London: The Nigeria president, Muhammadu Buhari has said he is re-contesting for the 2019 election because majority of the population of the country appreciates what is happening in the country.
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby with the Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari
The president makes the statement while speaking with Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. He said;
I declared before leaving home because Nigerians were talking too much about whether I would run or not. So, I felt I should break the ice. We have many things to focus on, like security, agriculture, economy, anti-corruption, and many others.
We needed to concentrate on them, and politics should not be a distraction. The majority of Nigerians appreciate what we are doing, and that is why I am re-contesting.
The President also talked about the recent herdmen's killing in the country, linking the recent herdsmen killings to what happened after former Libyan leader, Muammar Ghadaffi‘s was captured, and what the men that captured him did with the weapon after the revolution, he said;
The problem is even older than us. It has always been there, but now made worse by the influx of armed gunmen from the Sahel region into different parts of the West African sub-region,” the president said.
These gunmen were trained and armed by Muammar Ghadaffi of Libya. When he was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms. We encountered some of them fighting with Boko Haram.
Herdsmen that we used to know carried only sticks and maybe a cutlass to clear the way, but these ones now carry sophisticated weapons. The problem is not religious, but sociological and economic. But we are working on solutions.
The wife of the Nigerian president, Aisha Buhari during a recent interview with the BBC has criticized her husband for his administration. In a 58 second snippet interview released by the BBC, Aisha said that she might not support her husband re-election if he does not make changes to his cabinet.
Aisha Buhari warns that there has been lots of complaining from different part of the country, and a lot of people that do not understand the party mantra, APC, have infiltrated his government.
#NigeriaAt56: As Nigeria celebrates her 56th Independence day, read and watch the President Address to the nation.
Today – 1st October is a day of celebration for us Nigerians. On this day, 56 years ago our people achieved the most important of all human desires – freedom and independence. We should all therefore give thanks and pray for our founding fathers without whose efforts and toil we would not reap the bounties of today.
2. I know that uppermost in your minds today is the economic crisis. The recession for many individuals and families is real. For some, it means not being able to pay school fees, for others it’s not being able to afford the high cost of food (rice and millet) or the high cost of local or international travel, and for many of our young people the recession means joblessness, sometimes after graduating from university or polytechnic.
3. I know how difficult things are, and how rough business is. All my adult life I have always earned a salary and I know what it is like when your salary simply is not enough. In every part of our nation people are making incredible sacrifices.
4. But let me say to all Nigerians today, I ran for office four times to make the point that we can rule this nation with honesty and transparency, that we can stop the stealing of Nigeria’s resources so that the resources could be used to provide jobs for our young people, security, infrastructure for commerce, education and healthcare.
5. I ran for office because I know that good government is the only way to ensure prosperity and abundance for all. I remain resolutely committed to this objective.
6. I believe that this recession will not last.
7. Temporary problems should not blind or divert us from the corrective course this government has charted for our nation. We have identified the country’s salient problems and we are working hard at lasting solutions.
8. To re-cap what I have been saying since the inception of this administration, our problems are security, corruption and the economy, especially unemployment and the alarming level of poverty.
9. On Security, we have made progress. Boko Haram was defeated by last December – only resorting to cowardly attacks on soft targets, killing innocent men, women and children.
10. Nigerians should thank our gallant men of the Armed Forces and Police for rescuing large areas of the country captured by insurgents. Now, residents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, as well as several neighbouring states go about their daily business in relative safety. People can go to mosques, churches, market places in reasonable safety.
11. Commuters can travel between cities, towns and villages without fear. Credit for this remarkable turn-round should go to our Armed Forces, the Police, various sponsored and private vigilante groups, the local traditional leaders. Security is a top to bottom concern and responsibility.
12. Besides Boko Haram, we are confronting other long-running security issues, namely herdsmen vs farmers, cattle rustling, kidnappings. This Administration is firmly resolved to tackle these challenges and to defeat them.
13. A new insurgency has reared up its head in the shape of blowing up gas and oil pipelines by groups of Niger Delta Militants. This Administration will not allow these mindless groups to hold the country to ransom.
14. What sense is there to damage a gas line as a result of which many towns in the country including their own town or village is put in darkness as a result? What logic is there in blowing up an export pipeline and as a result income to your state and local governments and consequently their ability to provide services to your own people is reduced?
15. No group can unlawfully challenge the authority of the Federal Government and succeed. Our Administration is fully sympathetic to the plight of the good people of Niger Delta and we are in touch with the State Governments and leaderships of the region. It is known that the clean-up of the Ogoniland has started. Infrastructural projects financed by the Federal Government and post amnesty programme financing will continue.
16. We have however, continued to dialogue with all groups and leaders of thought in the region to bring lasting peace.
17. Corruption is a cancer which must be fought with all the weapons at our disposal. It corrodes the very fabric of government and destroys society. Fighting corruption is Key, not only to restoring the moral health of the nation, but also to freeing our enormous resources for urgent socio-economic development.
18. In fighting corruption, however, the government would adhere strictly by the rule of law. Not for the first time I am appealing to the judiciary to join the fight against corruption.
19. The Third Plank in this Administration’s drive to CHANGE Nigeria is re-structuring the economy. Economies behaviour is cyclical. All countries face ups and downs. Our own recession has been brought about by a critical shortage of foreign exchange. Oil price dropped from an average of hundred USD per barrel over the last decade to an average of forty USD per barrel this year and last.
20. Worse still, the damage perpetrated by Niger Delta thugs on pipelines sometimes reduced Nigeria’s production to below One million barrels per day against the normal two point two million barrels per day. Consequently, the naira is at its weakest, but the situation will stabilize.
21. But this is only temporary. Historically about half our dollar export earnings go to importation of petroleum and food products! Nothing was saved for the rainy days during the periods of prosperity. We are now reaping the whirlwinds of corruption, recklessness and impunity.
22. There are no easy solutions, but there are solutions nonetheless and Government is pursuing them in earnest. We are to repair our four refineries so that Nigeria can produce most of our petrol requirements locally, pending the coming on stream of new refineries. That way we will save ten billion USD yearly in importing fuel.
23. At the same time, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank have been mobilized to encourage local production of rice, maize, sorghum, millet and soya beans. Our target is to achieve domestic self-sufficiency in these staples by 2018.
24. Already farmers in thirteen out of thirty six states are receiving credit support through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers Programme. Kebbi state alone this year is expected to produce one million tonnes of locally grown rice, thanks to a favourable harvest this year. As part of the 13 states, Lagos and Ogun are also starting this programme. Rice alone for example costs Nigeria two billion USD to import.
25.The country should be self-sufficient in basic staples by 2019. Foreign exchange thus saved can go to industrial revival requirements for retooling, essential raw materials and spare parts. It is in recognition of the need to re-invigorate agriculture in our rural communities that we are introducing the LIFE programme.
26. Government recognises that irrigation is key to modern agriculture: that is why the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources are embarking on a huge programme of development of lakes, earth dams and water harvesting schemes throughout the country to ensure that we are no longer dependent on rain-fed agriculture for our food requirements.
27. In addition, government is introducing Water Resources Bill encompassing the National Water Resources Policy and National Irrigation and Drainage Policy to improve management of water and irrigation development in the country. We are reviving all the twelve River Basin Authorities, namely;
I. Anambra – Imo
II. Benin – Owena
III. Chad Basin
IV. Cross River
V. Hadejia – Jama’are
VI. Lower Benue
VII. Lower Niger
VIII. Niger Delta
IX. Ogun – Osun
X. Sokoto – Rima
XI. Upper Benue
XII. Upper Niger
28. The intention is eventually to fully commercialise them to better support crop production, aqua –culture and accelerated rural development.
29.This Administration is committed to the revival of Lake Chad and improvement of the hydrology and ecology of the basin. This will tune in with efforts to rehabilitate the thirty million people affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad basin countries.
30. The second plank in our economic revival strategy is centred on the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. The Ministry will lead and oversee the provision of critical infrastructure of power, road transport network and housing development.
31. Power generation has steadily risen since our Administration came on board from three thousand three hundred and twenty four megawatts in June 2015, rising to a peak of five thousand and seventy four megawatts in February 2016.
32. For the first time in our history the country was producing five thousand megawatts. However, renewed militancy and destruction of gas pipelines caused acute shortage of gas and constant drop in electricity output available on the grid.
33. There has been during the period June 2015 to September 2016 big improvement in transmission capacity from five thousand five hundred megawatts to the present seven thousand three hundred megawatts.
34.There were only two system collapses between June and December 2015, but due to vandalism by Niger Delta militants the over-all system suffered 16 system collapses between March and July 2016 alone. As I have said earlier, we are engaging with responsible leadership in the region to find lasting solutions to genuine grievances of the area but we will not allow a tiny minority of thugs to cripple the country’s economy.
35. In the meantime, government is going ahead with projects utilizing alternate technologies such as hydro, wind, and solar to contribute to our energy mix. In this respect, the Mambilla Hydro project, after many years of delay is taking off this year. Contract negotiations are nearing completion with Chinese firms for technical and financial commitments.
36. The project is to be jointly financed by Nigeria and the Chinese-Export-Import Bank. In addition, fourteen Solar Power Projects have had their power purchase agreements concluded. Hence the plan to produce one thousand two hundred megawatts of solar electricity for the country would be realized on schedule.
37. And in line with the objective of government to complete all abandoned projects across the country, the Rural Electrification Agency’s projects needing completion are provided for in the 2016 Budget. Bringing electricity to rural areas will help farmers, small scale and cottage industries to integrate with the national economy.
38.Roads Construction and Rehabilitation has taken off. The sum of twelve billion naira was allocated to this sector in the 2015 Budget, not enough even to pay interest on outstanding unpaid claims.
39. Notwithstanding the budgetary constraints, the current budget allocated two hundred and forty billion naira for highway projects against twelve billion naira in 2015. Many contractors who have not been paid for three years have now remobilized to sites. Seven hundred and twenty point five billion naira has so far been released this budget year to capital projects.
40. The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has received one hundred and ninety seven point five billion naira. Work on the following highways has now resumed.
1. Dualization of Calabar – Itu Road in Cross River/Akwa Ibom States.
2. Dualization of Lokoja – Benin Road, Ehor – Benin city, Edo State.
3. Re-construction of outstanding sections of Benin – Shagamu Express way, Edo/Ogun States.
4. Expansion works on Lagos – Ibadan Dual carriageway, Ogun/Oyo States
5. Rehabilitation of Onitsha – Enugu Expressway, Anambra/Enugu States.
6. Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual carriageway, Abia/Rivers States.
7. Rehabilitation of Hadejia – Nguru Road, Jigawa State.
8. Dualization of Kano – Katsina Road, Kano State.
9. Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road, Borno State.
12. Construction of Oju/Lokoja – Oweto Bridge over River Benue, Benue State.
41. Other major highways are in the queue for rehabilitation or new construction.
42. Already contractors have recalled about nine thousand workers laid off and Government expects that several hundreds of thousands of workers will be reengaged in the next few months as our public works programme gains momentum.
43. On railways, we have provided our counterpart funding to China for the building of our standard gauge Lagos -Kano railway. Meanwhile, General Electric is investing two point two billion USD in a concession to revamp, provide rolling stock, and manage the existing lines, including the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Line. The Lagos-Calabar railway will also be on stream soon.
44. We have initiated the National Housing Programme. In 2014 four hundred million naira was voted for Housing. In 2015 nothing. Our first budget this year is devoting thirty five point six billion naira. Much of the house building will be private – sector led but Government is initiating a pilot housing scheme of two thousand eight hundred and thirty eight units uniformly spread across the 36 states and FCT.
45.We expect these units to be completed within 4 – 6 months. These experimental Nigeria House model Units will be constructed using only made in Nigeria building materials and components. This initiative is expected to reactivate the building materials manufacturing sector, generate massive employment opportunities and develop sector capacity and expertise.
46. The programmes I have outlined will revive the economy, restore the value of the naira and drive hunger from our land.
47. Abroad, Nigeria’s standing has changed beyond belief in the last 18 months. We are no longer a pariah state. Wherever I go, I have been received with un-accustomed hospitality. Investors from all over the world are falling over themselves to come and do business in Nigeria. This government intends to make business environment more friendly because we can not develop ourselves alone.
48. All countries, no matter how advanced, welcome foreign investments to their economy. This is the essence of globalization and no country in the 21st century can be an island. Our reforms are therefore designed to prepare Nigeria for the 21st century.
49. Finally, let me commend Nigerians for your patience, steadfastness and perseverance. You know that I am trying to do the right things for our country.
Today is another independence day in Nigeria, and this means that Nigeria is now 56 years old as an independent nation, away from its British masters.
Since her independence, Nigeria as a nation has only come in contact with a government that keeps promising her good water, 24/7 stable electricity, Free medical or good hospitals, good road network and better transportation services and less corruption.
These and many more of those promises President Buhari and his party, APC, promised Nigerians home and abroad. I was excited of these promises, and was happy to get rid of Goodluck Jonathan, who was at that time seems like a place holder in the highest office of the country.
I am now personally happy to see Buhari rule this country because if he had failed again, a lot of Nigerians would have believed that [him] presiding over the nation would make it better. At least it is now looking like we as Nigerians are still in the same boat just as we were with Jonathan.
I was furious when I saw the headline of Muhammadu Buhari saying he would continue to blame the past administration for the current economic disarray, he added;
I am going to bore you with what we met. I know that I am being accused in the papers of passing the buck, but passing the buck is sometimes absolutely necessary to remind people who take things for granted.
When we came in, I screamed to high heavens because I had promised a lot while seeking votes.
I asked, where is the saving? There was no saving. There was no infrastructure, power, rails, roads, there was none. What did we spend the money on? I was told (on) buying food and petrol.
Where were the billions going? We conducted a study and found out that the oil marketers were committing fraud on at least one-third of what they were importing, which was about 25 per cent of our foreign exchange.
The youth must watch our elite, especially with the condition in which we have found ourselves. It is unpatriotic for anybody to pretend that economically we have no problem..
I have bored you with this long explanation because there are things that could be hidden from you by those that have mismanaged the country in the last 16, 17 years.
There was no infrastructure, power, rails, roads, there was none: I think we have heard this from your special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina and Lai Mohammed. We are no longer interested to hear about it anymore, it makes an old man sounds like a whining baby.
If you had told us you are going to be in government to whine and talk about the past administration, I would not have canvass votes for you or support your nomination, but you failed many times in getting to that position, and this time we believed you would do a great job,but it seems you are living in your own reality, and your people are telling you that you are doing a great job.
The truth is Nigerians are not after some silence policy, at this time in our democracy, we are into what we can feel and touch, we don't want abstract promises. If your government is doing or investing in anything that will change our lives in a year or two, update us and tell Femi and Lai to stop saying we will appreciate your government in 2-3 years. The truth is that if this government does not deliver promises in few years, look at Goodluck Jonathan.
I started loosing my trust in your campaign gradually when I started seeing Nepotism in your administration, but I don't care about it, as long as Nigerians are getting dividends of democracy, then its all good.
As an avid supporter and someone that supported your campaign, I believe that you should address while we still have incompetent people like Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youths and Sports in the office. That dude is a national disgrace to a country like Nigeria that loves and favours sport.
Why did Mikel Obi have to pay for our boys in Rio Brazil? He does not know between U.S. and Nigeria. How did you make this guy our minister? Is this a return favour for his past deeds to you? This is a guy with no passion in sport, and messing up the sport ministry.
Dalung was not updated about the hiring of the new U-23 super eagles coach, probably the NFF sees that he is a joke.
Why don't you address the recent 91 illegal hired people in Central Banks of Nigeria? Evidence was released, and names was shown on how you and officials directed the CBN to hire close relatives into the CBN,probably why we have the Naira falling down, because we hired frauds, people that have no idea about money management.
It is a joy to always see Kenya developing quietly its own aviation industry, and no doubt, it is a great source of revenue for the Kenya government. Every time I am at any airport and see it, I am always glad, then I snapped like, "Ohh, it is Kenya airline and not Nigeria"
We have more than 10 aircraft with only your government, and It is not clear why you need 10 aircraft at your disposal, and Nigerians have to use ladders and try to catch a flight every time in Nigeria. Airlines in Nigeria treat their passengers with disrespect. They will sell tickets and tell passengers that the plane is full and people cannot get on, and nobody is talking.
Most countries aside from the G8 members all uses commercial flights that are always made for personal use when they are about to travel. Some countries have 2 planes for official use. One for international travels and when they have entourage, and the other for domestic travels alone(probably a small one, Cesna). Goodluck Jonathan had 10, and held on to it, and you promised to sell some of it, maybe re-open Nigeria airways, but till now, nothing to show for it.
The maintenance of your planes cost tax payer 5Billion Naira, but your PR guys said it was only 2.3 Billion, and now we are joking with billions of Naira in this economy Muhammadu, I think your "change" mantle is wearing out, and if you continue with this hypocritical change mantle, you might be the second incumbent president that lost to another opposition, and am not sure PDP would have a chance, unless they are brought Obama or Justin Trudeau for that position.
Sell the damn plane, and don't talk about a committee to do that, Just put the damn thing on sales, or convert it to domestic airlines for now.
It is a shame if after we got our democracy, taxpayers pay for medical condition of its leaders. Do we serve you, or do you serve the people? You recently went to London to check out your ear infection, and from reports, you spent around 20Million Naira to fix an ear infection.
Aside from the 20million for the price of the infection, am sure you will not sleep under a bridge, and you won't stay in a $10 room, and also your aides will stay close to you, not to mention the expensive dishes and shopping.
The last time former Akwa Ibom governor, Goodwill Akpabio had a minor accident, he ran like a chicken to UK for treatment, the same man that built what and his cabinet called "world class" hospital.
When will Nigeria ends its medical tourism, this is what interest Nigerians. Are we going to build a new medical centre in states or do major upgrades for our doctors and medical practitioner. You should for once start doing something and stop telling us you are working.
Nigerians now go to South Africa for treatment, Some go to India. Just last year 1 BILLION Naira was used by Nigerian to treat themselves abroad. This is no longer acceptable, and this was some of the reasons I told my parents to vote for you and friends. The last time, she said, "we did what you asked us to do ooo, seems you did not get it right this time" and I told them to be patient, until you said you will be kept blaming past government for the woes.
It all sounded to me like, "I am here to fail, and when people complains, I will tell them Jonathan is the reason."
I am not sure we will allow or pray that will be the case, because Nigerians are not Americans, Americans democracy is like sports, once your parents wear a jersey of a team, that is what you support till you pass and give the baton to your son. So they support whoever is nominated by their party, even if the person is a braggadocios idiot. In Nigeria, we vote. Once again, ask Jonathan.
In 2016, in the midst of 17% inflation, -2% GDP contraction, & over 4millions jobs lost, the president of Nigeria launches his own Photobook. Are you Kim Kardashian? Who advised you we are eager to see you in Kaftan and agbada?
Where are our looted funds? What are we doing with it? Why is Dasuki not eating with inmate tonight? Why has the EFCC turned to Chihuahua, they only bark and bark, but cannot harm or have no action in them.
I have defended you, and all that you have done since you assumed office, but don't let it get to your head. If Jonathan ruined us, and suppose to be in jail, order for his arrest, don't have a meeting with this man, and later bite him in the back. Arrest him, and let us move on
Madueke is also in London, if she truly stole from our treasury, let the UK police know throw the woman in jail.
Nigerian youth have all turned to beggars, everybody asking for school fees online, and you are telling us you will continue to blame someone we all voted out to bring you to Aso rock. If you cannot do the job, please resign, else SHUT UP AND DO THE DAAAAAAAM JOB.
Pete Hoekstra,a former chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee from 2004 to 2007 in his recent article has said President Muhammadu Buhari is Nigeria's problem and not the solution. In his article published by Wall Street Journal, Pete said that the economic policy of President Muhammadu Buhair is damaging and outdated and he is currently the problem in Nigeria, and not the solution.
He also pointed out that the recent anti-corruption war that has returned more than 3 Trillion Naira looted fund is a selective war on the past government, and the current president also have some corrupt element in his administration and are still walking free in the country.
Pete's Full Article
Nigerian President Muhummadu Buhari writes of building an economic bridge to Nigeria’s future (“The Three Changes Nigeria Needs,” op-ed, June 14). It’s hard to see how his administration’s inflexibility, lack of vision and reactive approach will achieve this. Mr. Buhari notes that building trust is a priority for Nigeria. But an anticorruption drive that is selective and focused on senior members of the opposition party creates deep political divisions. Meanwhile, members of Mr. Buhari’s own cabinet, accused of large-scale corruption, walk free. Seventy percent of the national treasury is spent on the salaries and benefits of government officials, who make upwards of $2 million a year. As for Mr. Buhari’s ideas to rebalance the economy and regenerate growth, his damaging and outdated monetary policy has been crippling. The manufacturing sector, essential to Nigeria’s diversification, has been hardest hit, exacerbating an already fast-growing employment crisis. Foreign investors have started to flee en masse. Mr. Buhari makes only brief mention of the country’s deteriorating security situation. But security and stability are precursors to economic growth and development. Boko Haram has been pushed back for now, but little attention is paid to the structural issues that have spurred its rise.
Instead, the Nigerian government has diverted much-needed military resources to the Niger Delta, where rising militancy has reduced Nigeria’s oil production to less than half the country’s capacity, and half the amount required to service the national budget. Much of these tensions arise from Mr. Buhari’s decision to cut amnesty payments to militants and an excessively hard-line approach in a socially and politically sensitive environment. Other ethnic tensions are also growing. In the country’s south, protests have been met by a bloody response from the Nigerian military, stoking the fire and galvanizing support for an independent state of Biafra. Rising tensions could again pose one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s stability and future. Pete Hoekstra, Senior Fellow, The Investigative Project on Terrorism, Washington and former chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee from 2004 to 2007.
The NIgeria president, Muhammadu Buhari promised Nigerians and the international committee that he will be releasing the names of his ministers on September. Nigerians have always asked the question of Nigerians ministers and have tagged the government as "Baba Go-slow" for his slow method of choosing the right candidates.
On Tuesday, the Senate president, bukola Saraki who had previously confirmed via his twitter account that he had received the names of ministerial nominees, read out the 21 ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening, and the past governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola, ex-governor of Rivers and staunch supporter of Buhari, Rotimi Amaechi and the former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi all makes the list.
The new president of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari was officially sworn in as the new Nigerian president. For readers of Doynews. These are some of the photos of the inauguration.
As Nigerians and the world watch Nigerians change the seat of power, the President-elect met with outgoing president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to show him around Aso rock and also the president-elect receives the hand over notes from President Goodluck Jonathan.
In the series of pictures shared by the out-going president media team, President Goodluck Jonathan can be seen showing Muhammadu Buhari around.
In his Facebook post, President Goodluck Jonathan shared this :
Today, I presented Hand Over notes to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. I urge once again that all Nigerians should pray for and cooperate with the incoming government. May God bless Nigeria. GEJ.
