A former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke Jnr, has said that the Nigerian economy became vulnerable to two global economic adversities because it depended only on oil exports.
Nweke disclosed that the global economic recession and the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2012 and 2020 have negated the country’s growth.
He stated these on the sidelines of announcing a dialogue in Abuja where the Director, Growth Lab at Harvard Kennedy School, Prof Ricardo Hausman and the Chief Executive Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, among other prominent figures would address Nigeria’s economic problems.
These economic experts are expected to speak at the Africa Policy Dialogue hosted by Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of Nigeria.
A Chief Economist, Stears Business, Michael Famoroti, is expected to moderate the event which holds in the nation’s capital, Abuja on Monday.
Nweke, who is the President, HKSAAN revealed this on Thursday in a statement titled, “Reviving Nigeria’s Economy.”
The former Minister noted that over the past five years, Nigeria’s economy had experienced two major external shocks that culminated in two economic recessions due to the drop in crude oil prices from approximately $107.95 in 2014 to about $43 by 2016 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The statement further read, “Given Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil exports for the majority of its foreign exchange earnings and government revenues, these two shocks have had a severe negative impact on economic growth, government revenues, foreign exchange earnings, inflation and Nigeria’s balance of payment position.
“As a result of these factors, the Nigerian economy has grown at 0.25 per cent over the past five years, much below its estimated annual population growth of 2.7 per cent.
“The conversation with Ricardo Hausmann, Professor of the Practice of Economics at Harvard Kennedy School and Head of the Growth Lab at the Harvard Centre for International Development, and Mr. Bismark Rewane, CEO of the Financial Derivatives Company, will evaluate the growth dynamics of Nigeria’s economy and shed light on the policy options with which policymakers could possibly address the challenges to growth currently being experienced while enabling growth in sectors that can lead to improved productivity of the Nigerian economy.”
A civil society group, Social Economic and Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) has rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s conditional lifting of the ban on microblogging platform, Twitter.
SERAP, in a post on its Twitter handle called for the unconditional lifting of the ban to allow Nigerians to exercise their right to freedom of expression.
The group wrote: “We reject ‘conditional’ lifting of ban on Twitter in Nigeria by the Buhari administration.
“President Buhari must immediately and unconditionally lift the illegal suspension of Twitter, and allow Nigerians to freely exercise their right to freedom of expression.”
The group was reacting to a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that Twitter ban should be conditionally lifted.
Buhari announced this in his nationwide broadcast to Nigerians on Friday, October 1, Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary.
The government had placed a ban on the operations of the micro blogging site, Twitter, in Nigeria in June.
According to Buhari, some social media users were responsible for the ban by misusing the platform to propagate fake news and promote religious and ethnic sentiments.
He had said, “Social media is a very useful platform that has enabled millions of Nigerians to connect with loved ones, promote their businesses, socialise, and access news and other information.
“However, recent events have shown that the platform is not just an innocuous platform for information dissemination.
“Rather some users have misused the platform to organise, coordinate, and execute criminal activities, propagate fake news, and promote ethnic and religious sentiments.
“To address these negative trends, the Federal Government of Nigeria suspended the operations of Twitter in Nigeria on June 5, 2021 to allow the Government put measures in place to address these challenges.
“Following the suspension of Twitter operations, Twitter Inc. reached out to the Federal Government of Nigeria to resolve the impasse. Subsequently, I constituted a Presidential Committee to engage Twitter to explore the possibility of resolving the issue.
“The Committee, along with its Technical Team, has engaged with Twitter and have addressed a number of key issues. These are National Security and Cohesion; Registration, Physical presence and Representation; Fair Taxation; Dispute Resolution; and Local Content.
“Following the extensive engagements, the issues are being addressed and I have directed that the suspension be lifted but only if the conditions are met to allow our citizens continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements.
“As a country, we are committed to ensuring that digital companies use their platform to enhance the lives of our citizens, respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, cultural values and promote online safety.”
Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors' Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi
The Full Text of the State Address on the Occasion of 25th Anniversary of Ekiti State Creation By Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Ekiti Kete,
It is my delight to address you on the special occasion of our nation’s 61st Independence Anniversary celebration. On this day some six decades ago, the Union Jack which represented the colonial authority of Britain over Nigeria was lowered while the Green-White-Green flag of Nigeria proudly rose up and confidently flew to the admiration of Nigerians wherever they were.
Sixty One years ago, Independence meant for our people, the birth of a new nation and the rise of a giant on the continent of Africa. Nigeria held a lot of promises and our founding fathers were unrelenting in pursuing the dream of a new super power on the black continent. They never however deceived themselves that the job of nation building was a picnic. It is an unfinished business which each generation would continue to work at. They understood the enormity of the challenge and took bold steps to frontally confront them. And I dare say, they made their marks given the circumstances under which they operated.
As we pay tribute to their service to fatherland, we are to renew our commitment to the task of nation building and to begin to set objectives that will usher in a new direction on the journey of national development.
For us in Ekiti, today’s event like every Independence Day celebration is even more profound. Today marks the 25th anniversary since our dear State was born. We recall with nostalgia the uproar of joy that erupted on the streets of every Ekiti town and village when the military government of Gen. Sanni Abacha announced the creation of the State in the national broadcast marking the 36th anniversary of the country. With the creation of Ekiti and five other States, Nigerian States became 36 on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of our Independence. For our founding fathers and our people at home and abroad, it was a dream come true.
When we look back now, we have every reason to thank God and the founding fathers who, in spite of the gruelling difficulty, refused to be daunted in their single-minded determination to see that Ekiti was created in the pursuit of rapid socioeconomic development of a people who had fought different battles, including the Kiriji War 0f 1877-1893.
Our progress has shown that the vision which drove the movement for the creation of Ekiti State was not a misplaced one. An eloquent testimony to this is the fact that even though, Ekiti is one of the smallest states in terms of size, income and population, it remains one of the frontline states in terms of human and social development indices. It is one of the States with the biggest stock of human capital, social amenities, social investments and steady development paradigms.
It is a thing of pride for us to look back at our humble beginnings 25 years ago and to see how far we have come across the various sectors of human development. We have every reason to thank God for his goodness to us as a people.
It is for this reason that the Ekiti Honours Roll (Oni Uyi Award) this year, which will take place on October 30, 2021 will be dedicated to celebrating the heroes and heroines of the State Creation movement who paid more than enough price for us to have this beautiful State of ours.
I pay tribute to our traditional rulers who led the State Creation diplomacy, traversed the corridors of power and the hallways of our communities and did everything humanly possible to have the State created. We cannot forget the many sacrifices made by the State Creation Committee members led by nonagenarian, Chief Oladeji Fasuan, notable Ekiti compatriots who used their contacts and resources for the actualisation of the State.
We thank the pioneer civil servants who literally created an oasis in the desert. We pay tribute to their doggedness, sacrifice and dedication in spite of the obvious challenges they faced. Many of them sat under trees, some used their cars as offices, while many simply operated wherever they could find a space to stand. It was in this difficult circumstance that they created a civil service that is one of the most dynamic and progressive in the federation today.
Let me also pay tribute to the founding leadership of the State who gave the leadership that ensured that the State was founded on a solid rock. Special tribute to Late Col. Inuwa Bawa, the pioneer military administrator whose task it was to start a new state without a previous experience of how to start a new state. Yet, he made a spectacular success of his work with enduring legacies that still bear his signature. We remember with profound gratitude the role of Navy Captain Atanda Yusuf who midwifed the State through transition to democratic order.
Immense thanks to Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, CON the first democratically elected Governor of the state for his service to the State. We acknowledge his historic role as a pathfinder and pioneer of many of the enduring state institutions of today. We thank Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose for his contributions to various aspects of Ekiti growth and development.
I also pay tribute to Chief Olusegun Oni for his service to our State as Governor. Our State is also grateful to the memory of Late Major General Adetunji Idowu Olurin for his stabilising role at a moment of political uncertainty in the state. We acknowledge other leaders who have led the State at various times such as : Late Chief Friday Aderemi, Rt. Hon. Tope Ademiluyi and Rt. Hon. Idowu Odeyemi. May God continue to water the seed of service that you all planted in our dear State.
Ekiti kete, twenty five years is little in a state’s journey, but it is also a good time to take stock of our trajectory. Let us use this moment to reflect on the progress and pitfalls that we have had as a State. While we appreciate the progress we have made as a people, we need to take some deep introspective look at where we have not done as well as we should. We must set a new bar for ourselves as we reimagine a new future of our desire and ensure that our development trajectory remains consistently on an upswing. We must also continuously review our place within the context of developments in our region and the nation. Our goal of making Ekiti the destination of choice for people to live, work and enjoy a life of dignity must be the constant watchword in our governance framework.
As your government at this historic moment, we will continue to strive and ensure that your wellbeing remains the only reason for our policies and programmes. We remain committed to the dreams of our founding fathers and we will ensure that their dream of a proud and prosperous Ekiti continue to drive our leadership. While the little acorns at birth are now maturing into sizeable oaks, I ask all to join in this historic journey because the work goes on and the journey to greatness continues and we must not relent in our quest for progress and development.
I congratulate us all. This is wishing you a happy anniversary celebration in moderation and introspection.
Alale Ekiti a gbe a.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
INDEPENDENCE DAY ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE OCCASION OF NIGERIA’S SIXTY FIRST INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, FRIDAY 1ST OCTOBER, 2021.
Citizens of Nigeria,
It is with full gratitude to God that today, we celebrate Nigeria’s sixty first Independence Anniversary.
2. For 1st of October 1960 to happen, all hands were on deck. East, West, North all came together to celebrate freedom. Today should not only serve as a reminder of the day the British handed over the reins of power to Nigerians, but also unified Nigerians from all ethnic groups, religions and regions.
3. Today, despite the challenges we face, most Nigerians still maintain the spirit of 1st October. That positive outlook and determination to make Nigeria a peaceful and prosperous nation. It is due to this collective attitude that Nigeria doggedly continues to remain a united and indivisible nation.
4. Fellow Nigerians, the past eighteen months have been some of the most difficult periods in the history of Nigeria. Since the civil war, I doubt whether we have seen a period of more heightened challenges than what we have witnessed in this period.
5. Our original priorities for 2020 were to continue stabilising our economy following the deep recession while restoring peace in areas confronted with security challenges. But the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on all nations meant we needed to shift gears and re-strategise.
6. Nigerians came together as one to fight against COVID-19. It is this attitude and by the special grace of God, we continue to survive the pandemic as a nation and indeed, provide leadership and example at regional and international levels.
7. The doomsday scenario predicted for our country never came. Even as the Delta variant continues to spread, we have built the capacity we need to respond now and into the future.
8. I will therefore appeal to Nigerians not to take COVID lightly, adhere to public health and social measures, put your mask on and get vaccinated. We can control this pandemic, but it requires effort on everybody’s part. The investments we made in response to COVID-19 will also serve our country to tackle any future disease outbreaks or pandemics.
9. Despite the global inequity in access to vaccines, the Government of Nigeria has continued to explore all available options to ensure Nigerians have free access to safe and effective vaccines.
10. Some five million vaccine doses have been administered to Nigerians through efforts led by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and we will continue to explore options for purchase or acquisition of vaccines such as through COVAX and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust.
11. I will take this opportunity to remind the global community that the current state of access to COVID-19 vaccines is unacceptable. We cannot afford a situation where a handful of countries keep the global vaccine supply to themselves at the expense of other nations.
12. We must act now to accelerate equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. This is the message I conveyed to the international community in New York last week.
13. As we push to source vaccines for our immediate needs, we shall invest more to support our pharmaceutical and research agencies to come up with ideas for locally developed vaccines. Should another pandemic arise in the future, Our question is simple; will Nigeria be ready?
14. Accordingly, I have directed the Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Health, Education and Science and Technology to work with Nigerian and International pharmaceutical companies and research organisations to enhance Nigeria’s domestic pharmaceutical capacity.
15. Already, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority is raising a $200 million fund for this initiative that will complement the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ongoing N85 billion Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme to support local researchers in the development of vaccines and drugs to combat communicable and non-communicable diseases, including COVID-19.
Fellow Nigerians, this is just the beginning.
16. Similarly, on our approach to food security, I am proud to announce Nigeria has commenced its journey to pharmaceutical independence.
17. This journey, which will take years to achieve but will ultimately result in Nigerian based companies developing the Active Pharmaceutical substances and competence needed for us to make our own drugs and vaccines.
Fellow Nigerians,
18. As our economy continues to open after the COVID-19 related lockdowns, we have also seen the resurgence of insecurity in certain parts of the country.
19. In the last four months, the gallant men and women of the Military and Security Agencies have made tremendous progress in addressing these new security challenges. We are taking the fight to our enemies from all angles and we are winning.
20. Earlier this year, I launched the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, the Deep Blue Project, which is designed to secure Nigerian waters up to the Gulf of Guinea. I am happy to inform Nigerians that we have taken delivery of key assets for this project and very soon, its impact will be felt.
21. In the North East region alone, over eight thousand Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered.
22. To support our surge approach to fighting banditry, the Nigerian Armed Forces have recruited over 17,000 personnel across all ranks. Furthermore, I have also approved for the Nigerian Police Force to recruit 10,000 police officers annually over the next six years.
23. I am also pleased to note that most of the Air Force platforms we acquired over the past three years have started to arrive in Nigeria. These will positively impact our security operations in all parts of the country.
24. In line with section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the security and welfare of Nigerians continue to be the prime focus on which programmes and projects of our government revolves.
25. Therefore, as a Government, we are ready to arrest and prosecute all persons inciting violence through words or action. Our resolve for a peaceful, united and one Nigeria remains resolute and unwavering.
26. That said, our hope is not to fight for peace. We can always settle our grievances peacefully without spilling any blood.
27. I will therefore take this opportunity, on this special day that symbolises the unity and oneness of our great nation, to ask all Nigerians to embrace peace and dialogue, whatever your grievances.
28. The seeds of violence are planted in people’s heads through words. Reckless utterances of a few have led to losses of many innocent lives and destruction of properties.
29. Such unfiltered and unsubstantiated lies and hate speeches by a few evil persons must be stopped. Our media houses and commentators must move away from just reporting irresponsible remarks to investigating the truth behind all statements and presenting the facts to readers.
30. We must all come out and speak against the lies being peddled. At this point, I would want to sincerely appreciate the large number of our Traditional, Religious and Community leaders as well as other well-meaning Nigerians who, in their various fora are openly spreading the message of peaceful co-existence and conflict settlement through dialogue in their respective communities.
31. Nigeria is for all of us. Its unity is not negotiable. And its ultimate success can only be achieved if we all come together with a common goal of having peace and prosperity for our nation.
32. We shall continue to work on dialogue based solutions to address legitimate grievances. But we remain ready to take decisive actions against secessionist agitators and their sponsors who threaten our national security.
33. The recent arrests of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo, and the ongoing investigations being conducted have revealed certain high-profile financiers behind these individuals. We are vigorously pursuing these financiers including one identified as a serving member of the national assembly.
Fellow Nigerians,
34. This is a clear example of how people abandon their national leadership positions for their selfish gains. Instead of preaching unity, they are funding and misleading our youth to conduct criminal acts that sometimes lead to unfortunate and unnecessary loss of lives and property.
35. As the so-called leaders run abroad to hide, our innocent youths are misled and left in the streets to fight for their senseless and destructive causes.
36. Government will continue, with greater level of peoples’ participation and in collaboration with our international partners, to improve the security architecture, reduce enabling environment for criminality to thrive and eliminate opportunities for terrorism financing.
37. Fellow Nigerians, our unrelenting effort at resolving an almost two-decade stalling on the management of our Petroleum resources and ensuring equitable consideration to our host communities has resulted in the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
38. This Act not only overhauls the Institutional, regulatory and fiscal framework of the Petroleum Industry but also reduces the previous opacity associated with this sector.
39. This is the first step to the reforms as the process is a continuous one. Already, to further improve the governance framework, I have sought for an amendment of sections 11(2)(b) and 34(2)(b). We will also continue to review and amend as appropriate.
40. At this juncture, it is very appropriate that I salute the leadership and members of the Ninth Assembly for their patriotism, dedication to duty, candour and most importantly the dispatch with which they have enacted legacy legislations for this nation. I do not take such level of cooperation for granted and hope it continues for the overall efficiency of the Federal machinery.
41. Nigeria’s Roadmap on Local Refining is on track with the Commissioning of a Modular refinery in Imo State.
42. A second is scheduled for commissioning by the end of this year in Edo State and the third one in Bayelsa State by 2022.
43. In addition to the modular projects, we also have the two mega refinery projects coming up in Lagos and Akwa Ibom States.
44. As these refineries are commissioned, more employment opportunities are created and there would be increased petroleum products available for local consumption which will significantly reduce our reliance on importation.
45. In further demonstrating our plan to reduce our dependence on oil and tapping from our enormous gas resources, this administration remains committed to the “Decade of Gas” Initiative, which is aimed at bringing to focus the utilization of our huge gas resources.
46. Already, we are supporting and promoting various gas-based projects including NLNG Train 7 and the mega urea and ammonia projects in the South-South region.
47. As we continue to optimise and enhance our oil and gas sector, I am also proud and delighted to state that our economic diversification strategy remains on course with the persistent increase in Non-Oil Sector contribution to GDP.
48. We recovered from economic recession in quarter four of 2020 with a GDP growth rate of 0.11%, and grew by 0.51% and 5.01% in real terms in the first and second quarters of 2021.
49. The Agricultural sector remains key to our economic diversification efforts as the sector has been a consistent driver of the non-oil sector contributing 22.35% and 23.78% to the overall GDP in the first and second quarter of 2021.
50. We have seen significant private sector investments in almost all areas of the agricultural value chain. And these have continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
51. Unfortunately, as our food production capacity has increased, food prices have been going up due to artificial shortages created by middlemen who have been buying and hoarding these essential commodities for profiteering.
52. To address this, I am hereby directing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to rehabilitate the National Food Reserve Agency and also work with security agencies, the Nigerian Commodity Exchange, and the National Assembly to find a lasting solution to these disruptive and unpatriotic hoarding activities.
53. To further enhance food production, we have completed several new dams and are in the process of rehabilitating several River Basin Development Authorities to enhance ground water supply for rainfed agriculture as well as surface water for irrigation agriculture.
54. The water projects we completed between 2015 to 2020 have improved Nigerian’s access to potable water to 71% between 2015 and 2020. This means 12.5 million additional Nigerians now have direct access to potable water.
Fellow Nigerians,
55. This Government remains concerned by the significant transportation infrastructure deficit we have. Addressing the challenges our commuters and lorry drivers face on the motorways is still a high priority to us.
56. To complement our budgetary allocations, the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund and the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, we recently established a N15trillion Infrastructural Corporation of Nigeria Limited (INFRACO), which is expected to begin operation by the fourth quarter of this year.
57. INFRACO will also focus on leveraging resources on a public-private sector basis for infrastructural development in Nigeria.
58. We hope through these innovative programs, the additional cost burden on individuals and businesses because of inefficient logistics operations will be reduced and ultimately, eliminated.
59. We currently have over 13,000 kilometres of roads and bridges under construction all over the country of which a fair percentage have been completed.
60. As we fix our roads, we also continue to extend and upgrade Nigeria’s railway network with the notable opening of the Warri- Itakpe standard gauge rail line.
61. To increase capacity, we have introduced more locomotives, coaches and wagons including the establishment of a Wagon Assembly in Kajola, Ogun State.
62. The sea ports however still remain problematic. The effect of our various interventions to reduce the gridlocks and inefficiencies have been slower than expected.
63. However, the implementation of the Electronic Call-Up System as well as the conversion of the Lillypond Container Terminal to a Vehicle Transit Area will further enhance the ease of cargo evacuation.
64. Our prioritisation of developing Nigeria’s Digital Economy has positively impacted the contribution of the ICT sector to our GDP.
65. We hope our present efforts to ensure all Nigerians use a National Identification Number as well as our planned roll-out of the fifth generation (5G) network technology will ensure we stay in line with the global innovation curve as a Nation.
66. As we embrace the digital economy in Nigeria, we are fully aware of the prospects and the perils. Our policies have been developed to enable Nigerians to take advantage of the prospects and avoid the perils of digital technologies.
67. Social media is a very useful platform that has enabled millions of Nigerians to connect with loved ones, promote their businesses, socialise, and access news and other information.
68. However, recent events have shown that the platform is not just an innocuous platform for information dissemination.
69. Rather some users have misused the platform to organise, coordinate, and execute criminal activities, propagate fake news, and promote ethnic and religious sentiments.
70. To address these negative trends, the Federal Government of Nigeria suspended the operations of Twitter in Nigeria on June 5, 2021 to allow the Government put measures in place to address these challenges.
71. Following the suspension of Twitter operations, Twitter Inc. reached out to the Federal Government of Nigeria to resolve the impasse. Subsequently, I constituted a Presidential Committee to engage Twitter to explore the possibility of resolving the issue.
72. The Committee, along with its Technical Team, has engaged with Twitter and have addressed a number of key issues. These are:
a. National Security and Cohesion;
b. Registration, Physical presence and Representation;
c. Fair Taxation;
d. Dispute Resolution; and
e. Local Content.
73. Following the extensive engagements, the issues are being addressed and I have directed that the suspension be lifted but only if the conditions are met to allow our citizens continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements.
74. As a country, we are committed to ensuring that digital companies use their platform to enhance the lives of our citizens, respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, cultural values and promote online safety.
75. Nigeria’s progressive diplomacy continues to manifest through growing numbers of highly placed Nigerians in positions of regional and global influences. Very recently, Nigeria won election for the position of Commissioner for the expanded Political, Peace and Security Affairs of the African Union.
76. Our persistent calls for a reorganized and reformed ECOWAS, to make the organization citizens-sensitive, paid off with the acceptance by the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS to commence the agreed reforms in the organization ahead of the next elections of the organization’s principal officers in December this year.
77. At the African Development Bank, World Trade Organization and indeed, the United Nations, footprints of Nigeria’s Diplomacy are clearly evident.
78. We remain confident that our goal of lifting 100million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years is achievable.
79. Considering the positive impact of our Social Investment Programs, I recently approved an increase in the number of N-Power program beneficiaries from 500,000 to 1,000,000.
80. Out of this, 510,000 have started the programme while the competitive selection process for onboarding the outstanding 490,000 beneficiaries is in progress.
81. The National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is currently being implemented in 35 States of the Federation and the FCT. Over 103,000 women have been engaged and empowered as cooks under the programme, while about 10 million pupils are being fed across public primary schools in the country.
82. To grant increased access to credit to the most poor and vulnerable, I have directed an increase in the disbursement of Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme loans to an additional one million beneficiaries laying more emphasis on the smallholding farmers through the farmers Moni program.
Fellow Nigerians,
83. For far too long we have neglected the centrality of the civil service as the engine of governance and this has manifested in ineffective service delivery.
84. There is widespread discontent and disillusion about the efficiency and probity of our civil service.
85. It is for this reason that we are refocusing the Nigerian Civil Service to provide World class service to run our country.
86. The youths of this great country remain propellants for our today and provide guarantees that we would have a secure tomorrow.
87. It is for this reason that I remain focused on expanding opportunities for their participation in politics and governance.
88. Recent appointments of young people into positions of authority and their track record so far, gives me confidence that we need to bring more of them into governance and this I promise to do.
89. More specifically, to encourage Girl-Child Education, female scholarship schemes, life skills and digital literacy skills to boost girl’s enrolment, retention and completion of schooling, are all initiatives put in place to ensure gender balance in appropriately positioning our youths for positions of leadership.
90. The commitment of this Administration to the well-being of people living with disabilities remains unwavering.
91. Government recognises their contributions to development and I have, in this regard, directed that all relevant Government Agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of different abilities in the implementation of policies and programmes.
92. Rape and Gender Based Violence remains a sore point in our Nation as in many countries worldwide and this was worsened during and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
93. We are currently engaging Heads of Courts to establish Specialised Courts for the speedy and seamless trial of Rape/Gender-Based offences especially to ensure that justice is done for child victims of sexual violence.
94. On the other hand, work has advanced in the reformation, reintegration and reunification of Minors involved in one crime or the other.
95. The reformation in our Correctional Services has manifested in an increase in modernised custodial centres and a transformation from strictly punitive to attitudinal changes so that criminals do not relapse into their previous lifestyle.
96. As we begin to celebrate our sixty one years as a Nation, we need to be conscious that Nigeria does not start and end with the Federal Government. This country is a great collective where Government at all arms and levels as well as the private sector, and more importantly individuals, have a role to play.
97. In particular, security is a bottom to top undertaking. Joining hands and hearts together would enable us to secure ourselves and our country.
98. I fully understand the anxiety of many Nigerians on the inability of this country to go beyond a never-ending potential for becoming a great nation to an actually great one.
99. A lot has been achieved in the last six years on many fronts: in infrastructure, social care, governance, Nigeria’s image and influence in Africa and the international community.
100. But critics misdiagnose incremental progress as stagnation. Since coming to power, this Administration has tackled our problems head-on in spite of the meagre resources. No government since 1999 has done what we have done in six years to put Nigeria back on track.
101. We shall continue to serve the country: listen to all and protect our democracy and country.
Thank you all and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled what has been described as ‘the world’s largest pictorial book’ titled, Discover Nigeria.
The President did the unveiling on Thursday and announced by his Personal Assistant on Broadcast Media, Buhari Sallau, via his Facebook page.
Discover Nigeria, authored by Buhari’s official photographer, Bayo Omoboriowo, is 60 sqm and have reportedly been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest pictorial book.
Buhari conducted the unveiling at the State House Banquet Centre, Abuja on Thursday, according to the post.
Sharing photos from the event, Sallau said, “President Muhammadu Buhari unveils the largest pictorial book in the world as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records at 60 Sqm Discover Nigeria by Bayo Omoboriowo at the State House Banquet Centre, Abuja. 30th Sept, 2021”
Unknown gunmen have attacked the convoy of the member representing Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo in the House of Representatives, Chris Azubogu, killing his driver.
It was, however, gathered that Azubogu, who defected to the All Progressives Congress from the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, was not in the car when the attack happened.
A source stated that the lawmaker was in Abuja when the attack happened.
The incident, it was learnt, happened in Nnobi in the Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.
“His driver was killed but he was not in the car. He is in Abuja, not in the state. He was said to have defected to the APC today from the APGA,” a source said.
Also, a trending video showed the car splattered with the blood of the victims.
This is coming a few days after Dr Chike Akunyili, husband to the late Dora Akunyili, a former minister of Information and Communication was killed by gunmen at Umuoji in the Idemili North LGA of the state.
The House of Representatives has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to designate bandits, who have dominated the North-West and parts of the North-Central geopolitical zones, and their sponsors as terrorists.
The Senate had made the demand earlier on Wednesday.
Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, at the plenary on Thursday, moved a motion of urgent public importance to urge the chamber to back the Senate.
It was titled, ‘Declaration of Bandits and their Sponsors as Terrorists.’
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, had asked for those who were against the motion but the lawmakers chorused, “No!”
The motion was unanimously adopted through voice vote.
Moving the motion, Benson said, “The Senate, on Wednesday, 29th September, 2021, adopted a motion asking President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits ravaging the northern part of the country terrorists and wage a total war on them. They also asked that the President declare all known leaders of bandits wanted and arrest them wherever they were found for speedy prosecution. Such declaration to be done through a Proscription Order can be done pursuant to Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011 (As Amended).
“I will like to echo the same sentiment and ask honourable colleagues to join the Senate in urging Mr President to declare bandits and their sponsors as terrorists. This will underline the determination of government to combat the wave of criminality and murders conducted by bandits all over the country.
“The declaration of bandits as terrorists can be done through a proscription order. That will serve as added impetus for our brave security personnel to redouble their efforts at dealing with this menace. Such declaration when given the force of law, will renew the vigour and resolve of our gallant security personnel in dealing with the menace of banditry as the mode of operations and rules of engagement will be scaled up accordingly.”
Benson listed more benefits of declaring the bandits terrorists, noting that such an order will officially bring the activities of bandits and their sponsors within the purview of the Terrorism Prevention Act, while any persons associated with such groups can then be legally prosecuted and sentenced to penalties specified in the Act.
He said, “Declaration of all bandits as terrorist may also encourage other countries to do same and help create a global consensus around dealing with transnational factors that feeds the domestic activities of such proscribed organisations and individuals.
“As previously observed in this House, no one action can be a silver bullet to solving our insecurity in Nigeria. But a collection of many effective actions and strategies can bring safety. It is in this spirit that I speak today.
“Insecurity in Nigeria requires an all-of-government approach. Hence, I also urge the President to implement the recommendations of the National Security Summit, which took place in June this year and was officially delivered to Mr President in July. All hands have to be on deck to be able to win this battle against insecurity in all its manifestations.”
Nigerian musician, David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, says he got into trouble during the #EndSARS protest after one of his albums ‘A better time’ became the anthem for the movement.
David made this known in a recent interview on Trevor Noah’s ‘The Daily Show’.
The singer said though he had not produced the music for that purpose, he is honoured to have his song representing the voice of the people.
He said he got into so much trouble that he had to travel out of the country during the period.
He said, “I did not record that song thinking that was going to happen but it’s amazing how I saw my voice being an instrument for people, it was amazing, I got into a lot of trouble, I had to actually leave the country.
“It was that bad, but it was amazing to see people come out like that and I will say this, they listened, they heard us, they might not have changed anything but they were shocked. I see a lot of young future leaders coming out in the next general elections, things are going to change.”
In October 2020, many Nigerians took to the streets to demonstrate against police brutality under the #EndSARS campaign.
The demands led to the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.
Meanwhile, the song ‘FEM’ had been released a few weeks to the commencement of the protest ahead of the larger album. Coincidentally, it was recognised as the anthem of the protest.
As young Nigerians poured out into the streets across the country to protest against police, the “FEM” lyrics reverberated.
At the time, a video surfaced online showing Babajide Sanwo-Olu, trying to address the protesters outside the Lagos State Government House.
The youths were seen chanting “O boy you don dey talk too much” serving as proof of their dissatisfaction with his response to their demands.
Former French President, Nicholas Sarkozy, has been handed a one-year custodial sentence, but will not serve his time behind bars, a French court has ruled.
A French court on Thursday handed former President Nicolas Sarkozy a one-year sentence for illegal financing of his 2012 re-election bid, dealing a fresh blow to the right-winger six months after a conviction for corruption.
Sarkozy, 66, will not serve time behind bars under the terms of this verdict, however, with the court ruling that he would be able to serve the sentence outside of prison.
The verdict comes six months after Sarkozy was found guilty of corruption in a separate trial.
Sarkozy spent nearly twice the legal limit on his failed bid for a second term in office.
The right-winger pulled out all the stops in 2012 to try fend off the ultimately victorious Socialist candidate, Francois Hollande.
A series of lavish United States-style election rallies caused his costs to spiral, with the final bill coming to at least 42.8 million euros ($AU69 million), nearly double the legal limit of 22.5 million euros ($AU36 million).
The case is known as the Bygmalion affair, after the name of the public relations firm which set up a system of fake invoices to mask the real cost of the events.
Sarkozy, who remains a hugely popular and influential figure on the right despite being caught up in multiple investigations since losing office, was not in court for the verdict.
At his five-week trial in May and June, the prosecution portrayed him as having a “cavalier” attitude to the public money available to candidates during campaigning and said he ignored warnings from his accountants about the ballooning costs.
Sarkozy dismissed the allegations of wanton recklessness as “a fairy tale”, saying he had been too busy running the country to pay attention to the finer details of his campaign finances.
He also denied any knowledge of the fake invoices.
Illegal campaign financing carries a maximum sentence of a year in prison and a fine of 3,750 euros ($AU6,000).
Prosecutors had asked the court to give Mr Sarkozy a one-year term, but to suspend six months of the sentence.
Thirteen other people, including Mr Sarkozy’s former campaign manager, several Bygmalion executives and a handful of former directors of Mr Sarkozy’s The Republicans party were also tried in the case. The court will deliver their verdicts on Thursday.
Corruption And Influence Peddling
In March, Sarkozy became France’s first post-war president to be handed a custodial sentence when he was given a three-year term, two years of which were suspended, for corruption and influence-peddling over attempts to secure favours from a judge.
Sarkozy, who has accused the judiciary of hounding him since he lost his presidential immunity, appealed that verdict.
Before him, the only former leader to be sentenced at trial was Sarkozy’s predecessor Jacques Chirac, who received a two-year suspended sentence in 2011 for corruption over a fake jobs scandal relating to his time as Paris mayor.
Scott Morrison yet to speak with Emmanuel Macron since tearing up submarine contract Sarkozy attended just one day of his campaign finance trial, a snub that infuriated prosecutors who accused him of acting “as if he is not answerable to the law like everyone else”.
The case failed to garner much interest among the public, with the charges seen as less sensational than the corruption charges that had already dented any prospect of Sarkozy making another comeback.
In 2016, he attempted to win back the Elysee Palace but failed to gain the nomination of his right-wing The Republicans party.
Sarkozy was defeated by his former Prime Minister, Francois Fillon, who was tipped to go on to win the election but crashed out in the first round over a fraud scandal that would later see him convicted.
Fillon’s downfall left the right rudderless and added to nostalgia among conservative voters for the heyday of the energetic Sarkozy, who led France through the eurozone debt crisis of 2008-2009.
With new Presidential elections looming in April next year, conservative candidates have been jostling to receive Sarkozy’s endorsement.
“No one has the right to sit in Lagos or Port Harcourt and say whether northerners want it (2023 presidency) or not; they must relinquish power to the South; that is wrong. It is not how we do politics, and in fact, it is foolish,” says Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, lambasting Southern Governors over their insistence on producing the next president in 2023.
The governor’s statement came on the heels of a meeting held by the Northern Governors’ Forum that criticised southern governors’ statement that the presidency must go to the South.
El-Rufai pointed out that the southern governors should learn to collaborate and communicate respectfully rather than grandstand.
In July, Governors from the southern states of Nigeria had demanded that the region produce the country’s next president.
While clarifying the forum’s position, El-Rufai claimed that northern governors did not oppose their southern counterparts’ demand. The Kaduna Governor pointed out that what riled the northerners was the southerners’ use of “must” in demanding power shift after Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
“We are not saying there cannot be a rotational presidency, it can be done; but you have to come and sit with the politicians in the North and dialogue, and then we agree to give our support to the South,” he added.
The northern governors had argued that “the statement is quite contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended that the elected President shall score the majority votes; score at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in two-third states of the Federation. In the case of a run-up, a simple majority wins the election.”
El-Rufai also claimed that the resolution of the northern governor’s meeting on Monday was misrepresented while recalling that “the North has supported southern presidential aspirants in the past,” particularly Olusegun Obasanjo’s aspiration in 1999 and his reelection in 2003.
Apart from the Northern Governors, other leaders in the region had condemned southerners’ insistence that they must produce the next President in 2023.
