PRESIDENT BUHARI TO MARK EID IN THE VILLA, PLANS MODEST CELEBRATION AT HOME

As Muslims in Nigeria join others globally in preparations towards Eid Al-Fitr, a day that is celebrated to mark the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, President Buhari directs that all celebrations be limited due to the global Coronavirus crisis.

 

To this effect, the President, First Family, his  personal aides, members of cabinet and Service Chiefs who choose to remain in Abuja will congregate in full compliance with COVID-19 protocols at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa to observe the Eid prayers. Time fixed for the prayer is 9:00am.

 

Thereafter, there will be no traditional Sallah homage to the President by religious, community and political leaders. As was the case last year, the President encourages such leaders to be content with modest celebrations at home in view of the pandemic.

 

President Buhari specially thanks the Ulama (Islamic Clerics) and all other religious (Muslim, Christian) leaders who continue to pray for the wellbeing of the nation and its people.

 

The President, in addition, takes this opportunity to condole with all who lost family members due to what he described as the 'madness' going on in parts of the country. 

 

The President calls on all local leaders to talk to their youths and warn them against being used to incite and foment violence. 

 

"If we attack institutions guarding us," the President wonders, "who will protect us in future emergencies?"

 

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

May 9, 2021

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE.* *_WORKING TOGETHER, NIGERIA WILL REALIZE ITS TRUE POTENTIALS_* — *OSINBAJO.*

*Former Ogun Gov Daniel tells VP:* _We know your job is not easy, but we are proud of you._

Though Nigeria is facing diverse challenges, it will overcome the problems and realize its potentials especially if people who share progressive views continue to work together in the interest of the country, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. 

Prof. Osinbajo stated this Wednesday when he received on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, members of a SouthWest Think-Tank known as IMODOYE led by former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. (Imodoye means knowledge is valuable) 

According to the Vice President, “I am very hopeful that this country will truly realize its potentials and I believe that all of us working together can make that happen. If the progressive ideas are put forward and we focus, then this country indeed will work. 

“The country is ours, we should make it happen, there will be many challenges but I think that we must be prepared to face it until progressive views of improved welfare for the citizens that we represent, eventually prevail.” 

Speaking on the efforts of the Buhari administration to address some of the challenges confronting Nigerians, the Vice President noted that “the best way out of where we are today is to have a massive plan for investment because that is really how to create opportunities for jobs, which is what we are hoping to achieve with the Economic Sustainability Plan, creating opportunities through the solar investments with 5 million connections, the Farms for Jobs Project and the Social Housing Scheme.” 

The Vice President then reiterated that the welfare of the people and the progress of the country has always been and will remain the priority of the APC and the Buhari administration.

Earlier in his remark, former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, said the visit was to identify with and support the cause of Prof. Osinbajo whom he described as “intelligent, hardworking, articulate” and a very proud son of the Southwest region. 

His words: “we want to let you know that you are appreciated, we are proud of you and the work that you are doing, we know it is not an easy job. We also want to let you know that we want to join you in nation-building, if there is anything, any assignment you want us to undertake, we are at your service, that is why we are here.” 

Former Governor Daniel who is now an APC member led the Imodoye delegation which included some other new entrants into the party.

He said having joined the party he has visited the President, Governors, and other leaders including Chief Bisi Akande.

With him yesterday at the VP's office were Mr Dare Babarinsa, a veteran journalist; and Otunba Opeyemi Agbaje, a policy analyst. Others were, Mr Ayodele Olaoye, Mr Kole Omololu, Mr. Kole Abe, Mr Deola Sosanwo, Mr Steve Oliyide, Mr John Obafemi and Mr Demola Folarin.

*Laolu Akande,*

*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*

*Office of the Vice President.*

6th May 2021.

PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS FORMER MINISTER OF WOMEN AFFAIRS, AISHA JUMMAI AL-HASSAN

 

 

President Muhammadu Buhari is deeply saddened by the death of Hajiya Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan, “Mama Taraba’’, who was Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development during his first term in office.

The Nigerian Mission in Cairo, Egypt, announced the passing of the former minister and Senator.

President Buhari said:

“The demise of the notable politician, Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan has left many saddened. Both in office and out of office, her concern for the education of the girl child, especially those of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, who were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists, shone through.

“Her death is a huge loss not only to the female gender activist community but to the country as a whole. Our condolences to her family, friends, National Assembly and government and people of Taraba State.”

 

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

May 7, 2021

WE’LL DEVELOP OUR IRRIGATION FACILITIES MORE, PRESIDENT BUHARI ASSURES

The Federal Government will focus on greater development of irrigation facilities in the country, and encourage more people into agriculture, President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged. 

He spoke Friday at State House, Abuja, during the 6th regular meeting with the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), led by Professor Doyin Salami. 

President Buhari said agriculture was a good way for the country to overcome economic challenges confronting it, stressing: “We need to go back to the land. Technology is doing away with petroleum, but we are lucky we have other resources; Gas, vast arable land, which we are not using enough.” 

The President was responding to disclosure by Prof Salami, in his presentation, that only 2% of land under cultivation is irrigated, recommending that apart from government efforts, incentives are needed for private people to enter the sector. 

On the security challenges, which PEAC said was having great repercussions on the economy, President Buhari charged leadership at every level to go back to the basics, noting that a bottom-up approach was necessary, from ward, to local council, states, and federal. 

He decried the situation in which some unscrupulous people tried to undermine every policy of government, irrespective of the good it was meant to achieve for the country.

“Some people are mercilessly against this country,” the President said. “We closed the borders to control the smuggling of petroleum products, and check the influx of smuggled goods, arms and ammunition. That was when the Comptroller General of Customs called me, saying 40 tankers laden with petrol had been impounded. I told him to sell the fuel, sell the trucks, and put the money in the treasury. 

“They still brought arms and ammunition into the country, brought in rice in vehicles and motorcycles. I said shoot anyone found illegally with AK-47, yet they haven’t stopped. People must show consideration for their own country.” 

PEAC submitted that the global economy has continued to improve as COVID infections drop and roll-out of vaccination intensifies, adding that the Nigerian economy, though out of recession, remains fragile with inflation rising, unemployment high, and external account weak. 

Policy, the economic advisory body said, “must urgently address the challenges of rising prices.” 

Among other issues recommended by PEAC are; decisive end to all forms of insecurity in the country, mobilization of resources for investment, hastened implementation of agricultural reform policies, passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as a basis for revitalizing the industry, poverty reduction, employment generation, and incentives for private investment in irrigation, to promote all-year-round farming.

 

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

May 7, 2021

ATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY PRESS RELEASES.

Flood forecasting, management: NEMA provides automatic weather observatories to NIHSA

To enhance operations of the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has provided three automatic Weather Observation Stations in support to NIHSA.

Speaking in Abuja, at the unveiling of the 2021 annual flood outlook by the NHSA, NEMA's Director General, AVM Muhammadu Muhammed (rtd) said the weather stations which are at various stages of installations are located in Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti and Federal University, Kashere.

According to AVM Muhammed, NEMA values “collaboration with our partners and are ready to strengthen the multi-agency approach to disaster risk reduction.”

He said the weather stations which are at various stages of installations located in Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti and Federal University, Kashere said the weather stations which are at various stages of installations located in Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti and Federal University, Kashere

Reviewing the flood of last year, he said “COVID-19 Pandemic reduced States and communities’ abilities to cope with climate induced disasters, thus imposing more burden on Federal Government Agencies to mitigate and respond to disasters.

 

“However, despite the gloomy nature of the pandemic, presenting a case of disaster within a disaster, our advocacy and engagement with stakeholders in 2020 led to reduction in the negative impacts of flood on the people.

"A total of 2,353,647 people were affected by 2020 flood disaster, but 69 lives were lost compared with the 158 lives but only 277,555 affected in 2019. “

 

Further according to him, "One of the lessons learnt during the 2020 flood after action review meeting is the need for proper utilization of our dams in the country. When dams meant for irrigation purposes are used for dry season agriculture, they acquire more capacities to hold more water in the rainy season. In addition, a timely controlled release of water from dams will reduce panic release of water during rainy season that can lead to further flooding”

 

As part of strategy for this year’s flood management, the NEMA DG said the Agency will ensure that all states and communities that are vulnerable to flood received timely warnings through community engagement, television programmes and information, education and communication materials amongst other public enlightenment activities that would be carried out.

 

The Minister of Water Resources Engr Suleiman Adamu who unveiled the AFO said the document was a clarion call to all stakeholders to rise and set up appropriate mechanism such as clearing the waterways and flood paths as well as maintaining proper water disposal management practices to curtail the ravages of the impending flood and threats of COVID-19.

 

 Manzo Ezekiel

Head Media Public Relations 

NEMA, Abuja

6th May 2021

NIGERIA, GUINEA BISSAU TO TAKE BILATERAL TIES TO HIGHER LEVELS

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday said Nigeria was ready to raise the existing cordial relations with the Republic of Guinea Bissau higher to align them with the strategic and economic priorities of the two nations.

President Buhari, who described the relationship between the two countries and their leaders as “robust and stable,” commended President Umaro Sissoco Embalo as a brother and a true friend of Nigeria, endowed with a good vision for his own country and its people.

The President, who spoke shortly after hosting his visiting Guinean counterpart to a private, one-to-one dinner to break their fast said they had candid discussions as friends and brothers.

Throughout the Iftar dinner, the warmth and goodwill between the two leaders was evident for all to see.

President Embalo, in Nigeria for a two-day official visit, said the trajectory of bilateral relations points to a bright future for the two nations and the entire West African sub-region.

He thanked President Buhari for the role he played in the stabilization of his country, saying that Guinea Bissau had been on the agenda of ECOWAS in the last twenty years. He expressed happiness that his country was no longer a problem for its neighbours.

President Embalo said he thought the best moment to visit and say “thank you” and express his country’s appreciation to President Buhari was the period of the Ramadan.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

May 6, 2021

PRESIDENT BUHARI APPROVES PANEL OF INQUIRY ON NPA, ASKS MD, HADIZA USMAN TO STEP ASIDE

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Transportation under Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for the setting up of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.

The President has also approved that the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman step aside while the investigation is carried out. Mr Mohammed Koko will act in that position.

The panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry while the Deputy Director, Legal of the same ministry will serve as Secretary.

Other members of the panel will be appointed by the Minister.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)