₦airaland Forum

REASONS WHY NO PAST HEAD OF STATE ATTENDED THE JUNE 12 DEMOCRACY DAY CELEBRATION:

OBASANJO – Having lost the last election as the kingmaker of the PDP saw it as a humiliation that the Buhari administration did what he failed to do as President for eight years.

JONATHAN – Was going to attend but was quoted as saying “he was afraid of Obasanjo”, hence his reason not to attend June 12 celebrations.

BABANGIDA – Who annulled the June 12 elections and has not been sighted at any public function for years feared the backlash that would trail his action and decision 26 years ago.

GOWON – Who gracefully attended the inauguration ceremony on May 29 fell ill and was unavoidably absent.

SHONEKAN – Who largely benefitted from the 1993 election knew that Nigerians will mock him for his role in ensuring MKO Abiola was denied his mandate.

ABDULSALAMI – Did not attend the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations because the elected president (MKO Abiola) who died under questionable circumstances under his watch.

The truth is that none of the past Presidents or Head of States can do anything about June 12 as Democracy Day. The man who they have called names and labeled as dictator is the one who re-wrote the history books and restored honour to Nigeria. Plus, he has also strengthened our democracy.

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REASONS WHY NO PAST HEAD OF STATE ATTENDED THE JUNE 12 DEMOCRACY DAY CELEBRATION:

OBASANJO – Having lost the last election as the kingmaker of the PDP saw it as a humiliation that the Buhari administration did what he failed to do as President for eight years.

JONATHAN – Was going to attend but was quoted as saying “he was afraid of Obasanjo”, hence his reason not to attend June 12 celebrations.

BABANGIDA – Who annulled the June 12 elections and has not been sighted at any public function for years feared the backlash that would trail his action and decision 26 years ago.

GOWON – Who gracefully attended the inauguration ceremony on May 29 fell ill and was unavoidably absent.

SHONEKAN – Who largely benefitted from the 1993 election knew that Nigerians will mock him for his role in ensuring MKO Abiola was denied his mandate.

ABDULSALAMI – Did not attend the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations because the elected president (MKO Abiola) who died under questionable circumstances under his watch.

The truth is that none of the past Presidents or Head of States can do anything about June 12 as Democracy Day. The man who they have called names and labeled as dictator is the one who re-wrote the history books and restored honour to Nigeria. Plus, he has also strengthened our democracy.

Copied.

Shunning June 12 Democracy Day celebrations is the clearest indication that most of our past Presidents and Heads of States were only about their selfish goals and not about Nigeria. They will do everything possible to make Nigerians know they are sulking; this includes shunning Democracy Day celebration.

The skewed thinking of many Nigerians and their joy that former Presidents and Head of States did not attend the Democracy Day celebrations is a pointer to our problems. Not only is their joy misplaced, it is very ridiculous.

As past Presidents and Heads of States who have claimed at different times that the June 12 election was wrongly annulled, one would expect that even if they failed to declare June 12 as Democracy Day, they will at least grace the maiden celebration.

But not our past Presidents and Heads of States, they have their own agenda and they do not want to see Nigeria celebrate anything. What is more appalling is that some of them have claimed to be true democrats, how can this be?

Their actions and utterances show that they were never democrats, speak less, leaders. A leader is a person who defines and exhibits moral and ethical courage and sets an example for everyone else. What kinds of example have this lot set?

It is often said that true leadership is all about developing people and helping others reach their full potential, please how have our past Presidents helped Nigeria to reach its goals? The election is over, the case is in court, that does not mean that they should carry their hate and divisive embryo everywhere they go.

Nigeria is much more than an election and Nigeria is in dire need of true leaders, leaders who do not politicize everything. What is more painful is that African leaders graced the occasion that our own past Presidents shunned. What an irony, Nigeria who claims to be the ‘Giant of Africa’ displaying its problems in open glare.

I think it is a shame on all the past leaders save for General Yakubu Gowon who I believe was unavoidably absent. As for President Goodluck Jonathan who many applauded for his big heart in the 2015 election, I think he might be losing the plot. We know who Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is and we have seen how he is trying to drag Nigeria down because of selfish reasons.

Only yesterday Babagana Kingibe confirmed that Obasanjo was one of the architects of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
President Jonathan should not go down that route. He should not allow the same democracy that he preserved remember him in the negative. He is the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari can declare June 12 a Democracy Day.

Ladidi Mohammed in Abuja

Take Reno Omokri Serious to your own Peril

Just read a letter Reno Omokri wrote to Osinbajo on Leah Shiabu. I agree the govt should double efforts on her release especially because she is the only christian still in captivity. I price Leah Shiabu's tenacity to her Christian faith and acknowledge her as my hero. I know some children of perdition have got opportunity to build their lie on islamization agenda that is real only in their figment of imagination. These enemies of Nigeria are out to destroy our well price democracy using religion and ethnicity as a facade to cover their rapacious greed and primitive spirit of wealth acquisition

However before I get confused, was Reno not an aide to GEJ when Chibok girls were captivated? Common why is the complacent Reno taking this Leah Shaibu case so serious now? Or is Reno activism and religiosity a product of the frustration of losing elections? I see Reno a man that gets bitter after each electoral victory. His bitterness began after GEJ lost elections. Maybe he is calculating the lost of an opportunity for a private jet if looters where still in power. His bitterness has surfaced after the Dubia plan has failed and Buhari has been legally inaugurated after all efforts to criminally stop the inauguration

Forget Reno when he carries the Bible and pretend before you, forget a man with double standards. I am the last to take this greedy demon with the Bible serious. If you want to take Reno serious, you are at your peril.

Let me not be too hard, Reno sarcasm accelerate to a geometrical level after electoral victory. The Dubai promise Atiku made for him have been defeated again by PMB victory so expect more of a paranoid Pastor Reno. I am expecting more criticism from Reno, politics appears to have been his soul source of hope to participate in the sharing loots by the corrupt friends he surrounds himself with. He chose corruption and worked with the most corrupt. Abeg leave Reno because everything he does is in accord with anything belle face.

Joseph Odok PhD Esq

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has praised 83-year-old Muslim Cleric, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar as a hero who deserves honour for saving Christians following a religious crisis in Plateau.

He lauded the Muslim Cleric for saving lives of hundreds of persons fleeing from attacks by suspected bandits in Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, described him as a hero.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he received Abubakar; the Village Head, Damafulul Mangai; other community leaders and a delegation which included diplomats from the US, UK and the European Union.

Abubakar, who is Hausa and the Chief Imam of a mosque in Yelwan Gindi Akwati village, in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, alongside his assistant Umar Abdullahi, who is Fulani, saved the lives of over 200 persons when suspected bandits attacked communities in the LGA.

The reported attack took place on Saturday June 23, 2018, on Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where scores of persons were killed by suspected bandits. Abubakar reportedly hid over 200 persons, who had fled from nearby communities, inside the mosque and in his personal house, until the attackers left. Many of those the Muslim Cleric provided shelter for were from the Berom ethnic group which are predominantly Christians.

Reports indicated that Abubakar, in defending “my guests”, insisted that the attackers would have to kill him if they refused his pleas not to attack those he was hiding. At a point, the Imam was said to be on his knees and then rolling on the floor to appease the attackers.

Describing Abubakar’s act as heroic, the Vice President noted that the Imam had done so much more to promote peace by his singular acts than most politicians could do and so deserves all the commendation and high honour.

Prof. Osinbajo urged politicians to avoid using religion and tribal sentiment to create division among people, noting that Abubakar has demonstrated to leaders that the way to resolve whatever conflict is not by violence, but a demonstration of love.

Turning to the Imam, the VP said, “I commend you for your wonderful act, Imam Abubakar. Yours is one of the most courageous acts any man can possibly do, by offering your own life, for others especially those who are not of your tribe or faith,” VP’s spokesperson Laolu Akande said in a statement.

“This is one of the most compelling stories I have heard. The love an individual can show for others not from their own tribe or religion.”

The Vice President urged all Nigerians despite tribe and religion to eschew bitterness and embrace peace and harmonious living.

He said, “It is far easier for people to create religious tensions between Christians or Muslims through their acts or words. And in a community where people have lived together in harmony and peace for so long, it shows how much a little of such tension created, in a matter of hours, can destroy harmony and peace built over the years.”
Before the attacks, the community had reportedly lived in peace.

Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo noted that, “Most people in this country do not see the differences in tribe or religion, but it is easy to stoke religious tensions and divisions. So, one must be careful of those who want to play politics and create differences using religion and tribe. This is not just in Nigeria alone, but all over the world. No tribe or religion is superior to another.

“When people have been wronged, it is always easier for people to accept that revenge or vengeance is the right approach. But as you know, vengeance breeds bitterness and hatred, and doesn’t solve the problems created, but causes more deaths and harm.”

According to the Vice President, it was wrong for anyone to kill in the name of religion, noting that Abubakar’s incredible act of courage in saving others passed messages to both Christians and Muslims, and people of different tribes and religion.

He said, the Iman sent two important messages.

Firstly, Imam Abubakar sent a message to Christians and the Berom community “that their own lives are as valuable as his own life. This is a very powerful message.
Secondly, according to the VP, he sent a message to Muslims by keeping people of other faith safe in a mosque, which is a sacred place; “that is a strong message to Muslims on the sanctity of live, regardless of faith or tribe, and that other religions and lives are equally as important to God. The Imam did not preach this by word but by deeds of love, by putting his life on the line to make a point.

“Like President Muhammadu Buhari said, anyone who says “Allah Akbar”, and then goes to kill someone either does not know his faith or is insane. It is the same in the Christian faith. The gospel of Jesus Christ says we must first love, even our enemies and those that despitefully use us. And anyone who preaches something different is certainly not speaking from the Bible or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The Vice President recalled that President Buhari had said during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops that, all through his life as a public servant, he believed that people should be judged by their performance and character, and not by tribe or faith only, and also that everyone must have a right to worship God the way they chose.

The Vice President further said the Federal Government would look at further ways to improve the communities in Barkin Ladi, and others affected by ethnic/religious crisis.

“We will look at how the Plateau State government and Federal Government can help in the rehabilitation process. Government has been doing this in phases, to restore areas devastated by crisis. But we would look at ways to help further,” he said.

Abubakar, as well as his deputy, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi, were recently honoured by the US Embassy in Nigeria for the heroic deeds.

“Imam Abubakar should be celebrated everywhere in this world, and I am happy that the US Ambassador has honoured him with an award. It is well deserved. We are very proud of what they have done. For putting their lives at risk to ensure the safety of other tribes and people of different faith,” Osinbajo said.

The VP also commended the Village Head, Mangai, for being supportive of a peaceful community “where everyone of different tribes can live together in peace”, while also thanking the US Embassy for its role in promoting peace by honoring Abubakar.

In his remarks, Abubakar, who spoke through an interpreter, thanked the Vice President, noting that he didn’t want this to be publicized, but he felt that God chose him to do what he did to be used as an example. The Imam said he told the attackers at some point that they had to kill him first before harming his ‘guests’. That statement dissuaded them, he added.

“I pleaded with the attackers in the mud and rain not to harm my guests. By God’s grace, no one was hurt. God created mankind differently, but he wants us to live together in peace and harmony, and not harm each other. Such incident (the attack) is rare in my community, but I hope such does not happen in my village again,” he said.

The visit of the delegation at the instance of the US Deputy Chief of Mission was composed of the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington; Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy in Nigeria, David Young; another senior US Embassy official, Kathleen Fitzgibbon; and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Schlagheck.

Source: https://www.chronicle.ng/2019/05/imam-abdullahi-abubakar-is-a-hero-deserves-honour-osinbajo/

NIGERIAN GOVERNORS LAUD OSINBAJO’S LEADERSHIP, PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
Nigerian governors have paid glowing tributes to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his leadership and values as chairman of National Economic Council (NEC). Prof. Osinbajo who chaired the valedictory NEC on Thursday thanked members of NEC, comprising of governors of all the states of the Federation, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and others. He also thanked them for their solid support and cooperation over the past four years and their commitment to the socio-economic development of Nigeria regardless of party or geopolitical zone. In their remarks, council members representing each geopolitical zone, including Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, commended the Vice President for his chairmanship and leadership style, and humility, noting that the VP treated all equally regardless of party affiliations, The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, noted that the VP “led a strong team through various areas requiring attention in the economy. He made robust efforts in security giving direction, confidence and comfort.” In the same vein, the Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said, the Vice President “provided leadership and in the past four years, he exhibited humility, giving everyone a sense of belonging.” Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode said VP’s leadership produced a “robust and purposeful NEC group, consistently stayed together pursing same goals, adding that subsequent governors would have to emulate their predecessors.” He also thanked the VP for the payment of backlog of salaries when they just got into government. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel noted that “Governors never had cause to be known by party lines, because VP provided quality leadership and encouraged freedom of expression. He accommodated every comment made, contributions in the past four years. “The Unity in the council is unprecedented. He showed concern during the pipeline vandalism, brought peace and happiness in the region and his visit back then is still fresh in their memories. “Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria is also a success recorded by the Council,” he added. Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha said the VP “is a patriotic Nigerian, who smiles over issues when one expects him to react negatively “The humility he displays is very rare. There’s great difference between NEC of the past and NEC under VP’s leadership.
“The speed with which issues regarding the country were handled were second to none. NEC became a family under the leadership of the VP.”

source: https://www.chronicle.ng/2019/05/nigerian-governors-laud-osinbajos-leadership-problem-solving-skills/

NIGERIAN GOVERNORS LAUD OSINBAJO’S LEADERSHIP, PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, commended the Vice President for his chairmanship and leadership style, and humility, noting that the VP treated all equally regardless of party affiliations,

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, noted that the VP “led a strong team through various areas requiring attention in the economy. He made robust efforts in security giving direction, confidence and comfort.”

Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode said VP’s leadership produced a “robust and purposeful NEC group, consistently stayed together pursing same goals, adding that subsequent governors would have to emulate their predecessors.” Also Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said, the Vice President “provided leadership and in the past four years, he exhibited humility, giving everyone a sense of belonging.” He also thanked the VP for the payment of backlog of salaries when they just got into government.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel noted that “Governors never had cause to be known by party lines, because VP provided quality leadership and encouraged freedom of expression. He accommodated every comment made, contributions in the past four years.

Source: https://www.chronicle.ng/2019/05/nigerian-governors-laud-osinbajos-leadership-problem-solving-skills/

VP Osinbajo never made such statement, he never criticized IPOB and he never supported any act of the Fulani Herdsmen attacks on innocent citizens. He has always been a peace maker and lover of all Nigerians.This statement was only aimed to tarnish his good name n reputation.

THE VICE PRESIDENT NEVER MADE ANY DEROGATORY COMMENTS AGAINST IPOB AND THE FULANI HERDSMEN CLASHES; BEWARE OF FAKE NEWS!

The Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo never condemned IPOB in a divisive and controversial manner nor supported any act of the Fulani Herdsmen attacks on innocent citizens, which some mischief makers fabricated in a statement on the social media.

The Vice President has always been a peace maker and lover of all Nigerians.
The malicious statement was only aimed at damning his reputation and love for the Igbos and Fulanis.

Nigeria is a great country and no one should ever support any form of divide by spreading fake news in a bid to stair hatred and violence.

Four Things Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Means to Nigeria

1. Hope for Nigerians (through the Social Investments Programmes): Vice President Yemi Osinbajo oversees what is regarded as the largest social investments programme in sub-Saharan Africa. The National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP) comprises of the N-Power Programme, currently employing 500,000 graduates; the GEEP loans (Market Moni, FarmerMoni andTrader Moni), providing credit to over 3 million Nigerian traders, artisans and businessmen; the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, feeding over 9.5 million children in public schools in 31 states nationwide; and the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, putting disposable funds in the hands of over 300,000 of the poorest families in Nigeria.

The Social Investment Programmes are the most successful social investment programmes ever implemented in Nigeria. Designed, promoted and managed by Vice President Osinbajo, they have lifted millions of Nigerians out of poverty. Indeed, the N-SIPs are is giving hope to millions of Nigerians nationwide and helping them to improve their lives.

It is not surprising that only a week ago, President Muhammadu Buhari commended him for the success of the programmes - like the World Bank and many more. The commendations are evidence of hard-work, transformational policies and dedication. They are deserved as well.

2. Improving the Economy: As a recession seemed inevitable in 2016 - giving the absence of any savings by previous administrations, falling of the price of oil in the international market, the destruction of Nigeria’s oil assets by militants, and the monotonic nature of Nigeria’s economy - Nigeria needed a team to steer the ship out of the storm. And Prof. Osinbajo provided the lead of this team.

The Niger Delta New Vision, which is the blueprint of the Buhari administration to develop the Niger Delta, is being spearheaded by the Vice President on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari. His leadership and forthrightness to ensure development was clear for all to see during his tour of the region and meetings with Niger Delta elders. Osinbajo’s leadership acumen has not only helped rebuild the trust of many who had been skeptical of the Federal Government’s New Vision, it has also contributed in no small measure to the peace and stability in the region. This has greatly helped to improve oil revenue that had suffered greatly from past restiveness, and so the country’s economy.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is the head of Nigeria’s Economic Management Team. His leadership was able to bring the country out of its worst recession to hit it in decades. Since the country’s exit from the recession, he has overseen the economy grow from negative, and headed to a double digit, even beyond the predictions of the IMF and the World Bank. The journey with his captainship has been a steady and sure rise: diversification has been successfully pursued, with increased inputs now being seen from the non-oil sectors in our GDP and revenue; the country’s foreign reserves have doubled in just four years; the minimum wage increase is set for implementation despite Nigeria’s low earnings from oil; these and more show a focused, dogged, resilient and witty economic management team – led by Professor Osinbajo.

Also, the Vice President is chair of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which was inaugurated in July 2016, as the administration's flagship initiative to reform the business environment, attract investment and diversify the economy to reduce the nation's reliance on oil. Since its setup, PEBEC has spearheaded reforms that have improved the nation’s economic environment through its Ease of Doing Business reforms. This ensured Nigeria moved up 24 places on the World bank’s Ease of Doing business index and earned the country commendation as one of the top 10 reforming economies in the world. Also, the Vice President has helped launch the administration’s Energizing Economies project which provides solar power to markets and economic clusters for small businesses and petty traders and so, drives economic growth.


3. Leadership: Seen as youthful, agile, contemporary and versatile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stands out as the significant link between Nigeria’s young population to the President Buhari administration. And he doesn’t stop at that. He is a mentor to hundreds of young Nigerians through his platform, Act Now Group. His aides are comprised mostly of a tech-savvy generation of young upwardly mobile youths. Osinbajo gladly welcomes opportunities to mentor young people to become excellent in their respective fields and contribute their quota to nation-building. He walks the talks and is a bridge-builder, for both the young and old generations.

As Nigeria’s number two citizen he has taken positions that prove his deft appreciation of leadership: he took mended the fence of feuding members of his party APC. As Acting President, he took hefty but pertinent decisions: he appointed a Chief Justice where there was a vacuum, he unflinchingly sacked a recalcitrant head of Nigeria’s security services, he signed Executive Orders to improve Nigeria’s business community. As a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he is a leader of thoughts who has left indelible marks of astute thoughts in Nigeria’s jurisprudential space. His prominent role as Head of Nigeria’s Economic Management Team needs no second mention.

Just recently, in demonstration of true leadership, the Vice President temporarily delayed his trip to the airport for an official assignment to engage with some Abuja residents protesting on the highway over alleged land grabbing by members of the Nigerian Army. He subsequently met with leaders of the community and also Nigerian Army to ensure the issues are resolved amicably. Osinbajo has displayed such exemplary leadership on many occasions.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo means leadership to Nigeria today – cutting across professions, ethnic groups and age demographics.

4. Bringing people closer to government: From Oyo to Owerri, Maiduguri to Yenagoa, everywhere he goes, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has a way with people that instantly magnets them to his inborn charm and aura of personality. Whether in the wide corridors of power, in the narrow passages in marketplaces or wading through flooded areas around Nigeria, VP Osinbajo is at home with both the high and mighty, as well as the low and ordinary Nigerians. Simply put, Osinbajo’s deep connection with people goes deeper than the surface. It is neither for the camera or for the klieg lights or for photo-ops, just the epitome of a man whose life and career has been built on the foundations of championing social causes well before his university days, and giving back to society through his talents, skills, and resources.

Recently, during the launch of the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme in Ekiti State, the Vice President was pictured sitting with one of the schoolgirls in her classroom while the pupils enjoyed their meal. Like a dotting father, Osinbajo leaned closer to listen to what the little girl was saying at the time. Later that day, he tweeted, “She spoke, I listened. She was the boss of me today (insert smile emoji).” It felt like a photo-op moment, but it was more than that. It succinctly captured a man devoid of airs, one who embodied the essence of true leadership driven by compassion and genuine concern for people’s welfare. Everywhere he goes, his connection with people is evident. Everywhere he goes, it is evident that people, Nigerians, simply love this man. Sometimes, the crowd is so overwhelming, that Osinbajo’s security and protocol struggle to contain them. True compassion cannot be masked in photo-ops. Osinbajo is the real deal. He brings a human face to governance like never seen before from one holding the Number 2 position in Africa’s most populous country.

At countless events, despite his busy itinerary and schedules, and retinue of security, Osinbajo takes out time to listen to a child, a young or old man or woman, who wouldn’t have had a whiff of opportunity to come close to him in any situation. He listens to everyone, regardless of status or social class. Whether it was that woman that was moved to pray for him in the market, or a group of three generations of a grateful family he visited during one of his family chats, or the excited mai suya who couldn’t believe his eyes that Nigeria’s Vice President actually stopped by his stall to engage him in a conversation and then purchase his wares, or those group of starry-eyed kids who surrounded him and listened with rapt attention, or those excited young men and women who just wanted to take selfies with this great man; Osinbajo’s deep connection with people shines through.

Osinbajo brings that quality of compassion into political leadership and governance, he goes to meet the people where they are, bringing government closer to ordinary people. He loves to be there, to feel the pulse of the people, with the people, so that he could help them to make their lives and situations better.

*says Buhari is for Muslims, Osinbajo for Christians*

Nigerians have blasted Reno Omokri, the former Social Media aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan for working tirelessly to divide Nigeria along religious lines.

Youths who attacked Mr. Omokri on Twitter said he was trying to ignite a civil war in Nigeria while living in California with his family.

Mr. Omokri had written on his official Twitter page that President Muhammadu Buhari is for the Muslims while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was for Christians sparking an outrage that he was trying to turn religions against each other.

He also claimed that President Buhari strived for Zainab Aliyu, who was wrongly accused to have transported Tramadol to Saudi Arabia freed because she was a Muslim while Leah Sharibu, a Christian who was abducted by Boko Haram terrorists was still in captivity.

Reacting to his claims, James Sunday Akinloye said Mr. Omokri was suffering from a self-induced post election traumatic stress disorder and that he needs to see a doctor.

“I must tell you that those who listen and follow Omokri are merely doing so to be entertained. We know Mr. Omokri don’t mean well for Nigeria. He only wants to ruffle things up so that the unsuspecting can ignite a violence in our country.

“He has forgotten so quickly that over 200 school girls were abducted during the Jonathan government and it took Buhari/Osinbajo to reunite most of them with their families.

He added that Mr. Omokri’s attempt to draw comparison between legitimate governments and a terrorist sect was baseless to say the least. He urged Nigerians to stay clear of Omokri and his ilks.

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa who is the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Foreign Relations and Diaspora said it’s not true that the Federal Government wasn’t working to have Leah Sharibu released.

“Leah’s case is different. She is held captive by terrorists. The Buhari administration is not leaving any stone unturned to get her back. We are optimistic she will return,” she said.

Similarly, Bernard Okri pointed out that both the President and Vice President do not represent the interest of any religious groups as they were both elected by Muslims and Christians.

“It’s petty that Mr. Omokri is trying to draw a religious divide in Nigeria just because he wants the country to burn. Nigerians should be weary of him and those who reside in the United States but are strategising to make Nigeria burn.

He also shamed Mr. Omokri for trying to draw Kiki Osinbajo, the daughter of the Vice President into the matter. “Mr. Omokri claims that he wants Ms. Sharibu rescued are lies. He takes pictures and brandishes the good life he is living but will never return to Nigeria to help free Leah Sharibu.

***Says "I must admit, VP was ahead of me", on TraderMoni, Homegrown School Feeding & co

President Muhammadu Buhari has heaped praises on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for driving Federal Government’s Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) and for drawing the government closer to the people.

It was a rare public demonstration of the President's affection and endorsement of his deputy, and he spoke generously and ex tempore, straight from the heart.

President Buhari spoke Monday night at the breaking of fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he hosted top government officials on Monday. He said the programmes driven by Prof Osinbajo have been “very successful”. According to the President, his deputy was ahead of him in pushing for the programmes as he was initially reluctant.

He said programmes like TraderMoni, MarketMoni, School Feeding Programme and other SIPs have reduced poverty and out-of-school pupils in Nigeria since implementation began.

“When I drive around the country, what upsets me the most is the state of poor people in this country. You see young people, the almajiris with torn clothes and plastic bowls. They are looking basically for what to eat.

“The question of education is a luxury. I think that the Nigerian elite are failing because I think we should have a programme that will at least guarantee some basic education for people no matter how poor they are.

“So, I welcome the Vice President’s initiative on feeding in schools. If you check in some of the communities the attendance in schools has improved because a lot children can get at least one good meal a day. But culturally, some elites are merciless; they don’t care about other people.”

He added that, “This MarketMoni, I have warned the Vice President that I don’t want him to be mobbed. The way women in the markets move to welcome him.

“These are very good initiatives, I must admit that they endeared many people to our government. The free meals, the N5,000, (Conditional Cash Transfer), N10,000, (TraderMoni) are fantastic programmes and I must admit that the Vice President did it and they have been very successful,” he said.

He then charged Nigerians to embrace peace and unity during and after the Ramadan. “For the remaining (I don’t count because it is still long before Ramadan ends) weeks, I wish you and your families a very good Ramadan, and may God give us the strength to last through,” President Buhari said.

Prof. Osinbajo, who spoke on behalf of the members of the cabinet, said that regardless of ethnic and religion affiliations Nigerians must continue to be their brothers’ keepers and must work towards building a united nation.

“I think is auspicious that this particular (end of) Ramadan falls at the eve of the new term in office.

“So, it is an opportunity for us to remind ourselves over the core mandates which is the welfare and security of majority of our people,’’ he said.


https://www.chronicle.ng/2019/05/buhari-heaps-praises-on-osinbajo-for-driving-fgs-social-investments-programmes/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday was in Bauchi, Northern Nigeria to commission projects built and completed by Governor Mohammed Abubakar.

Amongst other projects commissioned, the Vice President visited Barra, in Ningi Local Government  Area of the state where he commissioned an electrification project that will power 22 villages in the environs.

He was accompanied by Governor Abubakar who stated that the contract for the project was awarded at the cost of N589.79 million.

Also in attendance was the Federal Inland Revenue Chairman, Mr. Babtunde Fowler.

Giving the vote of thanks, the Emir of Ningi, Alh Yunusa Danyaya, commended the federal and state governments for citing various projects in the area.

Danyaya called for the creation of Burra Local Government Area out of the present Ningi Local Government Area of the state.

He also called on the Federal Government to allocate more projects to the area, considering its high population.

The Vice President who was overwhelmed by the outpouring of joy and support from the Emir and people of Bauchi also commissioned a shared facility for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Bauchi State Health Contributory scheme.

He also had his unique Family Chat in the home of Muhammed Musa Usman, one of the outstanding MSMEs entrepreneurs identified during the MSME Clinic organized in Bauchi State in October 2018. 

During his chat, he lauded Mr. Usman who previously was a scrap collector, now makes Suya grilling machines from scrap metals.

He also makes belts and shoes using abandoned tires. He currently employs seven people on his books and is looking to expand his business to further support his community.

The Vice President assured the people of Bauchi that President Muhammadu Buhari will make good his promise on making Nigeria a better place for all.

He said the Federal Government will continue its people-oriented policies and will ensure that Nigeria works for Nigerians. The visit coincides with a dusk to dawn curfew imposed on four communities located on the outskirts of Bauchi metropolis following breach of the peace in those areas.

As acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was widely praised for sacking Lawal Daura, the former DSS DG after an invasion of the National Assembly by the DSS operatives. The invasion was brewing tension in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital at the time, lawmakers were having a go at the gun wielding security men and a civil unrest was on hands but the VP quelled it in the most impactful fashion.

When he was faced with yet another looming unrest between the Nigerian Army and protesters in Abuja, he stepped in and quelled the tension thus averting what could have been a civilian-army clash as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai was scheduled to lay a foundation on the disputed hectares of land.

The protesters were ready to incite the military, wielding sticks and stones, this could have ignited the Nigerian Army to drastic measures in trying to safeguard the person of the Chief of Army Staff.

Maintaining the peace is one if the important function of the government in every society. The actions and inactions of the leaders always play a vital role in the carrying out of this duty.

As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a Professor of Constitutional Law, VP Osinbajo comes fully prepared to handle these challenges. So, when his official convoy was confronted with an angry and agitated mob of protesters on the Umaru Yar Adua Expressway on Tuesday May 7, 2019, he brought all his humility, compassion and humane experience to bear in the face of heavy provocation, even as he was on his way to Ekiti state to carry out important national duties.

The road had been blocked by this mass action against perceived oppression of the Gbagyi indigenes in that area, by the Nigerian Army which was setting up a facility on the land which the people have long laid claims of ancestral ownership. To this crowd, any government vehicle was also part of their oppressors, so to speak.

One major fact about this protest is that the indigenes have not channeled their grievances through the legal due process to truly ascertain the facts of the matter. Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) documents and records show the land to have been officially allocated to the Nigerian Army since 1979, and as re-verified in 2011 with the Right of Occupancy (R of O) issued in 1997.

The usual response we have seen in the past from power-drunk Nigerian government officials riding in a fully armed convoy would have been to clear the road with the use of force if resisted. Much to the surprise of the protesters who were oblivious to the persons in the heavy traffic that had built up on the highway, the VP chose to step down from his vehicle and walked all the way to the staging area, where he engaged them in dialogue. This gesture greatly averted any unpleasant outcomes as the people responded with surprise because they never expected to be accorded such respect of their views by the number 2 man in the country.

A listening leader is highly regarded by his people, even in the face of different views and opinions. It was no surprise when the war chants of the protesters got replaced with cheers of joy from the crowd as the traffic began to flow through the lanes that were previously blocked.

In all this, Osinbajo stood with the people and waited for the normal movement to reach his vehicle before leaving. This was a rare practical demonstration of good leadership that will surely leave a lasting impression on Nigerians.

Olaosebikan Theresa from Abuja

In the course of my work, I discovered that National Home Grown School Feeding Programme is actually a well conceived school feeding programme that will establish a safety net for the poor and eradicate malnutrition in school children while stimulating the national economy.

It is also important to note, that the mission to provide one free meal a day to pupils in public primary schools in Nigeria has endeared many school dropouts back to school.

So What Are The Benefits to the Children?

As a child psychologist and nutritionist I can say that, children benefit from nutritious balanced school meal which reduces hunger and improves education outcomes.

Also, research has shown that primary school is where children experience fastest growth in physical, mental and socio-emotional characteristics and that there should adequate provision nutritious meals, which will be aim at promotion of good health, proper growth of children and enhancing learning process and learning ability.

Simply put, cast your mind back to when you tried to study without food in your stomach, you will read one paragraph like 20 times and still not understand what you’re reading.

The NHGSFP also has huge economic benefits because it creates jobs which is the multiplier effect of the scheme.

There are 1, 900, 000 farmers and 103,913 cooks engaged across 31 states so far. This means that local farmers can sell their produce, thereby boosting the agriculture sector and the social economy status of both the cook and the farmer.

Apart from farmers and cooks, there are those hired to handle logistics, the meat sellers are also there, and this shows that the chain is indeed long.

Morenike Oladele writes from Ekiti

For those of us privileged to have listened to Commander Ebenezer Obey in his hay day, these lyrics were golden. “Ko si ogbon to le da, ko si iwa to le wu, ko si ona ti ole gba, to le fi te aye lorun ooo”, it roughly translates to, there is nothing you will do in this life to satisfy the world.

The lyrics from Commander Obey’s song from the same titled album; “The Horse, The Man and His Son” resonate with me now as I watch the lifestyle of Nigeria’s globally respected Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

On Tuesday, VP Yemi Osinbajo launched the National Homegrown School Feeding Scheme in Ekiti, the 31st state in Nigeria, taking the total number of pupils benefitting from the Federal Government scheme above 9.5 million.

While most of Ekiti and environs was agog with the launch, there were as usual some discordant tunes on social media. For some of them, it was not the fact that the programme was launched in the Southwest State of Ekiti that actually vexed them, rather it was that Prof. Osinbajo was eating the food.

They claim that he is belittling the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria because he relates with the poor or lower class. They often condemn him for visiting markets across Nigeria, they condemn him for interacting with petty traders.

These are the same set of people who once claimed that the government was too far from the people, they are the same ones who once advocated that Nigerians should get social security, etc. but the truth is that one can never satisfy these people.

Like Commander Obey pointed out in his music, the VP should not try to do anything to please anyone, in any case, he never does that, he is a man of the people and if the elites don’t like it they can turn a blind eye to his activities.

Nigerians like him because he interacts with them freely, he knows where the shoe pinches them and most importantly he is doing all he can to improve the fortunes of the country.

If this letter ever gets to him, please Sir, just continue to do what you are doing, only God can reward you for the meritorious service to Nigeria.

*Abolaji Adekunle lives in Sagamu, Ogun State*

Over 9.5M pupils benefiting
*Programme kicks off in Ekiti
*767 cows, 138,000 chickens, over 7M eggs & 94 metric tons of fish consumed every week

In continuation of the free daily feeding of pupils in public primary schools across the country, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has formally flagged off the feeding of 75,020 children in schools across Ekiti State taking the total numbers nationwide to 9.536, 860.

Prof. Osinbajo launched the programme today at St Michael’s Anglican Primary School, Ado Ekiti in the company of the state Governor Kayode Fayemi, and other federal and state government officials.

Speaking at the launch of the scheme in Ado-Ekiti, the Vice President said Nigerians should expect more from the Federal Government noting that the Buhari administration will increase the scope of all its programmes to improve the impact on Nigerians.

“A fundamental pillar of President Buhari’s economic thrust is the millions who function at the bottom of the economic pyramid – the smallholder farmers, the petty traders, and artisans and the unemployed must be supported by the state to improve their capacity to fend for themselves and their families and contribute to the socio-economic development of society.

“It is this bottom-up approach to economic planning and policy that informs our consistency in asking the question of how many jobs this will create whenever a government project or programme is proposed. The Next Level is that we will increase the scope and numbers of these important programmes,” he noted.

On the multiplier effect of the school feeding programme, the Vice President said the benefits have made it one of the flagship programmes of the Social Investment Programme.

According to him, “Today, Ekiti State becomes the 31st State in the National School Feeding Programme. Every day now in 31 States, we feed 9.536, 860 children, in 56,604 schools, 101,913 cooks have been engaged and over 100,000 smallholder farmers linked to the program supply ingredients.”

Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo said “every week, the school feeding programme procures, prepares and distributes 767 cows, 138,000 chickens, 7,260,862 eggs, and 94 metric tons of fish. Ekiti State clearly stands to benefit both in terms of the health of the children in school and also economically by virtue of the numerous linkages to jobs and opportunities. From today 75,020 children in this state will be fed daily and 909 cooks will be employed.”  

Speaking further on the reasoning behind the programme, the Vice President said apart from the aim of providing one balanced meal a day to children in public primary schools, the programme is designed to boost the local economy and empower local farmers.

He said: “the most important reason is that Children in their growing years must be well fed. We have in Nigeria a significant malnutrition problem. When a child suffers from malnutrition at an early age, they may become mentally stunted for life.

“Secondly, surveys show that learning outcomes are significantly improved when children are not hungry while in school. Thirdly, practically everywhere, the Homegrown School Feeding has led to increased enrollment in schools and more regular attendance of pupils.

“Why do we describe our own School Feeding Programme as Homegrown? It is because we get all the ingredients for the food we serve the children from farms in the State so that farmers are empowered and we also engage the cooks locally, especially women living around the school area.”

While commending the farsightedness of Governor Kayode Fayemi for ensuring the implementation of the School Feeding Programme in the state, the Vice President applauded the State Government’s support for all the other Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government.

According to him, “Ekiti State has 10, 563 young men and women employed under the N-Power programme, 9,760 beneficiaries of the Market Moni loans and 43,701 TraderMoni beneficiaries.

“In addition, there are 3125 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme. Governor Fayemi’s support is not surprising; he clearly understands the importance of these programmes in lifting millions of our people out of poverty.

“In his first term in office, he pioneered cash transfers to the elderly in all local governments of the state.”

An important component of the school feeding programme is the deworming exercise which started in November 2018 in a few states and will be extended to schools across the country.

The school feeding programme is adjudged to be the largest in Africa both in the number of pupils fed and the cooks engaged.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday averted what was an impending civil unrest when he alighted from his convoy to assuage protesters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The Vice President who was headed to Ekiti state for the launch of the National Home Grown School Feeding scheme ran into the protesters who had barricaded the road, he alighted from his car and had a chat with the irate youths who began chanting his name soon as he was identified.

The protesters comprising mainly of young men and some women from Gbayi village were protesting at Gossa, the alleged invasion of their land by the Nigerian Military, urged the Vice President to intervene in the issue.

Responding to their plea, the Vice President assured them that he would meet with the village leaders to find lasting solution to the problem at hand.

He urged the youth to seek more diplomatic ways of solving issues. He assured them that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is dedicated to the people and that the dividend of democracy will be enjoyed by all.

The protesters said if they had known that the Vice President was going to ply the road they would not have acted in the manner which they did.

Thereafter, the youths once again began to chant his name and then made way for the Vice President to proceed to the airport.

Speaking to the media, a protester who identified himself as Danlami Abdulgafar praised Prof. Osinbajo for his humane nature. He said the Vice President understands and relates with the plight of ordinary Nigerians.

“Imagine that all Nigerians politicians are like Prof. (Osinbajo), this country would have succeeded since the 70s. He came down from his vehicle and he addressed us, in fact we were happy that he accorded us so much respect.

Another protester, Gwatana Muktar said if it were to be any other politician they would not even listen to the person. “You know during campaign he visited almost all the villages and we saw him first hand. He is a very humble man and God will continue to bless him,” he said.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/breaking-osinbajo-averts-impending-unrest-calms-fct-protesters/amp/

Its 5k

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has ordered that the 50% discount for special business registration be extended again.

Spurred by the successes recorded in the first 50% discount window for business registration in Nigeria, Federal Government directed the Corporate Affairs Commission to extend by three months, the special window for MSMEs.

Prof. Osinbajo gave the directive today at the first quarter MSMEs stakeholder meeting held at the Presidential Villa.

The special business name registration window of 50% discount was granted by the Federal Government through the Corporate Affairs Commission to help to bring as many MSMEs to formalize their businesses.

The Vice President also directed the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to speedily harmonise issues relating to overlapping responsibilities for product registration.

In the same vein, Prof. Osinbajo directed relevant government agencies to speedily come up with better funding strategies for small businesses in the country.

Speaking to relevant government agencies at the stakeholders meeting, the Vice President noted that, “having listened to all the issues raised in the report and from your various contributions about funding, I think you should come up with suggestions on better funding for startups and MSMEs, we need to address this issue as quickly as possible.”

He said relevant agencies of government must ensure that loan beneficiaries were equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to better manage their businesses.

Prof. Osinbajo urged regulators in the MSMEs sector to leverage technology to help build capacity for owners of small enterprises as well as broaden the impact of their interventions.

Continuing, the Vice President solicited the support of the relevant agencies for the Shared Facilities project for MSMEs which has already commenced in locations across the country.

Earlier, a presentation on the National MSMEs Clinics indicated that the clinics have been held in 23 states of the federation while One-Stop-Shops have been established in seven cities and shared facilities built in Oyo and Bauchi states.

The report also indicated that business registration increased from 54,000 to 163,000 within six months of introducing the special window for subsidized registration costs.

In his remark, the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr Kayode Pitan emphasized the need for MSMEs to establish a company to de-risk BOI loans to MSMEs.

He said the organization was working in partnership with the Development Bank of Nigeria to enhance access to finance for MSMEs by providing a guarantee for commercial banks.

The meeting was attended by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Ambassador Adeyemi Dipeolu, and heads of relevant agencies in the MSMEs sector including the BOI, Federal Inland Revenue Service, NEXIM Bank, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Development Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Bank of Agriculture, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, and NAFDAC.

I really wonder for how long we have to deal with dishonest leaders. Leaders who lie without remorse, who cheat the people, deceive the people and relentlessly play on their intelligence.

When Alhaji Abubakar Atiku started yelling that he had been cheated on the Monday following the presidential elections, I thought, well, perhaps he must have a point.

Then he said the results he was getting from the field showed he was ahead while the results being announced on TV and radio by the returning officers showed that he was losing by an ever increasing gap as the results came in.

Then he said he was going to prove that the elections were rigged by showing that the INEC server (not website, which is accessible to all) contained results showing he won the elections by 1.6million votes. As to how these results got to the INEC server, he offered that the Smart Card Readers transferred the results from the polling units electronically to the server.

Atiku is clearly playing games with our intelligence. His ploy is simple. Tell a lie, make it as confusing as possible, a lie around technology always works best .

But this is so irritating because it is so obviously a lie.

In the petition before the tribunal, he says that the results on the INEC server showed that in Lagos State he had 1.1 million votes! and Buhari had 1.3 million votes. I voted in Lagos, the entire Nigerian Press and all the social media operate in Lagos. Minute by minute they posted the results on line. The total votes by all the media for both Buhari, Atiku and all other candidates was 1.05 million votes. It seems only Atiku had a record of this fantastic result!

I am a lawyer, I am not a SAN like his lawyers but the Electoral Act makes no provision whatsoever for transmission of election results electronically. The relevant provision clearly prescribes a process of filling and verifying forms at every stage from local government collation to State collation and then the National collation centre at Abuja. Section 73.

Of the Electoral Act says , “Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Commission shall issue and publish, in the Gazette, guidelines for the elections which shall make provisions, among other things, for the step by step recording of the poll in the electoral forms as may be prescribed beginning from the polling unit to the last collation centre for the ward or constituency where the result of the election shall be declared’.

And section 74. says, ‘Every Result Form completed at the Ward, Local Government, State and National levels in accordance with the provision of this Act or any guidelines issued by the Commission shall be stamped, signed and countersigned by the relevant officers and polling agents at those levels and copies given to the police officers and the polling agents, where available.’
So the law expects that the results would be collated manually, entered and signed on forms provided by law. In any event, the Card reader is only configured to verify the authenticity of PVCs not to collate and transmit results. Those who designed the process may have known that electronic transmission would result in these types of scams, a candidate who claims he accessed the INEC server! If he could access it he could tamper with the figures. Thank God that we have hard copies of all the results and the law only allows proof by hard copies.

The same Atiku argues in his petition that Card readers were not used in many States. Yet his ‘server results’ show results from every State except Rivers State. In every State there is a total number of accredited voters and scores for both Buhari and himself. How were the results electronically transmitted in States where Card Readers were allegedly not used?

It is incredible that a man who wants to lead this nation sees nothing wrong in barefaced deceit and astonishing lies.

This is just so insulting!Why do we have these sorts of characters inflicted on us?

Faith Edet Bassey, a legal practitioner writes from Abuja

*President commissions new primary school named after VP in Maiduguri
* State Govt honours Osinbajo months after he builds free ultra modern boarding school in the State

Not many know why the Borno State Government led by Governor Kashim Shettima named a public primary school after Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the last week. Some think it’s simply because he is the Vice President of Nigeria but there is more to this than we think, it’s the special bond he shares with the state and its people.

Given that Prof. Osinbajo likes to carry himself in a private and quiet way, not wanting accolades or recognitions as a public office holder and as a nationalist, some of these things go unnoticed locally and internationally but he has written his name in the sands of time through never mentioned charitable acts.

For starters, some observers say the naming of the School by the State Government after the Vice President is a reflection of Prof Osinbajo's passion for the North East especially Borno, where he has also privately raised funds and built a big ultra modern boarding School to address the growing number of children who became orphans as a result of the insurgency in that part of the country.
While the boarding school the VP raised funds to build has possibly thousands of children in both primary and secondary school classes, the new school built by the government and opened by the President on Thursday is only for primary students. However both the private school built by Osinbajo and the public one by the government are free.

As acting President in 2017, Prof. Osinbajo in defiance of security fears and expertise advise visited Borno state a day after a Boko Haram attack. Many Nigerians at the time said it was not safe to do this but he showed that service and commitment to Borno and Nigeria goes beyond mouthing it.

He paid a one-day working visit to Maiduguri, Borno state capital. During that visit, he flagged-off the distribution of 30,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in the north-east. Coincidentally, this was a time when food shortages at the IDP camps were at its crescendo. He fast tracked funds to be released immediately for food and other items needed at the time, he acted following a SOS call by the World Food Programme, UNHCR, International Committee of the Red Cross and other local agancies.

His action saved millions of people and the people did not forget that in a hurry. They saw his hands-on approach of the VP as not only timely and life-saving but as one of a true leader. Only God knows, if one of those saved by this intervention will be the President of Nigeria someday.

But that was not the only time he had visited Borno or the IDP camps. In 2015, when he paid a similar hands-on meeting to the North East state, many people including the media labeled it a “Surprise Visit To Displaced Persons Camp” and that was rightly so because the Vice President was not doing it for showmanship.
In 2018, he paid yet another visit to the state to the flagship center of the special schools for children orphaned by the Boko Haram Insurgency in Maiduguri. He raised funds for this school to be built for both primary and secondary school students, and were they elated when they saw him? Yes, they were in heavens, the also showed their gratitude that they could study in a world class school for FREE, it’s the goal of the government and the goal of the man.

The plan of the Vice President is to establish at least 10 Integrated Learning Centres (ILC) that would provide comprehensive support to orphans in the North East of Nigeria. The Learning Centers are no ordinary buildings – they are homes of hope; to heal, to educate, to empower, and to refine the next generation of leaders from the region, and for the region.

The flagship Learning Centre provides 1000 students with primary and secondary School education and there is a vocational training centre too. In addition, it provides accommodation, health care services, recreational activities, life skills, exposure to innovative technology, opportunity to practice agriculture and other easy-to-learn livelihood skills for the older children.

The Vice President has a special place in the hearts of people from Borno State. They see him as one of theirs, they say he understands them and has been there for them when they needed him but because he is not one to blow his trumpet some of his acts go unnoticed.

He is doing this specifically in states affected by the Boko Haram attacks, the North East specifically where students have been forced out of school because of terrorism.

By Seun Bisuga

Nigerian youths have blasted Chief Ayo Adebanjo following comments made on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

In a statement signed by Prince Adetayo Adekunle, for and on behalf of the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Stakeholders, described Chief Adebanjo’s position on restructuring as laughable.

“Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s obsession with his supposed “son” is no longer news. But the Chief’s predilection to regurgitating lies and misleading claims is why we can no longer keep quiet,” Adekunle said in a statement.

“Although we can wonder how come he enjoys bullying the VP. But we know that his allegiance and loyalty in the last several years have been to political leaders who looted our country dry and those who did absolutely nothing to advance Restructuring when they held sway. So we must remind Nigerians.

“As a Yoruba man who is well schooled in customs, norms and mores, engaging an elder in public glare is not an easy path to thread.

“However, it is apposite to state the existence of an old Yoruba axiom which holds that “an elder who ties maize to his backside risks being turned into an object of mockery by chickens “
The group said for Pa Ayo Adebanjo to say that he doesn’t recognize President Buhari as the country’s president-elect is not only laughable but even pathetic.

“May be the Chief is about to abandon his claims to being a democrat, otherwise how else can we interpret this rejection of the democratic choice of the Nigerian people?

“Worse still, to describe “his supposed son”, the erudite Professor of Law, authority on Law of Evidence, Life Bencher and Senior Advocate, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as “a disgrace and a dishonest intellectual” on the basis of what he terms denial of restructuring is utterly reprehensible.

“This obsession with the VP is not what noble elders are known for. And I say that with utmost sense of responsibility.

“If Pa Ayo Adebanjo is not suffering from selective amnesia as well as senility associated with old age, he ought to know that Mr. Vice President has never denied that the country needs restructuring.

Responding to a question at a public forum hosted by the Sigma Club, University of Ibadan on Saturday, 27th October, 2018, Prof Osinbajo asserted as follows:

“I am not a latter day convert to restructuring. I am an active practitioner of restructuring and I have gone to the Supreme Court about 13 times to test restructuring “.

“In all of the cases pursued by HE Prof Yemi Osinbajo as AG Lagos, the then government led by Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s newfound bedfellow, the Jada born Atiku Abubakar and his principal, Oloye Olusegun Obasanjo opposed every step along the way.

“Conversely, the Buhari/Osinbajo led administration signed a constitutional amendment granting financial autonomy to State Judiciaries and Houses of Assembly – an amendment that suffered several abortions under the misrule of Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s friends.

“Conclusively, Pa Ayo Adebanjo is urged to speak like a true Yoruba elder and Afenifere that he claims to be and not seek to denigrate the highest political office holder from the Yoruba race on the altar of crass opportunism, bitter opposition politics and chronic jealousy.”

An Omoluabi in Yorubaland is a person of honor who believes in hard work, respects the rights of others, and gives to the community in deeds and in action.

Above all, an Omoluabi is a person of integrity and Prof. Osinbajo is one that embodies everything that upright Yorubas stand for, yet they some Afenifere leaders are not proud to associate with him because he does not engage in pot of porridge politics.

No honest Yoruba leader will attempt to paint Prof. Osinbajo in a bad light. He is putting Yoruba back on the Nigerian and global political map, as a people to reckon with.

We, as Yoruba people, really need to call Afenifere to order so that what happened to Chief Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola does not befall him too in the grand scheme of things at national level. Oladele Olasunkanmi

The micro-credit scheme of the Federal Government of Nigeria is racking up awards and recognition across the world.

In recognition of its impact driving financial inclusion in Nigeria, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and its products have earned recent recognition from the United Nations, African Leadership Institute and Oxford University.

GEEP which include MarketMoni, FarmerMoni, and TraderMoni started in 2016, with about 2 million Nigerians at the bottom of the pyramid accessing credit in 3 years and being brought into financial services of bank account and mobile wallets, there is consensus on the scale of impact the initiative wields.

GEEP is today the largest public micro-credit scheme in the world. 54.2% of its beneficiaries are women.

In a March session of 62ndUnited Nations Commission in New York, GEEP was commended for pushing the envelope in technological innovations for successful last-mile delivery of credit at massive scale.

This was in recognition of the programme’s pioneering roles in building a completely digitised loan operation, positioning of Bank Verification (BVN) as digital collateral to aid financial inclusion, use of facial recognition for de-deduplication, GPS-based mapping and profile of candidates to markets, and exhaustive data capture to truly formalise the informal sector.

The radical approach to GEEP’s operation was perhaps a major influence for the recent recognition bestowed on the programme’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Uzoma Nwagba, by a partnership between the African Leadership Initiative and University of Oxford.

Last week, the COO, together with 22 other emerging African leaders picked across the continent, was announced as a recipient of 2019 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellowship.

The Desmond Tutu Fellowship is set up by AFLI and Oxford to identify and cultivate young African leaders whose works have achieved “far reaching impact on the continent.”

GEEP, a financial inclusion scheme driven by technology has registered over 7million micro-enterprises in less than 3 years – and is on a mission to deliver access to finance and financial inclusion at Nigeria’s base of the pyramid.

By Ijeoma Akabueze

I used to criticize Prof. Osinbajo for everything wrong with Nigeria. I must confess that I also said things that I am now ashamed of, I think it was down to my knowledge base at the time.

Please before you begin to demand heaven and earth from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, please educate yourself with this piece. The man deserves more appreciation and respect.

Constitutionally, the executive functions of the Nigerian vice president includes participation in all cabinet meetings and, by statute, membership in the National Security Council, the National Defence Council, Federal Executive Council, and the Chairman of National Economic Council.

Although the vice president may take an active role in establishing policy in the Executive Branch by serving on such committees and councils, the relative power of the Nigerian vice president's office depends upon the duties delegated by the president.

Let's wait until he becomes President in 2023 then hold him accountable for every action of the government.

By Sunday James Akinloye

Anything you in the media these days call for a double check and Daily Trust, along with some supposed respected national newspapers seem to be leading the way with ‘Fake News’

Take for example, the Daily Trust’s reportage on the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZ), and its presentation in a report titled, “Enelamah, this is very fishy”. Painting a picture of what happened, Daily Trust laced its account with falsehood and lies, writing it to soothe their paymasters.

That’s not where it stopped; the report tried to distort history and facts but that is what I will set straight here for those following the drama that has snowballed from NEPZA and NSEZCO’s debacle on SEZ.

The facts are simple and easy to understand except for those who are trying to cash out from the prosperity of Nigeria. Let’s start from the beginning. President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration sought to increase the export of locally made goods across the world so it conceived Project MINE.

Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Exports) was initiated to develop SEZs across Nigeria’s geo-political zones to world class standards in collaboration with private partners. The idea is to position Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in sub-Saharan Africa and as a major exporter of made in Nigeria goods and services regionally and globally.

President Buhari then set up a Project Steering Committee under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, comprising the leadership of the Ministry and members drawn from the Economic Management Team and the leadership of several Government Agencies: Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Nigerian Office of Trade Negotiations, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Bank of Industry and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank; as well as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and Africa Export-Import Bank.

The Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment (MITI) then set up a special vehicle to achieve this goal, that vehicle was NSEZCO and it was at this point that all hell broke loose, mostly because an agency in the MITI, which is NEPZA (Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority) was not particularly happy about this positive development.

The agency leadership felt that its own direct operations should be the vehicle that drives SEZ, even when their functions have been clearly spelt out in the constitution. NEPZA was set up as a regulatory agency but it wanted to do more than the constitution’s provision.

After NSEZCO birthed, NEPZA approached the Attorney General of the Federation to demand whether NSEZCO was legal and it could act as a special vehicle. This is how the office of the AGF responded;
Two critical factors that implicated the need for NSEZCO are operational efficiency and access to international capital market with limited or no direct burden on the Federal Government in like manner as NLNG.

The use of NSEZCO to implement Project MINE is to facilitate the creation of commercially-oriented, efficient and effective institutions, in line with international standards.

In section 1(2), the NEPZ Act explicitly recognizes that an EPZ may be operated by any of three types of entities:
(i) public entity;
(ii) private entity; or
(iii) a combination of public and private entity.

The response of the AGF also covered the question and claim by NEPZA that NSEZCO was a private institution. The truth is that NSEZCO is a public-private partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria holding 25% and private entities like AfDB, Afreximbank, BoI, etc holding 75% shares.

The structure of NSEZCO is no different from that of NLNG, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Limited and Development Bank of Nigeria Limited, so this is not new to Nigeria at all, and has always worked perfectly fine within all legal frameworks.

Not satisfied with the submission of the office of the AGF, NEPZA cons the Senate Committee on Trade to blow the matter out of proportion. The Committee chaired by Senator Sabo Mohammed, claimed that NSEZCO was a private company even after PPP explanations where clearly made.

The committee chairman produced a CAC document showing that Dr Bakari Wadinga, Mr Olufemi Edun and Ms Oluwadara Owoyemi were directors of NSEZCO. However, what he mischievously failed to outline is that Dr. Wadinga was appointed interim director for the Federal Government, pending commencement of full operations, while the others where interim directors for the private partners. All this was done in agreement with all partners involved, as listed in the ownership structure.
The highly erroneous position of the Senate Committee shows why many Nigerians have little or no faith in the activities of the Nigerian Senate.

The Senate and Daily Trust also inserted a mischievous conclusion. “This is fishy, very fishy. Besides, the creation of NSEZCO negates the Buhari administration’s objectives of pruning the number of existing MDAs,” Daily Trust claimed.

“The Senate and Presidency must get to the root of this matter. Unless the public gets a cogent explanation, the inescapable conclusion is that someone tried to play hanky panky with public funds.”

This claim however negates the position of President Buhari. At the signing ceremony for the investment partnership between NSEZCO and its strategic investment partners on February 8, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari said:

“When we decided to continue with the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan of the previous Administration and launched our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan to fast track implementation, we had a vision of Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in Sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter to our immediate West African sub-region, the rest of Africa and indeed the World. Special Economic Zones have an important role to play in achieving this vision. Special Economic Zones (SEZ) offer investor friendly incentives, world-class infrastructure and ease of doing business in order to attract local and foreign investment and have been used as a catalyst for rapid and inclusive development, job creation, industrialization and diversified export earnings in several countries.”

The vision of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is to make Nigeria the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in Sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter of locally made products to West African sub-region, the rest of Africa and indeed the World.

To achieve this goal, Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Export), a Presidential Initiative, under the supervision of the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was developed to establish “world-class” Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across Nigeria and boost the manufacturing of ‘Made in Nigeria’ goods for export, regionally and globally.

Project MINE was designed to achieve some very important economic goals that would put Nigeria on the world map. What were the objectives of Project MINE? To increase manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 20%, create 1.5 million new direct jobs and generate over US$30bn annually in foreign exchange earnings by 2025, amongst others.

It was no surprise that a lot of Nigerians were elated at the establishment of Project MINE but if the manufacturing sector was going to achieve this goal, it needed a vehicle to drive the laudable export agenda.

With many projects ongoing, funds could be sparse to achieve Project MINE, so the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Economic Management Team (EMT) and Project MINE’s Steering Committee (including various stakeholders) endorsed Project MINE’s implementation strategy to use a sustainable Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to develop world-class SEZs across Nigeria.

It’s not the first time this PPP model had been used in Nigeria, other government units like Nigeria LNG, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Limited and Development Bank of Nigeria Limited have adopted similar PPP models.

To get the PPP into full gear, a special purpose public-private partnership (PPP) entity – Nigeria SEZ Investment Company Limited (NSEZCO) – was designed to enable institutional investors participate in Project MINE alongside the FGN, and to apply global best practices and processes to the long-term financing and development of SEZs.

In June 2018, the FEC approved NSEZCO as the vehicle for implementing Project MINE and for co-investment between the FGN, development finance institutions and other institutional investors. Given that NSEZCO is a PPP, it was incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), on 12 of June 2018 as a limited liability company under CAMA, with the FGN represented by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), holding 25% of the shares in NSEZCO at incorporation.

The remaining 75% shareholding was held in trust by A&O Secretarial Services Limited, the Company Secretaries, on behalf of Strategic Investment Partners including African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Bank of Industry Limited (BOI), Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and African Development Bank (AFDB).

With kick off in sight, the Federal Government released N14.3billion as its contribution. The money was domiciled in the account of Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) for Project MINE but then something happened.

*What Happened With NEPZA?*

For some reasons, NEPZA established by Act No. 63 of 1992 as an agency of government with responsibility for licensing Free Zones and regulating the Free Zone Scheme in Nigeria felt the need to overstep its boundaries and scurry more powers.

The agency wrote the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment quoting quoted Section 2(2) in which it falsely claimed that NSEZCO was a privately owned company that was trying to take over the functions of NEPZA. The agency urged the Senate Committee to halt the transfer of funds from its account to that of NSEZCO, the vehicle for Project MINE, even when it is on record that the money meant for Project MINE was only domiciled in the account of NEPZA on the order of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.

But it didn’t end there; NEPZA also sought some interpretation from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). In a letter dated 30 October 2018 and titled, ““Request for Legal Advise On The Propriety or otherwise of a directive to transfer funds appropriated in favour of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority for the execution of some capital projects under the 2017 and 2018 Appropriation Acts respectively into a private company’s account” the letter was signed by Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Jime, Managing Director of NEPZA.

In the letter, NEPZA raised two issues for legal advise; (i) Whether the establishment of the Nigeria Special Economic Zones Company (NSEZCO) Limited to take over the functions of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority is lawful.

(ii) Whether it is lawful for fund appropriated in favour of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority for the implementation of some capital projects in the Free Zones under the regulatory mandate of NEPZA can validly be transferred into the account of a private Limited Liability Company without any prior amendment of the respective Appropriation Acts as well as the NEPZA Act.

*Response of the Attorney General of the Federation*

The response of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation was explicit to say the least. In responding to NEPZA, the office of the AGF broke down the functions of the NSEZCO and that of NEPZA, stating categorically that, “NEPZA letter sought the advice of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation on: Whether the establishment of the Nigeria Special Economic Zones Company (NSEZCO) Limited to take over the functions of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority is lawful?

“It is imperative to state unequivocally that the NSEZCO was not established to take over the functions of NEPZA. The mandates of both entities are distinct with little or no area of overlap,” the AGF responded in its letter dated 6th February 2019.

The AGF then went further to state that, two critical factors that implicated the need for NSEZCO and they are *operational efficiency* and access to *international capital market* with limited or no direct burden on the Federal Government in like manner as NLNG.

The use of NSEZCO to implement Project MINE is to facilitate the creation of commercially-oriented, efficient and effective institutions in line with international standards.

The AGF pointed that NEPZA had claimed that “The Authority (NEPZA) shall be the *only* (the highlighted word is not part of the enactment) body corporate, with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name and shall be capable of acquiring, holding, or disposing of any property movable or immovable for the purpose of carrying out its functions.”

The AGF further stated that in section 1(2), the NEPZA Act explicitly recognizes that an EPZ may be operated by any of three types of entities:
(i) public entity;
(ii) private entity; or
(iii) a combination of public and private entity.

The office of the AGF then raised a valid question in its submission, “If anything, the critical question is: were the provisions in the Appropriation Acts made for Project MINE or for NEPZA? The answer is unequivocal that the provisions were made for Project MINE. The funds were appropriated for the purposes of Project MINE, but domiciled in NEPZA at the specific request of the Honourable Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment.

*Money Domiciled in NEPZA should be appropriated to NSEZCO*

The AGF says another related question which ought to be answered is, is NEPZA the implementing entity for Project MINE? The answer is beyond doubt in the negative because the strategy for Project MINE requires a distinct vehicle that leverages the competencies of the co-investors in the vehicle, including sound governance practices and access to the international capital market to secure the success through sustainable performance. It is also needful to point out that Project MINE is not under NEPZA.

Finally, none of sections 2(2), 4(a) and 5(2) (a)-(c) of the NEPZ Acr individually or collectively give NEPZA exclusive rights to do everything relating to investing in, promoting and developing Zones inside Nigeria. If that was the case, then even Oil and Gas Export Free Zones will all be under the supervisory purview of NEPZA. Moreover, the focus of Project MINE is on Special Economic Zones – SEZs which is wider than EPZs that is the remit of NEPZA for purposes of regulation. SEZ is not coterminous with EPZ. Thus, it appears that NEPZA may have relied on a conceptual error.

AGF noted that the HMITI chose to collaborate with NEPZA in the furtherance of Project MINE. Against this backdrop, funding for Project MINE has been domiciled in NEPZA while NZESCO was in formation. In 2016, NEPZA was the domicile of the start-up grant from the President for Project MINE at the request of the HMITI. Project MINE was not a line item in the Appropriation Acts.

As a fact known to the management of NEPZA and the Budget Office of the Federation, all monies for activities of Project MINE were appropriated through NEPZA. The appropriations in 2017 and 2018 with respect to matters of Project MINE were only domiciled in NEPZA. They were not for purposes of NEPZA. NEPZA is not the implementing agency for Project MINE and the development of SEZs. Therefore, sums explicitly appropriated for SEZs under NEPZA are unequivocal indication of an understanding that NEPZA is the domicile for the appropriation and therefore should be stopped from denying this salient fact.

*NEPZA Flouting Presidential Order*
At the signing ceremony for the investment partnership between NSEZCO and its strategic investment partners on February 8, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari said: “When we decided to continue with the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan of the previous Administration and launched our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan to fast track implementation, we had a vision of Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in Sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter to our immediate West African sub-region, the rest of Africa and indeed the World. Special Economic Zones have an important role to play in achieving this vision. Special Economic Zones (SEZ) offer investor friendly incentives, world-class infrastructure and ease of doing business in order to attract local and foreign investment and have been used as a catalyst for rapid and inclusive development, job creation, industrialization and diversified export earnings in several countries.”

*As Special Economic Zone plans garner support from global industry concerns and institutional investors

A deliberate plot hatched by some top officials of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA, to corner over N40B meant for the establishment of Special Economic Zones in the country has been unearthed, raising contrived dust over the Buhari administration’s plan to create Special Economic Zones targeted for the rapid industrialization of the country.

When recently the Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah presented the ministry’s 2019 Budget details to the relevant Senate committee, questions where raised about the creation of a limited liability company with 25% FG interest, the retention of three FG officials as directors, and the allocation of government’s funds to the company.

But informed sources explained that the Senators involved were only acting on information provided by NEPZA officials to deliberately mislead them into concluding that the said funds belonged to NEPZA, and not to the limited liability company formed specifically for the purpose, ie the Nigeria Special Economic Zone Investment Company.

According to a top government official involved in what seems like a presidential review of the unfolding controversy, “the Federal Government adopted a model to speedily and rapidly develop the Special Economic Zones using a PPP model as was done in other countries like China and a number of African countries.”

Continuing, the source said, “the strategy involved the setting up of a limited liability company that included the FG and some institutional investors like African Development Bank, ADB, the African Finance Corporation, AFC, the Bank of Industry, BOI, AFREXIMBAMK, and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA in a 25% —75% FG and institutional investors ratio. And to secure FG’S interest, three government officials were put forward in the interim as directors in line with the usual practice when such companies involving FG are set up.”

Said another industry source, “using government officials including aides is nothing to worry about since they are there to protect government interests at the take-off stage, pending when a proper board can be in place and the company ready to go full throttle. Besides the people chosen as interim directors are those who are driving the project and are knowledgeable within the ministries involved being Finance on the one hand and Industry, Trade & Investment on the other.”

Besides, as is done elsewhere around the world, such government representative directors are not entitled to any beneficial interests in the company shares. “Bringing up the issue of these directors was simply a mudslinging attempt to mislead the public, but it has no fuel at all, considering that it is a global practice and the directors are interim and non- beneficiaries,” the source explained.

Investigations however revealed that the NEPZA immediate past Managing Director, Emmanuel Jime and the acting MD Engr. T.D Nongo, to whom Jime handed over, devised the entire plot to ensure that the N42B allocated for the development of the Special Economic Zones be controlled and disbursed by NEPZA instead of the Special Purpose Vehicle established by a Presidential directive straight from President Muhammadu Buhari’s desk.

But in order to ensure this, they needed support in the National Assembly. Said a top official of one of the investigating agencies of the government “this was how the top NEPZA hierarchy sold a carefully designed package of outright falsehood and suppression of relevant facts to the National Assembly and decided to smear the President’s plan in order to corner the funds and control disbursement of the money instead of allowing the limited liability company formed for that purpose to be in charge.”

According to that investigative agency source, “what we now know is that while Jime went to run for election in the last round of elections, for which he had to resign as NEPZA MD, the most senior officer to whom he handed over the reins of NEPZA is actually also one of the main fund-raisers/coordinators of his gubernatorial campaign.”

The source added that “therefore the campaign of calumny against the President’s industrial plan and against the Industry, Trade & Investment Ministry is being fueled by both Jime and Nongo. “At stake is the control of Project MINE”, - the name of the plan to speedily industrialize the country through the promotion of Made in Nigeria goods for Export, for which MINE is an acronym.

“They are both bent on controlling the N42B approved in the budget,” it was disclosed.

The NEPZA officials started with the argument that the agency is the one through which the FG can make investments in the Free Trading Zones. So, the matter was referred to the Attorney-General of the Federation for legal advice. And it was after the AGF counseled that NEPZA was a regulatory agency and not the exclusive implementing agency for such projects that the officials, determined not to let go of the funds connived to develop a plot to smear the whole effort by raising questions and provoking sensational narratives around a model that is best global practice and that enjoys the support of major international institutional investors.

“If this were indeed fishy how do you think such institutional investors whose global operations depend mainly on their transparency and credibility be part of it, considering that the institutional investors are coming up with 75% of the money?, an industry source wondered.

Between the FG and the institutional investors, the investment company, the Nigeria Special Economic Zone Investment Company, NSEZCO, is expected to raise $500m in equity by 2023.

While many of the strategic investors have already signed on, the MINE project which the NSEZCO will be delivering has secured significant international partnerships already. For instance Shandong Ruyi, the leading textile and garment group in China has already announced its commitment to invest $2B to the cotton, textile and garment industry for the Special Economic, (free trading) Zones the NSEZCO will put up in Abia, Kano and Lagos States.

Equally, CCCG Industrial Investment Holding Company, CIHC, of China, which is ranked 91st in Fortune 500 and is the third largest international contractor in the world, has also signed a letter of intent to invest in the forthcoming Special Economic Zone in Lekki, specifically in the areas of power, water, access roads and bridges. “These are some of the critical and significant plans that few NEPZA officials are trying to scuttle, “ according to a government official aware of the presidential review of the controversy sparked last week when the Industry, Trade & Investment Minister briefed a Senate committee on the project.

Some of the Special Economic Zone projects are the much talked about Enyimba Economic City in Abia, the Lekki-Epe Model Industrial Park, Funtua Cotton Cluster, and several others being planned for Edo, Kwara, Sokoto, Ebonyi, and Benue States among others.

Someone once said and I see now; that Atiku is a very desperate man. This statement was long before elections, and this is someone who once worked closely with him, so he knows. The problem with a desperate man is that he doesn't mind the sky falling,even if he knows it will fall on all including himself and his followers.

How else do you explain these posters adorning FCT except that he is intentional in his bid to disrupt the peace of the country? If I can't govern Nigeria, then it must become ungovernable right?

Post election posters saying of Atiku, “the real and the right”. The real what? The real loser it must be, cause it can't be saying the real President. The right? The right man to help waste his money, definitely not the right man for the Villa. This is not only tasteless and tactless, it is knocking the door of treason.

• MINE (Made in Nigeria for Export), is a Presidential Initiative, under the supervision of the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to develop “world-class” Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across Nigeria and boost the manufacturing of ‘Madein Nigeria’ goods for export, regionally and globally.

• MINE (Made in Nigeria for Export), strategic objectives are to increase manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 20%, create 1.5 million new direct jobs and generate over US$30bn annually in foreign exchange earnings by 2025, amongst others.

• Nigeria Special Economic Zones Investment Company Limited (NSEZCO) is NOT a privately-owned company. NSEZCO was incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), on the 12th of June 2018 as a limited liability company under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (CAMA).

• In Nigeria Special Economic Zones Investment Company Limited (NSEZCO) Federal Government of Nigeria represented by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), holding 25%of the shares in NSEZCO at incorporation. The remaining 75% shareholding was held in trust by A&O Secretarial Services Limited


• Nigeria Special Economic Zones Investment Company Limited (NSEZCO) Strategic Investment Partners are African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Bank of Industry Limited (BOI), Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and African Development Bank (AFDB).

Nigeria Special Economic Zones Investment Company Limited (NSEZCO), intends to raise $US500million in equity by 2023 from the FGN, the Strategic Investment Partners and other institutional investors.
Since NSEZCO’s incorporation, significant progress has been made by the Project MINE project delivery team:
 NSEZCO is executing a Round 1 equity fund-raising programme for $250million, in tranches

 Enyimba Economic City, Abia State: A 9,500+hectare multi-township economic city at the heart of the South-East and South-South geopolitical areas of Nigeria.

 Lekki-Epe Model Industrial Park, Lagos State: A 1,000-hectare multi-cluster model industrial park in the North East quadrant of the Lekki Free Zone area.

 Funtua Cotton Cluster, Katsina State: Aggregating cotton grown by over 800,000 farmers in Northern Nigeria into a world-class vertically integrated ginning, spinning, weaving and garment-making cluster in the traditional centre of cotton ginning in Nigeria, that will also supply yarn and cloth to other textile clusters around the country.

 In addition, pre-development studies are ongoing for greenfield SEZs in Benue, Kwara and Sokoto States whilst studies will soon commence in Ebonyi, Edo and Gombe States amongst several others.

The last 4 months really brought TraderMoni up close and personal to Nigerians at home, and even those abroad. This was because the main opposition party went to great lengths to describe the scheme as vote buying, alleging that the Vice President himself was doling out the said funds to the market women.

Now that the elections are almost over, the new rumours they are pushing around is that Prof. Osinbajo has suspended the scheme.

When stories like these start to make the rounds, one is initially tempted to just ignore, rather than help the ignorant drive up their traffic. However, when notable institutions like Punch Newspapers in the name of driving traffic to their site, decide to publish a story with such falsehoods and other absurdities, it becomes pertinent to exhume the truth for the people to see.

The notion that our media houses got fat on *brown envelope* journalism is well documented and as such, most of them don't really like the Buhari-Osinbajo stance of not "sharing the money".

Why that would now leave such deep-rooted institutions as Punch Newspapers and Thisday Newspapers to continually churn out stories with the aim of misleading the populace and smearing the person of the vice president is quite unreasonable and alarming.

Seeing as TraderMoni as a scheme was passed along side with its siblings MarketMoni and Anchor Borrowers Scheme, all were approved by the National assembly before their commencement, it will take more than the whims of the Vice President to actually suspend or stop the program.

What a lot of persons fail to realise is that the VP during his TraderMoni tours which seemed to coincide with the campaign season was only performing his duties as supervising minister to ensure that all federal government policies were being carried out as appropriate.

This is similar to the task he was again saddled with after the FEC meeting on the 20th of March 2019, to audit all policies enacted in the last 8 years and give a status report so that the federal government will know how to adequately move forward in the next dispensation.

So for final clarification purposes, TraderMoni which has never been suspended at any time since its inauguration, was approved by the 8th general assembly. It is fully handled by the Bank of Industry, and has since recorded 30000 new beneficiaries after the 2019 presidential elections.

The roles and powers of the vice president with respect to the scheme are only supervisory to ensure total compliance to the policies as stipulated and implemented by the federal government.