Nigeria will establish a $25 billion Infrastructure Development Fund to finance projects in the country, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma, has said.

Nigeria will establish a $25 billion Infrastructure Development Fund to finance projects in the country, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma, has said.
Mr. Udo-Udoma said this while receiving the Report of the three-day Pre-Summit Workshop from the Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership Summit Group on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the development fund would provide a pool of fiscal resources for long term financing of priority projects.
He said the ministry had developed the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) for accelerated infrastructure development in the country for the next 30 year.
“The fund seeks to raise the stock of infrastructure from the current level of 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the GDP to at least 70 per cent by 2043.
“A total investment outlay of 3.05 trillion dollars will be required for the implementation of NIIMP.
“The investment will be geared towards meetings infrastructure requirements of the major sectors of the economy.
“The NIIMP captured Energy, Transport, Information Communication Technology, Agriculture, Water, Mining, Housing, Social Infrastructure, Security and Vital Registration sectors,” Udo-Udoma said.

He pointed out that the implementation of the NIIMP required collaboration of stakeholders – Federal and State Governments and the private sector – to provide required investments.
“The NIIMP, apart from being a robust framework for infrastructure development, will also serve as investors’ guide, enhance economic growth, and create job opportunities among other benefits,” he said.
Earlier, Abubakar Mahmoud, Chairman, Infrastructure PPP Summit Group, said the group was formed to address deficit in infrastructure and that government alone could not drive the provision of infrastructure.
Mr. Mahmoud said that the concept of forming the group was for private sector to pull resources and expertise together to create framework for PPP dialogue and engagement.
“We have received a lot of support from government agencies, including the ministry,” he said.
Also Speaking, Daniel Gori, a member of the team who presented an outcome of the summit, said that infrastructure was key to reclaiming Nigeria as the biggest economy in Africa.
Gori recalled that Nigeria had lost its first position as the largest economy in the continent to South Africa.
“We know that infrastructure is critical to this; infrastructure deficit is putting a break on Nigeria potential.
“The report focuses on Power, Transport, Agriculture and Health and we have analysed all sectors and ways they can be developed,” he said. (NAN)

buhari change -Akamukale who is an All Progressives Congress (APC) Board of Trustee member, said President Muhammadu Buhari made some fundamental mistakes in his appointments.

Akamukale who is an All Progressives Congress (APC) Board of Trustee member, said President Muhammadu Buhari made some fundamental mistakes in his appointments. He further alleged that the president appointed three saboteurs who never believed in his presidency as ministers. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Tension in PDP as Fayose is placed under house arrest in Port Harcourt (photos) Akamukale who made the disclosure while fielding questions from journalists at the APC headquarters, said Buhari needs to, immediately, roll out practical solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the country, warning that many Nigerians were becoming impatient. “I agree that it is painful to see certain persons appointed. I know three current serving ministers who told me that Buhari will never be the President of this country. “Today, they are benefiting from Buhari government, but they should be ashamed because it is only a dog that goes back to its vomit. I have nothing against them because people will tell you that after party, it is government, but they are political jobbers. They claim that the president went for technocrats, but the big question is, who is not a technocrat. “The truth is that most of them are interlopers because it takes those within the party to understand where the party is headed. I agree that Mr President, perhaps, because of what he met on ground and style of leadership, has not been forthcoming with the distribution of leadership. READ ALSO: Tension in Niger Delta: What Navy has unveiled will send militants running (photos) “There are lots of our members waiting to be compensated. It is natural all over the world. However, I am sure these things will soon be sorted out because we are getting there. I know we have to be patient but I know that some people are running out of patience,” he said. He added: “If by 2019, the dream is cut short by Nigerians, many people you see today, some who are ministers and others, will go back, but some of us will still remain. Many people will go back and look for a new government to take position. They will tell you that they are technocrats because they have nothing to lose. “If you really ask me, I think Nigerians are becoming impatient with us because it is now about two years into this government. So, it is for Nigerians and not about me or about APC members. It is for Nigerians to know what this government will do to benefit them.” On what Mr President should do, he said: “I think the president should bring on board those who believe in the change mantra, those who yearned for change, those who could assist Mr. President in delivering the dividends of democracy to the masses of this country, because, at the end of the day, people that lose or gain are Nigerians. Nigerians voted for us and there are things they are expecting from us.” READ ALSO: Fast all in one — UC Browser Meanwhile, Ogbonnaya Onu, the minister of science and technology has rejected the Toyota SUV given to him by the Ebonyi state government. The minister, in a letter to the state governor, Dave Umahi, said he rejected the gift because the laws of the state excluded him from persons eligible to collect such gifts. The letter which was obtained by Premium Times quoted Onu calling the governor’s attention to the relevant sections of the constitution and how the state House of Assembly abused its powers to technically edge him out of his deserved pension, being a former governor of Abia state. Onu said it was clear from the foregoing that he was the target of the change “in an apparent design to deny me of my due pension entitlement.”
Read more: https://www.naij.com/932855-shocking-buhari-appointed-3-saboteurs-ministers-apc-chieftain-spills-secrets.html

President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday, declared open the Annual Meeting of the Association of African Central Banks (AACB) in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday, declared open the Annual Meeting of the Association of African Central Banks (AACB) in Abuja. This was made available in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, Mr. Femi Adesina. According to the statement, the theme of the event read thus: Unwinding unconventional monetary policies: Implications for monetary policy and financial stability in Africa. President Buhari with R-L: Vice Chairman of AACB and Governor Central Bank of Nigeria Mr Godwin Emefiele, Chairman, Association of African Central Banks (AACB) Mr Lucas Abaga Nchama, Chairman, Senate committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Kebbi State Governor H.E. Atiku Bagudu and other participants.
Atiku Bagudu and other participants The event which brought together major stakeholders in the financial sector, had in discussions several ways of making Africa financially stable. Participants at the event which was headed by Mr. President himself were the Chairman, Association of African Central Banks (AACB) Mr Lucas Abaga Nchama, Vice Chairman of AACB and Governor Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele and Chairman, Senate committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim in Abuja. Others were Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Kebbi State Governor, H.E. Atiku Bagudu.

A former Nigerian military leader, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), is in talks with President Muhammadu Buhari. - Buhari Change in Nigeria

A former Nigerian military leader, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), is in talks with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Abubakar was seen at the Presidential Villa on Thursday few minutes after noon.
What both parties are discussing is not known yet, but the former Nigerian leader had in June said he believed that lasting peace could return to Nigeria.
He called for dialogue between government and various insurgency groups including the Niger Delta Avengers militant group.
General Abubakar also lamented that Nigerians were suffering unduly because of the actions of various insurgents including the Boko Haram, Avengers and Biafra agitators.
The meeting between President Buhari and the former leader is coming days after the Boko Haram sect released a new video of some girls it abducted from Chibok community two years ago.
The group had in the video requested for prisoners swap with the girls.
General Abubakar played a major role in the transition of Nigerian government from military to a civilian government in 1999 and in ensuring a smooth transition from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Party.

The Indigenous People of Biafra on Wednesday said it would not enter into any dialogue with the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari in the absence of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.- Buhari Change in Nigeria

The Indigenous People of Biafra on Wednesday said it would not enter into any dialogue with the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari in the absence of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

 It stated that nothing short of unconditional release of its leader would be acceptable.

The group described the continued detention of Kanu as an impunity and disrespect for the constitution of the country.

It said, “For Buhari to continue to keep Kanu in custody after a court of competent jurisdiction had granted him (Kanu) bail is enough corruption.”

The group said it was a waste of time for the Federal Government to think that they would enter into dialogue with IPOB without first releasing Kanu.

It maintained that no pressure would make Kanu betray his supporters and the Biafra cause.

“They don’t know this man called Nnamdi Kanu. They can’t intimidate Kanu by dumping him in prison. He can’t beg anybody for his freedom.”

A release by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, made available to newsmen in Awka, Anambra State, read in part, “Instead of our leader to renounce Biafra, he would renounce Nigeria publicly, mark our words.

“We are not after securing bail for our leader; we are after his freedom and freedom for the people of Biafra.

“Even a child born today knows that any attempt to tamper with Nnamdi Kanu’s life will bring about catastrophic consequences.”

“Should anything happen to Kanu, Somalia will be a paradise, compared to what will happen in Nigeria.

“We are not asking for anything short of his immediate and unconditional release, as ordered by an Abuja Federal High Court.”

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said he has not been receiving military pensions - Buhari Change in Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said he has not been receiving military pensions and salaries as former head of state since he assumed office in May 2015. Mr. Buhari said, in fact, he did not receive pensions due to him as a retired military officers, unlike many of his contemporaries. President Buhari interacts with troops of HQ 1 BDE in Dansadau Zamfara State as part of the 2016 Nigerian Army Day celebration on 13th July President Buhari interacts with troops of HQ 1 BDE in Dansadau Zamfara State as part of the 2016 Nigerian Army Day celebration on 13th July Mr. Buhari was reacting to a narrative circulating on social media which said he has been receiving double payments from the federal coffers. Garba Shehu the Official Spokesperson to the President in a statement released, on Twitter, said all financial gratuities, vehicles and even souvenirs due him were not paid to him by the Army. “The President has never received pension from the army or car as had gone to former Commanders-in-Chief,” Mr. Shehu said. “After his overthrow, they didn’t remember him even in the annual distribution of diaries or calendars.” “Buhari stopped collecting allowances paid to former Heads of State the moment he took office as elected President last year. “Since his overthrow as military ruler, the army never instituted a pension for him. The army is known to supply cars to former heads of the army. President Buhari never got any of that,” Mr. Shehu said. Mr. Shehu said before Mr. Buhari was elected president, he did not benefit from vehicle supplies to former Nigerian leaders, a claim he said could be verified at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. “Before this time, the presidency did not supply cars to him as they did the former Heads of State,” Mr. Shehu said. “This is verifiable from the SGF’s office.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/buhari-never-received-pension-gratuities-army-presidency/

Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-kayode has joined other Nigerians, who are sympathetic with plight of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), to disagree with Doyin Okupe over the role of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari in the opposition party’s crisis.

Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-kayode has joined other Nigerians, who are sympathetic with plight of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), to disagree with Doyin Okupe over the role of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari in the opposition party’s crisis. Okupe had posted a statement on his Facebook page saying that the failed PDP convention should not be blamed on APC or Buhari but the internal conflicts with the PDP. READ ALSO: Top 5 reasons PDP national convention failed in Port Harcourt “The failed PDP convention cannot and should not be blamed on our political adversaries. Rather the blame should rest squarely on the failure of internal conflict resolution machinery of the PDP, the surprising naivety and desperation of many to seize power and control the party, and the gullibility of majority of the followership, who have become entrenched in the cesspool of pervasive impunity of our leadership over the years,” he said. But Fani-Kayode disagreed. According to him, the APC and Buhari played a massive role in ensuring that the PDP’s crisis was blown up. “Egbon mi (my brother), I beg to differ. There can never be any compromise with Sheriff. You cannot compromise and negotiate with the devil or a man that wants your head on a silver platter. Sheriff is working for Buhari to destroy the PDP and he has almost succeeded. The only answer is to continue to fight him in the courts and elsewhere and, if push comes to shove, form another party, get our members and supporters to join that party and leave the bastard with the carcass of the PDP. Very few people will stay with him because he is a plague,” Fani-Kayode spat much to the admiration of many of Okupe’s followers. “I can’t believe this is coming from you sir. You typed “long live PDP” to tell us you are still a PDP member whereas your write-up clearly depicts the opposite. Buhari should not be blamed for disrupting the the national convention with security personnel which should have been ongoing by now. They are just manipulating the judiciary over there. The days of Justice Abang are numbered I believe,” a follower, Kevin Onuja wrote to Okupe. READ ALSO: Fast all in one — UC Browser Another, Ndukwe Mark, said, “Mr. Olufemi Olu-Kayode, believe me or not Mr. Doyin okupe is no more in PDP he decamped the very day he went to beg OBJ. HE is currently working for Buhari, an APC led administration. So take note sir.” But Okupe had supporters too. One follower named Adedoyin Banjo-Adeniyi saluted Okupe saying, “Why is it difficult to do the right thing? Technically, Makarfi Committee stands dissolved Abang will nullify what was done today. Egbon Doyin Okupe you better go and team up with him if you still want to be in opposition or gently join APC.” Fani-Kayode followed this with a long statement detailing how Sheriff was planted within the PDP and was used by the APC to cause an implosion with the opposition. “Egbon mi, I beg to differ. If you remember I warned the governors about Shetiff when they imposed him on us. “The PDP Ministers Forum rejected him as did the PDP Board of Trustees but the governors would not listen. Now we have been vindicated because everything that we said would happen has come to pass. “The imposition of Sheriff by the Governors Forum was the biggest mistake that we have made since conceeding the election to Buhari and frankly, as I wrote at the time, I believe that he bewitched the governors that brought him and indeed those in the party that accepted him and agreed to work with him. “Now the power of the spell has worne off and their eyes have opened. Sadly, though things will get worse because Sheriff is under orders: he is working a script and that script was crafted by those who commissioned him to divide, weaken and kill our party. “When you open your doors for a snake what do you expect? I am not surprised by all he is doing because he is acting true to type: he is a green snake who has dipped his fangs deeply into our flesh and whose poison is kiling us slowly. “Truth is that there can never be any compromise with Sheriff. You cannot compromise with the devil or a snake. “You cannot wine and dine or attempt to cohabit with a creature that the great writer and teacher, Mr. David Icke, describes as a “shape-shifting sociopath and reptilian”. “There can be no fellowship between light and darkness even in politics. You cannot negotiate with a narcistic megalomaniac who wants your head to be cut off and served to him on a silver platter. “Sheriff is working for Buhari to destroy the PDP and he has almost succeeded in his mission. “The only answer is for us to continue to fight him in the courts and elsewhere and, if push comes to shove, form another party, get our members and supporters to join that party and leave the bastard with the carcass of the old PDP. “Very few people will stay with him because carcasses tend to stink and because he is the quintessential plague. After some time even his most diehard supporters will get sick of him and abandon him.” Meanwhile, Fani-Kayode has predicted hard times for the PDP after the failed convention. According to him, there are dark days ahead but not for only the PDP but also the entire country. “That is “mai chanji” for you! The sooner the leaders of the PDP wake up, smell the coffee and appreciate the kind of monster they are dealing with and the sooner they elect and select leaders that are prepared to risk their lives and liberty to confront this government the better. If you want democracy and freedom you must be prepared to confront the dictator and fight for it. “Where there is no justice there can be no peace,” Fani-Kayode concluded.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/932308-fani-kayode-nigerians-attack-okupe-backing-buhari.html

The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has said that anyone who claims that the President received pensions from the army should face “criminal investigation.”

The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has said that anyone who claims that the President received pensions from the army should face “criminal investigation.”
Garba said this on Wednesday, claiming that the President did not receive pension or cars from the army, as did former commanders-in-chief.
“After his overthrow, they didn’t remember him, even in the annual distribution of diaries or calendars. Since his overthrow as military ruler, the army did not institute a pension for him,” Garba said.
He added that the President stopped collecting “allowances that are usually paid to former heads of state” the moment he took office as elected President last year.
“This is verifiable from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” he said; adding that, “If anyone is laying his/her hand on any such payment, they should face criminal investigation.”
He said though the army was known to supply cars to former heads of the army, Buhari did not get any.
“On the other hand, there is a directorate in the SGF’s office paying allowances to all ex-heads of state. This is not pension. And President Buhari stopped collecting this from last year.
“The cars he got came from the former President through the ONSA. This was after the bomb attack on his convoy in Kaduna.
“Before this time, the Presidency did not supply cars to him as they did to the former heads of state,” Garba said.

The Police in Ogun State, on tuesday 16th august 2016 , released unconditionally, the 30-year-old trader, Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, who was arrested last Saturday for naming his pet dog ‘Buhari’

The Police in Ogun State, on tuesday 16th august 2016 , released unconditionally, the 30-year-old trader, Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, who was arrested last Saturday for naming his pet dog ‘Buhari’. The embattled trader, Chinakwe. The embattled trader, Chinakwe. The embattled trader, who was visibly angry after his three-day incarceration in police cell, was let off the hook around 5pm on Tuesday after the intervention of both the Serkin Hausa and President-General of non-indigenes in the state. It was learned that the prompt intervention of the elders made the complainant to withdraw the case he reported against the trader at Sango-Ota division which was later transferred to Police headquarters at Eleweran. However, police sources said both the complainant and suspect were made to sign an undertaking not to cause any breach of peace again. Speaking to Vanguard after this release, the trader, a father of two from the Niger Delta, who trades on second hand clothing lamented that he was made to suffer for no just cause. Complainant from Niger Republic Narrating his ordeal, Chinakwe said “It is annoying because the complainant is from Niger Republic and I am sure he is one of those illegal aliens in this country. He connived with one Police Sergeant from the Northern part of Nigeria called Musa, who works at Sango Police division to humiliate me. Worse still, the Divisional Police Officer there, did not help matters as he refused to entertain any plea from me after I was arrested that Saturday night. He simply ordered his men to throw me into the cell.” Why dog was named Buhari Continuing, he said “I did not commit any offence. I named my beloved pet dog Buhari, who is my hero. My admiration for Buhari started far back when he was a military Head of State. It continued till date that he is a civilian President. After reading his dogged fight against corruption, which is like a canker worm eating into the very existence of this country, I solely decided to rename my beloved dog which I called Buhari, after him. I did not know that I was committing an offence for admiring Buhari. Ordeal with Police “I was intimidated and thrown inside the cell with hardened criminals for about three days. While I was there, the complainant from Niger Republic and Sergeant Musa from the North kept on taunting me saying people from my part of the country are trouble makers and that after detaining me, they will throw me into prison where I will die unsung. ”Even when my wife came with our baby on her back, they stopped her from giving me food. One of my friends that came to see me was also maltreated. “While taking me to Eleweran the next day, they handcuffed and chained me together with that my friend. Fortunately, when we got to police headquarters, both the Commissioner of Police and other officers were angry with their colleagues at Sango-Ota. ”They were wondering loudly why I was brought to the headquarters over such a minor case. It’s very unfortunate that I have to be so humiliated in my own country because of the antics of a foreigner in connivance with my brother from the North.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/named-dog-buhari-trader/

The Police have deployed mobile policemen to the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Office in Abuja, venue of the planned protest by former bodyguards to President Muhammadu Buhari who participated during the 2015 presidential campaigns.

The Police have deployed mobile policemen to the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Office in Abuja, venue of the planned protest by former bodyguards to President Muhammadu Buhari who participated during the 2015 presidential campaigns.

The Spokesperson of the group, Badiru Olabiyi Balogun, told  THE PUNCH on Thursday, that his group will go ahead with the protest.

He said, “Two truck loads of mobile policemen have been deployed to our campaign office. They said the instruction was that they should not allow us access to the office and that people inside should not be allowed to go out. So, we are meeting there by 9:00am this morning.”

THE PUNCH had last week, reported that the same group had protested against their “exclusion” by those they described ” as cabals in the government.”

They alleged that apart from the N20,000 they got on two occasions in January and February 2015, “we had never and were never given anything.”

While some of them wept profusely because “some cabals have hijacked the President”, they said many of the key actors in Buhari’s government, who did not work for him “are now reaping where they did not sow” and have denied them access to him.

Details later.

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday, August 17, said he was placed under 'house arrest' in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he was meant to attend the controversial Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention.

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday, August 17, said he was placed under 'house arrest' in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he was meant to attend the controversial Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention.

He said security operatives,  with an armoured personnel career, blocked the old Presidential lodge in Rivers state Government House where he lodged, preventing him from going out.

In a statement titled "I was under ‘house arrest’ in PH - Fayose", and issued by his media aide, Mr Lere Olayinka, the Governor said several appeals to the security team at the gate to allow him attend the convention were shunned.

The statement said: "Fayose Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has lamented that he was not at the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he was placed under ‘house arrest’ at the Old Presidential Lodge, Rivers State Government House where he lodged.

"All entreaties to allow Fayose to step out to attend the convention were rebuffed by the security personnel on ground.”

ALSO READ: Sheriff rejects outcome of PDP convention in Port Harcourt, says its illegal

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Francis Odesanya, however, dismissed Fayose's claims, saying it cannot be true.

He said other Governors got out of their lodge to attend the PDP meeting, wondering how Fayose's case was different.