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President Buhari today May 25, conferred the titles of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic GCFR and Grand Commander of the Order of Niger GCON honors on the president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his VP-elect, Kashim Shettima in Abuja.
The GCFR is the highest honour to be conferred on anyone in Nigeria.
The ceremony was attended by the wives and children of the politicians as well as their close friends and associates.
President Buhari will on Monday, May 29, hand over power to Tinubu.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has blamed the scarcity of passport booklets on President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy on forex.
The NIS comptroller-general, Idris Jere, disclosed this at a public hearing organised by an ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives in Abuja.
“Foreign exchange regulation policy of the government and CBN’s refusal to grant access to forex for importation of the passport booklets. We generate forex from sale of passport but we do not have access to buy the same booklet and that is a challenge for NIS,” explained the NIS chief.
He added;
“The factors responsible for scarcity of passport include the inability to set up passport-producing factory in Nigeria as its production is done abroad. The major seven components used for producing passports are sold in international market and the assemblage and production are done in Malaysia.”
Mr Jere explained that Irris Smart Technology Ltd, the foreign company responsible for producing the Nigerian passport, had done well given the prevailing circumstances, noting that the presidential directive to commence the production of passports locally by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting (NSPM) was a welcome development.
He, however, recommended that a proper exit plan be implemented for a smooth handover from the foreign firm to prevent any breach of contract and production process.
Irris Smart managing director Yinker Fisher said before the advent of the e-passport system, the Nigerian passport was marred with embarrassing irregularities and inconsistency under the watch of NSPM.
According to him, due to a lack of capacity, NSPM outsourced the process to three companies, leading to many irregularities, including passport colour and numbers.
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent the names of nominees for the governing board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to the Senate for confirmation.
Garba Shehu, the president’s spokesman, said the request is contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Ahmed Lawan dated May 3.
“In accordance with the provision of Part 1, section 2(5)(b) of the North East Development Commission Establishment Act, 2017, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of 12 nominees as tabulated below, in the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission.
“The Senate is invited to note that the tenure of the current Governing Board of the North East Development Commission will end on 7th May, 2023,” the president said in the letter.
The nominees include: Bashir Bukar Baale, Chairman, (North East, Yobe); Suwaiba Idris Baba, Executive Director, Humanitarian Affairs, (North East, Taraba); Musa Yashi, Executive Director, Administration and Finance, (North East, Bauchi) and Dr Ismaila Maksha, Executive Director, Operations (North East, Adamawa).
Others are: Umar Hashidu, MD/CEO, (North East, Gombe); Grema Ali, member, (North East, Borno); Onyeka Gospel-Tony, member (South East); Hailmary Ogolo Aipoh, member (South-South) and retired Air Commodore Babatunde Akanbi, member (South West).
Other nominees include, Mustapha Ahmed Ibrahim, member, (North West); Hadiza Maina, member, (North Central) and a representative from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
Mr Shehu quoted the president as expressing hope that his request “will receive the usual expeditious consideration and confirmation of the Senate.”
President Buhari says he approved the new monetary policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria and that he is aware that the policy which includes the redesigning of the N200, N500 and N1000 notes, has contributed immensely to the minimization of the influence of money in politics.
Speaking during the Nationwide broadcast he had this morning, the President stated that as the 2023 general elections draw nearer, he said this is a bold legacy by his administration and that Nigerians should ensure they come out to vote as security will be provided and that their votes will count.
In his words ‘’2023 the nation would be electing a new President and National Assembly members.
I am aware that this new monetary policy has also contributed immensely to the minimization of the influence of money in politics.
This is a positive departure from the past and represents a bold legacy step by this administration, towards laying a strong foundation for free and fair elections.
I urge every citizen therefore, to go out to vote for their candidates of choice without fear, because security shall be provided and your vote shall count.
I however admonish you to eschew violence and avoid actions capable of disrupting the electoral processes. I wish us all a successful General Elections.
”Going by the President’s speech, the old N500 and N1000 notes cease to be legal tenders.
PDP presidential flag bearer Atiku Abubakar has condemned the poor introduction of the new naira banknotes and told President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime not to make Nigerians scapegoats “in the ongoing battle of titans over the redesign of the naira.’’
Mr Abubakar made the appeal in a statement by his media aide in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said Mr Buhari’s regime had a duty to swiftly see to it that banks did not become stumbling blocks on “the well-thought out policy of naira redesign.”
The statement said;
“It is commendable that the federal government has rather preferred to work behind the scenes, based on the intelligence it is believed to have received, regarding suspicions that some presidential candidates may have stashed billions of naira as war-chest for vote-buying.’’
The former vice-president lamented widespread anxiety arising from poor execution of the naira redesign policy by banks.
“Businesses and cash-dependent smallholder enterprises are all currently in serious distress. This should be addressed urgently to save the economy from collapse,” he stressed.
Mr Abubakar said he had on January 28 made a crucial intervention on the redesign of the naira, calling on the regime and the CBN to consider adjusting the deadline, to address the challenges faced by the public.He restated that the policy was being mismanaged.
According to him, millions of Nigerians are driven into desperation and despondency because of the policy’s poor implementation.
“In recent weeks, social tension has been growing across Nigeria on account of the poor management of the redesign of the naira policy,’’ the presidential hopeful added.
President Buhari has said that he has not disappointed Nigerians in fulfilling all of the campaign promises he made in the 2015 and 2019 elections.
A statement released by presidential aide, Femi Adesina, says the President stated this during his visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Adamu, on Monday, January 23.
“I normally call on Emirs and Chiefs, whether on political or personal tours to states to show my gratitude.
I like to mention that between 2003 and 2011, I visited all the local governments, and in 2019, when I was seeking my re-election for a second term, I visited all the states of the Federation and the people that turned out to see me were more than what anyone could buy or force and there, I made a promise and pledge that I will serve Nigeria and Nigerians to the best of my ability and so far, I have not disappointed anybody.”
President Buhari on Wednesday, December 14, met with United States President Joe Biden in Washington DC.
Photos shared by the Presidency show the President in a meeting with Biden and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the White House on the sidelines of the US-Africa Leader’s Summit.
The US-Africa summit, which began in 2014, is the biggest international gathering in Washington since the COVID-19 pandemic and the most substantial commitment by a US administration to boosting its influence in Africa for almost a decade.
The summit, according to the US government, “will demonstrate the US enduring commitment to Africa and will underscore the importance of US-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared priorities.”
Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, has called for quick implementation of ECOWAS action plan against terrorism and other crimes in West Africa.
The president, who canvassed this position in his welcome address at the 62nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, yesterday, stressed that there is the urgent need to fully bring into operation, the regional action plan in the fight against terrorism and other acts of criminality in the sub-region.
According to him, this move would guarantee enhanced safety aimed at sustaining national governance efforts that would ensure the growth and progress of the West African sub-region.
He called on the new management team at ECOWAS Commission led by Dr. Omar Alieu Toure, to complete the review and harmonisation of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the sub-regional body.His words:
“The Commission must, therefore, work assiduously to complete the review and harmonisation of the Protocols on Good Governance and Democracy, as this would enable our sub-region to sustain our collective efforts to deepen, not only democracy but her dividends through good governance to the community citizens.”
Welcoming fellow regional leaders, President Buhari noted that this year’s summit was the 8th that Nigeria, under his leadership has hosted.
“All of those occasions, including this one, have brought honour and respect to my country as Nigeria continues to be at the centre of sustained solidarity and collaborative efforts to maximise our relationships in order to address common challenges to our countries and the community’s citizens,” he said.
The president paid tribute to his Ghanaian counterpart, Kuffour Addo-Nana, the immediate past Chairperson of the Authority for his services and congratulated President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau, on assuming the leadership of the sub-regional organisation, expressing his confidence in the latter’s ability to “discharge his responsibilities to the sub-region, as well as meet the expectations of the Community citizens.”
Buhari thanked fellow leaders for the support he received as the Regional Champion on COVID-19 at a time the pandemic ravaged the entire world, ascribing the successes recorded in the region to their cooperation.
“Let me specifically thank you, brother heads of state and government, for the confidence you reposed in me to be the Regional Champion on COVID-19, an opportunity that brought me to working closely with sectoral ministers, ECOWAS commission as well as the West Africa Health Organisation to develop regional mechanisms that mitigated the effects of the COVID-19.
“Without doubt, the commitment shown by member-states yielded very positive results as West Africa emerged as one of the regions with the least mortality rate, not only on the continent, but globally,” he declared.
The president, however, lamented that despite the efforts of ECOWAS leaders towards deepening democracy, the region suffered some unpleasant setbacks.
“Regrettably, some of our gains, especially, in fully democratizing our governance space, have faced and continue to face severe challenging threats from unconstitutional change of government as witnessed in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea,” he said.
Earlier, at the official ground-breaking ceremony of the new ECOWAS Headquarters Building, Buhari expressed appreciation to the government of the People’s Republic of China, “for their financial and technical contribution to ensuring that a monument of this nature, is built on behalf of our region.”
The building, to be named the EYE OF WEST AFRICA, with an expected completion period of 26 months, would house the three major ECOWAS Institutions, namely the ECOWAS Commission, the Community Court of Justice and the Parliament.
According to the President, “We have waited for this day, since 10th of July, 2019, when ECOWAS and the People’s Republic of China signed an implementation agreement for this diplomatic gift to the West African States.
“The new complex would represent the unity and brotherhood of the Member-States, as well as signify a re-commitment to progress and regional integration. It will be our home and a regional rallying point.”
In his remarks, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Cui Jianchun, said, “To sponsor and construct the new ECOWAS Headquarters is a vivid reflection of China’s support to the work of ECOWAS as well as the traditional friendship between China and the West African countries.
“We will continue to promote the common development of China and Africa, and are ready to make new contribution to the building of the China-Africa community with shared future in the new era.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that one of the legacies he wants to leave behind is free, fair, transparent elections and smooth transitions.
Buhari who said this on Monday, November 28, at the opening session of the 2022 second ordinary session of the ECOWAS parliament in Abuja, also added that Nigeria is committed to peace and political stability in the sub-region.
He also promised that Nigeria will support efforts that will lead to the restoration of democratic governance in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
Buhari was quoted saying in the statement released by his media aide, Femi Adesina;
“We are convinced that the sustenance of democracy and the rule of law should remain the norm in this promising region.
“There will be multiple political activities in some ECOWAS member states, including Nigeria, where general elections are due to be held in February and March 2023.
“Let me seize this opportunity to reiterate my commitment to free, fair and transparent elections and smooth transitions.
“This is one legacy that I want my administration to bequeath, not only to Nigeria but to the region as a whole.
“The vision of the founding fathers of ECOWAS was to have a West Africa that is integrated economically with harmonised policies, enjoying the free movement of persons, goods and services, as well as the seamless right to establishment.
“We must continue to strive harder to attain those objectives.
“Let us take advantage of existing mechanisms and our enterprising population to turn our dreams into reality.
“We have the capacity to do so. Let us collaborate more and remove our outdated physical and psychological boundaries and other colonially-inspired differences so our region can fully attain its full potential.”
President Muhammadu Buhari will today Monday, October 31, meet with security chiefs in the nation’s capital, Abuja, to further review and strengthen the security network in the country.
The President, who was initially scheduled to commission the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) new Technology and Innovation Complex, will receive briefs from the security chiefs, and interject on areas that need more attention.
The meeting will be coming amid terror alerts of impending attacks on the Federal Capital Territory.
The development led to panic with the US and UK advising their citizens to leave Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari has given the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, 90 days to develop a comprehensive plan of action for the prevention of flood disaster in Nigeria.
Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said Buhari gave the directive in a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari.
Buhari ordered the minister to coordinate with the ministries of environment and transportation as well as state governments to develop the plan.
It was also disclosed that Buhari is “regularly receiving updates on the flooding situation in the country and restates his commitment towards addressing the challenges caused by the disaster in the country”.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday October 21, conferred Public Service awards on 44 distinguished individuals, including former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Others conferred with various categories of honours in recognition of their public service contributions at the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS) are Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and 16 Governors, including Rivers’ Nyesom Wike.
This maiden award in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation recognises and rewards innovation, leadership, and other exceptional achievements of individuals that have contributed immensely to the growth and development of public service and the country at large.
To be eligible, the recipient must be a living Public Official or a private a citizen excelling consistently in a given sphere of influence, in good character standing and must also be at the forefront of service and innovation.
President Muhammadu Buhari has warned ministers, permanent secretaries, and heads of government agencies not to leave governance for activities geared toward the 2023 general elections.
He issued the warning in Abuja on Tuesday, October 18, at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Ministerial Performance Review Retreat, cautioning that ”any infraction will be viewed seriously”.
According to Buhari, with campaigns for next year’s elections on the way, governance should not be abandoned.
”All Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and Heads of Agencies must remain focused in the discharge of their duties, as any infraction will be viewed seriously.
Our collective goal is to map out a transition plan for the incoming Administration to ensure proper documentation of all the Policies, Programmes, and Projects of Government with up-to-date status of implementation,” he said, according to a statement by his media aide Femi Adesina.
The President also said that the lessons learned in the last three years of implementing his government’s policies, programs, and projects would serve as a platform to propel every ministry to stay committed to the achievement of development goals.
The President also called on ministers, permanent secretaries, and heads of government agencies to step up, double their efforts and work in synergy toward total delivery of the administration’s set targets.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has sworn in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The swearing-in took place at the State House on Wednesday before the start of the Federal Executive Council meeting.
President Buhari has once again reassured Nigerians that he would hand over a Nigeria free of insecurity to the next set of leaders in 2023.
The President gave the assurance while speaking at the 2022 National Honours Award Investiture held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, October 11.
Buhari said his administration would root out all forms of banditry, criminality, terrorism and insurgency before leaving office in May 2023.
“We will continue to root out all forms of banditry, criminality, terrorism and insurgency in the land.
As I stated earlier in my in- dependence address to the nation, I will hand over a Nigeria that is free from insecurity to the next generation of leaders” President Buhari said
According to the president, the national honours were not mere decoration but a reminder of citizens’ responsibility, saying that, “we must always endeavour to do our best for our country.”
As the world celebrates the International Girl Child day, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and singer, Teni have been conferred with national honours.
While Okonjo-Iweala and Amina were presented with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) award at the National Honors Award held on Tuesday October 11, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, Teni was awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has taken to his Twitter handle to mock civil society group, SERAP, over their recent lawsuit against President Buhari.
In a tweet posted on its handle, SERAP said it is going to file a lawsuit against President Buhari over the recent discovery of a pipeline used to steal petroleum products.
”BREAKING: We’re suing the Buhari administration over the discovery of illegal oil pipelines, to compel it to name those responsible for the plundering of the country’s oil wealth, bring them to justice, and recover the proceeds of crime.”
Reacting to the tweet, Gov El-Rufai wrote;”
@SERAPNigeria PMB should have given you guys the first-in-history national honor of GCBBFR – Grand Clowns and Body-Bodies of the Federal Republic!! Your thoughtless words and ineffective actions have earned the recognition!!”
President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived at the national assembly to present the 2023 appropriation bill.
The budget presentation, which is the last before he hands over to his successor, is taking place at the improvised House of Representatives chamber.
While he would be presenting an appropriation bill of N19.76 trillion, the national assembly had already approved the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy paper (FSP) parameters on which the 2023 budget will be framed.
Sunday Adeyemi Adepoju has been appointed by President Muhammadu as the new Postmaster General/Chief Executive Officer (PMG), for the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).
Adepoju’s appointment was conveyed in a statement signed by Uwa Suleiman, the media aide to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
The former house of reps member’s appointment for an initial term of five (5) years, is with immediate effect.
The statement described Adepoju as a professional accountant and a former member of the Federal House of Representatives from 2011 – 2015 and 2015 – 2019, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency
President Muhammadu Buhari recently welcomed his first great-grandchild.
Aisha Mukhtar and her husband, Khalid Wambai, welcomed their first child together.
Aisha gave birth to a baby girl in Liv Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
