News

COVID-19: Govs Back Buhari On Lockdown Extension

Published

6 years ago

April 16, 2020

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said the two weeks extension of the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states would be “tough” but was “the right way to go”.
Fayemi said this during his 1st teleconference meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Head, Media and Public Affairs of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, said the teleconference meeting, which was at the instance of the forum, was warmly embraced by President Buhari, in a statement issued on Tuesday night, and made available to newsmen, yesterday.
He told the president that his address captured the mood of the nation and showed that his administration is in touch with the plight of the man on the street.
The governor also told the president that though the targeted testing strategy adopted by the country has done a lot, there was need for more testing.
He added that the governors were desirous of having some more testing facilities so as to deepen the gains already made by the NCDC.
Fayemi, who briefed Mr President on the distribution of palliatives, urged him to instruct the relevant authorities to use the machineries of the state governments so that the palliatives would penetrate all nooks and crannies of the country.
“Palliatives,” the NGF chairman explained, “would be even more meaningful if they were distributed through the state governors.”
Fayemi told President Buhari that since the outbreak of the pandemic, governors have been meeting on a regular basis and met four times over an initial span of 12 days.
The SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha; the PTF Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu; the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele; Aliko Dangote and Herbert Wigwe addressed the governors at yesterday’s meeting.
The meeting between the NGF chairman and the President stretched into the economy where the NGF chairman told the President that states are going through rough times and would like to appeal to the president to take certain decisive decisions to ameliorate the sufferings of the Nigerian people.
Fayemi thanked the president for the approval of the release of $150million to augment projected FAAC shortfall in June but added that more needs to be done to keep the states properly afloat.
“More needs to be done,” he told the president.
The NGF chairman alluded to the revenues from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which he said could help in assuaging some issues related to revenue shortfalls, and reiterated a point from the 4th NGF teleconference meeting of the governors where they called for the suspension of all deductions by the Federal Government so that states can address the COVID-19 challenge from a position of economic strength.
Fayemi also hinted the president that there was the need to streamline all multi-lateral and bilateral interventions and funding so that states are also integrated, and considered because of the difficulties that they are going through.
He lauded the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 which he said is doing a great job because the challenges that the Coronavirus has thrown at them was huge but added on a lighter mood that “Hunger-vid is equally as lethal”, noting that because it puts governors at the receiving end of the hardships, as all governors would be happier if their requests were met.
Fayemi also hailed Mr President for the manner in which he has always rescued the states, recalling presidential approvals for bailouts, budget support facility, London Paris Club refund, etc.
The governor assured Mr. President that if established FGN debts to states like the outstanding PAYE are defrayed, the poor and vulnerable in the country and the citizens would be better taken care of.
“I know your penchant for caring for the poor and the downtrodden in the country, Mr President, and I am telling you that allocations from FAAC have dropped significantly so if you turn your magnanimity towards governors and their states into looking at other debts that continue to linger in the system and prioritise their payments, poor people will be the happier,” the Ekiti State governor added.
The NGF chairman told the president that all the 36 states’ governments were currently reviewing their budgets downwards to conform with the prevailing realities.
Fayemi stated that the forum members align themselves with the efforts of the Federal Government and called for synergy in governance.
He urged the President to also encourage the evolution of a national strategic plan that would encompass the sub-national level so that the country will find a fast and easy way out of the woods.
Fayemi ended his conversation with the President on the plight of informal sector workers who are daily paid in the country whom he said have not been captured in the national register and were therefore exempted from the conditional cash transfer.
He said that their plight needs to be quickly addressed before our situation crumbles into the “Ecuadorian Alternative” where the poor and vulnerable people of Ecuador flocked into the streets in violation of the stay at home order in their country.
Buhari, while responding, commended Fayemi for providing decent leadership at the forum and keeping all governors on course which he said has helped the Federal Government to find easy access to the sub-national level.
The President then asked the NGF chairman to formalise all the requests of the governors and forward them to him, promising that they would be promptly addressed.

News

Victory Over Insurgency Certain, Tinubu Assures

Published

2 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.

The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.

He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.

Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.

“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.

“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.

The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.

Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.

He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.

“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”

The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.

The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.

Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.

News

US Embassy, Lagos Consulate Close Today For President’s Day

Published

3 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.

The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.

“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.

According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.

The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.

In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.

Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.

News

Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role

Published

3 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.

Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.

The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.

“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.

The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.

Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.

The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.

In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.

“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.

Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.

He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.