FG defends Tinubu's administration, says 'It's fair to all sections of Nigeria' - ITREALMS

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The Federal Government (FG) has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration, stating that it has been fair to all sections of Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the administration has demonstrated an "uncommon commitment to balanced development and inclusivity" since assuming office.

Buhari to Nigerians: I feel your pains

ITRealms:

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigeria not to lose confidence in the ability of his administration to bring about the change they so much desire, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the 2015 Vanguard Awards in Lagos on Friday night, where he was honoured with the Personality of the Year Award 2015, the President said he is keenly aware of the difficulties that Nigerians are facing at this time, resulting mostly from the fuel scarcity, poor power supply, inflation etc.

''As a government that was propelled into office by the power of the people, we cannot but feel the pains of our compatriots, and we deeply empathise with them. We are working round the clock to ease the pains of Nigerians, and the efforts of the government have started yielding fruits as we seek to make the petroleum products available nationwide, restore gas supply to the power generating firms, reflate the economy and put Nigerians back to work,'' he said.

President Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said he understands that Nigerians have started questioning whether this indeed is the CHANGE they voted for, while some have even gone as far as saying that by voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigerians have entered ''One Chance''.

''Well, I can tell Nigerians that our CHANGE AGENDA is real, and that indeed, they will get the change they voted for. Nigerians have not entered 'One Chance', because the 'One Chance' drivers and their conductors have been driven out of town,'' said the President. ''''Change is a process, and that process has begun...The pains of today are temporary, and will soon give way to abundance joy as we put our country firmly on the path of sustainable growth and development.''

The President said all Nigerians, the Civil Society Organisations and the media are the real heroes of the last general elections in particular and the country's democracy in general, adding: ''And they, more than anyone or group of people, deserve all the accolades.''

He went on to commend the media for the role it played in ensuring the relative success of the last general elections, and the resilience of the nation's democracy since the beginning of this Republic.

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Pix: Buhari, Nigeria President

Government-owned media to be globally competitive - Minister

ITRealms:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the present administration will do whatever it takes to ensure that government-owned media are globally competitive, reports ITRealms.

The Minister gave this assurance while receiving the laurels won by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) at the Nigerian Media Merit Award 2015, saying the situation whereby the private media is preferred to the public media is unacceptable.

“We believe that in terms of human resources, talent and equipment, even in terms of exposure, there is no reason why the publicly-funded media should not do better than any media houses in Nigeria and I am happy that you have blazed the trail by coming out to win these awards,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said despite the fact that the competition was also open to the private media, FRCN still won these four awards, describing that as an eloquent testimony that the public media could do much better.

“We are determined to improve the quality, both in terms of engineering and content of the publicly-owned media houses in a manner that they will be able to perform much better than any media houses anywhere in Africa,” he said.

While advising FRCN to consider the award as a tonic that would spur it to greater achievements, the Minister urged the organization to continue to invest in the development of compelling contents that will improve the quality of life of its audience and expand its reach.

“I think you should seize the opportunity and especially since you are a Federal Government- owned organization, you can work very harmoniously with the Meteorological Agency and you should be able to have a programme on weather, and again another area that I think you should improve your content is on climate change...which is another topical issue that will interest Nigerians.

“All I am saying is that you need to go beyond your routine programmes and open new frontiers,” he advised.

According to Alhaji Mohammed, other areas that will enrich the content of the FRCN are dedicated programmes on the youths, women, children and family affairs.

Earlier, the Acting Director General of FRCN, Mr. Michael Oluwole, said the station had made history by winning four out of the five awards in contention at the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit.
           
The FRCN won the Station of the Year, Best Presenter of the Year, Best Producer of the Year and Best Reporter of the Year awards.
 
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Johnson reiterates Lagos commitment to infrastructure development

ITRealms:

The Lagos State Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson has reiterated the commitment of the present administration to ensuring even infrastructure development across the nooks and crannies of the State, as some roads embarked upon by the State Government at Ogudu in Kosofe Local Government Area are in the last phase of completion.

The Commissioner, who disclosed this on Thursday while speaking at a Stakeholders’ Meeting with house owners and residents at Ogudu, explained that the construction of Ligali, Celestial, Boys Scout Way and Adebare roads within the Ogudu Bridge interchange axis will soon be completed and handed over to the government by the contractors, as part of efforts to ease the traffic gridlock in area.

He stated that the meeting was organised by the Ministry as part of the all-inclusive policy of this administration to solicit for the support and cooperation of the community as well as sensitize them on the scope of work and the temporary discomfort that might be experienced during the construction period.

While noting that public services such as electricity and water supply would be disrupted in view of the need to relocate the supply cables and pipes, Johnson gave assurance that the services would be restored as soon as possible.

Responding on behalf of the residents, Chairman of the Ogudu G.R.A Residents Association, Group Captain Salami (Rtd) applauded the State Government for the initiative and promised that residents will support and cooperate with the contractors for a speedy completion of the roads project.

He however called on the present administration to rehabilitate other roads in the area, improve traffic management and construct a pedestrian bridge across the expressway in order to eliminate avoidable deaths caused by frequent crossing of the highway by pedestrians in the area.

Also speaking at the meeting, the representative of the construction company, Mr. Soji Akintayo promised that his firm would be humane in discharging the project, stressing that the company will employ residents of the area that are ready and competent to work with it during the construction.

The contract terms for the construction of Adebare road comes with the inclusion of drains on both sides, streetlight, overlaying of existing asphalt pavement, outfall drain and repairs of walkway on Imam Ligali, Celestial Way and Boys Scout Way.

 

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Nigeria to sustain No. 1 investment destination in Africa – PMB

 ITRealms

President Muhammadu Buhari(PMB) penultimate Tuesday in Paris declare that one of the key objectives of his administration's ongoing economic reforms was to restore the confidence of investors in the Nigerian economy, ITRealms reports

In his address to leading French businessmen and investors at the headquarters of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), President Buharireaffirmed his government's determination to curb corruption in Nigeria.

"Our ongoing economic reforms are designed to restore business confidence and block leakages and wastage of public resources. We are also focused on the recovery of stolen wealth belonging to the country," the President told participants in a Nigeria/France Investment Forum,” he said.
Also, President Buhari said that his administration will do all within its powers to sustain Nigeria's position as the number one investment destination in Africa.

According to him, Nigeria with a blessed land, rich in agricultural and mineral resources, skilled and low-cost labour, large market, a robust and competitive private sector anchored on investment policies and legislation to guarantee predictability and consistency with global business practices, is poised for double digit growth.

"There is much more to our country than oil and we are determined to consolidate on industrializing Nigeria and diversifying its economy,” he said.

On the privatisation of key sectors of the economy, which was started Jonathan administrations, he said, they will be pursued and expanded to include other sectors, even as this exercise will be conducted in an open, transparent and competitive manner.

"We recognize the private sector as the engine of growth and a veritable partner in our economic agenda, and will therefore give the fullest possible support to foreign and domestic entrepreneurs,” he said.

Buhari emphasized that his administration would redress the serious infrastructural gaps in Nigeria, raise production to create more jobs, build capital and stimulate further growth and prosperity of the country.

Pierre Gattaz, the President of MEDEF, announced that the umbrella organization of about 800,000 French manufacturing firms and businesses will undertake a trade mission to Nigeria next month.
Mr. Gattaz said that the MEDEF trade delegation will comprise of prospective investors in agriculture, mining, automobiles, energy, skills development, light manufacturing, food processing, transportation services and many other areas.

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140,000 staff inadequate to serve 21m Lagosian

 ITRealms

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode has said that e-government has become indispensible in the administration of the state as 140,000 staff is grossly inadequate to serve a population of 21 million, ITRealms reports.

The Governor was speaking, as special Guest at the 2015 edition of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) Conference and Exhibition which held at Goldengate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos. He stated that the ICT sector has achieved a phenomenal growth and stressed the state government’s readiness to partner with NIG as the state remains in the forefront of e-governance with the Oracle Portal.

“In the last decade the internet has changed our way of life and the way things are done, spanning individual lifestyle, manufacturing and industry as well as governance. The traditional economy and commercial system have given way to a new economic platform of online merchandising and logistics management,” Ambode said.

 
The internet, he said, has reduced the world to a global village even as the ICT sector has achieved a phenomenal growth, providing employment opportunities , acting as a platform for content and application development in manufacturing and industry, security, agriculture, education, commercial and financial transactions. He called for collaboration for infrastructural support in order to achieve internet penetration to the last mile.

He said it is a fact that as a nation we have not been able to maximise the use of the internet as a multifunctional resource, poor internet service to end users, high cost of internet relative to the developed world and use of the internet for fraudulent activities are obvious challenges.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Science and Technology, Lagos, Abdulraman Mustapha, Abode, ITRealms gathered, said as responsible government with the population of Lagos state and with inadequate staff it is essential to embrace e-service in every sector of government activity even as the state is bent on having one single health record. He thanked the NIG for initiating and sustaining the conference and exhibition, adding that the state government requires the advice of NIG in terms of how to implement its e-service engagements. He said the government of Lagos State will like to have a copy of the deliberation which will guide the government to achieve a regulatory framework.

ITRealms reports that this year’s NIG conference has the theme “Internet Penetration, the way forward,” Ambode said “the Lagos State Government in consultation with Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the State has reduced the right of way by 85 per cent”. On that note he declared the conference and exhibition open.

NIG, a non-for  profit, Non-government organisation was formed in 1995 to promote the internet as a tool for personal and national development, to promote provision of internet access for all Nigerians, to sensitise government about the potential of the internet as a critical tool for economic development, to promote the development of local internet content through the adoption of internet applications, such as e-commerce, e-entertainment, assist in the formation of relevant government policies affecting the internet, etc.

Today its major focus is to ensure that Nigerians adopt the internet as a platform to create jobs for themselves, hence the launch of a programme called Internet for Jobs Initiative (141).

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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Pix:Akinwumi Ambode

Niger Delta warns Buhari, APC over plans to disgrace Jonathan, jail him

PR@ITRealms:

A coalition of Niger-Delta activists under the aegis of Vanguards of Nigeria's Democracy group on Saturday said it has uncovered clandestine moves by President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress to probe the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and send him to prison on trumped-up charges.

A statement issued by the spokesperson of VND, Mr. Osaghae Ogiemudia, in Abuja said recent events in the country have revealed that the Buhari's regime was out to deal with the Niger-Delta people, especially the Ijaw ethnic group in Nigeria.

The coalition therefore advised the Ijaws to support the re-election of their "only son and only Ijaw governor, Henry Seriake Dickson in the forthcoming elections in Bayelsa State and resist all moves by APC to take over power through the back door. Ijaw people defecting to APC from PDP are all traitors."

According to them, the plot to imprison Jonathan has been perfected with the ongoing controversy over Excess Crude Account and the allegation levelled against the immediate-past Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

Ogiemudia said, "The whole plan has been perfected and we know the direction of all the noise by Oshiomhole. We know their target and that is Jonathan. We, the members of the Vanguard of Nigeria's Democracy are aware of some clandestine moves made by the APC led government to probe, investigate, malign and imprison ex President Jonathan. We are already aware of the trumped-up charges the APC government is leveling against a man who has diligently served the Nigerian State at the highest level of government."

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Buhari promises sustainable initiatives, inaugurates NEC

ITRealms:

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, inaugurated the National Economic Council (NEC) in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, just as he reiterated his administration resolve to enthrone sustainable initiatives, reports ITRealms.

According to the Third Schedule, Part I, Section 153: Sub section (18 & 19) of the Constitution, ITRealms reports that NEC, act as one of the Federal Executive bodies, mandated to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the co-ordination of the economic planning and programmes of the various Governments of the Federation.

Buhari also named his Vice President, Prof. Yomi Osibanjo as the chairman of NEC, adding that NEC meetings have remained the official economic platform for dialogue among the 36 State Governors, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and other co-opted members.

He also noted that NEC chaired by the Vice President deals on issues and challenges facing the development of the country, at national and sub-national levels, and discussed with a view to develop and harmonize common strategies for addressing them.

Buhari pointed out that during his inaugural speech, on May 29, 2015 he stated that the primary objective of this Administration is to tackle insecurity; youth unemployment, through the revival of agriculture, solid minerals mining, as well as small and medium size businesses.

“I also highlighted pervasive corruption; fuel and power shortages; public service reforms; and the need to allow every tier of Government to exercise its constitutional responsibilities, among others. We are fully committed to embarking on sustainable visionary initiatives and programmes that will restructure and transform our national economy.”

His administration, Buhari said is also committed to ensuring collaboration and facilitation of the international efforts to combat threats of cross-border terrorism, sea piracy, refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), financial crimes, cybercrimes, climate change; the spread of communicable diseases and other challenges of the 21st century.

Equally, he urged Nigerians to ensure that the nation surmounts these enormous challenges facing the country by working to support economic policies, which the government will soon unveil to grow the economy and finance external promises.

Consequently, he said, leadership must kick-start this process by cultivating a culture of prudent management of resources at all levels of government. This will entail looking inwards to secure sustainable ways of increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR); and harnessing growth potentials of each State to supplement the Federation Account allocation to States. 

“The States are also encouraged to embark on projects that will meet immediate needs of the people taking account of available resources. I therefore urge Council members to consider, as a matter of urgency, exploring efficient means of gradually liquidating all unpaid salaries of staff, which have brought untold hardship to thousands of families,” he said.

All revenue generating agencies such as Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) amongst others shall comply with stipulated Financial Regulations and Administrative Instructions in their remittances into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

 
Chuks Egbuna/GEE
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OPC raises alarm over plans to kill Gani Adams

ITRealms:

The Oodua People's Congress (OPC) has raised alarm over suspected plans to kill its National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams, soon into the life of General Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this, OPC in a press statement made available to ITRealms, the socio-cultural organization, Otunba Adams, has been marked for elimination.

Adams was quoted as saying that the allegation of the plot was leaked by the security report at the disposal of the OPC, insisting that the attack will be targeted at his convoy.

OPC, also revealed to ITRealms that the planned attack is coming after several attempts to remove him as the leader of the Yoruba self-determination group had failed.

According to the OPC Director of Media and Publicity, Barrister Yinka Oguntimeyin, those to be used in carrying out the attack have met several times with the Lagos State based politician, who have heavily funded the attackers.

Oguntimeyin said in the statement that the plan includes the use of the media to publish negative stories about Adams through the usage of political party propaganda machinery, which had failed in the past despite several sponsored negative stories on the OPC leader.

"They now want to create chaos by attacking the convoy of the National Leader of the congress,” he said.

In addition, Oguntimeyin alleged "A meeting held on Thursday at the residence of Razak Balogun, popularly called Sadam, who is an expelled member of the Congress, at Oloworo Road in Oworonsoki, Lagos State, was attended by 35 grass root members of a zone, where a decision was reached that a three-man committee, which include Hamza Adeshina (Biggy), Ranti Akande (Otepa) and Shina Akinpelu to monitor Otunba Gani Adams movement from his Festac town residence to his office and provide information as regards the day to day movement of Otunba Adams. We are also aware that the Lagos based politician has already distributed modern arms, including AK-47 guns, which was collected on Tuesday and delivered by Shina Akinpelu.”

He pointed out that with this alarm, OPC, “we are bringing to the attention of the world to the sinister plot to eliminate Otunba Gani Adams and should the attempt fail or we repel the attack, they will feed the media with false information further claiming that OPC is made up of thugs and touts. It is sad that despite the efforts of Otunba Adams to promote the culture and tradition of his race and upgrade the status of the Oodua People's Congress to a socially responsible one, and the formation of Oodua Progressive Union, which is presently active in 57 countries, a platform for Yorubas in the diaspora to interact and channel their energy towards the propagation of the culture and tradition of the Yoruba race and in turn build a clear cut tourism platform and image perception for Nigeria, a move he just established in Istanbul, Turkey last week Friday and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, some bad elements are desperate to  draw us back to the jungle days because of their desperate interest.”

OPC further said "We are also aware that another meeting will hold at the Oworonshoki residence of Sadam. We therefore call on Nigerians and security agents to be aware of this plot while we keep vigil of their next moves."

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)  
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