FG Approves Concession Of Lagos, Abuja Airports

The Federal government has approved the concessioning of the Lagos and Abuja Airports

The vice President, Yemi Osinbajo stated this at the 5th Presidential Quarterly Business Forum In Abuja on Monday

The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had, last year, dropped the hint that the Federal Government will concession the Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano international airports in the first phase of its concession programme.

“The thinking is that just like every other place in the world, we will concession our airports and we are beginning with the big four, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano”, he had said.

More details later...

Here Is The 7 Important Matters Osinbajo, 36 Governors Discussed At National Economic Council Meeting

Osinbajo

Below are the main highlights of the 76th meeting of the National Economic Council (composed of all the 36 state governors, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria) held on Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Abuja. 

NEC (3RD IN 2017) 76TH NEC MEETING –THURSDAY, 27TH APRIL, 2017

 

NATURAL RESOURCES FUND AND ECOLOGICAL FUND

 

The Accountant- General of the Federation briefed Council on the Development of Natural Resources and Ecological Funds as follows:

 

• That the Natural Resources Fund balance as at 31/3/17 – N70.9 billion

 

• Ecological Fund balance as at 31/3/17 – N33.645 billion

 

• States and Local Governments now to keep their share of Resources Fund and Ecological Fund for use of intervention as the need arises in their respective jurisdictions.

 

• Council also decided that an audit of the Ecological Fund be carried out by an Committee of governors and federal ministers.

 

• The Committee is comprised of the Governors of Oyo, Borno, Imo, Kaduna, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue States, and the Ministers of Finance and Environment.

 

This Committee will audit the Ecological Fund and come up with policy recommendations on how the fund should be managed and disbursed.

 

PARIS CLUB REFUND

 

• The Honourable Minister of Finance gave an update on the disbursement of the Paris Club refunds and addressed issues about the next round of the payments to the States after the first disbursements.

 

• State Governors at the meeting expressed appreciation to the President for the previous disbursements of the refund, which is more than 10 years overdue, and noted their expectations for the next round of refund from the FG.

 

EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT

 

• The Honourable Minister of Finance also told Council that the Balance in the Excess Crude Account as at April 26, 2017 stands at US$2.2billion.

 

FAAC BUDGET ESTIMATE

 

• The Honourable Minister of Finance presented a Budget Estimate for the operation of the Committee and Council approved.

 

OPERATION OF EFFICIENCY UNIT – FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

 

• The Ministry of Finance also made presentation to Council on the Operations of the Efficiency Unit located in the Federal Ministry.

 

• Council was informed that the Unit has been able to save the FG a whopping of N17 billion since it was established.

 

• Council appreciated the presentation and urged that States also should establish Efficiency Units in order to entrench systems that will improve efficiency, reduce cost and block leakages in line with the fiscal sustainability plan.

 

SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME OF THE FG

 

• The Vice President updated Council on the progress of four of the Social Investment Programmes of the Administration, namely: N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer, Homegrown School Feeding Programme and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), for micro –credits.

 

• Council was also briefed about certain impediments and programme implementation delays noticed in the FG/States Government’s collaboration and resolved to end such obstacles to the successful implementation of the SIPs.

 

• Council therefore resolved to upgrade the States coordination units for the FG’s SIP to the Governor’s offices for better and more effective FG/State collaboration

 

UPDATE ON MENINGITIS

 

• Honourable Minister of Health made a presentation to Council on the update on the Meningitis Outbreak as follows:

 

• That there have been 9,646 suspected cases of Meningitis affecting 6 States in the country, namely Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi and Kaduna

 

• As at April 25, 2017, about 767 deaths had occurred, representing 9% of the infected population

 

• About N46.7 billion is required to vaccinate the valuable population

 

• Council expressed grave concern over the ravaging effects of the meningitis epitome in parts of the country and directed the Federal Ministry of Health to intensify its intervention efforts to contain the embarrassing epidemic, while advocating for increased funding for Health.

 

• The Minister in his presentation called for the establishment of a National Health Emergency Fund to be domiciled in the Presidency under the supervision of NEC Chairman.

 

ARMED HERDSMEN/FARMERS CONFLICT

 

• The National Security Adviser (NSA) today briefed Council on the security situation in the country, particularly as it has to do with conflict between armed herdsmen and farmers, especially in Kaduna, Taraba and Benue States among others.

 

• He told Council that security agencies have commenced a nationwide crackdown on armed herdsmen, gun runners, cattle rustlers, militants, militias and others perpetrators of violence.

 

• Governors gave a robust response to the presentations, commending efforts of the FG so far in tackling the security challenges and advocated for more collaboration between the FG and States.

 

• Council resolved that there is need to have an extraordinary session dedicated to discussing security issues in the country as a means to deepening the issues and effectively addressing the menace.

Osinbajo Not Qualified To Probe SGF Lawal – NLC

According to reports, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for suspending Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. David Babachir Lawal and Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke.

This came as Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, yesterday, urged the President to purge his cabinet of corrupt elements, saying “a lot of them have one mess or the other.”

Reacting to the suspension of the SGF and the D-G, NIA, General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, wondered why the Vice President should be the person to investigate criminal allegations against the SGF.

He said: “Well, we think that it is something that is positive. There are those who will say that it has taken long, particularly the issue of the SGF. Well, government has now decided to suspend them and investigation is going on, it is fine.

“But what we don’t understand is how an administrative committee, chaired by the Vice President, will be investigating what is an alleged criminal offence. However, whatever processes they have chosen to adopt, what is important is that they need to bring the facts before the nation.

“We need to know that there are no sacred cows and at the end of the day, we hope that justice will be done and citizens will be able to attest that justice has been done.”

On whether the president should extend the action to other political office holders having corruption allegations against them, Ozo-Eson said the normal practice was that people with established corruption cases against them should step aside.

He said: “Once there are allegations of corruption and there are prima facie cases established while such investigation is going on, the normal practice is that people step aside, or are suspended or they remove themselves from the process.”

Also reacting to the suspension, National President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Chijioke Ugwoke, said: “Should Buhari be serious with his anti-graft campaign, the Presidency should not be investigating the SGF and others.

“If somebody in the Presidency is accused of corruption, the usual anti-corruption agencies that investigate other ones, should also investigate the SGF. The Presidency should not investigate Presidency, nobody should be a judge in his own case.”

Photos Of Buhari & Osinbajo Laughing Hard In Office Today

I Had Challenging Time As Acting President — Osinbajo Discussed Issues With Buhari

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Friday, told his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, that he had a challenging time acting as president.

The vice president was speaking at the First Lady's Wing of the Presidential Villa in Abuja at a 30-minute reception shortly after Buhari arrived from his medical vacation in London.

Osinbajo acted as president from January 19 and March 9.

The vice president thanked Buhari for the confidence reposed in him by handing over the reins of government to him in the capacity of acting president.

He said the Federal Executive Council were grateful to God that the president was back home hale and hearty.

Osinbajo stated: "Mr President, again on behalf of the Federal Executive Council, we welcome you back home. We are very grateful to God that you are back home hale and hearty. Mr President, I must say that personally, this has been a very interesting few days for me.

"First, I must say that I want to thank you very much for the confidence reposed in me by handing over the reins of government to me in the capacity of acting president.

"I think more important is that you demonstrated the belief in our system which is even more important than anything else.

"The constitution, which we all swore to, is important because it outlines the code of conduct. I want to say not only am I, but I am sure the entire nation is grateful to you.

"For me, I must say that it has been an interesting period going around the nation maybe because the roads are bad. I must say I had a very interesting and challenging time; but above all, the president gave us the good support."

Source: NigerianBulletin

I Need More Rest, Osinbajo Remains Acting President — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari who returned to Abuja today as asked Osinbajo to continue in his acting mood as the acting president while he keeps resting 

Buhari, who just returned from medical vacation, met with top government officials led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday morning.

Femi Adesina, said Buhari jokingly said: "I deliberately arrived on a Friday so that the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo can continue his work for now.

"Maybe Monday, the president will resume", Adesina said in a telephone conversation with TVC This Morning programme.

POLL: Nigerians Rate Osinbajo Higher Than Buhari

According to the latest NOI poll, 50% of the Nigerians who participated in the survey believe that Osinbajo is doing a very good job as Acting President. The last time the presidential approval rating edged up to 50% was in February 2016, when it was 57%.

[PhotoNews] Osinbajo’s Arrival To Lagos To Flag-off Lagos-Ibadan Standard Railway

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has arrived Lagos for ground breaking ceremony of the Lagos – Ibadan Railway Project with extension to Lagos Port Complex at Apapa.


It’s a segment of President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s new Lagos – Kano standard-gauge railway, the Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media has said.

(Watch Video) Osinbajo Meets With Oba Of Benin, Ewuare

Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo yesterday met with the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II after he had gone on an official visit to the state

He later held a meeting with Stake Holders to engage the oil producing communities in Edo State.