₦airaland Forum

jcmaiah:
Mere commissioner. This is the most useless VP in the history of Nigeria. Very useless

What have you contributed to better your own life.

REPORT INSINUATING VICE PRESIDENT DIDN'T FOLLOW DUE PROCESS IN SUPERVISION OF AGENCIES UNDER HIM IS FALSE

(Re: Buhari directs Osinbajo to seek approvals for agencies under him)

Our attention has been drawn to a sensational report by The Cable which claims that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, has directed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to seek approvals for agencies under him.

The report suggests, falsely, that agencies under the supervision of the Vice President do not normally comply with established rules where presidential approvals are required.

This is obviously misleading and aims only to plant seeds of discord in the Presidency while attempting to create unnecessary national hysteria.

The agencies in question are established by law and the Vice President has always insisted on due compliance with the enabling statutes and other established regulations.

Depending on the particular scope of activity in question, agencies may require management approval only, at the level of the Director General or Chief Executive Officer. In this category falls the great majority of their day-to-day activities.

However, other activities, or procurements, with value exceeding a certain threshold, require Board approval. These may get to the agency Board chaired by the Vice President. In a few cases where Presidential approval is required, the Director-General must seek such approval from the President, through the Vice President. These rules have always guided the activities of statutory agencies and the ones under the Vice President’s supervision have always been so guided.

To claim that in the first term of the Buhari administration, agencies of government have not been complying with the provisions (of getting final approvals from the President) is false, and the attempt to suggest the Vice President’s complicity in such irregularities is simply mischievous and reprehensible.

The effective and mutually respecting relationship between the President and the Vice President is well known to Nigerians and it is futile to insinuate otherwise.

Even though the Vice President has a statutory role as Board Chairman of some government agencies under his office, with appropriate approval limits, which often do not include contract approvals; it is ludicrous to even insinuate that a Board Chairman approves contracts.

Evidently, the Federal Executive Council, which oversees Federal Ministries and agencies of government, is chaired by the President, and it is in its purview to approve or ratify award of contracts within the prescribed threshold.

The Vice President remains committed to the service of his fatherland and will continue to do so despite the purveyors of fake news. We urge
media organizations, as gatekeepers to uphold truth, balance, fairness and objectivity in their reports.

LAOLU AKANDE
Senior Special Assistant to the President
Office of the Vice President
Sept 17, 2019

Trash from the pit of hell.
Ezekhome is yet to be fine after the tribunal trauma.

jasmine1600:
A VP that happily shares 10k to market women is that one a VP?
He has been a mere commissioner from ab initio.

Nigerians can never be satisfied.

1. The President and Vice President have enjoyed a great working relationship and that is not about to change.

2. The Economic Advisory Council (EAC) is a think-tank and will act only in ADVISORY capacity to the President.

3. The Economic Management also (EMT) reported to the President. Everything the EMT does ends up with the President.
4. The new Council reports to the President and won't be a surprise if and when Council also interfaces with VP on behalf of the President
5. This Council is only a change of strategy by the Presidency, bringing in the Private Sector in sharp focus

FarahAideed:
If it's your money how come you don't even have

say something intelligent next time

FarahAideed:
Did he take permission from the Presidency before doing this ? Abba Kyari says he must take permission

no! He took permission from you.

That's great news.
All the fake billionaires MUST return our money.
#NextLevel will be tough for wailers.

*VP adds: Ministers to render first performance report in December

“Let me speak quickly to what will be done differently on implementation of government plans in this dispensation. After the Presidential policy dialogue preceding the inauguration of Ministers, the President developed a list of specific mandates for each ministry. Each of those mandates has clearly spelt out action points.


“Every minister has a mandate with action point, some of the mandates have 7 or 8 points. The ministers are to render their first reports on performance in December. So, in some sense we are moving to a more measurable way of determining where ministers are going and what they ought to do. Of course there would be challenges of funding, clarity of plans etc.”



SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE 2019 ANNUAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE OF THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, HELD AT THE ICC, ABUJA, ON MONDAY, 16th SEPTEMBER, 2019

PROTOCOLS


I am extremely pleased to be here and to have received the invitation to participate at this annual management conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) for 2019.

Coming at a time when we are in the early months of the current administration it seemed to me to be a good time to come to the management gurus for some lessons on fresh ideas on management, especially the management of a complex democracy. With the quality of attendees today, I think I should award myself an initial pass mark for properly identifying the solution by picking the right conference to attend personally.

I also checked very diligently and found to my relief that there is no charge, open or hidden, for my category of attendee, which means that I can derive the immense benefits from this gathering of the brightest and best in management free of charge.

What remains is for me to consult with the President of the Institute as a true Nigerian to ask whether attendance at this one meeting qualifies me to start parading myself as a management expert henceforth.
The theme of the conference, “Managing the Challenges of Democracy”, really could not have been better framed. I think it was one of the illustrious past Presidents of the NIM, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, who at the 2006 Conference, declared quite perceptively that all sectors of the Nigerian economy were suffering from endemic management failure.

To carry his prognosis a little further, I would say that the central question especially in the public sector today is not the lack of talent or well researched policies, but the weakness in getting things done, or implementation - doing things as opposed to talking about doing them.

Implementation is possibly the central management challenge today and it is, in my respectful view, at the heart of the challenges of managing our democracy. So, in every real sense, our problem is a management one.

If the NIM achieved nothing else but a prescription on how to resolve the problem, you would certainly deserve to be described as national heroes. But to take the prize you will need to ensure implementation beginning with all of us who are seated here today.

Let me set out some of the issues or, as researchers will say, the problematic, for your consideration.

First is the central question of governance, ethics in the management of public resources; second is the issue of merit over quotas and politics in the selection of talents and projects; third are the challenges in human capital development; fourth is the problem of scale, scale in social services; for example, education - providing 21st century education to millions of children as the country heads for third place in world population in a few decades. Lastly, but by no means the least, is the problem of poverty, and the creation of wealth and opportunities for millions.

Regarding the first, our approach as a government has been first to tackle grand corruption, which, in other words, is the direct looting of the treasury by senior members of government, and the second is changing systems that promote graft.

This we have done by the introduction and implementation of the TSA, PICA, continuous Audit of government-owned entities, the insistence on full implementation of IPPIS, especially for the armed and uniformed services who had for long avoided being on this transparent electronic platform; the whistleblower initiative and other measures aimed at bringing greater transparency and scrutiny to public finance and the conduct of public affairs.

The Next Level is to deepen the fight against corruption especially in government procurement processes and government delivered services. We believe that technology and automation will help, moving things away from the discretion of the desk officer, to the agnostic electronic platform.

We aim to ensure that every Nigerian is able to obtain passports and drivers licenses, etc without having to pay bribes or suffer needless delays. But how to do these efficiently is the implementation challenge, and of course, we are open to advice from the gurus.

Next is the question of moving more towards consistency in applying merit as a first consideration as opposed to quotas as a first consideration in public appointments. Every part of Nigeria has great talents. Even If we are picking talents from every State, that choice should be merit driven. The civil service has in the past three years insisted on examinations for promotion and even for permanent secretaries, that process must be maintained and final choices per state should follow the order of merit. There are many open questions on implementation. Again, over to you.

The issues of capacity in Human Capital Development, affordable health care for all, education, especially getting out-of-school children into the school system, education of girls, and relevant educational curricula, are front burner issues today.

Health care for all cannot come from budget allocations alone. As of last week, we had taken major steps in the provision of our universal coverage policy. In 2018, we implemented the allocation of 1% of the CRF to healthcare.

Consequently, we launched the first phase of the BASIC HEALTH CARE PROVISION FUND with the disbursement of N6.5 billion to the first 15 qualifying States and the FCT. The money goes to Social Health Insurance Agencies in the States to reduce the hardship of patients making out-of-pocket payments for healthcare. The Next Level is the implementation of compulsory health insurance for all Nigerians on a co-payment basis with government.

We are working at the level of the National Economic Council to achieve Mr. President’s June 20th charge to State governors to ensure full implementation of free and compulsory education in the first nine years of the school life of every Nigerian child.

The extensive use of technology, focusing on getting girls into schools, introducing mainstream subjects into the Quranic School system, and implementation of the STEAM curricula are some of the main components of the educational plans that we have going forward.

Some of you are familiar with the Homegrown School Feeding Programme. That programme has been particularly helpful in ensuring an upward trajectory in education enrolment in primary schools all over the country. Today we are in 32 States and feeding over 9.8 million children. There are many implementation challenges in how to ensure high quality education on scale. At the moment several programs including technology solutions are in use or being considered in various States. We need to efficiently identify the best options and apply them on scale.

The implementation of policies and programmes to address the challenges of poverty and wealth creation, jobs for millions of young active people now and in the future require collective thinking and action. While we have created appreciable value in agriculture, with the Anchor Borrowers programme by adding new jobs and acreage in paddy rice, sorghum, millet, cassava and yams, we recognize that it is in the agro-allied value chain that the greatest value lies for jobs and improved productivity.

So, for a crucial component of our mechanization of agriculture, we have a programme with the Brazilian government, they are making available a $1 billion facility to provide equipment, where we intend to build service centres in every local government to render extension services, leasing of farm equipment and provision of improved inputs.

In addition to that, there will be six assembly plants for tractors and other equipment. The enhancing of commerce in agriculture by the building of rural roads for access to markets and commodity exchanges are also priority items. The truth is that in every development plan to create the number of quality of jobs that we want, we will have to do a lot with what our agricultural outcomes are. What our plans are and how they are implemented, especially in the agro-allied value chain are important. The expansion of opportunities in manufacturing with the completion of the first phase of the special economic zones in Enyimba City in Abia, Lekki Free Trade in Lagos and the Funtua Cotton in Katsina are priorities and good progress has been made thus far. We already have investor-indication in the Afro-Exim Bank and the AfDB. The IFC is also supporting the initiative.

In addition, we are in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, investing in infrastructure, in small business and commercial clusters all over Nigeria. Examples are, Leather works clusters, shoe making, food processing clusters, printer clusters etc. These are to benefit from the provision of power, equipment, and other infrastructure.

Under what is described as our Energizing Economies scheme, we licensed and ensured the provision of power on a willing-buyer-willing seller basis to large and medium scale markets, such as Sabon Gari in Kano, Ariaria in Abia, and Sura market in Lagos. We intend to continue with the Energizing Economies scheme. We also have the Energizing Education scheme where we are licensing private power producers, providing power to 37 universities and 7 Teaching Hospitals. We believe that we can resolve some of the power problems by decentralizing power generation and distribution such that not just the DISCOS and GENCOS will be involved, but that anyone willing to produce power are able to do so, and we are able to license more people who can produce power, especially on a willing-buyer-willing-seller basis.

It was in providing a better scope for jobs, especially for young people in technology and innovation, that we have been facing some of the critical challenges, especially with access to credit. Today, there are many startups and innovation, but in a country our size, the question is providing credit on scale and on an accessible basis. So, the Bank of Industry has about N10 billion that it has put aside for innovation in technology. But N10 billion is not enough for a country our size.

So, we are talking to the AfDB, they are putting together a $500 million facility for innovation and for startups in technology, and we think that can give a lot of impetus to a lot of the talents that we see today in technology and innovation. We have also started a technology and entertainment advisory group, where we have a lot of the young people who are in technology and entertainment, advising government directly on the policies that are required for ensuring that technology and innovation is not stupefied by regulations. For example, a lot of the Fin-Tech companies are basically doing banking type transactions, but they can’t be regulated or licensed like banks. So, there is a need for a policy review in that area. What we have tried to do is to provide those kinds of policies working closely with the Central Bank.

With respect to small businesses, we have seen quite a bit of work being done, especially with the MSMEs; and already we have done MSMEs Clinics in 24 States, and we have also established one stop shops for regulatory approvals in some zones. The clinics which are attended by all regulatory authorities has been an eye opener for them, as they hear and see the problems of small businesses first hand. This is quite important because so many small businesses have been complaining about getting approvals from NAFDAC, SON, CAC etc. So, the clinics are important in ensuring that the regulatory agencies themselves understand what the issues are and that has led to some of the changes we see today.

It was in the process of thinking through the problems of access to credit for informal traders and businesses, and especially petty traders, the so-called-bottom-of-the-pyramid in the commerce chain that we developed with the Bank of Industry, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, or what is better known as the MarketMoni and TraderMoni schemes. Thinking through the budget in a democracy with the large numbers that we have, obviously, what our focus should be on how to ensure that the bottom of the pyramid, which is the largest number, get some help and are empowered to do their own business as well.

One of the very important things is how countries as large as ours, and with the levels of poverty that we have, are able to structure their budgets in such a way as to cater for that bottom of the pyramid. That is something that has always escaped us and we cannot seriously talk about the welfare of the majority without budgets that think through the questions that address the welfare of the majority. What we have seen so far is that both schemes have greatly enhanced access to credit, improved the inventories of petty traders. It is evident that if we don’t find solutions to some of those issues, it will more or less become difficult to take people out of poverty. And we have seen some of these schemes work in other parts of the world. We have seen these schemes work in India, taking large numbers of people out of poverty. We think that these schemes will work here if they are faithfully and diligently implemented. What we have been able to do so far is 2 million people; we are merely scratching the surface.

There is some cheering news, the programme recently won the AfDB prize for financial inclusion. And we think that there is room for improvement. How do we scale up? We found that there is diligence in repayment, people found that they will get more when they repay their loans.

Let me speak quickly to what will be done differently on implementation of government plans in this dispensation. After the Presidential Policy Dialogue preceding the inauguration of Ministers, the President developed a list of specific mandates for each ministry. Each of those mandates has clearly spelt out action points. Every minister has a mandate with action points, some of the mandates have 7 or 8 points. The ministers are to render their first reports on performance in December. So, in some sense we are moving to a more measurable way of determining where ministers are going and what they ought to do. Of course, there would be challenges of funding, clarity of plans etc.

The full and effective performance of these mandates is, of course, an implementation challenge. We look forward to your contributions on the journey.

Let me again commend the NIM for these many years of provoking thought and action on making our nation work for the benefit of all.

Just a thought as I take my seat, reading the Code of Conduct of the NIM, it is so elegant that if just those of us in this room, including myself, could comply with that code, this country will be completely different. So, I throw the challenge to the NIM to walk the talk.

So, it is now my special pleasure to declare open this annual conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management 2019 for the benefit of all Nigerians. Thank you very much.


Released by:

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

anonimi:
What option does a slave to the cabal of the caliphate have than to do any assignment given to him?
The man haff tired of running around doing the bidding of the incompetent dullar'd who bosses him due to quota shystem.


www.nairaland.com/attachments/2578649_osiosi_jpg71aedfd93cf882908381aff91ded278a

This is the same position Peter Obi is trying to kill himself on. Get a life

EmekaBlue:
I just clicked to check his d errand boy is wearing that same attire. Yes he is ofcourse.

It's funny that people like you who are not even qualified to buckle his shoes are talking about "errand boy". I can only pray for you to get well soon.

This man is a great man. He is always ready to serve Nigeria in any capacity.
Last week has been a very busy week for him. We can only pray to God to guide and protect our Star Boy always.

Osinbajo took wailers to the cleaners.
That is how a real leader should behave.
He is a rare gem that uses humour to send a message to the world.
God bless star boy

nicason:
Don't blame him he is a tired pastor

What are you? Get well soon

SLAP44:
You mean Nigeria's chief mourner?

Be reasonable for a second

His Excellency Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) will be in Kebbi State today for the MSME Clinic.

The MSME Clinics assemble Government agencies under one roof to provide on spot solutions to the challenges faced by MSMEs.

These include
Access to Finance, Business registration, Product registration and certification.

What you need to know about NLTP

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON NATIONAL LIVESTOCK TRANSFORMATION PLAN (NLTP)

1. What is NLTP?
• A holistic plan developed from the recommendations of the extensive national policy dialogues conducted by the FMARD in 2016/17 on modernizing the livestock subsector and the findings of extensive stakeholder consultations by the National Economic Council (NEC) Farmer-Herder Crises Committee on the drivers of the conflicts in 2018.

2. What are the pillars of NLTP?
• The plan has 6 pillars in order to systematically address the concerns of livestock modernization as well as resolve farmer-herder conflicts sustainably. Pillars: Conflict Resolution, Justice and Peace, Humanitarian Relief and Early Recovery, Human Capital Development; Crosscutting Issues of (Research, Youth and Gender) and Economic Investment (cattle production along the value chains).

3. How is NLTP different from RUGA?
• NLTP was developed from recommendations based on extensive stakeholder consultations by the National Economic Council (NEC) Farmer-Herder Crises Committee on the drivers of the conflict in 2018 and the plan was approved by all 36 governors in January 2019. This is different from RUGA; the plan was to finalize on design and procurement process, before engagement with States and Local Governments for identification and provision of sites while the Ministry of Interior would be engaged to finalize the logistics and modalities of mobilizing the Agro- Rangers for the provision of security.
• While RUGA focuses only on livestock, NLTP caters to the concerns of both pastoralists and crop farmers for a mutual coexistence.
• RUGA will provide amenities such as basic water, shelter, health and security infrastructure as well as feed sources and pasture, while the NLTP addresses the concerns of livestock modernization through the following six pillars: Conflict Resolution, Justice and Peace, Humanitarian Relief and Early Recovery, Human Capital Development; Crosscutting Issues of (Research, Youth and Gender) and Economic Investment (cattle production along the value chains).

4. What is the fate of RUGA?
• RUGA has been suspended indefinitely by President Muhammadu Buhari

5. Who owns the land?
• The State governments own the lands. Federal Government will never impose themselves on State Government’s land.

6. Is this a land grab?
• No, it not.

7. Would there be any displacement of people who already occupy grazing reserve areas?
• People who already occupy the lands will not be displaced, rather there will be an agreement between them and the State Government on portions of land that can be used for ranching and crop farming. The ultimate goal is peaceful co-existence for all stakeholders.

8. Role of Federal Government?
• The co-ordination of the NLTP will be carried out at the Federal level by the NEC NLTP Steering Committee through the Project for Agriculture Coordination & Execution (PACE) Secretariat to be domiciled in the Office of the Vice President. In phase one, the PACE Secretariat will initially support the development of pilot ranches in each of the 7 pilot states (Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara). States can also opt-in with private land provisions to help shape the success of the pilot phase.

9. What is the role of Governors/States?
• Each State Governor is responsible to put in place a suitable delivery mechanism for the NLTP. Project for Agriculture Coordination & Execution (PACE) office domiciled in the Office of the Vice President, will support them. Governors would have the State Steering Committees (state livestock office) sitting in their offices and approve and manage the budgets for the state livestock project management teams (SLPMO)

10. How is this plan being implemented?
• Over 95 pilot ranches are to be built in partnership with the State Governments, private investors and development partners within gazeted grazing reserves only. 6 state governors have identified 28 gazetted grazing reserves for the project.

11. Why is Federal Government concerned about herders/livestock farmers?
• Because of the need to sustainably resolve the farmer-herder conflicts through an integrated approach that addresses the concerns of pastoralists and crop farmers.
• The need to urgently address the negative impacts of climate change on the limited resources of land, water and pasture within the grazing reserves via landscape approach that integrates crop-livestock-forestry production system.
• The urgent need to address the security, human and economic crises created by these conflicts as well as develop the human capital necessary for driving modern crop and livestock agriculture.

12. Who are the stakeholders working on NLTP?
• Federal Government, State Government, Private Investors, Pastoralists, Crops Farmers, Traditional Rulers.

13. Is NLTP for Fulanis?
• The plan does not speak of Fulani settlements, but rather how to provide focused integrated support to pastoralists and crop farmers to modernize their farming activities in an atmosphere of peace and mutual coexistence.

Good move by the Vice President.
The launch of NTLP today will further educate and enlighten people on what the NLTP is all about.

Dpharisee:
Abba Kyari runs the government while the VP is made redundant by the dullard, they are now using him to flag off Ruga in other to hide the true motives, Osinbajo can open Ruga inside the church it will still not fool us.

Say something intelligent next time.

A whole former minister of justice basing all his writings on hearsay. Go and answer for the part you played in Malabu OPL 245 deal at least. Osinbajo is not your problem. The wicked runneth when no man pursueth. You think you will just chop and clean mouth go like that abi? The court in Milan will soon send out an Interpol warrant for your arrest, if you continue to remain absent when summoned.

As a lawyer, you should set an example for others who have been accused of one crime or another, mind you , you were only a suspect until proven guilty, so let justice prevail, it might take some time but its worth the wait

Adoke a wanted thief is looking for a soft landing after his abuse of office. Adoke is shameless for always bringing the VP into his ordeals. In saner climes, he would be chilling in jail.

Why can't Adoke have his case i court instead of lying and seeking public sympathy.
He shouldn't be scared of Magu or Osinbajo, Adoke is scared of the consequences of his actions.

That's wonderful, A very workaholic vice president. He is a master of all.

OFFICE OF THE VICE President - PRESS RELEASE
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, YOUNG PEOPLE WILL HELP DRIVE CHANGE IN AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA —OSINBAJO
*VP adds: Digital technology will change face of sector on the continent
More young people are leveraging on opportunities in agriculture through the use of digital technology, which is changing the face of the sector in Nigeria and Africa, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Wednesday while speaking during the presidential panel discussion session of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) at the International Conference Centre, Accra, Ghana; with the theme “Grow Digital: Leveraging Digital Transformation to Drive Sustainable Food Systems in Africa.''
Participating alongside the Vice President on the panel discussion, which was moderated by former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, was the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo; Prime Minister of Rwanda, Edouard Ngirente; and Africa Union (AU) Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Josefa Sacko.
According to the Vice President, several tech companies are already in the agricultural space. He further noted that one of the advantages of technology is collaboration, which is a major feature of digital technology.
“What we found is that there is far more collaboration than before, and there is far more transparency; you can see practically everything and everyone who is connected one way or the other. And people learn faster because of a lot of collaboration,” Prof. Osinbajo said.
He added, “People can go online and find out what a company is doing; some companies are linking investors to farmers, and it is so easy to find out what they are doing by simply going to their website. Some of the Fintech companies are also in that space helping to make payments; helping to do transactions, and a lot them are doing well just by building the space.
“The way it is going; frankly, I can’t see how it will not completely revolutionalise agriculture because practically everywhere that digital technology has touched; it completely revolutionalised. And I don’t think we have a choice. What we are going to see is that, by and large, digital technology is simply going to change the face of agriculture in Africa.’’
Continuing, the Vice President said Nigeria has a huge mobile Internet participation, as many Nigerians - from the very educated to the uneducated - access the Internet on their mobile phones.
“So, I think is actually getting easier. One of the advantages of digital technology is the fact that even when you are not a digital native, as they call them, you are able to learn faster,” he said.
Prof. Osinbajo also highlighted the use of mobile money transfer and payments by the Federal Government to reach the poorest in Nigeria.
He said, “Aside from agriculture, for example, we do a lot of cash transfer payments and payments to the poorest and most vulnerable via mobile phones and we find that they are able to use it with greater ease.
Noting that that agriculture is one of the largest employers of labour in Nigeria, the Vice President added that more young people in the country are now interested in agriculture because of the impact of technology.
He said, “With respect to the place of agriculture in our economy, it is central. But speaking on how we have absorbed digital technology, one of the most unique features of what digital technology has done is that it has brought in a large number of young people into agriculture.
“Today many young people are going into agriculture, by using digital technology. Most of the digital platforms that we have that service the agricultural sector are owned by young people who increasingly see the possibilities in agriculture. Aside from the various uses of technology for purposes of tracking movement of farm products, extension services and other advantages, one of the most important advantage is the fact that young people are now very interested in agriculture; they are investing in agriculture and they are looking at the innumerable possibilities in the entire agro-allied valued chain.”
The Vice President added, “We are looking at the application of digital technology, not just in agriculture, but in our society and economy as a whole.”
The Forum attracted several ministers of food and agriculture and about 2,500 delegates.
The AGRF is premier platform for African and global leaders from both the public and private sectors to advance policies, programmes and investments, as well as harnessing agriculture in ensuring food security, increasing income and promoting economic development.
The Vice President returned to Abuja today.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
5th September, 2019

*VP says it shows progress under Buhari administration’s Next Level road map
Solar power projects being commissioned under the Energizing Education Programme of the Buhari administration is a testament to the fulfilment of its Next Level agenda, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday in Kano State, where he commissioned the 7.1MW solar hybrid power plant in Bayero University Kano, which is the largest off grid solar hybrid power plant in Africa.
The Vice President further said the solar hybrid power plant was ‘just one touch point of progress and impact within this Administration’s Next Level agenda. The Federal Government is committed to powering Nigeria; one university, one market, one community at a time.”
This is the second solar plant to be commissioned by the Vice President within a period of about one month, following the first one in August – a 2.8 MW decentralized solar hybrid power plant at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (FUNAI).
BUK is the second of the 37 federal universities and 7 teaching hospitals under the Federal Government’s Energizing Education Programme designed to provide sustainable and clean power supply around the country. It includes a solar hybrid power plant, renewable energy workshop and training centre and a solar powered street-lighting project.
“Notably today, we are also commissioning the largest off-grid solar hybrid power plant in Africa. This is something we, as Nigerians, should all be proud of. This was only possible because various levels of government worked in tandem with the growing renewable energy private sector.”
“The installed 7.1MW decentralized solar hybrid power plant funded by the FGN green bond will supply over 58,000 students and staff with clean, safe and reliable electricity. I am sure that the entire student body, management and staff of Bayero University are proud to be beneficiaries of this, most especially as the only Federal University in Kano State and one of the longest standing ones. As a result, students can now focus on their academics and vocational training in a safer and illuminated environment,” Prof. Osinbajo said.
The Vice President emphasized that the ultimate goal of the Buhari administration’s Next level roadmap policies and objectives under the Energizing Education Programme is “to increase access to modern technical education in safe and illuminated learning environments, empower the girl child, create jobs in the power sector value chain, amongst others.”
He added, “Thus far, this project created 182 energy related jobs from power system engineers to electricians as well as trained 20 young female STEM students with the skills to contribute to strengthening our energy sector. It is initiatives like this that create the impact for Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.
“This significant initiative upholds the Federal Government’s adherence to global best practice, as we transition to cleaner sources of energy in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. These projects being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) are strategic to fulfilling our commitments to the Agreement as they strive to reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint.
“The leveraging of renewable energy technologies is in line with the Federal Government mandate and related activities. Nigeria’s plans to reduce carbon emissions by 20% unconditionally and 45% with international support by 2030 aims to limit the damaging effects of climate change.
“This remarkable off grid solar hybrid power plant being commissioned today, is already on its way to bringing these goals and objectives to fruition.”
https://www.yemiosinbajo.ng/largest-solar-plant-in-africa-opens-up-in-bayero-university-kano/

Re: Yemi Osinbajo: this silence is deafening

The sheer disingenuity of the writer of the article titled, “Yemi Osinbajo: This silence is deafening,” which was published in The Guardian on August 20, is itself deafening, especially as the writer, Itunu Ajayi, claims to be a resident in Maryland, U.S., which reportedly has about the fastest internet access in the U.S.

One suspects that Ajayi maybe has chosen to be selective with the kind of news feed he receives via the Internet, social media and other platforms. If not, he would see that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has never been silent on the issues as the writer claimed. Probably the writer is just playing the ostrich, to have gleefully made, for some reasons, glaringly false claims, like they were gospel truth. Or he may simply be lying.

To say the Vice President has been silent on killings and kidnappings is to at once expose mischief and display ignorance. The VP has not just been speaking about these matters, he has led consultations – especially in the South West – to finding solutions to kidnappings and killings.

The last thing you can accuse Prof. Osinbajo of is silence on any issue of national concern. While you may even have occasions to interrogate his expressions, name any topic, this Vice President has remained actively engaged.

There are several instances where the VP spoke and condemned killings, banditry, kidnapping and crimes, while stating government’s resolve to address the issues.

In June last year, during a visit to Plateau State where he met with leaders and representatives of communities on the farmers-herders’ conflicts, Osinbajo emphasized that the Federal Government was determined to tackle security challenges and improve the nation’s security architecture.He said, “We must condemn killings of any kind. We are determined to face this challenge and secure the country more than ever before.”

During his U.S. trip in June, the VP noted that the Federal Government was collaborating with state governments and using technology to track kidnapping cases and fish out criminals.On July 8, during the public presentation of Chief Olusegun Osoba’s book, the Vice President reassured Nigerians that the administration is tackling security challenges through a multi-pronged approach.

He said: “We cannot condemn killings only when they touch our own because all of us share a common humanity. The challenge for us is to recognise this extremism for what it is, and to form alliances across faiths and ethnicities to destroy an evil that confronts us all. Fulani herder and farmer conflicts, random killings, banditry and kidnappings… Nobody will be allowed to maim, kill or commit other crimes and escape. It is our duty to apprehend and punish these criminals; we are doing that and will continue to do so.

Since the Buhari government was inaugurated in May 2015, Osinbajo has brought a different kind of verve to the Office of the Vice President like never seen before in the country’s history. President Muhammadu Buhari, like many other notable Nigerians, have commended the VP for his work and attested to his hard work, integrity, passion for people and commitment to service. Osinbajo has brought ordinary Nigerians closer to government, reaching out to them everywhere he goes, showing that this government truly cares for their welfare and the nation’s development. Osinbajo has added real quality and extra value, not only to Nigeria’s Vice Presidency, but into political leadership and governance in the Buhari administration. He embodies the essence of public service to the people.

In case the writer doesn’t know, the Vice President is the head of the Economic Management Team (EMT) in the Buhari administration. Under his leadership, government policies have rejuvenated the country’s economic environment and increased the confidence of foreign investors in the economy. Also, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which was inaugurated by President Buhari, is chaired by Osinbajo. Through PEBEC’s comprehensive plan to improve the country’s business environment, Nigeria moved up 24 places higher in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index and received commendation as one of the top 10 reforming economies in the world.

In case the writer doesn’t know, the Vice President is the head of the Economic Management Team (EMT) in the Buhari administration. Under his leadership, government policies have rejuvenated the country’s economic environment and increased the confidence of foreign investors in the economy. Also, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which was inaugurated by President Buhari, is chaired by Osinbajo. Through PEBEC’s comprehensive plan to improve the country’s business environment, Nigeria moved up 24 places higher in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index and received commendation as one of the top 10 reforming economies in the world.

Osinbajo is also chair of the National Economic Council (NEC) comprising governors of the 36 states, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and some senior government officials. NEC advises the President concerning the nation’s economic affairs, particularly on measures necessary for the coordination of economic programmes.

Osinbajo has also helped launch the administration’s Energizing Economies Initiative (of the Rural Electrification Agency), which drives economic growth by providing electricity (solar power) to economic clusters across Nigeria. So far, this has been successfully done in Sabongari market, Kano; Ariaria market in Aba and recently, the first of several solar power plants in universities was launched in August with the 2.8MW plant at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University in Ebonyi State, with other universities to benefit from such initiative in the next four years.

In the Niger Delta, the Vice President’s leadership has helped to usher in peace and stability into the once restive region, and so improve the country’s oil revenue. Gone are the days of militant attacks on oi installations and facilities.

After a meeting President Buhari had with leaders in the region in November 2016, Vice President Osinbajo, on behalf of the President, went on a tour of the Niger Delta in 2017, and had fruitful engagements with elders, leaders and stakeholders in the region on its development.

Through the VP’s interventions and engagements, the Niger Delta New Vision plan of the Buhari administration was birthed, to chart a map for general development of the Niger Delta. Since then, the Ogoni clean-up, which was neglected by previous administration, has since commenced; six modular refineries are at different stages of completion in the region, which will bring more economic opportunities and development to Niger Delta communities; the Maritime University in Okerenkoko in Delta State has taken off, and many other development projects are in the works to bring wholesome development to the region.

In a nutshell, Osinbajo’s leadership has not only helped rebuild trust in government in a region previously neglected, it has also contributed to its peace and stability and improving the economy.

A few weeks ago, Osinbajo, on the instruction of the President, commenced a series of meetings with traditional rulers in the South West to proffer solutions to security challenges posed by kidnapping, banditry and other crimes. This is in tandem with the Buhari administration’s resolve to improve security architecture nationwide. These meetings have had far reaching impact on resolving these security challenges.

Just to add, as Osinbajo is the deputy chairman of the National Security Council, so he also meets with the Service Chiefs and is a voice on issues pertaining to national security.Shouldn’t we also talk about the Vice President’s engagements with world leaders and global organisations that have helped improve the country’s image and attracted more investments into the country? In June, Osinbajo met with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and spoke On varying issues, including the administration’s efforts in tackling insurgency and terrorism in the North East and its determination to rescuing the remaining Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu, among other issues of mutual benefits in a deeper bilateral relationship between both countries.

Whether at home or abroad, the Vice President creates time during his trips from his busy schedules to interact with Nigerians, explaining issues around governance, while reiterating government’s commitment to fight corruption, improve security and the economy.

Also, the VP’s Family Chats is bringing a new dynamism to political campaigns in Nigeria, as the visits bring government closer to the people and assures citizens of the Buhari administration’s commitment to their welfare.

The Office of the Vice President oversees the administration’s National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP), which is the largest social welfare scheme in Nigeria’s history. The N-SIP is improving the lives of millions of beneficiaries nationwide through schemes like N-Power jobs for young graduates and non-graduates; GEEP MarketMoni,FarmerMoni and TraderMoni loans for small businesses and petty traders; the Conditional Cash Transfer, which provides monthly stipends to the poorest and most vulnerable in society; and Home-Grown School Feeding Programme currently feeding almost 10 million school pupils in32 states.

A simple question for the writer: can you claim that ice cream isn’t sweet because you simply want to spite the owner of the ice cream shop? Clearly not.

So, I would graciously offer Ajayi a gentle piece of advice – the kind you give to a pedestrian who’s right in front of a street sign, but yet asks for direction to the same street just to spite a stranger: Google is your friend. And that, for sure, is if you are really interested in knowing the truth.

*VP receives USAID delegation & US civil rights activist, Andrew Young

The partnership between Nigeria and the United States is one that would continue to produce mutually desirable results for both countries, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he received the Administrator of the US Agency on International Development (USAID), Mr Mark Green who is currently on a visit to Nigeria.

Noting that the US is one of Nigeria’s most dependable development partners, the Vice President said the Nigerian government was grateful for the interventions in the areas of health, humanitarian issues and education.

While stating the commitment of the Buhari administration to improve the country’s education sector, and the President’s resolve to enforce free and compulsory basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age; Prof. Osinbajo noted that a lot more can be done with cooperation between both countries.

He said, “This is an area where Mr. President particularly has a personal commitment. On June 20th, in a meeting with State Governors, he made the point that we are going to enforce a nine-year free and compulsory basic education for children. He felt that this was not just a moral obligation, but, of course, to educate and develop future generations, especially female children.

The Vice President said there could be more cooperation in the area of teacher training, skills development, child education, especially girl-child education, among other interventions in the education sector.

Prof. Osinbajo also highlighted the need for more development partnerships in the areas of improving the country’s power sector and security, noting that the Federal Government has been putting a significant amount of work in developing renewable energy and providing solar power in rural areas and other parts of the country.

According to him, “In the power sector, we find that renewable energy is an area we want to do more in. And in many parts of the country, we find that solar power would be advantageous for us, and we’re trying to do a lot in that area. The Power grid itself has had various challenges. We think the fastest growth, especially in rural areas is solar power. In that respect, we’ve done a fair amount of work.”

While acknowledging US military assistance, the VP noted that the Federal Government would also welcome more cooperation in tackling humanitarian challenges in the North East of the country.

In his remarks, Green; who was accompanied by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, said the US and Nigeria have a deep friendship based on shared values and shared priorities. He described as admirable President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal commitment to ensuring compulsory free education for Nigerian children, stating the US looks forward to working with the Nigerian government on developing its education sector, tackling security challenges and improving economic indices.

He said, “We have particular interest in continuing our very strong partnership in providing humanitarian assistance, particularly in areas in the North; working together on economic opportunities, particularly in rural areas; creating strong sustainable futures for farmers and herders; and looking for ways to tackle some of the challenges that we both see in building lives and communities.”

Earlier in the day, the Vice President also received a delegation from the Andrew J. Young Foundation, led by civil rights activist and former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew J. Young.

The Vice President described Young as one of the major icons in the US civil rights movement.
The VP noted that Young has played “very important roles in the life of our nation and influencing positively many of our leaders.”

In his remarks, Young commended the Buhari administration for “being able to hold this country together in spite of the differences” and ensuring democracy prevailed.

Young, who worked with the late Martin Luther King Jnr., was accompanied by Ambassador Howard Jeter, Sir Emeka Offor and Senator Ken Nnamani.
https://www.yemiosinbajo.ng/nigeria-us-partnership-vital-for-development-osinbajo/

There is a piece circulating in the media space mocking the vice president Yomi Osinbajo of losing out in the recent ministerial list inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari. Nothing is more mischievous than the antics of meddlesome interlopers creating bad blood even where exist wonderful relationships.
To start with, the author of the above is nameless. The only inference from the silly anonymity is that he or she is unsure of the concoction passed off as an article.

It would have been needless reacting to a bilious article with an anonymous author but for the simple fact that the article which is a figment of the arid imagination of the author is capable of misleading some unsuspecting members of the public who may consider it an article of wholesale truth.

That said, it is a known fact that both Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Muhammadu Buhari ran on a joint ticket in the 2019 presidential election as vice presidential and presidential candidates on the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC). Therefore, whatever electoral input the Vice President must have made in the course of the tortuous campaign was his own contribution to the election from which he and Buhari emerged as victors. And it was not in vain.

Perhaps if Osinbajo had not campaigned vigorously across the length and breadth of the country, selling the Next Level agenda to Nigerians while also restating the modest successes of the administration between 2015 and 2019 to the electorates, the election outcome might have gone the other way which implies that he won't be the number two man in the country today!

Besides, the near air mishap the VP and his entourage encountered in Kogi State while on a visit to campaign was part of the risks involved in any hustle. It is only those who dare to take risks who win. Osinbajo understands this aspect of life clearly and that was why he still went ahead, unencumbered by the near death experience, to carry out with the activities slated for that day. Thank goodness he did not die. He is living to enjoy the fruits of the risks he took. So let the author bury his unwanted sympathy for Osinbajo does not need the sympathy of cynics.

In case the nameless author does not know, those who are familiar with the political trajectory of the cerebral Professor of Law know that he is not a typical Nigerian politician who sees politics as a means to personal aggrandizement and thus will begin to count imaginary losses when the game is only just unravelling.

Elections are over. It's time for governance. And that exactly is what Osinbajo is doing. He has a lot on his plate already. The management of the economy virtually rests on his shoulders in addition to superintending the all-important Social Investment Policy of the Buhari administration.

If the hooded writer wants to lament because Senator Ibikunle Amosun is believed to be getting political jobs meant for Ogun State where the VP hails from for his cronies, what about the 500,000 otherwise unemployed Nigerian youth who are engaged today across the country via the N-Power Scheme which the office of the VP is driving?

What about the over 2 million petty traders and small scale business owners who are receiving collateral free, interest free loans? Is it not the same Osinbajo who is driving the programs impacting their lives? The public-spirited person that he is, the VP is not motivated to serve because of perks or largesse of office which explains why he has chosen to touch the lives of the mass majority of Nigerians through the instrumentality of the FG-driven social programs that can impact positively on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

For the education of the masked author, all federal appointments are at the mercy of the President who dispenses to whomever he is pleased with. Osinbajo is not the President and will never do anything to drag leadership and patronage distribution with his principal. A former VP who tried to take the shine off his boss is still struggling today to redeem his once illustrious political career.

By the way, as afar as Ogun State and its people are concerned, the most important political position that has a direct bearing on the lives of the citizenry is that of the Governor. It is on record that VP Osinbajo contributed significantly to the election that brought His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun to power in the state.

Osinbajo has not lost anything and is not losing anything. Just yesterday, the President ratified the appointments of those who worked with the VP between 2015 and 2019. A President who does not like his VP would have imposed unknown persons on him.

Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

Reno’s Misguided Advise To Osinbajo Show How Poorly The Jonathan Government Was Run - ISD

A former Jonathan’s media aide who has recently launched an attack on Nigeria’s Vice President has been described as lacking wit and exposing the weakness of his former’s boss’ poorly run government by the Initiative to Save Democracy.

In a statement by its newly appointed publicity secretary, Peter Oladele, the group faulted the call by Reno Omokri that the Vice President should stand up against the President because the President had asked that his Ministers pass correspondences and meeting proposals through the Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari.

The group stated that making such a call did not only show that Mr Omokri lacked an understanding of governance at the Presidential level, but it also reflected the way and manner in which the Jonathan government was run without any institutional practices and order.

“We have read Reno Omokri's constant attempt to politicise governance processes, especially his recent tirade at the Vice President. In our view, Omokri has opened himself, the government of Jonathan where he served and his party up to the perfect counter-uppercut.

“Because by lambasting the President's instruction to streamline administrative processes in adherence to global democratic executive standards, they are once again exposing and celebrating their own wayward governance systems of old in which presidential governance was a jungle-like wilderness in which everyone who could whisper to the President could adjust his actions or inactions which is largely responsible for the massive corruption and underdevelopment known of their administration which we are still dealing with.”

The Initiative to Save Democracy went further to state that the instruction given to Ministers to have all correspondences and schedules for meetings go through the Chief of Staff was to ensure there was order and guided flow of the President’s activities.

“Does one expect the President to receive his Ministers anytime and whenever they wanted to? Would that not be a recipe for chaos and insanity?” The group asked.

“There must follow a pattern in every institution, in which the head of the institution is accessed, correspondences sent and meetings scheduled. This was clearly not the case with the Jonathan administration. If we recall, it was during that administration that rumours flew round about how top government officials were going to the Central Bank with notes from the President to collect hard currencies for campaign activities. Reno Omokri’s recent comment only confirm this.”

ISD also stated that Reno’s attempt to pitch the Vice President against the President was not just foolishness but gave a clue as to one of the reasons why the PDP government had always failed in all its activities, noting that the PDP was renowned for running a disharmonious and uncoordinated government.

“The constant attempt to turn Vice President Yemi Osinbajo against President Buhari is a failed effort to confer on Vice President the same foolishness and rebellious, power hungry spirit with which Reno's boss, Atiku used to impose himself against a sitting President in Obasanjo which stalled government activities and also rendered PDP a political cog in the nation's wheel of progress. Osinbajo will not be goaded into foolish dysfunction as patented and trademarked by Reno's boss.” The statement read.

PRESS RELEASE

TROOPS FRUSTRATE TERRORISTS ATTACK ON GUBIO AND MAGUMERI MARKETS

The attention of the Nigerian Army in the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to reports on various media platforms indicating attack on Gubio and Magumeri communities in Borno State at about 1735hrs of Wednesday the 21st of August, 2019.

To avoid further misinformation that could create unnecessary tension, the Theatre Command wishes to state that the attack was targeted at Nigerian Army troops deployed in the areas to enable the terrorists gain access shops in the market in the towns to loot food items and other logistics. The attack was however repelled by the troops.

Consequently, due to fierce exchange of fire, the terrorists were forced to withdraw in disarray from the town resulting to damages on buildings and property along their route of withdrawal.

There were no casualty on the security force (troops) and no lost or damage to own equipment as wrongly insinuated on social media. However, a vigilante sadly lost his life in a cross fire. Also some civilians in the area reportedly sustained various degrees of injuries.

Peace has so far been restored in the communities with residents going about their lawful businesses.

The Nigerian Army once again call on all well meaning members of the public to collaborate with the military and other security agencies in the area of sharing of information and suspicious movement of criminals in their communities to proactively deal with criminal activities .

Ado ISA
Colonel
Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 7 Division
22 Aug 2019