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PDP, Atiku Hatch New Plot To Demonise Chief Justice -BMO

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has raised an alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar have hatched a plot to smear the character of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Tanko Mohammed ahead of the September 13 judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

According to the group, this is the outcome of a recent strategy meeting of PDP leaders and the former Vice President in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

BMO said in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, that it has credible information that Atiku and PDP, fearing near-certain loss at the Tribuna,l are preparing the ground for an appeal at the Supreme Court. One of their strategies for a favourable outcome at the Supreme Court is to force the CJN to recuse himself from the Supreme Court panel to hear the appeal.  

“We want to alert Nigerians of a devious plot concocted by PDP elements in their usual haven of dubious strategies to launch scathing media attacks on the judiciary with Chief Justice Tanko Mohammed as main target.

“The latest Dubai strategy of lies has been tidied up and is to be launched soon with the ultimate aim of preventing the CJN from heading the Supreme Court panel that will consider their appeal against the outcome of the Tribunal which they envisaged won’t be favourable to them.

“It is a pre-emptive move by a group of unpatriotic politicians which we want Nigerians to be aware of, before they bombard the public space with the type of spurious claims that made the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa stand down from the five-member panel that considered Atiku Abubakar’s petition against President Muhammadu Buhari’s overwhelming victory at the polls.

“Nigerians saw how these characters did not care about the sterling qualities of one of the country’s best judges as they maligned her for weeks on end in social and traditional media. They also saw through the crocodile tears of the former Vice President after Justice Bulkachuwa opted to recuse herself, even after the Tribunal dismissed PDP’s petition against her.

“Now, Atiku’s attention is on how to get Chief Justice Mohammed out of the way by again using the media to whip up unnecessary public sentiment, in line with his well-documented desperation to rule the country.”

BMO therefore urged Nigerians to remind the former Vice President of his promise to abide by the verdict of the Tribunal.

 “In case he has forgotten, the PDP presidential candidate needs to be reminded of the promise one of his campaign spokesmen, Segun Sowunmi made on his behalf that Atiku would accept the verdict of the Tribunal on his petition challenging the emergence of President Buhari as winner of the election.

“Of course, we recognise his constitutional right to proceed to the Supreme Court but we are opposed to a situation where a former Vice President would be part of a scheme to tarnish the image and reputation of the head of our nation’s judiciary.

“For a man that once claimed to be interested in ‘institutional reforms that would enhance national development’, we consider it absurd that he is at the forefront of efforts to rubbish national institutions and their heads.

“And just like we said before the 2019 elections that their Dubai strategy would fail, this Dubai strategy too will also collapse like a pack of cards,” it added.

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Closure Of Seme Border In National Interest- BMO

The recent closure of the Nigeria-Benin border has been described as a desirable measure taken by the Federal Government to save Nigeria’s economy and enable the Nigerian Customs Service(NCS) restore sanity to the activities at the Seme border. 
The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) said in a statement in Abuja that the closure was aimed at boosting Nigeria’s economy by saving our agricultural products like rice, and enabling farmers and other manufacturer reap from their labour.

In the statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group noted that the closure would also help to improve the security of the country as illegal arms and ammunition are being smuggled into the country through our porous borders. 
“There was no doubt that time had come for necessary measures to be taken by the Federal Government to protect Nigeria’s local manufacturers so that their products would have value and flourish without undue competition. 
“It is on record that the porous borders were being used to smuggle poorly-finished goods into Nigeria and this has had adverse effects on the country.”
The group said it was certain that the partial closure of the Seme border is temporary and is aimed at ensuring that the border is no longer used to smuggle all sorts of products from our neighbours into Nigeria, thereby hampering the economic well-being of the country.
It also advised critics of the border closure to note that under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, no stone would be left unturned to ensure that sanity is restored to the porous Nigerian borders, “considering the security and economic implications they pose to the country.
“While we acknowledge that such measures come with some unavoidable inconveniences to the citizens, it is important to note that it will serve the larger interest of the country in the long run.
“Meanwhile, we enjoin Nigerians to rally round President Buhari in his efforts to save Nigeria from the illegal activities going on along our borders.”
BMO recalled that Nigeria’s leading industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote had lamented the influx of smuggled goods in the country as it ‘’poses a threat to the economy and jobs of thousands of Nigerians.’’ Dangote had cited a World Bank report which put the cost of goods smuggled into the country from Benin Republic at N1.45 trillion annually.

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Okorocha Dares Ihedioha To Arrest Him, Says “I’ll Visit Imo Whenever I Want”

Senator Rochas Okorocha has dared the Imo state government, led by Governor Emeka Ihedioha, to make good its threat and arrest him.

On Thursday, August 29, 2019, the Imo State government had asked citizens to arrest Okorocha over the alleged assault of Jasper Ndubuaku, a government official.

Ndubuaku is the Chairman of the Recovery of Government Properties in Imo.

The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Rabiu Ladodo and Secretary to the State Government Uche Onyeaguocha would later confirm the incident to journalists during a joint news briefing in Owerri.

Ndubuaku alleged that he was beaten up at Okorocha’s residence and thrown into a gutter by some thugs.

He further alleged that he was first held hostage for a couple of hours by the thugs in the presence of security personnel attached to Okorocha’s residence.He said that the recovery team obtained a court order to search Okorocha’s house.

“We got a court order to recover stolen properties kept in Okorocha’s house and when we got to his house on Thursday, armed thugs attacked us.

“There are twenty government vehicles in his house, four speed boats, one movable crane and generator sets, which we went to recover before the incident.

“We will not give up the battle, we will go back to his house because the property belongs to Imo government,” Ndubuaku said.

Afterwards, SSG Onyeaguocha issued the Okorocha arrest order. 

Okorocha, in a response through  Sam Onwuemeodo, his Special Adviser on media, laughed off the arrest order from the Imo state government.

“The arrest Order was an open invitation to anarchy or fracas in the state because Imo people will always come out to defend Okorocha. It also shows insensitivity on the side of the government in the State because such arrest order was uncalled for and Onyeaguocha has no right to issue an Order of that nature.

“The Order only adds to their continued disrespect for the former governor, which is a very bad precedent. After May 29, 2019, Owelle Okorocha relocated to Abuja. He was in Abuja when the recovery committee members slapped the daughter, Mrs. Uloma Rochas Nwosu, invaded and looted the shops of the wife, Nneoma and that of the daughter too. And just the previous week, Onyeaguocha invaded the private Guest House of the former governor.

“The government had written petitions to EFCC and ICPC. And these agencies have begun investigations, yet they do not want these bodies to do their work which also arose from their petitions.

“Onyeaguocha has repeatedly said that Chief Ihedioha does not have the capacity to govern the state and he has taken over the day to day running of the government. That is why he could give such an irresponsible Order against a former governor of the State.

“The same Thursday, Onyeaguocha led thugs to Sam Mbakwe airport and said they were waiting for the former governor. This is the first government in the history of the State that is fanning the ember of anarchy.

“They were rattled the day Okorocha came into the State for the first time after May 29, 2019 and he was received by a mammoth crowd. It then occurred to them that their blackmail and lies have not affected the love of Imo people for their beloved former governor. That is the reason for all these insensitive actions.

Okorocha of Imo State does the dance from a moving car during his governorship reign (SaharaReporters)

“Again, the PDP never won the 2019 governorship election. They have that issue to contend with. The governor had half of his bloated votes from the three LGAs in Mbaise where he comes from and in a State with twenty-seven Local Governments. So, they have that fear of the unknown. And due largely to this fear of the unknown they decided to resort to self-help.

“Before his inauguration as Governor, Chief Ihedioha said he would step on Okorocha’s toes and he has been doing that, throwing caution to the wind. And forgetting too that when you step on one’s toes unjustly your own could peel.

“Okorocha was governor for eight years, and for the eight years, he never harassed any Imo man or woman. He built guest houses for all his predecessors. He never quarreled with any of them. But the government in Imo now is tyrannical.

“Okorocha ran pro-people government but Ihedioha is running pro-elite and pro-godfather government. That is why he has been spending billions sponsoring pocket of protests and publications by PDP elders who always claim to be Imo elders. His government is floating because of its elite posture.

“Nigerians should watch the PDP government in Imo closely. It is wicked and tyrannical. Imo people have begun to have the kind of experiences they have never had since the creation of the State in 1976. It is just a government of intimidation and harassment.

“Okorocha will be in Imo whenever he deems it necessary to come, especially when he had transformed the State as governor and left it better than he met it. And had invested heavily in the State long before his governorship with his wife and children also having their businesses relocated to Owerri because they believe strongly in the State. Nigerians of good tidings should disregard the arrest order. It became void on arrival”, Okorocha said.


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President Buhari Seeks Japanese Support To Combat Piracy In Gulf Of Guinea, As Nigeria And EU Sign Development MOU

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Yokohama, Japan, sought the support of the Asian government in combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea as well as illegal fishing in that region.

The President made the request during a bilateral meeting between the Nigerian delegation and Japanese officials led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on the margins of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7).

The Nigerian leader, who commended Mr Abe for the invitation extended to him to attend the triennial Forum, also thanked the Japanese government for attending the pioneer celebration of June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Abe welcomed President Buhari’s participation at TICAD7 and the country’s signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

Commending the Buhari administration for taking Nigeria to the Next Level, Mr Abe pledged a $300,000 support for Nigeria’s Defence College as well as 12 million Yen for the country’s public health sector.

He also pledged his country’s support for Nigeria’s Presidency of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, while seeking Nigeria’s support for Japan’s bid to occupy some global positions.

Also on Thursday in Yokohama, Nigeria and the European Union signed a €50 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support humanitarian and development efforts in the country’s North East region.

The cooperation agreement which was signed by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama and EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Mr Neven Mimica, would bring the total EU support to the country to €562million for 2014-2020.

President Buhari, who thanked the EU member states for their support especially for the North East, described as “pathetic the situation in internally displaced camps.”

He also called for further assistance to improve youth education in the region to take them out of poverty.

Commissioner Mimica said Nigeria’s request for enhanced assistance would be given priority consideration since it had come at the time that the EU was in the process of preparing its seven-year budget.

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FG To Complete Ongoing, Abandoned Projects – Fashola

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to the completion of all on-going and abandoned projects across the country.

Speaking on Thursday when the Management team of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FCMB) paid him a courtesy visit in his office, Fashola said the policy direction of the present administration was on completing all on-going and abandoned projects.

The Minister, who was responding to the remarks of the Board Chairman of FMBN, Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, on the uncompleted re-capitalization of the Bank, said the Ministry would see that the process was completed as the government of the day placed importance on Housing and Consumers Credit. According to him, ”It is one of those areas of urgent focus by the President as a way of creating prosperity and as a way of enhancing the dignity of Nigerians”. 

Fashola said there was a lot that could be jointly done by the Ministry and the Bank in the actualization of the Next Level Agenda of Mr. President assuring the Bank of the Ministry’s readiness to look at its projects that are on-going and fashion out ways of completing them.

Charging the Bank to do more on publicity as most Nigerians were currently not well informed that the Bank grants construction loans with more competitive interest rate than those offered by commercial banks, Fashola declared, “You must find a strategy to pass information on platforms that people take information from and that include, not only the conventional platforms like television, newspapers and radio, but also markets, places where people gather; sports clubs, social clubs and so on. You must reach out”.

“You must also engage the appropriate skill sets in getting this message out”, adding that the bank must also seek to reach the people at the bottom of the pyramid who, according to him, “also save money in their small businesses, in their small cooperatives”. “ So why not open accounts for them too”, he said. 

Earlier, Dr.Adeeyo, who led the team of the top Management of the Bank on the visit, had solicited for the completion of the re-capitalization process of the bank.  

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Our Policy Interactions With Businesses Essential For Economic Growth, Says Osinbajo

The Federal Government would continue to support the private sector as it plays an important role and contributes to the growth of the economy, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Thursday when he received a delegation from the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) led by its Director-General, Mr. Timothy Olawale, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

NECA is the umbrella organization of employers in the organised private sector of Nigeria to provide the forum for the Government to consult with private sector employers, especially on socio-economic and labour policy issues.

The Vice President explained the policy interactions between Government and the organized private sector, describing it as essential.

Prof. Osinbajo further said the Federal Government would keep exploring ways to improve the economy through its policies and reforms.

He said, “Our interaction is a very important one, because it is really part of our policy as a government to ensure private sector participation in the economy. We think that the private sector has a very important role. For us the private sector is essential to the growth of the economy so we must continue to encourage the private sector in every possible way.”

Prof. Osinbajo further assured that matters of concern that require government attention would be decisively tackled through the Ease of Doing Business initiatives to improve the business environment and ensure growth of local businesses.

“We want to continuously engage NECA and the private sector because it is central to what we are doing in respect to the economy,” the Vice President said.

Commending the Vice President for his leadership, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which is chaired by the VP, and the Ease of Doing Business reforms; the NECA DG remarked that the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo was an outcome of their sterling performance in the first term.

In his remarks, the NECA DG said the organization has actively supported and championed government’s efforts at job creation, while he commended “the giant strides made by the Buhari administration in fostering an environment that is hospitable for businesses to thrive through the Ease of Doing Business initiatives.”

He said, “We specifically recognize the passion with which you (VP) have driven the relationship between government and organized businesses in the past four years through your interventions and leadership that you have provided, which have translated into the activities of PEBEC, the ERGP and the Presidential Quarterly Business Forum, which you preside over.

“We have no doubt that the solid foundation that has been laid in the first four years would be built upon and Nigeria would be better for it.”

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
29th August, 2019

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Fight Against Corruption Under Buhari Isn’t Selective – BMO Tells Tambuwal

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has given a response to the allegation by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state that the fight against corruption in the present administration is selective.

The BMO said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has established anti-graft agencies that have the constitutional powers to make discreet decisions without being told what to do.

The group insisted that if the fight against corruption has been selective in past administrations, it is not and it can never be the case under President Buhari.

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Nigeria Offers Attractive Investment Opportunities, Says President Buhari At TICAD7

“Nigeria has very attractive investment opportunities with some of the highest Returns-on-Investment,” President Muhammadu Buhari declared in Yokohama, Japan on Thursday.

Presenting the country’s Statement at Plenary Session Three on “Public-Private Business Dialogue” at the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7), the President said he looked forward to prospective investors making inroads “in the following priority sectors in Nigeria, namely, power and renewable energy, petrochemical and gas, maritime (shipping and ports), automobiles, mining, agribusiness, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, ICT and railway.”

Assuring potential investors of good returns as a result of ongoing reform measures taken by his administration, he added:

“I have also established a Presidential Committee on Enabling Business Environment, which is made up of key Ministries and prominent businessmen to promote the Ease of Doing Business and make Nigeria more attractive and competitive for investment.”

Similarly, President Buhari said that his administration was “committed to removing all impediments to private sector participation in these sectors by creating policies that will ensure consistency, predictability and a level playing field for all.”

Having identified power, transportation, infrastructure, maritime/shipping, agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, petro-chemicals, food processing and textiles among others, as “key drivers to the diversification” of the Nigerian economy as well as “priority areas that will drive our Economic Agenda,” the President said he looked forward to “welcoming prospective investors to Nigeria.”

Reviewing Nigeria-Japan relations, President Buhari commended existing bonds of friendship and economic cooperation between both countries, describing the Asian country as “a strategic partner for our socio-economic development.” He disclosed Nigeria’s intention to “further encourage relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders” in both nations.

The Nigerian leader expressed particular delight with the level of “discussions on the establishment of the Japan-Nigeria Business Facilitation Council, an initiative of the Japanese government, which would be launched on our return to Nigeria,” adding that, “I look forward to positive reports of increased trade and investment between Nigeria and Japan from these initiatives.”

Describing the TICAD Forum as important to Nigeria in many respects, President Buhari said it “coincides with the period when the country is faced with a number of challenges that affect our economy.”

Noting that his administration “has put in place measures seeking to diversify the economy by developing agriculture, emphasising on manufacturing and addressing the energy and infrastructure deficit,” he expressed confidence that, “With these we shall be placing Nigeria on the path of rapid growth and sustainable development.”

According to the Nigerian President, TICAD is also “coming at a time when our government is implementing home-grown and private sector-driven economic measures that are predicated on good governance, infrastructure and human capital development as well as, business climate reform.” The above domestic measures, he explained, informed his invitation to “the private sector to come and invest in Nigeria.”

According to him, “Nigeria and indeed Africa, expect much from this Forum in terms of investment, considering the role of Foreign Direct Investment in all economies – developed and developing.”

President Buhari also expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, “for his unwavering commitment to strengthen trade and investment between Japan and Africa through various initiatives, partnership and support of the Japanese Government.”

He also wished TICAD7 “fruitful deliberations and hope that the conclusions reached will enhance access by African countries to international capital investment as well as boost Japan-Africa exchanges by developing new and strategic public and private sector alliances.”

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Nigerians Engaging In Criminal Activities Abroad Do Not Represent Our Values, Says President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Yokohama, Japan said that the few Nigerians abroad indulging in criminal activities do not represent the values of majority of the people of the country.

Meeting with leaders of the Nigerian Community living in Japan on the sidelines of the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7), the President declared:

“Let me also say that there are few Nigerians in the Diaspora that are giving us a bad name by engaging in criminal activities. These Nigerians are a minority, they do not represent the values of our country, and I plead with them to change their ways.”

According to him, “We will not condone any crime whether at home or abroad, and we will also not allow these Nigerians define us as a people with reputation for criminality.”

Urging Nigerians in Japan to be good ambassadors of their fatherland, the Nigerian leader said, “I am personally very happy that there are millions of Nigerians all over the world, like you here, who are truly making us proud.”

Describing majority of the over 17 million Nigerians in Diaspora as “the face of Nigeria globally and our ambassadors for good,” the President noted that, “Many of our Diasporans, like your good selves here today, have excelled in varying fields of endeavor, both professionally and individually.

“You have also made significant and overwhelmingly positive contributions to your Nigerian and international host communities. You have continually been a positive bridge between Nigeria and the world. It is not an easy feat and we commend you, salute your courage and efforts.”

Noting that “Japan is at the cutting edge of technology and efficiency, two very important attributes that can play a role in Nigeria and improve our capacity for development,” President Buhari urged members of his audience to continue to contribute their quota by helping to develop their host country and Nigeria as well, adding: “I look forward to your inborn gift, ability, and capacity in taking up this challenge.”

Commending many of them who are already “positively impacting the Nigerian economy through financial home remittances, promoting international trade in Nigerian commodities, our music, culture, tourism, sports, and education, while also helping to establish industries in Nigeria,” the President urged them “to encourage legitimate Japanese entrepreneurs to come and invest in Nigeria.”

According to him, “We are continually working to create the necessary enabling environment for investors to thrive, through improvements in our Ease of Doing Business practices, providing security, diversification of the economy, infrastructure and fighting corruption.”

He further assured them that, “We have put in place the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERPG) to put the country on a path of sustained recovery and growth.”

Explaining the rationale for his regular meetings with Nigerians abroad and the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, President Buhari said:

“As you are aware, I have regularly held town hall meetings with Nigerians in the Diaspora on all my foreign engagements be they in Europe, Asia, America and Africa.

“At these fora, I have always, appealed to our citizens to be our good ambassadors, observe the laws of your host countries, excel in whatever you do legitimately, and also remember us at home (Nigeria). I have established the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission specifically to engage with you, signifying a coordinated attempt by our administration to increase the involvement of our Diaspora in our national development.

“Collectively, your resources, skills, and talents will be a positive force for our country which can help accelerate our national growth and development.”

President Buhari’s meeting with Nigerians in Diaspora, coordinated by Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Diaspora Commission, who described the President as “the most Diaspora-friendly leader we have had in Nigeria,” witnessed a parade of the brightest and best of our citizens, plying their trade in Japan. They included academics, industrialists, top businessmen, scientists, economists, and many others.

Professor Ejiogu Emenike, President, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Asia (NIDOASIA) and an energy expert, commended President Buhari for efficient leadership, and disclosed that his members have “comparative advantages in human capital development, which we are trying to bring back to Nigeria.”

He added: “Any problem that science and technology can solve, we are able to, and we can help Nigeria in areas of need.”

Engineer Ochade Osakwe, Chairman, Nigeria/Japan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, recounted businesses that have been  attracted to Nigeria in recent times, promising to do more, as the security and investment climates back home improved further.

Mr Nnaji Fintan, President, Nigerian Union in Japan, asked for more exploits in the areas of education, quality infrastructure and security, which incidentally, are focal points of the current administration.

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Kwara N-Power Stands As A Good Example For Other States – Brimah

The Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and Youth Employment, Mr. Mohammed Brimah, on 28th of August, 2019 attended the formal launching of the 40 hectares farm of the Kwara N-Power Agro at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

Brimah, who represented the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and Youth Employment, Mr Afolabi Emakhuade, while delivering his speech at the event noted that “When the administration of President Muhammudu Buhari came on board in 2015, unemployment was at an all-time high, recession had crept into our economy. Many graduates were roaming the streets with no job nor any means of survival. However, the Buhari administration, in keeping to its campaign promises, designed some Social Investment Programmes to help improve the living condition of our teeming youth.”

The Presidential Assistant also expressed happiness with the progress the N-power program has recorded in Kwara State. “Today, I am happy to hear that NPOWER Kwara and the University of Ilorin have signed an MOU for a ten year lease on 40 hectares of land for large scale farming. Also, you have acquired 7 hectares of land at Oke-Oyi, the Ilorin East Local Government, through the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture. I have also been informed that you have planted several crops including soya beans, maize, millets and Egusi.. etc,” he said.

While reiterating the process for enlisting in the Npower program, Brimah emphasized that the “N-POWER programme is the employability and enhancement programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria aimed at imbibing the learn-work-entrepreneurship culture in youth between 18 and 35. Applications are done online to create a level playing ground for everyone, with the information supplied during the application stage serving as basis for an objective selection and direct payment process through the bank accounts and BVN submitted by the applicants. The State engages in the physical verification and deployment of the successful candidates to their places of assignment after they have been selected, while direct payment of N30,000 to their accounts commences after State validation.”

The Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Dr Kayode Alabi commended the N-Power Agro Volunteers for their proactiveness and their contributions to the development of the state.

He said: “I will like to appreciate the Federal Government for the initiative that provides job opportunities for so many Nigerians and Kwarans in particular. The contributions of the N-Power Agro Volunteers goes a long way in adding value to the socio-economic activities of the state”

He furthered by advising the youths in Kwara State to see agriculture as a diversify way of making a living as all souls depends on food. He urged them to shun all acts of immoralities and restlessness to make quick money.

Other personalities who graced the outing were all impressed and overwhelmed as they were being taken round the farmlands. They all appreciated the economy diversification plan of the president into agriculture and reiterates how the N-Power program have impacted positively into the economy of the state and how it has helped reduce unemployment.

The State Focal Person, Dr. (Mrs.) Katibi, the former Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Alh. Khairat Gwadabe were represented at the event. Also present at the formal presentation are the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture, Alh. Katsina; the Director of the National Orientation Agency and the President of the Cashew Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kwara State Chapter.

The 40 hectares farm with Beans, Egusi and Corn was visited before proceeding to Oke-Oyi where the N-Power Agro Volunteers present hundreds of Cashew seed to the Kwara State Association of Cashew Farmers.

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Tradermoni, Marketmoni Beneficiaries Are Paying Back, Doing Well, Says Vice President Osinbajo

Feedback from the field and testimonies from stakeholders including beneficiaries indicate that the TraderMoni and MarketMoni loan schemes are doing very well, and beneficiaries are indeed paying back their loans, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday during an interaction with journalists after his assessment visit to markets in Keffi and Masaka towns of Nasarawa State, where loans under the TraderMoni and MarketMoni schemes are being disbursed to traders.

According to the Vice President “It is going very well, and I am excited to hear the testimonies of the traders who have done so well after getting their first loan. It is also exciting to see that they have repaid their loans very quickly, because as you pay back, you are able to get more; when you get N10, 000, and you pay back, you get N15, 000 and it gets to N20, 000, when you repay, all the way to N100, 000, and it is so exciting to see that these traders are doing so well.

“Everybody is keying in already, what we want to do is to expand it so that more traders can get this facility, so we need to do more because at the moment, we have done close to 2 million but we need to increase the number”.  

The Vice President urged beneficiaries of the loan schemes to continue to pay back their loans so they can get more money and become very successful in business.

Prof. Osinbajo said the target of the Federal Government in the Next Level is to expand the scheme to cover more traders and also increase the amount received to enable beneficiaries expand their businesses.

According to him, “we want to expand the TraderMoni and MarketMoni to include more people in every state, so we have only just started. More of the traders who are here will get the TraderMoni and the MarketMoni.

“So long as you continue to pay back you will continue to get more money. We want to make sure that every petty trader in the market have enough so that they themselves can even employ more people and pay their children’s school fees and also build their own houses. As I told you, we are going to expand the scheme so that more people can benefit.”

Earlier at the palace of the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa, Prof. Osinbajo said his visit to the State was to assess the disbursement of the TraderMoni and MarketMoni loans to traders in markets across the States.

He said “TraderMoni is the President’s own way of empowering women and men who are traders. For many of them, their inventories are very small, it could be people hawking groundnuts, selling bread and other basic things. Most of them don’t have enough capital to improve their businesses. So, what we do is to empower them through the Bank of Industry.

“So, we want to ensure that people who are trading have an opportunity and that opportunity is provided when we are able to give them capital as part of this TraderMoni scheme. So, that is why we are here.”

On the Emir’s appeal about improving educational standards, the Vice President said President Buhari is determined to improve both access and quality of education to all Nigerians regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds.

According to him, “One of the other things that I think you might be happy to hear is the President’s determination to this question of education. On June 20th this year, while speaking to Governors when he inaugurated the National Economic Council, he made the point that the Federal Government will enforce, along with the State governments, the law on free and compulsory education of the first 9 years of the child’s school life.

“It is a very important thing because we all know that education the key to the economic success, the key to self-realization and the key that enables any person live a dignified life. So, we are extremely concerned on how to improve education; Technical education in particular, I think that it is very important.

“As a matter of fact, under our N-Power scheme we already have a number of technical education schemes going on.  We have what we call N-Build which is technical education for persons involved in the building industry (tillers, brick layers etc). We also have training for extension workers, persons who will provide extension service.  There is the one for persons involved in technical training like carpenter, electricians and many others.”

He added that the Federal Government in collaboration with State governments are committed to “doing more in terms of technical education and also in supporting the states for education especially making primary education and first three years of secondary education free and compulsory as well as the education of young women”.

In his remarks, the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa who commended the Vice President for his show of concern and interest in the welfare of the people of Nasarawa State and Keffi in particular, appealed to the Federal Government to review the nation’s education curriculum to integrate vocational and technical education to address youth unemployment.

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NEWS

380.7km Imo Rural Roads Rescue Mission Projects, Not Ihedioha’s Projects

The ongoing construction of 380.7kms of rural roads across local governments in Imo state was a project initiated and perfected for kick off by the Rescue Mission team under former Governor Rochas Okorocha.

In a media release, a group, Imo Concerned Elders led by Chief Macron Onwuanibe said former Governor had maintained that his administration began the processes for the project gulping $60m assisted by the French Development Agency under the Rural Access and Mobility Project RAMP.

The group stated that at the flag off of the project few days to his exit in Avu local government area, Okorocha said that the processes leading to the approval of the project was facilitated by his administration for 7 years before the nod was given earlier this year.

The Imo Concerned Elders noted that the The Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District wants a breathe of fresh air to see his successor building on his many giant strides to continue to move the state forward.

Onwuanibe stated that “ We advised a few days ago that the governor needed to focus on governance and It is quite refreshing to see the government of the day in Imo has continued with the RAMP project which was one of the many project embarked upon by the former administration”

“ This is the way to go, government is a continuum and instead of the many attempts to paint Okorocha bad and rubbish his achievements, they should think more in this line”

The group of elders however advised the present government to stop claiming credit for the RAMP project or any other one initiated by the last administration.

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