateway to the land of the wise men-the East. But the sole bridge has become grossly inadequate, and people virtually see hell on it at major festive times.
Government after government had built a new bridge-with their mouths- particularly since we returned to democratic rule in 1999. Whenever elections approached, and they needed the votes of the people, they would take cutlasses, hoes and shovels, go to the site of the bridge, and pretend to be digging the ground. Once elections were over, and they had got the votes they wanted, it’s goodbye basket, I’ve carried all my apples.
Till Buhari came. Without fanfare, no bravado, no theatrics, he set to work. The bridge is 48% completed today, with sights firmly set on the first quarter of 2022 as delivery time. What a backward move, according to PDP. And to think the party can’t even complete its head office, despite raising billions of Naira, which developed legs and vanished.
What about rail? Have you seen the Warri-Itakpe line, which had vegetated for over 30 years? What about Abuja-Kaduna, already put to use? And Lagos-Ibadan, about 90% done? Ibadan-Kano has been awarded, there will be Lagos-Calabar, and many others. But PDP says the rail lines are leading us backwards by 60 years. What a good backward movement!
Airports. The country was rated as having some of the worst airports in the world before Buhari came. But today, see ultra-modern terminals in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kano, and Enugu is coming on stream shortly. But they say it’s a flight backwards. Oh, I see. Such people may never then fly forward ever and ever. They are perpetually stuck in reverse gear.
Agriculture. We used to import everything. Even when we had a celebrated farmer as President, we brought in rice from all over the world, and beans from Burkina Faso. Maize, wheat, sorghum, millet, we imported everything. Fertilizer was one huge scam, when we planted nothing.
Then Buhari came. He told Nigerians to return to the land. And he put his money where his mouth was. Agriculture was massively funded, and today, we have pyramids of rice round the country. We no longer import any type of grains, rather our neighbors come to buy here. We are almost self-sufficient in food.
Imagine if such hadn’t happened, and COVID-19 came. No foreign exchange to import food, all international borders closed, nothing to eat. Nigeria would have been in terrible crises. But we thank God Buhari came this way. He made all the difference. Yet PDP (Papa Deceiving Pikin) says it’s backward movement. I like that kind of backstroke, don’t you?
Eleven quarters of consecutive GDP growth, before Coronavirus threw a spanner in the works. Yet, they say it’s all backward movement. Non-oil exports have grown highest in the country’s history. We are taking massive leaps in the Ease of Doing Business. Light appears at the end of the long tunnel of lack of electricity, with a transparent deal with Siemens of Germany. For the first time in over ten years, Nigeria is conducting transparent bidding process for 57 Marginal Oil Fields to increase revenue. Insurgency, crime and criminality are being robustly fought. COVID19, which has humbled the great powers of the world, is also being battled relentlessly. What of corruption? No retreat, no surrender. Do the crime, do the term. More than 1,400 convictions, and over N800 billion recovered in recent times. Yet PDP says it’s backward movement. I hear.
When AfDB President, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina came to see President Buhari recently, I had a private dialogue with him. And he told me of an African leader who met him and said: “Those who don’t want you for a second term in office say you are not doing well. But if what you are doing is a bad thing, please continue with those bad things for the sake of Africa. We appreciate what you are doing.”
Doing admirable bad things. Another oxymoron. But some morons don’t know oxymorons. So they talk of Nigeria being taken back 60 years. What a good backward movement. Nigerians want more of such.

*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

https://www.femiadesina.com/a-good-setback-by-60-years/

SHARE KNOWLEDGE FROM RESEARCH, SCIENCE TO FIGHT COVID-19, PRESIDENT BUHARI URGES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Abuja urged the international community to support collaborations and initiatives aimed at sharing knowledge from research and science to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The President spoke at a virtual Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against the COVID-19 co-hosted by the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

President Buhari told the summit, co-hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President and AU Chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa, and Senegal President and co-chair of FOCAC Macky Sall, that Nigeria would support and join any joint and collective action plan at regional and global levels to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and its fallout.

''As we face a common pervasive and invisible enemy, it is important that we all remain united to save our shared humanity, because this virus knows no borders.

''The fight against a global pandemic that continues to take so many lives, threaten livelihoods and challenging the very fabric of societies, requires enhanced cooperation and worldwide solidarity.

''I seize this opportunity to reiterate the need for this Summit to put humanity at the centre of our vision for common prosperity.

''We must learn lessons and share knowledge from research, as we develop more creative, responsive and humane health systems, improve crisis management protocols and support each other in the battle against COVID-19,’’ he said.

The Nigerian leader also used the occasion to commend the Chinese government, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the World Health Organization for the respective actions and measures to help developing and middle-income countries in Africa to tackle the pandemic.

On the UN, the President praised the Secretary-General, for launching COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund for low and middle-income countries to tackle the health emergency, address social and economic consequences of the crisis and, strengthen the recovery efforts of most vulnerable countries.

The leadership of the global health body, WHO, was commended for its advice that enabled Nigeria take measures and enlighten its people on steps to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.

Similarly, President Buhari acknowledged that Chinese support had tremendously strengthened Nigeria’s effort in combating COVID-19, adding that President Xi’s strong support has further demonstrated the spirit of solidarity and enhanced the bond of partnership that already exist among FOCAC Member-States.

President Buhari also provided an update on what his administration has done since the tragedy of the global pandemic hit the country.

''From the outset of the pandemic, we in Nigeria instituted strong surveillance and infection prevention as well as control measures and made provisions to strengthen our testing capacities.

''Several well-equipped treatment and isolation centers were set up across the country to increase bed capacity.

''In the spirit of international collaboration, medical experts in Nigeria participated by video link in learning and experience-sharing exercises organized by experts from various countries, including China''.

Furthermore, the President said the Nigerian Government had trained several thousand healthcare workers, provided Personal Protective Equipment to ensure the safety of frontline workers, and offered incentives for their motivation.

With regard to restrictions in movements occasioned by the need to contain the spread of the disease, he said the Federal Government created the enabling environment for farmers to safely plant and harvest during this rainy season in order to ensure that food security was not compromised.

''In addition, we took steps for prompt transportation of agricultural products and food items from rural production areas to the consumers and to industrial processing zones.

''We have also developed practical policies to protect lives and livelihoods at the same time and to ensure our economy continues to function as we maintain an aggressive response to the pandemic,'' he said.

In his remarks, the Chinese President said the summit was convened to discuss joint response to COVID-19 and renew fraternity with Africa.

He said the world must mobilise resources and do whatever it takes to protect lives, adding that China will do whatever it can to support procurement of supplies, sending medical experts, and in other diverse ways.

Noting that China and Africa account for nearly one-third of the global population, President Xi pledged to step up support for Africa, adding that China will provide 2billion USD over two years to support the work of WHO in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
June 17, 2020

"Osinbajo calls for suspension of NYSC for 2years" ❌ - FAKE NEWS!!!

*The Truth: Osinbajo's Economic Sustainability Committee calls for suspension of NYSC Camping for 2yrs in order to curb Covid19 infection further. Corps members would be transferred directly to their PPA ✔�

More Pictures

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN on behalf of the members Of The Economic Sustainability Committee presented a Report entitled “Bouncing Back: The Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan” to President Buhari for his approval.

East105:
Osibanjo that is dead next you people will come out with only picture no video
Foolish people everywhere

One CAN'T Have Reasonable Argument With People That Believed Buhari Is Cloned and Osinbajo is dead.

Can you AGRUE With Mad People?

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will on Thursday lead members of the Economic Sustainability Committee to submit the Sustainability Plan to President Muhammadu Buhari.
On 2 April, President Buhari set up an Economic Sustainability Committee chaired by Vice President Osinbajo, to develop a comprehensive economic plan to respond to the disruptions and dislocations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and crashing of oil prices in the global market.
President Buhari charged the Committee to amongst other things develop a clear economic sustainability plan from now till 2023, identify fiscal and monetary measures to enhance oil and non-oil revenues in order to fund the plan, develop a stimulus package and come up with other clear-cut measures to create more jobs while keeping existing ones.
Updating Nigerians on the activities of the Committee, Mr Laolu Akande, spokesperson to the Vice President said in a tweet that the Plan includes creating new jobs.

“Vice President is leading members of the ESC to submit to President, the Sustainability Plan, detailing policy options and programmes designed to proactively stimulate the Nigerian economy, retain and create jobs, turning COVID-19 to opportunity,” he said in the tweet.

Prof. Osinbajo had met with National Assembly, Presidential Economic Advisory Council, State Governors, International Monetary Fund and World Bank management, among others to arrive at a robust Plan for Nigeria.

While inaugurating the committee, the Vice President noted that “what Mr President has asked us to do is to devise a strategy in order to be able to keep the economy going and also make provisions to ensure that we are able to retain jobs and indeed create more.
“We also need to develop the Nigerian economy in a way that we will even take advantage of the challenges of these times and convert those challenges to opportunities,” Prof. Osinbajo added.
Speaking on the focus of the committee and what would be done to salvage the situation in the country, the Vice President said “what we will need to do is something that is bold, radical and one that our people can understand and buy into.
“We must design a broad vision that takes into account how to implement a big plan inclusive of a focus on mass local productivity and mass employment.
“The big plan of government is to find a way for us to be able to do mass housing, increase agricultural production, ensure massive local productivity by among several other options, increasing support to MSMEs, and majorly improve avenues to put more cash in the hands of our people and also make them productive,” the VP noted.
Members of the Economic Sustainability Committee include Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed; Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq; and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Silva. Others include, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr Mele Kyari; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele and the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babatunde Lawal who is the secretary of the committee.

https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/06/osinbajo-give-sustainability-plan-buhari/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN commissions virtually a 200,000 CAPACITY YAM STORAGE FACILITY AT ZAKI BIAM, Benue State.

*VP says why President Buhari is excited about the commissioning of 200,000 Yam Storage Facility in Benue

Improving the working and trading environment for small and medium sized businesses through Shared Facilities, MSMES Clinics and other government interventions are critical parts of the Federal Government's drive towards supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, while uplifting the lives of ordinary Nigerians, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

The Vice President stated this on Tuesday during the virtual commissioning and handing over of the 200,000-capacity Yam Storage Facility at the Zaki Biam International Yam Market in Benue State.

Prof. Osinbajo further noted that post harvest losses due to poor storage facilities for the nation's agriculture produce would be a thing of the past if more storage and processing facilities like the new storage facility in Benue State are established around the country.

The 200,000-capacity Yam Storage Facility is part of the National MSMEs' Shared Facility Scheme being implemented by the Federal Government under the National MSMEs Clinics put in place by the Buhari administration.

The Zaki Biam Yam market is said to account for about 70% of yams cultivated in the country, with over 200 trucks loading 2 million tubers of yams weekly from the state renowned as the nation's food basket.

Prof. Osinbajo noted that, despite this, "the market has had very little storage capacity and its infrastructural facilities are way behind its capacity and the size of commerce that goes on here daily."

"Besides, post harvest losses have been the bane of agricultural production in Nigeria, Nigeria produces 17 million tons of yam annually, but loses up to 40% on account of inadequate storage and processing facilities."

He added that, "following discussions between the Federal Government’s MSME Clinics project, the Benue State government and market stakeholders, it was unanimously agreed that this 200,000 capacity Yam Storage Facility should be located right here in Zaki Biam, Benue State."

The Vice President noted that President Muhammadu Buhari was excited about the commissioning of the facility because "a major concern for him has been that the COVID-19 crisis does not in any way disturb agriculture and the food supply chain."

"That we are able to commission this project in the midst of the pandemic is especially heart-warming for him," he said.

The VP explained the role of the Federal Government in the Shared Facilities project under the National MSMEs Clinics.

According to him, "In 2016, Mr. President asked me to chair an initiative called the MSME Clinics. The idea was to provide a meeting point in every state between regulatory or approving authorities (such as NAFDAC, SON, CAC, BOI, FIRS, etc, and small and medium scale businesses in every State."

"So, at such an event the MSMEs bring their problems and challenges to the regulatory authorities, and the authorities can offer on the spot services and advice to MSMEs. This includes advice on how to access credit facilities through the Bank of Industry (BOI).

"One of the initiatives of the clinics was the idea of building Shared Facilities for the benefit of small businesses operating within clusters. This is because most individual businesses cannot on their own afford equipment necessary for their businesses."

Aside from the 2-units of warehouses with a combined capacity to store 200,000 tubers of yam in the Shared Facility in Benue, the VP noted that, "there is the re-construction of 660 units of stalls/sheds, construction of a Police/market administrative building, construction of 8 units of public toilets, provision of solar-powered borehole with an overhead tank, construction of internal roads with drainage and installation of solar street lights."

Prof. Osinbajo commended the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, "for his leadership and the solid support he has given to this project and to congratulate him on this commissioning of this game changing project".

"I also commend and congratulate our MSME Clinic partners and everyone that has worked to make this possible," he said, while also adding that there are now functioning shared facilities in Oyo and Bauchi States.

Virtually present at the commissioning from the National Assembly were Senator Gabriel Suswan and the Representative, Richard Gbande. Also, in attendance were the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Muhammed Sabo Nanono; Special Duties Minister, Senator George Akume; and the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Katagum. The Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, and several heads of MDAs were also in virtual attendance, while the Benue State Governor, other dignitaries and officials from the State were on the ground in Zaki Biam.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
9th June, 2020

Kizzygentle:
Na only commissioning we dey see vp. Chaiiii.
This one self na virtual ooo..
CHAIIII..

na dem

President Muhammadu Buhari, in-line with his constitutional responsibility has sent the nomination of Her Lordship, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Acting President, Court of Appeal to the Senate for confirmation as President, Court of Appeal.

Justice Dongban-Mensem is a serving Justice of the Court of Appeal and was recommended, as is the practice, by the National Judicial Council for the nomination by the President.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
Media & Publicity
June 8, 2020

His Excellency Vice President Presides Over The Presidential Power Reform Working Group

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDszMZgFrl/?igshid=gix7qesza2l6

*OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT*

*PRESS STATEMENT*

*READOUT OF ESC INTERACTION WITH NASS LEADERS*

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, led the members of the Economic Sustainability Committee in an interaction this afternoon with the leadership of the National Assembly on the draft Sustainability Plan, ahead of the submission of the Plan to the President.

The virtual meeting, anchored from the Presidential Villa, was attended by the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and several other principal officers of the National Assembly including members of the opposition.

According to Prof Osinbajo, the ESC called the meeting to consult with the National Assembly before the Committee's report is submitted to Mr. President. Praising members of the National Assembly, the VP noted that the President had always commended the good working relationship between the Executive arm of the Federal Government and the current National Assembly.

He added that it is very clear that COVID-19 has presented the country with an enormous economic challenge and also an opportunity.

"This is why the Economic Sustainability Committee is interacting with the National Assembly," he noted.

Speaking at the virtual meeting both the Senate President and Speaker welcomed the plan and commended the President and the Vice President for calling the meeting to enable the Legislative arm of govt review the plan and make comments.

Besides other principal officers of the National Assembly, members of the ESC were also in attendance at the meeting which just ended.

*Laolu Akande,*
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,
Office of the Vice President.
04-06-2020