Presidency lied, Trump didn’t speak with Buhari – InterSociety

The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, InterSociety, says it is most unlikely that President Donald Trump of the United States, U.S, had a telephone conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari who is on a medical vacation in London.

2017 Budget will pull Nigeria out of recession – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to Nigerians not to lose faith in the ability of his administration to make a difference in their lives, saying the 2017 Budget contains measures that will pull Nigeria out the current economic recession.

The president in his 2016 Eid-el-Maulud message to Muslim faithful, urged Nigerians not to despair as he was doing his best to redress the situation, particularly with a number of policies he had embedded in the 2017 budget proposals, which he would lay before the National Assembly on Wednesday.

He said: “As we use the memorable occasion of this celebration to reflect on our current challenges, I urge you not to lose faith in the ability of this administration to make a difference in the lives of our people.

“The 2017 Budget proposals, which I will lay before the National Assembly on Wednesday, will contain measures that we are confident will get the nation out of its economic woods.”

The president, while wishing all Muslims a happy and memorable celebration of the birth of the great Prophet, said through His (Prophet) teachings, particularly on peaceful living, tolerance, sobriety, generosity, sacrifice and honesty, and wisdom, the nation had gained immensely in building a harmonious and prosperous society.

Buhari said the universal truth of the Prophet’s values remained unchanged.

He said: “Against all odds, we have used these pillars of strength in securing a just and fair society, and our efforts are beginning to yield dividends in curbing terrorism, militancy, corruption and other crimes that devalue our humanity.”

Buhari called on Nigerians not to allow the reality of the temporary challenges to undermine “our hope, reverse our collective will to succeed, or divide us”.

Rather, Buhari said, it should remind us of “why we need to stay together, fight together and succeed together”.

According to him, we all share a vision of a better Nigeria, and we will all share in the responsibility of building the country of our dreams.

He said: “As we look forward to 2017 with hope and huge expectations, let me assure you that with collective dedication and hard work, we will overcome the mountain of economic difficulties, and return our country to the path of prosperity.”

The president described the occasion of the Prophet’s birth as, “another period of celebration, and deep reflection”.

“Celebration, because we are marking the birth of Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him), and deep reflection, because it is another opportunity of pausing, taking a deep breath and reflecting on the current realities before us,” he added.

Why Senate rejected Buhari’s $30bn loan

 

President Muhammadu Buhari’s request seeking for the approval of the National Assembly for a $29.9billion foreign suffered a setback yesterday after it was rejected by the Senate.
The Senate Leader Ali Ndume had moved a motion for the consideration of the request and it was seconded by Deputy Minority Leader Emmanuel Bwacha.
However, when the motion was put to vote by the Senate President Bukola Saraki, those against it overwhelmed those for it.
The senate president repeated the question and got similar response and eventually hit the gavel in favour of those against the request.
President Buhari had last week requested   the approval of the lawmakers to secure $29.9billion loan through a letter which was read last Wednesday by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
The loan, if approved, according the President, will go to areas such as health, power, railway, roads, education, water resources, among others.
A breakdown of the proposal shows that $11.274 billion was for projects and programmes, Special National Infrastructure Projects $10.686 billion, Euro Bonds of $4.5 billion and Federal Government Budget Support of $3.5 billion.
I’ll re-present it – Ndume
Addressing newsmen, Ndume expressed shock over the rejection but said  he would re-present the request.
“The borrowing plan was technically rejected but I’m going to re-present it. The problem came on technical ground.  It was supposed to go to the Committee,” he said.
On why it was rejected, Ndume said, “There was no attachment of the borrowing plan as indicated in the President’s letter. The detail of the borrowing plan was also not included”.
Paragraph one of the President’s letter reads: “I wish to refer to the above subject and to submit the attached draft of Federal government 2016 - 2018 External Borrowing (Rolling) plan for consideration and early approval by the National Assembly to ensure prompt implementation of the projects”.
Ndume, however, expressed optimism that the request would be approved when re-presented.
“There is nothing to worry about. We are only trying to do things there way they should be done.”
We’ll provide needed information – Presidency
In his reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang said the Presidency was working hard to provide the required information to the Senate.
“We are not disputing with the distinguished Senate. There are certain information and details which will enable them to consider in detail and appropriately the request of Mr President are contained in the plan.
“So we are collating that information, the Budget Office of the federation, the Debt Management Office, the honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning, Minister of Finance and the economic team are collating the information so that they can be submitted to the Senate to enable them take the appropriate decision,” he said, adding that “We will not be disputing with them but we will be engaging with them.”
What Buhari should do
A ranking Senator who does not want to be named faulted the rejection, saying the external borrowing was approved in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) last year.
“We have approved part of the loan in MTEF that was submitted to us last year. What they should have done is to approve the amount we approved in the MTEF and demand for the details of the remaining amount,” he said.
He said instead of rejecting the request, they should have stepped it down till the submission of the detail/attachment by the Presidency.
“Since there is no detail or attachment, they shouldn’t have listed the request on the order paper (programme) of the Senate. Buhari will not do such a thing because even Goodluck Jonathan that is considered reckless will not do so.
“It is possible that the detail disappeared at the Senate, you know the budget got missing here last time. I think the development was as a result of the crisis between Saraki and the Presidency,” he said.
Daily Trust reports that the request by the president remains alive as it is yet to be considered by the House of Representatives. Spokesman of the House Abdulrazaq Namdas had last week said that the lower chamber would  debate the president’s request this week.
However, sources told Daily Trust that, in view of what transpired at the Senate, the House may not consider it this week.

Economic Recession An Opportunity To Diversify Economy – PMB

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the economic recession is an opportunity for Nigeria to diversify it’s economy, sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

The president also has assured potential investors that Nigeria would soon be one of the most attractive places to invest as his administration has embarked on significant economic reforms to realise that goal.

According to a statement by his special adviser media, Femi Adesina, the president gave this assurance to a large gathering of political and business leaders from the United States, Africa and other regions of the world at the Second United States-Africa Business Forum in the New York, on Wednesday, organized by the United States Department of Commerce and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Buhari said,  “These are no doubt challenging times for the Nigerian economy. But let me use this opportunity to boldly affirm our conviction that there is no crisis without an accompanying opportunity. In our case, we see Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges – occasioned mainly by the fall in oil prices – as an opportunity to set the economy firmly on the path of true diversification, sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity.”

The President said that the reform measures taken by his administration since inception in 2015 have started yielding good fruits especially in the areas of security, anti-corruption and revamping the economy.

He said the priority investment sectors for his administration now are improving infrastructure, industrial productivity, agriculture, mining and digital economy where “young Nigerians are increasingly demonstrating that they have the talent and the passion to leverage.”

The Nigerian leader said that the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, will soon come out with  wide-ranging business environment reforms on ports, visa-on arrival, improving the speed and efficiency of land titling and business registration. Some fiscal incentives he noted, include, up to 5 years tax holiday for activities classified as “pioneer;” tax-free operations; no restrictions on expatriate quotas in Free Trade Zones; and a low VAT regime of 5 per cent.

“We intend to make Nigeria one of the most attractive places to do business,” he declared, even as he noted that Nigeria remains the number one investment destination in Africa.

President Buhari added that his administration will continue to strengthen government institutions in order to address the concerns of investors and ease investments in the Nigerian economy.

“We are weaning ourselves from a historical dependence on crude oil, diversifying our economy, and putting it on the path of sustainable and inclusive growth. To this end, we have embarked on policies aimed at establishing an open, rules-based and market-oriented economy.

We will continue to actively engage with the private sector at the highest levels to listen to your concerns and to assure you of our commitment to creating enabling policies in which your businesses can survive and thrive,” President Buhari said.

He urged participants to “take advantage of this Forum to establish and strengthen business relationships, share valuable experience and collaborate for mutual benefits.”

President Buhari, while stressing that enormous potential exists for foreign investment and for the local economy, listed sectors which have barely been exploited to include Nigeria’s 180-million population and abundance of labour; arable land; forest waters; oil and gas; solid minerals; livestock and huge tourist potential.

On United States-Nigeria business relations, he announced the commencement of the US-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Dialogue with a focus on the infrastructure, agriculture, digital economy, investment and regulatory reform to be jointly led by the Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and his US counterpart.

President Buhari said after this Business Forum, he looked forward to increased trade and investment flows between Nigeria and the United States.

Buhari asks warring parties in South Sudan to honour Peace Agreement

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on leaders of parties to the lingering conflict in South Sudan to honour the terms of the August 2015 Peace Agreement signed by them.

Speaking at the meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the Situation in South Sudan held on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71), in New York on Monday, the President described the unconditional implementation of the Agreement as the “cornerstone of peace and reconciliation” in that country.

He noted that whatever reservations that may exist against the agreement, “should under no circumstances be the pretext for failure to implement the Agreement.”

According to President Buhari, “it is regrettable that lack of unity and political progress” in South Sudan has remained a major obstacle to peace, stressing that “Africa and indeed the entire world had high hopes and expectations for South Sudan as an independent nation.”

He noted that recurrent conflict and political instability with grave human rights and humanitarian consequences have overshadowed any progress that might have been made towards South Sudan’s development.

In order to strengthen the peace process in the beleaguered East-Central African nation and newest member-state of the United Nations, President Buhari also stressed the need for stronger cooperation among the United Nations, the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority for Development and other stakeholders for the immediate deployment of the Regional Protection Force in South Sudan, as mandated by Security Council Resolution 2304.

He condemned in strong terms crimes against civilians of all ethnic groups and political parties and attacks on United Nations Mission personnel as well as local and international aid workers in South Sudan, noting that perpetrators of such heinous crimes “must not be allowed to go unpunished.”

Economy will bounce back, Buhari assures Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted Nigerians for their steadfastness in spite of the difficult economic times confronting the country.

Buhari, in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians released in Abuja on Sunday, gave the assurance that his administration would get the economy right.

According to him, the Federal Government is “working round the clock” to address the current hardship the country is going through.

He attributed the economic recession to cumulative effects of worldwide economic downturn and failure in the past to plan and save for difficult times.

“It is impossible to separate the present from the past to appreciate the extent to which mistakes of the past are affecting everyday life today.

“I assure you that this administration is working round the clock to remove the hardships the country is going through.”

He said development programmes had been designed to reinvigorate the economy and enhance living standards of ordinary people.

These, according to the President, include rail and road constructions, housing sector projects, support for farmers in small and medium scale industries, youth and women empowerment programmes and support for revival of industries.

“We are getting security right. We are stopping corruption in its tracks and we will get the economy right by the grace of God.’’

Buhari enjoined Muslims to live by the dictates of Islam by maintaining good relationships with their Christian brothers and sisters.

Reverse Your New Appointments – Yoruba Group Petitions Buhari

President Muhammad Buhari

A Yoruba group, Oodua Nationalist Coalition, ONAC, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse new appointments in the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The group advised Buhari to appoint a technocrat Yoruba of Ondo State extraction as Managing Director of the NDDC.
In a petition sent to the President, ONAC said the appointments are tilted towards the disadvantage of Ondo State, which is the 5th largest oil producing state in the country.
“We condemn in very strong terms the failure of you the President to appoint an indigene of Ondo State as the Managing Director of the NDDC. Mr President sir, instead, you appointed both the Chairman and the Managing Director from Akwa Ibom and Cross River States which remain the stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) which voted and campaigned against your government in the last elections,” ONAC said in the petition signed Dr Ahmed Adeluyi on behalf of 35 Yoruba groups.
“Ondo produces about 18% of Nigerian oil output. Because of the disruptive activities of the militants, the state, which used to be 5th on the production list, is now No 4 on the list of the oil producing states”, it explained.
“Ilaje is the only local government that produces oil in Yorubaland apart from the new found oil in Lagos . The best way for Buhari to even the age long injustice against the Yoruba oil producing communities is to appoint a technocrat of Ilaje extraction as the new head of the NDDC”.