What Maina’s recall exposed about Buhari’s government – Shehu Sani

The Senator representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, Shehu Sani on Tuesday said the recall of a former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, has lent credence to the disjointed state of government in the country.

Sani said he believes Maina’s reinstatement into the Federal Civil Service has left Nigerians to question how the Federal Government intends to achieve the objectives of its anti-corruption war.

He made this known on Tuesday when he features on Channels Television’s Politics Today anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.

He said: “What is clear in the whole of these is the very fact that things have not actually changed very much in the very sense that if a man who has an issue to settle with morality, with sanity could at these very times be re-invited or recalled, then moral issues certainly were raised and is also a revelation of the discord and the disjointed state of government as it is now.”

The development, according to him, also reveals “the very fact that some persons are behind the scene wielding very strong powers to which their wielding of power is directly in contradiction with what the President stands for, believes in, and advertises as the moral principles of his government.

“It is of concern today that like I’ve said in my tweets – corruption was being hoisted under an umbrella and today is being swept under the carpet in the very sense that many things have not changed despite the promise of change.

“It is worrying for the fact that there are so many expectations, so many hopes and opportunities for us to cleanse the system; it is very clear that corruption is becoming a cat with nine lives”.

The lawmaker said an order was raised by one of his colleagues during Tuesday’s plenary where the attention of the Senate was brought to the issue of Maina and a decision was taken to set up an ad hoc committee.

Despite the order issued by President Buhari to investigate the recall, Sani stressed the need for Nigerians to understand the separate responsibilities of the executive and the legislative arms of government.

He explained that the Senate intends to investigate the circumstances on how Maina returned to the country and those who were responsible for his recall.

The senator added that the Upper Chamber would also investigate how he was reinstated without the knowledge of the President, referring to the separate reports from the Senate and the Presidency on the corruption allegations in the North East.

“By having two reports, it would be impossible for anyone who will try to suppress it (the investigation). The very fact that the President now has taken a stand by reversing the recall is a clear indication that either what was done was done without his knowledge of it was done with his knowledge but he now realised that it was wrong.

“But the fact as it is on the ground now is that the Senate will fully investigate and will come out with its report. What will not happen will be a situation whereby reports will be hidden from the public and naturally if the parliament is investigating issues, reports are usually made public.

“We are serious about this and Nigerians will come to know the truth of how Maina came back and those who are responsible; we would not allow it to be a family affair and that’s why the Senate has to investigate,” he said.

President Buhari receives report on Maina’s reinstatement

- President Muhammadu Buhari has received report on Maina’s reinstatement

- Buhari had earlier ordered for Maina’s immediate sack

- But the HoS, Winifred Oyo-Ita had also debunked the claims by minister of interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau that Maina was reinstated by her

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff has received the report of how embattled ex-pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina was reinstated to the civil service.

The special adviser to President Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said that the Chief of Staff confirmed that the Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita, submitted the report to the president’s chief of staff, on Monday evening as directed.

We gathered that Adesina spoke on a live Channels Television news programme on Monday night, October 23.

He had earlier in the day confirmed that Buhari ordered the sack of Maina and “demanded a full report of the circumstances of Maina’s recall and posting to the ministry of interior.”

Maina’s secret recall into the civil service despite being wanted for alleged fraud had also been reported.


Meanwhile, the head of the civil service of the federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, on Monday, October 23, said there was no truth in the reports that she approved the reinstatement of a former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, and his subsequent posting to the ministry of interior.

Buhari directs minister to connect rail to 36 state capitals

Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, said President Buhari has given the directive that all the 36 state capitals should be connected with rail

- Amaechi said that the central rail line project connecting several communities of northern and southern Nigeria would be completed in June 2018

- He said 17 coaches are expected to arrive in November and out of the number, 10 will be deployed to Abuja-Kaduna rail.

President Muhammadu Buhari has given the directive that all the 36 state capitals should be connected with rail in the ongoing railway projects.

The minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, said on Thursday, October 19, at the meeting with the chairman Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Sen. Shehu Sani. The meeting also attended by the ministers of Finance; Budget and National Planning; and Power, Works and Housing was in connection with President Buhari’s loan request of 5.5 billion dollars.

Amaechi said that the central rail line project connecting several communities of northern and southern Nigeria would be completed in June, next year. According to him, 17 coaches are expected to arrive in November and out of the number, 10 will be deployed to Abuja-Kaduna rail line while the remaining seven will be deployed to the Itakpe-Warri rail line.

Amaechi said that part of the money being requested now for approval by the senate was to execute the rail projects covering Kano-Kaduna, and Lagos-Ibadan networks. Sani had earlier advised if Nigeria “must borrow, it must borrow responsibly”. Sani said:

“The committee has the mandate to examine the merits and otherwise of the current loan request of 5.5 billion dollars of the president. “If we must bequeath to the future generation a pile of debt, it must be justified with commensurate infrastructural proof of the value of the debt. “The payment plan of this debt will undoubtedly last the length of our lifetimes and possibly beyond.

"We must leave behind a legacy that will appease and answer the questions the next generation of Nigerians will ask,” Sani said. Also providing insight into the loan request, the Director-General, Debt Management Office, Mrs Patience Oniha, explained that the loans have sustainable benefits that would live beyond the present generation of Nigerians.

“What we should take away is that we are going into projects whose benefits don’t go away. “The roads don’t go away, the schools don’t go away, and the hospitals don’t go away but all that we need to do is to maintain them properly and that is the explanation I want to make on that,” she said. Meanwhile,the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday, October 5, updated President Muhammadu Buhari on the proposed and ongoing railway projects across the country including the Kano - Maradi (Niger Republic) rail project. Addressing State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the minister said the president was pleased with developments in the transport sector. 

President Buhari meets speaker of Turkey Assembly Ismail Kahraman ahead of D-8 summit

- President Muhammadu Buhari has met with the speaker of Turkey Assembly, Ismail Kahraman

- The president is Turkey for D-8 summit slated to begin on Friday, October 20

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, October 19 met with the speaker of Turkey Grand National Aseembly, H.E Ismail Kahraman during his official working visit to Ankara, the Turkey capital.


President Muhammadu Buhari in a meeting with the speaker of Turkey Assembly Ismail Kahraman ahead of D-8 summit.

The president had earlier said that he was disturbed by the claims by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents that they were receiving supports from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).


President Muhammadu Buhari in a meeting with the speaker of Turkey Assembly Ismail Kahraman ahead of D-8 summit.

See more photos below...

APC has nothing to show in terms of achievement says Goodluck Jonathan

- Former president, Goodluck Jonathan, says APC employs hi-tech propaganda to cover up its misrules

- He insists the PDP performed when it controlled the government from 1999 to 2015

- Jonathan says the opposition party needs a competent national chairman to bounce back in 2019

Former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has challenged the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led administration to a public debate over its claim that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not do well in government from 1999 to 2015.


Jonathan also accused the ruling party of running a government of lies and propaganda.


The former president made the statement on Thursday, October 19, when one of the chairmanship aspirants of the PDP, Tunde Adeniran, paid him a visit at his residence in Abuja, The Nation reports.

He said the ruling party had continued to employ hi-tech propaganda to cover up its misrules, adding that the APC has nothing to show in terms of achievement.

The former president maintained that PDP performed well when it controlled the government from 1999 to 2015.

He said: “The PDP administration for 16 did well and will continue to do well. But this administration has done nothing, the administration is full lies and propaganda.

“In the power sector, we did well to revive it, a certain state governor criticised our government, saying that any serious government should be able to fix the power sector within six months.

"But today, the APC has been in power for how many years? Fortunately, the then governor is in the APC Government as a Minister."

Jonathan said there was still hope for the PDP, adding that the party would strategise in order for it to return to power in 2019.

Jonathan noted that the PDP needed a competent, reliable and courageous individual as national chairman if it wants to bounce back in 2019.

"For our party to make a headway, we need a national chairman that will select credible and reliable candidates for various elective offices at the various levels of government, from the Presidency to councillorship.


“We need a national chairman who will be courageous enough to call the President to order if we win the Presidency and the President is going astray. He must not be someone who would change when the party takes a position on ‎issues.

“We need a national chairman who will rule the party democratically and carry others along. In fact, the national chairman is the leader of the party. It is not the other way round," he said.

Meanwhile, Goodluck Jonathan has revealed why he held a closed-door meeting with the former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, on Wednesday, October 18.

The meeting was held at IBB’s uphill residence in Minna, Niger state.

We gathered that the meeting started some minutes after 10.00 am and did not end until about 12.14 pm .

When journalists asked of details of the meeting, Jonathan declined, saying it was “private and personal”.

After he was pressed further, he said he was in Minna to “empathize with the former military leader on his safe return from a medical trip abroad.”

“I have not seen General Babangida since he returned from medical vacation and I felt it was the right time to do so,” the former president said.

Osun to hold LG Election soon

The Chairman of Osun a State Independent Electoral Commission, Chief Segun Oladitan, has announced that local government elections will hold in the state on January 27, 2018.

Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday, Oladitan said the polls would hold after 10 years local government elections were conducted in the state but he said legal encumbrances had prevented the commission from conducting the election since 2013.

He stated that elections would be conducted in the 30 local government council; local council development areas and the area offices recently created by the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The OSSIEC boss promised that the elections would be credible.

He stated the state would use the parliamentary system in electing politicians into the councils. He said that chairmanship elections would not be conducted but explained that councillors would be elected and the chairmen would be elected among the elected councillors.

He urged politicians to play the game by the rule while urging them to follow the guidelines which the commission would release so that none of them would run afoul of the law.

PDP chairmanship: Fayose parleys with Bode George, Ladoja, Sarumi

Ekiti State governor , Mr. Ayodele Fayose,  has urged the party in the Southwest to forge a common front and present a single candidate for the national chairmanship position. Fayose is also the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum.

The governor believes that “going to the national convention in disunity will not serve the collective interest of the party in the Southwest zone.”

Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, quoted Governor Fayose as making this call on Monday,  in Lagos when he held a closed-door meeting with PDP national chairmanship aspirants.

The meeting was attended by former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George; former Oyo State Governor, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, former Minister of Communications, Chief Dapo Sarumi and former PDP National Chairman (South-West), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo

Former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, was unavoidably absent as he sent his apology.

The meeting, which commenced around 9pm immediately after the arrival of Chief George, who was accompanied by Chief Sarumi, among others, lasted for over one hour.

Governor Fayose, who addressed  newsmen after the meeting, said he was desirous of having the PDP in the Southwest go to the convention as united and indivisible entity as it could not afford to go into the

exercise as a divided entity.
The governor said; “It will be difficult for me to be going around soliciting support for all the chairmanship aspirants. It is when we are able to present one common aspirant that I can be able to stand behind such aspirant and campaign round the country.

“Going to the convention without cohesion would not speak well of the Southwest zone and the purpose of today's meeting is to start a process of achieving a common front.”

He, however, said those at the meeting agreed that it should be an ongoing exercise and an all inclusive one where all stakeholders would be invited.

Also speaking, Alhaji Oladipo described Governor Fayose as the rallying point for the party in Southwest being the only PDP governor and the chairman, PDP Governors' Forum in the country.

“He is a rallying point to make our position in the Southwest PDP known in the coming convention.

“We endorse the calling of the meeting with all stakeholders in attendance before the convention. It is our privilege to have him as our governor and other stakeholders would be joining us before the convention,” Alhaji Oladipo said.

On his part, Chief Ladoja, who said he had now become a full-fledged PDP member, having obtained his party membership card, disclosed that he would publicly declare his chairmanship ambition by the end of the week.

Chief George, in his remark, expressed support for the meeting, saying: “I also endorse the meeting and it shows that all hope is lost.”

He said it should be clear that the Southwest PDP was not a rudderless ship, expressing that at the end of the day, the intervention by Governor Fayose would be a welcome development that would gladden the heart of members.

Reps to probe alleged deplorable state of Nigeria’s foreign missions.

Following allegations that the country’s missions abroad were becoming increasingly deplorable, the House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate the claims towards ascertaining the state of affairs of all the missions.

The lower legislative chamber also resolved to commence direct oversight exercise on the nation’s foreign missions as a way of closely monitoring their activities as well as the activities of Nigerian diplomats and the utilisation of appropriated funds.The House therefore mandated its committee on Foreign Affairs to conduct a public hearing on the matter and report back in eight weeks for further legislative action.

The resolutions followed a motion on notice titled, ‘Deplorable State of Nigeria’s Foreign Missions and its Consequences on the Nation’s Foreign Policy’, sponsored by Hon. Nnenna Elendu Ukejeh (PDP, Abia) and 21 others.

Hon. Ukeje who led the debate on the motion informed the House that Embassies, High Commissions and Missions were the most dependable vehicles for the implementation of a Nation’s foreign policy and protection of the country’s image.

She said: “Some of the contributory factors to the deplorable conditions of the nation’s Embassies and High Commissions, including Chanceries and Residences of the Ambassadors and High Commissioners in cities like Washington D.C., New York, Geneva, London, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Brasilia, Juba and Johannesburg are poor funding and often times, late remittances of approved funds”.

“The funding challenges of the Missions are affecting their operations, thereby resulting in unpaid allowances of home based officers, huge debts owed to service providers, poor representation, low productivity and morale of officers posted to those Missions”, Ukeje argued.

She worried that the situation where children and wards of the foreign officers were being sent out of schools for non- payment of school fees and the officials denied medical services due to non – payment of insurance premium amounted to total embarrassment for the country.

Ukeje therefore urged the House to make annual budgetary allocation to enable the Committee on Foreign Affairs carry out oversight functions over the Missions.Recall that the Senate had similarly adopted the resolution on Tuesday where it strongly condemned the state of affairs of Nigerian Missions broad.

APC, PDP are expired parties Says Okupe

Former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, on Thursday in Ibadan described the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party as two spent parties that had misused their time in politics.

Okupe spoke at the 2017 South-West stakeholders’ summit of the Accord Party in the city.

He said, “The PDP and the APC are big trucks with old age and misuse has affected their relevance. Today, the PDP and the APC have expired as political parties. PDP as an automobile has spoilt its back axle while APC crankshaft has broken.”

At the meeting, a former member of the House of Representatives, Bukola Ajaja, was presented with the flag of the party as the new leader of Accord Party in the state by the South-West Zonal Chairman, Kayode Ojo.

While thanking members of the party for the trust they had in her, Ajaja said the party remained strong in the South-West

EFCC has frozen my late mother’s accounts, says Patience

Wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, has filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, seeking N2bn as compensation for alleged harassment by the anti-graft agency.

She alleged in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/586/2017 filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja that the EFCC violated her rights by incessantly harassing her through negative media publications.

She alleged that the EFCC was denigrating and degrading her person as corrupt, without any invitation for interrogation, trial or conviction.

Mrs. Jonathan cited instances of the alleged harassment and intimidation by the EFCC in an affidavit filed in support of the suit.

She said the instances included the invasion of her properties and the freezing of her accounts, those of her siblings, relatives and her late mother, Mama Sisi Charity Oba.

The supporting affidavit to the suit deposed to by one of her lawyers, Sammie Somiari, stated,  “The investigation into the operations of her pet project, when she was First Lady, is an unprecedented act of animosity against her as none of her projects was funded by the government at any level.

“The respondent had physically raided the homes of the applicant and her relatives both in Abuja and Yenagoa.

“Recently the respondent raided the home of the applicant’s first daughter, both at Port Harcourt and Abuja.

“The respondent has waged a psychological war on the applicant by its threats of arrest of the applicant and her relations, such as Mrs. Esther Oba, Tamunotonye Oba and her elder brother, Mr. Aseminaso Nyengierefaka.”

She alleged that the commission was persecuting her over her “political views” during the campaign for the 2015 presidential election which her husband contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and lost to President Muhammadu Buhari  of the All Progressives Congress.

She accused the EFCC of waging “psychological war” against her by persistently intimidating, harassing and threatening her and those around her.

She identified some of her frozen accounts to include the five she opened with Skye Bank.

According to the affidavit, the former first lady opened the accounts following the advice by a former Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, on how she could pay for her treatment abroad without having to move huge cash around in violation of money laundering laws.

The affidavit accused the EFCC of demonstrating “pathological dislike” towards the former first lady despite the fact that she was never a public office holder.

She is among other prayers seeking an order for general damages/compensation in the sum of N2bn for the alleged violation of her fundamental rights.

She equally wants a declaration that indiscriminate freezing of her bank accounts and those of her relatives by the EFCC under the guise of investigation of proceeds of crime, without any invitation or interrogation by the respondent is a violation of her rights to own property and to fair hearing guaranteed under Sections 44 and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

The matter came up for mention before Justice John Tsoho on Thursday.

It was adjourned until November 16.

The EFCC is expected to file its response to the suit before then.

Spain rejects call for mediation in Catalonia crisis

Catalan regional police officers 'Mossos D'Esquadra' try to disperse protesters in front of the headquarters of Catalonia's regional foreign affairs ministry in Barcelona.

Spain’s government on Wednesday rejected calls by the leader of Catalonia for mediation over the region’s demands for independence which have sparked a violent political crisis.

A statement from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s office said there would be no talks until Catalan president Carles Puigdemont abandons the independence drive, which Madrid brands illegal.

“The government will not negotiate over anything illegal and will not accept blackmail,” the statement said.

10 things we learnt from independence day address

Buhari has just addressed the nation on the occasion of Nigeria's 57th independence commemoration. Here are 10 take-aways.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Independence Day address dwelt on security, the clamour for restructuring, corruption and reviving a faltering economy.

Here are 10 things we took away from the speech; which was delivered to commemorate Nigeria’s 57th year as a nation state.

1. Buhari blames leaders of Southeast for IPOB’s rise

In this address, the president made it clear that Nigeria isn’t going to break up under him.

With renewed agitations for a Biafra State by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu culminating in unrest and clashes in the Southeast, Buhari had strong words for political and traditional leaders in the Southeast.

“I am very disappointed that responsible leaders of these communities do not warn their hot-headed youths what the country went through (during the civil war of the ‘60s). Those who were there should tell those who were not there, the consequences of such folly”, Buhari scolded.

2. Agitators for a break-up of Nigeria are irresponsible

Buhari said calls for restructuring of the country are in order.

But he also lamented that these calls have led to the rise of “irresponsible” groups who are calling for a balkanization through violent means.

“Recent calls on re-structuring, quite proper in a legitimate debate, has let in highly irresponsible groups to call for dismemberment of the country. We cannot and we will not allow such advocacy.

“As a young Army Officer, I took part from the beginning to the end in our tragic civil war costing about two million lives, resulting in fearful destruction and untold suffering. Those who are agitating for a re-run were not born by 1967 and have no idea of the horrendous consequences of the civil conflict which we went through”, the president said.

3. Buhari says restructuring advocates and separatists should go through legislature

As separatist agitations boil over in the Southeast and Niger Delta regions, Buhari reminded activists and separatists alike that they still have to follow due process and not resort to violence. 

“At all events, proper dialogue and any desired constitutional changes should take place in a rational manner, at the National and State Assemblies. These are the proper and legal fora for national debate, not some lop-sided, un-democratic body with pre-determined set of objectives”,the president said.

“Government is keeping up the momentum of dialogue with stakeholders in the Niger Delta to keep the peace. We intend to address genuine grievances of the communities”, he added.

4. Past leaders didn’t save for rainy day

According to the president, past Nigerian leaders frittered proceeds of crude oil which inevitably led to the depressed economy he inherited.

“However, in spite of oil prices being an average of $100 per barrel and about 2.1m barrels a day, that great piece of luck was squandered and the country’s social and physical infrastructure neglected.

“We were left with no savings and huge infrastructure deficit. The APC government’s campaign rallying cry to restore security, re-balance the economy and fight corruption was not all rhetoric”.

5. Corruption is Nigeria’s number one enemy

Buhari was elected president thanks largely to a strong anti-corruption reputation.

In this address, he stated that he isn’t about to let up on his bare-knuckled fight against graft and sharp practices in the polity.

“We must fight corruption which is Nigeria’s Number One Enemy”, Buhari declared.

He added: “We are fully aware that fighting corruption was never going to be a straightforward task. We expected corrupt elements to use any weapon to fight back, mainly judicial obstruction and political diversion. But we are determined to eradicate corruption from our body politic.

"In this fight, the government has empowered teams of prosecutors, assembled detailed databases and accelerated the recovery of stolen funds.

Buhari also listed his administration’s institutional reforms to include: "enforcing Treasury Single Account, the Whistle-Blowers Policy and the Integrated Payroll Personnel and Information System".

6. Buhari says you should always blow a whistle

According to the president, the war against corruption can only be won if all Nigerians take to the battlefield with him.

“Fighting corruption is a bottom to top operation. I call on all Nigerians to combat corruption at every turn. By not asking for and refusing to accept a bribe, by reporting unethical practices or by blowing a whistle, together we can beat corruption”, Buhari said.

7. You should always celebrate on October 1

Nigeria may have gone through plenty of challenges since 1960, but your president wants you to be thankful and pop some wine on Independence Day.

“Over the years, the country has gone through trials and tribulations, but October 1st is always a day for celebrations”, Buhari says.

“It is a day for thanksgiving, reflection and re-dedication.

“It is also a day for remembrance. We should remind ourselves of the recent journey from 1999 – 2015, when our country happily returned to democratic rule”.

8. Judiciary is being reformed to fight corruption

Some pundits suggest that until the judiciary is reformed, Nigeria won’t make progress in the fight against corruption.

Buhari agrees.

The president says the judiciary is being reformed on his watch, to better help in the anti-corruption battle.

“There are signs of increasing cooperation from the Judiciary. Recently the Chief Justice of the Federation directed Heads of all our Courts of first instance and Appeal to accelerate hearings of corruption cases and dismiss any judicial officers found to have been compromised”, says the president.

“Justice Salami has just been appointed to chair the Judiciary’s anti-graft committee. Government expects a lot from this Committee".

9. There’s been improvement in the power sector

Apart from promising that his administration will accelerate its work in the next two years, President Buhari also said the power sector is experiencing an improvement.

“Power remains a huge problem. As of September 12th, production of power reached an all  time high of 7,001 Megawatts. Government is increasing its investment, clearing up the operational and financial log jam bedeviling the industry. We hope to reach 10,000 Megawatts by 2020.

“Key priorities include better energy mix through solar and hydro technologies. I am glad to say that after many years of limbo, Mambilla Power Project has taken off”.

10. Buhari promises improvement in next two years

The Buhari administration has gone past its half way mark. There are two more years before the president's first term elapses.

Buhari says improvements are underway before 2019.

"As we enter the second half of our term of office, we intend to accelerate progress and intensify our resolve to fix the country’s challenges and problems", he vowed.

Nigeria @57-Read full text of president's independence day address

President Buhari has just addressed the nation on the occasion of Nigeria's Independence Day. Here's the text of his speech in full.

President Muhammadu Buhari took on issues bordering on restructuring, pro-Biafra agitations in the Southeast and the fight against corruption as Nigeria celebrates 57 years as a nation state.

Here's the full text of his speech:

My dear Nigerians,

October 1st remains a special date for all Nigerians as this marks the day when we attained one of the most precious of human desires — freedom.

Over the years the country has gone through trials and tribulations, but October 1st is always a day for celebrations.

It is a day for thanks giving, reflection and re-dedication.

It is also a day for remembrance. We should remind ourselves of the recent journey from 1999 – 2015, when our country happily returned to democratic rule.

However, in spite of oil prices being an average of $100 per barrel and about 2.1m barrels a day, that great piece of luck was squandered and the country’s social and physical infrastructure neglected.

We were left with no savings and huge infrastructure deficit.

The APC Government’s Campaign rallying cry to restore security, re-balance the economy and fight corruption was not all rhetoric.

The country must first be secured. The economy must be re-balanced so that we do not depend on oil alone. We must fight corruption which is Nigeria’s Number One Enemy. Our Administration is tackling these tasks in earnest.

In the past two years, Nigeria has recorded appreciable gains in political freedom. A political Party at the Centre losing elections of State Governor, National Assembly seat and even State Assemblies to the opposition parties is new to Nigeria. Added to these are complete freedom to associate, to hold and disseminate opinions. Such developments clearly attest to the country’s growing political development. But like all freedoms, this is open to abuse.

Recent calls on re-structuring, quite proper in a legitimate debate, has let in highly irresponsible groups to call for dismemberment of the country. We cannot and we will not allow such advocacy.

As a young Army Officer, I took part from the beginning to the end in our tragic civil war costing about 2m lives, resulting in fearful destruction and untold suffering. Those who are agitating for a re-run were not born by 1967 and have no idea of the horrendous consequences of the civil conflict which we went through.

I am very disappointed that responsible leaders of these communities do not warn their hot-headed youths what the country went through. Those who were there should tell those who were not there, the consequences of such folly.

At all events, proper dialogue and any desired constitutional changes should take place in a rational manner, at the National and State Assemblies. These are the proper and legal fora for National debate, not some lop-sided, un-democratic body with pre-determined set of objectives.

Government is keeping up the momentum of dialogue with stakeholders in the Niger Delta to keep the peace. We intend to address genuine grievances of the communities.

Government is grateful to the responsible leadership of those communities and will pursue lasting peace in the Niger Delta.

SECURITY

On security, Nigerians must be grateful to our gallant Armed Forces for rolling back the frontiers of Boko Haram’s terrorism, defeating them and reducing them to cowardly attacks on soft and vulnerable targets.

Nigeria is grateful to its neighbours and the international community for the collective efforts to defeat this world-wide menace of terrorism.

Not even the most organized and most equipped police and security forces in the world can escape the menace of modern day terrorism, as we have seen in recent years in Europe and other parts of the world.

But we are not letting up. Our Armed Forces in an effort to enhance the operational capability of troops of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE have established Mobile Strike Teams in the North East. These will ensure the final push to wipe out the remnants of Boko Haram.

In addition, through targeted air strikes, most of the leadership and identified logistics bases and routes of the insurgents have been neutralized. The Armed Forces have established a Naval presence in the Lake Chad Basin as part of the coordinated military efforts to curtail the movements or re-emergence of the sect in the area.

Government is working round the clock to ensure release of the remaining Chibok girls, as well as other persons in Boko Haram captivity. Government will continue to support the Armed Forces and other security agencies to fight not only terrorism, but kidnapping, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers violence and to ensure peace, stability and security in our country.

ECONOMY

With respect to the economy, the Government has remained pro-active in its diversification policy. The Federal Government’s agricultural Anchor Borrowers Programme, which I launched in November 2015, has been an outstanding success with:

N43.92 billion released through the CBN and 13 participating institutions.

200,000 small holder farmers from 29 states of the federation benefitting.

233,000 hectares of farmland cultivating eight commodities, namely Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, soya-beans, Poultry, Cassava and Groundnuts, in addition to fish farming.

These initiatives have been undertaken in close collaboration with the states. I wish to commend the efforts of the Governors of Kebbi, Lagos, Ebonyi and Jigawa States for their support to the rice and fertilizer revolutions.

Equally commendable are contributions of the Governors of Ondo, Edo, Delta, Imo, Cross River, Benue, Ogun, Kaduna and Plateau States for their support for the Presidential initiative for palm oil, rubber, cashew, cassava, potatoes and other crops.

With the abundance of rainfall last year and this year, agriculture has enjoyed Divine intervention.

Since December last year, this Administration has produced over 7 million 50Kg bags of fertilizer. Eleven blending plants with a capacity of 2.1 million metric tons have been reactivated. We have saved $150 million in foreign exchange and N60 billion in subsidy. Fertilizer prices have dropped from N13,000 per 50Kg bag to N5,500.

Furthermore, a new presidential initiative is starting with each state of the Federation creating a minimum of 10,000 jobs for unemployed youths, again with the aid of CBN’s development finance initiatives.

Power remains a huge problem. As of September 12th, production of power reached an all — time high of 7,001 Megawatts. Government is increasing its investment, clearing up the operational and financial log jam bedevilling the industry. We hope to reach 10,000 Megawatts by 2020.

Key priorities include better energy mix through solar and Hydro technologies. I am glad to say that after many years of limbo, Mambilla Power Project has taken off.

Elsewhere in the economy the special window created for manufacturers, investors and exporters, foreign exchange requirements has proved very effective. Since April, about $7 billion has come through this window alone. The main effect of these policies is improved confidence in the economy and better investment sentiments.

The country has recorded 7 consecutive months of lower inflation, Naira rate is beginning to stabilize, appreciating from N525 per $1 in February this year to N360 today. Broad-based economic growth is leading us out of recession.

Furthermore, in order to stabilize the polity, the Federal Government gave additional support to states in the form of:

*State Excess Crude Account loans,

Budget Support Facility,

Stabilization Fund Release to state and local government as follows:

N200 billion in 2015

N441 billion in 2016

N1 trillion in 2017

Altogether totalling N1.642 trillion.

This was done to enable states to pay outstanding salaries, pensions and small business suppliers who had been all but crippled over the years.

In addition, the Government’s current N500 billion Special Intervention Programme is targeting groups through;

Home Grown School Feeding Programme,

N-Power Job creation to provide loans to small-scale traders and artisans,

Conditional Cash Transfer,

Family Homes Fund and

Social Housing Scheme.

CORRUPTION

Fellow Nigerians,

We are fully aware that fighting corruption was never going to be a straightforward task. We expected corrupt elements to use any weapon to fight back, mainly judicial obstruction and political diversion. But we are determined to eradicate corruption from our body politic.

In this fight, the Government has:

Empowered teams of prosecutors,

Assembled detailed databases,

Accelerated the recovery of stolen funds.

The Administration’s new institutional reforms include:

Enforcing Treasury Single Account,

Whistle-Blowers Policy,

Integrated Payroll Personnel and Information System.

We have signed multi-lateral cooperation agreements on criminal matters with friendly countries. There are signs of increasing cooperation from the Judiciary. Recently the Chief Justice of the Federation directed Heads of all our Courts of first instance and Appeal to accelerate hearings of corruption cases and dismiss any judicial officers found to have been compromised.

Justice Salami has just been appointed to chair the Judiciary’s anti-graft committee. Government expects a lot from this Committee.

I commend the National Assembly for refocusing on its oversight committees. They should, in addition, ensure swift passage of enabling corruption laws. But fighting corruption is a bottom to top operation. I call on all Nigerians to combat corruption at every turn. By not asking for and refusing to accept a bribe, by reporting unethical practices or by blowing a whistle, together we can beat corruption. The government for its part will work for accountability at all levels – Federal, State and Local Governments. CHANGE will then be real.

As we enter the second half of our term of office, we intend to accelerate progress and intensify our resolve to fix the country’s challenges and problems.

Thank you and a happy holiday to all of you.

God bless our country

57th Anniversary: Service Chiefs move to Maiduguri to celebrate with troops

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, and the three other Service Chiefs on Saturday, moved to Maiduguri to celebrate the nation’s 57th Independence Anniversary with troops in the frontline.

The other Service Chief are: Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, Chief of Air Force Staff, Sadique Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff, Ebok Ete-Ibas.

Also in Maiduguri with the service chiefs to celebrate the anniversary with the troops is the Director-General, Department of State Service, DSS, Lawal Daura.

John Enenche, the Director Defence Information (DDI) told journalists in Maiduguri that the service chiefs would celebrate with the fighting troops to boost their morale and thank them for their efforts so far.

Mr. Enenche also said the service chiefs would use the opportunity to meet with the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Ibrahim Attahiru.

He added that the service chiefs would use the occasion to review the renewed strategies up in place since July, to flush out remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists.

According to him, the renewed operational tactical strategies adopted by the Army, Air force and Navy have recorded successes.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who was then the Acting President, directed the Service Chiefs to relocate to the North-East.

The directive was after the insurgents ambushed, kidnapped and killed some members of staff of NNPC and University of Maiduguri.

The workers and troops providing protection were on oil exploration mission to Borno North when the incident occurred.

Enenche, however, said that following the successes so far achieved the counter insurgency operations would be further “reinvigorated and reinforced.”

The DDI also attributed the successes so far recorded to “credible information” the military received from the public and urged the people not to relent in giving such information.

(NAN)

nigeria@57-presidency releases buharis 57achievements/

The Presidency on Saturday released what it called the 57 achievements of the Muhammadu Buhari administration as the nation marks 57 years of Independence.

The list was released by the Vice President’s Office.

The achievements were listed under different categories that included security and related matters, economy, anti-graft war and others.

Topping the list of Buhari’s achievement under security, according to the document, is the release of 106 Chibok girls, as well as taking as captives over 16,000 Boko Haram members.

Other achievements under security are tackling insurgency, decimation of Boko Haram in the North East, recovering of 14 local governments and territories previously under Boko Haram’s control in the North East, rebuilding lives of citizens there, with about one  million displaced persons in the region returning to their communities in two years of this administration.

The Presidency also listed curbing the incidence of kidnap across the country, including the arrest of kidnap kingpins and dismantling of kidnap cells across the country.

Others are restoring morale of the Nigerian military; re-organising and better equipping of the Nigerian Armed Forces; purchase of 12 Super-Tucano aircraft worth $600m to aid the Nigerian military’s current operations in the North East; ensuring continued peace in the Niger Delta through consistent funding of the FG amnesty programme for ex-militants; and the introduction of an improved mechanism for distribution of aid to IDPs in the North East through the establishment of the Special Intervention Programme of the Federal Government called door-to-door strategy.

On economy, the document listed the implementation of the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan to aid economic recovery and taking the country out of her worst recession in 29 years, despite fall in oil prices.

It noted that N1.2trn was expended on capital/infrastructure projects nationwide, describing it as a milestone in the nation’s history.

It also mentioned the effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account, and increasing government revenue by over N3trn as well as entrenching transparency and accountability.

It cited the implementation of the Bank Verification Number, thus tackling corruption by plugging loopholes for siphoning of public funds and tracking of illicit funds through multiple accounts

On ease of doing business, it said the Federal Government signed into law two bills from the National Assembly (the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, 2017 (otherwise known as Collateral Registry Act) and the Credit Reporting Act, 2017) which has facilitated access to more affordable credit for Nigerians, fast tracked budget submissions and promotes Made-in-Nigeria products.

The establishment of the Presidential Quarterly Business Forum to enhance interaction and private sector participation in the development of the economy, as well as institutionalising E-governance setting the foundation for the creation of a truly digital economy were also mentioned.

On anti-graft war, the document mentioned prosecution of alleged corrupt public officers and recovering billions of naira of stolen public funds; the successful establishment of the whistle-blower policy; signing of Executive Order 004 – Voluntary Income Asset Declaration Scheme which aims to increase tax awareness and compliance, and reduce incidence of tax evasion.

Others are signing of agreements with a number of nations to provide Automatic Exchange of Information; signing of the Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates toward strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign; and the establishmen of PACAC – a think-tank that has provided leadership, direction and also built capacity of personnel in the fight against corruption.

Under the last category, the Presidency mentioned the eradication of polio in the country and the introduction of the One Primary Health Centre per ward programme of the Federal Government.