After days of rigorous work on the 2016 budget by the 10-man
Harmonisation Committee set up by the National Assembly, President
Muhammadu Buhari will today receive the amended copy of the amended
money bill today, it was gathered yesterday.
The committee which is under the leadership of the Deputy Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun, had immediately
swung into action, following a truce meeting between President Buhari
and the leadership of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Lasun Committee was
expected to round its assignment yesterday night ahead of the
presentation of an amended copy of the budget to the President today.
Weekend’s findings at the Transcorp Hilton, venue of the
committee’s meetings, revealed however that its deliberations were not
without rancour.
A reliable source privy to the workings of the adhoc panel told our
reporter that in one of the committee’s sittings, a spat ensued between
the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation,
Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin and his counterpart in-charge of the House
Committee on Finance, Babangida Ibrahim, who are both members.
Fingers had been pointed at Jibrin in the House and Senator Danjuma
Goje in the Senate, accusing them of distorting the budget, an
allegation both have denied.
Saturday, 30 April 2016
Goodluck Jonathan's Maritime students graduate from Philippines University
A fresh set of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) students graduated from University of Perpetual Help System, Philippines, on April 28, 2016.
According to Newest Rivers, the students were sent during the administration of former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Writing from the graduation ceremony, Victor Kelechi said:
"Why GEJ deserves red carpet wherever he goes. Through NIMASA, GEJ today made over 300 Nigerian youths marine engineers and marine transporters. Many more to graduate next year and subsequent years to come. I witnessed it today and I have to testify my people."
According to Newest Rivers, the students were sent during the administration of former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Writing from the graduation ceremony, Victor Kelechi said:
"Why GEJ deserves red carpet wherever he goes. Through NIMASA, GEJ today made over 300 Nigerian youths marine engineers and marine transporters. Many more to graduate next year and subsequent years to come. I witnessed it today and I have to testify my people."
Enugu Killings: Ugwuanyi Demands Explanation from Army, Police, DSS
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State yesterday reviewed last Monday’s invasion of the agrarian community of Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzouwani local government area of the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen where scores of people were killed and stated that security agencies had a lot of explanation to make in view of the prior assurances to forestall the attack.
In a related development, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has declared that the current numerical strength of the Nigerian Police was far too inadequate to provide security to all Nigerians.
Addressing major stakeholders in the state including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, members of the National and State Assemblies, council chairmen and members of the State Executive Council as well as PDP chieftains at the Government House, the governor said he was at a loss as to why the attack took place in the first place.
The governor who also gave an indication that he would constitute a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of all the violent occurrences in the state associated with suspected Fulani herdsmen and recommend appropriate measures that would be put in place to prevent future occurrence.
“What happened between 6.30am and 7.30 am on Monday 25th April, 2016 despite assurances from the security agencies? Only the security agencies can answer this question,” he fumed.
Going down memory lane, the governor explained: “Four days ago on Monday April 25, 2016, many of our brothers and sisters in Nimbo, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of the state were murdered in cold blood by suspected Fulani herdsmen who have been grazing their cattle in that area for a while now.
In a related development, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has declared that the current numerical strength of the Nigerian Police was far too inadequate to provide security to all Nigerians.
Addressing major stakeholders in the state including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, members of the National and State Assemblies, council chairmen and members of the State Executive Council as well as PDP chieftains at the Government House, the governor said he was at a loss as to why the attack took place in the first place.
The governor who also gave an indication that he would constitute a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of all the violent occurrences in the state associated with suspected Fulani herdsmen and recommend appropriate measures that would be put in place to prevent future occurrence.
“What happened between 6.30am and 7.30 am on Monday 25th April, 2016 despite assurances from the security agencies? Only the security agencies can answer this question,” he fumed.
Going down memory lane, the governor explained: “Four days ago on Monday April 25, 2016, many of our brothers and sisters in Nimbo, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of the state were murdered in cold blood by suspected Fulani herdsmen who have been grazing their cattle in that area for a while now.
“On Sunday, 24, 2016, by 7 pm, the night before this carnage took place, I got security information from Uzo-Uwani Local Government’s Transition Chairman, Cornell Onwubuya
that such an incident was likely to take place in the state. I
immediately summoned a meeting of the State Security Council which
commenced by 10pmwith all the security chiefs in the state present.
The Enugu State Director of the
Department of State Security (Abdul Malik) was also at the emergency
security meeting summoned by Ugwuanyi, a day before the attack.
The governor further explained that he
had audience with President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that their
discussion was frank and cordial.
Osun PDP holds ward congress today
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Ganiyu Olaoluwa |
This is contained in a statement by the state chairman of the party, Ganiyu Olaoluwa, the PDP’s timetable for 2016 congress and national convention, and the ward congress will hold on Saturday, 30th April 2016 while appeal of ward congress will hold on May 2nd, 2016.
The local government congress will hold on May 5th while its appeal will hold on May 7th, 2016. The state congress will hold on May 10th, 2016, while its appeal will hold on May 12. The zonal congress will hold on May 14th, 2016 while the appeal will hold on May 17th, 2016. The national convention of the PDP will hold on May 21st, 2016.
Meanwhile five chieftains of Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta to restrain the Chief Adebayo Dayo-led executive from conducting or superintending the supervision of all the congresses in the state.
The PDP chieftains, who are claimants/applicants in an ex-parte application dated 18th April and brought before Justice Mobolaji Ojo, are Wasiu Sanni; Alhaja Nike Odutola; Semiu Babatunde; Semiu Adesanya and Elder Shola Soledolu.
The defendants in the suit number AB/121/2016 are: PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Dayo, and Semiu Sodipo.
The claimants predicated their objection to the Dayo-led executive on the premise that the tenure of the executive lapsed on February 27 this year, prompting the seeking of the order of the court to bar them from all the congress.
Justice Ojo, while ruling on the application April 18 as moved by counsel for the claimants, Chief W.O Liady, granted the prayers for substituted service and the service of PDP and INEC in Abuja, within seven days, while hearing on the motion on notice was fixed for May 3.
Meanwhile, a group of leaders within the party under the aegis of Stakeholders’ Forum, has petitioned the acting national chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, alleging that plans by the Dayo-led executive has compiled the list of the executives and waiting for ratification by the national body.
In the three-page petition signed by Bisiriyu Popoola, Iyabo Apampa, Lekan Tejuoso and 12 others, the PDP leaders said despite paying the stipulated fees for the nomination forms by their party and following all laid down procedure, the forms were not released to them.
Jonathan’s agents offered us N2bn ahead of 2015 elections – TMG
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GOODLUCK JONATHAN |
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) – a
coalition of over 400 civic organizations alleged that
agents of the Jonathan administration offered it a bribe of N2 billion
for the purpose of compromising the outcome of the 2015 elections.
The bribe offer came by way of what the TMG chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, branded a dubious proposal.
The allegation is coming on the heels of
ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) into how $115million (N23.299billion) was contributed
by some oil barons and shared to some electoral officials to rig the
elections in favour of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Fidelity Bank, which handled
the disbursement of the funds, has already refunded the N49.7million
profit it made from the deal while the EFCC is said to have recovered
N408.7million from some of the beneficiaries of the slush funds.
The TMG said yesterday that it has now
been “vindicated by the latest revelations from the EFCC about how some
INEC chiefs and election monitors shared from N23.3 billion slush
provided by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison
Madueke.”
World's largest theme park the size of 26 football pitches set to open in Dubai (photos)
The world's largest indoor theme park, IMG Worlds of Adventure located in Dubai is set to open its doors to fun seekers in August, indoor because the $1billion attraction is completely insulated from the hot Arabian weather and temperature is controlled.
Attractions include four zones themed around Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley Dinosaur Adventure and IMG Boulevard rides and amusement attractions.
The indoor arena, the size of 26 football pitches, has a capacity for over 30,000 people at a time, and park designers say they anticipate 4.5million guests during their first year in operation.
For £56, an adult gets access to 20 signature rides and attractions, including live shows and a 5D cinema experience.
Running states is very difficult now –Ambode
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AmbodeThe |
Ambode stated this in an interview with journalists on Friday shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja stressing that it is necessary to do something drastic whenever financial inflows do not tally with fixed costs as it is currently the case in many states of the federation.
Buhari had on Thursday said that most states of the federation could not pay their workers’ salaries despite the recent bailout approved for them by the Federal Government.
Ambode, who said his mission was to come and thank Buhari for placing Lagos State projects at the front burner during his recent visit to China, said state governors were right to seek moratorium on loans and other reliefs from the Federal Government.
He said drastic decisions must be taken to ensure that states remain afloat.
Ambode, however, said Lagos State was the major beneficiary of Buhari’s recent visit to China.
On those who criticised Buhari for the visit, Ambode said there was nothing that could be done in form of policies and programmes that would not attract criticism.
What is important, according to the governor, is about the majority of people who are going to benefit from the trip.
Count Wike out of Ogoni killings —PDP
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Nyesom Wike |
A former lawmaker in the area and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Rivers South East District, Senator Magnus Abe, had attributed the crisis in Ogoniland to the state governor.
Abe had stated that tension began to mount in Ogoniland when Wike allegedly told Ogoni people not to vote for him (Abe).
But the state Assistant Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Samuel Nwanosike, disagreed with Abe, saying that it was wrong for anybody to associate the killings in Ogoni to the governor.
Nwanosike, who spoke with journalists in Port Harcourt, explained that though the people of Ogoni knew those behind the crisis in the area, the people of the state were aware that Wike did not bring in the military into Ogoniland.
He argued that there was nothing wrong with the governor’s appeal that the people of Ogoni should vote for the PDP before an election, adding that such call could not have sparked any crisis in the area.
The PDP chieftain, however, challenged Abe to produce any document or record where Wike told the people of Ogoni to stop him (Abe) at all cost.
Nwanosike explained that Wike had been in support of security agencies in the fight against crime in the state.
Anambra CP blames politicians, families over rising crime rate
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Karma |
Karma stated this during a one-day security awareness dialogue organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in collaboration with the office of the Secretary to the Anambra State Government in Awka.
He explained that most families were no longer interested in the moral upbringing of their children because of quest for material things.
Speaking on the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the state, Karma points out that his command is able to contain the activities of herdsmen in the state through an informal security method.
He adds that the method that had worked for his command is the use of Fulani herdsmen that were born in the state to checkmate the activities of others that were somewhat foreign to the state.
The police commissioner enjoined the traditional rulers and Presidents-General of groups in the state to always report the activities of herdsmen in their areas to the police and avoid resorting to self-help as a solution.
In his opening remarks, the State Commander of NDLEA, Sule Momodu, says the objective of the workshop is to make everybody in the state security conscious in the prevailing circumstance of the time.
Momodu explained that the synergy of security agencies in Anambra had made it one of the most secure states in the country.
He commended the state government for what he called its demonstrable commitment in fighting crimes in the state.
Enewz247 reports that, No fewer than eight lectures were delivered at the workshop, among which was the one on ‘Fraud Prevention Techniques’ delivered by Edwin Ugwudo, a banker.
Timipre Sylva Visits Plastic Industry In Bayelsa In Order To Promote 'Made In Nigeria' Products.
The former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva on Thursday April 28, 2016 visited the premises of ROBEK Plastic Extruders Nig. Ltd at Karu Industrial Layout Abuja, owned by the South-South Zonal Coordinator of Buhari Vanguard, Hon. Romeo Bekeyei.... According to his media team, Timipre Sylva paid the visit to the plastic industries -in order to support 'Made in Nigeria' products.
Here are pictures of his visit....
Here are pictures of his visit....
Friday, 29 April 2016
Referees ask NFF to hire foreign coach for Super Eagles
The President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Tade Azeez, on Friday, urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to hire a foreign coach to re-position the Super Eagles.
Azeez made the call in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.
He said that hiring a foreign coach was the only way for the NFF “since indigenous coaches cannot separate coaching from business’’.
Azeez said that indigenous coaches usually had their biases for some players, making such players to feature in tournaments, not minding the implication for the team.
The Super Eagles have been without a substantive coach since the sudden resignation of Sunday Oliseh.
On April 20, the NFF named a Technical Director, Shaibu Amodu, and Salisu Yusuf to take charge of the Super Eagles on interim basis.
The duo are expected to lead the Eagles to two international friendly matches against Mali and Luxembourg’s national teams on May 27 and June 1, respectively.
Yusuf is to take charge of the team, while Amodu is to supervise.
To assist the duo are the coach of Rangers International FC of Enugu, Imama Amapakabo, and Kennedy Boboye, the coach of Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia.
Aloy Agu remains the goalkeeper trainer.
The match against Mali is to take place at Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France, while Luxembourg will host the Eagles in Luxembourg.
Buhari: We ‘ll recover looted fund to rebuild economy
President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration is bent on recovering the funds stolen from the public purse by some corrupt public office holders to rehabilitate the collapsed economy of the nation.
The president said this in his address read at the swearing-in-ceremony of 2016 Batch ‘A’ members of the National Youth Service Corps at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Ede, Osun State.
The address was read on behalf of the President by the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Youth Engagement, Isaac Aluko.
The President lamented the high rate of youth unemployment in the country but said his administration would do everything possible to rebuild the economy and create jobs for the youths to contribute their quotas to the development of their fatherland.
Buhari, who said the NYSC had continued to be attractive to young graduates across the country despite the temporary challenge of insecurity said there were inadequate infrastructure at various orientation camps. He, however, promised to invest in youth development.
The president advised the youths to channel their energy towards productive ventures and shun vices such as kidnapping, robbery and fraudulent acts.
The NYSC Coordinator in Osun State, Mrs. Regina Iluebbey, said the the scheme registered 1,620 corps members for the batch while lauding their comportment.
Herdsmen’s attacks threatening Nigeria’s unity – Igbo Senators
The South-East Senate Caucus on Thursday warned of imminent danger and possible threat to the unity of Nigeria if the Federal Government failed to urgently address the Enugu massacre carried out by Fulani herdsmen.
The Igbo senators stated this in a statement by the member, representing Abia South in the upper chamber, Enyinaya Abaribe, at the end of their emergency meeting held in Abuja.
They did not only condemn the attack, which left over 50 persons dead and scores driven out of their homes, but also called for a summit of the South-East and South-South states on the issue.
They said governors, members of the National and state Houses of Assembly, socio-cultural associations, traditional rulers and major stakeholders should mandatorily be part of the proposed meeting.
According to the lawmakers, the emergency summit will review and evaluate the very scary situation and proffer a coordinated response that will ensure the security of lives and property of their people.
Ben Murray Bruce to reject SUV from the senate.
The senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district, Ben Murray-Bruce had on Thursday come under attack following a series of tweets he posted on this tweeter handle bothering on the current state of the economy.
Murray-Bruce wrote, “Our economy needs fixing before it is too late or the elite must turn their homes to prisons by building big walls protect us from the people.
Although some Nigerians agree with him on some of the things he said, some said since he was part of the Senate, they are not doing Nigeria any good.
After several questions on the social media whether the sanator would accept the SUV if the senate gives to him, The lawmaker however said he would not accept any SUV from the Senate.
Murray-Bruce wrote, “Our economy needs fixing before it is too late or the elite must turn their homes to prisons by building big walls protect us from the people.
Although some Nigerians agree with him on some of the things he said, some said since he was part of the Senate, they are not doing Nigeria any good.
After several questions on the social media whether the sanator would accept the SUV if the senate gives to him, The lawmaker however said he would not accept any SUV from the Senate.
INEC releases supplementary guidelines for future elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission has released additional guidelines to the existing 2015 Guidelines and Regulations for the conduct of elections in the country.
It said this was done after it had approved the pilot of the Continuous Accreditation and Voting Procedure at elections, saying it was done during the rerun elections across the country.
This information was contained in the commission’s bulletin released in Abuja.
The commission however stressed that all procedures specified in the Guidelines and Regulations for the conduct of the 2015 General Elections remain in effect.
It said that voting shall be by continuous accreditation and voting system and that accreditation process shall comprise authentication and verification of voters, using the Smart Card Reader.
The card, it said, would be used in the checking of the register of voters, and providing ink to the cuticle of the specified finger.
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Reps ask IG to probe Enugu killings
The House of Representatives has mandated Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase to investigate the killings allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Enugu State. Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Lawal Daura was also summoned to brief the House on measures being put in place by his agency to stop the killings.
The probe, according to the lawmakers, is to ascertain the cause as well as bring those culpable to book. The decision of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Chukwuemeka Ujam (PDP, Enugu).
He expressed regret that findings have shown that a number of persons have been declared missing with their whereabouts unknown.
He said the recurring killings by the Fulani herdsmen threaten the security of the country and added that an eye witness account indicates that this mayhem was perpetuated by an army of masked herdsmen emerging from the bushes and attacking their victims with careless abandon.
These merchants of death were armed with guns bow and arrows, swords and engaged in sporadic shooting for a lengthy period of time, sending shivers into the inhabitant of this community and hacking any person within sight to death.
Minority Leader, Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) said the issue of conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and host communities over grazing must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
2,303 prospective corps members begin orientation course in FCT
About 2,303 graduates from various tertiary institutions within and outside the country, on has commenced orientation course for the mandatory one year national youth service in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), FCT Coordinator, Omotayo Adewoye, said this after the Director-General of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure, inspected facilities at the Permanent Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja.
Adewoye said that the figure may likely increase to 2,500 before the end of the three weeks orientation exercise as the scheme was expecting more prospective corps members to register and partake in the service year.
The coordinator, who lauded the computerised system of registering corps members, said the system had so far enabled the scheme eliminate fake corps members and individuals who send others to serve on their behalf.
He said that the hostels, toilets and bathrooms were ready and 24-hour water supply made available to ensure that corps members were comfortable during the orientation course.
Adewoye said that although the orientation camp had been disconnected from the power supply, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had promised to address the problem within a week.
According to the coordinator, the corps had created another alternative source of power which is the generator and since corps members came in we have made power supply available to them.
He urged the incoming corps members to obey the rules and regulations of the NYSC in order to ensure a successful service year.
Adewoye said that the scheme would ensure it played the parental role it was mandated to play for the next one year, but urged corps members to be obedient and participate in all activities.
Monday, 25 April 2016
Horror in Kwara as train crushes motorcyclist, hairdresser

An horrific scene played out around Olunlade in the Ilorin-Offa
route in Kwara State when a commercial motorcyclist (okada rider) and a
woman identified as Mama Kafila were both crushed to death by an
oncoming train.
The pair sources say met their untimely deaths when the okada rider
was conveying the hairdresser to buy iced block for sale in an accident
that saw the train dragging the mangled bodies of the victims to a
distance of about 100 metres after they were hit.
According to an eyewitnesses, the Okada rider and the hairdresser
could have escaped the incident had the motorcyclist listened to
warnings not make a dash across the railway track.
But according to another eyewitness, the okada rider had an ear
piece on and could not hear the blaring horn of the oncoming train.
Ajayi Okasanmi, Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer
said the command would investigate the cause of the unfortunate
accident.
Senate Leadership: How Ekweremadu’s election caused budget impasse

Fresh findings have revealed how the emergence of Senator
Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate caused
the on-going budget impasse.
According to investigations, the political crisis that came
up with having a an opposition figure as deputy president of the Senate
led to the crisis currently delaying the signing of the 2016 budget by
President Muhammadu Buhari.
The presidency, sources said, vowed not to have anything to
do with Ekweremadu, who it believed usurped a position that should have
been occupied by an All Progressives Congress, APC Senator.
Knowledgeable sources at the National Assembly reveal that
in the past, an ad-hoc committee, led by the Deputy President of the
Senate and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives supervised
works on the budget.
The committee, the sources said, was comprised of the
director-general of the Budget Office, senior officials of the Federal
Ministry of Finance, the Presidency and the chairmen of the Senate and
House Committees on Appropriation.
Sunday, 17 April 2016
2015 elections: EFCC arrests REC, 4 others over N650m bribe
A Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Gesila Khan and four others, have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly receiving N651 million bribe during the 2015 polls.Sensitive election materials for the 2015 presidential and senatorial polls were also retrieved from the residences of some of the suspects, as well as many documents on financial and landed properties, The Nation reports.
The suspects allegedly committed the poll bribery fraud in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
Khan, who was the REC in Rivers State during the last general election, allegedly got N185, 842, 000 out of the bribe sum under probe by the EFCC.
The other suspects involved in the bribery scandal include Fidelia Omoile (Electoral Officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area of Delta State)–N112,480,000; Uluochi Obi Brown (INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Delta State)–N111,500,000; a former Deputy Director of INEC in Cross River state, Edem Okon Effanga—N241,127,000 and the Head of Voter Education in INEC in Akwa Ibom, Immaculata Asuquo–N214,127,000.
Thursday, 14 April 2016
Denying a goalscoring opportunity: Red card rule relaxed by IFAB
Arsenal's Per Mertesacker (left) was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity in the Premier League match against Chelsea in January Players who commit a foul to deny a goalscoring opportunity will no longer automatically be sent off, football's rule-making body has confirmed.
The previous 'triple-punishment' rule required a red card - and therefore a suspension - as well as the award of a penalty under those circumstances.
However, players committing accidental fouls that deny a goalscoring chance will now be cautioned instead.
But deliberate fouls will still incur a red card.
Those include holding, pulling or pushing, not playing the ball, serious foul play, violent conduct or deliberate handball in order to deny a goalscoring opportunity.
The change has been ratified by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) - a body made up of the four British football associations and Fifa - which decides on
changes to the Laws of the Game.
It follows a comprehensive, 18-month review, led by former Premier League referee David Elleray.
Tuesday, 12 April 2016
PRESIDENT BUHARI ORDERS ESTABLISHMENT OF TECHNICAL COMMITTEES ON NEW CHINA/ NIGERIA JOINT PROJECTS
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that technical committees be immediately established to finalize discussions on new joint Nigeria/China rail, power, manufacturing,
agricultural and solid mineral projects.
The President gave the directive Tuesday in Beijing after talks between his delegation and high-ranking Chinese government officials led by President Xi Jinping.
The technical committees are to conclude their assignments before the end of next month.
President Buhari had at the talks welcomed China's readiness to assist Nigeria in her bid to rapidly industrialize and join the world's major economies.
President Jinping agreed that Nigeria's chosen path of development through economic diversification was the best way to go.
To help Nigeria to achieve this, China promised to fully support the country through infrastructural development and capacity building. China also expressed an interest in setting up major projects in Nigeria such as refineries, power plants, mining companies, textile manufacturing and food processing industries as soon as the enabling environment is provided by the Federal Government.
In response to President Muuhammadu Buhari's desire to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production, President Jinping offered 15 million U.S. dollars agricultural assistance to Nigeria for the establishment of 50 Agricultural Demonstration Farms across the country.
China and Nigeria also agreed to strengthen military and civil service exchanges as part of a larger capacity-building engagement.
In line with this, China offered to raise its scholarship awards to Nigerian students from about 100 to 700 annually. In addition, 1,000 other Nigerians are to be given vocational and technical training by China annually.
President Jinping applauded the war against corruption being waged by President Buhari.
The Chinese leader assured President Buhari that Nigeria will always have a special place in the affairs of the Peoples Republic of China. After the talks, President Buhari and President Jinping witnessed the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding by Nigeria and China.
The agreements include a "Framework Agreement Between the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Development and
Reform Commission of the Peoples Republic of China."
Others were a "Memorandum of Understanding on Aviation Cooperation between the Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Ministry
of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China" and a "Memorandum of Understanding Between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of the Peoples Republic of China on Scientific and Technological Cooperation".
A "Mandate Letter Between the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Central Bank of Nigeria on Renminbi (RMB) Transactions was also signed.
Garba Shehu
SSA to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 12, 2016
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