Buhari Admits He Has Failed, Says Nigeria Has Been In Trouble Since He Came On Board

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Buhari Admits He Has Failed, Says Nigeria Has Been In Trouble Since He Came On Board

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday admitted that Nigeria has been turbulent since he came on board in 2015.

The president made this comment while inaugurating the Food Security Council chaired by him.

At the inauguration, the president spoke about Nigeria’s “very turbulent” journey in the past three years, the period of his administration.

Read the full speech below.

“Two weeks ago, I announced my intention to establish and chair a presidential level committee that focuses on food security, I am happy that today it has become a reality.

“Nigeria’s journey in the last three (3) years, has been a very turbulent one. The country’s need for critical job creating sectors which has been ignored for decades is now beginning to yield results.

“We introduced the National Social Investment Programmes targeting millions of Nigerians who are living from hand to mouth.

“We launched agricultural programmes focusing on import substitution, job creation and rural development thereby bringing socio-economic transformation to the millions of citizens living in some of the most remote rural parts of our country.

“We commenced the long term Pollution Remediation Projects in the Niger Delta with the hope of restoring dignity and normalcy to the millions of Nigerians impacted by decades of pollution in their communities. Fishing and farming will resume once blighted areas are rehabilitated.

“We intensified our participation in the Lake Chad Basin Commission with the goal of reversing the shrinkage of the lake, which impacts the livelihoods of over 45 million farmers, herdsmen and fishermen in the LCBC countries.

“We issued the first ever green bond that will act as a catalyst for investments in renewable energy and afforestation projects. This was oversubscribed, sharing market confidence in the country and our government.

“We established the Agro Rangers Unit within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect the billions of naira of investments recorded in Nigeria’s agricultural sector across the country.

“We continued to equip the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to fight maritime criminals such as pirates and sea robbers who adversely impact offshore and inland fishing activities in our waters.

“These programmes and many more, have started yielding results and if sustained, will transform the lives of millions of Nigerians across the country.

“We are well aware that the full results will not be felt or seen overnight. The journey is long. It is therefore our collective duty to ensure the actual and potential positive impacts of these programmes are sustained, improved and expanded.

“A key mandate of the Food Security Council is to continuously assess and enhance these infant, but impactful programmes, thereby guaranteeing they achieve their full potential.

“We shall also develop new programmes and projects that will protect and indeed, create more jobs in farming, fisheries, animal husbandry and forestry.

“As we all know, land is use for farming, grazing and forestry, Water is used for irrigation, livestock sustenance and fishing. Therefore, any strategy for land and water management must take into account the interconnectivity of all these key sectors to ensure equity and sustainability.

“We will also not lose sight of the other issues that will impact our food production ambitions such as; Population growth, Urbanisation, IndustrialisationRural Infrastructure Development andClimate Change.

“These factors will also stress and stretch our land and water resources. This means we must invest in research and development to enhance yields and outputs.

“Moreover, we are not insulated from Global and Regional events. Accordingly we develop local programs, but not lose sight of events from a far and their impact on us. Specifically, issues such as smuggling and dumping, which is our responsibility to ensure we develop and enforce strategies to protect Nigeria from these illegal and unhealthy imports.

“The Council includes Governors representing the six (6) geopolitical zones. Some geopolitical zones have similar Eco climatic conditions. The council is therefore a platform to further enhance the collaboration between the federal and state governments. We shall share success stories and collaborate to address common threats.

“We will also engage key stakeholders representing the core sectors of the Food Value Chain. Regular consultations will be held with investors, development partners, financiers, academia and our friends and allies abroad.

“ Our deliberations will look into all the issues and our decisions will be implementable and impactful. We shall stay focused, first and foremost on securing our food requirements and employment for our people, especially the youth. We shall feed ourselves and build an inclusive Nigeria for ourselves and for future generations.”

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Dapchi Missing School Girls: The Girls Are With Us - Boko Haram Confirm

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Dapchi Missing School Girls: The Girls Are With Us - Boko Haram Confirm

Aisha Wakil, better known as “Mama Boko Haram”, has claimed that the insurgent group have contacted her, confirming they have in their custody the abducted 110 Dapchi school girls.

The Musab al-Barnawi faction of the sect, is suspected of being behind the kidnap of the students.

Wakil was a member of the Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the Northern region, set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In an interview with NAN, she stated that the abductors confirmed to her that the girls were safe and in good condition.

“They are even the ones that called me, and said Mama we heard what you have said and told me that they are with the girls and they are going to release them.

“I begged of them and said please let this not be another 1,000-plus days of Chibok girls, and they laughed and said no.

“I asked them where I can come and stay with them (girls) for two days, but they did not say anything.

“I can assure Nigerians that so far they are with my son Habib and his friends; Habib is a nice guy, he is very nice boy. He will not harm them, he will not touch them, and he will not kill them.

“He is going to listen to us, and so far he indicated interest that he loves peace. And I love them for that and believe what they said on this.

“They will definitely give us the girls. All I am begging Nigerians is to calm down, be prayerful, everything will be over in God grace,” she said.

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Nigerian President's Son Yusuf Buhari Returns From A Medical Trip

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Nigerian President's Son Yusuf Buhari Returns From A Medical Trip

 

Osagie Enahire receiving Yusuf Buhari at the airport

Nigeria’s First Son, Yusuf Buhari has returned to Abuja after spending weeks in Germany receiving medical treatment.

Saharareporters learned that Yusuf received treatment at the St. Joseph Hospital in Wiesbaden as well as further treatment to fix a broken arm at another hospital in Munich. Yusuf left Nigeria for Germany on January 12, 2018.

Yusuf spent some time at Cedarest Hospital in Abuja after he was injured in a power bike accident in Gwanripa neighborhood in Abuja while drag racing with a friend, Bashir Gwandu. 

He was received by the honorable Minister of State for Health, Osagie Enahire and was pictured meeting his father at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

Yusuf on handshake with his father, President Mohammed Buhari

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2019 Election: APC Has Not Endorsed Buhari 2nd Term, The Party Spokesman Denies

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2019 Election: APC Has Not Endorsed Buhari 2nd Term, The Party Spokesman Denies

The spokesman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, on behalf of the party, has denied viral reports that it endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for second term.

 

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi 

While speaking in a telephone interview with The PUNCH, in Abuja, on Wednesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said what the party’s National Executive Committee did at its last meeting, was to pass a vote of confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee.

The All Progressives Congress spokesman made it clear that a vote of confidence was not the same as endorsing the President for a second term, adding that the issue of endorsing the President for a second term did not form part of discussions during the NEC meeting.

Speaking in response to a question on whether the endorsement of Buhari for a second term in 2019 was part of decisions taken during the party’s last NEC meeting, Abdullahi said, “NO.”

He said: “You will recall that the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, addressed this issue while responding to a question on the issue of 2019 at yesterday (Tuesday’s) briefing when he said, the President has not said he wants to contest and that for now, his focus is on the issue of governance, so the issue of endorsing him (President) for a second term in 2019 did not arise.”

Recall that Reuters had on Wednesday, quoted two unnamed APC leaders as saying the APC National Executive Committee of the APC had endorsed President Buhari to seek re-election.

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Review Shows Nigeria Needs Urgent Help - IMF

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Review Shows Nigeria Needs Urgent Help - IMF

President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigerian people are getting poorer despite the country’s slow recovery from recession and economic reforms are urgently needed, the International Monetary Fund has said.

The Fund expects the government to “muddle through” in the medium term, and any progress could also be threatened if elections next year consume political energy and resources, it said in a report seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

Since emerging from recession in the second quarter of 2017, Nigerian officials have repeatedly boasted that they have set the economy back on track.

But critics say much of the recovery comes from a return to oil dependence after a rise in global oil prices and a rebound in crude production, more the result of militants in the Niger Delta halting attacks on oil facilities than of economic policy under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The IMF said in the report that the outlook for growth had improved but remained challenging.

“Comprehensive and coherent” economic policies “remain urgent and must not be delayed by approaching elections and recovering oil prices,” it stated in its annual Article IV review of Nigeria’s economy.

“Higher oil prices would support a recovery in 2018 but a ‘muddle-through’ outlook is projected for the medium term under current policies, with fiscal dominance and structural constraints leading to continuing falls in real GDP per capita,” the IMF added.

In the report, it identified risks to growth, including additional delays to implementing policies and reforms ahead of the 2019 elections, security tensions, and oil prices, a fall in which could see capital flows reversed.

“Further delays in policy action, including because of pre-election pressures, can only make the inevitable adjustment more difficult and costlier,” the report added.

The lender repeated its call for Nigeria to simplify its complex foreign exchange system, a bugbear for the IMF for more than a year, which has left large gaps between official rates and various windows that certain groups can use to get other rates.

“Moving towards a unified exchange rate should be pursued as soon as possible. The IMF staff does not support the exchange measures that have given rise to the exchange restrictions and multiple currency practices,” it stated.

The Fund further singled out the central bank, saying it should discontinue direct interventions in the economy. The Central Bank of Nigeria frequently injects hundreds of millions of dollars into the foreign exchange market to keep its own rates stable.

Commercial banks struggling to remain solvent were also called out, but not identified by the IMF, including one that the lender said was already insolvent, adding, “Some of these banks are kept afloat through continuous recourse to the CBN’s lending facilities.”

The IMF said it would not comment on purported leaks. A spokeswoman for the Fund said a statement would be issued after the lender’s board’s meeting to discuss its assessment on Friday.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Finance did not immediately respond to a phone call and email requesting comment.

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"APC Is Undemocratic" APC Chieftain Timi Frank Laments

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"APC Is Undemocratic"  APC Chieftain Timi Frank Laments

APC chieftain, Comrade Timi Frank, has expressed disappointment in the decision taken by the party’s NEC, which extended the tenure of the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC for another 12 months.

 

Timi Frank

In a statement released on Wednesday, the former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, expressed disappointment in the ruling party over the 1-year tenure elongation of the national working committee led by John Oyegun.

According to TheCable, he said the development has shown “that APC is an undemocratic party”.

“I am personally disappointed with the tenure extension of Chief John Oyegun led leadership. This has clearly shown that APC is an undemocratic party. A party which has been in existence for three years but has never obeyed its own constitution,” he said in the statement.

“I challenged anybody to tell me which part of the APC constitution has been religiously obeyed in the past? This is has shown again the difference between PDP and APC, but I know that the former is better.

“I will not relent in speaking the truth which I’m known for. This decision is against the wish of the majority but for the oppressors within the party.”

While reacting to the party’s national executive committee (NEC) which extended the tenure of Oyegun and state chairmen of the party by 12 months, Frank said that Oyegun’s tenure elongation is an indication that the presidency did not believe in the assignment it gave Bola Tinubu, national leader of the APC, to reconcile aggrieved members of the party.

“Even when the presidency had appointed the national leader of APC to reconcile all the aggrieved members, the tenure elongation clearly show that the party is going nowhere beyond 2019 because if they didn’t believe in Tinubu’s reconciliatory panel why did they set up at all?” Frank queried.

“How can you keep a man that lacks capacity to lead a governing political party for another twelve months? This has shown that those who took such decision are selfish and do not mean well for APC.

“Some of us that came from PDP have not been treated well, even the positions being held today by the Senate President Bukola Saraki and speaker Yakubu Dogara were forcefully taken.

“Time will tell very soon when some of us will have to take decision against some of these anti-democratic tendencies of some people in APC.” 

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