The National Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) has bought nomination form for the re-election, for a second term, of the incumbent chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche. A statement by Ogbeche’s campaign leader, Mr. Timothy M. Choji, said that the form was bought today, November 2, at a brief ceremony at the secretariat of the NUJ FCT Council, Utako Abuja. Speaking at the event, President of the NAWOJ, Ladi Bala, said that the women journalists decided to purchase the form on behalf of Ogbeche in appreciation of the remarkable achievements recorded by Ogbeche in leading the FCT NUJ in the last three years. She called on practicing journalists in Abuja to re-elect Ogbeche to enable him consolidate on his achievements. Responding, Comrade Ogbeche, who was visibly emotional for the good gesture, pledged to do more for the welfare of Journalists in Abuja. Among those who graced the occasion were former Presidents of NAWOJ, Evelyn Onyilo and Asabe Baba Nahaya, who both commended Ogbeche’s sterling achievements and plegded support for his re-election. Other members of the Fresh Start Team who also picked their forms for election included Patrick Osadebamwhen, (Vice Chairman) and Ochiaka Ugwu (Secretary), among others. About 80 members of the NUJ were present at the historical event.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has pleaded with security agencies to ensure that the six people kidnapped by hoodlums from the University of Abuja staff quarters at Giri, Gwagwalada Area Council are rescued.
The Minister, who reacted to reports of the invasion of the staff quarters by a number of gunmen in the early hours of today, November 2, assured members of the University community that the Government would do all that is necessary to ensure the safe return of the abductees.
While condemning the attack on the University Community, Malam Muhammad Miss Bello said that concerted efforts are being made to provide adequate security for all institutions of learning in the Territory.
He called on members of the public to always support and cooperate with the security agencies, whenever the need arose.
Meanwhile, patrol teams of Security personnel, made up of the Military, Police, Local Vigilante and the University Security officials, are currently on the trail of the hoodlums.
INEC Chairman, Mahmoud and Anambra Police Commissioner
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has landed in Awka, the capital of Anambra State for the gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, November 6.
The chairman was accompanied today, November 2, by National Commissioners, members of the Technical Team, Directors and other Directing Staff.
A statement from the Commission said that one of the conveners of the National Peace Committee, Bishop Hassan Kukah also flew into the State in the same flight with the INEC team.
The statement said that Professor Yakubu would attend the traditional and final Stakeholders’ Meeting tomorrow, November 3 in Awka.
The idea, according to the statement, is to discuss final aspects of the State Governorship Election, even as he is scheduled to attend the Peace Accord ceremony on Thursday, where all the contesting candidates of the 18 Political Parties will commit themselves to peace in writing.
Gunmen have kidnapped a professor, his son and daughter, another Professor, and two others at the University of Abuja quarters along Gwagwalada-airport road, close to Giri junction and Army Signal.
Those who were kidnapped are
Professor Bassey Ubom, his son and daughter, Professor Obanza, Malam Sambo, Mohammed and Dr. Tobit
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters said that the gunmen arrived at about 11.57pm of November 1, and disarmed the security men at the university’s both gates to comfortably carry out their operation unhindered, with sporadic heavy gunshots, until about 2pm.
It was learnt that several neighbours, who are mostly Lecturers and non teaching staff were robbed of their belongings such as money, laptops, phones and other valuable items.
It was gathered that Officers of Nigeria Police Force ( NPF ) arrived at the scene at about 2:15am today, November 2, and are yet to make any arrest or make official statement.
Meanwhile, the kidnappers are said to be demanding the sum of N10 million ransom for the release of the lecturers.
President Muhammadu Buhari is attracting words of commendation from the world leaders in Glasgow, Scotland in the United Kingdom, over his positive handling of the climate change, especially his leadership role in restoring degraded lands in Nigeria.
One of such leaders, the American billionaire and founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, yesterday, November 1, described the commitment of President Buhari to restore four million hectares of land as exemplary.
Bezos joined President Buhari, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince Charles and the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani at a COP 26 side event entitled: “Accelerating land restoration in Africa, the case of the Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative.”.
Heaping praises on the Nigerian leader at the event co-hosted by the French President, his Mauritanian counterpart and the Prince of Wales, the Amazon founder said:
‘‘We are fortunate to have President Buhari of Nigeria with us today.
‘‘Nigeria plays a critical role in the restoration movement and has pledged to restore 4 million hectares of degraded lands.
‘‘This kind of ambition coming from Africa’s largest economy underscores just how vital this issue is.’’
The Bezos Earth Fund has a 10 billion dollar fund to allocate money to projects fighting climate change.
Nigeria is due to assume the leadership of Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Pan African Agency of the Great Green Wall.
President Buhari had used the occasion of his address to appeal to fellow leaders to continue to make concerted efforts at land restoration.
‘‘I am optimistic that Africa’s ambition of restoring over 100million hectares of degraded landscape for productive agriculture is achievable,’’ he said.
President Buhari also pledged Nigeria’s unalloyed commitment to expanding the achievements of the GGW programme in Africa from the enviable status attained under the leadership of President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania.
‘‘Together we commit to the transformative process of restoring the African degraded landscape and ultimately the continent’s environment,’’ he said.
The Nigerian Army has announced the destruction of five oil bickering camps with 16 cooking ovens and 21 reservoirs in parts of Bayelsa and Rivers States.
The operations were carried out by the troops of 6 Division, operating under “Exercise Still Waters.”
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who spoke to newsmen today, November 1, on the ongoing army exercises across the country in Abuja, said that the troops in conjunction with personnel of sister security agencies, conducted aggressive night patrol to Amousa in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers following credible information on the activities of bunkerers in the vicinity.
According to him, a total of three dumps with illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were subsequently destroyed.
“This was followed by another raid operation on Oct. 7 within Opromor-Peretoror in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
“The raid led to the destruction of five bunkering camps, 16 cooking ovens and 21 reservoirs,” he said.
Nwachukwu also disclosed that troops also apprehended three suspected metal vandals along Oku–Iboku–Mbak road in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
He said the suspects were duly handed over to relevant authorities for further action.
The Army spokesman further stated that troops of 81 Division, had on Oct. 7, intercepted a large barge of illegally bunkered petroleum products along the Ojodu-Berger waterways.
He added that a Joint Patrol team, comprising troops of 2 Division, paramilitary personnel and vigilantes, rescued 18 kidnap victims from kidnappers’ hideout at Ezizubowa forest in Edo on Oct. 7.
According to him, the troops overwhelmed the criminals and forced them to flee the hideout.
“Troops subsequently rescued the kidnap victims and recovered 20 cartridges, 70 rounds of 7.55mm ammunition, one HP Laptop, 15 mobile phones, and the sum of N223,200, amongst others,” according to him.
Besides, he disclosed that troops of 81 Division also apprehended 17 suspected drug users and recovered a large volume of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa on Oct. 6.
Nwachukwu also said that troops of 81 Division, in collaboration with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), conducted an anti-drug raid operation and arrested eight suspects at Idi-Oro in Mushin, Lagos State.
He said that a foreign national in possession of several sacks of substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa and other psychoactive drugs, worth about N6.5 million were intercepted.
“Same day, troops of 2 Division apprehended a serial impostor, one Ahmad Suleiman, following credible information on his nefarious activities in defrauding unsuspecting members of the general public around Tanke general area of Ilorin township.
“The suspect was arrested with two Guard belts and one pair of camouflage inner shirt and trouser, amongst other items,” he said.
Nwachukwu said the troops of 2 Division had on Oct. 9, arrested six suspected bandits’ logistics suppliers at Kaiama Forest in Borgu Local Government Area of Kwara.
He said the suspects were arrested with 160 gallons which the suspects confessed were used in conveying fuel to bandits.
According to him, troops of 6 Division had on Oct. 12 apprehended 7 suspects, while one human skull, one locally made pistol, one motorcycle and seven mobile phones were also recovered.
Foundation of a first class Presidential wing of the State House Clinic has been laid in Aso Rock to take care of the health challenges of the President, Vice President, their families and visiting heads of State from other countries.
The facility, which construction began immediately is expected to be commissioned in December, 2022. It is expected to make foreign medical trips by President unnecessary.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who performed the ground breaking ceremony of the facility today, November 1, at the presidential villa, said: “this is an essential facility because we have to have the best facility for the President, the first family and other very distinguished senior officials of government.
“It is also a facility that, when finished, will be at the disposal of visiting dignitaries who may require medical assistance during their visit.”
According to the Chief of staff: “nobody will remember much what we say but generations to come will remember what is done, which is to begin the process of constructing what will be first class, state of the art facility which will be best and appropriate for the leadership of this country.”
This was even as the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina lauded the idea behind the project.
He said that for years and decades to come, the facility would serve the sitting and visiting Presidents as well as other dignitaries.
Permanent Secretary in the State House, Tijjani Umar, stressed the importance of the foundation laying event as it was done in keeping with the timelines approved for the construction of the Clinic.
Present at the occasion were the Chief Medical Director, State House Clinic, Dr. Munir Hussaini Yakasai and other members of the State House top management as well as the construction team of Julius Berger, Nigeria.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, has alerted Nigerians about the looming outbreaks of Lassa fever, meningitis and other diseases in the country as the dry season sets in.
In an interview today, November 1 in Abuja, the NCDC boss said that the outbreaks of the multiple diseases would strain other aspects of the economy.
“Lassa fever and meningitis remain a major public health challenge in West Africa, with Nigeria bearing a significant burden.
“They occur throughout the year, but more cases are recorded during the dry season based on our surveillance data.
“Lassa fever virus is transmitted by rodents which can be found in our environment. This contributes largely to the risk of spread that occurs in Nigeria and other countries with similar ecological factors,” Adetifa explained.
According to him, the public health workforce continues to work hard to maintain surveillance on these infectious diseases to inform public health response activities.
He noted that the infrastructure developed through the COVID-19 response, such as treatment centres and additional molecular laboratories across states were being used to respond to other outbreaks.
“There is no vaccine to protect against Lassa fever; ensuring proper sanitation, good personal hygiene and standard care precautions by health workers will help to prevent spread of the disease.
“Importantly, Nigerians must also have a critical role to play in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
“We will continue to appeal to Nigerians to take responsibility while remaining aware of risk of the spread of COVID-19, cholera, Lassa fever, cerebrospinal meningitis and other disease outbreaks.
”The existing measures such as handwashing with soap and running water can prevent these diseases,” he said.
The NCDC boss noted that Nigerians were at the time of the year when bush burning was rampant.
“We want to discourage bush burning to prevent migration of rodents (including multimammate rats) to our neighbourhood.
”This will reduce the risk of Lassa fever virus transmission by these rodents that contaminates food stuff by dropping their urines,” he said..
The NCDC boss urged the people to block holes through which rodents gain entrance into homes and keep food stuff in tightly sealed containers, stressing, good environmental and personal hygiene should be observed.
He urged Nigerians with symptoms of Lassa fever to report immediately by calling hotlines provided by their state Ministry of Health or 6232.
Adetifa further said that symptoms of Lassa fever include; fever, headache and general body weakness with or without bleeding through the orifices in the body including mouth and nostrils.
He said that the disease also spread from person to person, physical touch of those who manifest the symptoms of the disease was discouraged and their care givers urged to perform regular hand hygiene and report cases to nearest health facility.
The NCDC boss, however, said that Lassa fever was treatable at states designated treatment centres.
“Many deaths that have been reported from Lassa fever occur as a result of late presentation in the treatment centre.
”To reduce the risk of death from Lassa fever, those showing symptoms, especially in a high burden communities should visit health facilities for early diagnosis and prompt treatment,” he said.
The director-general called on healthcare workers to comply strictly with infection prevention and control protocol to prevent infecting themselves and others.
“They should have high index of suspicion to detect and report cases to the Local Government Area disease surveillance and notification officers.
“We will continue to rely on our traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and community-based organisations as critical stakeholders in the fight against infectious diseases in our communities.
“We will continue to solicit the support of our partners, including the media at all levels toward the efforts in combating these diseases,” he said.
Adetifa, stated that the agency would continue to call on leadership at all levels to prioritise investment in health security in their respective jurisdiction.
He added that the NCDC would also build on lessons from previous outbreaks to ensure adequate preparedness for future emergencies.
“This is the hour we all must go back to God for forgiveness because we cannot do much without Him.” This was the verdict according to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-East Zone. The leader of the Association, Abraham Nwali, at a Thanksgiving ceremony in his honour at St Paul Parish Onuebonyi in Abakaliki, called on the religious heads to educate Nigerians to embrace peace for a better society and good governance. Pastor Nwali, who is also Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Religious and Welfare Matters, said that enlightenment of politicians and other Nigerians to adopt the social course and ways to handle conflicts would bring calmness to the country, especially the troubled Southeast zone. “Men of God must wake up from sleep and advise politicians and other Nigerians on the need to embrace peace. The Clergyman urged Christian faithful to adopt humanitarian services and services for God, saying: “this is the secret to success.” Source: NAN.
President Muhammadu Buhari had a very successful visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the high which is the symbolization of our mutual trust and resolve to combat climate change, improve trade and promote investment in humanity, not profit as a motive.
It was also an opportunity used by the President to reassure the global investment community on the question of security which is of utmost significance to anyone wishing to bring their money here.
Addressing the 5,200 participants at the 5th Future Investment Summit, FII called by the Saudi Arabian Monarch and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, the President gave the most important assurance his large audience-physical and virtual in attendance- wanted to hear: “security is our most important priority. It’s the bottom line and common sense. It is up to us to secure our country and we will do it.”
To President Buhari, growing social unrest and insecurity are products of inequalities and unfair policies that exclude the majority from opportunities for participation, admonishing world leaders and global investors to prioritize inclusive and humane policies.
He then went on to list a litany of things going for the country: we are the largest on the continent in the economy and population-a people driven by aggressive competitiveness.
He had on the entourage retinue a of Nigeria’s successful business leaders including Aliko Dangote and Abdulsamad Rabi’u, included in the top ten ranking of Africa’s richest.
The official delegates included Mr. Tope Sonubi, Wale Tinubu, Omoboyede Olusanya, Abubakar Sulaiman, Herbert Wigwe, Muhammadu Ndimi, Alan Sinfield, Leo Stan Ekeh, Hassan Usman, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal. It was their opportunity to seek deals and partnerships with their foreign counterparts.
As an aside, it interested many seeing Abdulsamad and Dangote arriving together and leaving on the same aircraft. They shared the same hotel and same car throughout.
This was contrary to the public perception of the relationship between the two business moguls.
On the Government side, the President was supported by the Ministers of Trade and Investment, Communications and Digital Economy-the nation’s fastest-growing sector with a record contribution of two trillion Naira in a year from almost nothing in the past-and the Ministers of State for Foreign Affairs and Petroleum.
The Saudi’s made it clear from their invitation that they were impressed by President Buhari’s last outing at the summit and had hoped that this same spirit will reflect in this year’s event.
The President, indeed Nigeria was honoured by the organizers in making our country’s leader to be the first Keynote Speaker at the prestigious event anchored by two of CNN’s leading finance, business and investment analysts’ cum-reporters, Richard Quest and John Defterios.
Taking a cue from the theme of this year’s summit, President Buhari presented an address titled: “Investing in Humanity: The Nigerian Perspective.” Of course, he had a strong statement to make here. Not only is this in line with his personal philosophy, fact is that investing in humanity is all that his government has been doing.
It’s the angle from which all decisions of government are taken. For him, therefore, this was a most befitting platform to tell the world what his country has been doing.
In that speech, he mentioned that:
“Investing in humanity is investing in our collective survival. This is why in Nigeria we believe that public and private partnerships should focus on increasing investments in health, education, capacity building, youth empowerment, gender equality, poverty eradication, climate change, and food security. By so doing, it will go a long way in reenergizing the global economy in a postCOVID-19 era.
“Nigeria’s population today exceeds 200 million people. Some 70 percent are under 35 years old. When we came into government in 2015, we were quick to realise that long-term peace and stability of our country is dependent on having inclusive and humane policies.
“In the past six years, our government took very painful but necessary decisions to invest for a long-term prosperous future knowing very well that this will come with short term pains,” he added.
The President took a look at global challenges, past and present and warned thus:
“We cannot invest in humanity without relieving our countries from the crushing effects of the debt burden especially when the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of deepening the debt portfolio of poor countries.
“These nations increasingly allocate more and more resources towards external debt servicing and repayment at the expense of the health, education and other services that contribute to the overall wellbeing of their population,” he said.
Describing the summit as a credible forum for interaction between the public and private sectors, to explore ways of advancing economic growth, development and global prosperity, the President said Nigeria’s diversification efforts continue to yield results, particularly in agriculture.
On the important government policy of Climate and the place of Public-Private Partnership, the President noted that climate change has triggered conflicts, food insecurity, irregular youth migration, rising level of sea waters, drought and desertification, as well as the drying-up of the Lake Chad.
“In the Lake Chad Basin region, where Boko Haram insurgency continues to undermine the peace, security and development of the region, climate change is largely responsible for the drying up of the Lake Chad which has shrunk by more than 85 percent its original size.
“The diminishing size of the Lake is at the root of the loss of millions of livelihoods, displacement of inhabitants and radicalization of teeming youths in the region who are recruited to serve as foot soldiers in the insurgency.
“In order to redress this situation and restore the lost fortunes of the Lake Chad Basin region, strong public-private partnership through massive investments will be needed to recharge the waters of Lake Chad. I am confident that this forum will rise to the challenge in the interest of durable peace and sustainable development of our region.”
The President’s meeting with Nigerians in the Diaspora gave him an opportunity to send an important message to Nigerians on his unbending determination to respect the Constitution at all times and on all issues.
Not only did he restate his determination to leave office at the end of his tenure in 2023, he followed up with a warning to would-be campaigners, in case there are some who are contemplating this, that he will not undermine the law of the land by extending the tenure of office and that nobody should start doing this nonsense.
Apart from the usual homily to Nigerians to respect the laws of the counties in which they reside, the President threw his weight behind the clamour for the incorporation of new technologies in the election process.
He was blunt with the fact that without technology in the 2015 election, the Electronic Voters Register and the Card Reader, he may not have won; that he could have been schemed out or ought rightly cheated of his victory by the governing authorities as did happen on three previous elections 2003, 2007and 201.
“With this innovation, they could not defeat me on the altar of money and fraud.”
The President also narrated a story familiar to many Nigerian families, in which members dared the desert and walked their way to the Holy Land for the pilgrimage.
They traded on the route, served as farmhands and the skilled among them earned upkeep as they trudged on for years before getting to their destination.
Millions of these made these journeys as millions of others failed to make it, by either losing their lives or choosing to settle down as migrants in countries on the way.
“My uncle” whom he named as Hussaini “undertook this arduous journey but died in Sudan in the homeward stretch,” said the President.
An important point he made of this, was that these earlier generations built the strong bond of relationships between our peoples and nations and the present generation must do nothing to derogate from the existing cordiality and friendship of our two states.
President Buhari’s trip to Saudi Arabia focused mainly on marketing Nigeria and developing a positive image for the nation. From all intents and purposes, the objective has been achieved.
Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.
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President Buhari’s Success In Marketing Nigeria In Saudi Arabia, By Garba Shehu
It was also an opportunity used by the President to reassure the global investment community on the question of security which is of utmost significance to anyone wishing to bring their money here.
Addressing the 5,200 participants at the 5th Future Investment Summit, FII called by the Saudi Arabian Monarch and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, the President gave the most important assurance his large audience-physical and virtual in attendance- wanted to hear: “security is our most important priority. It’s the bottom line and common sense. It is up to us to secure our country and we will do it.”
To President Buhari, growing social unrest and insecurity are products of inequalities and unfair policies that exclude the majority from opportunities for participation, admonishing world leaders and global investors to prioritize inclusive and humane policies.
He then went on to list a litany of things going for the country: we are the largest on the continent in the economy and population-a people driven by aggressive competitiveness.
He had on the entourage retinue a of Nigeria’s successful business leaders including Aliko Dangote and Abdulsamad Rabi’u, included in the top ten ranking of Africa’s richest.
The official delegates included Mr. Tope Sonubi, Wale Tinubu, Omoboyede Olusanya, Abubakar Sulaiman, Herbert Wigwe, Muhammadu Ndimi, Alan Sinfield, Leo Stan Ekeh, Hassan Usman, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal. It was their opportunity to seek deals and partnerships with their foreign counterparts.
As an aside, it interested many seeing Abdulsamad and Dangote arriving together and leaving on the same aircraft. They shared the same hotel and same car throughout.
This was contrary to the public perception of the relationship between the two business moguls.
On the Government side, the President was supported by the Ministers of Trade and Investment, Communications and Digital Economy-the nation’s fastest-growing sector with a record contribution of two trillion Naira in a year from almost nothing in the past-and the Ministers of State for Foreign Affairs and Petroleum.
The Saudi’s made it clear from their invitation that they were impressed by President Buhari’s last outing at the summit and had hoped that this same spirit will reflect in this year’s event.
The President, indeed Nigeria was honoured by the organizers in making our country’s leader to be the first Keynote Speaker at the prestigious event anchored by two of CNN’s leading finance, business and investment analysts’ cum-reporters, Richard Quest and John Defterios.
Taking a cue from the theme of this year’s summit, President Buhari presented an address titled: “Investing in Humanity: The Nigerian Perspective.” Of course, he had a strong statement to make here. Not only is this in line with his personal philosophy, fact is that investing in humanity is all that his government has been doing.
It’s the angle from which all decisions of government are taken. For him, therefore, this was a most befitting platform to tell the world what his country has been doing.
In that speech, he mentioned that:
“Investing in humanity is investing in our collective survival. This is why in Nigeria we believe that public and private partnerships should focus on increasing investments in health, education, capacity building, youth empowerment, gender equality, poverty eradication, climate change, and food security. By so doing, it will go a long way in reenergizing the global economy in a postCOVID-19 era.
“Nigeria’s population today exceeds 200 million people. Some 70 percent are under 35 years old. When we came into government in 2015, we were quick to realise that long-term peace and stability of our country is dependent on having inclusive and humane policies.
“In the past six years, our government took very painful but necessary decisions to invest for a long-term prosperous future knowing very well that this will come with short term pains,” he added.
The President took a look at global challenges, past and present and warned thus:
“We cannot invest in humanity without relieving our countries from the crushing effects of the debt burden especially when the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of deepening the debt portfolio of poor countries.
“These nations increasingly allocate more and more resources towards external debt servicing and repayment at the expense of the health, education and other services that contribute to the overall wellbeing of their population,” he said.
Describing the summit as a credible forum for interaction between the public and private sectors, to explore ways of advancing economic growth, development and global prosperity, the President said Nigeria’s diversification efforts continue to yield results, particularly in agriculture.
On the important government policy of Climate and the place of Public-Private Partnership, the President noted that climate change has triggered conflicts, food insecurity, irregular youth migration, rising level of sea waters, drought and desertification, as well as the drying-up of the Lake Chad.
“In the Lake Chad Basin region, where Boko Haram insurgency continues to undermine the peace, security and development of the region, climate change is largely responsible for the drying up of the Lake Chad which has shrunk by more than 85 percent its original size.
“The diminishing size of the Lake is at the root of the loss of millions of livelihoods, displacement of inhabitants and radicalization of teeming youths in the region who are recruited to serve as foot soldiers in the insurgency.
“In order to redress this situation and restore the lost fortunes of the Lake Chad Basin region, strong public-private partnership through massive investments will be needed to recharge the waters of Lake Chad. I am confident that this forum will rise to the challenge in the interest of durable peace and sustainable development of our region.”
The President’s meeting with Nigerians in the Diaspora gave him an opportunity to send an important message to Nigerians on his unbending determination to respect the Constitution at all times and on all issues.
Not only did he restate his determination to leave office at the end of his tenure in 2023, he followed up with a warning to would-be campaigners, in case there are some who are contemplating this, that he will not undermine the law of the land by extending the tenure of office and that nobody should start doing this nonsense.
Apart from the usual homily to Nigerians to respect the laws of the counties in which they reside, the President threw his weight behind the clamour for the incorporation of new technologies in the election process.
He was blunt with the fact that without technology in the 2015 election, the Electronic Voters Register and the Card Reader, he may not have won; that he could have been schemed out or ought rightly cheated of his victory by the governing authorities as did happen on three previous elections 2003, 2007and 201.
“With this innovation, they could not defeat me on the altar of money and fraud.”
The President also narrated a story familiar to many Nigerian families, in which members dared the desert and walked their way to the Holy Land for the pilgrimage.
They traded on the route, served as farmhands and the skilled among them earned upkeep as they trudged on for years before getting to their destination.
Millions of these made these journeys as millions of others failed to make it, by either losing their lives or choosing to settle down as migrants in countries on the way.
“My uncle” whom he named as Hussaini “undertook this arduous journey but died in Sudan in the homeward stretch,” said the President.
An important point he made of this, was that these earlier generations built the strong bond of relationships between our peoples and nations and the present generation must do nothing to derogate from the existing cordiality and friendship of our two states.
President Buhari’s trip to Saudi Arabia focused mainly on marketing Nigeria and developing a positive image for the nation. From all intents and purposes, the objective has been achieved.
Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.