Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, over the passing of her mother, Hajiya Aisha Sulaiman-Danladi.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said this in a statement on Thursday.
“President Tinubu also commiserates with the Sulaiman-Danladi family, noting that losing a loved one, especially a beloved mother, is such a harrowing experience.
“The President urges the Minister to take solace in the eternal legacies of the deceased and honour her by immortalising her exemplary service and kindness to all,” said the statement.
The President prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and comfort for her family. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has urged state governors to work together to meet the needs of citizens, stating that he is willing to provide the needed support to ensure that Nigerians are relieved of hardship.
The president, who spoke during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja, emphasised the urgency of boosting food production in the country.
He said the nation must boost agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy by creating opportunities in the real sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, as well as provide urgent economic relief for Nigerians.
Tinubu said that the Sokoto-Badagry Highway was a pivotal project as the states within the axis formed the food belt of the nation, and with Badagry being an important artery for food export.
“Our states must work together to deliver on the critical reforms required of us to meet the needs of our people. Time is humanity’s most precious asset. You can never have enough of it. It is getting late.
“We are ready and able to support you in the form of the mechanisation of your agricultural processes and the provision of high-quality seedlings.
“We are prepared to provide solar powered irrigation facilities to support our farmers across seasons, but we must now produce,” he said.
The president added that states must produce enough food for people to eat, and that this would require coordination and intentionality between members of the NEC.
“There is nothing we are doing that is more important than producing high-quality food for our people to consume, buy and sell.
“We create jobs in the production of it. And that is before we generate wealth by exporting the excess. It is not beyond us to achieve this for Nigerians.
“How much support do you need from me and in what form? I am prepared to provide it. But we must achieve the result. We must deliver on our targets at all levels.
“Please report back following your consultations and submit to my office within seven days,” Tinubu said.
The president approved the immediate rollout of the National Construction and Household Support Programme to cover all geo-political zones in the country.
He said under the programme, the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which would traverse Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos, was prioritised.
Tinubu said other road infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is underway, and the Trans-Saharan Highway, which links Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja, would also be prioritised.
The president also approved full counterpart financing for Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway; to traverse Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Borno.
He also approved the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway; which would traverse Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano.
Tinubu said, “The Sokoto-Badagry road project is specially prioritised for its importance as some of the states it will traverse are strategic to the agricultural sustainability of the nation.
“Within the Sokoto-Badagry Highway corridor, there are 216 agricultural communities, 58 large and medium dams spread across six states, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities and towns, and over 1 million hectares of arable land.
“In addition, other items under the National Construction and Household Support Programme include one-off allocation to states and the Federal Capital Territory of N10 billion for the procurement of buses and CNG uplift programme.
”Others are: delivery of N50,000 uplift grant each to 100,000 families per state for three months, provision for labour unions and civil society organisations and deployment of N155 billion for the purchase and sale of assorted foodstuffs to be distributed across the nation.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to former President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, over the passing of his mother, Chief (Mrs) Florence Morenike Saraki.
“President Tinubu mourns the matriarch, stating that she lived a long and fruitful life as a servant of her community, a servant of God, and a beloved guardian and mother to many.
“The President also commiserates with the entire Saraki family – Mama’s children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and everyone mourning this loss, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said in a statement on Wednesday.
He said the President prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed matriarch and grace to her family to bear the immeasurable loss. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, other dignitaries at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Wednesday in Abuja
Support
By Salif Atojoko
Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged more support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in its fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
The President made the pledge as Special Guest of Honour, at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, otherwise known as World Drug Day, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” President Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, enjoined all and sundry to support the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative launched by NDLEA three years ago.
“I commend and urge everyone to redouble their efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the country.
“On this score, I wish to reassure you of this administration’s support. The Renewed Hope Agenda places the youth at the centre of its focus. Therefore, we ensure that our young people are protected from anything that could derail their future or destroy their potential,” he said.
He noted that illicit drugs and substances had wreaked havoc on individuals, families, communities and countries worldwide.
“In the face of such a formidable challenge, prevention is the most potent weapon that we can deploy. Prevention not only saves lives; it also saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation.
. “It empowers individuals to make informed choices, promotes healthy lifestyles and creates resilient communities capable of withstanding the pressures of drug abuse.
“Investing in prevention is not merely a moral imperative, a prudent way of safeguarding our future.
“By allocating resources towards evidence-based prevention programmes, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse and protect our youth from falling prey to the menace,” said Tinubu.
He stated that, “the assignment before us as a country requires that we prioritise evidence-based prevention strategies, allocate adequate resources and foster partnerships for greater impact.
“This government will support NDLEA to build on the success recorded in the past few years. We shall work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that we have positive statistics from the next national drug use survey that will be conducted in the country.”
He urged all Nigerians to join hands in this noble cause, saying it is an assignment for all patriotic citizens, including religious leaders, traditional leaders, educational institutions, opinion leaders, and civil society organisations.
“NDLEA has created a formidable platform for cooperation vis-à-vis its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy initiative,” he said.
Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, said the ‘Save Our Families’ social advocacy campaign launched at the ceremony by the President, was designed to prevent and tackle drug use through early detection and intervention.
He said the newly produced special drug test kits was a necessity in every home, school and workplace, and that the Drug Integrity Test initiative would metamorphose into an anti-drug culture for every Nigerian.
“The test is intended for secondary school students, students seeking admission into tertiary institutions and returning students, workers in government and private offices and individuals seeking political offices as well as prospective couples before taking their marriage vows.
“The drug test will serve as a tool for the prevention of drug use and early detection of the individual’s status of drug use for the purpose of appropriate intervention including treatment and rehabilitation.
“Let me also add that our drug integrity test, which has been adopted by some government institutions and tertiary institutions in the country, is a preventive mechanism,” said Marwa.
He said the Agency had produced tens of thousands of special test kits capable of detecting 15 different substances, which were available in all its commands across the country.
“This is for use in homes, schools, workplaces and others. Apart from helping in early detection of drug abuse especially by our youths so that we can get them help in form of treatment, this will also create some deterrence effects,” he said.
Speaking on the theme for this year’s World Drug Day, Marwa said drug use prevention lied at the heart of NDLEA’s strategy in addressing the drug problem because it was far more effective and cost-efficient to prevent drug abuse than to deal with its consequences.
“In this regard, we have used our WADA social advocacy initiative to campaign vigorously at the grassroots and create awareness for our people to shun illicit substances.
“WADA is a sensitisation and advocacy initiative that employs the whole of society approach to engage all stakeholders including the government sectors, institutions, and Non-Governmental Organisations.
“This is with emphasis on youths in and out of school, community gatekeepers including traditional and community leaders, as well as religious leaders among others.
“I am proud to state that the programme has been a tremendous success as an effective tool of advocacy for social action and an awareness driven vehicle for public engagement and collaboration against the drug scourge,” he explained.
He stated that between 2021 and 2024, the Agency embarked on 6,423 sensitisation and education programmes targeting young people in school and 987 programmes for Out of School youths in order to create awareness on the dangers associated with drug use.
“This is in addition to the millions of homes reached with our anti-substance abuse messages through our aggressive and impactful media campaigns using various traditional and new media platforms,” he said.
The outgoing United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative, Dr Oliver Stolpe, also made a number of recommendations.
“After the exceptionally successful testing of the school-based drug prevention programme UNPLUGGED involving half a million secondary school children in Nigeria, the programme should be rolled out to all 28, 000 public and private secondary schools.
“We need to enhance the resilience against drug use among the millions of out-of-school children, for example through sports-based initiatives such as Line Up Live Up (LULU).
“Furthermore, we need to strengthen families in their ability to recognise and address drug use in effective and constructive ways,” he said.
Stolpe further said: “Most importantly, there is an urgent need to repeat the 2018 national drug use survey. Without up-to-date data, there is no way in which we can assess whether our collective efforts have long-term impact and address the actual priorities.”
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who emphasised the importance of testing in schools expressed the ministry’s support for NDLEA drug test campaign.
According to him, the most important place where this prevention fight should start is the education sector.
“And we will do our own part, even last week, it was something we considered and promised to review the existing policies so that we can work with NDLEA to take it to secondary schools and primary schools.
“To establish at all levels compulsory and sustained testing, it has to be compulsory and sustained, right through the years and period of their education,” he said.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Rep. Abass Adigun, called for more budgetary provisions for NDLEA in the face of its multi-faceted mandate.
“We at the national assembly are ready to work with the NDLEA and we need the federal government to look into this,” said Adigun. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Tinubu mourns Deputy Comptroller of Customs Etop Essien
Mourning
By Salif Atojoko
Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu receives the news of the passing of Mr Etop Essien, the Deputy Comptroller in charge of revenue at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with profound sadness.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, in a statement on Tuesday, said the President extended his condolences to the family of Essien.
He described Essien’s passing while on an official assignment as most distressing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Essien passed away shortly after showing signs of discomfort during a presentation before the National Assembly House Committee on Public Accounts, on Tuesday.
“The President also commiserates with the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as well as the officers, men, and women of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“The President prays for the repose of the soul of the deceased officer and comfort for his family,” said the statement.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu will consult further before arriving at a final decision on the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, said this at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the report of the tripartite committee on the new wage was presented and deliberated on at the FEC meeting, but was stepped down to enable the President consult further.
Idris said this would allow the President take an informed decision on it before sending its bill to the National Assembly for consideration.
“We discussed the new minimum wage issue at the council meeting.
“The new national minimum wage is not just that of the federal government, it is an issue that involves the federal government, the state governments, local governments, and organised private sector.
“And of course, the memo was stepped down to enable Mr President to consult further, especially with the state governors and organised private sector,” he said.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, also briefed on government finances and debts, including ways and means.
“When we interrogate the figures over the first quarter of this year, starting from middle of December 2023 and the end of March this year; if we want to be positive, what we will say is that the glass is half full.
“We are halfway there. If not, we can be negative and try and say the glass is half empty. Why do I say this? The total debt stock of Nigerians in dollars terms fell by 15 per cent, that is very positive.
“Any rating agency, any creditor, any investor looking at that will see it as a positive move.
“We are a country that has petrodollar, we have ability to earn in dollars. So it’s highly relevant that we look at what is our exposure in dollars terms,” Edun said.
According to him, on the other hand, the exchange rates increased by 8 trillion in actual debt issuance, and the total external debt and domestic debt in Naira terms had increased by 25 per cent.
“That brings me to the foreign exchange movement which can change tomorrow, as we know. Linked to that is the all important question of the government’s capacity to pay its way.
“Debt is all about the revenue to service it, and of course to use those funds properly, judiciously, accountably and in a way that gives positive returns.
“At no time have we gone to Mr President to seek permission to go the the Central Bank to pay anybody, be it external debt service, be it share capital cash calls for any of the liabilities that the government has,” he said.
Edun explained that as with all agencies, the government was focused on ensuring that the revenue due to it was collected robustly using technology, avoiding blockages associated with manual processing, which he said had led to a very robust revenue effort.
“Likewise, we are implementing debts or expenditure controls, also very ably empowered by technology.
“Mr President inherited a legacy of N3.4 trillion in outstanding ways and means which have been securitised on the eve of the entry of President Tinubu’s administration.
“We are doing a forensic audit, we are interrogating that figure because its a liability which we have to pray interest on. So, any deficit that you might see to the consolidated revenue account, may be automatic debit on a figure that is still being interrogated,” said Edun.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, also said the Council gave approval for the upgrade of key infrastructure in the country’s healthcare system.
He said that the Council approved the engagement of a transaction adviser to develop a public private partnership (PPP) to expand, modernise and refurbish six teaching hospitals’ equipment.
The hospitals are: University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, University College Hospital Ibadan, National Hospital Abuja, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital and Usmanu Dafodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.
“That is a massive upgrade of infrastructure. The transaction adviser will develop full business case and then come back to the Council for approval for mobilisation to execute the contract over the next 12 to 20 months.
“The second item is the expansion of the pathology lab and the mortuary at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The contract was awarded, and it also includes building hostels for nurses and other health professionals. That is under a PPP arrangement,” said Pate.
He gave an update on diseases ravaging the country, particularly Cholera, which he said was discussed extensively, in addition to the emergence of yellow fever in Bayelsa.
He said the National Centre for Disease Control was working with Lagos State, which has a very strong institutional ability to be able to contain the disease.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, said the Federal Government has approved procurement of Mikano CNG vehicles for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He said that council also approved the procurement of two full body scanners for Lagos and Abuja International airports.
Also, Minister of Works David Umahi gave an update on road projects across the country, assuring that by October, most of the ongoing road construction and rehabilitation would be completed. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Congratulation
By Salif Atojoko
Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday congratulated the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on his birthday.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
The statement noted that Sanwo-Olu had a successful career in the private sector before joining the public service, scaling the leadership ladder.
“Mr Sanwo-Olu was elected Governor of Lagos State in 2019 and re-elected in 2023 for a second term in office.
“The President prays for many more years in good health for the Governor and wishes him more wisdom and energy in his service to Lagos State and the nation,” said the statement. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
SA/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
President Bola Tinubu and Mr Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank, during the meeting with the bank’s executives on Monday in Abuja
Investment
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria remains committed to a balanced approach to energy transition.
According to him, the country still requires substantial investments in the oil and gas sector to meet its energy demands and economic needs.
Tinubu made the remarks at a meeting with the Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank, Mr Bill Winters, on Monday in Abuja.
He called for a just energy transition that supported vulnerable communities across the nation.
The President highlighted the importance of balancing the mutually beneficial shift to green industrial growth and energy with the immediate energy needs of Nigerians.
“We value your cooperation, friendship, and partnership. Substantially, we have oil and gas as our primary source of revenue today.
“As friends, we do not expect you to run away from investments in this sector. We face the future prospect while prudently maximising the present.
“Green industry and energy, yes. We will surely catch up with that. To run a marathon, you need energy today. Nigeria holds the largest reserves of gas in Africa.
“We know we can make best use of great opportunities that exist in the sector. We do not want you to back away from fossil fuels,” the President said.
He said he had seen retractions and retreat positions by some players in the industry, but explained that for any energy transition to succeed, people must live and live well.
“We must be able to meet our obligations to the vulnerable communities. We are committed to being prudent with our natural resources to bring prosperity to our deserving people.
“As we hold the largest reserves in gas on the continent, we do not want to go backward, we want to move forward, and we welcome deepened partnership with your institution,” said Tinubu.
He also highlighted strategic projects across different sectors embarked upon by his administration to stimulate economic growth.
He reiterated his commitment to sustaining ongoing economic reforms and measures to stabilise the economy.
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, described Standard Chartered Bank as a valued partner to Nigeria, providing finance for infrastructure, advice on ratings, and the prudent management of Nigeria’s Eurobond.
He said the Bank had indicated interest to finance key infrastructure projects in Nigeria, including the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line rehabilitation, as well as the provision of 3 billion dollars in innovative financing for the NLNG dividend initiative.
“They are also one of our lead managers for Eurobond issuance, and they advise us on our ratings.
“I am pleased to note that Moody’s has just completed our rating review and maintained Nigeria’s rating as a positive outlook, which is very encouraging,” the Minister said.
He also said Moody’s positive outlook rating followed the recent announcement of the World Bank’s 2.25 billion dollars financing package for Nigeria, reflecting the positive trajectory of the current administration’s economic reforms.
In his remarks, Winters lauded Presidential directive Tinubu’s bold economic reforms, noting the international investment community’s recognition and support.
“We see ourselves as ambassadors to Nigeria in the international investment community, and we take our advisory role very seriously.
“We will continue to offer objective advice to the country because we have commitments in the country backed by our strong belief in what this administration is doing,” he said.
The delegation from Standard Chartered Bank included Mr Foluso Phillips, Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, and Mr Dalu Ajene, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria branch of the bank. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Tinubu congratulates Chief of Staff Gbajabiamila on birthday
Congratulation
By Salif Atojoko
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to his Chief of Staff, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, on his birthday.
Tinubu, in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, described Gbajabiamila as a statesman and prolific public administrator.
He said Gbajabiamila was also an accomplished lawyer who previously served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023.
“Owing to the quality of leadership and representation he provided for Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives, Honourable Gbajabiamila maintained a perfect streak of re-elections across decades from 2003 until 2023 when he was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the President.
“President Tinubu joins family, friends, and staff of the presidency to celebrate an exceptional leader on this special occasion.
“The President commends Honourable Gbajabiamila for his diligence, high sense of responsibility, patriotic zeal, and commitment to the common good,” the statement read.
Tinubu wished Gbajabiamila many more years in good health and renewed strength in his service to the nation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Tinubu appoints new CEO for consumer protection commission
Appointment
By Salif Atojoko
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr Olatunji Bello as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), pending confirmation by the Senate.
The appointment was announced in a statement on Monday by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bello is a lawyer, administrator, journalist and former secretary to the Lagos State government.
He holds a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos; he studied Law at the same university and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002.
“Mr Bello began his career in journalism at the Concord Newspapers in 1985 and held the positions of Group Political Editor; Sunday Concord Editor, and Editor, National Concord.
“He is a winner of the US Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship and was appointed the Chairman, Editorial Board of THISDAY Newspapers in 2001.
“He also served as Commissioner for Environment under various administrations in Lagos State,” said the statement.
According to the statement, the President expects the new Chief Executive Officer to ensure the realisation of the Commission’s mandate of protecting and promoting the interest and welfare of Nigerian consumers.
He also expects the agency to ensure the adoption of measures to guarantee the safety and quality of goods and services. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
