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Tag: Osinbajo

Osinbajo concerned, angry over activities of FSARS
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says he is concerned and angry that young men and women who are arrested, are in some cases, maimed or killed by men of the Nigeria Police Force.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement, said the Vice President expressed this view on Sunday in Abuja.
The Inspector-General of Police (IG-P), Mohammed Adamu, had on Sunday banned the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from undertaking routine patrols as well as stop and search duties.
The Vice President, who had earlier, held a meeting with the I-G at his residence, said the President and himself had discussed the matter on a number of occasions.
He said that the President was displeased about reports on activities of FSARS and was resolved to ensure reforms.
“Such violations are completely unacceptable because these are individuals who are meant to protect Nigerians.
“The arrest, maiming or killing of young people or anyone at all, is completely wrong.
“It is unlawful and illegal and anyone involved in this act ought to be investigated and prosecuted.
“Today, I had a meeting with the I-G and we reviewed several of these issues.
“The President is very concerned about it; he wants to see a reform.
“You are probably aware that the I-G has issued a statement looking at all these issues, in particular, the warning against the use of these tactical units such as SARS for purposes of doing anything other than anti-robbery.
“For example, he specifically said that you cannot have a situation where SARS says they are investigating cybercrime by arresting young men and women carrying their laptops and phones.
“Cybercrime is an electronic crime.
“I don’t see how you can investigate that by seizing people’s phones in a taxi or in their cars,’’ Osinbajo said.
He said it was obvious that a few bad eggs in the Police were causing all of the problems because it was all over the place, in different states.
Osinbajo said that the I-G’s statement, banning FSARS and others, was the first step.
“He has said clearly that police men must wear police uniforms.
“You cannot say that because you belong to a tactical unit, you can dress in your casual clothing and be armed.’’
By dressing casually, the vice president said that people “can’t even tell the difference between robbers and the police if you are not properly dressed in police uniform.
“So, clearly, a reform is in the offing’’.
“So, I will like to encourage civil society activists, young men and women, who bring this regularly, by the way, to the attention of government and the police.
Read more: Two FSARS operatives, civilian accomplice arrested in Lagos for extortion and intimidation of citizens
Osinbajo also said that activism was important because “they have been able to bring a lot of these issues to the attention of the Police and government.
“And that is an important part of the process of the reform’’.
He said that the Federal Government would ensure that every one of those allegations against FSARS was properly investigated.
According to him, those found responsible will be prosecuted and publicised so that people will know that prosecution has taken place.
“I am very confident that we will have a reformed police force and that process has already begun’’.
October 5, 2020
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s daughter, Oluwadamilola and husband welcome first child
Vice president of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s daughter, Oluwadamilola has welcomed her first child in the early hours of today, 21st of September.
Sharing the good news on twitter, the 63 year old announced that he is now a grand dad and his daughter is now a mum. In his words;
“All glory to GOD! I am now a grand dad! My daughter, Oludamilola and her husband Oluseun became parents to a wonderful baby boy this morning! ~YO”.
Read more: Former President, Goodluck Jonathan’s daughter, Faith Edward and husband welcome 4th child
Recall that in March 2018, Oluwadamilola and the son of Nigeria’s billionaire business Woman Hajia Bola Shagaya got married tied the knot at the presidents villa in Abuja.
September 22, 2020
ECOWAS: Osinbajo departs Nigeria for Ghana
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will leave Abuja, the nation’s capital this morning for Accra, Ghana to attend an Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the situation in Mali.
Prof. Osinbajo, who is representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the summit, will join other leaders in the sub-region to discuss the political crisis in Mali and the security situation in the sub-region at large.
His Spokesman, Laolu Akande, said the Accra meeting will form part of several efforts by leaders in the sub-region to resolve Mali’s political crisis.
While in Accra, the statement said the Vice President will also meet with representatives of the Nigerian community in Ghana to discuss issues bothering on their wellbeing in the West African country.
Accompanying the Vice President is the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb Zubairu Dada.
Prof Osinbajo is expected back in Abuja today at the end of his engagements in Ghana.
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September 15, 2020
VP Osinbajo – Poverty in Nigeria is deepening everyday
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has lamented over the increased poverty situation in the country.
Speaking at the first year ministerial performance review retreat, the Vice President charged ministers to expedite action on the N2.3 trillion stimulus package designed by the government to mitigate the effect of the crisis on the economy, while also disclosing that the Coronavirus pandemic has made Nigerians poorer.
Under the mass housing programme, Osinbajo explained that the government would build 300,000 homes across the country and would ensure that their prices did not exceed N2m.

His statement;
“We are already in Day 67 since the plan. Nothing is going to happen by magic, we have to simply do this stuff.
“We have to ensure that we have the money and ensure that day by day, we are measuring our achievements and trying to ensure that we do the things that we need to do. And we simply are not favoured by time, every single day the poverty situation and the economic distortions deepen.
“There is one which is ongoing by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and the one under the Family Homes Fund is also supervised by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
“The mass agriculture programme is one where we envisaged that we will be engaging many farmers. So far, we have enumerated at least 4 million farmers.
“So, these are farmers who are tied to their lands and we have the geo-statistics that shows where their land is and we have about 4 million of them. And we expect that with each state contributing acreage for farming, we will be able to do significant numbers.
“The plan is designed in such a way that in each one of the programmes, we are engaging as many Nigerians as possible. The expected outcome for agriculture, even if each farmer employs an additional person, this will result in an additional 4 million jobs and even more jobs along the value chain. We also will be looking at developing rural roads to reduce post-harvest losses.”
September 9, 2020
We’re committed to finding vaccine, says Osinbajo
VICE President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has emphasised that President Muhammadu Buhari administration is commitment to finding a vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Nigerians.
He stated this on Wednesday during a virtual meeting with representatives of the BNT162 COVID-19 vaccine candidate on the progress of the vaccine development around the world, including Africa.
Osinbajo, according to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, also said the health and safety of the citizens is the priority of the administration.
The meeting was attended by the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, with representatives of Pfizer and Biotech, the international pharmaceutical firms promoting the BNT162 vaccine candidate.
According to Osinbajo, the interaction between the Federal Government and the promoters of the vaccine candidate “is an important conversation and it is important for us that we are prioritised as -the largest country in Africa – in the distribution of the best COVID-19 vaccine when it’s eventually ready.
“Our priority is the health of the Nigerian citizens. We continue to engage and intend to look at every possible option -from all manufacturers- of a good vaccine. We want to do the very best for our people in this regard.”
During the meeting, the Vice President asked several questions about the COVID-19 vaccine candidate, including how quickly Nigeria can get the vaccine once it’s safely ready.
Responding, the Pfizer Country Manager and Representative in Africa, who spoke for the promoters, Mr. Subair Olayinka, promised that “Nigeria will be priority” for the vaccine supply to Africa.
Although the vaccine trials are not going on in Nigeria currently, he said the trials are ongoing in parts of the African continent and it would be entering the third phase, having concluded the first two phases successfully.
The Health Minister noted that the Federal Government would consider quality, appropriate volume and how well and quick a vaccine can be delivered to Nigeria in deciding which manufacturer to procure supply.
August 6, 2020
EFCC Probe: Magu Denies Allegations Of Paying Osinbajo, Falana Money
The suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has written to the Presidential Committee investigating the allegation of mismanagement of the agency over what he described as publications prejudicial to the proceedings of the panel.
In the letter addressed to the Chairman of the panel, Retired Justice Ayo Salami, one of Magu’s lawyers Wahab Shittu referred to the claims that the suspended EFCC boss paid N4 billion to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and another N28 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana.
He explained that the allegations were completely false and an attempt to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the Vice President, Magu, and Falana.
According to Shittu, the suspended EFCC boss also denies any link with a Kaduna-based Bureau De Change Operator as claimed.
Earlier, the Vice President and Falana denied collecting any money from the suspended EFCC boss.
On the search of Magu’s house conducted on Monday last week, he insisted that no incriminating evidence was found – not even dollars, expensive jewelries, and wristwatches were recovered as reported.
The legal practitioner stressed that the search of Magu’s house did not reveal any incriminating evidence or materials.
He added that the cars removed from his residence were official vehicles assigned to the suspended EFCC boss.
Shittu, however, decried that Magu has yet to be given a copy of the allegations against him to enable him formally to respond to them.
He said his client was ready to formally respond to the allegations and furnish documentary evidence in support if served with a copy of the allegations.
The lawyer, therefore, called on the presidential panel to uphold Magu’s fundamental human rights of fair hearing.
July 17, 2020
COVID-19: Osinbajo lists support schemes for MSME survival
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the Federal Government, through the National Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP), is set to implement a number of schemes to keep Micro Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) afloat.
The vice president listed Survival Fund including payroll support for three months, guaranteed off-take scheme among others as part of efforts to support small businesses in Nigeria to survive the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said the vice president spoke at the 2020 edition of the Micro MSMEs Awards which held via video conference.
He said that locally, businesses were facing their most challenging time and the impact was particularly severe on MSMEs
“The central plank of our response as a government to the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic has been the Economic Sustainability Plan recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Executive Council.
“In that plan which essentially envisages an overall N2.3 trillion stimulus package, we made extensive provision for financial support to MSMEs, ranging from a guaranteed off-take scheme to a survival fund that includes a payroll support programme for qualifying businesses.
“The guaranteed off-take scheme seeks to provide support for MSMEs, manufacturing local products by guaranteeing the purchase from them of qualifying products such as face masks, hand sanitizer, Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) for medical workers among others
“These products will be distributed to Nigerians, Nigerian institutions and entities that would require them.
“The survival fund will help provide payroll support to MSMEs with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 50 staff. The MSMEs that qualify for these will make available their payroll for verification by the government.
“Companies that meet the requirements will then be eligible to have the salaries of their verified staff paid directly from the fund for a period of three months.”
According to the vice president, the target beneficiaries of this scheme will include private schools, hotels, road transport workers, creative industries and others.
He said that the verification process would be very rigorous and painstaking.
Osinbajo added that N200 billion would be made available to MSMEs in the priority sectors such as healthcare, agro-processing, creative industries, local oil and gas, aviation among others.
“This will be granted through a scheme jointly run by the Bank of Industry and Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, especially for export expansion.
“The CBN is also committed to creating a N100 billion target credit facility for MSMEs.
“Already the recently signed Finance Act already made provision for graduated company income tax rates with zero rates for small companies and a rate reduction for medium-sized companies.”
The vice president said that the Federal Government would continue to implement similar focused MSME interventions around the country.
Osinbajo said that Kaduna state, for example, was working on a tomato paste production plant while Lagos was putting together a fashion hub.
He said that FCT was equally set to launch a carpentry cluster while Anambra state was almost ready to commission its leather works cluster.
“All of these are scheduled for 2020.
“In 2021, Edo, Ekiti, Katsina, Ogun, Bauchi and Enugu States would commission shared facilities that will bring MSMEs together by cluster and provide shared equipment and resources and business support hub.’’
He commended the participants at the awards for their ingenuity in starting up and sustaining their businesses, urging those who were not shortlisted not to relent in what they were doing.
Osinbajo also commended all those who had started businesses in Nigeria, no matter how small, describing them as champions.
“Every person who has taken it upon themselves to start a business in Nigeria no matter how small is a champion and we as a government owe it to you to create an enabling environment for you to thrive.
“This is President Buhari’s commitment to MSMEs in Nigeria, that we will continue to stand by you and to support you and to create opportunities for you to grow and prosper,” he said.
Adejoke Lasisi of Planet 3R Limited won the MSME of the Year Award while Kaduna State was awarded the Best MSME Clinic Support State.
The winners got cash and car prizes.
The event was attended by several state governors and their representatives, the FCT Minister Malam Muhammed Bello, the Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum, various heads of MDAS and captains of industry.
July 17, 2020
Governors to meet Osinbajo on Economic Sustainability Plan implementation
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says it will engage Vice President and Chairman, National Economic Council, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to facilitate states’ representation in the implementation committee of Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP).
The 36 state governors disclosed this in a communiqué issued on Thursday in Abuja by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, after its 12th COVID-19 teleconference meeting.
The governors also advocated for the need to revitalise Nigeria’s Mortgage Bank to support the government’s ambitious housing programme, and the importance of the N2 trillion Nigeria Infrastructure Investment Fund to stimulate the economy.
It noted that the forum endorsed the work of Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State-led NGF Sub-Committee on COVID-19, which earlier provided an update on the implementation of the Final Report of the NEC ad-hoc Committee on COVID-19.
The report, according to the communique, contains the “Outbreak and Responding to the Adverse Economic Effects”, which was presented to Osinbajo in March 2020.
It quoted El-Rufai noting that the recommendations of the report have been integrated into the Nigeria ESP.
The governors also resolved to collaborate with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to support the implementation of the National Gas Expansion Programme through a statewide adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
“The forum also resolved to ease gas pipeline right-of-way applications and encouraging the micro stove assembly for small businesses, including facilitating training for gas operators.
“NGF also resolved to collaborate with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to ensure the implementation of the five per cent user charge on the pump price of petrol and the international vehicle transit charge to better fund road projects in Nigeria.
The communique noted that Oliver Stolpe, Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria, and Dr Yemi Kale, Statistician General, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) at the meeting presented findings of the second Corruption Survey in Nigeria.
“The survey showed that the incidence of bribery had decreased since 2016 when the survey was first conducted, from 32.3 per cent to 30.2 per cent.
“Although the second corruption survey focused on Federal Government agencies, NGF members resolved to collaborate with UNODC to strengthen public complaints mechanisms across State MDAs.
“This is given that state institutions, businesses and households are affected by bribe seeking among public sector officials.”
It disclosed that the governor also endorsed the report of NGF Sub-Committee led by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, interfacing with the PTF on COVID-19 to provide a coordinated strategy between the Federal and State Governments to ease the lockdown and open the economy.
The forum encouraged state governments to ramp up testing to curb the spread of the virus especially amongst those with pre-existing conditions and the elderly, given the rise in the community spread of coronavirus cases with mild or no symptom.
It stated that the meeting deliberated on the COVID-19 pandemic and the new strategy being rolled out by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) to address the spread of the pandemic.
“Local Government Areas with high burden of diseases (Hotspot) have been identified and targeted with interventions.
“They are targeted with interventions such as increased testing and promotion of non-pharmaceutical intervention including hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, mandatory masking in public and partial or total lockdown restricting movement,” it stated. (NAN)
July 10, 2020
Osinbajo denies involvement in alleged diversion of funds
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says he is unperturbed by what he refers to as lies on the social media connecting him to the corruption trial of Mr Ibrahim Magu.
In a statement released by the spokesperson to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, a report published by one Jackson Ude is totally false and baseless. The said report alleges that the “embattled former Chairman of EFCC, allegedly embezzled and shared some sums of money with his principal.
He says the Vice President will not be distracted by these obvious campaigns of lies and calumny published by these online publications.
The matter has been referred to the relevant law enforcement agencies for investigation and necessary action.
July 9, 2020
Osinbajo, NASS leadership meet over deferment of electricity tariff hike
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is meeting with the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, over the deferment of planned electricity tariff hike.
Also in the meeting are Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and the Director-General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze
July 3, 2020