Gbagyi Villa to be demolished for building on Kaduna Poly's land - El-Rufai

Following his inspection tour of the sprawling Gbagyi Villa, a suburb of Kaduna city on Thursday, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has declared that all buildings without Certificate of Occupancy will be demolished, not minding that the lawsuit instituted by the community is yet to be determined.

Gbagyi Villa is said to have no less than 3,000 fully developed modern housing units, 40 churches, 12 schools and about 35,000 inhabitants.

The land is however being claimed by Kaduna Polytechnic which insists that 70 per cent of the land allocated to it has been illegally taken over by settlers in Gbagyi Villa.

El-Rufai who was accompanied on the inspection by the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Mohammed Bello Ibrahim said that it was unfortunate that thousands were going to lose their life savings for breaking the law.

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Police nab Abuja cab driver who absconded with passenger's N1.8m

Operatives of the Police Special Intelligence Response Team have arrested the taxi driver who absconded with his passenger's N1.8m and other belongings in Abuja.

The 38 year-old Muritala Olagunju, a native of Ogun State was said to have been hired by one Mohammed, at Wuse Zone 6 area of Abuja to convey him to a destination for shopping, before taking him to the hotel where he intended to lodge.

Olagunju allegedly absconded with Mohammed's belongings while he was inside the hotel booking his accommodation.

The suspect who was trailed by the police and arrested a few weeks later has owned up to the offense. He told the police how he spent the money, begging his victim for forgiveness.

“ I gave N200,000 to my girl friend and I also gave my sister N80,000. Then I bought a car for myself which I intended to use for my business, but before I knew what was happening, I was arrested. I regret doing this and I hope my passenger will forgive me,” he said.

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PMB receiving letters of credence from new Ambassadors (Photo)

On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari received Letters of Credence from the new Ambassadors/High Commissioner of Gambia, Sri Lanka, Iran and India

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Outgoing Germany Ambassador on farewell visit to PMB

Nigeria showing appreciation for strong partnership with Germany as President Buhari bid farewell to Ambassador Michael Zenner on Thursday in Abuja.

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Ambassador of Sri Lanka inspecting a guard of honour(Photo)

The new Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Thambirajah Reveenthiran inspects a Guard of Honour on Thursday at the State House, Abuja.

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Press Release: FG talking with Niger Delta militants - Buhari

21 July 2016 | STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
FG IN TALKS WITH NIGER DELTA MILITANTS - PRESIDENT BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja said that his administration is talking to Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.
Speaking at a farewell audience with Mr. Michael Zinner, the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria at the State House, President Buhari said that government is studying the instruments of the Amnesty Programme inherited from the previous administration with a view to carrying out commitments made that were undelivered.
“We understand their feelings,” the President said. “We are studying the instruments. We have to secure the environment, otherwise investment will not come. We will do our best for the country," he affirmed.
The President used the opportunity to thank the government of Germany for its continuing support to Nigeria in the efforts to tackle insecurity and the on-going rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced citizens in crisis areas in the North-Eastern parts of the country.
President Buhari also thanked Nigeria’s neighbours for their firm and unflinching support in the war against terror.
The outgoing German Ambassador noted that bilateral relations between Nigeria and Germany “had improved very much in the last 12 months of this administration.”
He expressed the readiness of Germany to assist Nigeria in the rehabilitation process in the North East to help displaced persons return to their villages. He also expressed the eagerness of German businesses to invest in the country, now that “conditions for investment have been put in place”.
The German Ambassador reiterated the standing invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel to President Buhari to visit Germany.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 21, 2016

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Finance Minister says economy is in recession

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun has said that Nigeria is in recession but measures are being taken to kick-start economic growth.

Adeosun said this in Abuja on Thursday while briefing the Senate on measures taken by the administration to ease the hardship Nigerians are going through.

She stressed that government was committed to addressing the issues currently facing Nigerians while noting the release of N248 billion from the 2016 budget as part of efforts to get the economy going.

"Technically, in economic terms, we have had two periods of negative growth; we are in a recession but I don’t think we should dwell on that.

"The most important thing is that we are going to get out of it.

"Our social intervention projects have been funded to provide relief to the poorest. Every local government will be touched by that programme and we will continue to get out of it.

"While Nigeria lives in one of the toughest times, we are confident that the strategies we are deploying will get us out of the problems we inherited.

"Those strategies are about being disciplined about government spending to reduce wastage and leakages to ensure that we invest in infrastructure that is needed to create jobs and growth in this economy.

"On capital releases done so far, N248 billion has been released so far, with another N16 billion to be released imminently.

"Ministry of works has received N74 billion in the last two months, compared to N19 billion for the whole of last year.

Agriculture, which is the strategic focus of this government has received N22 billion compared to just N4 billion the whole of last year.

Transport has received N22 billion compared to just N6 billion for the whole of last year.

"The extent of our release shows government’s seriousness about reviving this economy and we are confident that the work we are doing will bear fruit; we are already beginning to see increased production in agriculture,’’ she said.

She added that government was making efforts to reposition the economy despite the huge drop in oil prices in line with promises made at the inception of the administration.

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