Some Ministries May Get Less Capital Allocation In The 2017 Budget, Buhari Announces

September 15, 2016

President Muhammdu Buhari has said that some Ministries may get significantly less capital allocation than they received in 2016, while others may get significantly more.

“In this regard, let me inform you that because of the need to focus on our key priorities, some Ministries may get significantly less capital allocation than they received in 2016, while others may get significantly more.”

The President spoke today, Thursday, at a ministerial retreat on recession vis-a-vis the 2017 national budget, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that the inclusion of some key non-spending agencies, such as the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), in the retreat underscores the commitment of his government to leverage on private sector resources, through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and other arrangements, in order to augment the scarce budgetary resources at our disposal and to accelerate investments in building critical infrastructure.

The President is confident that the level of private investment will grow as his government is determined to make it easier to do business in Nigeria by the reforms the government is introducing under the auspices of the Presidential Committee on Ease of Doing Business.

“Let me reiterate that this Government will continue to strategize on how we can turn the current challenges into opportunities for our nation and especially for our vibrant youth on whose shoulders lies the future of this nation. This is why we have embarked on measures and actions that will open up the opportunities we have seen in the Power, Housing, Agriculture, Mining, Trade and Investment, Information Communication Technology (ICT) Sectors, Tourism, Transport and other sectors.

“I wish to reassure its teeming youth that this Government would remain steadfast in its effort to ensure greater progress and prosperity for you.

“While Government is taking the lead in the task of repositioning our economy for Change, we cannot achieve this completely by ourselves. We will need, and we ask for the support and cooperation of the private sector’s domestic and foreign investors, the States and Local Governments, the National Assembly and the Judiciary as well as all well-meaning Nigerians in this important task. We are confident that working together, we shall succeed.”

Buhari asked the cabinet members to learn from the experiences of the Resource persons and facilitators at the retreat to enable them prioritise their sector programmes and projects to bring the country out of the current economic recession and place it on the path of growth and development.

He also asked the Ministers and other senior government officials at the retreat to actively participate in the Second Technical Session, which he believed will provide them with deeper insight into the complex issues that will open opportunities for them to identify critical priority projects and programmes for the 2017 Budget. [myad]

Polio: Kaduna Threatens To Prosecute Parents Who Obstruct Immunization Of Wards

Greenbarge Reporters

September 15, 2016

The Kaduna State Government has threatened to prosecute parents who obstruct the immunization of their wards below the ages of five against Polio.

A statement today, Thursday by the Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, reminded parents that the vaccination is compulsory, saying that a new round of Polio vaccination has since commenced across the 23 local government areas in the state.

“The government wishes to clarify that any parent found obstructing health workers from carrying out their statutory functions will be prosecuted according to the law.’’

The government stressed: “polio-free state is a mission that all parents must support for the sake of all children in the state.

“The campaign reflects the government’s determination to ensure that no child is exposed to the hazards of a disease that can be prevented, and which has been eradicated in most parts of the world.’’

The statement said that the state’s Taskforce on Polio Eradication Initiative and Routine Immunization headed by the governor, had reiterated the need to ensure the success of the programme.

It quoted the taskforce as saying: “children must be protected from the severe consequences of non-immunization. “The polio taskforce believes that most parents would easily appreciate the need to vaccinate their children.

“However, the public interest to protect children against avoidable health threats has led to a decision to make polio vaccination compulsory.

“The state cannot tolerate a situation where the laxity or levity of some parents may expose children to a bleak future.

“Parents and government must cooperate in guaranteeing good health for children in Kaduna state. The government said that the threat from polio was real and urged parents to treat it as an emergency. It advised parents and guardians to ensure that their wards were made available for immunization to ensure its success.

“The government has further directed that all eligible children in transit within Kaduna State be made available for immunization at all transit sites during the period of the campaign.”

It said that teams of vaccinators have been deployed to work with FRSC and NDLEA officials at partial roadblocks to vaccinate children in transit through highways in the State.

It commended parents, religious and traditional institutions in the state for their support in previous immunization campaigns even as it said that the parents’ continued cooperation in the effort to eradicate polio in the state is deeply appreciated as a most worthwhile investment in the future of our children. [myad]

APC Asks PDP To Return Public Funds It Looted Instead Of Asking Buhari To Resign

Greenbarge Reporters

September 15, 2016

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has opened fire on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose leadership called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign on the basis of the current economic recession. The APC said that instead of what it called ‘silly’ call on the President to resign, the PDP chieftains should honourably return huge loots they had made in their years of ruling the country.

In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja and signed by its national secretary, Mai Mala Buni, the APC said: “instead of this charade by the PDP, we advise the PDP and their cronies to apologize to Nigerians and toe the path of honour by returning public funds stolen under its watch.

“While the PDP attempts to fraudulently re-write history and misrepresent facts on its misrule of the country, Nigerians are traumatized on a daily basis on disclosures of the startling level of pillage of the country’s commonwealth perpetuated under its watch.

“The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is drawn to the latest ridiculous demand by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari returns the country to the voodoo economics and reckless fiscal policies the country was subjected to during the immediate-past PDP administration.

“The PDP faction by its demand to return the country to the years where looting of the public treasury was the order of the day, has taken its orchestrated plot to deflect attention from the economic mess it left behind to new insensitive and shameless heights.”

The statement read:

“Instead of saving for the rainy day, past PDP administrations and their cronies literally looted the public treasury blind, using the loot to build luxury hotels and other properties, stashing loot in farmlands and hidden bank accounts.

“While the APC led administration is open to and welcomes positive and constructive contributions on resolving the country’s economic challenges, the Party assures Nigerians that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is already employing all legitimate and innovative means to restore the country’s battered economy back to health in the quickest possible time.

“The results of the fiscal and economic agendas embarked by the President Buhari administration to tackle the effects of the country’s diminishing crude oil revenues, falling value of the Naira and resuscitate the economy will be evident soon.

“The APC appeals for patience and cooperation from Nigerians as the President Muhammadu Buhari administration works assiduously to pull the country out of the present hardships and restore the country on the path growth in all facets.” [myad]

Fayose Set Aside N1.9 Billion To Build New Governor’s Office, High Court

Greenbarge Reporters

September 15, 2016

The government of Ayodele Fayose has set aside the sum of N1.9 billion for the construction of new governors’ office and high court complex in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Funmi Ogun, who made this known today during an open bidding for the two projects in Ado-Ekiti, said that the projects were conceived as part of plans to the state a facelift in terms of infrastructure development.
She said that when completed, both projects would add to the existing legacy projects of the present administration in the state.
According to her, the consultants’ proposed bill for the construction of the new governor’s office is N687, 028, 630.63 million while that of the High Court Complex is N1, 299, 613, 897.60.
The contractors that bid for the new governor’s office project at the session included Vyouad Construction Company Limited, Tianjin Yuyang Construction Company and Goodek Ventures Limited.
For the construction of the proposed court complex, Grid Associates Limited and Fovak Construction Limited jostled for the job.
The commissioner stated that the open tender confirmed the transparency of Fayose’s government and its commitment to prudent management of the state’s lean resources.
Ogun said: “What we are doing today confirms the transparency of our government.
“It shows that Governor. Fayose is incurably committed to giving Ekiti a facelift and make Ado Ekiti capital city a real modern city.
“Ekiti will clock 20 years on October 1, 2016 and we have to embark on projects that will make Ekiti a developing state that can compete with other capital cities in terms of infrastructure.
“The High Court we are presently using was inherited from the old Ondo state and constructing a new one of our own will afford us the opportunity to put state-of-the-art equipment.” [myad]

Frosty Relationship Between States And Local Governments, A Constitutional Challenge – Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

September 15, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the frosty relationship between states and local government as “a very serious constitutional problem.”
He added: “the relationship between the three tiers of government is not a very nice one, especially that between the local governments and the states.”
The President, who received the leadership of the Association of Local Governments in Nigeria (ALGON) today, Thursday, in Abuja, said that he will support a constitutional amendment to free local governments from the stranglehold of states to enable them better the lot of Nigerians at the grass root level.
He said that a constitutional amendment is urgently required to clearly define the relationship among the three tiers of government.
“The states feel like they own the local government, if they are of the same party. It is worse if they are not.
“This is a very serious constitutional problem and unless there is absolute clarity and transparency, the relationship will continue to be exploited against the interest of the ordinary people of the country.”
the President advised the ALGON executives to hold consultations with their people and lawyers with a view to presenting a bill that will seek a constitutional amendment to free the councils from the stranglehold of the states.
“This will limit the damage they can do to you. The quicker you do this the better, so that you can help your people much more.”
The President acknowledged the request by ALGON for the release of 3.2 billion dollars wrongfully deducted by the Federal government for the final settlement of foreign debts in 2005.
Supported by Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance, President Buhari said the government recognized the judgment debt but the timing of the request for its repayment was wrong given the current economic situation in the country.
In his remarks, Acting ALGON National President Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Karaye presented a six-point demand to the President which included the repayment of the 3.2 billion debt and the need to ensure the sovereignty of local government administration in the country.
The ALGON leaders expressed their full support to the President’s programmes on improving security, anti-corruption campaign and economic revival. [myad]

Boko Haram Threat To Capture President Buhari Is A Joke – Defense Headquarter

Greenbarge Reporters

September 15, 2016

Acting Director of defense information of the Nigerian Defense Headquarters, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, has dismissed the threat by Boko Haram insurgents to capture President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a joke.

Reacting to a 13-minute-long Boko Haram video posted online, in which a leader of the insurgent group threatens to kill or capture President Buhari, by calling it a sign of weakness, Abubakar said Boko Haram has been so severely weakened by a concentrated assault by the Nigerian military and police that the Internet is the only place it has any strength.

“The only place they have an agenda for now is the social media. The only ground the Boko Haram can go to hide and pretend to be alive is the social media because it is everybody’s home. “The so-called video is an attempt by the remnants to remind us that there were once some Boko Haram elements. The issue of the threat to capture PMB is a complete joke and a dream of the century.

“Therefore, the entire clip should be ignored as everybody is appreciative of our feat against Boko Haram. It is not just an empty threat; it is a threat that has no substance at all. It is a senseless threat from their imagination. Nigeria should simply ignore it.”

The video depicts Boko Haram forces in a prayer for the Eid-al-Adha holiday, and an unidentified leader addressing them in Hausa and in Arabic. He identifies himself as a follower of leader Abubakar Shekau, believed by the Nigerian military to have been killed; Shekau does not appear in the video.

“This is a message to the leader of the infidels Buhari, who says he will crush us. Infidels before him made similar threats, Buhari who says he will crush us; in sha Allah [by the grace of Allah] he will only die. By the grace of Allah, under the leadership of the leader of this movement our imam, we will capture Buhari hand to hand…we will deal with all our enemies, we are prepared at all times. Just as you all love life, so do we love death. This time around, no retreat, no surrender, in sha Allah. We shall be granted victory over you all,” the leader said. [myad]

Kaduna Earth Tremor Shook 300 Houses, Emergency Agency Confirms

Greenbarge Reporters

September 15, 2016

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that over 300 houses were shaken by the earth tremor that hit Kwoi in Kaduna State last week.

The agency’s Zonal Coordinator in the North West, Musa Illalah, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

Ilalah, however, said no life was lost in the incident, but that the affected houses either collapsed or got cracked.

“We have gone round and have seen the houses that were affected. The assessment is still ongoing; we are waiting for the geologists to tell us the root of the problem and what will be the next plan of action for the occupants of these communities.”

Ilalah called on the residents to remain calm, saying that measures are already being taken by the Federal and State Governments to provide succour to the affected persons.

“We in NEMA will do our best; we are going to write our report and send it to the headquarters, Abuja. We all know that the rock is the root of the problem but only the geological services will be able to tell us the cause of the tremor.”

Multiple earth tremors were recorded in three locations in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State over the weekend. The remors that occurred on Sunday and early hours of Monday at Kwoi, Nok and Samban Dagi also left scores of structures with cracks or total collapse. (NAN). [myad]

Man, 31, Allegedly Poured Poisonous Sniper Insecticide In Neighbour’s Soup

Greenbarge Reporters

September 15, 2016

A 39 year old trader in Ebute Meta, Lagos Gordon Daniel, has been charged to a Magistrates’ Court for allegedly pouring a poisonous substance in a neighbour’s pot of soup. He is being tried for attempted murder.

The suspected poisonous substance, “Snipper” is a gammalin 20-based liquid insecticide that is common in Nigeria for ridding homes of all insects and small rodents.
The Police Prosecutor, Coupler Hafsat Ajibode said that the offence was committed at No. 7, Baale Ayetoro St., Ajegunle, Lagos on August 17 this year at about 10.00 a.m.

Ajibode told the court that the accused had attempted to kill his neighbor by pouring the substance in her pot of soup and that the offence contravened Section 228 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs. K.A. Ariyo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Ariyo ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and must show proof of tax payment to the State Government.

The case was adjourned to October 11 for receipt of advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). [myad]

Ex Lawmaker, Ashiru, Drums Support For Buhari, Says The Worse Will Soon Be Over

Greenbarge Reporters

September 15, 2016

A former member of the House Representatives and Governorship aspirant in Kaduna State in the 2015 election, Hon. Isa Muhammed Ashiru has asked Nigerians to be patient and support the Change Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari even as he said that the worse economic situation will soon the over.
According to him, the current challenges faced by Nigeria is a sign of good things to come
In his Sallah message to the people of Kaduna State, the former lawmaker and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Akida group in Kaduna State likened the present socio-economic downturn in Nigeria to the trial of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) who was commanded by Allah to sacrifice his only son, Prophet Ismail in a rare display of total submission to the will of Allah following which Ibrahim (AS) became one of the most celebrated men in the Holy Qur’an.
Hon. Isa called on Nigerians, Muslims and Christians alike to reflect on the significance of the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir, saying that with their sacrifices and commitment, peace and progress are in the offing.
He said that despite the current challenges, there is no doubt that the worse is over, because as he noted, President Buhari is well intentioned and working had to put Nigeria on the path of economic recovery.
He commended Nigerians, especially the people of Kaduna state for their support for the Change Agenda under the administration of President Buhari, urging them to remain committed to the Change mantra until Nigeria is rescued and returned to greatness.
The Kaduna APC Governorship hopeful urged the people of the state to reflect on the lesson of Eid-el-Kabir, show love for one another and be committed to the growth, development and peaceful co-existence in the state.
He assured the people of the state that the APC Akida group in Kaduna State remains solidly behind the administration of President Buhari and determined to bring about meaningful and enduring change with a human face in Kaduna state. [myad]

As Begging In Abuja Is Officially Outlawed, By Yagana Bamya

Greenbarge Reporters

September 15, 2016

There are different kinds of beggars depending on one’s perception of the word but in general term, it means soliciting in whatever way. In this part of the world, there are common and corporate beggars. The former are those moving on the street, stationed at public places like mosques, churches and markets while the later are well dressed moving from one point to the other meeting people especially at work places to beg.

For Abuja, being one of the newest cities in the world it has its own fair share of people rushing into it for greener pasture, which of course, comprises of the good, the bad and the ugly. As people rush into Abuja, the baggage includes the good people, criminals as well as the beggars.

It is unfortunate that when some southern parts of Nigeria were hit by armed robbery, kidnap cases, militancy, etc, some northern parts of the country have been plagued with insurgency, cattle rustling and religious extremism with millions of people in such areas seeking refuge in Abuja thereby overstretching the existing infrastructure.

As other people both skilled and unskilled laborers moved into Abuja, beggars colonies also moved along side with them. However, since Abuja is the only planned city in the Nigeria which is a product of law, everything done in Abuja is guided by the law and therefore some of these visitors are welcome with their trade while some like the beggars and hawkers are outlawed through the Abuja Environmental Protection Board law. Although some of them usually say it is against some of their fundamental human rights. That is a case for another time.

The current FCT Administration, headed by Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has come at a very difficult time in the history of the nation’s capital. The country has been enmeshed in recession with its attendant negative hydro-headed consequences of job loss, high inflation and lack of adequate funds to execute government projects and programmes.

The Minister in efforts to stamp out street begging in the Federal Capital Territory, undertook a far reaching re-organization of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) by changing its leadership as well as establishing a new FCT Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection to give the desired push.

These efforts have indeed paid off, as the AEPB and the Task Team was able to break a syndicate of suspected suppliers of beggars to strategic locations in Abuja. This is to ensure that the menace was uprooted from its foundation.

After this unprecedented achievement, the Chairman of the FCT Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection, Squadron Leader Abdullahi Adamu Monjel (rtd.) revealed that the feat was achieved with the close collaboration of security agencies in the Task Team where intelligence sharing is uppermost. He said that the leader of the suspected syndicate, Baba Gwarma from Kaduna State, said that he is based in Karma-Jiji, a suburb of Abuja with their leader (Sarki) in the same vicinity.

Squadron leader Monjel further disclosed that he has three personal vehicles for movement of beggars in and around Abuja as well as neighboring states of Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna states; adding that Baba Gwarma has houses that he has rented out and also provide shelter for the beggars in the syndicate in Karma-Jiji.

Meanwhile, the pedestrian bridges constructed for ease of pedestrian movements have also been taken over by beggars and hawkers. The Minister had to leave the comfort of his office to personally pay unscheduled visit to some of them in the city and suburb, particularly the one in Lugbe, a suburb of Abuja along the Airport Road. It was there that Malam Bello read another riot act directing the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the FCT Task Team on Environment to as a matter of urgency stop hawkers using pedestrian bridges for their activities in the Federal Capital Territory.

During that visit, Malam Bello warned that hawking and other illegal activities are not acceptable on the Pedestrian bridges across the Territory and called for stern enforcement. He reiterated that such bridges were constructed for easy movement and passage of residents crossing the highways but not meant for hawking, begging or for other nuisances and therefore a stop must be put to it forthwith. The Minister thus, warned officials of the AEPB and the Task Team that the Administration is not prepared to take excuses anymore; saying that they must carryout their statutory duty; emphasizing that the pedestrian bridges are not shopping malls.

It was during that unscheduled visit that Malam Bello also instructed that the AEPB and the Task Team must also get rid of herdsmen still grazing in the Federal Capital City; noting, “you must find a way of dealing with that bizarre situation”.

Thus, another chapter was also opened in tackling their menace by taking advantage of technology to curtail the nefarious activities of beggars and destitute in the Federal Capital Territory. The Administration has taken bold steps to create a database for all the arrested beggars and destitute taken to the Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre, Kuchiko, in Bwari Area Council, Abuja. According to him, the establishment of the database would avail the Administration adequate information on those arrested as well as affording the government the opportunity to make adequate arrangement for repatriation.

He therefore directed the FCT Social Development Secretariat to ensure that all those arrested are captured in the database for easy reference.

Malam Bello at Kuchiko Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre also instructed that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the FCT Task Team on Environment to ensure that beggars and destitute are assembled and registered after their arrests before taken to the Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre where the Social Development staff will officially receive and hand them over to the management of the Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre.

The Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre was also directed to commence the process of repatriation of the beggars and destitute in earnest in line with the extant rules to their various states of origin where the social welfare officials in such states are to receive them officially.

During the same unscheduled visit, the Principal of the Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre, Comrade Bala Tsoho, confirmed that 145 new beggars and destitute were just brought into the Centre.

He reiterated that the welfare of the inmates especially regular feeding has drastically improved since Malam Bello came on board.

Although the Federal Capital City, Abuja has not been completely rid of beggars, cattle grazing and street hawking, it could be gleaned from the foregoing that the Administration of Malam Bello has indeed taken the fight against menace to an enviable height and at the same time following the extant rules in tune with the Change Agenda of the Federal Government to minimize any injury to the rights and privileges of the affected persons.

Mr. Bamya, is a public affairs analysts based in Abuja. [myad]

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