News
We’re Doing Our Best To Defeat Boko Haram – FG
Vice President Namadi Sambo has assured the Nigerian community in Tanzania that the Federal Government has intensified efforts to check the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by Malam Umar Sani, the vice president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, said such efforts had started yielding positive results.
Sambo gave the assurance during an audience with members of the Nigerian community in Dares Salam, Tanzania.
The statement stated that Sambo noted with satisfaction the concerted efforts of the security agencies in the fight against the terror group in the North East zone of the country.
The vice president, according to the statement, said government was particularly proud of the security agencies’ commitment to ending insurgency in the country.
He said the Federal Government was doing everything possible, including cooperating with neighbouring countries, to check the insurgents.
‘‘I want to seize this opportunity to inform you that the Federal Government is doing everything to ensure that the Boko Haram menace is addressed in Nigeria and we are getting positive results.
‘‘I must say that we are very proud of our security agencies. They have been doing very well and this issue, by God’s grace, will be a thing of the past very soon.
‘‘I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to end this; we are co-operating with our neighbouring countries to bring this to an end soon,’’ the statement further quoted the vice president as saying.
Sambo, who commended the good reports on Nigerians living in Tanzania, urged them to re-dedicate themselves in the true Nigerian spirit to contribute immensely to the growth of the economy of their host country.
‘‘In doing so, you are in many ways also contributing to the development of your fatherland.
‘‘Our determined industrious and enterprising nature is recognised all over the world. We must put to bear this God-given quality in the pursuit of our daily lives.
‘‘I am, therefore, happy to note that we have not had any negative report concerning Nigerians in Tanzania. We cannot but remind ourselves that with good image comes sacrifices,’’ he said.
The statement quoted the vice president as informing the audience of the successes of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
Sambo said Nigeria’s ýrebasing of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 1990 to 2010 resulted in the increase by 40 to 70 per cent of the GDP.
The GDP, which was initially put at $262.6 billion by the World Bank, was increased to $510 billion.
‘‘This favourable economic indicator confirms Nigeria as one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
“ This is a clear testimony of the prudent management of government’s scare resources and sound socio-economic policiesý.
‘‘This growth is amplified in the agriculture sector; this is leading the pace in Africa today in wholesale and retail trade, entertainment, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as in the Oil and Gas sectors of our economy,’’ he said.
Sambo also listed the successes recorded in the agriculture and transport sectors.
He said aside the remodelling of some of the countries airport , the administration was also focusing on terminals, safety facilities, infrastructure, towers, runways and fencing.
Responding to a question ýon Nigerians in Diaspora being able to vote, the vice president said, ‘‘until every Nigerian is registered and known, only then will the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) be able to allow Nigerians in Diaspora to vote.
‘‘But for now, if we don’t have your record in the country, that means anybody can vote and claim to be a Nigerian.
‘‘So, something is being done and soon Nigerians abroad will be able to vote.’’
On the concerns about the constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers, Sambo said that government was addressing the situation with a view to ending crisis.
‘‘We have taken the decision to establish grazing reserves which will grow into ranches. The ranches will also have different businesses.
‘‘We want to in fact fully participate in the Halal meat business which is over $1 trillion today and Nigeria is not benefiting.
‘‘We want to be transporting our beef in refrigerated trucks or trains after being killed in a standard abbatoirs.
The statement said Sambo welcomed the suggestion that government should form a think tank of Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers with a view to sharing experiences with seasoned technocrats in an attempt to contribute meaningfully to addressing some of the country’s enormous challenges.
Earlier in his remarks, ýthe High Commissioner, Dr Ishaya Majambuý, said there were 14 Technical Aid Corps volunteers serving in Zanzibar.
He said the Tanzanian government and people regarded Nigeria as a critical factor ýon the African continent.
The statement quoted Majambu as expressing regret that the relationship between Nigeria and Tanzania had not been consummated into socio-economic gains such as bilateral investments.
According to him, Tanzania is endowed with natural and mineral resources and only recently discovered gas in commercial quantity estimated to last for more than 100 years.
The high commissioner said efforts were being made to attract foreign direct investment to Nigeria.
He noted that three Nigerian companies—Dangote Cement factory, Tony Elumelu Farms and the United Bank for Africa— had already established presence in Tanzania.
Majambu said the population of Nigerians in Tanzania were between 100 and 200 with 70 per cent of them living in Dares Salaam.
According to Majambu, the affected Nigerians were made up of retail traders, students, contract workers and United Nations employees, while those not registered with the High Commission were engaged in illegal activities.
The statement said among those at the meeting were the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed, Sen. Zego Aziz and other principal aides of the vice president.
Sambo was in Tanzania as representative of President Goodluck Jonathan at the golden jubilee celebration of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibarý on April 26, 1964.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.