WE’LL URGENTLY DEVELOP AGRICULTURE AND OTHER SECTORS TO OVERCOME HARSH EFFECTS OF LOWER OIL PRICES – PRESIDENT BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari said late Tuesday in Riyadh that his administration was fully committed to increasing the productivity of Nigeria’s agriculture and solid minerals sectors to save the nation from the harsh effects of lower crude oil prices.

Speaking at a meeting with leading members of the Council of Saudi Arabia’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry, President Buhari said that with declining revenues from crude oil exports, Nigeria’s hopes of economic resurgence now lie in the rapid development of its immense agricultural and solid mineral resources.

Inviting Saudi Arabian businessmen to invest in both sectors, the President said that his administration will welcome greater foreign investment in support of its efforts to rapidly diversify the Nigerian economy.

President Buhari said that Nigeria had regrettably depended too much on crude oil exports to the neglect of other resources and was now paying a harsh price for failing to diversify its economy early enough.

“With the downturn in the global prices of oil, we now have to prospect our solid minerals. We have to return to agriculture. Mining and agriculture are our hopes now. We will welcome investments in these areas. We will appreciate an in-flow of more resources and expertise to help us achieve our objective of economic diversification," the President said.

The governors of Osun, Ogun, Katsina, Borno, and Zamfara states, who were part of the President's delegation, took turns to address the Saudi Arabian businessmen on investment possibilities in their states, assuring them of good returns.

The Chairman of the Council of the Saudi Arabian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Dr Abdulrahman Al Zamil said that agriculture was a very important area of investment for its members, adding that they were already in Brazil, the United States of America and Sudan, "where we have huge farms."

Declaring that they were willing to invest in Nigeria, Dr Abdulrahman Al Zamil said that the Saudis were the leading investors in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 24, 2016

THOSE WHO DISTORTED 2016 BUDGET WILL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED - PRESIDENT BUHARI VOWS

President Muhammadu Buhari vowed late Tuesday in Riyadh that all those involved in the “padding” of the 2016 National Budget will face the most severe punishment.

Addressing the Nigerian Community in Saudi Arabia, President Buhari condemned the distortion of the budget proposals by entrenched interests.

The President said that the unauthorized alterations had completely changed the document from the one he presented to the National Assembly.

“The culprits will not go unpunished. I have been a military governor, petroleum minister, military Head of State and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund.

“Never had I heard the words “budget padding”. Our Minister of Budget and National Planning did a great job with his team. The Minister became almost half his size during the time, working night and day to get the budget ready, only for some people to pad it.

“What he gave us was not what was finally being debated. It is very embarrassing and disappointing. We will not allow those who did it to go unpunished," President Buhari vowed.

The President also assured members of the Nigerian community that his administration was working diligently to fulfill its campaign promises, particularly on security, unemployment, and corruption.

Reaffirming his government’s zero tolerance for corruption, President Buhari said that the war against corruption was a monumental task that he is determined to tackle successfully.

"We have zero tolerance for corruption and other unethical practices. We will deal decisively with anybody found wanting," he promised members of the Nigerian community.

President Buhari also used the opportunity of the gathering to brief Nigerians in Saudi Arabia on his administration’s efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria.

"Our armed forces have done a great job of dealing decisively with Boko Haram. We are collaborating with our neighbors in the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force to handle security threats in the sub-region and we have significantly destroyed the capacity of the insurgents," the President said.

He also spoke on efforts being made to diversify the Nigerian economy, stressing that more opportunities are now open for local and foreign investors in the country.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 24, 2016

Nelson Mandela, President Buhari, & Tolu Ogunlesi By Pius Adesanmi.

Nelson Mandela died and was buried in a blaze of international glory. They came from all over the world to give him a colourful burial. Such was the carnival atmosphere of bidding one of Africa's greatest ancestors farewell that Brother Barack Obama was even caught committing lookery on the blonde Prime Minister of a Scandinavian country while our sister, Michelle Obama, looked on murderously.

Obama survived the selfies and the flirtation in Johannesburg. If there was any punishment, if he slept in the couch for a couple of weeks in the White House, the secret service and sister Michelle were careful not to let us in on any such unsavoury aftermath.

Not every Western leader got away from Mandela's funeral that lightly. At least one leader did not survive the trip to Johannesburg. She is Alison Redford, who was then Premier of Canada's oil-rich province of Alberta. In other words, she was like Godswill Akpabio when he was the oil-drunk Donatus-in-Chief of Akwa Ibom.

The Alberta Premier had flown to Ottawa to join a Canadian delegation flying from Ottawa to Johannesburg on then Prime Minister Harper's plane. Then she had a bright idea for the return trip. How can a whole Premier of Canada's richest province be hitching a ride on the Prime Minister's plane? She decided to fly commercial with an aide. Of course she did not fly economy. By the time she got back home, it was discovered that her return trip from Johannesburg had cost the Alberta tax payer $10,000. It was also discovered that the total cost of her trip was $45,000.

Had she hitched a ride back to Canada on the Prime Minister's plane, she would have saved the Alberta tax payer some $10,000. For someone who was already having political problems, wasting $10,000 on a flight from Johannesburg was the last straw. She did not survive it. She was booted out of office by the people.

Please note that the people of Alberta sacked a Premier for wasting about $10,000 on travel especially as she had the option of a free ride. Please note that a Premier here is the equivalent of a state Governor in Nigeria. Please note that ten thousand dollars is less than what any self-respecting junior aide of a Nigerian Governor can splash on a weekend shopping spree for his concubine even when they are not paying salaries.

If the people of Alberta sacked a Premier for that trip from Johannesburg to Canada, what do you think they would have done to President Buhari who went to Egypt and, instead of even saving us the cost of aviation fuel by going on from there straight to his junket in the Middle East, decided to return to Abuja first for a brief change of kaftan?

We have reached a point where we are no longer saying that Baba should preside over the affairs of Nigeria from home. We have accepted kamu that Baba is Gulliver. All we are saying now is that if you are in Cotonou and your next stop is Lome, don't fly back to Abuja to drink water before taking off a few minutes later for Lome. Why come back from Egypt? Save us some money on aviation fuel. Not saving money on trips cost somebody like you her job in Canada. And the trip was even for Nelson Mandela's funeral o.

This is why I pity my dear aburo, Tolu Ogunlesi. I was waiting for his appointment for a very long time and making inquiries as to when it might happen. I wasn't imagining the duplication of duties that has happened though. I was hoping that he would be brought on and at least three of the current clueless people on that beat would be brushed off so that whoever wishes to return to work for Atiku Abubakar can be free to go where their heart really is.

Anyway, I've been extremely pleased with Tolu's appointment. But, alas, there is never a good time to be asked to be a spokesperson for the actions of a Nigerian President. There is always a bad time and a less bad time. My aburo has been appointed at an auspiciously bad time when he will have to be part of the team looking at the Nigerian people ojukoroju to justify his Oga's nonsensical foreign gallivanting in such dire times at home.

Tolu is my dear aburo and shall remain so. But because I know him and the books he has read and how his mind has been shaped and humanized by literature; because we come from the same constituency of Nigerian letters and I know all the things we used to say over beer and poetry about "those guys in government", he should be warned that the koboko that served me so well during the tenure of his fraudulent predecessor, Pastor Wendell Simlin, is still on the rafter and I will now be bringing it back and dusting for use on my own aburo's back whenever necessary. He should be warned that he is going to be held to considerably higher standards than charlatans like Wendell Simlin by his very own constituency.

Luckily for him, he is still posting pictures of street art on Allen Avenue and not yet in the mode of justifying the "unprecedented gains for Nigeria of flying from Egypt to Abuja before taking off for the Middle East". I fear that it is only a question of time. But I also trust him to know how to "fi ogbon se" and use good judgement and style to avoid having to be the one to justify the more outrageous of Oga's actions. After all, there are five of you doing the same job. Must it be you?

Aburo, fi ogbon se o!

What Jonathan told me after he conceded to Buhari – Ita-Giwa

Senator Florence Ita-Giwa

Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Florence Ita-Giwa, has disclosed her conversation with ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan, during last year’s presidential election.

Jonathan, the candidate of the PDP was defeated by the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

Speaking with DAILY POST in Lagos on Tuesday, Ita-Giwa revealed her chat with Jonathan after he conceded defeat.

“I called former President, Jonathan and told him, ‘why not wait till the result is declared before conceding?’

“This was two minutes after he made the announcement.

“Responding, he said, ‘Aunty, I already know what the outcome would be. I have done the right thing. I am keeping to my word that no blood is worth my ambition.

“I said to him, ‘You are great indeed’. He thanked me for my call.”

“I don’t regret supporting him, but we thank God for the peace and unity of the country.”

Reacting to the spate of defections to the ruling APC by PDP members, the politician said she will not leave the PDP.

“You can support the President without defecting to his party. Many are doing this for what they can gain.”

“I remain in PDP but will support good policies of the present government.”

Ita-Giwa hailed the nation’s media for the resilience over the years, urging them to continue to be the voice of the people.

“You all are doing a wonderful job, let’s continue to do our best to make Nigeria great,” she added.

Source: Daily Post NG

WE'LL REBUILD NIGERIA, PRESIDENT BUHARI ASSURES BRITISH MPs

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria expects a lot from Britain in her rebuilding process, due to the affinity shared by the two countries.

Receiving a team of British Members of Parliament led by Hon Chi Onwurah at State House, Abuja, Tuesday, President Buhari declared: "We are going to rebuild Nigeria, and there are vast opportunities for Britain and us. We share very close ties, and our expectation from you is high." 

President Buhari lamented that Nigeria has found herself in a phase of development, "which is not a very welcome one. We are disorganized because we relied on mono-economic product for too long, and now that oil price is down, we have to go back to agriculture and solid minerals. Tin, columbite, cocoa, groundnut, and others, used to be the basis of our economy, but then, oil came, and everybody began to look for cheap money. Now, we need to start all over again."

Hon. Onwurah, Nigerian-born MP for Newcastle, said the team was in the country "to promote positive engagement between Nigeria and the UK, since we are stronger when we build on ties of the past."

She said her team was interested in how the Diaspora can support the economic progress of Nigeria, as well as promotion of trade and diversification of the economy. 

Also on the delegation made up of three MPs was the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 16, 2016

Senior Nigerian lawyer, Rickey Tarfa, arraigned; floods court with over 90 SANs

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned a senior lawyer, Rickey Tarfa, before Justice Aishat Opesanwo of Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, on 2-count charge of obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Mr. Tarfa pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Based on his plea, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in custody.

However, Adeniyi Akintola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who led a team of over 90 Senior Advocates and other lawyers to represent Mr. Tarfa, said they had filed an application for bail which he said was served on the prosecution on the 10th of February, 2016.

In his application for bail, the defence counsel told the court that the defendant went to court voluntarily and that he was granted administrative bail by EFCC on self-recognition.

He said the defendant was a very senior member of the bar with no criminal record. He said there was nothing to show that the defendant would jump bail.

However, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application as the offence was grave. He urged the court to dismiss the application and order for an accelerated hearing.

Justice Opesanwo, in her ruling, granted bail to Mr. Tarfa on self-recognition but ordered that he must not travel out of the country without the permission of the court.

The trial judge bemoaned the number of counsel who were in court for the defendant. She noted that there was no need for such magnitude of support as it amounts to harassment and intimidation of the court.

Soon after the ruling, Mr. Akintola told the court that he had filed an application to quash the charge.

Mr. Rotimi responded that he had not been served. He was subsequently served by the defence counsel in open court.

Justice Opesanwo adjourned the matter to March 14, for hearing of the application to quash the charge while the substantive case was fixed for April 20, 2016 for trial.

Mr. Ricky Tarfa, SAN, is accused of willfully obstructing two officers of the EFCC, Moses Awolusi and Sanusi Mohammed from arresting Gnanhooue Sourou and Nazaire Odeste, who were suspected to have committed economic and financial crimes in contravention of Section 38(2) (a) of the EFCC Establishment Act of 2004.

Also, he is alleged to have engaged in improper communication with Justice M. Yunusa of the Federal High Court Lagos between May 11 and June 25, 2015 while the case between the EFCC and two others was pending before the judge.

Count 1:

“That You Rickey Tarfa (SAN) on or about the 5th day of February, 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, wilfully obstructed Moses Awolusi and Sanusi Mohammed, authorized officer of Economic and Financial Crime Commission from arresting GNANHOUE SOUROU and NAZAIRE ODESTE who were reasonably suspected to have committed economic and financial crimes by keeping the said suspects in your car between 11.00 hours to 16: 30 hours”

Count 2:

“RICKEY TARFA (SAN) between 11th of May and 25th of June, 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court attempted to pervert the course of justice by communicating with Hon. Justice M.N. Yunusa of the Federal High Court through your mobile Telephone No. 08034600000 whilst suit No: FHC/L/CS/715/2015 between Rana Prestige Industries Nigeria and EFCC and Suit No: FHC/L/CS/716 between Hair Prestige Manufacturing Nigeria and EFCC filed by you on behalf of the applicants in the two suits seeking to retrain the commission from performing its statutory duties were pending before the said judge”.




Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/198546-senior-nigerian-lawyer-rickey-tarfa-arraigned-floods-court-90-sans-lawyers.html

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BUDGET MAFIA 101: Who benefitted from Padding? By Lauretta Onochie

✳ Budget Mafia? Is there anything we will not hear of in this country? The government of President Buhari has implemented the Treasury Single Account TSA policy. This exposed the fact that NNPC had more than 45 bank accounts! The Military (Army, Navy, Airforce) had more than 70 accounts! Mind boggling!

✳ But when we thought we have heard it all, we now know that those civil servants entrusted with the drawing up of the budget, did not understand that change is here. They carried on with reckless impunity, padding the budget as they have done in the past.

✳ Budget Mafia was unknowingly, inherited from previous administrations as way back as the year 2000. Nobody would have thought that anyone would slot in so many zeros where they did not belong to, in the budget of a nation. Nor inflate the budget of an Agency and then have the audacity to later approach the agency to claim the loot. If you do not know who got the padding, here is an example as given by Rotimi Fashakin on how it works:

"In 2000, just the first year of the latest democratic experiment, the senate committee on Information informed the NTA management that its budget had been increased and as such, the government institution should release the sum of N100 million for sharing among the members. Coincidentally, the CEO of NTA at that time is now a distinguished senator. The Chief Internal Auditor pooh poohed the idea that External auditors would easily discover that malfeasance. The Senate committee came with the idea of using a bogus insurance policy to conceal the graft. The money for the committee was reportedly removed in four tranches of N25Million. The padding was done in virtually all the MDAs. Over time, the civil servants too did their own padding, in addition to what NASS often added to the budget."

Courtesy: budgiT 

✳And surprise, surprise, our holier than thou Senator Ben Bruce, has been involved right from the Genesis of Padding. We are now certain that there are other vices this government has inherited that will come to the fore as the days go by.

✳ We are only delighted that it was found out by the government of Pres, Buhari before the 2016 budget bill was passed. Better late than never.

✳ Looking at the example given by Rotimi Fashakin, only God knows how much the budget Mafia has "legally" scammed us over the years. But their days have now come to an end. Baba will have none of it and so heads have rolled and rightly so. Let everyone learn the lesson that Change is here.

God bless us all, everyone.
Lauretta Onochie
@Laurestar