Expanding the frontiers of relations between Nigeria and France
By Muhammadu Buhari
It is possible that the first contact was made in 1601 between the French and the peoples of “Guinee” – the name for the lands we know today as Nigeria. Only a few years before, the then Protestant King of France Henry had devised a plan for adventurer Francois Pyrard de Laval to navigate the “Ethiopian Sea”, then onwards around the Cape of Good Hope in search of new markets and trade.
Four hundred years later, much has changed. (Today there are more Protestants amongst Nigeria’s 200 million population than there are people in France. Maps, and geography, have improved: east Africa’s landlocked Ethiopia no longer has named for it a west African sea). Yet in other ways, much remains the same. What is clear however, is that the exploration of possibilities between our two nations of Nigeria and France has only just begun.
Notwithstanding France’s historic ties with West Africa, the long-held belief has been that some parts of it were off-limits. Hence and until even the most recent decades, there were French spheres of West Africa, and their Anglophone equivalents – jealously guarded from each other and effectively closed to each other for investment, trade, education and influence.
These barriers both real and imagined is being brought down in part, by the passage of time: today’s generation of Africans have no personal experience of anything but independence – including most in government – so there is less automatic favouritism towards one European partner or another.
However, it has also required a change in France and President Macron has been a prime mover in that task. He is right not to allow respect for the France’s African past to confine relations of the future. This position developed, in part from the fact he chose, in his 20s, to define his African experience through working in Nigeria, rather than in a traditional Francophone nation. His experiences and determination have been vital in moving France and Nigeria closer together to where they are today.
The benefits for both our countries are now emerging as we gather this week in Paris for what is only the second France-Nigeria investment Summit. Only three years ago President Macron was the first President of the French Republic to visit Nigeria. Since then, French businesses have signed multi-billion euros contracts in construction, chemicals, and mobile technology; In France, long-established Nigerian financial institutions and disruptive fintechs seek transition from Parisian representative offices to French licences to operate and compete across Europe. The President’s high-level France-Nigeria Business Council, first convened at the Elysee, has helped trade double in between our nations in the last three years.
This expansion only augurs more, given Nigeria’s population is projected to grow by 2050 to the same size as the European Union, and further to become the second largest in the world by the close of the century.
This great market is France’s opportunity. But, of course, some in Europe and in France see it purely as a threat. They fear a coming tide of immigrants from Africa. They view engagement as a partially open door that will only become wider – unless borders become walls, and Europe a fortress.
That is not the case and those who rail against “economic migrants” must realise few people anywhere wish to leave their communities to live in foreign lands. Most would rather stay at home, with the familiar. But the way to help them stay there is not force, or walls, or racism: it is investment and jobs where they live.
Those who come from France seeking opportunities in Nigeria are today welcomed with open arms. A growing and worldly-wise middle class wish to experience the best of European culture and products, with so much of that the produce of France; a young, dynamic, and educated population wish to work, but often what they do not have, through lack of investment, is the opportunity.
And just as we partner in prosperity, so our nations also have a duty to work together to make West Africa more secure. For decades France – the European power in the Sahel, and Nigeria – the African power to its south have not been coordinated. Opportunity to defeat the terrorists have between us too often have been missed. As France draws down its troops, Nigeria’s can – in partnership with our FExploration of possibilities between Nigeria and France has only just begun
By Muhammadu Buhari
In 1601 it is possible first contact was made between the French and the peoples of “Guinee” – the name for the lands we know today as Nigeria. Only a few years before, the then Protestant King of France Henry had devised a plan for adventurer Francois Pyrard de Laval to navigate the “Ethiopian Sea”, then onwards around the Cape of Good Hope in search of new markets and trade.
Four hundred years later, much has changed. Today there are more Protestants amongst Nigeria’s 200 million population than there are people in France. Maps, and geography, have improved: east Africa’s landlocked Ethiopia no longer has named for it a west African sea. Yet in other ways, much remains the same. Certainly, the exploration of possibilities between our two nations of Nigeria and France has only just begun.
As well-known as France’s historic ties with west Africa is the long-held belief some parts of it were off-limits. Until even the most recent decades, there were French spheres of west Africa, and their Anglophone equivalents – jealously guarded from each other and effectively closed to each other for investment, trade, and influence.
What it has taken to bring down these barriers both real and imagined is, in part, the passage of time: today’s generation of Africans have no personal experience of anything but independence – including most in government – so there is less automatic favouritism towards one European partner or another.
But it has also required a change in France. President Macron has been a prime mover in that task. As a far younger man than I, he is right not to allow respect for the France’s African past to confine relations of the future. We can see how this position developed from the fact he chose, in his 20s, to define his African experience through working in Nigeria, rather than in a traditional francophone nation. His experiences and determination have been vital in moving France and Nigeria closer together to where they are today.
Both our countries now start to taste the fruit from this tree as we gather this week in Paris for what is only the second France-Nigeria investment Summit. Only three years ago President Macron was the first president of the French republic to visit Nigeria. Since then, French businesses have signed multi-billion euros contracts in construction, chemicals, and mobile technology; In France, long-established Nigerian financial institutions and disruptive fintechs seek transition from Parisian representative offices to French licences to operate and compete across Europe. The President’s high-level France-Nigeria Business Council, first convened at the Elysee, has helped trade double in between our nations in the last three years.
This expansion only augurs more, given Nigeria’s population is projected to grow by 2050 to the same size as the European Union, and further to become the second largest in the world by the close of the century.
This great market is France’s opportunity. But, of course, some in Europe and in France see it purely as a threat. They fear a coming tide of immigrants from Africa. They view engagement as a partially open door that will only become wider – unless borders become walls, and Europe a fortress.
That is a mistake. Those who rail against “economic migrants” must realise few people anywhere wish to leave their communities to live in foreign lands. Most would rather stay at home, with the familiar. But the way to help them stay there is not force, or walls, or racism: it is investment and jobs where they live.
Those who come from France seeking opportunities in Nigeria are today welcomed with open arms. A growing and worldly-wise middle class wish to experience the best of European culture and products, with so much of that the produce of France; a young, restless, and educated population wish to work, but often what they do not have, through lack of investment, is the opportunity.
And just as we partner in prosperity, so our nations also have a duty to work together to make west Africa more secure. For decades France – the European power in the Sahel, and Nigeria – the African power to its south have not been coordinated. Opportunity to crush the terrorists have between us too often have been missed. As France draws down its troops, Nigeria’s can – in partnership with our Francophone African allies – step into the breach. From our increasing trade together comes another beneficial and deepening partnership and cooperation including : especially a more advanced sharing of ordnance, equipment and intelligence.
It is fair to say that French-Nigerian relations have advanced farther and faster in the last few years than, they have in hundreds. Much of that energy, and speed, comes from my determination and that of President Macron in the knowledge that – to borrow a phrase of King Henry’s: “Le Nigeria vaut bien essayé”.
Muhammadu Buhari is President of Nigeria.
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES TONY ELUMELU FOUNDATION ON SELECTION OF 5000 YOUNG AFRICANS FOR 2021 ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME
President Muhammadu Buhari lauds Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr Tony O. Elumelu on his remarkable vision in training, mentoring, and funding entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, describing it as “a truly lasting legacy.”
The President says Nigeria remains very proud of Mr. Elumelu, a global icon, whose business and philanthropic interests continue to create opportunities for growth and development not only in Nigeria, but Africa as a whole.
“I would like to specifically congratulate the Tony Elumelu Foundation on this extraordinary humanitarian act of funding 4,949 entrepreneurs!
“I am particularly pleased that this year alone, the Tony Elumelu Foundation will fund 1,522 Nigerian entrepreneurs from all the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory of the Federation. This unifying act by a private sector leader is commendable and worthy of emulation by others,” the President says.
He notes that entrepreneurship and youth empowerment are important components of the work of this administration, adding; “we believe that they are the key to the future and recognize that by empowering our youth, we will build businesses that in turn sustain our economy.”
To all 2021 Tony Elumelu Foundation beneficiaries unveiled in Lagos Friday, November 12, President Buhari congratulates them on the accomplishment and wishes them all the best in the future.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
November 12, 2021
NIGERIANS COMPETITIVE BOTH HOME AND ABROAD, PRESIDENT BUHARI TELLS UAE MINISTER
Meeting with Minister of State Foreign Affairs of United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Excellency Shaikh Shakboot Alnahyan, Friday at the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum, President Muhammadu Buhari described his countrymen and women as “competitive both at home and abroad,” and urged them to always abide by the rules of their host countries.
Said the President: “Nigerians are all over the place, very competitive. And the competitiveness starts from home, where they have acquired good education, gone into businesses, and then take all that abroad.”
President Buhari encouraged Nigerians in Diaspora to “subject themselves to the rules and standards of the country in which they live either as working class, or doing businesses.”
He welcomed the offer by UAE to partner with Nigeria in the areas of renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure logistics, and provision of vaccines to further control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Shakboot Alnahyan said his country “thinks very highly “of President Buhari’s leadership, noting that he was striving to “build a better future for generations to come.”
He said there were lots of Nigerians in his country, “who add much value,” assuring that the headwinds of the recent past in the relationship “are now behind us. We want to secure, deepen and strengthen the association for the future. We have a lot in common. We may be taking small steps, but they are leading somewhere.”
On proposed investments in Nigeria, Alnahyan said it would be a win-win situation, “which would bring hope and opportunities for people in both countries. We want to come and add quality and value.”
He equally commended the Nigerian government for its robust tackling of violent extremism.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
November 12, 2021
AT PARIS PEACE FORUM, PRESIDENT BUHARI CALLS FOR OBJECTIVE, TOTAL DISTRIBUTION OF COVID-19 VACCINES
President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Paris, France, urged world leaders and global health institutions to follow a regime of enabling access to the COVID-19 vaccines, admonishing that sidelining countries in terms of reach will undermine the entire effort for safety.
Delivering a keynote statement at the Paris Peace Forum (PPF), President Buhari said export restrictions that encourage needless hoarding of vaccines need to be lifted, while welcoming the pledges by industrialized countries to share vaccines.
The President said the pledges should be fulfilled in a timely manner, appreciating some countries, like France, that have donated vaccines to developing countries.
“Resolving supply-chain constraints would require better coordination within the manufacturing process; and between manufacturers and end-users.
“There is a clear need for the expansion of vaccine production capacity in Africa. In this regard, African countries already have a roadmap: the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA) developed in 2007 by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) on the basis of an African Union Summit decision taken in 2005.
“Licensing agreements should be reached with pharmaceutical companies for the transfer of intellectual property and technology to support the production of vaccines in Africa. If global vaccination is the only way to end the COVID-19 pandemic, then all stakeholders must act in a coordinated manner to plug the vaccine supply gap in Africa,’’ he said.
President Buhari, in a remark focused on “Lessons Learned from the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Importance of Coordination Among All Actors for Vaccine Delivery,” said the coordination for distribution had to be total and the objective had to be the same: to deliver vaccines to the world.
“The state of vaccine delivery across the world leaves much to be desired,’’ he said, “We have a situation where some countries are giving booster third doses for their citizens when millions across the world, especially in the developing world, are yet to receive a single dose.’’
“Let us compare vaccination rates to give an idea of the dimension of the problem. According to recent data, as of 4th November, 2021. 91.3 doses of vaccine had been given for every 100 persons across the world. On the same date, however, only 14.7 doses of vaccine per 100 persons had been administered in Africa – a clear case of lopsidedness. According to Bloomberg, countries with the highest incomes are getting vaccinated ten times faster than those with the lowest income.
“As of 5th November 2021, Africa had fully vaccinated 77 million persons, amounting to just 6 per cent of the continent’s population. By comparison, 60 per cent of the European Union population had been fully vaccinated by September 2021.
“This massive gap between vaccine requirements in Africa and vaccine availability is undermining the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic on the continent. Even if Africa were to receive the 600 million doses of vaccine expected to be delivered to the continent by the end of 2021 under the COVAX arrangement there would still be a considerable shortfall when compared to the population of the continent which currently stands at 1.383 billion,’’ he added.
Quoting the World Health Organization, the President said even the planned COVAX deliveries to Africa had been cut by 25 per cent due to supply shortages and export bans.
“This is a major setback for Africa, where it is estimated that COVID-19 vaccine deliveries have to increase from around 20 million doses a month to an average of 150 million doses a month if the target of fully vaccinating 70 per cent of its population by September 2022 is to be achieved.
“So, what needs to be done to plug the gap? How can vaccine availability in Africa be boosted? Who needs to do what?’’
The Nigerian leader thanked the President of the Paris Peace Forum, Mr. Pascal Lamy, for the invitation to share thoughts on the importance of coordination among all actors in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 11, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI LEAVES PARIS FOR INTRA AFRICAN TRADE FAIR IN SOUTH AFRICA
President Muhammadu Buhari will, Saturday, leave Paris for Durban, South Africa, at a special invitation by President Cyril Ramaphosa, to join other African leaders at the Official Opening Ceremony of the 2nd Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2021 which takes place on Monday.
The event, holding from November 15 to November 21, is being convened by the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM) in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
The theme of the Fair, Building Bridges for a Successful AfCFTA aims at boosting trade and investment across the African continent. It also promises to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive across the African continent; bring to fruition the lofty ideas behind the creation of the AfCFTA by providing the platform to further identify and proffer solutions to challenges militating against intra-African trade and; generate market information needed to connect buyers and sellers throughout the continent.
Global businesses including non-African international brands are expected to key into opportunities generated by the fair, thereby attracting for the continent trade and investment deals worth $40billion. Various Nigerian investors are already in Durban to take advantage of the event.
The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Segun Awolowo.
President Buhari is expected back in Nigeria on Tuesday, November 16.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 13, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES FORMER NTA DG, SOLA OMOLE AT 70
President Muhammadu Buhari sends warm felicitations to former Director General of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Olusola Adesina Omole, on his 70th birthday, November 14, 2021, joining family and friends to celebrate with the renowned public communications expert.
The President congratulates the former Director General for many achievements in his career, with vast experience in journalism working with Daily Times, Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) now Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and public affairs in Chevron.
President Buhari affirms that Omole brought his experience, network and passion to bear on NTA, with many reforms that have repositioned the media house for modern digital broadcasting, with rich contents also for viewers.
As the former NTA boss turns 70, the President prays for good health and greater service to God and mankind.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 13, 20210
- FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING
PRESS RELEASE
NATIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMME: NIGERIANS INVITED TO APPLY AS FASHOLA LAUNCHES PORTAL FOR SALE OF HOUSES
- Over 5,000 houses up for sale across 34 states of the Federation, which construction generated jobs, economic growth, says Minister
- Online sale to ensure credibility, openness and reduce human intervention, underhand practice
- Encourages FHA, FMBN, to use portal, states to adapt portal for sales of their houses
- President of NGE, Permanent Secretary, commend FG, Minister for commitment to housing delivery, innovativeness
Nigerians can now apply for houses built under the current Federal Government’s National Housing Programme (NHP) in 34 states of the country following the launch, Friday of the portal by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN through which interested members of the public could apply for allocation.
The formal launch of the portal, https:// nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng, which took place at the Conference Room of the Ministry in Mabushi, Abuja, throws open the door for Nigerians to apply online to buy the available 5,000 plus housing units, ranging from 1, 2 to 3 bedroom bungalows and blocks of flats in any location of their choice.
In his remarks at the ceremony, which was attended by prominent stakeholders and media executives including the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr. Mustapha Isah, Fashola said the decision by the Ministry to sell the available houses online was to bring credibility to the exercise and reduce human intervention as well as give all categories of buyers a level playing field.
The Minister told his audience, “We converge here just to introduce a portal on which the National Housing Programme pilot will be offered for sale to the public. What that means is that we will not be selling printed forms, the forms are online and this allows for more openness, limits human intervention and any disposition to any underhand practice”.
Clarifying that the decision to adopt online sale of forms and limit human intervention was not an indictment of the staff, he added, “It is just to make the system more accountable and people seeing credibility if they win and if they are not successful they will equally know that the system has at least given them a fair chance”.
Fashola, who described the launch of the portal as “the end game of our economic objective”, explained that the government did not just set out to build houses, adding that the project has served many purposes, the first of which was to test what sort of houses Nigerians would like to live in so as to make policies to guide its agencies and parastatals, as well as other stakeholders, to build what could be acceptable in the markets.
“We are the policy head of those parastatals like the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and so on. We are saying that the National Housing Programme had not succeeded in the past and some of the houses built then still remain empty. So we conducted a national survey across the zones just to find out what is acceptable”, the Minister said.
The findings, he said, were that while in the Northern part of the country there was preference for bungalow and large expanse of land which encouraged building horizontally, in the Southern part, there seemed to be acceptance for blocks of flats and lack of space which made building vertically necessary.
Emphasizing that the current National Housing Programme is a pilot or demonstration scheme meant, among others, to galvanize private sector participation, Fashola explained further, “We applied for land from the states and we set out to do a demonstration or a pilot programme because we then wanted to validate what we saw and build a pilot scheme”.
“So as at today we have built 5,000 plus units in different stages of completion. We have done in Phase 1 and we have done in Phase 2 and some have started in Phase 3”, the Minister reiterated adding that the other purpose the scheme has served was to fulfill part of the objectives of the administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
He added, “It was also a way to implement our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) because as at the time we conceived this programme, the country was in recession”, expressing delight that it has fulfilled that objective because over 1,000 contractors were engaged on the building sites; “businesses owned by Nigerians and Nigerian contractors”.
Pointing out that no foreign contractor was engaged in the project, Fashola added that it was not only an opportunity for nation building but an opportunity for the contractors to sustain their staff.
In his goodwill message after the launch, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Mustapha Isah, commended the Federal Government for its commitment to housing delivery. He also commended the Minister for the innovations he has brought to bear at the national level, which, according to him, was a replication of his development initiatives as Governor in Lagos State.
Also in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Babangida Hussaini commended President Buhari and the Minister for their commitment to programmes and projects that promote prosperity for the citizens and grow the nation’s economy.
Aside the NGE President, other media personalities present were the Special Assistant, Digital/New Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Tolu Ogunlesi, the Secretary General of the NGE and Editor, Nation’s Capital, THISDAY Newspaper Group, Mr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren and the Deputy-Editor, BusinessDay Newspaper, Abuja Bureau Office, while from the Ministry, were Directors, Special Advisers and other top officials as well as Media Correspondents.
Boade Akinola
Director Press and Public Relations
Friday, November 12th, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU COMMISSIONS ISE POLICE STATION IN LEKKI
- Reiterates Commitment to Security of Lives, Property of Lagosians
In line with his administration’s commitment to the security of lives and property of the people of Lagos State as articulated in the Security and Governance pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S. development agenda, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday commissioned Ise Town Police Station in Ibeju-Lekki of Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the State.
Speaking during the commissioning of the newly constructed Ise Police Station, Governor Sanwo-Olu said his administration remains unflinching in its resolve to boldly and efficiently deploy cutting-edge thinking and technology to prevent crime and criminality, with the hindsight that prevention is always better than cure.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, disclosed that in a situation where crime has been committed, his administration would ensure that no stone is unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice.
He said: “Our Lagos is safer and more secure today because of the improved operational capacities of our security agencies. Note that individuals and corporate organisations have made this possible largely through the financial and material donations to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund. The effectiveness of this initiative as a strategy to fight and prevent crime has been widely acknowledged through its replication by other subnational governments, and even at the national level.
“Therefore, the construction of this Police Station is another fulfilment of our strong commitment to safer and secure clime that will engender confidence of investors considering the fact that this area is within the precinct of Lekki Free Trade Zone, the emerging industrial hub of not only Lagos State but also Nigeria.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu while stressing the need for synergy between the security agencies and the people to curb crime, urged the people of Ise community to fully cooperate and collaborate with the Security personnel that would be deployed to the new Police Station to assist and strengthen the security in the environment so as to ensure the full realisation of the objectives behind the construction and equipping of this Police station.
The Governor, who encouraged the Police formation to deploy the best of their professionals to Ise Police Station, promised that his administration would not relent in prioritising the needs and wellbeing of the men and officers of security agencies in Lagos State.
“In furtherance of our commitment, work will commence before the end of this year on the construction of two other Police stations at Elepe in Ikorodu and Lekki. In addition, we will be constructing a modern office facility for Area ‘N’ Police Command Headquarters in Ijede, as well as the reconstruction of Alimosho and Ikeja offices of Department of State Security Services.
“All of these projects, when completed, will provide a conducive environment for our security operatives to perform optimally,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also commended the Onise of Ise, His Royal Highness, Oba Ganiu Adegbesan for his firm commitment to the safety and socio-economic development of his people and community as demonstrated by his request for government intervention in providing the Police Station to address the spate of kidnapping and activities of land-grabbers, among other criminal activities within the community and its environs.
Speaking earlier, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operation), Mr. Ahmed Kontagora, commended the Lagos State Government for the newly constructed Ise Police Station.
He said building of the Police Station in Ise would reduce crime among the people of the community and Lekki LCDA at large.
Also speaking, Oba Adegbesan praised Governor Sanwo-Olu for delivering the dividends of democracy to Lagosians, especially the ongoing construction of Lagos-Epe Expressway and other infrastructure, which have turned many parts of the State to construction sites.
The traditional ruler commended the role played by Mr. Tayo Ayinde toward the building of the Ise Police Station, stating that the government gesture would contribute immensely to reduction of crimes in the community.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
NOVEMBER 11, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU CONDOLES WITH PASTOR TAIWO ODUKOYA OVER WIFE’S DEATH
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has condoled with Pastor Taiwo Odukoya over the death of his beloved wife, Nomthi.
The Governor described the unfortunate death of the late Pastor Mrs. Odukoya as a painful and sad occurrence.
The Governor urged Pastor Odukoya to take heart and not lose the strength of his mind, believing that his wife had gone to be with her maker.
The Governor said that death is one of those harsh realities of life that we have to accept, adding that the wonderful children and other family members she left behind have a long life ahead.
The Governor, on behalf of his wife, Dr. Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and the people of Lagos State, prayed for the soul of the bereaved.
He also prayed for her family members, the Fountain of Life Bible Church and the entire Christian faithful over the loss of Pastor Mrs. Nomthi Odukoya, asking God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
NOVEMBER 10, 2021
Akeredolu lauds the initiative of Yoruba World Centre at University of Ibadan
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has extolled the initiative to establish a Yoruba World Centre inside the University of Ibadan by the International Centre for Yoruba arts and Culture (INCEYAC), saying it is a project that must be supported by all. “A project of this nature must be supported by all, for it is a project for the good of the people”, the Governor emphasised.
He was speaking in his Akure office when he received an INCEYAC team led by Mr Alao Adedayo, the publisher of Alaroye and the initiator of the project. The team that went to brief the Governor on the coming presentation and turning of the first sod of INCEYAC by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, also had Mr Tunde Kelani, the renowned cinematographer and Mr Gabriel Sosanya.
Mr Akeredolu said the collaboration of INCEYAC and the University of Ibadan is a development that must be encouraged, so as to allow developments in many fields. He lamented that the language, arts and culture of Yoruba continue to go down by the day, and it is the duty of concerned personalities to save the situation.
“This problem starts from our various homes, and this involves all of us. We refuse to use or encourage our children to use our language, or learn about the arts and culture of our people, and it is something that must be stopped. We in the Southwest Governors’ Forum are working hard on this to see that every state makes the study of Yoruba compulsory up to secondary level. It is one of the ways we plan to address the situation.”
The Governor not only promised to attend the UI-INCEYAC programme on Tuesday, 23 November, 2021, he also assured the team that he would personally speak with his colleagues in the region to also grace the occasion. “Yes, I will personally come, and I will send words round to my colleagues that it is a programme we must attend, to show our support for this collaboration that’s meant for the preservation and protection of our history, language, arts and culture!”
The initiator of the project had earlier told Governor Akeredolu that the Centre which will be filled with books, documents, artefact, records, art works, etc. is being put together by the Institute of African Studies, Yoruba Language Centre of University of Ibadan and INCEYAC. It is expected to be a one-stop shop where researchers, journalists, writers and members of the general public interested in Yoruba history, arts and culture can approach to source for all materials needed.
“Not only this,” says Adedayo, “the Centre will locate lost or forgotten Yoruba historical materials, music and arts, and make same available at the Centre for general usage. It will also digitise and reconstruct historical facts through documentary and films on all subjects relating to the Yoruba people, thereby making search by researchers and others easy, and needed materials ready.”
Rt. Hon. Dekor Justifies Why Gov Wike Should Lead Consultative Meeting With FG
…Lambasts Those Opposed To The Unanimous Position of Ogoni Stakeholders
…Pays Tribute To Ogoni People On Heroes Day Anniversary
The member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor insists Governor Nyesom Wike is the right person to lead the planned Multi-Stakeholder Consultative Meeting between the Ogoni leaders and the Federal government over resumption of oil production in OML 11.
Rt. Hon. Dekor said the controversy triggered by the choice of Governor Wike among sections of Ogoni people is unnecessary, arguing that as the Chief Security Officer of the State, there is hardly any such high level meeting with the federal government as was the tradition in the past without involving the State governor.
The Federal lawmaker who is a former Deputy Speaker, and one time Commissioner for Works in the State recalled similar occasions when past Governors including former Rivers State governor, and now Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his Minister for Niger Delta Affairs counterpart, Godswill Akpabio among others had been on Ogoni people’s delegation to the Presidency on issues concerning Ogoni nation.
Sensing partisan politics as the reason for opposing Gov Wike’s leadership of the Multi- Stakeholder Consultative Meeting, Rt. Hon. Dekor said this is one issue that must not be politicized.
He accused members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as architects of the seeming controversy on who should and should not lead the Ogoni delegation to the planned Multi- Stakeholder Consultative Meeting.
Rt. Hon. Dekor described those opposed to the unanimous decision of Ogoni stakeholders that Gov Wike should be at the head of the delegation as enemies of Ogoni people.
The federal lawmaker said inclusion of the Governor who is the Chief Security Officer of the State is in the interest of the Ogoni people, because it would enhance deeper and meaningful consultation with an impactful and meaningful outcome.
On the 26th Ogoni Heroes Day Anniversary, November 10, 2021, Rt. Hon. Dekor believes the Ogoni martyrs did not die in vain, positing that their blood is the seed of democracy in Nigeria and connotes respect for human dignity.
Congratulating the Ogoni people on the occasion of the death of the internationally acclaimed environmentalist, and Ogoni hero, Ken Saro-Wiwa and others who lost their lives for the sustainance of democracy in Nigeria, the House Committee Chairman on Host Communities said though Ken and his kinsmen are gone, they still live on having left lasting legacies and everlasting memories in the heart of people.
RIWAMA Sole Administrator, Obuah Takes Campaign Against Indiscriminate Dumping Of Wastes To Elelenwo, Aba Road, Woji, Others
In order to ensure that no part of Port Harcourt the state capital and its environs are left out in its sensitization and enlightenment campaign against indiscriminate dumping of wastes outside the approved time and government approved receptacles, the Rivers State Waste Management Agency, RIWAMA, has taken the campaign to Elelenwo, Aba Road, Woji Town and the Slaughter axis of the city, all in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State, Tuesday, November 9, 2021.
At the vanguard of the sensitization/enlightenment team was the Director of Environmental Health and Operations of the Agency, Mrs. Helen Ohaka who represented the Sole Administrator, Bro Felix Obuah.
The campaign by RIWAMA is geared at keeping residents and those doing business in the State constantly aware and alive to their obligation of not only keeping their homes, offices, markets and other surroundings clean at all times but also adhere to the sanitation laws of the State by dumping all wastes at government approved receptacles between the hours of 6pm – 12midnight daily.
The RIWAMA team emphasized the efforts of the State government through the Agency in both financial and infrastructural terms to show the seriousness of government in creating no room for dirts in any part of the State capital.
Not complying with the laws and acting in contradiction to the Agency’s simple demands therefore, will attract dire consequences, the RIWAMA boss warned.
“We therefore plead that you help the Agency and help yourselves live a health life”, he further appealed.
Jerry Needam
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to
Bro. Felix Obuah, Sole Administrator,
Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING
PRESS RELEASE
NATIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMME: NIGERIANS INVITED TO APPLY AS FASHOLA LAUNCHES PORTAL FOR SALE OF HOUSES
- Over 5,000 houses up for sale across 34 states of the Federation, which construction generated jobs, economic growth, says Minister
- Online sale to ensure credibility, openness and reduce human intervention, underhand practice
- Encourages FHA, FMBN, to use portal, states to adapt portal for sales of their houses
- President of NGE, Permanent Secretary, commend FG, Minister for commitment to housing delivery, innovativeness
Nigerians can now apply for houses built under the current Federal Government’s National Housing Programme (NHP) in 34 states of the country following the launch, Friday of the portal by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN through which interested members of the public could apply for allocation.
The formal launch of the portal, https:// nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng, which took place at the Conference Room of the Ministry in Mabushi, Abuja, throws open the door for Nigerians to apply online to buy the available 5,000 plus housing units, ranging from 1, 2 to 3 bedroom bungalows and blocks of flats in any location of their choice.
In his remarks at the ceremony, which was attended by prominent stakeholders and media executives including the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr. Mustapha Isah, Fashola said the decision by the Ministry to sell the available houses online was to bring credibility to the exercise and reduce human intervention as well as give all categories of buyers a level playing field.
The Minister told his audience, “We converge here just to introduce a portal on which the National Housing Programme pilot will be offered for sale to the public. What that means is that we will not be selling printed forms, the forms are online and this allows for more openness, limits human intervention and any disposition to any underhand practice”.
Clarifying that the decision to adopt online sale of forms and limit human intervention was not an indictment of the staff, he added, “It is just to make the system more accountable and people seeing credibility if they win and if they are not successful they will equally know that the system has at least given them a fair chance”.
Fashola, who described the launch of the portal as “the end game of our economic objective”, explained that the government did not just set out to build houses, adding that the project has served many purposes, the first of which was to test what sort of houses Nigerians would like to live in so as to make policies to guide its agencies and parastatals, as well as other stakeholders, to build what could be acceptable in the markets.
“We are the policy head of those parastatals like the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and so on. We are saying that the National Housing Programme had not succeeded in the past and some of the houses built then still remain empty. So we conducted a national survey across the zones just to find out what is acceptable”, the Minister said.
The findings, he said, were that while in the Northern part of the country there was preference for bungalow and large expanse of land which encouraged building horizontally, in the Southern part, there seemed to be acceptance for blocks of flats and lack of space which made building vertically necessary.
Emphasizing that the current National Housing Programme is a pilot or demonstration scheme meant, among others, to galvanize private sector participation, Fashola explained further, “We applied for land from the states and we set out to do a demonstration or a pilot programme because we then wanted to validate what we saw and build a pilot scheme”.
“So as at today we have built 5,000 plus units in different stages of completion. We have done in Phase 1 and we have done in Phase 2 and some have started in Phase 3”, the Minister reiterated adding that the other purpose the scheme has served was to fulfill part of the objectives of the administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
He added, “It was also a way to implement our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) because as at the time we conceived this programme, the country was in recession”, expressing delight that it has fulfilled that objective because over 1,000 contractors were engaged on the building sites; “businesses owned by Nigerians and Nigerian contractors”.
Pointing out that no foreign contractor was engaged in the project, Fashola added that it was not only an opportunity for nation building but an opportunity for the contractors to sustain their staff.
In his goodwill message after the launch, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Mustapha Isah, commended the Federal Government for its commitment to housing delivery. He also commended the Minister for the innovations he has brought to bear at the national level, which, according to him, was a replication of his development initiatives as Governor in Lagos State.
Also in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Babangida Hussaini commended President Buhari and the Minister for their commitment to programmes and projects that promote prosperity for the citizens and grow the nation’s economy.
Aside the NGE President, other media personalities present were the Special Assistant, Digital/New Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Tolu Ogunlesi, the Secretary General of the NGE and Editor, Nation’s Capital, THISDAY Newspaper Group, Mr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren and the Deputy-Editor, BusinessDay Newspaper, Abuja Bureau Office, while from the Ministry, were Directors, Special Advisers and other top officials as well as Media Correspondents.
Boade Akinola
Director Press and Public Relations
Friday, November 12th, 2021
