President Muhammadu Buhari has given an assurance that his administration will honour all international trade agreements that will directly improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
Speaking at an audience with the outgoing Ambassador of Turkey to Nigeria, Mr. Mustafa Pulat today, President Buhari said that under his leadership, the Federal Government will give special attention to the implementation of such agreements, especially in the provision of infrastructure, good education and job opportunities.
He commended the Ambassador’s efforts at expanding areas of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Turkey, even as he applauded the growth of trade between both countries in recent years.
“I am impressed with the improvement in our trade relations which coincided with the period you arrived in Nigeria.
“As we settle down into governance, we will look into other areas in which we can work together and directly help our people,”  President Buhari assured Mr. Pulat.
The President also praised  the outgoing Ambassador’s positive impact on education in Nigeria as reflected in the increased number of Turkish schools and universities in Nigeria.
Mr. Pulat told the President that during his two and half years in Abuja, he focused on ensuring better cultural, educational and trade relations between Nigeria and Turkey. [myad]

Beggars in Kaduna state have protested over the state government ban on street begging, threatening to take the government to court for alleged defamation of character and violation of their right to life.
A group of beggars, consisting of men, women and children, led by one Abdullahi Jugunu, stormed the Kaduna State Secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, to express their displeasure with the ban imposed on them. The group kicked against the ban on street begging and hawking.
Jugunu, while speaking on behalf of the beggars, observed that beggars ought to have been consulted before such a pronouncement is made.
“Apart from feeling insulted, we will be seeking legal redress against the government, first for defamation of character. The ban, which came only after the Zaria blast, is a subtle way of calling us terrorists. Our right to life is now under threat because our existence is hinged on begging activities on the streets.
“We are giving the authorities three days to rescind their decision or risk being victims of a spell we would profess against them. Our promise for now is that we will be returning to the streets for our normal business.”
It will be recalled that following the attack of a female suicide bomber in Zaria, that killed about 40 people, the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, banned street hawking and begging across the State. [myad]

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, today, personally inspected the Ikotun-Ejigbo road, expressing surprise over the level of damage on the road.
Governor Ambode, who described the state of the road as unacceptable, assured residents that the road will get a face lift very soon.
“I have come personally to see for myself the state of Ejigbo road and it is very clear that this is totally unacceptable and there is no other remedy than to let our officials come to site within the next one week and the people of this neighbourhood should be guaranteed that work will start on Ikotun-Ejigbo-Isolo axis ‎within the next seven days”.
He said the road was too strategic as it serves as a major link road connecting several local governments, hence it could not be left at the state which it was.
The governor therefore directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Mr. Paul Bamgboye-Martins and the General Manager, Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), Mr. Ayotunde Sodeinde to move immediately to the area to commence work within the next forty eight hours.
He also appealed to residents for understanding when the construction commences, saying that the State Public Works will be mobilised to provide palliative measure to ease the traffic gridlock often experienced by motorists plying the route on a daily basis due to the condition of the road.
“We would make sure that you have immediate relief and that in the course of the rehabilitation the people in the neighbourhood should just bear with us‎ but you can take it for granted that work will commence immediately after Ramada.” [myad]