Buhari Beckons Italian Business People To Nigeria

August 4, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Italian business people to come and invest in Nigeria and for more intensive trade and economic engagement between the two countries.

President Buhari, who spoke when he received in audience, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, at the State House, Abuja, described the connection between Nigeria and Italy as very strong.

He commended the resilience of Italian businesses in Nigeria and expressed happiness that new businesses would soon be set up in the country. He also commended the support of the Italian government in tackling the humanitarian situation in the Nigeria’s Northeast as well as the training they are giving to Nigerian policemen.

Gentiloni, who was accompanied by the Italian Minister of State for Interior, Mr. Domenico Manzione, announced his government’s $10 Million humanitarian assistance to the Lake Chad region countries in addition to what they are already doing.

He said that such assistance 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 the Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Matteo Renzi, during his visit in February, to strengthen relations with Nigeria, politically and economically. [myad]

Minister Orders Contractors To Hasten Completion Of Bombed UN House

Greenbarge Reporters

August 4, 2016

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has directed the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to hasten work on the United Nations House to ensure quick handover.

The UN House was bombed on 26^th August, 2012 by Boko Haram terrorists after which the Nigerian government awarded contract for its rehabilitation on the 27^th December, 2012. The project is said to have been 80 per cent completed as at today.

The minister gave the directive on Thursday for the quick completion of the rehabilitation of the House after paying an unscheduled visit to the House in the Central Business District, Abuja to ascertain the level of completion.

Muhammad Bello said that the completion would allow the UN Agencies presently staying at different locations in the Federal Capital City, Abuja to return to base, thereby making their operation more efficient.

He asked the authorities of the FCDA to work with the contractors, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and the UN Resident Co-ordinator in Nigeria to resolve all grey areas that would lead to the completion and early handover.

“It is all our duty to see that all the United Agencies staying around Abuja are back here. And I think it will send a strong signal to those that bombed this place. Whatever they do to us, we will continue to be strong.”

The minister thanked the UN for the support it has been giving to Nigeria which he said is being appreciated.

Taking the Minister round the site, the UN Resident Co-ordinator who is also UNICEF Country Representative, Jean Gough thanked the Minister for the special attention he has given to the rehabilitation works.

The minister also said that arrangement has been concluded to install modern traffic lights in 98 intersections of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.
speaking when he received in audience, the Zone 7 Commanding Officer of the Federal Road Safety
Commission (FRSC), Assistant Corps Marshal Kingsley Agomoh in his office on Thursday, the minister said that most of the old model traffic lights would be replaced by the modern ones to improve vehicular movement in the city centre and reduce waste of man-hour.
Muhammad Bello, said that the FCT Administration has already completed technical survey for the job, and that the Chinese authorities are donating the new traffic lights.
According to him, the installation work would commence within the next two or three months time across the Federal Capital City. [myad]

Aisha Buhari Attends Anniversary Of Zumunta Association In America

Greenbarge Reporters

August 4, 2016

Wife of the President Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has attended the 25th Anniversary of Zumunta Association in the United States of America as is the Special Guest. The event took place on Thursday evening at the Silver Spring civic centre in Maryland, Washington DC.

The Event with the theme: “Rebirth and Renewable” was scheduled to be attended by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, as Guest speaker and many other prominent Nigerians.

Mrs. Buhari is also expected to be hosted to a round table discussion by the United States institute of peace and would have an in-depth conversation with a group of senior United States policy makers and other groups with focus on Nigeria.

The institute is a congressionally funded, independent national institute dedicated to the proposition that peace is possible, practical and essential for United States and international security.

Mrs. Buhari, who is being accompanied on the visit by wives of some state Governors, was also scheduled to hold meetings with several groups at the George Mason University, Washington, before she returns to Nigeria.

Details later. [myad]

Nigeria Is Bankrupt Because Of Foolish Economic Policies, Kano Emir, Sanusi Says

Greenbarge Reporters

August 3, 2016

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has said that Nigerian is bankrupt because of the economic policies that were foolish and unrealistic.

“Nigeria is bankrupt; we are bankrupted by a policy that was foolish, that was unrealistic, and unsustainable and by all means our refusal over the years to listen.

“We are surprised that we have an economic recession; we are actually surprised that we are in recession? We created the recession.”

The Emir, who is the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), spoke on Wednesday in a lecture he delivered on the Deregulation of the Downstream Oil Sector and Nigeria’s Economic Development at the National Defence College, Abuja.

According to him, the fact that the economy is in recession should not be a surprise, saying that it is a product of bad policies. He added that the country was made bankrupt by unrealistic policies and failure of those in charge of the government over the years to take corrective measures.

The former Governor of the CBN, who commented on the removal of the fuel subsidy, said the subsidy was a scam designed to benefit a few in the country, even as he faulted the claims that subsidy was meant to benefit the poor.

He said that the country was losing 20 million Dollars for every 30,000 metric tons of kerosene imported into the country, saying: “the whole issue of fuel subsidy was set up to create opportunity for a few people to make money, and it was presented in a manner that convinced everybody it was for the poor.” [myad]

Commission Confirms Sani-Omolori As Clerk Of National Assembly

Greenbarge Reporters

August 3, 2016

The National Assembly Service Commission has confirmed Mohammed Sani Omolori as the substantive Clerk of the National Assembly. Sani-Omolori has been acting as clerk after the expiration of the tenure of former clerk, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa.

A letter confirming Sani-Omolori as the substantive clerk and signed by the Executive Chairman of the commission, Dr. Adamu Mohammed Fika, said the appointment was in recognition of Sani-Omolori’s hard work, dedication to duty and responsible conduct as well as loyalty to the Leadership of the National Assembly.

It reads in part: “I have the pleasure to inform you that the National Assembly Service Commission has at it 443rd Meeting approved the confirmation of your appointment as Clerk to the National Assembly.

“This appointment takes effect from 15th August, 2016.“

Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori became Clerk of the House of Representatives in 2008.

A prince of Ebira, he was born into the family of the immediate past Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, the late Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori, in Okene, on June 7, 1961.

He had his early education at the Native Authority (Central) Primary School, Okene from 1966 to 1971.

He thereafter proceeded to Government Secondary School now Abdul Azeez Attah Memorial College Okene from 1972 to 1976.

From there, he proceeded to the Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology (KCAST), Zaria for his advanced level certificate from 1977 to 1979.

After leaving KCAST, he later secured admission into Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in 1979 where he obtained LLB in Law 1982.

Upon graduation from ABU, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1982 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983. [myad]

Traditional Rulers And I Are Talking To Niger Delta Militants For Truce – Jonathan

Greenbarge Reporters

August 3, 2016

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has said that he and the traditional rulers in the Niger Delta region have engaged in talks with the militants to cease fire and allow Nigeria to enjoy unity.

The former President, who spoke to news men after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday, emphasized that it is appropriate for him and traditional rulers in the area to mediate in the matter.

“It’s not just about me but about all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders that are of the Ijaw ethnic nationality. We have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country. Those of you that have followed my talks when I was here, my emphasis is that we need a United Nigeria and I always emphasize that Nigeria is great not just about the oil.

“So many countries produce more oil than Nigeria nobody notices them. We are great because of our size, the human resources we have, the diversity we have, if we fragmentize the country into small components, we will be forgotten by the World.

“That has been my focal position and without peace there cannot be development anywhere in the world. We are all working collectively to see that issues are resolved.”

Information had it that because of the intervention of former President Jonathan, the militant groups announced that they have suspended their plan to declare Niger Delta Republic out of the Republic of Nigeria.

Jonathan told news men that he was in Aso Rock to brief President Buhari on his emergence as the leader of African Union (AU) elections monitoring team to Zambia.

“You asked why I came to see the President today, one key thing is that having been a head of a government, a former president you become a state property. That’s the privilege you have but every privilege has its corresponding responsibility, and once you become a state property, most of your international engagement, that has to do with public addresses and some international assignment becomes a national assignment, you brief the President.

“Even when I was here the former presidents used to do that and see me. I have been coming. Most times, I come in the night that’s why you don’t see me. I came to brief the President about some of my engagements. As you are aware, I will be leading the AU elections monitoring team to Zambia. I came to brief the President about some of these external engagements. It is the tradition”, he said.

“I don’t want to talk about that one because there are too many cases that are in court. It will not be fair to make comments. I will talk at the appropriate time when most of these things are resolved.” [myad]

We’re Determined To Cleanse Nigeria Of Boko Haram Irrespective Of Leadership – Army

Greenbarge Reporters

August 3, 2016

The Nigerian Army has made it clear that its target is to cleanse Nigeria of Boko Haram insurgents whether or not they change their leaders.

Reacting to the news that the Islamic State (ISIS) had named Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the new leader of Boko Haram in Nigeria to replace Abubakar Shekau, the Defence Headquarters said that the military is not in any way perturbed about the change of leadership.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, said that the military is not interested in what happens at what he described as “nearly dead” Boko Haram terrorists, including change of leadership or alliance with ISIS.

Abubakar said that the military is only focused on complete destruction of the terror group irrespective of leadership and administrative changes.

”The leadership change of BHT as purpotedly released recently doesnt in any way bother us as the group is nearly dead in Nigeria and others within the Lake Chad nations. So, whether there is change in leadership or not, we are sure of total annihilation of the group.

“Our focus is to clear them from their hideouts which we have been doing through the ongoing Opetation Crackdown and Operation Gama Aiki with Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF). It’s not anything to us and we will continue to reduce them to nothing.”

Abubakar said that the military personnel have been capturing the terrorists “on daily basis, so the change is not anything to us. The DHQ is aware that Boko Haram are in disarray and collapsing.

“So they are trying to behave like a dying person who holds to anything in his desperation to stay alive. People should not take them seriously as they no longer pose any threats. However, we dismissed this change of leadership as a child’s play.” [myad]

You Are An Inspiration To Nigerians, President Buhari Tells Barrister Ubani

Greenbarge Reporters

August 3, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has confessed that former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Lagos, Barrister Monday Onyekachi Ubani, is an inspiring personality with the proposed launching of his Foundation to cater for the less privileged, this weekend.

The launching will also be used to commemorate the lawyer’s birthday.

In a letter to the lawyer, President Buhari commended him for his decision to improve other peoples’ lives in his own little way.

“I consider this very inspiring. If this is the heartbeat of more privileged Nigerians, then the burdens of government will be a lot lightened.”

The President was particularly moved by the fact that the Foundation launch will be marked by a public lecture, which will focus on one of the things dearest to the heart of his administration; the anti-corruption war.

“I also look forward to the details of the lecture by Pastor Tunde Bakare on, The System that Allows Massive Corruption in Nigeria Must Be A Bad System.

“It is significant that the Foundation is dedicated to helping the poor and needy in the society, and is also out to celebrate those who have made our country proud with virtuous acts. This, I heartily commend and recommend to other well off Nigerians.

“I wish you a very successful launch, a most illuminating lecture, and a Happy Birthday.”

The Onyekachi Ubani Foundation will be inaugurated in Lagos on Saturday, August 6, 2016. [myad]

Over 5 Million Nigerian Babies Have No Access To Continuous Break Milk – UNICEF

Greenbarge Reporters

August 3, 2016

The United Nations Children Education Funds (UNICEF) has said that due to inadequate breastfeeding, no fewer than five million newborn babies in Nigeria are being deprived of essential nutrients and antibodies that can protect them from disease and death.

UNICEF, who is marking the World Breastfeeding Week, starting from August 1^st and ending on August 7, said that nearly seven million children are born in Nigeria every year and that, according to the 2014 National Nutrition and Health Survey, only 25 per cent are exclusively breastfed from 0-6 months of age.

The UNICEF Nigeria Chief of Nutrition, Arjan de Wagt said: “we know that the pressure to give water to newborns in addition to breast milk is high. But the stomach of a baby is so small it can barely hold 60 millilitres of liquid and when it is filled with water, it leaves no room for breast milk and its life sustaining nutrients.

“Babies who are fed nothing but breast milk from the moment they are born until they are six months old grow and develop better. Breast milk gives a child a head start in life and a chance to fight child malnutrition later in life.”

UNICEF said that Nigeria is making progress in exclusive breastfeeding very slowly, saying that over ten years, Nigeria has increased its exclusive breastfeeding rate from 12 per cent to only 25 per cent.

“By comparison, in 1994, both Ghana and Nigeria had both exclusive breastfeeding rates of 7.4, but by 2013 Ghana had moved up to 63 per cent.

“Nigeria’s lack of progress in exclusive breastfeeding denies millions of newborns in Nigeria the benefits of breast milk. Research shows that an exclusively breastfed child is 14 times less likely to die in the first six months than a non-breastfed child and that breastfeeding drastically reduces deaths from acute respiratory infection and diarrhoea; two major child killer diseases.

“The National Food and Nutrition policy 2014- 2019 has a strong exclusive breastfeeding component and while UNICEF has welcomed the policy it urges the Government of Nigeria to include a budget line for nutrition in the health sector budget and a timely release of budget for immediate programming.”

UNICEF also commends the initiative of the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, that was announced in July to address child malnutrition and recommends that exclusive breastfeeding should be a strong component of her initiative.

She had said: “lack of exclusive breastfeeding is implicated in the current high rate of child malnutrition in Nigeria,’ noted Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. “Exclusive breastfeeding is free and breast milk is readily available, so exclusive breastfeeding should be our first strategy in fighting child malnutrition.” [myad]

Media Outfit Studies Newspaper Readership Vis-à-vis Online Media

Greenbarge Reporters

August 3, 2016

An Abuja-based media communications company, CBD MediaEdge Limited, has announced that it is going to conduct a survey on newspaper readership behavioural pattern in Nigeria.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Chief Executive of the company, Isiaq Ajibola, said that the survey will focus on internet incursion by readers in the last five years even as he called on members of the public to participate in the survey tagged: “Offline Vs Online Media: How will it End?”

He said that the objective of the study is to understand the depth of migration into the online platform and the impact it had had on news production and consumption overtime.

“The global view on this matter is that the omnipresent nature of online news has continued to shape the way readers behave in news consumption and assimilation. Moreso that news are now more intrusive and accessed online through different handheld devices.

“Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc are considered to be particularly engaging, interactive and have become a veritable means of Information dissemination in corporate organizations and between individuals.”

Ajibola said that there are purists who believed that newspapers in their hard copies form would continue to exist for a long time to come, if only because newspaper had kept an unassailable track record in news reliability and credibility, adding that the study is to understand the specific trend, pattern, depth and other important variables in the different variants of behaviour on the subject.

“The survey will be based on online and direct questionnaire approach and administered to a fairly large population. The survey will cut across all strata of the society with special focus on critical stakeholders such as media professionals, lawmakers, businessmen, lawyers, labour, academia, political parties, women and youth organizations.” [myad]

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