News
VP Osinbajo Lists Buhari’s Signature Projects, Pledges Completion
The Federal Government will continue to implement “game-changing infrastructure projects” around the country to connect the nation’s economic zones and drive economic development, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The Vice President further noted that most of the signature projects of the administration, including the Lagos-Kano Rail, Mambilla Hydro Plant, Second Niger Bridge, amongst others would be completed during the second term of the Buhari administration.
Osinbajo stated this in Kano on Monday during a one-day working visit to the State to commission some infrastructural projects by the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje administration.
Speaking at an interactive session with leaders and stakeholders at Government House in Kano, Vice President noted that “one of our signature projects is the Lagos-Kano rail, which has gone now as far as Abeokuta, and we are hoping that we will be able to complete the Lagos-Kano rail in the shortest possible time.
“We expect that the infrastructure projects of the Federal Government, including the Mambilla Hydropower plant, the Second Niger Bridge and several others will be completed in our second term. We hope we are able to complete as many as possible before the end of our term.”
Speaking further on the position of the Federal Government in providing the necessary infrastructure to drive economic development, Mr Osinbajo said infrastructure was central to the agenda of the Buhari administration in all sectors.
“There is no question at all that for President Muhammadu Buhari, infrastructure is key. Infrastructure is key to anything that we intend to do. It is key to resolving most of the pending issues that confront our country, especially the economic issues.
“We need to be able to connect the economic zones of Nigeria. We need to be able to connect the South, the South-South, the South-East, the South-West to the North. All the zones of this country have to be connected in order to realise the economic objectives that we set for ourselves.”
“In a few years, as a matter of fact, in two budget circles, we invested about N2.7 trillion on capital alone, which is the highest in the history of the country despite the fact that we are earning almost 60% less than previous governments.”
Mr Osinbajo also said addressing the poverty concern in the country remains one of the major issues adding that the Federal Government under President Buhari is focused and committed to reversing the situation significantly.
Referring to Governor Ganduje who had spoken earlier on the same subject, the VP observed that “poverty, as the governor pointed out, remains one of the major issues that confront our people. And the President again on June 12, made the declaration that it is the intention of our government to take 10 million people out of poverty every year till the next decade, that is taking 100 million people in ten years, out of poverty.
“Now, that may sound ambitious but I must say to you that we are extremely committed towards achieving it and we are extremely focused. This explains why it is that we launched the Social Investment Programmes.
“Any country of our size that does not have a social investment programme or establish a social safety net for its people will be acting irresponsibly. That is the reason why we launched the programme.”
While commending the Kano State government for taking the lead in providing game-changing infrastructural projects and the enabling environment necessary for the economic development of the State, especially in health, education and other sectors, the Vice President assured Governor Ganduje of the Federal Government’s continuous support for states that are complementing national efforts at tackling poverty, providing access to education and health, amongst others.
At the ground-breaking foundation laying ceremony for the Cancer Treatment Centre at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Prof. Osinbajo commended the state government for taking the lead in aligning to the national cancer control plan of the Federal Government.
In his remark, Governor Ganduje thanked the Vice President for the honour of visiting the State to commission the projects and announced the establishment of the special fund to cater for the needs of indigent patients desirous of treatment at the cancer treatment centre, when completed.
Projects commissioned by the Vice President in the State include the Aminu Dantata flyover of over 2km, at the Murtala Muhammad Way, and the Tijjani Hashim Galadima Kano underpass way, in Kofar Ruwa.
Osinbajo also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Sheikh Qariballah Nasuru Kabara flyover, in Shahuci.
While in Kano, the VP visited the National Monuments and Museum in Kano with selected school children from the State, where he and the children were conducted round the monument which used to be the palace of the Emir of Kano.
The Nigerian Senate has approved the termination of three Resident Electoral Commissioners who have been suspended since 2023 for flouting the provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Act
The approval followed the request from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the Senate to terminate the appointments of the embattled State Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa, Sokoto and Abia.
Sponsor of the motion and Leader of the Senate, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi sought the invocation of Section 157 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, saying that the law empowers the Chamber to approve the request.
Those whose appointments will be terminated include, Dr Nura Ali, Sokoto State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner and Professor Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu, Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner respectively.
He said, “Aware that the aforementioned Resident Commissioners were earlier suspended in 2023, bordering on allegations of infractions of the Electoral Act; compromise of elections and abandonment of duty without cogent reasons.”
A copy of the motion sighted by Newsmen on Wednesday revealed that the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, and the Department of State Services, DSS, indicted Dr. Nura Ali in their reports, having confessed to corruption, incompetence and receiving bribe to the tune of $150,000 from politicians.
According, the plenary which was presided by the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio activated the relevant provisions of the Constitution and approve the termination of appointment of the affected Commissioners.
President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Wednesday for a private visit to Paris, France, before proceeding to Addis Ababa for the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State.
“The president will arrive in Addis Ababa early next week for the AU summit,” Mr Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesman, said in a statement.
The AU Summit is scheduled to hold from Feb. 12th to 16th.
“In Addis Ababa, President Tinubu will join African leaders at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State, scheduled for Feb. 12th to 16th.
Hea said while in France, President Tinubu would meet with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron.
Justices Aisha Kumaliya and Amina Ibrahim of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri on Tuesday, convicted and sentenced two persons to three years imprisonment each for fraud.
The convicts are; Anaryu Akindaraju and Umar Alhaji Bukar who were prosecuted by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on one-count separate charges bordering on criminal misappropriation and cheating.
According to the Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, Akindaraju was convicted by Justice Kumaliya while Bukar was jailed by Justice Ibrahim.
The charge against Akindaraju reads: “That you, Anaryu Akindaraju, sometime in March, 2022 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced Alhaji Tijjani Muhammad to deliver to you the sum of N15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Naira) via your account number 0241908016 domiciled with FCMB, and vide your account number 0060784408 domiciled with Access Bank respectively, while some of the monies were transferred to you vide the account number 1010381257 bearing Abubakar Musa domiciled with UBA under the guise that the said amount represents payment for a purchase of three bed room flat situated at House of Assembly Quarters Maiduguri, Borno State, which you are yet to deliver and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap. 102 Laws of Borno State”
That of Bukar reads: “That you, Umar Alhaji Bukar with National Identification Number 86732517860, sometimes in 2013 at Maiduguri Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated the aggregate sum of N6,736,000.00 and a house estimated at N450,000.00 belonging to late Alhaji Bukar Fannami for the benefit of Aisha Bukar Fannami and Hauwa Buakr Fannami and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State Cap. 102 Vol. 3 of 1994 respectively.”
Oyewale said they all pleaded guilty to the charges when read to them and counsel for the prosecution Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, Faruk Muhammad and Abdulmalik D. Aliyu went ahead and prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
“Justice Kumaliya convicted and sentenced Akindaraju to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.00 while Justice Ibrahim convicted and sentenced Bukar to one year imprisonment or an option of fine of N100,000.00.
“The convicts’ road to the Correctional Centre began when Akindaraju received payment for a purchase of a three bed room flat without delivering the property to the victim or returning the money to him.
“Bukar, on his own, dishonestly misappropriated an inheritance property and converted it to his use”.
BREAKING: Senate approves termination of appointment of 3 Resident Electoral Commissioners
Tinubu Departs for France Ahead of AU Summit
Court jails two for N22.1m fraud in Maiduguri
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