₦airaland Forum

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is sending a five-man Federal Government delegation to Anambra State today to visit and condole with the government and people of the state over last Sunday’s attack on worshippers at the St. Philips Catholic Church in Ofufe-Amakwa, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state. That despicable attack resulted in the loss of a number of lives and injury to several others.
The delegation is made up of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole; Foreign Affairs Minister,Mr Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of State for Environment, Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jibril; and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwuka.
During the visit, the delegation will present a condolence letter from the Acting President Osinbajo on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria to Governor Willie Obiano.
In the letter, Professor Osinbajo extends deep commiserations to the families, friends of the victims and the Ozubulu community on the death of their sons and daughters and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured still in the hospital.
The Acting President condemned in very strong terms the atrocious and dastardly act which has brought sorrow to many innocent families and, has rightly provoked widespread condemnation.
He said “such barbaric act constitutes an affront to our common humanity, and challenges, but will not overwhelm our collective resolve to rid our communities of all forms of violent crimes and criminality.”
Professor Osinbajo said the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari remains undeterred and will continually commit to deploying all available resources towards ensuring adequate security of lives and property in Anambra State and across the entire country.
The Acting President noted that he has instructed law enforcement agencies to bring perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice without any delay.
He said he would remain engaged with Governor Obiano, the Police authorities and other security agencies to ensure that the lives and property of citizens of Anambra State and all Nigerians are well protected anywhere they may live.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
12 August 2017

Every day, we bring you the best stories the media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria.

AIT News Online reports that the fight against terrorism in Nigeria got a boost from the Federal Government as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo commissioned five new Super Mushak trainer aircraft recently acquired from Pakistan by the Nigerian Air Force for the training of personnel in counter insurgency operations.
www.aitonline.tv/post-terrorism_war__osinbajo_commissions_five_new_super_mushak_aircraft

It is good news for Nigeria as “for the first time in about 2 years Nigeria’s foreign reserves rose to $31.22 billion on Tuesday, August 8, according to the Central Bank data”. So reports Daily Trust adding that “the reserves which were battered by the low oil price, crumbling naira value and high FX demand reached such level in July 2015.”
www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/business/external-reserves-rise-to-two-year-high-at-31-2-bn/209314.html

Leadership reports that “the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has saved a total of N1.4 billion for the Federal Government as it intercepted 37 brand new vehicles smuggled into the country from Republic of Benin.” The report also revealed that “the service also intercepted 12,081 bags of smuggled rice valued at N149 million. The smuggled vehicles which include, eight Lexus Jeep, 2017 model; 12 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps, 2017 model and 17 Toyota Hilux, (2009-2016) models have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.4billion.”

According to Daily Trust, “Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said on Wednesday she was aiming to borrow less in naira and more in foreign currency. She said the government could borrow at a cost of 7% overseas, roughly half the interest rate it currently pays locally”. This will enable the government be able to repay instead of just rolling over the debt.
www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/business/fg-to-refinance-3bn-local-loans-with-dollar-debt/209312.html

“Activities on the equities market on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the seventh consecutive day, yesterday sustained bullish run with the All-Share Index (ASI) rising by 0.38 per cent to cross the 38,000 mark”, Leadership reports. www.leadership.ng/2017/08/10/nse-market-increases-0-38-hit-38000-mark-amid-bullish-run/

A bill to ensure the prosecution of people who engage in hate speech has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice, so says Daily Trust quoting Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd). “He said hate speech must never be allowed in Nigeria since nobody could determine the tribe he or she would belong to. www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/bill-against-hate-speech-underway-interior-minister/209457.html

Excuses No Longer Tenable, Acting President Says, At Cabinet Retreat On The Buhari Economic Plan

In its quest to deliver sustainable socio-economic development to Nigerians, the Buhari administration will no longer accept excuses that suggest such progress is not attainable, according to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo spoke earlier today at the Cabinet Retreat on the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) and the 2018 Budget preparation which featured guest speakers including Dr Idris Jala, a former top official of the Malaysian government.

Below is the full text of the Acting President’s remark.

Remarks By His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, San, Gcon, Acting President, Federal Republic Of Nigeria At The Cabinet Retreat On Ergp Implementation And 2018 Budget Preparation Process Held At The State House Banquet Hall On Thursday August 10, 2017

Protocols

After listening to *Dr. Idris Jala all I can say is as the opposition leader in Malaysia said this is what I have been saying for the past 50 years!

But seriously he is so right, the challenge is this, the discipline to be unreasonable in our targets and objectives. The discipline of attending the labs diligently and accepting to be locked in a room for as long as it takes to iron out what it is that needs to be done.
I like the point also that Dr Jala made that the excuse that it won't work here, the Nigerian factor, or some say exceptionalism, or the acceptance of failure before you even start is certainly not tenable any more.

We simply have to accept that there is nothing Nigerian about failure, because as we know in our personal lives, failure and success are commodities on offer to everyone all over the world and every individual and every country makes a choice of which to buy and I will say on our behalf that we will choose success.

Dr Jala I have heard motivational speeches, but this is one I think that challenges our whole legitimacy as persons entrusted with leadership.

I think it goes beyond motivational speech, I think it really challenges the core of our relevance as leaders and I am challenged and I know that many of us here are and I think that we will do what we need to do to make sure that we see through the labs that we have to identify specific areas where we will do this labs. We must see to it that this works.

I want to thank you again for this exceptional moment you have taken us through and to thank all of you also for taking the time to come. So the work has just begun.

Thank you.

( * Dr Jala is a former Malaysian government official and guest speaker at the retreat )


RELEASED BY:
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
10 August 2017

PEBEC announces preferred vendor for its monitoring and evaluation technology solution

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) on Monday announced L5 Lab, a leading indigenous venture development company, as the preferred vendor for the production and provision of technical support services for its proposed PEBEC technology solution which would empower citizens to monitor, evaluate and provide feedback on services received from government agencies.

L5 Lab has incubated successful businesses such as Jobberman, Cheki, Kamdora, Pass.ng, Oya and Betazoo. The company focuses its efforts on finding and developing great leadership teams and backing them to implement ideas and build businesses at par with the world’s best.

“We are very pleased to work with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) in building this solution,” said Chika Nwobi, the CEO of L5 Lab, upon hearing of the company’s selection after a competitive and rigorous selection process. “We are convinced that a solution like this would help to drive the change that the government wants and L5 Lab is determined to play our role in helping the Council achieve its objective to make business work in Nigeria.”

In a bid to institutionalise accountability and transparency in FG Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), PEBEC had on June 24 and 25, 2017, organised a Hackathon tagged #PEBECHack in Lagos, Nigeria. The competition brought together 60 young techpreneurs (15 teams), shortlisted from almost 300 applications, to compete on developing a prototype solution that would allow citizens monitor, provide feedback and make complaints about the quality of services received from key MDAs and at strategic entry-point locations such as airports, seaports and land borders.

The winning team at #PEBECHack - Team Rhapsody - pitched an E-Government Citizen Engagement app that allows citizens make complaints and give transparent and empirically tracked feedback, which will be useful to the MDAs as they deepen their ease of doing business reform efforts. Team Rhapsody received a prize of of N1 million; while the second placed team - InfusionTech - received the sum of N300,000; and the third placed team - ServiTrack - received the sum of N200,000. In addition, the top teams got an opportunity to showcase their products before potential investors at the Techplus conference in Lagos in July.

L5 Lab will manage the transition of the winning prototype to production with a timeline to go live by October 1, 2017. The preferred vendor is also expected to provide round-­the-­clock support and upgrades of the solution for an initial period of one year after go-­live.


Signed
Dr Jumoke Oduwole
PEBEC Secretary
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade & Investment (OVP)
August 10, 2017
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Anyone Serious About Investing In Africa Must Come To Nigeria - Osinbajo

* “Nigeria is a country open to free enterprise and it will work”
“I like the idea of investors knowing that the reason why you are coming to Nigeria is not to help Nigeria. You will ultimately end up helping Nigeria, but the reason why you are coming here is because this is a good place to do business.”

Remarks By The Acting President Federal Republic Of Nigeria, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, San, Gcon, At Nigerian Initiative For Economic Development At The Banquet Hall, State House On Monday August 07, 2017

Protocol
We are indeed very grateful to you for taking out time of your very, very busy schedule in America to be here with us. What I always find very interesting about the Diasporan community is how it is that everyone who we work with here comes from that same community. Practically, everyone who made the presentation is a Diasporan of one kind or the other.

So, I think that this country is going to benefit tremendously from its Diasporan community in one way or the other because almost everyone whom we come across and who is doing something important in government is from that background. And it is important that is the case because I am sure all appreciate and nobody needs to repeat that we live in a vastly different world community now than ever before. Everyone is related one way or the other.

The world is a much, much smaller place and gets smaller by the day. So I think that there is very little today and I like the point that was made by the DG of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC that anyone who doesn’t invest in Africa or Nigeria in 10 years’ time, they would be queried by their establishment, by their businesses that “you just missed out on the best possible opportunity” and you know that it is easy to miss out on the best possible business opportunity.

I remember that I was counsel; I was a lawyer, teaching in the university but also in corporate practice when the first telecom licenses were to be issued. And I recall that at the time, even the most optimistic of the investors (because we had only 400,000 telephone lines at the time) thought well maybe in five years, we will double the number of lines or maybe triple the number of lines and then we will make profit in about five years or ten years. There were so many who thought, well, it may not be worth it. Aaaah! You know, the business environment is a difficult one etcetera, etcetera.

But in about a year of the licenses being granted all of those who did not invest in it, the big telecom companies who did not invest in it, found themselves holding the short end. They realized that it was a huge mistake because in five years MTN had shown that the telecom sector in Nigeria was just incredibly profitable. They had made profit in one year. MTN alone now has something in the order of about 12million or so lines if not more, and that’s one of the telecom companies that we have.

So, really, Nigeria is a place that is waiting to happen and it will happen. That’s really the point. It will happen. The truth of the matter is that any country that opens itself to free enterprise, the way Nigeria is opening itself to free enterprise, will somehow find that it will work.

That is one of the critical things that we are bringing into the mix. We are insisting that the only way that this country can make the profit that it needs to make is by private sector investment, beginning with local investment.

That’s why we are working so hard on making the investment climate profitable and easy for those who are doing business already, because we believe that those who are doing business already will invariably bring in those who want to do business from outside the country, foreign investment etcetera.

But we think that it must be private sector driven. Our budget is N7trillion this year. Now, N7trillion is a small amount of money. I am not adding the budget of the states because if you add that it comes to something close to N20trillion. But just looking at the federal budget it is just 7trillion.

But we have private sector investments that challenge that size. For example, the largest single line refinery in the world is a private sector investment and it’s going to be doing 650,000 barrels of oil every day. That refinery is purely private sector driven. Also, the largest single line fertilizer plant in the world is being set up here. All of these will be ready by the end of 2018, some early 2019. They are huge private sector investments that completely belie the size of the federal budget and belie everything else.

So, really what we intend to do is to push private sector and that’s why we are doing everything that we are doing to ensure that the private sector can come in and invest. Look at the power sector for example; the power sector is almost completely privatized. But we have had difficulties because of tariffs, for example. Many times you look at our power sector, we have an installed capacity of about 12,000 megawatts today but we are only able to put on the grid under 5,000, a little above 4,000 megawatts. But we know that the potential is way beyond that maybe four or five times that.

But what do we do to ensure that we realize that potential? What we need to do is to make this profitable for the private sector. So, we are working on the whole value chain. We are trying to free up that value chain, beginning with working on tariffs, and then, looking at the how, at the moment we have problem of liquidity in the value chain and we are addressing that. There is a massive payment assurance scheme of over N701 billion that we are infusing into the power value chain to free up that value chain. Once we are able to do that and we address the issue of tariffs we open it up again. And then people can come in and the big investors can come in and invest in power.

This is a country of 180 million people and in another 10 years’ time we are probably going to be the sixth or seventh largest country in the world. There is no way we are not going to need power, whether it is off-grid power or on-grid power. Power is required by everyone where we have a major power deficit. So, we are going to open up that power sector and anyone who invests in power sector will definitely make money. No question. It is going to be much bigger and better than even the Tele-cos.

You heard the Minister of Agriculture talking about agriculture and the sad poem by the way, I took the poem from him. This is a poem about how miserable it was at the time. Let me assure you that Chief Audu Ogbe became very wealthy in the farming business. We literarily had to beg him to come into government because he seemed to be enjoying his wealth a little too much. But the truth of the matter is that the agric sector is a massive, massive sector.

There was a Mexican who came to Nigeria; he is one of the big banana farmers, banana and pineapple farmers and he is still in Nigeria. He is in eleven states now. He came in on the invitation of some Nigerians who wanted to export bananas. They wanted him to come in here, grow banana and export them. But what happened? After a while, they found that he wasn’t interested in exporting anything at all. When they asked him why, he said: “Look, I’m selling this stuff here. I’m making more money here than exporting it. Every one of these bananas I’m selling; every one of the pineapples I’m selling. He is still very happy with the market and the market is growing. The market is right here, this is the kind of place where you really, just have to be here!

My friend is from Rwanda. Rwanda is a very lovely country and Paul Kagame is an incredible individual doing really good things in that country and I believe that the country will do great things. But compare Rwanda to Nigeria in terms of just the size of the economy. We have 36 states in Nigeria. Lagos alone which is the commercial nerve centre is six times the economy of Rwanda.

So, really when you compare some of these things people say Oh! I want to go to there; I want to go here...Yaah! It’s okay. But the truth of the matter is that if you are really serious about investing in Africa, this is where you have to come to. This is absolutely where you must come to. There is no other place.

So, I really want to say that we are very excited about the partnership that we are building with Nigerian Initiative for Economic Development NIED. And we really want to make this work and that’s why we brought all of our people to make these presentations and we will be meeting with you later on in the day. Just as Industry, Trade and Investment Minister has said, we are here and we want to make sure that we are interacting with you on a regular basis. As he said, it is not a sprint, it is a marathon.

So, we have to keep at this. We should not lose focus. I like the idea of investors knowing that the reason why you are coming to Nigeria is not to help Nigeria. You will ultimately end up helping Nigeria, but the reason why you are coming here is because this is a good place to do business. And that is the only thing that should interest us and focus our minds. Ultimately, we will help our country, but first and foremost, this is a very, very good place to do business and it is going to be a profitable place—and very profitable for all of us.

Again, let me thank you very much for taking the time to come. I am very, very excited by the fact that you chose to accept our invitation. It just shows that you believe in what you are seeing and what you are hearing. I hope that we will all be very happy and satisfied with the results that we get from this engagement.

Thank you very much.


Released By:
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
07 August, 2017

We Will Ensure Perpetrators Of Anambra Church Killings Are Brought To Book-Osinbajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has since been receiving regular updates on the status of investigations regarding the atrocious and mindless acts of violence yesterday at the St. Philip Catholic Church Ozubulu in Anambra State where worshippers were viciously attacked and a number of innocent Nigerians killed and injured.

The Acting President has been in touch with the Anambra State Governor Willy Obiano, police authorities and other security agencies, and assures that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes would be brought to justice.

Prof. Osinbajo condemns the despicable acts of violence, and commiserates with families, relatives, friends of the victims, the entire people and the government of Anambra State.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
7 August 2017

Nigeria Continues To Shine In Various Ways, Produces The Best In Every Way Says Acting President Osinbajo

*Receives at the Presidential Villa, US-based Nigerian doctor who successfully operated on a foetus in a Houston hospital

Nigeria produces the best in every way, its citizens continue to shine in various ways around the world, and as we continue to do what is right in public service, the country is bound to reach the top globally as a people, according to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo was speaking at the Presidential Villa where he received Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, Houston, US-based Nigerian doctor who successfully led a medical team that operated on a foetus, winning US and global acclaim for the feat.

Olutoye had also been an active member of another medical team that had separated a set of conjoined twins successfully in the US. That team actually included two other Nigerian female doctors including his wife, Dr. Toyin Olutoye, an anesthesiologist, and Dr. Oluyemisi Adeyemi-Fowode, a pediatric gynecology fellow.

Osinbajo told Olutoye who was accompanied to the Presidential Villa by members of his family including his wife and parents that “our country continues to shine in various ways, your achievement is remakable in every sense. People are bound to wonder. It’s the kind that fables are made of. And this is from someone who is Nigerian-trained.”

According to the Acting President, “this country can be well run, we produce the best in every way, but it will take a lot of doing, by good men and women. This is what i have learnt in the past over two years here. If we do the right things, day by day, we’ll change and improve the Nigerian situation significantly.”

He continued, “the problem is not the about the availability of resources, but its the management,” recalling how it is that the Federal Government is now doing more when funds are scarce than in the days when oil was selling at over $100 per barrel.

“When we were making over a $100 per barrel, we were owing oil JVC cash calls, not able to pay salaries and owing contractors. Now that we are down in earnings by 60%, we have sorted out the problem of cash calls and are able to support states to pay salaries.”

Speaking earlier, Dr. Olutoye attributed his medical successes in the US to his Nigerian training and education up till the university. He is a graduate of Medicine from the then University of Ife.

“All we have achieved from primary to university is from Nigeria, and I believe that Nigeria will surpass what we have achieved out there.”

Olutoye’s father who was also at the late Thursday meeting, is the Alani of Ido-Ani, Oba Major-General (rtd) Olufemi Olutoye, OFR, the Oluwatomiloye 1.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
6 August 2017
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EFCC Pledges Support to AMCON on Asset Recovery

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on Thursday, August 3, 2017 pledged its support to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria AMCON, in its drive to recover toxic assets and boost for the nation’s economy.

The Acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu delivered the pledge while playing host to Ahmed Lawan Kuru, Managing Director, AMCON and his team in his office.
According to Magu, “it is in the interest of this country that we support you and work with AMCON."

He blamed the incidence of bad loans especially in the banking sector on insider dealings, adding that it is about time bankers are held liable for their indiscretion. He expressed the Commission’s willingness to strengthen the team already working on AMCON related cases.

In his remarks, Mr. Kuru informed the Commission of how over N3.7 trillion of depositors funds, 15,000 jobs were saved due to AMCON intervention in the banking sector in 2009/2010. "The Corporation borrowed money from the Financial system and bought 13,000 non-performing loans at the cost of N3.7trillion from 22 banks and also injected N2.3 trillion as financial accommodation to ten banks in order to bring stability and avoid systematic failure”, he said.

He however listed some of the challenges hampering the corporation’s debt recovery efforts to include the judicial process, non cooperation of debtors, concealment of assets, irregular documentation by banks and other financial institutions, forgery and alteration of financial records.

Mr. Kuru further expressed satisfaction with the performance of the EFCC/ AMCON desk ,saying "ever since the set up of the AMCON desk, we have enjoyed tremendous support of the team which has led to recovery and increased the number of obligors coming forward to AMCON looking for a resolution out of the situation they are in."

He added that the importance of the EFCC to the actualization of AMCON mandate cannot be overstated as the Commission is “about one of the few organizations that have the power to request or demand information from some of these financial institutions and get response.”


Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
3 August, 2017

Fact Sheets On Update And Progress Made In Fg’s New Vision For Niger Delta

As the meeting between the Buhari Presidency and PANDEF on the progress of FG’s new vision on Niger Delta proceeded this evening at the Presidential Villa, here is a brief fact-sheet describing on-going government efforts regarding the oil producing region.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is presiding over the meeting that has in attendance leaders and representatives from the Niger Delta and relevant ministers and heads of MDAs.

1. The Federal Government has started the process of replacing illegal refineries in the region with modular ones, including options on how to involve the communities as shareholders in the proposed Modular Refineries. Ground-breaking of the first set of such refineries are expected in the 4th quarter of the year. In its operations, FG will supply crude to the local refineries at reasonably considered price, as an incentive to stop the current practice whereby illegal refiners vandalise and steal the crude. Each Niger Delta is expected to host 2 modular refineries each.

2. Similarly, FG has commenced the process for the opening of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta state. Already, a 5-man inter-agency committee headed by the Minister of Education is in the final stages for the official opening of the university in the 2017/2018 academic session.

3. FG has released additional N35 billion to step up the Amnesty Programme in the Delta region, which is a specific and significant raise to the 2016 Budgetary allocation to the office. This significant increase is already reflected in the 2017 budget with N70billion allocation.
The Amnesty Office has since paid up all ex-militants backlog of their stipends up to April 2017. School fees for ex-militants studying abroad have been paid up to 80% this July. School fees in Nigeria paid up to 90% this July. Under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Presidential Amnesty Programme has deployed 1294 beneficiaries in different programmes in different universities across the world. 1230 have graduated; 196 are maritime engineers, 59 pilots, and 120 automobile engineers. It has established partnership with the PRESCOM (Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons), UNDP, EU and UNREC to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the hands of unauthorized persons and groups.

4. To enhance a speedy development and restore peace in the Delta region, FG has revamped the Niger Delta Development Commission to drive the creation of development and infrastructure projects in the region.

5. An initial fund of 1 billion USD has been set aside for the clean-up and environmental remediation of Ogoniland. A sum of USD 200 million will be disbursed yearly for the first five years and work on the project will be conducted in line with international best practices. Already soil and water tests have been done in preparation for the clean-up and 15 technical assistants hired to be part of the work from Ogoniland.

6. To drive infrastructure, the FG has released funds for the continuation of various sections of the East-West Road. As at March 2017, the overall project completion is substantial ( Section I - 99.98%, Section II - I - 78.33%, Section II -II - 67.95%, Section III - 99.22%, Section IV - 97.7%) with Sections I and III completed and due for commissioning. The FG plans to construct health centres in the states and communities of the region. On completion, they will be fully equipped to address some of the health needs of rural dwellers. This project will place the region as one of the most advanced places in Africa for high speed internet access and reliable communication systems.

7. To further encourage infrastructure development, FG, through the Petroleum Ministry is also exploring with the International Oil Companies operating in the Delta region on how to relocate their operational headquarters to their states of operations as different from administrative headquarters which often has only about 5% of the staff.


RELEASED BY:
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
03 August, 2017

Fact Sheets On Update And Progress Made In Fg’s New Vision For Niger Delta

As the meeting between the Buhari Presidency and PANDEF on the progress of FG’s new vision on Niger Delta proceeded this evening at the Presidential Villa, here is a brief fact-sheet describing on-going government efforts regarding the oil producing region.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is presiding over the meeting that has in attendance leaders and representatives from the Niger Delta and relevant ministers and heads of MDAs.

1. The Federal Government has started the process of replacing illegal refineries in the region with modular ones, including options on how to involve the communities as shareholders in the proposed Modular Refineries. Ground-breaking of the first set of such refineries are expected in the 4th quarter of the year. In its operations, FG will supply crude to the local refineries at reasonably considered price, as an incentive to stop the current practice whereby illegal refiners vandalise and steal the crude. Each Niger Delta is expected to host 2 modular refineries each.

2. Similarly, FG has commenced the process for the opening of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta state. Already, a 5-man inter-agency committee headed by the Minister of Education is in the final stages for the official opening of the university in the 2017/2018 academic session.

3. FG has released additional N35 billion to step up the Amnesty Programme in the Delta region, which is a specific and significant raise to the 2016 Budgetary allocation to the office. This significant increase is already reflected in the 2017 budget with N70billion allocation.
The Amnesty Office has since paid up all ex-militants backlog of their stipends up to April 2017. School fees for ex-militants studying abroad have been paid up to 80% this July. School fees in Nigeria paid up to 90% this July. Under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Presidential Amnesty Programme has deployed 1294 beneficiaries in different programmes in different universities across the world. 1230 have graduated; 196 are maritime engineers, 59 pilots, and 120 automobile engineers. It has established partnership with the PRESCOM (Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons), UNDP, EU and UNREC to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the hands of unauthorized persons and groups.

4. To enhance a speedy development and restore peace in the Delta region, FG has revamped the Niger Delta Development Commission to drive the creation of development and infrastructure projects in the region.

5. An initial fund of 1 billion USD has been set aside for the clean-up and environmental remediation of Ogoniland. A sum of USD 200 million will be disbursed yearly for the first five years and work on the project will be conducted in line with international best practices. Already soil and water tests have been done in preparation for the clean-up and 15 technical assistants hired to be part of the work from Ogoniland.

6. To drive infrastructure, the FG has released funds for the continuation of various sections of the East-West Road. As at March 2017, the overall project completion is substantial ( Section I - 99.98%, Section II - I - 78.33%, Section II -II - 67.95%, Section III - 99.22%, Section IV - 97.7%) with Sections I and III completed and due for commissioning. The FG plans to construct health centres in the states and communities of the region. On completion, they will be fully equipped to address some of the health needs of rural dwellers. This project will place the region as one of the most advanced places in Africa for high speed internet access and reliable communication systems.

7. To further encourage infrastructure development, FG, through the Petroleum Ministry is also exploring with the International Oil Companies operating in the Delta region on how to relocate their operational headquarters to their states of operations as different from administrative headquarters which often has only about 5% of the staff.


RELEASED BY:
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
03 August, 2017

Power Ministry Saves Fg From N119bn Court Judgment Liability

· Frees up another N39.17Billion held under another Judgement in Court to be used now for the supply of electricity metres to the DisCos

The Ministry of Power Works and Housing has, through negotiations and compromise, saved the Federal Government a staggering sum of N119,369,520,000 resulting from a judgement entered against it over a litigation from a metering contract awarded by the previous administration in 2003.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, who disclosed this at a press briefing after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council Meeting, said the one of the three memoranda the Ministry took to the Council for approval was in respect of an inherited liability from the former Ministry of Power.

He explained that the judgement came “as a results of acts of officials of government who varied the Presidential approval without seeking further directives from him”.

According to Fashola, the officials of government varied the Presidential approval without seeking further directive from him and then awarded the contract on that basis adding that the party who was the beneficiary of that contract “which the officials subsequently sought to withdraw” went to court and got a judgment.

The Minister, who cited the incident as an example of some of the problems inherited from the last administration, added, “But we have successfully reached a compromise on that matter where the judgment has been compromised for the entire sum of N119 Billion to N19,369,520. So, Government is no longer liable to, under this new agreement, to pay that amount”.

Pointing out that the negotiations took about the entire period of his tenure as Minister to achieve”, the Minister added that the successful negotiation was able to free up another N39.17Billion held under another Judgement in court to be used now for the supply of electricity metres to the DisCos adding that all of the disputes arose from a contract to supply 3,000,000 metres entered into with the contractor and NEPA, which became PHCN, in 2003; about 14 years ago.

“The contract was never fully performed by both parties; either by the contractor or government. So, from the very early days they ended up in court. Government constituted one committee after the other to resolve the matter. So, there was court judgement, money was left in the bank, the purpose couldn’t be achieved. Then a new contract was created which became a liability of N119Billion”, he further explained.

Fashola, however, expressed delight that the Federal Executive Council approved the Memo “to give effect to the negotiations that we were able to put together to compromise that judgement entirely and to convert the old N39Billion to a loan to that contractor so that they can use it to supply metres to the DisCos” through new rules being developed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The Minister said one of the other two memoranda sent to Council by his Ministry was with respect for approval to construct the Pankshin-Balang-Yeleng-Sara-Gindiri Road in Plateau State for N10.461Billion while the second one was with respect to Share- Pategi Road in Kwara State for N10.29Billion adding that both prayers were approved by Council.


Hakeem Bello
Special Adviser,
Communications
To The Hon. Minister
3RD August, 2017

Pandef Joins Fg Inter-Ministerial Group On Niger Delta's New Vision

In a renewed effort to further propel the Buhari administration New Vision for the overall development of the Niger Delta, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, will now be joining the Federal Government’s Inter-Ministerial Group tasked with the implementation of the vision.

Speaking earlier today in Abuja at the meeting of the Federal Government with Niger Delta leaders under the aegis of PANDEF, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, while welcoming PANDEF’s offer to fully join the inter-ministerial group, reiterated the full commitment of the Federal Government to realise a new and prosperous Niger Delta developed through forthright partnerships between Federal Government, State Governments, private sector and local communities.

“We are fully committed and thankful for your contributions and feedback. We are working on this day by day. From the beginning, we took the 16-point demand very seriously and we also developed our own plan mostly based on those demands.

“Personally, I believe the issues of the Niger Delta must be addressed. When I undertook the visit to the Niger Delta region, my sole intention for participating in this process is that we need forthrightness and a hands-on approach. There is no week that has passed that I‘ve not held one meeting or the other on the Niger Delta issue. I’ve spent quality time looking at how we can implement this (new vision),” Prof. Osinbajo said.

The Acting President further said the Federal Government will implement the new vision in a way that is fair to all parties. “It can’t be done overnight. We are also looking at the integrity of the process so we can meet our targets. We are not out of line. Everything is on course the way we set it out. We have got to do it right,” he said.

The inter-ministerial group, consisting of all relevant ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs of the FG, with the involvement of relevant State governments led by the Acting President, meets regularly to drive the different initiatives and ensure effective and ongoing implementation of the FG Niger Delta new vision.

Prof. Osinbajo further stated that the Federal Government was committed to the Amnesty Programme, the establishment of the Maritime University, the clean-up of Ogoni and the general development of the Niger Delta region.

Speaking on behalf of PANDEF, Chief Edwin Clark thanked the Federal Government for being forthright and showing commitment to improving the fortunes of the region, noting that the Acting President’s visit to the Niger Delta has contributed to the peace in the region.

Clark said, “The meeting was excellent. We met with Mr. Acting President. He was very forthright, truthful. We were very satisfied. There is no ultimatum. We agreed on many things and we came in with our own address, presented it; the ministers presented their cases. Mr. Acting President rounded it off and we saw in him the genuineness, truthfulness and forthrightness. He is a gentleman and we support him. We are satisfied. We did not use the word ‘ultimatum’. We only said we would withdraw. But we have agreed to work together.”


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
03 August, 2017

The False Narratives Of Ethnic Agitations And How To Stop Them By Osinbajo

*Calls on young people to organise, get involved in politics and make a difference for good.

“Very many poor people mean that there is a pool of individuals who have no stake in society and so it is our business to ensure that people have a stake in society”.

Remarks made by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, at the Institute for Security Studies Seminar Themed: Unity in Diversity, On August 2, 2017.

Protocol

Let me say how honoured I am first to share this platform today with General Yakubu Gowon who is rightly described as a living symbol of Nigerian unity. But I believe that his greatness lies in his policy of ‘no victor no vanquished’ when he began the process of healing a nation, bruised, damaged and embittered by a 3-year civil war.

There is no question at all that great leadership comes from some sort of self-sacrifice, great leadership comes from some sort of compassion. I want to thank General Yakubu Gowon for playing that role at a crucial moment in our history.

I am glad to see that he is here today, again to advise that we must not repeat the errors of the past. I must also commend the Institute of Security Studies for providing this important platform for reflection on the subject of the corporate existence of Nigeria and its diversities.

It is easy to take for granted the work that thought leaders such as the distinguished faculty here do. But we must remind ourselves that often the difference between tragedies of human conflict, hate and disunity is what is said and done or what is not said and done by those charged with thinking and planning for society in crucial times.

I believe it is the bounding duty of institutes like this to dispassionately interpret and apply sociological circumstances and especially history to present the choices and alternative pathways for our nation and its people.

For example, let us just take history; reading and hearing history is a much different experience from being a part of history. Both have their advantages and drawbacks.

The witnesses of the horrors of war will not wish it on their worst enemies, even recalling it may bring back the trauma of that period. The mental and physical scars of war are sometimes so deep that rational thoughts on the subject is impinged.

On the other hand, those who only read or heard history may have the advantage of approaching life without the bitterness and burdens of history, but they are often so far removed that they tend to minimise or even dismiss the ramifications of history.

My wife turned 50 last month and I had to say to her that any one of her age was born in the year the civil war began and that such persons including those who are under 40 are probably largely responsible for many of the inflammatory statements that we are hearing today stoking up war.

As you can imagine, I endangered my dinner that evening! But I think that it is true that the farther away one is from the horrors and deprivations of war, the less impact it has on one’s thoughts, one’s motivations and one’s worldview.

We must not allow dangerous amnesia that leads nations unwittingly to the fatal repetition of tragic errors.

Permit me to share a few thoughts, some of which emerged from my interactions with the thought leaders from the Southeast and the North in the wake of secessionist threats by some youth groups in the Southeast of Nigeria and the ultimatum issued by some youth groups in the North.

I want to look at what I describe as false narratives; the first false narrative is that we often say countries formed the way ours was formed are doomed to fail. In other words, countries formed without a deliberate agreement of people to come together are bound to fail. This is what some people have said, that Nigeria is a mere geographical expression and for that reason it is not likely to succeed as a united whole.

But those who say so do not know that even the expression, mere geographical expression used in relation to a country was not first used in relation to Nigeria. As a matter of the fact, it was the German statesman Klemens von Metternich who used this same expression for Italy. He simply summed up Italy as a mere geographical expression exactly a century before Nigeria was born. Italy is still a mere geographical expression but still a nation.

So we must not be misled by those in some pseudo-intellectual way suggest to us that the mere fact that we did not deliberately one day hold a conference to come together means that we should not or cannot stay together. Indeed we can.

Most countries of the world came together by some accident of history, one way or the other, many were put together, many were forced together, but the wise have stayed together, the wise have remained united.

The second false narrative is that one particular ethnic or religious group is more responsible for the Nigerian problems than the other, or for that matter that one is superior to the other.

My experience is exactly the opposite. As a matter of fact, I have found and I have repeated this several times that whenever you look at a charge sheet, that is a sheet where people have been charged with an offence especially those who have served one way or the other in the Federal Government of Nigeria, charged with stealing or corruption, you will never find one ethnic group alone represented. You will always find an equal representation of the ethnic groups. There is complete unity in this business of stealing.

You will also not find one religious group, you will find that there is nobody arguing about religion when it comes to these matters.

The truth of the matter is that where we have won, it is where we have not paid attention to religious or ethnic differences; our football teams - because we want to win we do not ask ourselves questions about whether the people are from one side of the country or from another or whether they are Moslems or Christians or whether they do not believe in God at all.

All we are interested in is just the score, just win. I want to say that that is exactly where we should be as a nation today. We should just be telling ourselves – just win, just score, it does not matter where you are from so long as you are in government or wherever you are, just win for this nation and we do not want to ask questions of where you are from.

Another false narrative is that we are better off when persons from our own ethnic group are in charge, that we are better off. The experience of history and our experience is of course the exact opposite of that, as a matter of fact, what history has shown us, what the facts have shown us is that no ethnic group has necessarily been better off either economically or even socially merely because a member of its ethnic group was the leader of this country at that time. There is no fact to support that whatsoever and that is how it has always been.

The fifth narrative which I want us to look at and which I also believe is false is that those who make discharges of marginalisation are altruistic. Those who say my ethnic group has been marginalised, my religious group has been marginalised, that they say so for altruistic reasons or altruistic purposes. I want to say that is not necessarily the case. As a matter of fact, most times when people say for instance that the Southwest has been marginalised, what they are saying is I have been marginalised, appoint me because I am from the Southwest. That is simply what it is.

Whenever people make this charges of marginalisation, it is usually self-serving.

I sat with the President once when two members of the National Assembly came to him and said that, we, referring to states in the North have been marginalised. They went on to explain why; they mentioned some states had no senior ministers, one of them said “Kaduna had no senior minister, the only minister is the minister of state”, he mentioned also “Sokoto had no senior minister even Katsina, your own state Mr. President has no senior minister. All of the ministers are ministers of state”. Then he mentioned another group and he said, all these people have senior ministers, some groups in the South have senior ministers.

The President as you can imagine reflected for a moment but before he answered, I answered. I said the truth of the matter is that there was no consideration at the time that these appointments were made about whether or not we wanted to appoint a senior minister from this side or the other or from that side or the other. And that is why you find that many including the President’s own state does not have a senior minister.

The distinguished members were not very happy with my contribution but the truth of the matter is, if you look at any group, if you look at any particular situation, you can bring up a narrative that will satisfy your own particular idea or whatever it is that you believe. You can bring up that narrative.

A group of people came up to me once and said “this Cabinet is full of Moslems. You are a pastor surely you should be taking care of the Christian community”.

When we looked at the names and religions of these people, we found out that there were two more Christians than Moslems in the Cabinet. We now have one more Christian than Moslems in the Cabinet.

But you see, the part of it that even bothered me is that even the Christians, many of them as you can imagine, and I am not even so sure whether or not, what their faith is, on both sides, there are Moslems, I am not so sure what their faith is, there are Christians, I am not even so sure what their faith is, some are not even committed.

But the impression is that, the moment a person is appointed, it is almost as if these are militants for their religion. Many of them do not even subscribe fully to their faiths in any way.

The sixth narrative is that hate speech is freedom of expression and that we should allow it. I want to say to you that that is the biggest mistake that can ever be made by any group of people.

Every major catastrophic human conflict has begun by hate or extremist ideology especially hate speech, in particular every genocide in human history has been preceded by hate speech and it is promoted by the media sometimes and promoted by public discourse. But always hate speech precedes genocide and some of the greatest tragedies in human history.

Our situation is worse now with social media; instant communication of any type of news, most of it false, most of it divisive, most of it dangerous. We must do something about hate speech, we must control hate speech and we must insist that it is not acceptable at public discourse of any type whether it be on radio or social media. We cannot allow the promotion of hate speech.

The ICC, International Criminal Court had reason to sentence several persons, owners of media to long terms of imprisonment over the Rwandan genocide. Because many radio stations promoted hate speech and the promotion of hate speech led to the killing of about a million Rwandees in April of 1994.

We must refuse and we must refuse a hearing for those who perpetuate this sorts of hate speech and ideology.

The last narrative I want to look at is that we are better apart than together. Of course that is not so and I think that was so eloquently presented by the DG, DSS when he made that quotation when he was talking about different parts of our country having their strengths, that each one of them can survive as an individual nation but none of them can compare to Nigeria in any way.

None of them would be more viable, none of them can be as successful as a country such as this coming together.

The other day at the AU, I was listening to some of the comments from several African leaders and I was whispering to the gentleman next to me that Rwanda is one of those countries that is celebrated for good governance, celebrated for a few things and even its economy.

But when you compare the entire Rwanda economy, you will find that Lagos’ economy is six times bigger and Lagos is just one state of out 36 states.

That is exactly what is repeated everywhere you go, the truth of the matter is that by our sheer size, our markets, our combined resources, this country is much more greater and its potential is even far greater than the potential of most countries anywhere in the world, not just in Africa.

We owe ourselves a duty to present that narrative correctly.

What must we do? I think first of all we must ensure and I am speaking not just to leaders but to all of us, that we must ensure that there is respect for each other, we must respect the views of each other.

In conversation, in interaction, we must show respect for each other. We must respect each other’s religions, we must respect each other’s views. The language of interaction and exchange must be civil. We must not permit a situation where people talk anyhow. Whether they are leaders or elders, we must not tolerate a situation where people are allowed to speak in any manner that they desire.

There must be a way of speaking properly, we cannot allow people to just speak in any way that they want.

The assurance of protection of lives and property is a very crucial one. We have no choice especially as government to assure every Nigerian of the protection of their lives and property. This is something the President said not just in the early days of the government but even in more recent times. That as far as he was concerned, the first duty of government is ensuring security of lives and property, ensuring that each and every Nigerian is confident that wherever he lives, he will be protected.

It is a difficult duty and task governing a country and ensuring security and safety for a country of 170million people. But because that is the challenge that the President has thrown, we are working on all of the agencies of government, the police, the security services, the armed forces to ensure that not only do they understand that that is the first and primary duty of government but that they are given the capacity to implement that duty and to perform that duty properly.

The second is that we must approach social justice seriously, our compact with the Nigerian people especially leadership at all levels. Poverty is a ready recipe for all manners of social problems.

Very many poor people mean that there is a pool of individuals who have no stake in society and so it is our business to ensure that people have a stake in society.

I remember during the campaign when the President will point at the many hundreds of thousands of people pressing their faces against the buses we were travelling in all over. And more than once he said to me, look at the faces of these people. He said what they expect is that by the second day when we take office, we must solve all their problems. I said to him, that is what they expect of you not me! (General laughter)

But I think that we have a duty to ensure that we deal seriously with issues of poverty and social justice. That is why for the first time in the history of this country, when we were thinking through budgeting, we looked at the questions of social interventions and the social investment programmes.

The total outlay for social investment in the 2016 budget and in the current budget is N500 billion. The largest single item in the budget. I think this is significant because we believe that government’s duty is to ensure that there is social justice and that we deal with poverty. The social investment programme is not a poverty alleviation programme, no, it is an empowerment programme to ensure that those who are poor and vulnerable are given a real chance at earning an income for themselves.

That is really the underlying philosophy behind our social intervention programmes.

The other point is controlling and dealing with corruption and the impunity that attends it. Corruption is possibly the worst evil that this country has experienced or will experience. Because it definitely is the major reason why this country is set back economically. There is no other single reason, the single reason is corruption because this country has resources and not just material resources but human resources in abundance.

The fact that someone cornered the resources for themselves is what accounts for where we are today economically. I think that we understand it for what it is. Many times people find excuses of every kind to excuse corruption and it is so for religious leaders, political leaders who look for all sorts of reasons to justify corruption. Someone is taken to court and they say the reason he is taken to court is because he belongs to another political party. Why don’t we ask the question, did he steal? If he did, then he should be in court anyway, there must be justice. That is the first question we must ask.

We should not look for excuses for people who make our future impossible. Part of the reason other countries of the world hold their leaders to account, and if you look at other countries of the world today, Brazil recently sent a past leader to jail, Thailand, Israel, any one of these countries hold their leaders to account.

They do not allow anybody to hide under any excuse, and if you look at the reasons today why so many are poor and have no resources, it is because some people chose to corner all of it and we cannot afford to do it.

So it is our duty as a people to stand against corruption and to say that it will not stand. Anyone who is corrupt should be held to account.

And we should compel our government to ensure that that is done.

And lastly we must actively promote the narratives that promote unity especially young people. And I think that it is so important that young people promote these narratives.

I was glad to hear General Gowon speaking directly to young people and I think that when you look at it even in the days when the civil war was fought, those who fought the civil war like General Gowon, Odumegwu Ojukwu at the time, were all very very young people, I believe General Gowon was about 34years at the time and Diette Spiff who was Governor of the whole of Rivers and Bayelsa was 23 years old.

I am sure that most of the young men who are here are probably older than that. Most of them were under 35 years old at the time.

So the destinies of a country lies especially and essentially our own country where 2/3 of people in our country are young, the destiny of these country lies with the young people. Sometimes when I hear young people being described as leaders of the future I just wonder because the future is already here, there is no question at all that you are the leaders today and let me just say to you young people that nobody is going to stand aside and say now is time for young people to take over, no. Young people simply take over, you simply organize and you do what you need to do to take over politically, you must be directly involved in the politics of your country , you must be directly involved in all of those issues in your country that will make a difference.

If people stand aside and say one day we would be brought in, you may really need to wait for a very long time.

We cannot turn back the hand of the clock or correct the past, but we have the power under God to determine what our future should be like, our nation has proved the paradox that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, we are greater together than apart.
Thank you very much.



RELEASED BY:
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
02 August, 2017

The Welfare Of Nigerians Is At The Core Of Our Policies-Osinbajo

*Seeks greater synergy between FG and state governments in delivering democracy dividends

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has assured Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government will surely deliver on its promises to Nigerians despite numerous challenges facing the economy and the country.

Speaking earlier today in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state, at conclusion of a Federal Government- Progressives Governors' Forum parley, Prof. Osinbajo urged state governors elected on the platform of the APC to make extra efforts to deliver on the promises made to Nigerians in 2015.

According to the Acting President, "the ideological difference that we represent is that we are committed to an economic policy that has at its core the welfare and happiness of Nigerians’’.

He said, "the people have not lost faith in us, they understand that the task of clearing decades of debris will take time but we must also jointly keep faith with them."

"The people expect us to deliver on all of what we have promised. They expect a better life, we have assured them of a better life, and I can say for all of us who are present here, all of us in the progressive forum, that we will deliver a better life to the people of Nigeria.’’

He however emphasized the need for a stronger collaboration between the Federal and States governments noting that "ultimately, the success of efforts to bring about synergy in Federal and State Government policies would depend on both sides meeting their commitments.’’

According to him, "just as the FG is committed and has taken visible steps in meeting its obligations and make refunds on debts owed to states, it’s imperative for states to play its own parts. There are two obvious elements here.’’

Prof. Osinbajo further explained that "when the Federal Government provides relief resources, the resources are used for the agreed purposes. The second is to implement agreements that have been reached in specific sectoral contexts. For instance, states must continue to work toward implementing their parts of the fiscal sustainability plan in order to improve their individual fiscal situations which impacts on the national fiscal picture.’’

The Acting President then identified key areas of collaboration between the Federal and State governments as including "scaling up Internally Generated Revenue and innovative thinking,’’ emphasizing that "states especially those led by APC governors must think out of the box in delivering service to the people including in areas where their efforts can complement the Federal Government programmes’’.

Prof. Osinbajo thereafter proceeded to Argungu where he commissioned the multi-billion rice mill stating that "the way to go is to energize agriculture and lift Nigerians to new levels of productivity.’’

He said: "the commissioning of the rice mill in Argungu is proof of growth in agriculture with thousands of job creation, noting that "the growth and development witnessed in the agricultural sector differ from the jobless growth of the past.’’

The Acting President also attended an exhibition of agricultural products and farm inputs in Argungu before returning to Abuja.



Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
01 August 2017

Ref: No. PPR/OSAGF/PR/03​​​​​​
1st August, 2017

His Excellency, the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has approved the underlisted appointments in Federal Government Agencies.

A.​ Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission:
​(i)​ Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye​​-​ Chairman
​(ii)​ Dr. Grace N. Chinda​​​-​ Member
​(iii)​ Okolo Titus M.​​​​-​ Member
​(iv)​ Barr. Obiora Igwedebia​​-​ Member
​(v)​ Mrs. Olubukola Balogun​​-​ Member
​(vi)​ Group Captain Sam Ewang (Rtd.)- ​Member
​(vii)​ Justice Adamu Bello​​​-​ Member
​(viii)​ Hannatu Mohammed​​​-​ Member
​(ix)​ Abdullahi Maikano Saidu​​-​ Member
​(x)​ Dr. Sa’ad Alanamu​​​-​ Member
​(xi)​ Yahaya Umar Dauda​​​-​ Member
​(xii)​ Khamis Ahmed Mailantarki​-​ Member
​(xiii)​ Maimuna Aliyu​​​-​ Member
​(xiv)​ Prof. Musa Usman Abubakar​​-​ Secretary

The appointment of the Chairman is for 5 years, while the tenure for all the members is 4 years. Also, these appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

B.​ National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission:
(i)​ Ekpo Nta, Esq​​​​​-​ Full-time Commissioner
​(ii)​ Alhaji Dauda Yahaya, mni​​​-​ Full-time Commissioner​
​(iii)​ Hon. Garba Musa Gulma​​​-​ Full-time Commissioner
​(iv)​ Barr. Victoria Nnenna Chukwuani​​-​ Part-time Commissioner
​(v)​ Mr. Geoffery Yeilong​​​​-​ Part-time Commissioner
​(vi)​ Prof. Ropo Shekoni​​​​-​ Part-time Commissioner
​(vii)​ Ahmed Mahmud Gumel​​​-​ Part-time Commissioner
​(viii)​ Permanent Secretary, (Estab.) OHCSF​​​​-​ Member
​(ix)​ Permanent Secretary, Fed. Min. of Labour & Prod.​​​-​ Member
​(x)​ Comrade Isa Aremu (NLC)​​​-​ Member
​(xi)​ Mr. Chuma Nwankwo (NECA)​​-​ Member

The new appointments are for a period of 5 years. The Chairman of the Commission is High Chief Richard Egbule, while Mr. E. A. Thompson is the Secretary. Both were appointed in August 2014.

C.​ Investment And Security Tribunal:
(i)​ Siaka Isaiah Idoko​​-​ Chairman/CEO
(ii)​ Jude I. Udunni​​​-​ Full-time Member
(iii)​ Mr. Nosa Osemwengie​-​ Full-time Member
(iv)​ Abubakar A. Ahmad​​-​ Full-time Member
(v) ​Albert L. Otesile​​-​ Full-time Member
(vi)​ Emeka Madubuike​​-​ Part-time Member
(vii)​ Kasumi Garba Kurfi​​-​ Part-time Member
(viii)​ Edward O. Ajayi​​-​ Part-time Member
(ix)​ Onyemaechi E. M. Elujekor​-​ Part-time Member
(x)​ Mamman Bukar Zargana​-​ Part-time Member

D.​ Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission:
(i)​ Engr. Chidi K. C. Izuwah​-​ Director-General

This appointment is also subject to Senate confirmation.

E.​ In another development, the Acting President, with powers conferred on the President by Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act Cap R4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 has approved the setting up of a Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property. The Chairman of the Panel is Chief Okoi Obona-Obla, Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution. Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran is the Secretary to the Panel.


(Signed)
Bolaji Adebiyi
Director (Press)
Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Mrs Maryam Uwais also gave an address at the Federal Government Progressive Governors Forum.

"Our Social Investment Programme is tied to the Bank Verification Number, to ensure transparency & promote financial inclusion.

Government Enterprise & Empowerment Programme (GEEP)—Collateral-free Loans to cooperative societies. No interest, only a 5% administrative fee. Managed by Bank Of Industry (BOI).

Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT)—stipends to poorest Nigerians, based on Social Register compiled with the support of World Bank. 70,000 are already being paid.

Homegrown School Feeding Programme (HSFP) - provides one free meal to Primary School children daily.

The food for the Homegrown School Feeding Programme is supplied by local farmers within the benefiting communities, and prepared by local cooks.

In one State a bank was colluding with Government officials to shortchange the School Feeding Programme. Kids were being fed biscuits. We have reported to the Government. We found that the bank was paying the cooks only half the funds, and sharing the other half with Government officials. One woman came with a Ghana Must Go bag to collect N10,000 CCT stipend. Said she had no idea how much it was because she had never seen that much money in her life."

Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo took the podium for his Speech at the Federal Government Progressive Governors Forum happening in Kebbi State today.

"The National Social Investment Programme is more than a Poverty Alleviation Programme. It is the largest single provision in our budget, and one of the five (5) Pillars of our National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERGP). Our greatest resource is not Oil, but the talent and can-do spirit of Nigerians.

Acting President speaks of "A future where we truly grow what we eat, and where we are able to add value to our products before export." He recalls the launch of the Anchor Borrowers Programme by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015, in Kebbi. Today more than 400,000 farmers in Kebbi have benefited.

No doubt, Boko Haram has been degraded as a military force. The major task for us now is to ensure we are able to stop suicide bombings and kidnappings. We are no longer importing grain to feed displaced people in the Northeast. We are now buying and using our own grain. We are no longer importing grain to feed displaced people in the Northeast. We are now buying and using our own grain. We have ensured our farmers are the major beneficiaries of our School Feeding programme".

Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo continued by speaking on the Bama Initiative.

"We are doing this to demonstrate that we are capable of rehabilitating our own people,and rebuilding our own cities. We have introduced transparency to the management of the Federation Account, ensuring that all monies due are remitted. A previous administration ,earning more than $100/bbl, did not pay Paris Club Refunds, or Cash Calls. This government, earning 60% less revenue, is doing everything.

President Muhammad Buhari - PMB has always insisted that Federation Account must be transparent, and all books open. I am sure the Governors agree we have done our best. The future belongs to the progressive tendencies in our polity. Our victory in the 2015 elections was not a fluke. Our people understand that the task of clearing decades of debris will take time. But we must also keep faith with them, and deliver."

Insurgency & Its Humanitarian Fallout:

Nigeria, Lake Chad Basin Neighbours Working Together, Says Osinbajo

*Acting President receives African Union’s Peace & Security Council in Abuja

Countries in the Lake Chad Basin have worked together very well dealing with the terrorist insurgency in the region and the consequent humanitarian crisis, according to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo spoke earlier today while receiving a delegation from the African Union Peace and Security Council which has been visiting countries in the region on a fact-finding mission on the crisis as part of its mandate.

“The Lake Chad Basin collaboration is one we are extremely proud of, where we as Africans are working together on our own issues. I am pleased to say the countries have worked greatly together,” the Acting President said.

He cited the progress of the Multi-National Joint Task Force set up to address the terrorist insurgency. Osinbajo noted that unlike in the past when there were difficulties when the militaries of the 4 countries tried to work together, the MNJTF surmounted the challenges and has succeeded.

According to him, the Buhari administration is “extremely pleased with what we have seen, and we like to see more,” of such cooperation.

However he observed that the humanitarian consequences of the insurgency are compounded by deep poverty, making the costs of dealing with the situation “huge and enormous.”

He recalled that there are for instance about 2.4m displaced persons, extensive destruction of property, infrastructure, schools, homes and farmland. In some cases, he said, the situation required the “rebuilding of whole societies.”

But he expressed satisfaction with the work of the Peace and Security Council of the AU. “I am extremely pleased and encouraged by the work of the PSC, the time and attention paid to this issue. These are matters we must address now and in the future.”

The PSC delegation was led by its Chairperson for the month of July, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, who is also Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and to the AU.

In his remarks, he told the Acting President that the PSC delegation have been visiting the 4 countries in the Lake Chad Basin in the past 5 weeks, and have specifically visited 7 cities in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

“This visit is the high point of our mission,” Adeoye stated adding that Nigeria’s commitment to peace in Africa has been well demonstrated.

The PSC of the African Union is the standing organ of the Union for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. Membership of the 15 member-council are drawn -three each- from Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Africa.



Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Acting President
31 July 2017

Fashola Unveils Fg’s Plan For Roads, Bridges Nationwide

· Truce attained as Minister says he never intended to disparage the Parliament.

· “I can assure the Honourable Minister that the National Assembly will give him every support needed for him to succeed in his current job”, says Chairman of Reps Investigative Committee.

· As Fashola highlights FG’s plans for 44 Federal Highways in 2017 Budget, 63 roads for emergency intervention, 2017 component of three-year revolving plan for Road and Bridge Network, for 2017 – 2019.

With the Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, clarifying that he never attacked the National Assembly as a body and the Chairman House Investigative Committee on Breach of Privilege, Violation of Appropriation Act and Incitement of the Nigerian Public, pledging the support of the House to the Minister to succeed in his assignment, a truce was Friday reached between the House and the Minister on the disagreement over the outcome of the 2017 Budget.

The Committee had invited the Minister over the statement credited to him with regards to the alterations in the Ministry’s 2017 Budget, requesting that he clarified his pronouncement at an interview he granted soon after the passing of the budget which the House viewed as having “queried the power of the National Assembly to alter the 2017 budget proposal after the budget defence exercise”

In his presentation before the Committee, which also included detailed maps, letters from contractors and the Budget related documents on the Federal Government’s plans and priorities for roads nationwide, Fashola, who said he never referred to the Legislators as a whole with regards to the knowledge of the budget process, said his response was specifically to the Spokesperson of the House who accused him of being “untruthful” in a Press Statement.

The Minister also pointed out that the interview he gave to a media platform which prompted the investigation was an expression of his concern about the state and pace of development of the country's infrastructure and the consequences they have on the quality of life and expectations of Nigerians.

“Mr Chairman, Hon. Members thank you very much. Let me say once again that my response hopefully has shed some light on the way matters have transpired about what led to what. As I have said here, it was not my intention to disparage the Parliament. It was my intention to speak about development as a continuing matter and if my statement had caused any discomfort beyond what I intended I certainly apologize for that. And I’ve made that very clear before that I’m not fighting the Parliament,” he said.

In his response while rounding off the proceedings, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki, expressed delight that the disagreement had been amicably resolved promising that henceforth the relationship between the National Assembly and the Minister would be much better than hitherto.

The Chairman, who described the Minister as a Senior Citizen, declared, “I am sure that from now going forth the relationship between not just the House of Representatives but the National Assembly and the Honourable Minister will be much better than we were having it before this sitting”.

Pledging that the National assembly would give him every assistance needed for him to succeed in his current assignment, the Chairman added, “Like I alluded, whenever I am talking to other people and his name comes up, I use to say ‘Mr. Prime Minister’ because of the volume of job God has placed on his table”, expressing confidence that the Minister would excel in his assignment on “not just Lagos-Ibadan, not just the Second Niger Bridge, but including Kano-Maiduguri, Kano-Abuja and all other roads”.

The Minister, had in the course of the proceedings while responding to issues specifically slated for clarification like the status of reconstruction work and budgetary provision for Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Abuja-Kano Expressway in 2016 and 2017 as well as status of 2nd Niger, reiterated the Federal Government’s established plans to build road and bridge network across the country as well as the order of priorities in which they would be built through a revolving plan in the next three years 2017- 2019.

Fashola reiterated that the intention was to connect states, drive economy, move fuel, food and import and export of goods.

The Minister said in addition to the plan for 44 Federal Highways construction contained in the 2017 Budget, government has also identified 63 roads in the First Quarter of the year that were identified and prepared for emergency intervention across the country ahead of the rainy season to give relief to Nigerians subject to appropriation.

According to the Minister, the 63 roads were identified and prepared for intervention during the inspection tour of roads in 34 states of the Federation by the Ministry which he personally led.

He said for the purpose of effective implementation, the Federal Government has classified the roads into Critical Economic Routes and Agricultural routes to include all roads traversing geopolitical zones, advancing trade and commerce across the states and leading to the ports as well as those passing through agricultural areas across the country.

Noting that the road projects are spread out in such a way that no zone has been left out, Fashola listed the proposed priority highway projects slated in the 2017 Budget to include Kano-Katsina Road (Phase 1: Kano Town at Dawanau Roundabout to Katsina State Border), Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Yauri Road, Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani Road, Ilorin-Kabba-Obajana Road (Sections 1&11), Ibadan-Ilorin Road, Section11 (Oyo-Ogbomosho), Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan Dual Carriageway, Sections 1&11 and Lagos-Otta Road.

Also included are Apapa/Tincan Port, NNPC Depot (Atlas Cove) to Mile 2 Accessd Road, Apapa-Oshodi Road, Third Mainland Bridge, Apapa/Tincan Island Port-NNPC Depot Access Road, Benin-Ofosu-Ore Ajebandele-Shagamu Road, Obajana Junction-Benin Road Phase 2: (Sections i-iv), Sapele-Ewu Road Sections 1&11, Second Niger Bridge, Onitsha-Enugu Expressway (Amansea-Enugu State Border), Yenegoa Road Junction-Kolo-Otueke-Bayelsa Palm and Bodo-Bonny Road with Bridge.

Others are Odukpani-Itu-(Spur Ididep-Itam)-Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway Sections 1&11, Ikom Bridge, Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway Sections i-iv, Calabar-Ugep-Katsina Ala Road, Vandeikya-Obudu-Obudu Cattle Ranch Road, Oshegbudu-Oweto Road, Oju/Loko-Oweto Bridge with approach roads, Nassarawa-Loko Road, Abuja-Lokoja Road Sections i&iv, Suleja-Minna Road Section 11. Kaduna Eastern Bypass, Kano-Maiduguri Road Section 1-1V, Hadejia-Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road and Kano Western Bypass.

Those listed as critical economic routes include Zaria-Kano Road, Abuja-Lokoja Road (Sections i-iv), Ilorin-Jebba-Bokani Road, Ibadan-Ilorin Road (Sections `1&11), Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan Road (Sections1&11), Benin-Ofosu-Ore-Ajebandele-Shagamu Road and Obajana-Benin Road (Sections i-iv).

Also in the list are Onitsha-Enugu Road (Section 1&11), Enugu-Port Harcourt Road (Sections i-iv), Calabar-Odukpani-Itu Road (Section1), Calabar-Ugep-Katsina Ala Road (Sections 1&11), Alesi-Ugup (Iyamoyung-Ugup) Road, Ogoja(Mbok Junction) Abuochichie Road, Otukpo Township Road, Kano-Maiduguri Road(Sections i-v), Kaduna-Zaria Road and Kaduna-Katsina Road.

According to the Minister, roads that pass through agricultural areas across the country include Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kontangora-Makera Road (Sections 1&11), Makurdi-Naka-Ndoka-Ankpa Road, Akure-Ondo-Ore Road and Benin-Sapele Highway. Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria-Iyanomo Road.

Others are 9th Mile-Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, Abakaliki-Afikpo Road Sections 1&11, and 9th Mile-Oturkpo-Makurdi Road, Ogboko (Yandev Junction)-Katsina Ala (Ugbema Junction) Road, Wukari-Mutum Biyu-Jalingo-Numan Road, Section1, Numan Jalingo Road, Gombe-Numan Road, Maiduguri-Dutse and Kano-Zaria Road.

The 63 roads slated for emergency interventions, which cut across the six geopolitical zones of North East, North West, North Central, South West, South East and South South, include construction of bridge at KM 32 along Billiri Filiya in Taraba and the repair of Billiri-Filliya Road in Gombe, Potiskum-Agalda-Gombe State Border (S/B) and Potiskum-Kari-Bauchi S/B Road in Yobe State.

Also included in the list are Tella Road and Bridge 2 Abutment and Apawa-Junction-Zing-Adamawa (State Border) in Taraba State, Bauch-Darazo-Kari Road in Bauchi State, Numan-Lafia-Gombe State Border Road, Numan-Jalingo Road, Numan-Guyuk (Borno State Border) and Ngurore-Mayobelwa Road in Adamawa State, all in the North East.

In the North West, roads listed for emergency repairs include Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna, Kebbi-Argungu-Sokoto (State Border) Road in Kebbi State, Gusau-Chafe-Katsina Road in Zamfara, Rimawa-Sabonbirnin-Niger Republic Road (Section 1), Rimawa-Sabonbirnin-Niger Republic Road (Section 2) and bridge embankment in Sokoto State, Gumel-Mallam Madori-Hadeija Road, Birnin Kudu and Babaldu-Malumuwa-Bauchi S/B Road, among others in Jigawa,Yayasa Bridge in Kano and Dusinma-Kankara Road in Katsina State.

Makurdi-Lafia Road and Makurdi-Gboko Road in Benue, Okene-Kabba Road and Kabba-Omuo Road in Kogi, Ajase-Offa-Erinle-Osun State Boundary Road in Kwara, Keffi Abuja Road and Keffi-Gittata-Kaduna S/b Road, Nassarawa-Toto-Abaji Road in Nassarawa and Jebba-Mokwa Road, Bida-Lapal-Lambata Road and Makera-Tegina Road in Niger State are listed for repairs in the North Central.

In the South West, roads listed for repairs include Ibillo-Isu-Epinmi-Akungba Road and Owo-Akure Road in Ondo, Ilesa-Ijebu-Ijesa Road, Ijebu-Ijesa-Ekiti S/B and Ibadan-Ile-Ife-Ilesa Road, Osun S/B-Ilesa in Osun, Ibadan-Ile-Ife-Ilesa Road in Oyo, Ijebu-Ode-Epe-Ibadan Road in Ogun and Ikorodu-Shagamu in Lagos,while in the South East, Abakaliki-Oferekpe Road in Ebonyi, Nsukka-Adani-Anambra S/B Road in Enugu State, Umuokpor section of Ikot Ekpene-Aba Road in Abia and Ihiala-Orlu-Umuduru Road, Owerri-Okigwe, among others make the list in the South East.

Roads that make the list in the South-South include Ikot Ekpene-Ikot Umoessien-Abia S/B Road in Akwa Ibom, Ebiama-Yenegoa Road in Bayelsa, Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo-Ose Bridge Road and Benin-Ofosu-Shagamu Road in Edo, Ebouchichie-Gakem Road in Cross River, Benin-Asaba Dual Carriageway, Asaba-Illa-Ebu-Edo S/B Road, Igbodo, Benin- Asaba Expressway and Warrri-Sapele-Edo S/b Road in Delta State among others.

Over 45 bridges, according to the list, are slated for rehabilitation over the next three years. They include two bridges along Sokoto-Gusau Road, Murtala Mohammed Bridge, Koton Karfe, River Ebba to Cheche Bridge, Jebba Bridge, 3rd Mainland Bridge, nine Lagos Bridges and flyovers, Lagos Ring Road Bridge Abutment, Ijora 7-Up Bridge, Ijora-Apapa Bridge by Leventis and burnt Marine Bridge.

They also include Utor Bridge, Niger Bridge at Onitsha/Asaba, Onitsha-Owerri Bridge, Ibagwa Bridge, Ikom Bridge, Itigidi, Makurdi Bridge, Quata Sule Bridge, Katsina Ala Bridge, Buruku Bridge, Abuja-Abaji Bridge Section 11, Loko Owotu Bridge, Ibi Bridge, Kudzum Bridge, Gombe-Michika-Maraba Bridge, Gamboru Bridge, Katanko Bridge, Jaji Bridge, Borno/Adamawa State Border Bridge, Falani Bridge, Sumaila, Flyover Bridge at Silver Jubilee and Tambuwal Bridge.

While noting that the Federal Character Commission through its Acting Chairman, Dr Shettima Bukur Abba at the 23rd National Council on Works in Abuja acknowledged that the priority given to projects across the country “are Federal character compliant and of benefit to all Nigerians” Fashola, however, expressed regrets that budgetary constraints would have a negative impact on such priority projects.

According to him , the two principal contractors working on sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Messrs Julius Berger and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) (Nig.) Limited, have given notice of suspension of work on the site due to delay in the payment of agreed contract fees on work already done, which they complained was adversely affecting the pace of work and could lead to default in meeting completion deadline.

According to the letter, which the Minister submitted to the Committee, written by RCC, which handles Section 11 (Shagamu-Ibadan) of the contract, “In view of the irregular payment and the attendant cash flow problem, we shall be constrained to suspend further execution of work unless there is an appreciable improvement in the Project’s cash flow and adequate funding arrangement is put in place for further works”. The letter, dated June 2, 2017, was signed the Managing Director, Mr. M. Nakhla.

A similar letter to the Minister received at the Ministry on June 5, 2017, Julius Berger, which handles Section 1 (Lagos-Shagamu Dual Carriageway), wrote, “Honourable Minister, it has become evident that the required adequate funding for the continuation of the project is not available. We trust that you will understand that therefore and as a consequence of the unacceptable financial risk to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, we are left with no choice than to immediately commence suspension of the Works on the project, as earlier notified”. It was co-signed by the Division Manager, Mr. W. Loesser and the Commercial Division Manager, Mr. T. Meletschus.



HAKEEM BELLO
SPECIAL ADVISER,
COMMUNICATIONS
TO THE HON. MINISTER
29TH JULY, 2017

Terrorist Attacks In Borno:

We Are On Top Of The Situation, Acting President Assures Nigerians

*Orders continued search and rescue missions to free the abducted
* Commends the sacrifices of "extraordinarily selfless Nigerians" from the military, NNPC & University of Maiduguri
*Condoles families and relatives of those who lost lives

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, condemns the appalling ambush, attack and abduction of soldiers, and civilians who were carrying out their duties to the Nation in the Lake Chad Basin Frontier Exploration.

The objective of this patriotic exercise is to open up new areas for oil exploration for the common good of all Nigerians. The terrorist attack resulted in a number of deaths of hardworking and innocent Nigerians, and the abduction of some.

Prof. Osinbajo commiserates with the families, relatives and associates of those who lost their lives in the despicable onslaught and wishes the injured speedy recovery.

The Acting President after an emergency meeting with the Military chiefs on Thursday issued fresh directives to the Nigerian military and all security agencies to immediately scale-up their efforts and activities in Borno State in order to maintain a strong, effective control of the situation and secure lives and property.

While commending the military for the progress already recorded with the rescue of some of the abducted, Prof. Osinbajo has also ordered the continuation of search and rescue missions to locate and ensure the freedom of all remaining abducted persons as soon as possible, using all available and expedient means in the circumstances. He adds that justice would be pursued for the victims and against those who engage in this kind of unacceptable, criminal and terrorist conduct.

Acting President Osinbajo pays tribute to the resilience, courage and bravery of officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their gallant endeavours and sacrifices for the peace, security and territorial integrity of our country. He eulogises the Nigerian soldiers who have paid the ultimate price in this mission and others linked to the current insurgency, and gives a firm assurance that the welfare of the families of the soldiers will be prioritized.

He also commends the diligence of the management and staff of the NNPC, and the lecturers/consultants from the University of Maiduguri in pursuing Federal Government's resolve to grow our country's current crude oil reserve base through potential exploration in the Lake Chad Basin, stressing that the government will by no means be dissuaded.

He said : "some of these extraordinarily selfless Nigerians from the NNPC and the University Of Maiduguri put their lives on the line that we and generations to come will enjoy the resources of this land. We will never forget that sacrifice"

Although pockets of terrorists have been launching attacks recently in Borno State, the Acting President assures the people of the State, the region and indeed all Nigerians, that the FGN is not only on top of the situation, but will define the end of these atrocities by both winning the war and winning the peace in the North-east.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity
Office of the Acting President
30 July 2017
Boost post

Interior Minister Vow To Uproot Criminal Elements Torturing Commuters Along Abuja/Kaduna Road

·Visited affected communities in last week’s violence in Kajuru, Kaduna State.

Disturbed by the incessant cases of Kidnapping, and armed robberies along the Abuja/ Kaduna expressway and its environs, the Honourable Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau has assured residents of the affected communities and commuters of government’s will, capacity and determination to uproot all criminally minded persons unleashing mayhem on unsuspecting persons in the area and other parts of the Country.

This assurance was giving when he visited the joint Military/ Police operational base recently established at Rijana in Kaduna State, The Minister used the opportunity of his visit to engage the community members in an interactive session, during which he re-affirms government’s commitment to their safety and security while urging them to deepen their support and collaboration with Security forces by providing them with adequate information. The Minister also saluted the sacrifices and commitments of the troops and reassured them of their welfare, and provision of necessary logistics to enhance their operations.

The Honourable Minister later proceeded to the Kaduna State Government House where he deliberated with the State Governor on measures to tackle the security challenges, after which they both proceeded to Kajuru on fact-finding visit, following last week violence. They both commiserated with the people of Kajuru over the unfortunate crisis, and urged them to live in peace with each other as government will employ all measures within the law to forestall its reoccurrence, and to secure justice for the affected persons.


EHISIENMEN OSAIGBOVO
Press Secretary, to the Honourable Minister.
July 26, 2017

Buhari Administration Is An Enabler Of The Nigerian Private Sector, Says Osinbajo

*Acting President adds: Indorama’s success story a manifestation of Buhari’s vision for a truly private sector-driven economy.

"It is impossible for government to ever be able to provide all the capital needed to invest in infrastructure, or to catalyze economic activity. The best that we can do, and what we should be putting all our energy into, as government, is acting as a catalyst, an enabler, supporting private capital to achieve maximum impact in an economy that so desperately needs all the investment it can get.’’

"What Indorama is accomplishing today is very much in line with President Buhari’s vision for a country that produces what it consumes and grows what it eats.’’

Speech Delivered By The Acting President And Chairman, National Council On Privatisation, NCP, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, At The Formal Release Ceremony To Discharge Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, IEPL, From The Monitoring Programme Of BPE On July 27, 2017 At IEPL Complex, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Protocols

First, let me say how pleased I am to be here today. There are two events taking place here today: the first is the formal release ceremony to discharge Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, (IEPL), from the mandatory Monitoring Programme of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and the second is the commissioning of the Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Petrochemicals Plant.

Going back to the first event, you will recall that in 2006, 75% of Eleme Petrochemical Limited’s equity was sold to Indorama Consortium Ltd, the present Core Investor of the Company, for US$225million while 10% was sold to the NNPC Pension Fund for US$30million. Following this, the company was handed over to its new owners on October 26, 2006.

In 2009, the National Council on Privatization (NCP) graciously approved the sale of 7.5% and 2.5% of the remaining government's 15% reserved equity in the company to the community and staff of the company respectively, leaving a balance of 5% with the BPE on-behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN).

Following the 2006 handover, the BPE carried out routine monitoring on the enterprise to ensure that the core investor adhered to and implemented the post-acquisition plan it had laid out for the company.

Today is the culmination of that process of monitoring and oversight by the BPE. I am delighted that it is taking place on an inspiring and hopeful note, and that we are all here today celebrating a thriving and promising company. We should not take this state of affairs for granted.

The Buhari administration is unequivocally committed to the success of the private sector. This is why a lot of our focus has been on significantly improving the business environment for businesses, small and large.

Last year, President Buhari established a Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), whose results are now starting to be felt across the country. The kind of economic growth and prosperity that we’re aiming for cannot happen without private capital, and that private capital cannot be unlocked without reforming the business environment by removing obstacles and roadblocks to investment and to business operations.

We know for a fact that it is impossible for government to ever be able to provide all the capital needed to invest in infrastructure, or to catalyze economic activity. The best that we can do, and what we should be putting all our energy into, as government, is acting as a catalyst, an enabler, supporting private capital to achieve maximum impact in an economy that so desperately needs all the investment it can get.

And this is the entire point of the privatization programme in the first place – it is about getting government out of the way so that businesses can do what they need to do to create jobs and prosperity. I’m glad that we’re here today to see one of the success stories of the Federal Government’s privatisation programme.

What Indorama is accomplishing today is very much in line with President Buhari’s vision for a country that produces what it consumes and grows what it eats. If you had to sum up our vision for the Nigerian economy in a few words, these would suffice. Grow what we eat, produce what we consume.

At the end of last year, the President launched a Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, to ensure the availability of cheaper fertilizer to our farmers, to support what we’re doing in agriculture, in the production of rice and wheat and other staples.

That Fertilizer Initiative, now well underway, has created significant economic opportunities for companies like the IEPL. I have been informed that Indorama will this year alone supply about 360,000 MT of Urea to Fertilizer blenders, who will in turn produce NPK fertilizer for the benefit of farmers across the country. This is the kind of economic progress we’re after, in which every unlocked opportunity proceeds to unlock several others, across multiple sectors of the economy.

In equally exciting news, Indorama has now pushed ahead deeper into the value chain by going into fertilizer production. Their Fertilizer plant, commissioned today, is, I am told, is one of the largest in the world, designed to produce 1.5 mts of Urea fertilizer per annum, for the domestic and foreign markets.

We will continue to support Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited’s expansion ambitions. Our commitment to the privatization programme is equally assured, and we will continue to do everything to support investors to maximize the potential of their assets.

It is worthy of note that Indorama Eleme is not just a privatization success it also has the important component of part community ownership so that the local community and workers are stakeholders in this enterprise. This is good practice and a model for ownership of natural resource based industries in the future.

In conclusion, let me emphasise the need for IEPL to continue to cooperate and collaborate with the BPE. Indorama’s graduation from this Monitoring Programme shouldn’t be an excuse to depart from best practice, or from the operational discipline that comes with oversight.

And in the near future I expect that the Nigerian public will get a chance to partake in the fortunes of this company.

On this note, let me say a hearty congratulation to Indorama. It is now my pleasure to present the certificate of discharge to Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited. (Reads the content of the certificate before presenting to management of company).

I thank you all for your kind attention. God bless Indorama, God bless Rivers State, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.



Released by:
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
27 July 2017

Buhari's Administration in 20 Twitter Hashtags

Search on Twitter for updates on the various initiatives using the hashtags:

1. #IncrementalPower (Ongoing efforts to boost electricity generation and transmission)
2. #NPower (Npower Jobs/Employment programme)
3. #FECBrief #NECBrief (Press Briefings from the Federal Executive Council and the National Economic Council)
4. #NDNewVision (Our New Vision for the Niger Delta, bringing together Federal and State Governments, and Reps of Oil Producing Communities)
5. #MSMEClinics (Presidential Initiative to support and empower MSMEs)
6. #EaseBizNG (Highlights of our Ease of Doing Business reforms)
7. #SIPNGR (Our National Social Investment Programme, including Cash Transfers, Micro-credit, School Feeding)
8. #MadeInNigeria (Support for Made In Nigeria goods, including mandates for procurement by Government agencies)
9. #FGNExecOrders (Executive Orders issued by the Presidency; four so far)
10.#GovtAtWorkNG (General purpose hashtag, covering all the activities and successes of the Federal Government)
11.#SecureNE #RebuildNE (Work by military and law enforcement to secure the Northeast from Boko Haram, and by PCNeI to rebuild/restore the region)
12.#InvestNigeria (Highlights of Investment promotion efforts and successes)
13.#VAIDS #IDeclareDoYou (Tax Amnesty by the Ministry of Finance)
14.#YouWinConnect (Funding and Capacity Building for youth entrepreneurs)
15.#FMFWhistle (Our Whistleblowing Policy, aimed at promoting public sector transparency and accountability)
16.#PQBForum (Proceedings from Presidential Quarterly Business Forum)
17.#ZeroRejectNG (Federal initiative to ensure global acceptance of Nigeria's Agric produce)
18.#TaxThursday (Enlightenment campaign focusing on tax compliance for individuals and companies)
19.#RailUpNG (Rail development and upgrades)
20.#FGNSavingsBond (New savings bond, issued monthly)

Nigeria's Green Bond

The Government of Nigeria’s Green Bond initiative is a plan to issue N150 billion in green bonds: a pilot issue of N12.384 billion in the 3rd quarter of 2017, and the balance over the course of the budget year.

Collaboration between the Ministries of Environment and Finance is ongoing to pull together the institutional partners necessary to achieve what would be Nigeria and Africa’s first sovereign green bond, and the world’s 3rd.

Power Sector Updates

Power Sector Recovery Programme:
The Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) is a series of carefully thought-out policy actions, operational and financial interventions by the Federal Government, to attain financial viability of the power sector, and reset the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). Approved by the Federal Executive Council in March 2017, it includes a 701 billion Naira Payment Assurance Plan, which will enable the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) pay its obligations to GenCos who can in turn pay their gas suppliers, equipment suppliers, banks and other partners.

Business and Investment Opportunities:
Take advantage of the opportunities for private sector investors in Nigeria's power sector. One success-story-in-progress is the Azura Power Plant, a 450MW project under construction in Edo State. Stalled for more than 1 year prior to the emergence of the Buhari administration because of delays in obtaining the necessary Government approvals. The project finally reached financial close in January 2016, after President Buhari signed the necessary agreements required by the investors to raise funds. So far, construction of the IPP has created about 1,000 jobs. The project represents a total investment of close to US$1 billion.

Special Message from the Ministry of Finance

Amina Mohammed, Malala Yousafzai, ICAO Chief, Club de Madrid, visit Acting President

Acting President Osinbajo received courtesy visits from the Club de Madrid (delegation included two former African Presidents: Festus Mogae of Botswana & Cassa Muttem of Mauritus); the President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Nigerian Dr. O.B Aliu; Nobel Laureate and UN Messenger of Peace, Ms. Malala Yousafzai, and her team at the Malala Fund; and the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Mrs Amina Mohammed.

Highlights:

The Club de Madrid, whose membership includes former President Olusegun Obasanjo, presented to the Acting President a report of a workshop it conducted in Nigeria earlier this year, on "Preventing Violent Extremism in Nigeria: Effective Narratives and Messaging."

QUOTE: Acting President Osinbajo during the Malala Visit: “Getting people to enroll in school is the easier part of the problem. The bigger one is to ensure that we don’t promote the mindset that girls are in anyway inferior."

Nigeria will host the International World Aviation Forum in Abuja in November 2017.

DSG Amina Mohammed spoke to the Presidency Office of Digital Engagement after her meeting with the Acting President.

National Economic Council (NEC) meets in Abuja - July 20, 2017

The National Economic Council, statutorily chaired by the Vice President, meets once a month, bringing together the 36 State Governors, Minister of Finance, Central Bank Governor and other senior Federal Government officials. The latest meeting held on Thursday July 20, 2017, at the State House, Abuja.

Highlights of the Meeting:

1. Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, and the Secretary to the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Dr. Jumoke Oduwole disclosed that Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be ranked on an assessment of the ease of doing business within each State for the period 2014-2018, by the World Bank. The subnational process cycle which has already begun will culminate in the release of the report and rankings in the first half of 2018. The Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) will be providing support to the state governments as they implement their priority reforms.

2. Update on the status of the 3 Special Accounts maintained on behalf of the Federal, State and Local Governments:
*Stabilisation Fund ('Rainy Day' savings) 0.5% of the Federation Account): Balance of 2.553 billion Naira as at July 19, 2017
*Natural Resources Fund (Established to support funding and development of Agriculture, Water Resources and Mining; 1.68% of Federation Account): Balance of 77.922 billion Naira as at July 19, 2017
*Ecological Fund (Intervention facility established to address the ecological problems ravaging communities across the country; 2% of the Federation Account): Balance of 27.466 billion Naira as at July 19, 2017.

3. Update on the status of the Excess Crude Account (July 19, 2017): Current balance of USD 2.303 billion

4. The Governor of Gombe State presented an Interim report to the Council on the Forensic Audit of Revenue Accrued from Revenue Generating Agencies (RGAs) into Federation Account (FA), Excess Crude Account (ECA) and Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). The Council is now awaiting the final report.

5. The Ad-hoc Committee on the review of the Ecological Fund, set up by the Council in April 2017, and led by the Governor of Kaduna State submitted its report to Council, recommending among other things a robust governance structure and a stringent disbursement criteria to sanitize the management of the fund.

6. The Honourable Minister of Communication presented a Memo to the Council on need for harmonization of the Right of way charges in respect of telecommunication and related public utility infrastructure on Local Government, State and Federal Highways. The Memo invited all stakeholders to consider, adopt and approve the use of a 'shared duct' strategy, managed by a single designated Agency across all tiers of government, for the deployment of public utility infrastructure for effective and efficient service delivery.

Signs of Economic Recovery

"Our path to progress and abundance is clear. The tools are in place and the resilient, resourceful and hardworking Nigerian people are set to go. I have no doubt that by the grace of God, the bleakness of recession is about to witness the uplifting dawn of abundance." (Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, June 12, 2017)

*Headline inflation has now fallen for the fifth successive month (February to June)

*The Naira has stabilised against the dollar; and the margin between the Interbank and parallel market rates has narrowed considerably

*The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSEASI) has seen dramatic gains in recent months (now about 20% higher than beginning of
2017 value). This surge is largely attributable to the new Investors and Exporters Window (NAFEX) introduced by the Central Bank in April.

*Nigeria's FX reserves have proved stable in recent months, even against a backdrop of continuing CBN intervention in the FX market

*The new Investors and Exporters Window (NAFEX) has picked up momentum and powered a turnaround in investor sentiments related to the FX market. The Window has traded around $3.8 billion since it launched on April 24. (Roughly a third of this volume has been supplied by the Central Bank)

*Nigeria's Crude oil production has improved appreciably, coming in at 2.05 million barrels per day in June 2017

*According to the NNPC’s May 2017 Operations Report, average daily gas supply to Nigeria’s power plants has risen by 64 per cent, compared to a year ago (May 2016)

*On account of rising exports and falling imports, Q1 2017 was the second consecutive quarter of positive trade balance (i.e. exports greater than imports), after four quarters of negative balance.

*Central Bank data from June 2017 showed a rise in Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) – a measure of the health of the manufacturing economy – for the third consecutive month.

*According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in Q1 2017 exports of Agricultural goods grew in value by 82% compared to Q4 2016. And Manufactured goods exports in Q1 2017 were 45% more than the value in Q4 2016.

*Q1 2017 saw the fourth consecutive rise in exports since Q1 2016; amounting to a 109% increase year on year.