₦airaland Forum

Full speech of President Buhari at #Budget2019 presentation

December 19, 2018


This is my last Budget Speech to the 8th National Assembly.

“Today, we will review economic development over the last three-and-a-half years with emphasis on 2018. We will also highlight the budget for 2019.


“The last three-and-a-half years have been challenging both home and abroad. Both oil and non-oil markets have been volatile. There have been disruptions in oil production in the country.

However, we have cause to be optimistic about the future. The economy has recovered from recession. We have done more work with less resources in Agriculture, Social Development and Infrastructure.


We have intervened several times to support states in the payment of salaries. The Federal Government has also sustained its efforts to curb corruption through the comprehensive cooperation of the single treasury account.

We have also made efforts to end the insurgencies in affected areas of the country. We thank the Armed Forces and Security Agencies for their efforts and sacrifices in protecting the nation.


We have also made many efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in public service delivery. Inflation has declined from 18.2% in January to 11.28% in November. Foreign Capital Influence has also improved.

Trading is a significant contributor to our country’s economy. But we must strengthen other areas such as Information Technology and Entertainment; all hands must be on deck to ensure the country succeeds.

In Agriculture, we are seeing increased investments in all areas of the sector. Indeed, we are on course to achieve good security in the nearest future.

We also prioritized the completion of already ongoing projects as opposed to starting new ones.

We have included the implementation for the National Minimum Wage. I will be sending a Bill to this National Assembly, on this.

To further support SME’s, we have set aside N15 billion, while the sum of N10 billion has been granted to BOI for this purpose.


We can all commit to the early passage of this Bill.

I thank you most sincerely for your attention. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT



PRESS RELEASE



HOW AFRICA, EUROPE CAN COLLABORATE TO TAP BENEFITS OF DIGITAL ECONOMY, BY VP OSINBAJO AT EUROPE-AFRICA FORUM



*Urges Nigerians to keep faith with nation in Vienna meeting with Diaspora community





Africa and Europe must work together to advance and harvest the economic benefits of digital economy, and at the same time prevent a counter-productive widening of the digital gap, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.



Prof. Osinbajo stated this today at the Africa-Europe High-Level Forum in Vienna, Austria, which had in attendance other African and European Heads of States or Government.



The meeting organized by the European Union and African Union, held in Vienna, Austria on Monday, December 17, and Tuesday, December 18.



Speaking on the forum’s theme ‘Taking cooperation to the digital age’, the Vice President noted that investments in digital technology can make important contribution to growth and development by fostering productivity gains from continuous innovation.



He said, “Given our fast-growing population in Africa, we are, of course, keen to work together to boost the job creation potential of new technologies rather than concentrating on jobs destined to disappear in the digital age. Faster growth, sustainable development and job creation are also vital for reducing irregular migration from Africa to Europe. In our globalized world, people can see disparities in standards of living across regions quite easily. This means there must be increasing openings for entrepreneurship and jobs in home countries for those who would otherwise embark on risk journeys in search of opportunities. In Nigeria we are taking urgent and practical steps to provide such opportunities for our rapidly increasing youth population.”



Prof. Osinbajo also highlighted the strides made by the Buhari administration in developing Nigeria’s technology sector through supporting public-private sector initiatives and the advisory group on technology and creativity.



Noting that the advisory group has been working to build an ecosystem for funding, training, infrastructure and intellectual property protection, the Vice President added that the country’s Social Investment Programme has been leveraging on technology tools to drive it in its bid to improve the economy and lives of Nigerians.



He said, “Under our social investment programme, 75,000 young people are being trained in coding, software development, hardware maintenance, animation and data management, and we’re set to train another 200,000 young men and women. Similarly, we have established 8 technology hubs to support tech startups across our six geopolitical zones and two major cities of Abuja and Lagos.



“We’ve encouraged partnership to establish venture funds to support innovation and are now engaged in talks to establish a $500 million innovation funds with bilateral and multilateral partners.



“We’ll be deploying digital methods and tools on a larger scale to expand learning opportunities for younger Nigerians, as conventional education through brick and mortar institution can no longer be viable given the huge numbers and limited resources. Already, 200,000 out of our 500,000 young graduates in our N-Power scheme have tablet devices, which we use for on-the-job training and further skills acquisition. This experience will guide our efforts as we seek to expand digital literacy at earlier stages of education.



“Similarly, our education curriculum is being reworked to emphasize Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. The Arts have been included because of the growing recognition of the strengths of our country, especially in the arts, music, film and literature.”



Prof. Osinbajo also highlighted the growth in e-commerce in Nigeria, with references to leading e-commerce platforms that have leveraged on technology to grow their businesses.



He said, “Financial technology is being used in our efforts to rapidly scale up financial inclusion. Working with our banks, TELCOs and FinTech companies, we’ve used digital tools and platforms to provide interest-free micro loans to up to 1.3 million Nigerians and about 300,000 received Conditional Cash Transfers by the same means. We hire, pay and train online 500,000 young men and women in the largest post-tertiary direct jobs programme in Africa. Through participation in this scheme, present and future beneficiaries would be brought into databases for unique biometric identification.



The Vice president also thanked European countries for their support, while calling on other EU member states to partner with Nigeria and Africa to impart skills, raise resources, promote investment and provide infrastructure to build a digital economy.



“I’m optimistic that our efforts would attract strong support and active engagement of our partners in the European Union. Indeed, already, we have some good examples of that in the African Digital leaders Training programme, which is a partnership between Ventures Platform of Nigeria and Enterprise Lithuania with funding from the European Union. This innovative programme would provide digital skills training for 50 young Nigerians in Lithuania, while at the same time, relieving temporary labour shortage in that country. A reintegration component is also built into the package.



“We have a moment in the history of Europe-Africa relations that can yield tremendous mutual benefits. Let us seize this moment,” he said.



Several African and European Heads of Government attended the High-Level forum. They include the Austrian Federal Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz; the Prime Ministers of Netherlands, Mark Rutte; Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki; Hungary, Viktor Orban; Czech Republic, Andrej Babis; and deputy Prime Minister of Ireland. African Heads of Government at the meeting include the President of Rwanda, who is also the Chairperson of the African Union, Paul Kagame; President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo; Egypt’s Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi; Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta; and Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar, among others.



Earlier on Monday night, Prof. Osinbajo had an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Austria during a town hall meeting.



At the meeting attended by leading members of the Nigerian community in Vienna, the Vice President commended the work of Nigerians in Diaspora, noting that that the Nigerian community was adding value to the country.



Prof Osinbajo said, “We very strongly believe that our country can do much better than where we are, we have practically everything that it takes to make the country work. In fact we have more than what it takes to make the country do exceedingly well; there is no question about that. But corruption has been the major problem in the country.



Adding that Nigeria must tackle "the monster of corruption,", the Vice President added, “there is no country in the world that can survive when its resources are stolen the way our resources were stolen. It doesn’t really matter how you slice it or describe it, so long as a few people can take government or public resources and do with it as they like, they are not likely to be able to do the basic.”



He also urged Nigerians to continue to support the work of the administration in making the country better through provision of more infrastructure and tackling grand corruption, among other development initiatives.



“Today our country earns 60 per cent less than it earned five years ago, but we have spent N2.7 trillion in two budget cycle in infrastructure, that is the highest in the history of our country,” he said.



In attendance at the town hall meeting were the Nigerian Ambassador to Austria, Amb. Vivian Okeke; the Nigerian Ambassador to Hungary, Dr. Eniola Ajayi; leaders of Nigerian communities in Austria, and other senior government officials.


Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity

Office of the Vice President

18th December, 2018

GROUP SAYS AMNESTY’S REPORT IS INCITING, INCHOATE AND MISLEADING

…Title of report is a mockery of the dead

A political group in Nigeria has described an Amnesty International(AI) report on the farmers - herders clashes in the country as inciting, inchoate and misleading, stressing that the agency was by its report rejoicing and glorifying violence in Nigeria.

The Initiative to Save Democracy (ISD) stated that the report failed to consider a broad and historical view of the crisis, but deliberately limited the scope of its report from January 2016 to 2018 to pull the wool over the eyes of unsuspecting readers.

President of the group, James Akinloye said that by considering only these two years the content of the report was inconclusive and thus misleading as the herders - farmers clashes predates the period under review and readers would be deliberately misled to think the crisis started only within the last three years.

The group went further to state that the title of the report HARVEST OF DEATHS was a clear indication that Amnesty International had ulterior motives and was seeking to incite violence in the country.

“To title a report Harvest of Deaths is not just insensitive but also wicked. It is an attempt by Amnesty International to push for unrest in the country at a time when the country is already enjoying relative peace. The content of the report only seeks to open healing wounds. No responsible agency fighting for human rights titles its report Harvest of Death. Such a nomenclature is a mockery of the dead to start with.

“It is also ill-timed. Two months to an election is not the time to put out a report on a very sensitive subject- matter except one has a motive that is egregiously wicked and prejudiced,” Akinloye said.

The ISD noted that the release of the report two months to an election suggests either sponsorship of its activities by members of the opposition party or an outright intention by the Amnesty International to influence the voting posture of Nigerians during the elections.

Akinloye argued that where a foreign body does a thing like this, it is investigated for election interference and a possible ban from the country.

He went further to note that: “the Amnesty report deliberately omitted a very significant arrest in the herders - farmers clashes; that is the arrest of Aliyu Tashaku who was the mastermind of most of the killings in Benue state which were masqueraded as clashes.

“The report falsely kept rehashing that government had not acted or arrested any persons, while failing to acknowledge the arrest of several Fulani herdsmen who were involved in killings and were being tried in courts in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and Plateau States. This reveals the bias of Amnesty International and its agenda to plunge Nigeria into violence. It also failed to acknowledge the role of several militia groups in the region, many of whom had been arrested by government security agencies.”

Mr Akinloye stated that in the last 4 months most of the communities in the North Central had been experiencing relative peace due to the efforts of the government including the bringing to justice of perpetrators of the heinous killings.

He further noted that the killings fell by over 90% in Benue State after the arrest of Alhaji Aliyu Tashaku who was reported to have been behind most of the killings in the state.

ISD noted that the government had done a lot and Nigerians were not blind to their efforts, it further called on the security agencies to increase their efforts to ensure a more peaceful country.

Mr Akinloye also added that the security agencies should, while investigating the many claims of Amnesty International, also investigate the body itself as it may be financed by persons seeking to distabilise the country.

7 BOGUS CLAIMS PETER OBI MADE AT THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE – The 7th Is The Most Hilarious

Peter Obi is not just intellectually deficient - all bombastic and no substance - he is also poor with figures.

Here are 7 notorious claims which he made during the Vice Presidential Debate which are outright FALSE!


1. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: There are about two million vehicles in Nigeria.

FACT: False. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria has a total vehicle population of about 11,547,236 as at the third quarter of 2017. The number of cars in the South West axis alone is far more than 2 Million.

2. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: African trade today is less than 9 percent.

FACT: False. According to Afriexim Bank, Intra-Africa trade is around 15 percent. In 2016, intra-African exports made up 18 percent of total exports according to Brookings Institution.

3. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: Oil gives you 80% of foreign exchange earnings.

FACT: False. As at 2017 NBS figures showed that Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings from oil the oil sector stood above 90%.

4. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: Total loans from the banks in Nigeria is N19trn and only 0.5% goes to SMEs

FACT: FALSE. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) money and credit statistics, banking sector credit to private increased to N22.72 trillion at the end of October 2018, compared with N22.56 trillion it stood at the end of September 2018.

5. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: Apple Inc’s market cap is bigger than the economies of Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt.

FACT: This is not true. Apple’s market cap today is $788.57 billion. The economies of these three countries are bigger than Apple.


6. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: Nigeria has fallen on the global competitive index from 124 to 127.

FACT: False. According to the latest (2018) World Economic Forum report, Nigeria rose on the index by 10 places. Obi’s claim was true in 2016.

7. CLAIM BY PETER OBI: The number of people living in poverty has grown by 6% every minute.

FACT: If this wild assertion were to be expounded, according to Peter Obi 6% of Nigeria’s population at 180 Million people, that is 10,800,000 people, become poor every minute. That means before the debate ended - an hour after he made that assertion - 648,000,000 persons had become poorer. (That is more than 3 times the population of Nigeria.) And by the next day, 15,552,000,000 - over 15 billion - people would have been poorer. That is about two times the world’s population.


Asides cooking up figures, Peter Obi must also be good at creating poverty.

Fact-checking the many statistical lies of Peter Obi~~~

1. Obi said African trade is less than 9%. False. Afriexim Bank puts intra-Africa trade at around 15% and Brookings Institute at 18%.

2. Peter Obi said total loans (credit) from banks to the private sector in Nigeria is N19 trillion, and only 0.5% goes to SMEs. False. According to CBN, the actual figure is N22.44 trillion and only 0.1% goes to the SMEs, as at March 2018.

3. Peter Obi said he deployed 30,000 computers to schools from HP. False. The actual figure is 22,500.

4. Peter Obi lied again. He said foreign direct investment to Nigeria in 2015 was $42billion. False. FDI in 2015 was $3.4billion.

5. Peter Obi said Nigeria has 2 million vehicles. False. Nigeria has 12 million vehicles out of which 6 million are commercial.

6. Peter Obi lied. Nigeria's unemployment is 14.2% according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and not 42% he claimed.

Watch out for more of the fact-checking and verification of some of his claims~~~.

© Yakub Aliyu

VP OSINBAJO FLOORS PDP CANDIDATE IN VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE



NIGERIANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA MOCK OBI'S FALSE NARRATIVES

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has shown a gulf of class between him and other Vice Presidential candidates when he blew his compatriots away with his insight on constitutional, economic, security and social development issues.

Osinbajo who is seeking reelection in office alongside incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, riveted his class as the best Vice President in Nigeria’s history.

Osinbajo a proficient orator and inarguably Nigeria’s favourite Vice President proved that he was no fluke as he displayed his dexterity, aura and finesse at the Vice Presidential debate which held at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The debate organized by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) had four other Vice Presidential candidates in attendance, Peter Obi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ganiyu Galadima of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); Khadija Abdullahi-Iya of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Umma Getso of Young Progressive Party (YPP).

Stating categorically how the ruling government will take Nigerians to the next level when re-elected, Osinbajo noted that the government will continue to build on infrastructure and human capital development.

“What we intend to do is to build on what we are doing and that is why we are talking of the Next Level. We have moved 24 places up on the Ease of Doing Business,” the Vice President said at the debate.

“We need to improve power transmission, we need to improve our rail and road infrastructure to boost our economy, the Vice President explained.

He also stated that, “foreign Investment will come when we create an environment for local industries. We are also looking at the taxation regime and will continue to ensure that small and medium businesses continue to thrive.”

He however drew the biggest cheer of the debate when he replied Peter Obi, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP insinuated that the ruling All Progressives Congress had left its shop and was chasing thieves.

In response, Prof Osinbajo said, “If you allow criminals to steal all the inventories in the shop, there will be no shop. That’s the problem and the World Bank said that corruption is the major impediment to Nigeria’s development.

Speaking on power, Osinbajo said, “I think the common denominator between the two countries you mentioned is the strong infrastructure,” the VP said referring to the mention of China and South Africa, adding that,

While under President Buhari, power generation capacity has climbed up to a high of 7,000 MW, the Vice President pointed out that “Our nation in the past 16 years has suffered a major infrastructure deficit. So, we don’t have rails, roads. When we came into power in 2015, power was 4,000MW in 16 years,”

“So, you need strong infrastructure. No one can argue about it. The second thing is you cannot have a strong economy if you allow the type of grand corruption that has taken place in Nigeria in the last 16 years.”

The Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP was observed by many, especially on social media, to have been economical with some of the data he churned out. He had claimed that Nigeria had over 2 million cars, however checks from data released by the National Bureau of Statistics show that in the third quarter of 2017 alone, there were over 11.5 Million cars in the country.

Social media users took on this issue and have made posts calling out the Vice Presidential Candidate.

After the two hour, 30 minutes debate, the Vice Presidential candidates were awarded certificates of participation after which they took a group photograph.

VP Debate: Star Boy.. HEVP Osinbajo Is The Clear Winner - Segun Tomori

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo yet again proved his mettle in the just concluded Vice Presidential debate that beamed live to TV screens across the country.

While the VP candidate of the main opposition party, Peter Obi played to the gallery with eloquently falsified statistics, Prof. Osinbajo intelligently punctured his claims, and held his own.

While the PDP Presidential running mate became an overnight statistician with no clear cut alternative to tackle challenges and even provide jobs, VP Osinbajo highlighted what the administration has done in three and half years and what it intends to do at the #NextLevel.

Presently, Nigeria's most ambitious social investment programme is in place, massive infrastructural renewal on-going with Road projects in all the 36 States and major road projects, credit to SMEs has improved with N35b in each budget cycle, 6 Tech hubs in each geo political zones, increase in power generation from 4,000 MW to 7,000 MW in 3 years.

While Obi was painting a picture of gloom, Prof Osinbajo aptly reminded him that Nigeria moved up 24 places in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index and is rated as among the top 10 improved Economies in the World in 2017.

While Obi alluded to the fact that we cannot "leave the shop and be chasing Criminals", VP Osinbajo retorted that the shop will close down if criminals are allowed to have a field day!

Romancing "Grand Corruption" has been the story of 16 years of PDP under whose platform Peter Obi is running and that is why they couldn't get anything done!

This administration has laid a solid foundation, is silently reforming and the #NextLevel holds out to much promise..

We are going higher together...

Thank you. VP Osinbajo.

Signed: Segun Tomori

Nigeria is a leading investment destination for potential and serious investors, and the business opportunities are abundant and increasing by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Consumer spending in Africa was $1.4 trillion by 2015, with Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa accounting for more than half of that total.

There is also increasing economic opportunities in Nigeria because of deliberate actions by our government to diversify the economy and improve the business environment. It is encouraging that there are significant economic ties between Nigeria and Germany. Germany is a significant exporter to Nigeria, which is its second largest trading partner in Africa. Recent reports show that German investment in Nigeria contributes as much as $1 billion in turnover annually. This is good, but we must agree that there is scope for even deeper collaboration given that Nigeria’s GDP is close to $500bn.

Agriculture perhaps presents one of the best investment opportunities in Nigeria. Only three years ago we were importing 5 million dollar worth of rice daily. Today we produce locally 10 million metric tonnes of paddy rice annually. And we are importing only two percent of our rice consumption now. Investments in milling capacity has risen astronomically since then, with one investor putting a million tonnes of milling capacity into the market. Carlos Farms, a Mexican fruit and vegetable investor, had initially planned to grow bananas and pineapples for export; until he discovered that he was making more money selling his bananas locally at $3 dollars a kilogramme, for what he would have been paid only a dollar per kg in Europe.

With a substantial percentage of the world’s arable land and over half of that uncultivated, it is becoming clearer that the world will be looking to Africa, and Nigeria in particular, as its food basket. Just to take China’s demand alone, China has 27% of the world’s population, but only 7% of the world’s arable land for agriculture. China needs 2 million tonnes of hybrid Soya beans per annum for livestock feed and vegetable oil. But we have not met that demand."

One heart-warming development is that with the priority given to the revitalization of the mining sector, a nickel deposit was found in Kaduna State which has been described as ‘world class and highly unusual. We are also diversifying within oil, while adding that Nigeria is already exporting urea since it is producing more than enough for its domestic needs and in the very near future.

In the service sector, about 1.8 million international travellers spend two nights on average at Nigeria’s estimated 10,000 hotel rooms yearly. This generated about US$210 million in revenue for the industry in 2017, which barely reflects on Nigeria’s US$500 billion GDP size. Nigeria’s hotel industry alone is projected to grow by double digits by 2020, as the sector bounces back post-recession to one of the fastest growing in the world, and the possibilities for investors is significant.

I shared this and more at The Nigerian-German Investment Dialogue in Berlin, Germany.

THE ECONOMIC CASE FOR THE TRADER MONI SCHEME

By Nnamdi Chukwuemeka

The Federal Government launched the Trader Moni scheme as part of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) in July 2018. The TraderMoni scheme entails the provision of N10,000 in interest free credit to table top traders. Beneficiaries have up to six months to repay the loans and thereby qualify for higher sums of money.
Since the launch of the scheme, which has been received by great enthusiasm by the beneficiaries, there have been various reactions ranging from genuine interest in knowing how the scheme works to name calling by political opponents of the APC Government who have called the loans bribes and vote-buying. It is difficult to understand how money that will be paid back can be considered as bribes. This short paper outlines the economic case for the TraderMoni scheme and the benefits that it will entail for the country.
The starting point for understanding TraderMoni is to see it as part of the broad ranging financial inclusion strategy of the Federal Government. Financial inclusion entails making financial services available to households and businesses in an affordable way. Several studies have shown that access to financial services helps to reduce poverty by facilitating payments and savings for households and businesses as well as enabling households to smooth out expenses and access services like micro-credit, micro-insurance and pensions. It also helps to improve lives, spur economic activity, reduce the cost of financial transactions and improve the delivery of social services, especially government payments. Financial inclusion also helps micro-enterprises to access cheaper credit and invest in order to grow their businesses.
Financial exclusion is considered expensive for economies. This means that with up to 41% of Nigerians lacking access to formal financial services there is need for urgent action. Financial exclusion in Nigeria is quite high compared to countries like Ghana where the rate of financial inclusion increased from 29% in 2011 to 58% in 2017. In South Africa which still suffers from the legacy of apartheid, up to 75% of the population has bank accounts as compared to 46% in 2004. in Kenya there has been a drastic increase in financial inclusion with up to 75% of the population having bank accounts, which is a 50% increase over the past 10 years partly due to the impact of digital payments systems. The common denominator in the examples of South Africa, Ghana and Kenya is that their governments took innovative and urgent action to speed up the pace of financial inclusion.
Empirical evidence from random controlled trials shows that small businesses benefit from increased access to credit because it enable them to invest in assets to expand their businesses, diversify into new products and cope better with business risk. Indeed, the relatively longer tenor of TraderMoni loans means that small entrepreneurs can venture into expanding their inventory and/or production.
Given Nigeria’s relatively poor performance in financial inclusion, the Federal Government has taken a strategic and innovative approach to ramping up financial inclusion in Nigeria. It has done this by:
• Recognising the need for urgency
• Introducing innovative programmes • Using fintech
• Working with major stakeholders
In recognising the need for urgency, the Federal Government to an approach to financial inclusion that would bring a large number of people into the financial net in a very short space of time. Accordingly, its target for TraderMoni was to have 2m people engaged in the scheme by the end of 2018. In the same vein, the programme ensured geographical coverage so that each State would be entitled to at least 30,000 participants in the TraderMoni scheme in the first phase.

The innovative programmes introduced to boost financial inclusion are to be found in the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) which provides micro-credit to existing businesses, which means the focus in on empowerment. GEEP has several components such as TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni and involves giving interest free loans to existing businesses. The advantages of the GEEP programme are exemplified by Trader Moni whose features include:
• N10,000 loans
• The credit is interest free
• Participating traders have to be table top, bottom of the value chain micro enterprises
• These micro-enterprises have to be carefully enumerated and captured into a database
• The loans have to be repaid in six months which entitles the borrower to borrowing a higher
amount of N15,000
MarketMoni which grants loans from N50,000 to N300,000 requires participants to open or have bank accounts (immediate financial inclusion) also uses an innovative risk mitigation arrangement whereby participants have to be part of a cooperative in order to qualify for the credit.
Studies have shown that microcredit works well when the participant already has an existing business and when interest rates are not exorbitant. TraderMoni meets this requirement given that participants not only have existing businesses but they are actually part of established retail chains, albeit at the lowest end. The interest free credit is to be contrasted to interest paid on loans from microfinance banks which attract interest rates of up to 30% to 60%.
TraderMoni also supports financial inclusion because it is bringing two million people into the financial system. Participants get paid by electronic cash transfers and are required to open bank accounts including KYC requirements and BVN at point of requesting additional loans. This innovative micro-credit scheme will also help to avoid dependence on unreliable, insufficient and expensive informal mechanisms which traders currently rely on.
As a micro-credit scheme, TraderMoni can be seen as a good starting point for wider economic inclusion as the enrolment and data generated will propel the movement towards micro-savings, micro-insurance, micro-pensions and micro-payments for services like health provision. It will also encourage a second generation of innovative business ideas such as micro-leasing for ‘okadas’ and solar power. This will be backstopped by the fintech arrangements being used to process TraderMoni loans such as Eyowo.
Working with the Committee of Bank Chief Executives, the TraderMoni scheme will also be giving telephone hand sets to participants who do not already have one. This will help reduce the resort to sharing handsets and also ensuring that electronic payments get to the intended beneficiaries. The banks are working speedily towards expanding their agent network across the country while also making greater use of technology to ensure interoperable systems. Ultimately, with an envisaged general saving account somewhat like the government saving account in India, financial inclusion will enable more people to access additional services like micro-insurance, micro- payments, etc. TraderMoni is similarly preparing the previously financially excluded to use the Payment Services Banks which are set to be licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The strategy of using micro-credit and technology contribute to higher degrees of financial inclusion which is positively and causally related to growth and employment. It is estimated for instance that the roll out of SANEF by the Bankers Committee will lead to an additional 500,000 jobs in the wider economy.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says President Muhammadu Buhari will neither steal nor allow stealing in his administration.

He said this on Saturday in Lagos as he commenced a door-to-door campaign for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2019 general election.

While speaking with party members from the 57 local council development areas (LCDA) in the state, Osinbajo said they should go from house to house to tell the people about the achievements of the party after three years in office.
The vice-president said they must prevent people who have stolen money from the nation’s treasury in the past to come back into government.

“After 16 years of ensuring that the country did not make progress, they want to come back. They will never come back again. We are making progress and we will continue to make progress. We are going to the next level,” Osinbajo said.
Osinbajo greets children of Oluwole Estate

“Our major problem in Nigeria is corruption; it’s not plans. There are so many plans. If you allow the resources of the country to be stolen, no plan can work. The difference between Muhammadu Buhari and any other president is that he will not steal and he will not allow stealing.
Osinbajo waves at resident of Oluwole estate, Ogba. Ikeja

“The most important thing of all is that we will prevent a situation where people who have stolen our money in the past come back into government. If they do, there won’t be progress no matter what they say.

“The money of this country must be preserved so that it will benefit us all. Education, healthcare, jobs, if you don’t have money, you can’t do them.
“There are only two types of leaders in Nigeria, those who want to steal the money and those want to use the money for the common good.

“If we want progress for our country, we must make sure that we put in place those who want to use the money for the common good, not those who want to steal it.”

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has expressed the federal government’s determination at ensuring the wellbeing of the people of the nation.

The vice President however stresses that better times await every Nigerian.

He stated this in Ilorin on Friday when he paid homage on the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, in his palace.

Professor Osinbanjo disclosed that he was in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital to launch the Tradermoni scheme being a small scale economic intervention measure to support businesses across the nation which was established about two years ago.
Professor Osinbajo said the Emir of Ilorin has demonstrated competence as a good image of the judicial profession in the past years stressing that “You are our leader in the legal profession and we are always proud of you.

“You have also ensured that you hold Ilorin as an indivisible community since your enthronement over two decades ago. With these and many more, it shows that God is indeed with you.”

In his remarks, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, thanked the Vice President for his visit and commended the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari for their interventions and efforts towards boosting the economy of the nation.

The vice president who was recieved with fanfare on arrival in Ilorin for the launching of the scheme at Ipata market and new mandate market.

Saraki’s thugs disrupt TraderMoni scheme in Ilorin
 NAN reports
Suspected thugs claiming to be supporters of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, invaded the mandate market and Ipata market in Ilorin, Kwara State, this morning, chasing away petty traders and TraderMoni agents from the markets, disturbing them from carrying on the business of disbursing money to beneficiaries of the TraderMoni scheme.
Eyewitness accounts said that as early as 9am, a small mob, some of them wearing PDP Atikulated T-shirts, stormed the market, led by Alhaja Gazali, insisting that the TraderMoni scheme cannot be conducted in the Mandate market, because the Senate President’s father was the one that donated the land on which the market was built to the government.
According to witnesses, including Bank of Industry (BOI) officials who were at the market to supervise the enumeration and disbursement of the N10,000 collateral free loans, the arrival of the mob caused an uproar in the Mandate market in Ilorin as many of the petty traders who were yet to receive their loans were annoyed that the thugs disrupted the process.
This led to chaos which forced the TraderMoni agents to escape as they were chased away by the thugs who were threatening, intimidating and harassing both the agents and the petty traders who had lined up to participate in the TraderMoni process.
Officials of the Bank of Industry also explained to newsmen that enumeration had been going on in two markets in Kwara State in the last few days and the vice president was expected in the markets on Friday, December 7 (today). 
Eyewitness accounts said the thugs said to have been instigated by the Senate President had invaded the market this morning, were boasting that neither the Federal Government nor the VP can come and operate the TraderMoni scheme in a market that "belonged" to the Senate President.
At the Ipata market, where enumeration and disbursement of the TraderMoni loans was also going on, market leaders also reported that a call came about noon today from similar quarters asking the leaders of the market not to cooperate with the enumerators of the TraderMoni scheme. But the market leaders in Ipata insisted and the process of enumeration and disbursement in Ipata market reportedly proceeded without incident.
 
TraderMoni, which is part of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme (N-SIP) under GEEP, is designed to assist petty traders across the country expand their trade through the provision of collateral and interest-free loans from N10,000. The loans are repayable over a period of six months at which point the traders on repayment will receive a fresh N15,000 loan, which rises to N20,000 when repaid.
 
The microcredit scheme, which has since been formally launched nationwide and the FCT, is expected to reach 2 million petty traders by the end of the year.

THERE IS NO PROGRESS WITHOUT SACRIFICE SAYS OSINBAJO



“There’s no country that can make progress, without sacrifice and that is the lesson that President Muhammadu Buhari is teaching us. We must make some sacrifices.”



“They said the man will die, he’s about to die, he’s dead, the man is back. The fear of Buhari makes some people desperate even sometimes crazy. Because today, they say he is now Jubril from Sudan. If you can’t discredit him, then they say he doesn’t exist!”



REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE FORUM THEMED: NIGERIA, ON THE RIGHT TRACK BY NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF BUHARI SUPPORT GROUPS AT NICON LUXURY, ABUJA ON THE 4TH OF DECEMBER, 2018.



PROTOCOLS



Come February 2019, the APC will by the grace of God, win the general elections. We will return President Muhammadu Buhari as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for a second term. The election will be a historic one; it is a battle between those who want our country’s resources to be used for our country and her people and those who want to privatize the commonwealth. The man who stands between the forces of retrogression and the forces of progress, the future of our children, is the man called Muhammadu Buhari.



No matter what anybody says, no matter how they choose to describe it and hide it and colour it, the issue in Nigeria has always been Muhammadu Buhari and the simple reason is not because he’s a perfect man, he’s not. It is because he is an honest and truthful man, that’s all.



The problem of our country is not necessarily about great plans, it is not about money, and I’ll point that out in a few moments. It’s not about how good our plans are, it’s not about how much money we earn, it is about whether, firstly, the President is honest and truthful. If the Nigerian President is a truthful man, even if he doesn’t do anything in the office, you will save 50% of Nigeria’s resources just because he’s an honest man.



Buhari is a man who wants to use the resources of this country for the common man. Between 2010 and 2014, that was the previous government, our nation earned the highest amount ever in the history of the country from oil alone, the sum of USD383billion. That is the highest amount of money that our nation has ever earned, even in a five-year, six-year period, which is the highest in the history of this country. Oil was selling between a $100 and $114 per barrel.



That is why you ask yourself, so where are the roads, where is the railway? Where are the projects that ought to have been done? Where is the infrastructure when you earn the highest amount of money?



In this Abuja, if they were throwing all the money that was earned to complete the Abuja-Kaduna railway, then it would have been better. We had to come and complete it. It was our government that completed it. It was started years ago, 2005, we had to come and complete it.



When we came into office, we were earning $30 a barrel, with less than 1million barrels a day, sometimes from 2million barrels a day at $100 to $114 a barrel, yet with all that money - 383USD billion, no infrastructure What happened?



When we came into office, just as Ashiwaju has said, look at the number of states that owed salaries despite the amount of money earned. The President insisted we must assist the States to pay those salaries.



He said, and many of us will remember that; ‘look, I have never been a businessman, I’ve always earned a salary in my life and I know how painful it is when a person does not get his salary and I’ll not allow that to happen’. So, we supported the states, all the states to pay their salaries. We supported and we did so three times consecutively so that they would be able to pay their salaries. I think only Lagos state turned down the loan because they had enough money at the time.



We have been earning about 60% less than the previous government. Yet in the past three years, we have spent N2.7trillion on infrastructure, the highest in the history of the country.



How can you earn less and spend more on infrastructure? If you don’t steal the money, you can earn less and spend more. The simple reason is that by using the Treasury Single Account, by insisting that money meant for infrastructure will go to infrastructure, President Buhari has been able to do much more with so much less. So today, we are doing major roads in 36 States in Nigeria. Every State has a major Federal road project ongoing. We’re doing the Lagos - Kano railway, starting from the Lagos port, all the way. We’re going to complete the Ibadan leg of it by January 2019. And then we’re taking it all the way to Kano.



We’re doing the Warri - Aladja, in fact, we completed the tracks for Warri Aladja. And right now, we’re doing the coaches for the Warri Aladja rail. Warri - Aladja by the way, has been there for 35 years budget after budget. They’ve been doing it for the past 25 years and yet, they never did it. Now, we’ve completed it.



Mambila plan took 40 years; it has been there, lasting 40 years. I’m sure that all of us who are close to 60 or over know we’ve been hearing Mambila for years and years. For the first time, Muhammadu Buhari is doing that project, he is putting the resources into it and we will by the grace of God, complete that project.



When you look at all of the rail projects, Port Harcourt - Maiduguri, you see that there’s no country that can make progress if you do not have the infrastructure. If you don’t have railways, if you don’t have roads, if you don’t have dams, the sort that we’re talking about, you can’t increase power.



There’s no country that can make progress without sacrifice. And that is the lesson that President Muhammadu Buhari is teaching us. We must make some sacrifices.



Look at how $383 billion was blown in 4 years. They’ll create an illusion that there is money but after that, when we came into office $29billion was what we had in our external reserves after all of that earning. Today, we are at $41.99billion despite earning 60% less.



We are feeding over 9.2million children every single day in 26 States as part of our School Feeding Programme. We are giving 2million petty traders the TraderMoni loan. You see the way they’re getting very angry with TraderMoni, but when you take care of the poor people, only those who are wicked and evil will complain.



The petty trader is at the bottom of the rank in our commercial value chain; he is the most hardworking. Some of them, their inventory is not up to N2,000. I met a woman who was selling her pomo here in Nyanya market, all her pomo in a bucket, I asked her how much the pomo was and she said “maybe its about N3,000.” All the pomo in the bucket, about N3,000, then I asked her, ‘how do you do make profit?” She didn’t even answer me, she just pointed to another woman, whose pomo was in a little bowl, to show me that “look, I’m a big player here, there’s someone earning less than N3,000.” That is the kind of thing that we see, so the government decided with the approval of Senate at the time, because these days I hear the Senate President complaining about TraderMoni, they approved at the time.



A very important part of our programme is that we must give credit to traders, to those doing small businesses so they can improve their businesses, employ more people, and they also can prosper and our nation can prosper. This is the reason why we’re going around doing the TraderMoni and also what we call MarketMoni all over the country. There are 2million petty traders and we’re going to continue to do so because our people deserve a better life.



We’re employing 5000 graduates under the N-Power programme, each of them have a tablet; in that tablet, we have all the training materials; training for entrepreneurship, because some of them are teachers, some extension workers in the farm, some public health workers.



There was a government that tried to recruit less than 1000 people and look at the tragedy that occurred. We have recruited 500,000 people using an online medium, young Nigerians in every single Local Government and we manage the payments every month, I even send instructions to them monthly. This is the kind of thing that our country needs; you need to go the way of technology, and that is exactly where the President is taking us.



We’re giving about 300,000 of the poorest Nigerians N5000 every month under our Conditional Cash Transfer. I’m sure many of us have seen the testimonies of these people. How is this possible? Buhari is the gatekeeper, he has stopped grand corruption and that is why with less money, we’re doing 5 times more.



But that is also why there is a gang up by the discredited elite against him and they have their collaborators everywhere. They prayed for him to die, he didn’t die; the man came back alive and is stronger by the grace of the almighty God. A 75-year-old man, strong, able, sharp in his head. I keep reminding people that it was under Buhari that the three refineries in Nigerian were built, the 3,500 kilometres of pipelines were built. All these people complaining today have not added a single one to those refineries, except the one extra refinery. These three refineries were built when he was minister.



They said the man will die, he’s about to die, he’s dead, but the man is back. The fear of Buhari makes people desperate even sometimes crazy. Because today, they say he is now Jubril from Sudan. If you can’t discredit him, then they say he doesn’t exist!



They were all alive and well when a good and true man of God, Pastor Adeboye, went to London, prayed for him a day before he returned to Nigeria. How will one Jubril sit in FEC meetings with all of the memos, engage every single memo, including the memos he’s presenting, how will he consult with his ministers, and even I speak to him almost every day and not know?



But we must not just assume that these people are just crazy, we must go beyond that. We must recognize that their strategy is very simple, if you tell a lie often enough, after a while people begin to believe. That is what they are trying to achieve. Buhari is not only alive and well, he will by God’s grace, live long and well after his second term in office.



People are afraid of this man, every day of their lives, they are looking for a way of getting rid of him for the simple reason that he stands between them and the national treasure.



So, let me commend all of us members of The National Committee on the Buhari Support Groups. You are the vanguard of the battle for the soul of our nation, and we are going forward, we are going higher; we are going to the Next Level!



God bless Nigeria and God bless the APC

Atiku Policy Plan lacks remorse and people orientation - BCO

A policy group in Nigeria has picked some loopholes in Atiku Abubakar’s policy plan, noting that, it lacks remorse and is not people friendly.

The Economy and Strategy Team of the Buhari Campaign Organisation was reacting to the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate’s speech in Sokoto where he flagged off his 2019 campaign.

Mr Abubakar had claimed that he will run a people-friendly government but the group differed, stressing that his policy plan said otherwise when viewed in detail.

The group said it thought that Mr Abubakar’s policy document would blow the ruling APC out of the water because its ideas are already out there, and because the candidate had amassed enough resources to enable him employ pawns and foot soldiers that could run an effective media blitz.

“In the end, it was a non-event. To use a colloquialism it was ‘a damp squib’. If one wants to be kind, the best that can be said about the Atiku Policy Document is that it was rushed out to create a policy platform to mask the real intentions which is to regain power to continue business as usual,” the group said in a statement. Adding that, “Let us be candid, it is a wishy-washy, unimaginative and internally inconsistent document. In short it is ‘Disatikulated’.

“Given the relative although unlikely chances of the PDP of becoming the official opposition in 2019, it is important to quickly deconstruct its ideas and to do so by way of general comments and some more specific comments.”

The group noted that the document is not original and borrows liberally from other people’s policy documents from within and outside Nigeria. “As such, it is bland and unimaginative and does not specify how the things it hopes to achieve can be done in terms of resources and bureaucratic capacity of the country.”

“It is alright to propose implementing ‘pro-poor policies that will enhance their participation in economic activities and improve household incomes’ Anyone can say that. The issue is how? After all, we in the APC have shown what is possible with our ground breaking Social Investment Programme.”

The group explained that one of the most striking things about the Atiku Policy Document is that it is mostly bereft of people-oriented policies. “In its haste to pander to big business, our blinkered friends in the PDP completely relegate the issues around investing in the Nigerian people to talking about poverty alleviation.”

“Apart from showing ignorance about the latest thinking around the positive impact that tackling multi-dimensional poverty has on growth, for the Atiku people to be talking about mere poverty alleviation shows that they are completely insensitive to the needs of ordinary Nigerians.

“In case what we are saying is not clear, let us put it in other words. Nobody in serious international development discourse these days talks about poverty alleviation. The reversion to poverty eradication later on in the document does not help their case. It only underscores the sloppy preparation of the document.

“Another great drawback of the Atiku Policy Document is that it pretends as if the past never happened. It makes no atonement for past looting and misgovernance and goes on as if there was nothing untoward in its past.

“How can Atiku Abubakar talk about privatisation with a straight face? How can any PDP person fail to explain why huge funds were voted year after year for projects with no results to show? It is only here in Nigeria that a party boasts about projects it started but ‘Did Not Finish (DNF)’ which is the result given to failed athletes.

The group said it carried out a thorough analysis of the Atiku document and that it talks about increasing debt with a straight face.

“How about the huge debts left for the incoming APC government that were hidden away? These include the $6.8bn on unsettled JV cash calls or indeed the up to N2.2 trillion owed to States, contractors, pensioners, exporters etc. that created a huge debt overhang in the economy but were excluded from official debt figures? Even religions that offer forgiveness do so on the basis of repentance for past misdeeds,” the group said.



DISATIKULATED: A TROUBLED POLICY DOCUMENT



A LACK OF REMORSE AND PEOPLE ORIENTATION

We had thought that the Atiku Abubakar Policy Document would blow the APC out of the water because our ideas are already out there and because the candidate has amassed enough resources to enable him employ pawns and foot soldiers that could run an effective media blitz. In the end, it was a non-event. To use a colloquialism it was ‘a damp squib’. If one want to be kind, the best that can be said about the Atiku Policy Document is that it was rushed out to create a policy platform to mask the real intentions which is to regain power to continue business as usual. Let us be candid, it is a wishy-washy, unimaginative and internally inconsistent document. In short it is ‘Disatikulated’.


Given the relative although unlikely chances of the PDP of becoming the official opposition in 2019, it is important to quickly deconstruct its ideas and to do so by way of general comments and some more specific comments. To start with, the document is not original and borrows liberally from other people’s policy documents from within and outside Nigeria. As such, it is bland and unimaginative and does not specify how the things it hopes to achieve can be done in terms of resources and bureaucratic capacity of the country. It is alright to propose implementing ‘pro-poor policies that will enhance their participation in economic activities and improve household incomes’ Anyone can say that. The issue is how? After all, we in the APC have shown what is possible with our ground breaking Social Investment Programme.



Indeed, one of the most striking thing about the Atiku Policy Document is that it is mostly bereft of people-oriented policies. In its haste to pander to big business, our blinkered friends in the PDP completely relegate the issues around investing in the Nigerian people to talking about poverty alleviation. Apart from showing ignorance about the latest thinking around the positive impact that tackling multi-dimensional poverty has on growth, for the Atiku people to be talking about mere poverty alleviation shows that they are completely insensitive to the needs of ordinary Nigerians. In case what we are saying is not clear, let us put it in other words. Nobody in serious international development discourse these days talks about poverty alleviation. The reversion to poverty eradication later on in the document does not help their case. It only underscores the sloppy preparation of the document.



Another great drawback of the Atiku Policy Document is that it pretends as if the past never happened. It makes no atonement for past looting and misgovernance and goes on as if there was nothing untoward in its past. How can Atiku Abubakar talk about privatisation with a straight face? How can any PDP person fail to explain why huge funds were voted year after year for projects with no results to show? It is only here in Nigeria that a party boasts about projects it started but ‘Did Not Finish (DNF)’ which is the result given to failed athletes. The Atiku Document talks about increasing debt with a straight face. How about the huge debts left for the incoming APC government that were hidden away? These include the $6.8bn on unsettled JV cash calls or indeed the up to N2.2 trillion owed to States, contractors, pensioners, exporters etc. that created a huge debt overhang in the economy but were excluded from official debt figures? Even religions that offer forgiveness do so on the basis of repentance for past misdeeds



Economy And Strategy Team - Buhari Campaign Organisation

VP OSINBAJO LAUNCHES DOOR-TO-DOOR CAMPAIGN IN NYANYA, KARU, ROOTS FOR BUHARI’S RE-ELECTION
“Because of his honesty, zero tolerance for corruption, Nigeria’s future is secured

President Muhammadu Buhari’s honesty, integrity and performance in the past three years in office as evidenced in the ability of the administration to do more even when the country is earning less, set him apart from all other contenders for the exalted office.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, stated this today in Abuja when he commenced what seems an unusual approach to campaigns, adopting a door-to-door strategy in two Abuja suburbs of Karu and Nyanya.

The VP visited two homes: Alhaji S.K Ahmed’s family in Nyanya and the Jimiko compound in Karu.

No sooner the VP’s Coaster bus arrived in the communities than the people thronged out en-masse in both places, chanting praises of the President and singing party songs.

After meeting both families, Prof. Osinbajo addressed the mammoth crowd and spent time interacting with the excited people who thronged out in their numbers, often fascinated to see him unannounced in their neigbourhoods.

According to the Vice President “for the honest, decent and hardworking Nigerians, Mr President has devoted his life to ensuring that their lives are made better even when it is sometimes not easy to do so.

“All of us are going higher. I want you to believe that President Muhammadu Buhari is going to do even better. We have to create more jobs for all these young people. We have to give our market women credit so that they can do more business; our young people money so that they can do more business.”

Speaking on the President’s concern for the common man, Prof. Osinbajo said, “when he ask us to start the Trader Moni, he said, this is one way by which we can help people to start doing their own business.”

He said Nigeria’s future was brighter with President Buhari on the saddle, noting that no public funds would be stolen under his watch.

“So, I am here to say to you that the future of our country is great. All of you that are here, you are going to see a better Nigeria and that greater Nigeria can only come if the government is honest; If the government is not stealing our money.

“If the government is honest, it will build all the roads in Nigeria, for instance, like we are doing the Lagos-Kano rail and others, now. You can see that with little money we are doing much more because we will not agree to the stealing of our resources.

“We will go forward and we will move forward. It is a bit difficult now because we are building the foundation. When we came into office; We found no savings. Oil which was our biggest earnings, we had earned so much in four years but there was little to show for it. They didn’t build the railway, no roads. So, when we came we decided to first of all do the right thing,” he added.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
4th December, 2018

Don’t politicise religion in Nigeria
Muslims and Christians can flourish together, says President Muhammadu Buhari


IN 1844, the Revd Samuel Ajayi Crowther returned home to Yorubaland (now part of modern-day Nigeria). Twenty years earlier, he had been kidnapped and sold to European slave traders who were bound for the Americas. He was freed by an abolitionist naval patrol, and received by the Church Missionary Society. There, he found his calling.

Crowther made his voyage home to establish the first Anglican mission in Yorubaland. He came with the first Bibles translated into Yoruba and Hausa languages. He opened dialogue and discussion with those of other faiths. And his mission was a success: Crowther later became the first African Anglican bishop in Africa.

Today, Nigeria has the largest Christian population on the continent. The messages and teachings of Christianity are part of the fabric of each person’s life.

ALONG with the millions of Christians in Nigeria today, I believe in peace, tolerance, and reconciliation; in the institution of the family, the sanctity of marriage, and the honour of fidelity; in hope, compassion, and divine revelation.

Like Bishop Crowther, I am a descendant of Abraham; unlike him, I am a Muslim. I believe our two great religions can not only peacefully coexist but also flourish together. But Muslims and Christians must first turn to one another in compassion. For, as it says in Amos 3.3: “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?”

As they are People of the Book, I believe that there is far more that unites Muslims and Christians than divides them. In fact, I believe that the messages of the Bible are universal: available for anyone to exercise, and instructive to all.

We must resist the temptation to retreat into our communities, because, if we do, we can only look inwards. It is only when we mix that we can reach new and greater Whichever religion or religious denomination they choose to follow, Nigerians are devout. Anything that Nigerians believe will place impositions on their practice, and belief is therefore sure to cause widespread alarm.
And, unfortunately, there are those who seek to divide Nigerians — and our two great religions — and to do so for their own advantage.

I stand accused — paradoxically — of trying to Islamise Nigeria while also being accused by Boko Haram terrorists of being against Islam. My Vice-President is a devout man, a Christian pastor. He, too, is accused of selling out his religion, because of his support for me.

This is not the first time that I — nor, indeed, my Christian-Muslim evenly split cabinet — have been the subject of such nonsense. Fortunately, the facts speak differently from the words of those who seek to divide us from one another.

Since my administration has been in power, Boko Haram has been significantly and fatally degraded; I have befriended church leaders and church groups both within and outside our country; my Vice-President has addressed and opened dialogue with Muslims up and down our land.

In all things, we seek that which all well-meaning Christians and well-meaning Muslims must seek: to unite, respect, and never to divide. Does it not say “There is no compulsion in religion” (Qur’an 2.256)? Does it not say “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us” (Luke 9.50)? This, surely, is the path that followers of both our two great religions must walk.

UNFORTUNATELY, those who wish us all to walk apart have recently found another focus for their efforts: the tragic clashes between nomadic herdsmen and settled farmers in the central regions of Nigeria.

For generations, herders have driven their cattle from the north to the centre of our country; they tend to be predominantly Muslim, although not exclusively. The farmers, in certain areas of central Nigeria, are predominantly Christian.

The causes of this conflict are not religious or theological, but temporal. At the heart of this discord is access to rural land, exacerbated both by climate change and population growth.

Sadly, there are some who seek to play fast and loose and so make others believe that these are not the facts. When religion is claimed as the cause — and by those who know that it is not — it only makes finding a resolution more difficult.

The government has taken action to mediate, to bring the two groups together in peace and unity. But we also need all parties to follow the teachings of the scriptures, and encourage reconciliation rather than cause division. As it is said: “Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?” (Mark 8.18).

As our constitution codifies, politicising religion has no place in Nigeria; for it makes us turn away from one another; it makes us retreat into our communities and walk different paths.

I believe that there is a better way. To those who seek to divide, I still hold my hand out in brotherhood and forgiveness. I ask only that they stop, and instead encourage us to turn towards one another in love and compassion. Nigeria belongs to all of us. This is what I believe.

Muhammadu Buhari is President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Group insists Fani-Kayode is threat to national unity

* Says fake news and hate messages must be taken seriously by security agencies

A political group in Nigeria has reiterated its call that former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode be arrested for divisive messages peddled on social media.

The President of the Initiative to Save Democracy, ISD, James Sunday Akinloye, noted that hate must be erased from Nigeria’s politics especially hate messages and fake news.

He explained that if Nigeria’s democracy must grow, then certain persons must be used as example to other that there are laws regulating social media in Nigeria and that people cannot just concoct fake stories.

He noted that it has been four days since ISD petitioned the Nigerian Police and DSS to arrest Fani-Kayode but that there is still no action.

“We read with interest the response by South-South Political Vanguard describing our petition to the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services as a ploy to gain cheap political ploy but this is not true.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that Nigeria’s democracy is preserved and that certain persons who have evil agenda are brought to book by the law. There should be a reaction to every action, Akinloye argued.

He pointed to some messages on Twitter written and published by Fani-Kayode. “For example, days before President Muhammadu Buhari visited the United States, he urged President Donald Trump to subject President Buhari to a DNA test because he is Jubril from Sudan. How can anyone say that? he quizzed.

He then pointed to yet another tweet by the former campaign spokesperson for Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. In Fani-Kayode’s own words, “The man that is there today is Jubril from Sudan and not Buhari. Buhari is dead and he never came back from London. Only his body did. They invoked the spirit of Jubril and placed it in Buhari’s body. It is a common ritual amongst Satanists. Many lives were sacrificed in the process,” he tweeted on 5 April 2018.

Akinloye argued that the group has made photocopies of the hate messages and fake news which were peddled by Fani-Kayode and have attached it to a petition that will be taken to the police and DSS this week.

“It is important that we do not allow ourselves to be carried away by a response from a group that does not understand the gravity of fake news and hates speeches.

“First we think the Nigerian Police should arrest him immediately and then charge him to court. We have evidences of his cybercrime and the hate it has sown amongst young Nigerians in their formative years.

“We have hundreds of responses to some of his post which shows how it was shaping the ideology and philosophy of some Nigerians towards hate and divisiveness and we will not stand and watch kids who are just joining social media to be swayed by this kind of messages.

Akinloye noted that if the DSS and police refuse to arrest Fani-Kayode then his group along with others will stage a peaceful protest both in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

“If we must embark on a peaceful protest, so be it. Enough of hate speeches and fake news. Mr Fani-Kayode must understand that there are cybercrime laws and if you err, then you should be punished.

Foreign Direct Investment: Nigeria is investors delight


By Ayobami Akanji & Aliyu Abdullahi

The banks lobbied Washington so they could write the rules that got us into this crisis. They then lobbied Washington to get the money to bail them out. And then they are lobbying Washington to write the rules so they can get us into the next crisis. It's perfect circularity - Elizabeth Warren

Elections world over generates different degrees of attention. Local or international, interested parties most times pitch with the side their emotions or interests appeal to. Then, different ideological postulations fly around in the political space.

Nigeria, despite all she has been through, is still the gateway to Africa. This is why everything that affects Nigeria, ends up affecting Africa. Our elections is always a drawer for international observers. It is therefore unsurprising to read from Ms Priti Patel, the UK's former Secretary of State for International Development that Nigeria is a place investors should avoid and in violation of international laws.

She had her opinion carved on the stones of alleged refusal of the administration of President Buhari, in an Op-Ed in City AM, a London Paper, owned by Russians to honour an agreement involving a British Virgin Island (BVI) firm Process & Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) and the Federal Government.
BVI’s are known to be tax havens in facilitating illicit flows of money globally a scourge the current administration is fighting and advocating against on the international fora - it is estimated that $80 billion flows out of Africa annually and 40% of these funds are from Nigeria. BVI’s commitment to zero tax and levels of secrecy encourages financial crimes and allows corporations and individuals to evade tax. It is estimated that $1.5 trillion worth of assets move through the BVI.

Background
In January 2010, P&ID and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources entered into a 20-year Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA). Under this agreement Nigeria was to supply Wet Gas to P&ID, who would process it in a newly-built facility and return it in the form of Lean Gas. P&ID could then sell the by-products of the refinement process for their own profit. Nigeria could not meet her contractual obligations in supplying Wet Gas as a result of militancy in the region.

However, P&ID treated this failure as a repudiation of the GSPA and claimed to have spent $40 million in the project, although it had not yet acquired the land or built the facilities, this warrants the poser, what claim is P&ID laying compensation to? Hence the tribunal awarded damages to P&ID in the sum of $6.6 billion and the then government was able to settle out of court and an agreement to pay $850 million.

Conversely, the Solicitor General explaining the legality of this case which resulted in a default decision for the enforcement of the payment of $6.59 billion against Nigeria. He noted that the “ default entry was not a judgement, adding that the court lacks constitutional powers to institute such an order against a sovereign state like Nigeria’

Furthermore, government is a continuity, it is poignant to note that the agreement Ms Patel was harping on was entered by the last administration, and in a suspicious manner the payment was pushed to the incoming Buhari administration, whereas the agreement of payment was reached on August 11, 2014 by the former Attorney General. In a swift reaction to the oped, Presidential media aide, Shehu Garba said that the FG has submitted to the jurisdiction of a court in the US to determine issues in the dispute. This is a clear indication that the government, despite it being constrained by funds and other electoral obligations, still wants to respect the rule of law, but would tread the path of due process.

In the same vein, Ms Patel asserted that corruption hasn't been mitigated in Nigeria is really laughable, and clearly shows that she is on a hack job. It is very easy to talk about how ugly a picture is when you intentionally look at it from the side of sun-rays. Nigerians at home and abroad who analyse happenings objectively will be best placed to answer this. Gone are the days when the vaults of the Central Bank was reduced to something within the wirepull of a hedonist who as much the itch to flash cash comes, however unreasonable or irresponsible or directionless the itch is, will with immediate alacrity and irrational jingoism, summon siren blaring bullion vans to come for extract. Gone are days when funds meant for the upgrade of military hardware was turned to a bazaar, reducing the army's efforts in combating Boko Haram insurgency a sisyphean. Gone are days when government offices were clearinghouses for deals that was planned for millions but shared by tens.

President Buhari has signed several Executive Orders to demonstrate his resolve to holistically eradicate corruption of Nigeria. Nigeria joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) a global body committed to accountability and transparency in the management of public office.

It is worthy to note that corruption and being unethical isn't something that can be completely eradicated. Ms Patel is a proof of this as she recently resigned because she held 12 secret meetings with Israel senior government officials and US diplomats without informing the Foreign Office, thereby going against the convention of the Foreign Office to disclose business overseas. She even went as far as saying that former Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson was aware of her trip but later changed the bearings of her assertions. We recall her visit to Nigeria on September 1 2017, alongside Britain's former Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson they met with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo promising to assist Nigeria in the wars against insurgency and corruption, Johnson described Nigeria as an incredible country and power house of the African economy while Ms Patel noted “We stand shoulder with the government and the strength of the UK relationship with Nigeria on all aspects including the diversification and development going on in the country”

This is very unethical but Ms Patel is still a member of parliament of Witham in Essex since 2010. Nobody has asked her to leave this post or to follow her line of thoughts, no one has asked the world not to deal with her. It defies logic and defines illogic that she will run to town with an assertion that investors should consider how risky an environment Nigeria is before investing. Same country that had Investments to the tune of $1.3bn in 2017 from only the US.

Few months ago, Prime Minister May came visiting to Nigeria looking at how both countries can expand their trade balances. Nigeria is the second largest trading partner of Britain in Africa, with a trade balance of 4.5 billion pounds annually. MOUs were signed on economic development forum to allow both countries broaden and deepen bilateral trade.

Nonetheless, In demonstration of this administration's commitment to better the lot of investors, to secure their investments, and being the largest economy in Africa and among the top ten performing economies in the world the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) was setup in July 2016. It has amongst other things improved Nigeria's standing in the global ease of doing business index, Nigeria moved from 37 points to 56 - 24 places move upward.

It is expected that people like Ms Patel who are thought to be at a privileged positions where relevant information is as close as the click of a finger to be objective. It is sad that facts are now twisted to the points where they bear semblance with anything far away from common sense. Nigeria is an investor's delight and unlike Ms Patel, the Federal Government Of Nigeria is calling on all interested investors to troop into the country for business. Their businesses will be protected if they follow laid down rules; that fact they shouldn't worry about. What Ms Patel and her ilk has and will say isn't important.

Akanji is a political strategist and Abdullahi a lawyer both write from Abuja

BMO LAUDS CUSTOMS FOR HUGE DRUG SEIZURE

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has commended the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) for its recent successes in the last few months, particularly its recent seizure of 40 x 40 feet containers laden with Tramadol and other dangerous drugs valued at N7.31 billion imported from India through the Lagos port complex, Apapa.

This latest seizure came less than a week after 23 containers laden with 581 million tablets of Tramadol were intercepted at the same port by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

BMO, in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, said there is no doubt that the commitment and determination of the Comptroller General (CG) Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) to confront smuggling activities headlong and repositioned the agency for upward growth is gradually yielding positive results.

The group also commended officials of Customs and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for acts of patriotism and heroism displayed during the exercise, particularly their rejection of huge bribes offered in local and foreign currencies by arrested suspects during the operation.


“We want to use this opportunity to call on other security agencies and other government departments to emulate what Nigerian Custom Service is doing under the leadership of Col. Hammed Ali (rtd). The CG is not only changing the rank and file of Customs, he has continued to demonstrate capacity for leadership, and determination to fight this ugly trend at our nation’s borders and for increasing growth in the agency’s revenues”.

WHY THE FOCUS OF BUHARI’S ADMINISTRATION IS ON WELFARE OF COMMON NIGERIANS, BY VP OSINBAJO

“the money that we make as a country must not be stolen by a few people”

President Muhammadu Buhari’s sole concern is that the resources of Nigeria must be used for the man and woman who need it the most and this explains the focus of the administration’s entire economic policy, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

The Vice President stated this today while monitoring the ongoing disbursement on the N10,000 collateral & interest-free loans under the Trader Moni Scheme in Dutse, Jigawa State.



He explained that all the Federal Government had tried to do in the past few years was to give hope to the common Nigerian through the various schemes for women, men and youths, regardless of their backgrounds.

According to him, “Mr President’s sole concern is that the resources of our country must be used for the man and woman who need it the most, the people in our society who are working hard, the farmers, the traders, and all of the young people who need jobs, that is the focus of Mr. President’s entire economic policy. It is on giving the common man hope so that they can live decent lives, they can provide shelter for themselves, feed and live well.”

While recalling the mindless stealing of resources that characterized previous administrations, Prof. Osinbajo said, “If the money of our people was not stolen, there would be enough for us to do what we want to do, the money that we make as a country must not be stolen by a few people”.

He said despite the challenges associated with the fall in oil prices, President Buhari is still committed to giving hope to the poorest Nigerians hence, the implementation of the various components of the Social Investment Programmes.

He said: “Under the Trader Moni Scheme, we are giving 2million people across Nigeria, N10,000 collateral-free loans with the possibility of increasing the amount within six months.

“Here in Jigawa, we have given 30,000 petty traders and only today, we gave extra 2,000 to 5,000 traders, and all together, we have given about 35,000 people the loans in Jigawa alone.

“We also have the Market Moni scheme which is another initiative for traders that are bigger than the petty traders and we start from N50,000 to N350,000.”

Speaking further on the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme, the Vice President said, Jigawa State has the highest number of beneficiaries nationwide.

According to him, “This is the state where we have given the largest number of people, we have given 37,000 beneficiaries in this state, and every month these people receive the transfers.” The Conditional Cash Transfer is a N5000 monthly provision for the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians.

Continuing on the gains made so far under the Social Investment Programme in the state, he said “under the School feeding programme, 434,000 children are being fed every day as 4000 cooks have been engaged to prepare the meals while 14,368 graduates have been engaged under the N-Power job creation scheme.”

On the State Government’s efforts in empowering young people, the Vice President said: “it is a fantastic evidence of the concern and planning in taking care of those who need help the most.”

“Let me say to you that the Governor and the Government of this State are working in line with the vision of Mr. President. He has always been concerned about the common man.

“The State Government is supporting all of the Federal Government programmes, it has given out motorcycles to those supervising the various programmes, it has also given them 100 android phones,” the Vice President added.

After the courtesy call on the Emir of Dutse, on arrival in Dutse, the Vice President proceeded to Kasuwan Tipa market to monitor the ongoing disbursement of loans under the Trader Moni scheme, and later also went to the Dutse Modern Market.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also attended the 6th phase of the Jigawa State Youth Empowerment Scheme held at the Aminu Kano Triangle, Dutse, where he praised the State Government for the initiative.

Attack on 157 Task Force Battalion: President Buhari’s Reaction


Shortly after the 157 Task Force battalion came under intense enemy attack, the President activated multiple strategies in restoring the morales of the troops and assuring the citizenry of government’s resolve in dealing effectively with the crisis.

The President, was able to calm the citizenry and acted in the nation’s defence. In a statement released by his SSA Media & Publicity on November 24, he assured Nigerians that “ In the coming days, I am engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking”

After receiving situation briefing from the Minister of Defence, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces (CnC) on November 25, deployed the Minister of Defence in continuation on consultations with Ministers of Defence of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJF) Troops Contributing Countries (TCC) which includes Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin Republic, to the Republic of Chad for an urgent meeting with the Chadian President and his Minister of Defence, to find a way of positioning members of the (MNJF) in routes used by BHT to attack Nigeria which borders Chad, as the recent attackers spoke French and Arabic languages.

It should be recalled that on September 2018 the Minister paid a similar meeting to Niger Republic and the outcome was a powerful cross-border strike that neutralised BHT members and their camps destroyed.

With preliminary intelligence from the Minister of Defence, Mr President summoned a meeting with all Service Chiefs for a review session on the Operation in the North-East.

On November 26, Mr President received another situational briefing from the Service and Intelligence Chiefs on the situations in the North East.


Nigerian Army’s Reaction


On November 23, the Nigerian Army responded to calm the nerves of the populace on the attack and reaffirmed the laid down procedures of contacting families of troops killed in action (KIA) before releasing their names or numbers of personnel KIA to the public.

The NA also denounced the false causality figure bandied and propagandistic videos shared in the media as fake new which is to be avoided.

In a show of resilience and strength, on November 25, the Chief Of Army Staff’s (COAS) annual conference to be declared open by the CnC, scheduled for Benin from 26-30 has been moved to Maiduguri - to hold on 28-30 of November 2018.

On November 25, the Ag GOC Operation Lafiya Dole visited troops of 82 Task Force Battalion in Ngwoshe, Gwoza - he commended their sacrifices and tasked the troops to consolidate on the efforts already realised.

The GOC assured troops of their welfare receiving the necessary support it requires from the COAS.

Nigerian Airforce Reaction


On November 25, the Nigerian Airforce deployed war helicopters to strike BHT members, locations, and vehicles linked to BHT attackers in last week raid on the military base at Metele in Borno State.

The Nigerian Airforce followed the trail of the terrorists and destroyed seven (7) vehicles including gun trucks and eliminated all BHT members in the convoy.

The Nigerian Airforce deployed the Mi-35M, multi-role combat helicopters which is known to deliver high-precision weaponry in destroying ground targets.

The Nigerian Airforce also embarked on a cross border airstrike in pursuit of where the terrorists hid stolen armoured tanks and destroyed them.

Group petitions DSS, Police to arrest Fani-Kayode over Fake News

A political group in Nigeria has petitioned security agencies over the continuous spread of Fake News by former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode, warning that, it is a security risk to the country leading up to the 2019 election.

The Initiative to Save Democracy warned that if Fani-Kayode and his kind are allowed to peddle false news it could lead unsuspecting Nigerians to believe that this news is true.

President of the group, James Akinloye who said he will drag Fani-Kayode to court, explained that people must be forced to face the consequences of their actions.

“There are laws in this country and if anyone thinks they are bigger than the law, then we have a problem. The law enforcement agencies should do their job and arrest the likes Fani-Kayode, Deji Adeyanju and others for their hate messages and fake news."

Quoting the 2015 Nigerian Cybercrime Act, Akinloye noted that Fani-Kayode had breached certain provisions and should be arrested and charged. “The Act forbids the distribution of racist and xenophobic material to the public through a computer system or network (e.g. Facebook and Twitter), it also prohibits the use of threats of violence and insulting statements to persons based on race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin. Persons found guilty of this are liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years or to a fine of not less thanN10million or to both fine and imprisonment.”

Akinloye explained that the Act also outlaws cyber-stalking and cyber-bullying. Anyone convicted of these could receive a N2 million minimum fine and/or at least 1 year in prison. More severe offences could attract a penalty as high as a N25 million minimum fine and/or up to 10 years’ imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offence.

He explained that the group will petition Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms as deterrent to others who are emulating Fani-Kayode on their platform, stressing that, it is a national security risk. “They need to know how divisive his messages are, and they need to understand why his accounts should be deleted immediately.

“We have a fragile but steady democracy and we should protect it with all our hearts and this includes halting fake news and hate speeches. We have seen what these kinds of things can cause, and we do not wish it on our country."

Akinloye urged politicians to approach the election with maturity and caution, noting that, Nigeria belongs to everyone. “Who wants to rule over a country that is in turmoil,” he asked, “We should strive to ensure peace at all times.”

Anti-corruption war: Jonathan's absolute lies

In his memoir 'My Transition Hours' , which has been described as a glorified fiction, former President Goodluck Jonathan, tried to rewrite history and turn logic on the head when he claimed that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is not fighting corruption and that it has made corruption worse. But the facts of the matter do not agree with that assertion. Sometimes, if you don't quickly call a thief by his name, he will try to seize the initiative and call the property owner the thief.

~Over N794 billion, $261 million, £1,115,930.47, €8,168,871.13, and 86,500 CFA, have so far been recovered from people who looted Nigeria dry under Jonathan. Parts of the monies were used to fund critical infrastructure in the 2016 and 2017 budgets.

~Hundreds of properties such as filling stations, petroleum products, land, jewelleries, automobiles, real estate, vessels, hospitals, company shares and heavy machinery and broadcast equipment have also been seized from the same set of 'Jonathanian' looters between 2015 and 2018.

~Over 703 convictions of corrupt elements achieved by the EFCC alone in the last three years which is unprecedented in the country’s history.
 
~These convictions include graft cases involving former governor of Taraba, Jolly Nyame, and that of Plateau, Joshua Dariye, as well as Joseph Nwobike (SAN), all of whom were hitherto considered untouchable.

~The EFCC has also commenced extradition proceedings from UK for the fugitive ex-minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who under Jonathan's supervision smashed global records and set new landmarks in kleptomania. She has been implicated in some of the most ambitious cases in the global history of official graft, worth of hundreds of billions of dollars.  

~The present administration has also recovered some 322 million dollars Abacha loot which the Jonathan's administration could not recover because of its integrity deficit (of course the World Bank knew it would have been re-looted). The money is now being used to fund parts of the masses-friendly Social Investment Programme (SIP) of the present administration.

~The Whistle blower policy, a signature initiative of the Buhari administration has helped to recover over 500 billion naira from 'Jonathanian' looters.

~The implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) by the Buhari administration is saving for the country about 24.7 billion naira monthly that would have been lost to the private pockets of unscrupulous government officials and their bank accomplices. Meanwhile, the Jonathan's administration could not implement the policy due to its lack of courage and romance with corruption.

~Over 200 billion naira has also been saved through the elimination of ghost workers from the federal government 's payment system.

Osinbajo: A trailblazer and reformer

It takes an intuitive, engaging, analytical mind and high sense of imagination to truly understand and appreciate the beautiful mind of a man like Osinbajo who in his capacity as Vice President conducts himself responsibly and dutifully.

Close associates and those who have personally encountered him can attest to the fact that he is stickler for hardwork, passionate about service to humanity and a trusted ally and team leader. Even those who disagree with him can hardly question his intellectual strenght, moral uprightness and capacity to deliver on tasks assigned to him.

Above all, when we carefully peruse the minds of Osinbajo’s students and those he has led in the house of God before he became the Vice President, we will come to attest to the professor’s sense of purpose, humility, godliness, loyalty and brilliance.

Amazingly, Osinbajo’s family is an epitome of humility, godliness with full of simplicity worthy of emulation.Teach your children humility, contentment, respect and the fear of God; they will not depart from them when they grow up, so say the holy book. These are the fine attributes that define the man Osinbajo.

Meanwhile, one of the qualities of Osinbajo that is dazzling to mind is his undeterred and unfettered emulative spirit that is unattractive to little minds. The ingenuity he brings to bear in handling crucial state matters is top-notch and has made him the darling of most Nigerians.

Given his deep understanding of life, Prof. Osinbajo scorns the finer things in life and ensconces himself in moral values, frugality and simplicity. He carried out the business of government with much candor, respect and to the admiration of all. Check out the ease with which he relates and interacts with market women, traders and Nigerians alike.

There is hardly any part of Nigeria that Prof. Osinbajo hasn't visited in the last three years. He sees nothing wrong or difficult in leaving his comfort zone to fraternise with Nigerians across states, towns and villages.

Truth is, apart from Osinbajo’s managerial skills, pastoral and leadership qualities, this erudite lawyer and professor is a frugal and disciplined family man who’s always in tune with the reality and existentialism of everyday life.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's urbane nature, pristine academic and professional backgrounds, patriotic disposition, love for God and humanity as well as his avowed determination to contribute to Nigeria's growth are attributes that keep him far ahead of his contemporaries, both within and outside politics.

NOWHERE IN HOUSE REPORT WAS CORRUPTION ALLEGATION LEVELLED AGAINST OSINBAJO– PRESIDENCY



*Recent attacks on VP contrived, Says Political Adviser

Nowhere in the House of Representative Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness report was there an allegation of corruption against the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and this is why claims against him from some quarters regarding the report are mere political contrivances intended to distract him.

This view was expressed by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the Presidential Political Adviser, while responding to press inquiries about information circulating in the social media on plots to target the Vice President hatched at the meeting of a major political party abroad, regarding 2019 election.

“It is evident that the opposition are in search of company for their acts of grand corruption which brought Nigeria to its knees as of May 2015. They cannot find that company in the Vice President,” the adviser noted.

He continued: “first, there is nowhere in the politicized House of Reps report where the VP was accused of corruption or embezzlement of funds. I challenge them to quote any word or sentence that makes such an accusation.

“Even the House Committee Chairman has said there was no allegation of corruption against him. The only allegation is that he approved funds for the emergency operations in the North East from the consolidated Revenue Fund not budgeted funds. This conclusion we have proved to be false. The funds approved were from budgeted funds, specifically the Rice Levy,”

Sen. Ojudu said the recent NEMA probe report which social media account disclosed may have been authored at that meeting in a foreign country, was one of such efforts plotted to attack the Buhari administration by tarnishing the image of the Vice President.

“We have read reports in the media that the meeting in a foreign country of the major opposition party was centered on trying to attack the Buhari administration by targeting the Vice President using different tactics.

“It is now evident through the NEMA report, that the opposition is indeed making frantic efforts to tarnish the image of the Vice President,” he said.

He explained that even after Hon. Ali Isa, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness had publicly admitted that the Vice President was not mentioned in the report, the opposition still found it expedient to continue, baselessly, to attack the reputation of Prof. Osinbajo by claiming without proof or any shard of evidence that fraud was committed in the N5.8b Emergency Food Intervention Fund for North-East.

He asserted that the presidential approvals were well within lawful authority of the then Acting President.

“Let us remember that the approval granted by Prof. Osinbajo was in response to the threat of hunger and starvation based on information received from the United Nation World Food Programme in April, 2017. The organization had issued a warning that it would be reducing its vital support to about 1.8 million IDPs by as much as 85%, due to the corresponding reduction in funding by the donor countries. Around the same time, the United Nations Commission for Refugees in Geneva also warned of the growing risk of mass deaths from starvation among people living in the conflict areas.

“Besides, it is also important to note that the procurement process was not ignored in the release of funds, as alleged. Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act makes provision for emergency procurement, in which case the procuring entity is allowed to engage in direct contracting for goods and file a report thereafter with the Bureau of Public Procurement.


“Also, the BPP issued a ‘certificate of no objection’ to NEMA on the emergency procurement, and this addresses all issues relating to the alleged breach of due process,” Sen. Ojudu said.

The presidential adviser then added that the action of the opposition in the ensuing political drama indicates that the NEMA probe report is being politicized and is only a lame attempt at ruining the good works of the Buhari administration.

According to the Political Adviser, “the immediate past presidency have been unable to explain how in the years that Nigeria earned the highest revenue under its watch -$381B, when compared to any other administration since 1999, there is little or nothing to show for it.”

“We know what is happening, but the administration will not be distracted. Our goals and objectives to put Nigeria on the solid path of greatness is now unstoppable and Prof. Osinbajo will not relent in that effort,” the presidential adviser concluded.

OSINBAJO WILL NOT BE DISTRACTED– PRESIDENCY
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*Recent attacks on VP contrived, Says Sen Ojudu

Recent desperate attempts to smear the person and reputation of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will not deter or distract him or the Buhari administration from the work of protecting and empowering every Nigerian.

This view was expressed by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the Presidential Aide on Political Matters, while responding to press inquiries about information circulating in the social media on plots to target the Vice President hatched at the meeting of a major political party abroad, regarding 2019 election.

Sen. Ojudu said the recent NEMA probe report which social media account say may have been outlined at that meeting in a foreign country, was one of such efforts plotted to attack the Buhari administration by tarnishing the image of the Vice President.

“We have read reports in the media that the meeting in a foreign country of the major opposition party was centered on trying to attack the Buhari administration by targeting the Vice President using different tactics.

“It is now evident through the NEMA report, that the opposition is indeed making frantic efforts to tarnish the image of the Vice President,” he said.

He explained that even after Hon. Ali Isa, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness had publicly admitted that the Vice President was not mentioned in the report, the opposition still found it expedient to continue, baselessly, to attack the reputation of Prof. Osinbajo by claiming without proof or any shard of evidence that fraud was committed in the N5.8b Emergency Food Intervention Fund for North-East.
Giving more insights on the issue, Sen. Ojudu said, contrary to insinuations in some quarters, there were no violations in approval of N5.8b Emergency Food Intervention Fund for North-East and the then Acting President did no wrong in approving fund for the emergency intervention.

He insisted that the presidential approvals were well within the clear constitutional authority of the then Acting President.

“First of all, the action was in response to the threat of hunger and starvation based on strong warning received from the United Nation World Food Programme in April, 2017. The organization had issued a warning that it would be reducing its vital support to about 1.8 million IDPs by as much as 85%, due to the corresponding reduction in funding by the donor countries. Around the same time, the United Nations Commission for Refugees in Geneva also warned of the growing risk of mass deaths from starvation among people living in the conflict areas.

“Secondly, it is also important to note that the procurement process was not ignored in the release of funds, as alleged. Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act makes provision for emergency procurement, in which case the procuring entity is allowed to engage in direct contracting for goods and file a report thereafter with the Bureau of Public Procurement.


“Also, the BPP issued a ‘certificate of no objection’ to NEMA on the emergency procurement, and this addresses all issues relating to the alleged breach of due process,” Sen. Ojudu said.

The presidential aide said the action of the opposition in the ensuing political drama indicates that the NEMA probe report is being politicized and only a lame attempt at ruining the good works of the Buhari administration.

He said the Vice President will however not be distracted by the naysayers’ actions to discourage the Buhari administration from providing for the common man or to abandon the Social Investment Programme which it has budgeted half a trillion for in the past two years.

Sen. Ojudu added that the administration will continue to cater for Nigerians especially those at the bottom of the ladder, regardless of the antics of the opposition party.

“We know what is happening, but the administration will not be distracted. Our goals and objectives to put Nigeria on the solid path of greatness is now unstoppable and Prof. Osinbajo will not relent in that effort,” the presidential aide concluded

President Buhari Has Done More For The South East Region Than Any Other Administration - Dr Thompson Udenwa

There is no iota of doubt that the President Buhari administration has been the kindest, most generous and most receptive of the people of the South East. Forget sentiments and the curse of our brother Goodluck Jonathan that has blinded our eyes to the favourable bias President Buhari has for the region. Oh yes, favourable bias.

Perhaps in the bid to show that he loves our people, President Buhari has done the double whenever it comes to the South East.

Take a look at the historical cries of marginalisation that the south east has cried and place them side-by-side with who is working on them.

Out of a total of 250 ongoing Federal Highway Projects as at December 2017 across the country, 49 are situate in the South East, the highest in any region.

Key roads are being constructed and rehabilitated in our region: the Enugu - Portharcourt express way is a ready example. The National Housing Scheme is in all states of the South East and is currently ongoing.

Our Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha - a project as old as 2012 - only received a boost when President Buhari came on board. It is about 80% completed. The Mausoleum is there for people to see, I have also seen pictures on social media - it is real.

There is also the critical Second Niger Bridge. A critical item of infrastructure that has been on the promising lips of politicians years before the millennium. Yet the closest we saw to its reality was drawings and pictorial presentations.

Today the very hope of a Second Niger Bridge is more than paper work: it is in fruition, pillars have been sunk in, and piling work has gone to over 50%. It has moved from promise to reality.

Across the South East are terrible roads that evince government neglect over the decades. What is more surprising is that we have had powerful Nigerians from this region who have only gone to Abuja to fill up their pockets, buy jets and live large. Forgetting the welfare of Ndigbo.

Today the scornful sights of dreaded unmotorable roads has been turned to construction sites across the South Eastern region.

As an Ndigbo man, I am pleased with this. We don’t deserve promises, we deserve development.

Lest I forget, the lightning of the Ariaria market in Aba is another testimony to sincerity of the Buhari administration.

The Social Investment Programmes have not discriminated the South East, every state has a fair share of the government’s investment in the poorest peoples. There is no discrimination.

There is so much more I could list. I have chosen just a few items to highlight how much this three and a half year old administration has done - with very little resources. It tells us that there is sincerity of purpose, there is a desire to deliver and there should be a chance for consolidation.

The people of the South East don’t need promises from insincere political nomads who could have carried out the promises they make now then when they had the power and resources to do so. Our people need work done. And we are seeing this with President Buhari. He has my support.

Dr. Thompson Udenwa

FACT SHEET ON EMERGENCY FOOD INTERVENTION FUND FOR NORTH-EAST



-In accordance with the National Disaster management framework, the function of the NEMA Governing Council which is chaired by the Vice President is as follows:


As chairman of the NEMA Council, the Vice President shall ensure that

(b) Subject to the provisions of the NEMA Act, make, alter and revoke rules and regulations for carrying on the functions of the Agency;

(c) Fix the terms and conditions of service, including remuneration of the employees of the Agency after consultation with the Federal Civil Service Commission; and

(d) Do such other things which in the opinion of the Agency are necessary to ensure the efficient performance of the functions of the Agency.

-There were no violations in approval of N5.8b Emergency Food Intervention Fund for North-East


-The presidential approvals were well within the clear constitutional authority of the Acting President.

-The action was in response to the threat of hunger and starvation based on strong warnings received from the United Nation in April, 2017.

-The procurement process was not ignored in the release of funds as alleged.

-Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act makes provision for emergency procurement, in which case the procuring entity is allowed to engage in direct contracting for goods and file a report thereafter with the Bureau of Public Procurement.



-In any situation where the companies were considered under emergency and alleged to have fake documents, the liability lies on the owners of the companies to prove otherwise.

-Still on alleged violations; NEMA wrote to BPP for “No Objection Certificate”. The BPP replied, confirmed that the situation was Emergency and did not fault our action in any way.

-On the issue of documentation of the companies, the submission to BPP was made with the available document submitted to NEMA during the procurement process.

-Prof. Osinbajo did not approve the release of N33 billion but N5,036,644,933.26, after excluding bagging costs and this was pursuant to the recommendation that bagging, transportation and other logistics were best handled by NEMA.


-The then Acting President personally supervised the process from planning to distribution. He held several meetings on strategies for distribution some of which were attended by representatives of the National Assembly like Senator Abdulaziz Nyako.



-Prof. Osinbajo subsequently accompanied by relevant stakeholders inspected the electronic truck-tracking unit established in Maiduguri for the purpose of monitoring the transportation and flagged off the food distribution on the 8th of June, 2017.


-No product or grain meant for the IDPs got rotten.

-Probably the Reps’ call for the resignation of the NEMA DG might have been as a result of their inability to corner contracts for themselves as allegations of contract award beyond the DG’s limit are false.

-The NEMA Act requires that the DG should secure an approval from the President, which he did before the award.

-The suspension of the six NEMA directors was based on the findings of the EFCC interim report on the agency.

-They were suspended to pave way for a smooth and full-scale investigation as there were findings that related to questionable transactions on accounts linked to them.

ATIKU’S CORRUPTION- NUHU RIBADU

“With its reputation on the rise, the EFCC then turned its attention to smugglers. Nigeria was losing millions of dollars to smuggling.”

“Some of the country’s crooked politicians had started amassing their immense wealth while working at customs, while others obtained foreign exchange at the cheap official exchange rate to finance fictitious imports”.

“One surprise raid in the port of Onne near Port Harcourt in 2004- the largest port in Nigeria- revealed that 80 percent of merchandise was smuggled in with the complicity of corrupt customs and other law enforcement officials.”

Following the raid, the EFCC, with the support of customs services, took over the operation of the port for three months to ensure proper procedures were followed. As a result, some 30 billion Naira ($200 million) of duties was collected, and valuable contraband seized and handed over to customs. Similar operations were conducted in other ports around Nigeria.

Excerpt from the book, My Story, by Nuhu Ribadu, published 2010.

Contradictions in Atiku's policy document

Given the level of noise and chest-thumping that preceded the release of Atiku Abubakar's policy document one had expected something fantastic and novel. Sadly, like most things ever linked to him, the document is filled with contradictions and outright lies.

~Atiku says if elected he would sell more national assets including our petroleum refineries and the NNPC. Can we ever trust a man who sold NEPA, NITEL, Nigeria Airways, Tafawa Balewa Square etc to his friends and cronies? Never.

~ Atiku Abubakar as Vice President for 8 years was Chairman of the National Council on Privatization. Strategic national assets were sold under controversial circumstances. Nigeria was shortchanged in the process.

~Atiku promised to finance his infrastructure plan with the same Sukuk interest free bond introduced by the APC government. The noble thing to do is simply to commend the Buhari administration before stealing his idea.

~His party, PDP, had consistently criticized the Sukuk bond option as an attempt by the APC to Islamize Nigeria, even though Britain, which is not an Islamic country, has since embraced the idea.

~Atiku promised to create 3 million jobs per year, which is going to be another scam. This is a man who recently claimed to have 50,000 people on his payroll and within days claimed again that the figure was 100,000. He and his surrogates took cover under darkness when they were asked by Nigerians to provide evidence of the claims.

~He also promised to lift 50 million people out of extreme poverty by 2025, among other unrealistic things he wants to do by that year. He must have forgotten that he had repeatedly promised to serve for only one term, if elected, and that one term expires in 2023.

~He made a lot of wild claims about security challenges around the country without acknowledging that the present administration has done a lot to arrest the situation in recent months. He also failed to remind Nigerians that militancy in the Niger Delta was at its peak when he was Vice President and that kidnapping which later became a thriving business, started with the Presidency-backed kidnapping of Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra state in 2003.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

PRESS RELEASE BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI PRESENTS "THE NEXT LEVEL" TO NIGERIANS

As campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections officially kick off tomorrow, President Muhammadu Buhari has decided to first showcase his achievements and projections for the next four years to Nigerians before the official flag-off of the campaigns. The event for this presentation is tagged "THE NEXT LEVEL" which will take place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa on Sunday, November 18, 2018, from 5pm to 8pm. It would be broadcast live from different T.V stations and will be a precursor to the official flag-off of the campaigns.

At the event, the President is expected to unveil two documents: one that will highlight his achievements in the last three and half years and will also contain other facts to guide supporters in the course of the campaigns; and the other document is titled "THE NEXT LEVEL", which captures the projections of the Buhari administration in the next four years if given the mandate again by Nigerians.

A formal announcement as to the official flag-off of the campaigns would be made in the next few days.

Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Director, Strategic Communications,
President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation
(Official Spokesperson).

7 Things You Should Know On Then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s Approval For 5.8 Billion Emergency Food Intervention Fund For North East

- IDPS and their host communities in the North East faced very severe food shortages throughout the North East.

- The United Nations World food Programme - a major food supplier to the region - had warned that it would reduce its support to about 1.8 Million IDPs by as much as 85%.

- The Federal Government set up a Strategic Food Intervention Plan for the affected states.

- It was urgent to purchases to grains and thus the CBN made the proposal for the approval of 30.9 Million Tonnes of food for the IDPs.

- The then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo approved 5.036 Billion for the purchase of these grains and another sum of 829 Million for the logistics, security, personnel and other contingency costs as requested by NEMA.

- The approvals were consitutitional and flowed from the provisions of Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act which makes provisions for making purchases without getting following the Appropriation process - this is called an Emergency Procurement.

- Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act is employed where the country or a part of it is seriously threatened by disaster, it on this ground permits a government entity to make an emergency procurement and later report to the Bureau of Public Procurement for a certification immediately after the situation.