Tinubu back home after two-week Private visit to France
06-Feb-2024 / 162
President Bola Tinubu has returned to the Country after a two-week Private visit to France.
The President arrived Abuja aboard the Presidential Flight at about 9:0Opm on Tuesday.
He was received by top Government Officials led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Others include his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Also at the Presidential Wing of the Abuja Airport to welcome home the President, were Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Director-General of the Department of State Service,Yusuf Bichi.
The president left Abuja on January 24 for his first break since assumption of Office on May 29, 2023.
Tinubu: Passing of Wigwe, Wife, Son, Ogunbanjo tragedy beyond comprehension
12-Feb-2024 / 162
President Bola Tinubu has described the death of Herbert Wigwe, Abimbola Ogunbanjo and Members of the Wigwe Family as a rude shock.
Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a Statement on Sunday in Abuja, saying Tinubu has received an Official Confirmation of the event.
Wigwe was the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc., and Founder of HOW Foundation while Ogunbanjo was former Group Chairman of the Nigeria Exchange Group Plc.
Ngelale said Tinubu mourned these exceptional Nigerian Business Leaders and described their passing as “an overwhelming tragedy that is shocking beyond comprehension.
“The President commiserates with the Wigwe and Ogunbanjo Families, the Business Community, and all those impacted by this harrowing incident.
“President Tinubu prays for the peaceful repose of the departed and asks God Almighty to comfort the multitude of Nigerians who are grieving and the Families of the Deceased at this deeply agonising moment.”
Tinubu to boost Nigeria's Economy as Naira appreciates
23-Mar-2024 / 158
President Bola Tinubu, says his Administration will unleash a number of measures to revive the Economy, based on the recent appreciation of the Naira.
Tinubu said that this was in line with the current appreciation in the value of the Naira due to various steps taken to curb activities of Illegal Money Speculators.
Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known to State House Correspondents on Friday in Abuja.
“Nigerians at large have witnessed the seismic shifts that have taken place within the Nation’s Foreign Exchange Market over the course of the last several days and the strengthening of the Nigerian Naira against the United States Dollar.
“This is a time to deepen our efforts to dig in and to work harder, which is why President Tinubu has approved a series of interventions to ensure that we see a mass strengthening of the Nigerian Naira against all other Global Currencies.”
Ajuri said the President appealed to Nigerians to use this period to imbibe the Culture of patronising and purchasing Nigeria's Products across all Value Chains.
“There is an intention that we must have on this issue that we want a strong Currency, we want the spending power of our People to go up.
“We want every Naira and Kobo we earn to be more valuable not just here but when we travel Abroad, the way to achieve that is by doing just this.”
Ajuri said the President demanded every Nigerian to join in this effort of turning the tide against unscrupulous Citizens working to undermine the Economy.
He urged Nigerians to blow the whistle on any activity that is drawing the Economy to the brink, in order to save the Country and cut Cost of Governance.
Ngelale said the President would ensure that Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the Country have what they needed to get through this difficult period.
He said the President has approved the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme, in which over one million Nigerian Businesses would be empowered.
”This is money they will not have to pay back of up to N50,000 per Nano Enterprise, with over one million Nano Enterprises being selected and granted these Funds within each and every Local Government Area of the Federation.
”In addition to that, over N150bn has been dispersed from the Bank of Industry and made up on single digit Interest Rate Loans of up to N2m to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises across all Local Government Areas of the Federation.”
He said the Construction and Manufacturing Sectors of the Economy that employed more than 1,000 Nigerians would also be given a Facility to encourage them and boost Employment.
”The President has approved over N75bn to be dispersed to 75 Large Scale Manufacturers across all States of the Federation. These are going to be Manufacturers who employ over 1,000 Nigerians in each of their Facilities and Industries.
”We are going to ensure that they have the support that they need at the large scale, so that Nigerian Families who rely on these Large Scale Businesses are protected.
”We want to see our Large Scale Industries, not just refuse to fire People but to actively increase and expand their hiring at this difficult time.”
He said that it was in this light of strengthening the System for better Service Delivery, that the President approved a new Remuneration for the Judicial Arm of Government.
”This is very important in the sense that we can dramatically reduce the impact that corruption has always played in the Judiciary, which has an impact on not just the ability of Nigerians to get effective justice in the Country.
”But also to ensure that Businesses who we are now asking around the World to invest in Nigeria have a Judicial System that they can trust with respect to any Litigation that can arise from Business Practice.”
He said the appreciable value of the Naira would also impact positively on the Proposals of the Minimum Wage Review coming up in April.
”What we do not want is a situation in which the Minimum Wage continues to be what it has always been in the History of our Country, which is a moving goalpost.
”If we do not get a firm grip on the value of our Currency and it continues to be a volatile, devaluing Asset, then whatever we do with the National Minimum Wage is going to essentially become a moot point.
”We are focused on ensuring that we arrive at a new Minimum Wage that States can afford, and that we’ll deal with all of the Needs of Nigerian Families across the Country.
”We also want to ensure that what we peg it at is something that is sustainable over a number of years, based on the long term, you know, stability that we want to bring to the Nigerian Naira with Interventions we’re presently making.”
Tinubu promises safe, secure Schools, not 'Lairs for abductions'
24-Mar-2024 / 154
President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his Administration will ensure that Schools become safer and secure for teaching and learning.
This is stated in a Statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Sunday in Abuja.
Ngelale said that the President reiterated the pledge when he received the news of the release of the Kuriga Schoolchildren in Kaduna State.
Bandits on March 7 abducted 287 Pupils and Teachers at Local Government Education Authority Teachers Primary School, Kuriga, in Chikun Local Government Area of the State.
The Bandits had on Tuesday demanded for N1bn Ransom for the release of the Children through a Contact.
Security Agencies have, however, been on their heels since Tinubu directed the immediate release of the Victims safe and without any Ransom.
The President emphasised the importance of Collaboration between the Federal Government and States for expected outcomes, especially on Matters of Security.
Tinubu commended the National Security Adviser, the Security Agencies, and the Kaduna State Government for the dispatch and diligence with which they handled the situation.
He noted that urgency, meticulous attention and tireless dedication are critical to optimal outcomes in Cases of mass abductions.
“President Tinubu also welcomes the release of Pupils of a Tsangaya School in Sokoto State, commending all the Parties to the feat for their valiant effort.
“The President assures Nigerians that his Administration is deploying detailed strategies to ensure that our Schools remain safe Sanctuaries of learning, not Lairs for wanton abductions,” Ngelale said.
Tinubu: Birthday Celebrations? No, not for me 'at this time'
25-Mar-2024 / 152
President Bola Tinubu has said he would dedicate his 72nd Birthday to the task of building a more stable, secure, prosperous and united Nigeria.
He also asked Friends and Associates wishing to celebrate him to donate such monies to Charity Organisations of their choice in his name, instead of placing Adverts in Newspapers or Radios.
A Statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said that Tinubu would mark his Birthday on Friday, March 29.
“During an auspicious occasion as this, it is customary for Family Members, Friends and Associates to celebrate him in different ways.
“President Tinubu, in deference to this challenging time, said he will not host any Birthday Event and does not want any of his Associates and numerous Well-Wishers to organise any Celebratory Event on his behalf or in his name.
“President Tinubu appreciates the honour of being the Leader of Africa’s Leading Nation at this time and he is working very hard to make life better for the generality of our People,” Onanuga said.
He said that the manner of Celebration was the President’s responsiveness to the present mood of the Nation and recent killing of Officers and Men of the Army and Police in Delta.
He said that it was also due to the recent spate of Security breaches by Criminal Elements in different parts of Nigeria.
“There should be no form of Birthday Event and placing of Birthday Goodwill Advertorial Messages in Newspapers. Goodwill messages should not be placed on Radio and Television Stations too.”
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) and the creation of the Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET).
This is part of the Administration’s move to boost the Nation’s Economic, Governance Frameworks and ensure robust and coordinated Economic planning and implementation.
This is contained in a Statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ngelale said that the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) comprises Distinguished Leaders and key Government Officials, including:
(1) President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – Chairman of the PECC
(2) Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – Vice-Chairman of the PECC / NEC Chairman
(3) President of the Nigerian Senate
(4) Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum
(5) Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance
(6) Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
(7) Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
(8) Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
(9) Minister of Budget and Economic Planning
(10) Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
(11) Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
(12) Minister of Labour and Employment
(13) Minister of Marine and Blue Economy
(14) Minister of Power
(15) Minister of State, Petroleum Resources
(16) Minister of State, Gas
(17) Minister of Transportation
(18) Minister of Works
The Presidential Spokesman said that PECC would also comprise key Members of the Organised Private Sector, with the following Members joining for a period not exceeding one year, subject to the President’s directive.
The Members are:
(1) Aliko Dangote
(2) Tony Elumelu
(3) Abdulsamad Rabiu
(4) Amina Maina
(5) Begun Ajayi-Kadir
(6) Funke Okpeke
(7) Doyin Salami
(8) Patrick Okigbo
(9) Kola Adesina
(10) Segun Agbaje
(11) Chidi Ajaere
(12) Abdulkadir Aliu
(13) Rasheed Sarumi
Ngelale said that Tinubu also established the Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET) with a Mandate to formulate and implement a consolidated emergency Economic Plan.
He said this was part of the President’s determination to address immediate Economic challenges and ensure the streamlined execution of Economic Strategies.
He said that the Taskforce comprised key Government Officials and Industry Leaders in furtherance of the President’s collaborative approach toward achieving Economic resilience and growth.
The EET is now mandated to submit a Comprehensive Plan of Economic Interventions for 2024 to the PECC, covering the next six months, for immediate implementation within two weeks of its Inauguration.
The EET will meet twice weekly and is composed of the following Members:
(1) Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance (Chairman of the EET)
(2) Minister of Budget and Economic Planning
(3) Minister of Power
(4) Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
(5) Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare
(6) Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
(7) Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
(8) National Security Adviser
(9) Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum
(10) Governor of Anambra State
(11) Governor of Ogun State
(12) Governor of Niger State
(13) Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service
(14) Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation
(15) GCEO, NNPC Limited
(16) Director-General, Nigeria Economic Summit Group
(17) Special Adviser to the President on Energy
(18) Bismarck Rewane, Economist
(19) Suleyman Ndanusa, Economist
Ngelale said that the Economic Management Team, was established in October 2023 and Chaired by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance.
He said it serves as the Working Group under the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC), playing a crucial role in the Economic Governance Structure established by the President.
The EMT meets monthly or as required, but will now suspend its Meetings for the duration of the EET’s Mandate of six months.
The EMT is composed of the following Officials:
(1) Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance (EMT Chairman)
(2) Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
(3) Minister of Budget and Economic Planning
(4) Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
(5) Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
(6) Minister of Works
(7) Minister of Labour and Employment
(8) Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
(9) Minister of State, Petroleum Resources
(10) Minister of State, Gas
(11) Minister of Power
(12) Minister of Transportation
(13) Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
(14) Minister of Marine and Blue Economy
The Chairman of the EMT may, as needed, call on any Federal Minister or Head of Agency to brief the EMT on key Programmes and developments affecting the Economy.
The President’s formation of the PECC, under his Chairmanship, alongside the creation of the EET, led by the Chairman of the EMT, and the EMT itself, is the manifestation of a unified strategy.
The unified strategy is aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s Economic Management Architecture for verifiably improved performance.
The formation of these Teams will complement existing Economic Governance Structures, including the National Economic Council (NEC), which is Chaired by the Vice-President.
Over the next six months, the EET will focus on the rapid implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of critical Initiatives, strengthening the Tinubu-led Administration’s collective approach to advancing Nigeria’s Economic objectives.
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