President Muhammadu Buhari has said his government has tackled most of the challenges facing the country and strengthened the nation’s Defence system.

Buhari stated that his administration has performed well in the area of infrastructure, and agriculture, and has built a firm foundation for a prosperous Nigeria

The Nigerian leader, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, stated this on Monday at the opening ceremony for the induction of governors-elect in Abuja.

President Buhari also said his government remained committed to its promises of delivering dividends of democracy despite the difficult fiscal conditions.

He said: “The road has been bumpy due to a challenging fiscal climate, but I am proud to state as we leave office in about two weeks, that we have built a firm foundation for a prosperous Nigeria.

“Our focus on infrastructure was to improve access to markets, improved linkages and reduce overall supply chain costs. This singular commitment to infrastructure development for roads, rails, airports, ports and affordable housing was designed to create better means of livelihood for our people and facilitate access to jobs.

“I am happy that we are succeeding in investing the nation’s wealth in every state of the federation and a clear path for sustainable development has been set.”

Buhari asked governors-elect to ensure they deliver on their campaign promises to the people in their states, stressing that the outcome of the 2023 elections has shown that anyone can lose his seat if he has not performed well.

He said: “One interesting development that we all saw from the last election is that the electorates are maturing, and people are increasingly finding their voices.

“Any public officer who fails to either meet up with the expectations of the people or deliver on his campaign promises will be voted out in the next election. That is what democracy is about. Deliver or get shown the door out.
“As returning or incoming state executives, you also must be cognizant of the comparative advantages inherent in each of your states, and how you can form partnerships with each other, by leveraging your various strengths while recognizing that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solutions.

“I am happy to note that democracy is alive, vibrant, and thriving in Nigeria. With the elections now over, it is time for all of us to deliver the promises we made during the campaigns.

IGP warns saboteurs, political elite against scuttling Tinubu’s inauguration.

The Nigerian Police Force has reportedly embarked on fervent search for politicians planning to scuttle the forthcoming May 29 inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima.

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, disclosed this during a press briefing at Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, noting that the operation was being carried in collaboration with other security agencies particularly intelligence officials.

IGP Baba explained that the development became imperative in order to tame subversive elements who had been trying to destabilize the peaceful environment currently being enjoyed in the country.

“Following the successful conclusion of the 2023 General elections, it has been observed that some major political actors that the outcome did not favour, have been issuing public threats that are directed at instigating actions to frustrate the Presidential inauguration ceremony on 29th May, 2023.

“The Nigeria Police and the national intelligence community have been closely monitoring the activities of these political elites as well as other elements who have formed themselves into unpatriotic brands whose only fantasy, in recent times, is to subvert our national security interests.

“In so doing, they seem to be bent on deploying extra-judicial and undemocratic means to truncate our democratic heritage in advancement of their narrow personal political considerations.

Consequently, while the Nigeria Police, in synergy with other security agencies and the intelligence community, continues to closely monitor the activities of these political elements, it has become expedient to make some clear statements.

“Firstly, the Nigeria Police hereby sternly warns all political actors with subversive agenda and their collaborators, particularly, their foot soldiers who they are exposing to political radicalization and extremism to, henceforth, jettison their on-going premeditated attempts to create tension within the national space with intention of derailing the 29th May 2023 Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.

“Secondly, any such persons, regardless of their political affiliations who continuously engages in acts that are inimical to our nation’s democratic and security interests should not be in doubt on the firm determination of the Nigeria Police under my watch to closely collaborate with the law enforcement family and the intelligence community to defend our democracy, keep the internal security order stable and optimally deploy our common unique assets towards guaranteeing the successful conduct of the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.”

13 Days To Go: Buhari Gives Ngige, NBA President, Others Fresh Reappointment.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reappointment Emeka Ngige (SAN) as Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE).

The newly reconstituted council, which will be inaugurated in Abuja today, has as members the 36 state Attorneys-Generals and 17 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) nominees.

The members include NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau SAN; leading Evidence Law author, Sebastine Hon SAN; Paul Harris Adakole Ogbole SAN, and Olufunmilayo Roberts.

This appointments was made known by Ngige while he was addressing the valedictory meeting of Council of Legal Education held at the weekend at the Bwari Headquarters of Nigerian Law School, the reappointment is for another four-year tenure.

The reappointment is coming on the heels of a farewell dinner held in honour of members of the 2019-2023 council last weekend at Abuja. It would recalled that the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Chiroma SAN was also reappointed last December by the president for another four-year term.

The council, with the active collaboration of the Chiroma-led Nigerian Law School administration, supervised six Bar Final examinations and engaged in an unprecedented rehabilitation of the decayed school infrastructure through the launch of the Nigerian Law School Support Initiative, a pet project of Ngige.

Aside from sundry projects delivered by the federal government through the supervising Federal Ministry of Justice under  Abubakar Malami SAN, the Rivers State Government constructed two hostels and a multi-purpose hall at the Yenagoa Campus. It capped its intervention with the construction of a state-of-the-art campus in Port Harcourt within eight months.

Assault; Seun Kuti spends first night in Police Custody, refuses to write statement.

Son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Seun did not put down any statement on his first day in detention, according to sources.

It is normal practise for those under interrogation to write statement while being grilled by detectives.
But the musician, who is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for assaulting a policeman in Lagos State, insisted on seeing Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), before writing any statement.

Falana had sent Mr. Femi Akinyemi, one of the lawyers in his chambers to represent him when Kuti turned himself in at the Lagos Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, on Monday.
But all through the time he was under interrogation, Kuti refused to put anything in writing.

According to sources, “He was moved to Panti after hours of interrogation at the command headquarters,” The source added that Kuti might be charged before a Lagos high court on Tuesday.

Earlier, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, who is also a counsel to Kuti, had said he was not allowed to witness the musician’s interrogation.
The lawyer also kicked against the manner in which Kuti was handcuffed while his photographs were taken.

Peter Obi: Anambra Labour Party Choses Between Abure And Apapa.

The Anambra State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has dissociated itself from the faction of the party at the national level led by Lamidi Apapa accusing him of attempting to cause disaffection within the party.

The Anambra LP members led by the state chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Emeh also threw their weight behind the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party led by Barrister Julius Abure.
Speaking during a press conference shortly after the end of their meeting in Akwa, Anambra State on Saturday, Emeh, flanked by some other executives in the state further pledged loyalty to the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
They expressed optimism that the mandate would be reclaimed through the election petition tribunal.

10th NASS: South East Have Competent Candidates For Senate Presidency – Shettima.

The National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Yerima Shettima, has berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the choice of Senator Godswill Akpabio, as the next Senate President.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced Akpabio as the favoured candidate for the Senate Presidency in the 10th National Assembly.
The APC NWC also announced Senator Barau Jubrin as the consensus Deputy Senate President, while Tajudeen Abbas was picked as the consensus Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Benjamin Kalu was chosen as the favoured Deputy Speaker.

In a chat with Daily Post on Friday, Shettima said the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is not the right candidate for the Senate Presidency position.
The AYCF leader said the South East can produce a competent Senate President even though the people of the region are not nationalistic in their approach.
Shettima urged the ruling party to encourage national unity by reviewing Akpabio’s choice and appointing someone from the South East region.

Fuel Subsidy Removal: FG Denies Collecting Fresh $800 Million Loan

The Federal Government has debunked reports circulating in some media platforms about taking another loan aside from the $800 million gotten from the World Bank to cushion the effect of the planned fuel subsidy removal.

The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, described such reports as tissues of lies.
According to her, the government is not seeking a fresh loan to cushion the effect of the pending fuel subsidy removal aside the World Bank ‘s $800 million.
She said the only existing facility meant to ameliorate the subsidy removal crunch was the $800 million from the World Bank, which is currently awaiting parliamentary approval before the Federal Government commences disbursement.
The minister also submitted that the initial duration of the palliatives meant to cushion the effect of the planned petrol subsidy removal on vulnerable Nigerians was for six months, but would be reviewed upon extensive consultation with the stakeholders.

“If We Fail To Do So, Then Our Existence Is Useless – Obasanjo Sends Warning To Nigerians.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized the need for Nigerians to unite and join hands towards making the country achieve its full potential.

The former President noted that individually, each citizen of Nigeria is unique and always excels individually but beyond that, there is the need to harness the potential for the benefit of the nation.
According to him, however, without justice, equity, and fairness, no country including Nigeria can attain greatness. He added that making Nigeria better is linked with having the right kind of leaders.
The former leader warned that if Nigeria fails to live up to its expectations, questions should be asked of every stakeholder.
Obasanjo made the submission during the National Daily awards.
The former President also said the earlier leaders of Nigeria during the immediate post-independence era performed better in office than those after because they were determined to make the right decisions for the country.

Unpaid Salary: Ikpeazu Orders Abia Striking Workers To Resume.

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has issued a directive ordering all workers in the state to end their ongoing strike and return to their various offices.

The civil servants in the state embarked on a strike at midnight of Monday, May 8, over the non-payment of workers’ salaries, and the development has since paralyzed government activities.
Amid the industrial action, the Abia chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is said to have allowed staff in the relevant offices responsible for payment of workers’ salaries to resume work in compliance with the government’s directive but with the condition that the staff will picket the offices if by Monday workers were not paid their owed salaries.
A statement on Sunday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chris Ezem, however, said the resumption of work is necessary as it would ensure the implementation of the governor’s directive that arrears of salaries owed the workers be paid.
Ezem explained that the recent court order freezing various Government Accounts was responsible for the non-payment of salaries to ministries and parastatals for the month of March and April 2023.

Buhari Government approves 37 new Private Universities.

The Federal Government yesterday approved 37 new private universities.

The approval was announced at an extraordinary Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

                 

FEC entertained about 40 memoranda from various ministries, departments and agencies, including the approval for the establishment of 37 private universities.

According to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, one of the institutions approved is an online university.

He said the newly approved universities have surged the number of private universities in the country to 72.

Although he did not disclose the names of the universities, he revealed that online university would be the first of its kind in the country, and owned by a woman from Bauchi State.

The expectation is that it will cater for the likes of northern Muslim women who feel reluctant or are restrained from attending physical campus education.

Asked by journalists if the additional universities are really expedient given the funding challenges of existing ones, Adamu explained that these ones are all private, with enough funds to run them and they should not be denied the opportunity to exist.

Besides, he said Nigeria actually needs more universities as the available ones are not adequate to take up all those aspiring for higher education.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, reaffirmed the seriousness of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to ensure that the proposed national airliner, Nigeria Air, works before the 29th of this month when it will be leaving office.

“Yes, we are on course, we’re on course, and by the grace of God before President Buhari leaves office, it will fly. We are on course, we are on course and before May 29, it will fly”, Sirika said.