Buhari calls for intensive economic engagement with Italy

04 Aug 2016 | STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI CALLS FOR INTENSIVE ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT WITH ITALY

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for more intensive trade and economic engagement between Nigeria and Italy.
Speaking Thursday during a courtesy call by Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at the State House, Abuja, President Buhari described the connection between Nigeria and Italy as very strong. He urged, however, that efforts should be made to make it stronger and more secure.
President Buhari commended the resilience of Italian businesses in Nigeria and expressed happiness that new businesses were in line to be set up in the country.
He also commended Italian support for government in tackling the humanitarian situation in the Northeast and the training they are giving to Nigerian policemen.
Mr. Gentiloni, who was accompanied by the Italian Minister of State for Interior, Mr. Domenico Manzione, announced his government’s Ten Million Dollars humanitarian assistance to the Lake Chad region countries in addition to what they are already doing. This is within the framework of the European Union.
He said that the visit of the business group on his delegation was a fulfillment of the promise made by Mr. Matteo Renzi, the Italian Prime Minister, during his visit in February, to strengthen relations with Nigeria politically and economically.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
Media & Publicity
August 4, 2016

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Buhari receives Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs (Photo)

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday received in audience, Paolo Gentiloni, Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at the State House, Abuja.

Minister Paolo Gentiloni was accompanied to the State House by the Italian Minister of State for Interior, Mr. Domenico Manzione.

Gentiloni used the occasion to announce Italy's $10m humanitarian assistance to wLake Chad Region countries, within the framework of the European Union.

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Insecurity: US warns citizens against traveling to 20 Nigerian states

The United States of America has advised its citizens to avoid all travels to 20 states in Nigeria because of their fluid and unpredictable security situation.

The Department of State pointed out Adamawa, Yobe and Borno as states where the ability of the Government of the United States to render assistance to its citizens is severely limited.

The Department of State in a travel warning posted on its website on Wednesday, strongly advised American citizens in Nigeria to give priority to personal security and safety in planning their travels.

It also advised against all but essential travels to 17 other states due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and sundry armed attacks.

The states include Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

“Based on safety and security risk assessments, the Embassy maintains restrictions for travel by US officials to the states listed above; officials must receive advance clearance by the US Mission for any travel to those states,” it stated.

The Department of State further advised all US citizens to be particularly vigilant around government security facilities; churches, mosques, and other places of worship, locations where large crowds may gather, such as hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants, markets, shopping malls; and other areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers.

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PMB inaugurates BoT/Governing Council for Ogoni clean up

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, inaugurated the Governing Council and Board of Trustees for Implementation of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.

The Minister of Environment who is also the Chairman of the Governing Council, Amina Mohammed said that the President chose the members on the basis of their experience and integrity.

See photo for the list of the members.

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Read Shekau's reaction to appointment of new Boko Haram leader by ISIS

One time Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau has spoken out from hiding after a year of silence following news of the appointment of a new leader for the terrorist group by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS.

After the news broke on Wednesday that ISIS had installed Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the new leader of Boko Haram in West Africa, here is what Shekau said.

“All blessings be to Almighty Allah, and his His Prophet SAW. I am Imam Abubakar Shekau.

“This is the message to the world, to those who can understand Hausa and any other languages it can be translated for a clear understanding of the message, which is why we are sending this message to the world.

“The content of my message goes thus. We have heard news going round and attributed to people we had earlier pledge allegiance to. Even though we are not against them base on the message we heard in the world radio but we are still on our ideology.

“We know those we differ with, and I have written on this long ago. All we wrote have been documented with me, some eight pages and some nine pages stating their kind of ideology.

“Because I stated it clear that I am against the principle where someone will dwell in the society with the infidels without making public his opposition or anger against infidels publicly as it is stated in the Quran. Anyone doing such can’t be a real Muslim thick and thin. This is what our ideology proved. And that is where I am, to them, a Muslim can dwell in the society and do his marketing compromising core foundations.

“I want the world to know that we are still holding our ideology and tied with the Quran, we will not derail and will not revolt but will continue to remain in the cause of Allah. Following Prophet SAW is compulsory for us, and we will follow it to the end.

“This is our stand, and we are still in the cause of Jama’atu Ahl as-Sunnah li-Da’awati wal-Jihad and Allah will help us. May Allah strengthen us to remain in this cause.

“We are still members of Jama’atu Ahl as-Sunnah li-Da’awati wal-Jihad, no matter what they call us, we remain what we are. No matter what we have our basis in Quran. No matter what they call us, what we aspire is to justify our ideology in the Quran which is ultimate because we have not derailed. We are on and in the future, we will not accept any emissary except the one we can attest he is sincere and truthful for Allah and His cause.

“In the first place, we sat and I was deceived, they said I should write my ideology to be taken if there is a mistake they will point out and bring back. They now deceive me, and it is base on some authorities and today I found out that there is one who is following principles of infidel which they want me to follow, and Prophet has stopped us against such. We are still in the cause of Allah and will never depart in the struggle to establish an Islamic caliphate and standing by Islam. We will continue to work for the cause of Allah no going back.

“Anyone that caused this, no problem, if it’s possible may Allah show him the correct path and if it is not so may Allah protect us from his mischief.”

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Fashola denies promising improved power supply

The immediate past governor of Lagos State and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has denied promising to improve power supply in the country.

The minister issued the disclaimer during a chat with Channels Television. He said that his plans for the sector did not factor in the vandalization of pipelines because he was always focused on power generation.

“Let us be careful when you claim that I made promises because I am ever so conscious of the things that I say and I believe that if I recollect correctly, it was when I was unveiling my ministries, probably sometime late December last year, and it is unlike me to make promises on things I don’t control.

“If you check the words I used, I shared with you our plans if it worked and where we will be. Those promises don’t factor in vandalisation. You know when they teach you how to generate power in school, they don’t teach you how to deal with vandalization.

“When they teach you how to do banking, they don’t teach you about round-tripping, so those are the assumptions that things would remain normal. There is no nation in the world that wants electricity that vandalizes the assets that produce electricity; it doesn’t make any sense.

“I can control what my team does, I can promise you what my team efforts will produce but I can’t control behaviour that is counterproductive. Those pipelines are national assets; they were built with our common wealth, the people whose territories it passes are custodians of it.

“Let us assume that the people who are also custodians of Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro dams go to break them down because they are angry, then who gets power?”

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See the edifice Speaker Dogara built within 6 months in office

According to the former Chairman of the House Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumuni Jibrin, the Speaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara built a mansion in Abuja within six months in office.

Sahara Reporters has reported that the magnificent edifice is located at Persian Gulf Close, Wuse II, Abuja.

See photos.

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