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Tag: Presidency

  • Presidency Releases Details Of N625bn Oil Derivation Funds To States

    Presidency Releases Details Of N625bn Oil Derivation Funds To States

    The Presidency has given a breakdown of how N625.43 billion 13 percent derivation fund, subsidy and SURE-P refunds were distributed to nine oil-producing states between 2021 and 2022.

    The details provided by the Presidency show that Akwa Ibom and Delta States received the largest refunds from the federal government.

    Garba Shehu, the presidential spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday and made available to the Daily Post.

    Shehu revealed that the nine oil-producing states got a total of N625.43 billion 13 per cent oil derivation, subsidy and SURE-P refunds from the Federation Account between 2021 and 2022.

    He said the date of the refund was from 1999 to 2021.

    Recall that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had showered praise on President Muhammadu Buhari for releasing the 13 per cent oil derivation to the Niger delta States.

    Wike further said he spent the funds on multi-billion projects in his State, challenging his colleagues to explain how they used theirs.

    Following the revelations by Wike, many Nigerians raised questions about how governors from the oil-producing states utilised the funds in their respective states.

    Part of the statement read: “According to the figures, under the 13 per cent derivation fund on withdrawal from ECA without deducting derivation from 2004 to 2019, Abia State received N4.8 billion with an outstanding sum of N2.8 billion, Akwa-Ibom received N128 billion with an outstanding sum of N77 billion, Bayelsa with N92.2bn, leaving an outstanding of N55 billion.

    “Cross River got a refund N1.3 billion with a balance N792 million, Delta State received N110 billion, leaving a balance of N66.2 billion, Edo State received N11.3billion, with a balance of N6.8billion, Imo State, N5.5 billion, with an outstanding sum of N3.3 billion, Ondo State, N19.4 billion with an outstanding sum of N11.7bn while Rivers State was paid 103.6 billion, with an outstanding balance of N62.3 billion.”

    The statement indicated that States were further paid in eight instalments between the months of October and January 2022.

    “Under this category, Abia State received N1.1 billion, Akwa-Ibom, N15 billion, Bayelsa, N11.6 billion, Cross River, N432 million, Delta State, N14.8 billion, Edo State, N2.2 billion, Imo State, N2.9, billion, Ondo State, N3.7 billion, and Rivers State, N12.8 billion,” it said.

  • No State is Authorized To Buy Automatic Arms – Presidency

    No State is Authorized To Buy Automatic Arms – Presidency

    The presidency has waded into the controversy surrounding buying of arms for state-owned security outfits.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday September 27, by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, it was stated that nobody is allowed to illegally carry AK-47 or any other automatic weapons and that they must surrender them.

    The presidency added that under the existing regulation, only the Office of the National Security Adviser could issue such authorization, upon proper clearance by the President and Commander-in-Chief.

    The presidency also said that “no such approvals have been issued to any state government.”

    The statement read;

    “In the specific Katsina State often cited, the Governor, Aminu Bello Masari wrote to explain that the administration invited the Provost of the Civil Defence Training College in Katsina to train their Vigilantes for a five-day period ‘in the handling and operations of Pump Action Rifles,’ emphasizing that ‘the Vigilantes were not trained to take over the responsibilities of the security agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria but to assist them.’

    “As they continue to expand their capabilities as well as their active collaboration with law enforcement agencies of the federation, the joint efforts continue to yield good results, thwarting attempts of terrorists to wreak havoc and destruction on communities.

    “The President in particular has expressed happiness that in the last couple of years, security outfits mandated by state governments have been associated with several important initiatives, and reports have reached him of acts of utmost bravery and professionalism.

    “He thanks them for their alertness that is helping to defeat nefarious plots against targets at grassroots levels.

    “He, however, cautions against the politicization of security.

    “Government at the centre with a national mandate cannot afford to alienate Ondo State or any other state for that matter on the important issue of security and urges leaders at various levels to exercise restraint in their speech, even as we are in a political season.”

  • Presidency Debunks Festus Keyamo’s Sack From Tinubu Campaign Council

    Presidency Debunks Festus Keyamo’s Sack From Tinubu Campaign Council

    By Marcus Ikechukwu 

    The presidency has reacted to an online report alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari had called for the removal of Festus Keyamo from the campaign council of the All Progressive Congress presidential flagbearer, Ahmed Bola Tinubu. 

    Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu debunked the report, saying the news that President Muhammadu Buhari has called for the removal of Festus Keyamo, SAN as a spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council is fake news.

    Shehu noted in a terse statement that both President Buhari and the Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu are happy with the job Keyamo is doing, and with the general set up of the impending campaign, which has already become an example for other parties.

    “We aware that conspiracy theories are being hatched with a ripple effect to defame our party leaders and hold back the campaign. Supporters of our candidates should not pay attention to “news” from these fountains of false narratives.

    The online report had alleged that the President and members of the Aso Rock cabal called for the removal of Festus Keyamo as the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC)/Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council.

    The report also alleged that, Buhari and members of the cabal accused Keyamo of always de-marketing the current administration despite being a serving minister.

    The report said the President accused him (Keyamo) of always de-marketing his regime, describing the government in which he is a minister as a failed regime. He has been described as a loose cannon who is daily demarketing his regime as a failed regime. The cabal members are not happy,” the source said.

    For instance, on Sunday, during an interview on Channels Television, Keyamo said Nigerians are hungry and can’t wait to have a new leader who would satisfy their hunger.

    When asked to discuss the APC’s campaign issues for the 2023 elections, Keyamo said, “Nigerians are hungry, they want to see how that hunger will be addressed, not how their Christian faith or Muslim faith will be addressed.

  • We Paid $311m Abacha Loot Directly to Contractors – Presidency

    We Paid $311m Abacha Loot Directly to Contractors – Presidency

    The presidency yesterday revealed that the $311 million loot by the late former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, which was repatriated to the country, had been paid directly to contractors for various jobs executed for the government. It said the direct payment was to prevent the National Assembly and the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from diverting the money.

    The federal government had in May received $311,797,866.11 as part of recovered assets of the former military dictator. The fund, which was repatriated from the United States and the Bailiwick of Jersey, was committed to expediting the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Abuja-Kano road, and the Second Niger Bridge,

    Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Public Affairs, Ajuri Ngelale, explained during a virtual town hall meeting hosted on Twitter by the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre, how the presidency prevented the National Assembly from diverting the money.
    While presenting the scorecard of the Buhari administration, especially, in the area of infrastructure, Ngelale said the country would not be able to expand its revenue base without putting the infrastructure on ground.

    According to Ngelale, “The cycle does not begin until you put the infrastructure on the ground. What we’ve been doing for the last 40-50 years before this administration was essentially living on borrowed time, where you have oil revenues coming in very effortlessly and all of that and we’re simply sharing it across import purchase and other forms of misuse.”

    Ngelale explained that considering the infrastructure deficit in the country, the Buhari government devised innovative ways to finance, to bridge 50 years of infrastructure neglect in the country. He said it was based on this that the Sukuk bond was issued in 2017, which he said was oversubscribed when it was floated.
    The presidential aide stated, “So, I think the country was shocked when there was an oversubscription to the tune of about 120 per cent. When we were asking for N100 billion and we came away with about N133 billion due to oversubscribed Sukuk from the private investors on the stock market.”

    Ngelale explained that the Sukuk bond was oversubscribed because investors had confidence due to the verifiable mechanisms put in place by the government for Sukuk fund application. He said the fund would go towards the construction of roads and the investors would get the money back through the utilisation of those roads

    The presidential aide added that the federal government also initiated the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), which helped to provide a large sum for the construction of three major projects – the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan Expressway, and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria Expressway.
    Ngelale stated, “So you have three major projects under the PIDF that we have been able to fund directly to the contractor through the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

    “And Nigerians have seen the truth of that, we don’t have to boast about it or talk about it because they can see it. Whether it’s a Second Niger Bridge, whether it’s the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway or whether it’s the Abuja-Kano, they know the work that is going on, it’s not in dispute.
    “And because of the structure of the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund conceived by President Muhammadu Buhari, nobody, no middleman can put his finger on a kobo of that money on $1 of that money.

    “And, of course, we’ve been able to further galvanise other funding inputs from, of course, the Abacha loot, signing deals with the with the US government and the Jersey authorities to ensure that $311 million was put back into those three projects, with each project taking about $103 million or 33.3 per cent of the total Abacha loot that was sent back.

    “So, that’s another one where we’ve been able to mobilise private and public financing to be able to directly get this money into the hands of contractors straight without National Assembly diversion, without MDAs diversion, and all of that.”
    Ngelale said the Apapa-Oworonsoki-Tollgate road would be completed by December 2022, just as Lagos-Sagamu-Ibadan Expressway and Second Nigeria Bridge. He said the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway would be completed in 2023, while the Lekki Deep Sea Port would be completed by December this year.

  • 2023 Presidency: Ngige, Nwajiuba should resign Immediately – NANS

    2023 Presidency: Ngige, Nwajiuba should resign Immediately – NANS

    National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has said the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, should resign instead of aspiring to be president.

    NANS expressed concern that “individuals who do not have any credible past or present can now come out to declare their aspiration for the office of the president without shame,” under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The students maintained that the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari “has degraded the office of the president so much” that the likes of Ngige and Nwajiuba could put themselves forward for the exalted office.

    “Many of such disappointment is the embarrassing declaration of intention and purchase of interest form by the duo of the Minister for Labour and the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chris Ngige and Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba respectively,” they said in a statement signed by the Ogun State Chairman of NANS, Damilola Simeon and made available to DAILY POST on Thursday.

    The students stressed that the duo of Ngige and Nwajiuba have “failed to resolve the lingering ASUU strike among many other issues confronting the ministries they both head.”

    Simeon said, “By norms, failures like Mr Nwajiuba and Ngige should resign from their positions and tender open apology to Nigerian students and their parents for failing to resolve the crisis in the education sector.

    “Unfortunately, they have raised their shamelessness by showing intention to run for the most serious office of the federation.

    “Should Buhari be responsive and sensitive to national concerns, both men ought to be greeted with letters of dismissal as Ministers not later than 24 hours after their official declaration. Or what hope lies in a man who has failed in handling just a single ministry aspiring to be the President?”

    In the same vein, NANS described as heartbreaking, the fact that the APC dignified “these failed Ministers with access to purchase nomination form of the party,” saying “this is a proof that the party leadership emphasises income generated from sales of form above national interest.”

    The statement added: “This goes with the unbelievable fact that the form is sold for 100 million Naira in a country where over seventy percent of her citizens survive below a dollar per day; and a ruling party that has failed in addressing this poverty rate is mocking her citizens through this.

    “Our concern is also that these individuals purchasing the interest form of the APC and their counterparts in PDP for as much as N100 million and N40 million, respectively, lack conscience. We believe no individual with legitimate income and good intention would purchase the form to aspire for a presidential job of less than N60 million salary in four years at such amount.

    “This is an open mockery of the Buhari anti-corruption crusade facade. Even at this, it is ridiculous that someone like Governor Yahaya Bello and Nyesom Wike of Kogi and River States, who are owing salaries and/or pension could boldly purchase form. This exposes how badly our polity has been brought to its lowest ebb.

    “In conclusion, as much as we respect the power of parties to determine their internal affairs, as well as political rights of individuals, it is important that we make our concerns known in the interest of our dear country.”

  • 2023: South East will no longer be loyal to Nigeria if denied Presidency – HURIWA

    2023: South East will no longer be loyal to Nigeria if denied Presidency – HURIWA

    Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has warned that retaining political power in the north would be tantamount to national suicide.

    The group vehemently kicked against any moves by northern political elites to retain the presidency beyond 2023 when President Muhammadu Buhari will leave the Presidential Villa.

    According to HURIWA, the two leading political parties should zone their presidential slots to the South East, “for the sake of justice and fairness”.

    The rights advocacy group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and made available to DAILY POST, called on all political parties to follow what will retain the unity of the country and zone the presidency to south east.

    The group pointed out that the Igbo-dominated region has never been elected into the office of the president since independent, adding that Nigeria will have many disloyal groups to contend with should the Igbo be denied the opportunity to lead Nigeria

    Addressing the press in Abuja on Wednesday, Onwubiko said the current political and security situation in the country required that power should shift to southern Nigeria.

    He said: “If they want the country to have stability, unity and to last longer than next year. The moment the leadership is given back to the north, so many decent-minded southerners will lose their mind.

    “They will be disloyal to the country because the country is a country of injustice. And nobody in his right conscience will want a country that does not believe that he is a human being.”

  • Why FG Is Yet To Deploy Tucano Jets In N/West — Presidency

    Why FG Is Yet To Deploy Tucano Jets In N/West — Presidency

    The presidency says before the Tucano jets acquired from the United States can be deployed in the banditry-ravaged North West, the terms of agreement for the purchase of the aircraft need to be adhered to so that Nigeria will not be in the “black book” of the US.

    A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said this while featuring on Trust TV.

    “The military is a trained military. The president is responsible. If he finishes now, we want him to go and rest in Kaduna or Daura, we don’t want him to go to the International Criminal Court, that is not the idea. We should allow the military to use their methodical process for dealing with these things, let them do it.

    “When you are dealing with countries like America, you have to be sensitive to public opinion which is important to them as it is to us. Yes, it is clear when they sold the super Tucano to the government of Nigeria. They were looking at the law. The law does not allow you to use weapons on targets they classify as civilians otherwise America will no longer sell weapons to you. Don’t forget that it took a buildup of years of rejection until President Buhari came in the scene and was able to establish credibility with America and they said they would sell.

    “It is true that from the beginning, the Air Force could not use the aircraft in the North West and even after that, it took some time because these things also use precision type weapon. From my own understanding, these were not to be made available until March, we are just into April.”

    On what the government is doing to rescue to the abducted Abuja-Kaduna train passengers, Shehu noted that the military has the capacity to bomb the enclave of the bandits if it wishes, but the determination to rescue them alive is preventing the government from engaging in any military actions.

    He said the government was also making heavy investments in drone technology, stating that “quite a lot is being achieved with the drones.”

    He said the Abuja-Kaduna train service was ready for resumption after the recent attack, “but with air protection by the Nigerian Air Force pending the time when the appropriate technology is acquired for the rail.”

    He said the train operations were suspended in order not to be insensitive to the families of the victims.

    On why the national population census was planned for 2023 despite the security challenges, he said the government should be given the benefit of doubt as it delivered on Anambra elections despite the security situation in the state.

  • Group Backs Osinbajo’s Interest in Presidency, Says Declaration Not an Affront on Tinubu

    Group Backs Osinbajo’s Interest in Presidency, Says Declaration Not an Affront on Tinubu

    A support group, The Osinbajo Think Tank has applauded the declaration of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to succeed President Mohammadu Buhari, describing him as the preferred Presidential candidate under the All Progressives Congress.

    The Spokesman of the group, Olugbenga Olaoye said this today, while fielding questions on Arise Television, in Lagos state.

    Olaoye noted that Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s cognitive experience in the corridor of power for seven years, coupled with his unbeatable CV are part of the needed criteria to deliver better democratic projects for Nigeria and Nigerians.

    Responding to a question “if Osinbajo’s interest to contest would not be seen as betrayal to his political head, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is also nursing a presidential ambition”, Olaoye said Osinbajo’s interest in the Presidency is not in any way an affront.

    Mr. Olaoye said “the Osinbajo Think Tank group believes that the declaration of the vice president to have a shot at 2023 presidency, does not translate to betrayal or affront, rather it has opened the political space where true Patriots, like him would likely align with and vote for him in the 2023 Presidential Election regardless of any party affiliations”.

    He however maintained that before Osinbajo’s declaration, Nigerians had seen the signs that he is likely to be the one to continue from where President Mohammadu Buhari stops.

    “Osinbajo’s declaration is a bid to continue where the present administration has stopped. He is intellectually sound, and I am certain, he will right every wrong when he gets there. He has thorough understanding of national issues vis-a-vis complexity, endowed abilities and the right temperaments to equitable, just and peaceful solution”, Olaoye said.

    He noted that Osinbajo is the man whom the cap fits at this time in the history of the Nation, adding that he has a mandate to take Nigeria to the promised land, in an atmosphere of peace, happiness, safety and plenty.

    Olaoye said “this puts PYO ahead of all aspirants from and geopolitical zones of Nigeria including Southwest”.

    Speaking further, Olaoye said with Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s interest in the 2023 Presidency, Southwest has a brighter chance to produce the next president.

    Olaoye said, “Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as at today, survey shows the most preferred candidate among all those who have declared interest in the Presidency”.

    “His, is the only declaration that has brought out an ecstatic excitement amongst the people”, he added.

    He added, with the declaration of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who he noted is eminently qualified, “it is glaring that the nation is getting ready for a breakthrough”.

    “PYO is a formidable member of the All Progressives Congress. Nigeria at this time needs someone who is intellectually capable, articulate and able to inspire Nigerians.

    He has proven to be an embodiment of loyalty and through his various roles in different national and international engagements, Osinbajo, no doubt is a round peg in a round hole”, Olaoye said.

    Mr. Olugbenga Olaoye, an Oil and Gas magnate who also maintained that Osinbajo has enjoyed support from over four hundred groups across the nation, even before his declaration, insisted that Osinbajo’s declaration is in view of moving the nation forward.

    “From an independent analysis, I can categorically say that Osinbajo has been the preferred candidate within the rank and file of the ruling APC.

    He therefore appealed to party leaders, not to win the battle and lose the war, by ensuring the party fields a generally acceptable candidate like Yemi Osinbajo in the forthcoming general elections.

    According to him, Osinbajo’s distinctive competence, nationwide popularity, intellectual capability which nobody can doubt stands him out and makes it difficult for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other aspirants to beat.

  • Presidency Breaks Silence on Delay in Signing Electoral Bill

    Presidency Breaks Silence on Delay in Signing Electoral Bill

    The Presidency on Monday said President Muhammadu Buhari still has more days to decide on signing the amended Electoral Bill into law.

    A statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, tackled some groups and individuals accusing the president of being reluctant in assenting to the controversial bill.

    According to Adesina, the Nigerian constitution gives the president the window of 30 days to scrutinize the bill after it has been transmitted by the National Assembly, stressing that Buhari has from now till March 1st to decline or sign the bill into law.

    Reports gathered that after amending the bill, the National Assembly, on January 31, 2022, transmitted it to the executive for signing.

    The statement reads, “Some interest groups are cashing in on what they consider a delay in the signing of the Electoral Bill into law by the President to foment civil disorder and muddy the waters.

    “One can just pity their ignorance of Constitutional requirements, as the President has a window of 30 days within which to sign the Bill, or decline assent after it had been transmitted to him by the National Assembly.

    “A proposed legislation that has to do with the electoral fortunes of the country needs to be thoroughly scrutinized, and be made as near-perfect as possible.

    “Those playing cheap politics with it are, therefore, encouraged to hold their peace, knowing that the right thing will be done within the lawful time”.

  • Buhari tips Anyim for 2023 Presidency

    Buhari tips Anyim for 2023 Presidency

    By Isaac Kertyo

    A former presidential aspirant under the platform of Sustainable National Party of Nigeria has debunked claims that the South-East may not produce capable hands who will occupy the office of the Nigerian president come 2023.

    Speaking on Arise Television, Monday morning, February 14, Ahmed Buhari, a former presidential aspirant during the 2019 general election, said that every section of the country has individuals who can pilot the affairs of the country credibly if given the opportunity.

    Making a case for Southern Presidency come 2023, Buhari said that it’s just fair that the next president is zoned to the South.

    According to him, in 2015, the North cried loudly that power should shift to the North after Goodluck Jonathan said it’s the same argument in 2015 that produced President Mohammed Buhari, a Northerner to fill the slot of the North after Jonathan from the South-South.

    He wondered why the same people who clamour for power shift then to the North are now opposing the same power shift to the South.

    He however emphasized that for the sake of equity and fairness, the presidential slot should further be micro zoned to South East once ceded to the South.

    “Because South East is the only zone in the entire South that has not produced the president of Nigeria since the advent of Democracy in 1999,” he said.

    According to him, there are arrays of eminently qualified persons from the South East who have indicated interest in the job.

    Mentioning Orji Kalu, Rochas Okorocha and Anyim Pius Anyim, Buhari said that the credentials of all of them should be placed on the table for examination.

    “But among all of them that have indicated interest in the presidency from South East, Buhari says, if given opportunity to choose, that Anyim stands out.”

    According to him, Anyim performance in the Senate as its president when the National Assembly was in turmoil, his stabilizing roles at that point, marked him out as one who could be entrusted with leadership and he will be sure to deliver.

    Stating further, Buhari recalled that Anyim’s role in the office of secretary to the government of the federation where he was the head of all ministries and agencies and how he managed a rancour free civil servants without being a career civil servant he said, is another thing anyone should not over look in choosing a candidate for next presidential election.

    Buhari also noted that Anyim’s disposition on restructuring gives him out as a leader who is ready to listen and carry everyone along.

    He therefore maintained that Anyim’s roles so far at the national level distinguish him out as one with the best exposure and experience to provide the desired leadership to Nigeria.