₦airaland Forum

One of Naomi Osaka’s Japanese sponsors has apologized after releasing a...

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The Buhari administration is committed to promoting the establishment of privately financed modular refineries so as to increase local refining capacity, create jobs, ensure peace and stability in the Niger delta region, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The initiative which featured prominently in recent talks between the Federal Government and the oil-producing areas, will also reposition the petroleum industry and ensure self-sufficiency of petroleum products, while serving as a disincentive for illegal refineries and oil pollution.

At an end-of-the-year review meeting of the Niger Delta Inter-Ministerial Committee at the presidential villa, Abuja, before the holidays, Mr. Osinbajo noted that the...

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President Muhammadu Buhari has taken his campaign to Jos, Plateau State, ahead of next month’s general elections.

The President was accompanied by the...

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The presidency has said that it will teach Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a political lesson in the forthcoming presidential elections.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity).

Shehu’s statement was in reply to a broadcast made by Chief Obasanjo on Sunday, in which the former president said the Buhari-led government is...

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An American and a Briton were confirmed to be among at least 21 people killed in an attack at a hotel complex in Nairobi as the...

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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), yesterday, said President Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow commission the just completed Baro River Port in Niger State.

NIWA’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Tayo Fadile, in a statement issued in Lokoja, said the Baro River Port was built by a Chinese firm, CGCC Global Project Nigeria Limited at the total cost of N6 billion.

He said the...

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Women and youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the south-west have organised a presidential campaign in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The event tagged ‘Women and Youth’ has drawn prominent dignitaries including wife of the...

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Religious groups have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to declare the total number of Permanent Voters Cards collected so far and those yet to be collected.

Leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI) and top officials of the commission made the call on Wednesday during a meeting held with INEC in Kaduna State.

They also urged INEC and security agencies to...

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Zimbabwe became world’s most expensive place to fuel a car

In the Fall of 2017, Zimbabweans took to the streets in mass protests against...

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Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says President Muhammadu Buhari did not know about plan to arraign Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), until Saturday evening.

The VP said...

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President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist victims of the recent Minna fire disaster.

Malam Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman, said in on Sunday in a statement that the agency has mobilised resources to support the victims in response to a presidential directive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that shops and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed Jan. 4, when fire outbreak occurred at the Minna main market, the capital of Niger State.

Shehu said that...

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The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) has trained 23 Soil Scientists on proper soil management as parts of efforts to institute to combat the lingering issue if food insecurity.

Addressing the Scientists during the opening ceremony at the one-day workshop on Nigeria’s Soil Resources and Sustainable Management of soil in Abuja recently, NISS Registrar, Prof. Victor Chude, said Soil Scientists are the first responders in the crisis of managing the country’s soil for effective and sustainable delivery of food security.

According to him, ...

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It is 50% Cheaper because we are here to encourage MSMEs – FGN

A consistent pattern of supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is evident yet again as the Government Agency, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has extended the window for registration of business names at the reduced cost of N5,000 by 90 day. Recall that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in October, 2018 announced the Federal Government’s approval of a 90-day special window to register businesses at a reduced rate of N5000 only. He had noted that the gesture was to further ease the process of registering MSMEs in the country.

“It was observed during some of the earlier editions of the MSMEs Clinics that a lot of MSMEs were finding it difficult to register their businesses as a result of cost.

“The practice since we began the MSMEs clinics is that...

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Managing Director of Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Abubakar Bello, at the recent Intra African Trade Fair (IATF) in Cairo, Egypt, spoke on the bank’s $1 billion MOU with Afreximbank, efforts to promote export by Nigerian companies, and its interventions to salvage moribund industries such as cocoa processing firm, Multitrex, among other issues.

Afreximbank during the IATF.

If you recall on that day, two signings were done. Ours was for $1 billion between NEXIM Bank and Afreximbank, and the other was between Afreximbank and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for...

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Tu-Baba advocates for peaceful elections

A Nigerian singer and founder of Tuface Idibia Foundation, Innocent Idibia, also known as Tu-Baba, has asked youths to shun violence before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

The singer made the call at the ‘Vote not fight: election is not war’ peace concert in Kaduna on Sunday.

The concert witnessed a large turnout of youths drawn from the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.

Tuface Foundation is partnering YoungStars Development Initiative, OPA Reach Out Foundation, National Democratic Institute, United States Agency for International Development and the British Department for International Development, towards ensuring peaceful and non-violent elections in the country.

The musician who is also the Peace Ambassador of ‘Vote not fight campaign’ told the youths to...

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The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, says the south-east will produce president in 2023 if the people of the zone massively vote President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Speaking at a southeast stakeholders’ meeting in Uburu, Ohanzara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Sunday, Onu noted that southeast remained the only geopolitical zone yet to produce an elected president of the country.

He said: “And that will be guaranteed if we vote massively for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the next elections. The Northeast through Prime Minister Tafawa Belewa; North-West, South-West, South – South and North-Central have all produced (president).

“1999 constitution as amended guarantees a maximum of two tenures and the president will exhaust his tenure in 2023 and the South-East stands a better chance to bargain for the seat and only under APC can this arrangement be possible. We must therefore support the president for a second term in order to have a better chance of producing the next Nigeria president of Igbo origin”.

Onu charged the stakeholders to be focused and united to face the task of delivering all candidates of the APC in the 2019 general polls.

“We urge for unity of the party leaders, stakeholders and supporters as we prepare for the 2019 general elections in the zone in order to surpass our efforts in 2015. Therefore, as you go ensure that we mobilize the electorate and supporters of our great party to vote for Buhari’s re-election and other candidates from the zone in 2019.

The minister said the present administration had reclaimed the 18 local government areas annexed by the insurgents in Borno and Yobe States and had improved on economy, built industries and infrastructures in the south-east. The government has improved the ease of doing business and has made the country a hub for foreign investments. The Enugu/PorthHarcourt, Enugu/Onisha highways abandoned for over 16 years are nearing completion, while work on the Second Niger Bridge has commenced.

“The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia in Abia has been equipped with state-of-art medical equipment to stem medical tourism. The establishment of automobile industrial hub to serve as industrial park at Nnewi in Anambara and that located between Abia and Rivers boundaries are all achievements of the Buhari administration in the zone”, he said.

https://www.icanbepresident.org/2019/01/12/vote-buhari-and-get-presidency-in-2023-minister-tells-igbo/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Team on Tuesday appointed Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the wife of the president, to lead women and youths as well as ensure the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the February general elections.

Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of the vice president was also appointed co-chair to Aisha.

In a statement by Mr. Suleiman Haruna, the Director of Information to wife of the president, on the executive team leaders’ list are Mrs. Adejoke O. Adefulure as Vice Chair, South; Mrs. Mairo Al-Makura, Vice Chair, North; Haj. Salamatu Baiwa Umar-Eluma, National Coordinator; Barr. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagu, Dep. Nat. Coordinator, South; and Haj. Binta Muazu, Dep. Nat. Coordinator, North.

The statement said the team will be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow at the State House Conference Centre by 2.00p.m.

According to the statement, Zonal Leaders are Mrs. Rashida Bello, North Central; Mrs. Hadiza M. Abubakar, North East; Dr. Zainab Bagudu, North West; Mrs. Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, South East; Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, South West and Mrs. Judith Chibuike Amaechi, South South.

On the Advisory Council are Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youths and Sports; Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service; IGP Suleiman Abba (rtd); General Buba Marwa; Sen. Ali Modu Sherrif; Orji Uzo Kalu; Professor Pat Utomi; Festus Keyamo (SAN); Prince Tonye Princewill; Muiz Banire, Okoi Obono-Obla, among others.

Bystanders look on as a crane lifts a railway carriage back onto tracks after a train derailed during rush hour in Agege district of Lagos, Nigeria, on Jan. 10, 2019.
The team also has Directorate of Operations. All elected officials of APC members at all levels are also members of the team. The Directorate of Contact & Mobilisation has as its Director and Deputy Director, Nasiru Ali Ahmed and Barr. Mary Etta, respectively.

The Directorate of Strategic Planning has as its Director, Dr. Garba Abari and Dep. Director, Prof. Almustapha Ussiju Medaner.

Directorate of Youth Mobilisation has Mohammed Jibirilla as Director and Prince Ohakelem, Dep. Director.

Directorate of Media and Strategic Communication has as Spokesperson, Abdul Mumin Jibril (PhD).

Directorate of Special Duties has Sony Marshal Harry as Director and Hauwa Abdul as Deputy Director.

Mohammed Jibril heads the Directorate of Logistics while the Directorate of Creativity and Entertainment has as members: Funke Adesiyan, Desmond Elliot, Foluke Daramola, Kemi Afolabi, Ronke Ojo, Na’ajatu Ta’annabi, Aminu Ala, Sola Kosoko, Saheed Balogun, Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko, among others.

https://www.icanbepresident.org/2019/01/12/aisha-buhari-leads-apc-presidential-campaign-team-for-women-youths/

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has raked in N2.529 trillion from various taxes from January to June 2018.

The amount shows that the Service had realized 75% of its total target for the year, which is an improvement over what was realized at the corresponding period in 2017.

A report on the revenue performance by the Agency, submitted to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, confirmed that the N2.529 trillion has an increase of N746,107 billion, representing 42%, when compared to the N1.783 billion total tax revenue realized in the corresponding period in 2017.

The Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Oluyinka Akintude disclosed this in a statement, yester-day. An analysis of the total amount shows that N1.168 trillion was collected as Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) as against N636.170 billion resulting in a variance of N532.456 billion.

From the Company Income Tax (CIT), the FIRS realized a total of N680,093,730,362.25, which was N128,151,996,465.68 more than the N551,941,733,896.57 in the previous year.

The Value Added Tax (VAT) yielded a total of N536,525,540,228.39 in the period under review, which was N68,841,756,240.06 more than the N467,683,783,988.33 realized in 2017.

The Education Tax brought in N77,191,051,329.11 compared to the N58,868,372,910.79 in 2017, showing an increase of N18,322,678,418.32

The revenue from Stamp Duties was N7,492,592,658.35, which was N2,346,472,953.70 higher than what was realized in 2017 from Stamp Duties which was a total of N5,146,119,704.65.

The FIRS said it realized N1,006,543,151.07 from capital Gains Tax , an analysis of which shows that the amount was N64,916,270.95 more than the N 941,626,880.12 in 2017.

https://www.icanbepresident.org/2018/12/31/firs-rakes-in-n2-5-trn-in-six-months/

Exactly four years later, the The National Relationship and Integration Forum (NARIF) is once again stressing the need to strengthen relationship ties across geopolitical and ethnic lines. Recall that prior to Nigeria’s 2015 elections which ousted the then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, NARIF had crisscrossed the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria preaching post-election peace.

Peace and integration formed the bulk of the message of the co-convener, Dr Prince Awuzie at an annual New Year’s day breakfast organised in Belfast, United Kingdom for supporters of Africa’s psycho-social development.

He stated that disorganized elections do not not soothe the spirit of nationhood but lead to mistrust in democracy.

Dr Awuzie finally made a strong and powerful call for patience with the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, emphasizing that a four-year term was inadequate to judge Buhari’s government. The U.K. based psychiatrist however called on the current President to do everything within his power to ensure that the voters were free to express themselves next month.

On behalf of NARIF, he promised further Peace and Integration programmes in collaboration with its friends in the international community.

NARIF consists of concerned Nigerians from the six geopolitical zones of the country including Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Gombe, Imo, Katsina, Lagos, Plateau, Sokoto and other states that unite to forge a way forward for the nation and also carry out significant psychosocial interventions.

https://www.icanbepresident.org/2019/01/12/give-buhari-more-time-awuzie/

In order to curb corruption and embezzlement of public funds, the Nigerian government has said that henceforth politicians and other public office holders would be required to justify their wealth.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the declaration June 2016 in Lagos during a town hall meeting organized by the United Action for Change (UAC).

Mr. Osinbajo promised that he and President Muhammadu Buhari would lead by example by presenting details of their bank accounts and assets owned at the end of their tenure to convince Nigerians they did not abuse their positions to acquire illegal wealth.

“The era of people becoming emergency billionaires is gone,” Mr Osinbajo, a professor of Law told the audience at the Ikeja Airport Hotel, venue of the meeting.

“Anybody who can’t explain his wealth must be brought to account. Everyone who has served in public office must account for what they own. This is the change we want Nigerians to support,” he said.

He said the dream of the Buhari administration was to create a “country where integrity is our national culture.”

Mr Osinbajo urged Nigerians to be more patient with the administration, saying the change mantra of the All Progressives Party-led government would not be reduced to mere slogan.

He added that government would do everything within its power to deliver the change it promised Nigerians.

“Nigerians should never lose hope in the face of present difficulties,” the vice president said. “We have the best opportunity to change this nation now because we have a leader who is honest in all his dealings. There is a determination by this government to change the nation’s direction.”

With the growing inflation and job loses many Nigerians are already question the ability of the government to salvage the economy.

But answering questions on the government’s social security scheme, the vice president said the government remained committed to providing health insurance scheme covering all Nigerians.

He promised that the N5,000 monthly stipend promised poor Nigerians would soon take off, saying the government was already compiling a list of one million initial beneficiaries across the country.

He pleaded for the understanding of Nigerians on the biting fuel scarcity across the country.

He promised that the government was working on a final solution, which would be made public in the weeks to come.

“How to deal finally with fuel scarcity is now what we are dealing with, to make the scarcity a thing of the past,” he said.

“Having only public refineries is also a problem. Private refineries run better. We’re asking for private investment in co-located refineries.”

The current petrol scarcity has continued for weeks and has persisted despite repeated promises by the government to supply enough fuel to end the long queues at the filling stations.

Blaming the dip in power supply on the vandalisation of pipelines in the Niger Delta, Mr Osinbajo said government was working to improve the situation.

“We are working on improving the supply of gas to power plants & fixing transmission line problems,” the vice president. “That way we will improve power supply. We recorded a peak of 5000MW in February. We paid outstanding debts and curtailed vandalism. But Forcados pipeline caused drop of about 500MW.”

On Saturday, the Minister of State for Petroleum and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ibe Kachikwu, re-commissioned Ecravos- Warri pipeline after repair work on it was completed.

In his opening remarks, the Coverner of UAC and National Legal Adviser of the ruling APC, Muiz Banire, called on Nigerians not to relent on their support for the change they voted for during the 2015 presidential election.

He said the organisation was “conceived as a vehicle to engage and sensitize Nigerians on the philosophical and moral significance of change working through its major platform: Change Nigeria.”

https://www.icanbepresident.org/2018/12/28/nigeria-vows-to-compel-public-officers-to-justify-wealths/