President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, swore in four New Special Advisers.
They are Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu, Economic Matters; Alhaji Tijani Abdullahi, Planning; Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Political Matters; and Barrister Maryam Uwais, Social Investment.
The president also swore in the new Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
The Federal Government has approved the take over of the prosecution of high profile public officers, especially former governors, indicted for looting their states' treasuries by the National Prosecution Coordination Committee, NPCC.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, during a meeting with heads of anti-graft agencies at the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters in Abuja, on Monday directed them to compile the lists of such high profile cases.
Malami explained that the purpose of the meeting was to work out a synergy between the NPCC and the agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC, the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, Department of State Services, DSS and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS.
Some of the high profile trials involving some ex-governors that the NPCC is expected to take over include those against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, a two-term governor of Kwara State; Godswil Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Ali-Modu Sheriff (Borno), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia); Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu); Saminu Turaki (Jigawa); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Joshua Dariye (Plateau); Ahmed Yerima (Zamfara); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Ikedi Ohakim (Imo); Obong Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom); Achike Udenwa (Imo); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun); Jolly Nyame (Taraba); Boni Haruna (Adamawa); George Akume (Benue); Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo); Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto), Usman Dakingari (Kebbi); Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi); Peter Odili (Rivers), and Lucky Igbindedion (Edo).
Remarks by His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria at the Inauguration of the Governing Council and the Board of Trustees of the Trust Fund for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for the Implementation of the UNEP Report
State House, Abuja
4 August 2016
Protocols,
1. Today marks another milestone in the commitment that this Administration has made in ensuring the implementation of the UNEP Report in Ogoniland and other impacted sites.
2. I thank you all for accepting to serve on the Governing Council and on the Board of Trustees, respectively, of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project.
3. This is a very important endeavour that has direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of our brothers and sisters whose environments have been severely degraded by years of unchecked pollution from oil exploration activities.
4. It is exactly five years today, on the 4th of August 2011, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) submitted an extensive Report on its environmental assessment of Ogoniland. That report, which was commissioned by the Administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, did not only document the problems that existed, but also contained recommendations on how they can be addressed, both in the short term and in the long term.
5. Five years on, the project is yet to properly take off. It would appear to have experienced a series of false starts, while the local communities continue to suffer from the problem, which has existed long before the Report. This all adds to the picture described in the UNEP Report as “a landscape characterized by a lack of trust, paralysis and blame.”
6. I am pleased to note that while it has been five years since the UNEP Report, it has taken only two months since this Administration flagged off the Project.
7. Since the time of flag-off, considerable effort has been expended to create a robust mechanism for implementing the Project in the long term. The Governing Council and Board of Trustees, which are being inaugurated today jointly form an essential part of the governance framework.
8. In addition to the management and administration structure, other systems and controls are being put in place to ensure that the funds devoted for this Project are used only for the intended purpose.
9. Indeed, a project of this magnitude requires extensive planning, scientific analysis, community involvement, and genuine partnerships. As a result, it will require patience and understanding of the key stakeholders as we move forward.
10. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the Project remains on course, as we face the challenges of high expectations and the current conflict in the Niger Delta.
11. The clean-up exercise is expected to go on for two decades. The first five years will address emergency response measures and remediation while the subsequent years will look to restore the ecosystems in the Delta. The governance framework we lay today, following extensive consultations, will form the bedrock for sustainability for years to come.
12. Together we will be able to transform what is today a tragic tale of desolation and destruction to one of restoration and opportunity for the coming generations. The expertise and technology exist to make this a reality. In the end, this project will serve as the “gold standard” for the clean-up of similar pollution in other parts of the Niger Delta, and the world at large.
13. I use this opportunity, through you, to call upon the Local Communities especially our youth, who will be the direct beneficiaries of this effort, to work with us in ensuring the security of the projects and persons implementing them. Even more so, that we prevent the recontamination of the polluted sites in Ogoniland.
14. In appointing each and every one of you, I expect that you will give your utmost commitment to ensuring the highest standard of transparency and accountability in this important task.
15. I wish you every success
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
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.
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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