Category: General News

President Muhammadu Buhari commenced his activities for the week on Sunday June 24, when he attended the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress at the Eagle Square, where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was elected the new chairman of the party along with other national executives.

In his closing remarks at the convention, the President said: “let the victors be humble in victory, and let those who didn’t win be also gallant and gracious in defeat.

“We are members of one party, and it is not about winners takes all; rather, the purpose is to build a party that would put its best foot forward, and serve our country to the best of its ability.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo joined party leaders and faithful on Sunday at Eagle Square to attend the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress. In his remarks at the convention, the Vice President said the plight of the common man was the reason the Buhari government was elected into office.

According to him, “The common men, those that are at the bottom of the pyramid, the millions who had been left behind, have remained the reason and rationale for our aspiration to the leadership of our nation.

“We have worked hard in the past three years, despite the challenging circumstances that we inherited, and the absolute blight of the last five years, to resolve the issues in these areas. Now on every front, the light is appearing at the end of the tunnel.”

On Monday, June 25, President Buhari received Urhobo traditional rulers and the leadership of the Urhobo Progressive Union in the State House.

Later, while receiving UK-Africa Business Alliance Group and Nigerian Diaspora Alumni Network, the President assured them that anything done for the good of the country will be ultimately rewarded, and redound to the good of those behind it.

A statement issued by Femi Adesina, President Buhari’s spokesman, quoted him as telling the group:  “You have been working quietly, supporting the government physically and materially, and you are doing it for your own country. Head or tail, you won’t lose. Please continue to do your best for the country.”

President Buhari also hosted members of the Supreme Council of Sharia in Nigeria.

He told the group that he had no regrets being a person of honesty and integrity. “I am satisfied with what I am. I am happy I have kept myself and people close to me from benefiting from government contracts,” the President told a delegation of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria at the State House.

Also on Monday, in a statement, denouncing the latest killings in Plateau State, which occurred at the weekend, the President decried what he called the increasing cheapening of human lives in the country, urging restraint in the crises in Plateau State.

Elsewhere on Monday, Vice President Osinbajo hosted an expanded meeting of the Economic Management Team which featured a presentation from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council.

At the meeting, the Vice President also unveiled the official report of the Executive Order 01, launched by him as Acting President of Nigeria in 2017.

In his remarks, the Vice President called for greater commitment by MDAs in the implementation of government policies and programmes.

Also on Monday, the Vice President visited Jos, the Plateau State Capital to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the loss of lives and property in the renewed clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the three Local Government Areas of Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Riyom.

Osinbajo described the recent killings and violence in Plateau State as vicious and horrible, reiterating the resolve of the Federal Government to find permanent solutions to problems of insecurity in the country and ensure that the perpetrators of the recent attacks in the State are brought to book.

President Buhari was in Calabar Cross River State on Tuesday, June 26, to commission Navy Reference Hospital and the first rice city and factory for the production of seedlings and seeds; the rice factory is a project of the Cross River State government.

Later on Tuesday, President Buhari flew to Jos from Calabar to commiserate with the people of the State over the recent deaths following clashes between suspected herdsmen and some communities in Plateau State.

At an interactive session with stakeholders in the State, the President said he would continue to put pressure on his service chiefs and law enforcement agents to protect lives and property in the country.

Osinbajo was also busy at the Vice Presidential wing on Tuesday, June 26, as he received on a courtesy visit to the State House, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Charlse Bowman who led a delegation of business and investment interests from the UK to Nigeria.

Later on Tuesday, the Vice President declared open the 2nd International Conference on LEAD POISONING associated with Artisanal Gold Mining in Nigeria with Special Focus on Prevention.

In his remarks, the Vice President said: “Artisanal mining and the life to enjoy the wealth from it, is possible if we put in place the proper preventive measures and provide the right equipment.

“No country should have to pay for its economic prosperity and development with the lives and wellbeing of its people.”

Also on Tuesday, the Vice President was in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he launched the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinics in the State.

At a town hall meeting with some young Nigerians, the Vice President said: “the Federal Government will end the many reported atrocities said to be committed by operatives of the unit.”

Before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, June 27, President Buhari met behind closed doors with Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara at the State House.

After the meeting, Dogara hinted State House Correspondents of a possible reorganisation of the country’s security architecture without giving details, noting that the President was putting in place enough security measures meant to prevent a repeat of such magnitude of violence.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo joined the President at the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

On Thursday, June 28, President Buhari presided over the launch of the Nigeria HIV/AIDS indicator and impact survey, where he affirmed that it is the right of all Nigerians to have access to universal health care.

He said with some 3.2 million Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS, the disease had significantly affected the overall development of the country.

The President later received the President and National Executive of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences society.

He told the group that the Federal Government’s key policy objective of rejuvenating the mining sector was being realised as witnessed by the diversification of the economy and broadening of the country’s revenue base.

Also on Thursday, the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, rebuffed the PDP for shedding ‘crocodile tears’ because of the killings in Plateau State.

“The sad and unfortunate killings in Plateau State over the weekend have been turned to the opportunity to once again play irresponsible politics, particularly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which says it is declaring seven days of mourning.

These are dolorous times that call for deep introspection on how cheap human lives have become, and the proffering of actionable ideas on how to get out of the bind.

But the PDP would rather dance on the graves of the dead, playing cheap, infantile politics.

The comatose and prostrate party is declaring seven days of mourning, during which flags in its offices would be flown at half mast nationwide. But unknown to the party, those flags had been forcefully lowered since its 2015 loss at the polls, and may remain so for a long time to come, because Nigerians are politically discerning, and cannot be hoodwinked by cheap antics,’’ Adesina wrote in a statement.

Following a fire incident in Lagos involving a tanker laden with fuel, President Buhari expressed shock and sorrow over the unfortunate loss of lives.

Condoling with the government and people of Lagos on the tragedy, the President urged emergency services and law enforcement officials to do their best to limit the losses and damage from the incident.

Still on Thursday, Vice President Osinbajo presided over the National Economic Council meeting held at the State House Exco Chambers.

The council deliberated on several issues some of which included the Excess Crude Account, the FAAC meetings, the Standard of Education in Nigeria, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, amongst others.

At the end of the meeting the council resolved among other things that a Committee comprising Governors of Kano, Osun, Delta, Anambra, CBN Governor and the Honourable Minister of Education should look into what needs to be done urgently in the education sector at the State level and report back to the Council.

On Friday, June 29, President Buhari left Abuja for Katsina State to commiserate with victims of the recent windstorm in the State.

At the palace of the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir, the President had assured that the Federal Government would provide assistance to those affected by the natural disaster.

Earlier in Katsina, the President received ECOWAS Chairman and President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe.

During talks with the visiting ECOWAS Chairman, President Buhari welcomed a proposed security summit between members of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and countries in Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

The President emphasized that terrorism now transcends international boundaries, and no country can combat the scourge alone.

Later on Friday, the Presidency announced that President Buhari will embark on an official visit to Nouakchott, Mauritania to attend the 31st Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government from June 30 to July 2.

A statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), said the President in his capacity as the leader of the AU theme of the year: “Winning the Fight against Corruption, A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”, will deliver an introductory remarks and presentation on the theme.

Friday, June 29, saw Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visiting Lagos to attend the 3rd anniversary celebration of the 8th Assembly of the Lagos House of Assembly, where he delivered a lecture titled “STRENGTHENING LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTIONAL: PANACEA FOR ENDURING DEMOCRACY (STRONGER STATES, DEALING WITH POVERTY).”

According to the Vice President, “greater state autonomy is solution to addressing poverty, unemployment, insecurity and others challenges affecting the country.”

He said greater autonomy to states was necessary without alterations to the constitution.

On Saturday, June 30, President Buhari arrived Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, for the AU summit.