I Appointed People I Can Trust - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday defended his recent appointments in an interview with the BBC Radio Hausa Service.

Buhari has been widely criticized for the lopsided appointments which have largely favored the North.

However, he told the BBC that those he appointed had worked with him over the years in all circumstances and he had no doubt that they would produce the desired results.

“This is the nature of Nigerian politics. If they will do justice to me, as an elected Nigerian president, let them look at the Constitution a Nigerian president works with; there are people who will closely work with me that don’t need to be taken to the Senate. If I select people whom I know quite well in my political party, whom we came all the way right from the APP, CPC and APC,  and  have remained together in good or bad situation, the people I have confidence in and I can trust them with any post, will that amount to anything wrong?

"I have been with them throughout our trying times, what then is the reward of such dedication and suffering? They did not defect because of positions, they did not involve themselves in the pursuit of personal gains, and they accepted their fate throughout our trying moments. What is wrong if I make you the secretary (of the federal government) because I have confidence that things will go normal?”

So far, nobody from the South East has been appointed into Buhari's government.

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FG Considering New Refineries - Kachikwu

The federal government is considering the establishment of new refineries to ensure optimal performance of the oil sector.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu disclosed this to newsmen in Kaduna shortly after he was conducted round the Kaduna refinery.

“What is obtainable is that most of our refineries are close to 30 to 40 years old; we need to begin to look at building new refineries in the same land space where they can share facilities so that you will have something to lean on when these old ones are beginning to kick out.

“Obviously, we need new modules because with this modules it won't get us very rapidly. Three out of the six units of the plants were down. Some of them for a very long period. We need to sit down and see what modules, how do you turn around the new refinery. How do you work on emergency basis components of the ones that is there.

“Kaduna has a very unique place in my heart like I said because I grew up in Kano and I used to come here often.

“It is so key for the survival of the economy of Kaduna State and the rest of the North and we really need to focus on getting this things work and getting it to expand.

“Without them we are not going to get out of problems of fuel supply, power supply and all that. So we are going to have a whole commercial structure,a whole engineering structure; a lot needs to be done different from models we are pursuing right now “.

See Vanguard for more.

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FG Considering New Refineries - Kachikwu

The federal government is considering the establishment of new refineries to ensure optimal performance of the oil sector.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu disclosed this to newsmen in Kaduna shortly after he was conducted round the Kaduna refinery.

“What is obtainable is that most of our refineries are close to 30 to 40 years old; we need to begin to look at building new refineries in the same land space where they can share facilities so that you will have something to lean on when these old ones are beginning to kick out.

“Obviously, we need new modules because with this modules it won't get us very rapidly. Three out of the six units of the plants were down. Some of them for a very long period. We need to sit down and see what modules, how do you turn around the new refinery. How do you work on emergency basis components of the ones that is there.

“Kaduna has a very unique place in my heart like I said because I grew up in Kano and I used to come here often.

“It is so key for the survival of the economy of Kaduna State and the rest of the North and we really need to focus on getting this things work and getting it to expand.

“Without them we are not going to get out of problems of fuel supply, power supply and all that. So we are going to have a whole commercial structure,a whole engineering structure; a lot needs to be done different from models we are pursuing right now “.

See Vanguard for more.

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CBN Advises States To Adopt Treasury Single Account

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN on Wednesday in Abuja urged state governments to adopt the Treasury Single Account system of revenue deposits.

The Head of Client Services at CBN, Mr Kure Abubakar gave the advice in a lecture titled, "Understanding Treasury Single Account." The lecture was part of a two day workshop on Fiscal Responsibility Act.

Abubakar said that TSA if adopted would help the states to maximize their revenue

According to News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the workshop was organized tor revenue generating ministries, departments and agencies of government.

Abubakar reminded the participants that sanctions would be meted on anyone who fails to comply with the TSA directive.

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Army Releases 128 Boko Haram Suspects In Borno

The Nigerian Army released 128 Boko Haram suspects on Wednesday, after establishing that they had no relationship with the terrorist group.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai who handed the detainees over to Gov. Kashim Shettima said that they comprised of 109 men, 7 women, 11 boys and an unattached teenager.

Buratai said that the suspects who were arrested in different parts of the state were released after thorough screening by a team of military intelligence personnel, the police and Department of State Services.

He said, “the task of Operation Lafiya Dole can be seen in three terms – to defeat the insurgents, to facilitate humanitarian activities and observe human right and restore the administrative functions in the liberated area.

“We are here to formally hand over those arrested in the process of our operations; we are pleased to hand over the 128 suspects that have been cleared by the joint intelligence corps which comprised the Army, the police and DSS."

Buratai said that the action of the military showed commitment and respect for human rights.

“This is clear manifestation that the army is clearly professional.
We will continue to emphasis that this terrorism will soon come to an end.

“We have been supported by President Muhammadu Buhari. We are getting more equipment and we are getting more of our troops redeployed to the operation,” he said.

NAN

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Troops Advancing In Sambisa Forest

Nigerian troops engaged in counter insurgency operations in and around Sambisa forest are reported to be making steady progress.

A statement released on Wednesday by Acting Director, Army Public Relations said that the troops are currently clearing Boko Haram camps in areas where they have already flushed out the insurgents.

He said, “I am glad to inform you that our troops are making substantial progress within the fringes of Sambisa forest.

“Nigerian Army troops are clearing Boko Haram enclaves along axis of advance from Bitta to Tokumbere. "

The troops are said to be working hard to end the insurgency by November in accordance with the President's directve.

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2Face Hosts Acoustic Night In Abuja

2Face Idibia will be hosting the Acoustic Night in Abuja this weekend at the Congress hall of the Transcorp Hilton. He will have as co-hosts, Zainab Balogun and Lynxxx.

According to the organizers, Delphino Entertainment, Uche Obi-Elendu will be making a guest appearance alongside other surprise artists.

The event comes up on Saturday 12 September and will be on from 6pm till 11pm.

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