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Governor Bago promises lasting peace in Niger

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Governor Umaru Bago says he will do everything to restore lasting peace to all parts of Niger.

Mr Bago said this when he paid homage to the Emir of Minna, Umaru Bahago, during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration on Thursday in Minna.

The governor, represented by Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, assured the people of his readiness and commitment to rid Niger of all criminal elements.

”We will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that normalcy and total peace is restored in all parts of Niger state,” the governor promised.

Mr Bago sympathised with the emir over the security challenges in some parts of the emirate. He promised to uphold the dignity of the traditional institutions in Niger, adding that they would be incorporated to support the government in providing good governance to the people.

UK says it will partner Enugu state on power and education

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The United Kingdom (UK) has announced plans to partner with Enugu state on power, education, and public health for mutual economic development.

Richard Montgomery, British high commissioner to Nigeria, spoke during a visit to Peter Mbah, Enugu governor, on Tuesday.

Montgomery said the UK had partnered with Enugu state for over 20 years on public health sector reforms, education, and power sector reforms, among others.

“So, we are interested in continuing that partnership. I have been reading the press and the ways you have been seeking to already put your stamp on reforms and your ambitions for the state,” he said.

“I am here to listen, learn, and understand more about your priority and that of your new government to explore areas of further collaboration.

“I understand that very important reforms are currently being made in Nigeria, trying to put the economy back on track and on a higher growth path.

“We really hope that the south-east and Enugu state will see more opportunities coming from the economy in the coming years.”

Mr Montgomery said there might be some short-term pressures and volatility to manage, but “we can see the prospects for a higher growth path for Nigeria”.

“The UK is very interested in exploring partnerships on trade and investment and I have come to Enugu to understand your agenda and to explore those areas of potential partnership going forward,” Montgomery added.

The governor Peter Mbah said the state was eager to take back its “preeminent place”.

He said his administration has also shared an ambitious vision with the people of Enugu on where the state could get to in terms of our economy.

“One of the things we said to them is our ambition to transform Enugu to become a premier destination for investment, business, living, and tourism. And we also have plans to eradicate poverty in the state, which is currently higher than the national average.

“This is why your visit to us today is quite remarkable because we believe it is not a journey we can go alone. We need partnerships. We need collaborations in order to achieve that. Interestingly, we have a history of partnership with the UK, just as you have alluded to.”

On the need to restore the British Council and the UK visa facilitation centre to Enugu, Mbah said: “I have told you some of the historic roles Enugu had played in the history of the south and there could be no better place to site a visa facilitation centre than Enugu. So, we are looking forward to that to boost trade, investment, and cooperation between the UK and our state”.

The governor equally sought the technical assistance of the UK government in the areas of power to develop and build the Enugu electricity market and its regulatory commission, noting that power had been devolved to the concurrent list in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

In visit to France, Tinubu pledges more reforms

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Thursday in Paris said that the ongoing reforms by his administration in the country would be sustained.

This is in order to have a more competitive economy that would attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and provide opportunities for genuine investors.

Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

Mr Tinubu had announced the removal of the oil subsidy on his inauguration day, saying it’s an elephant that must be removed for the stability of the economy.

The president also followed the inauguration declaration with the approval of streamlining of the exchange rate in the country.

“We are ready for business, prepared to welcome investments,’’ he said while receiving business chieftains on the sideline of a two-day summit on New Global Financial Pact in Paris.

Mr Tinubu met with president and chairman of the board of directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim), Professor Benedict Oramah and President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud–Basso, in separate meetings.

The president assured the delegation of AfreximBank that the federal government would continue to stimulate the economy with policies that support investments in areas of Nigeria’s competitive advantage, particularly agriculture.

“We need reforms for national survival,’’ he added, noting that it would take boldness and courage to reposition the economy.

“We must stimulate recovery for the growth and prosperity of our people, which will not be far away. Nigeria is ready for global business and our reform is total.

“Nigeria is blessed with human and material resources,’’ President Tinubu told the delegation.

The AfreximBank delegation had earlier listed areas of interventions to buoy the economy, like infrastructure, health, energy and agriculture.

The president of AfreximBank commended Mr Tinubu for the bold steps in removing the fuel subsidy and unification of the exchange rate.

Mr Oramah assured the president of the full support of the financial and development institution on the ongoing reforms.

He said that the bank was already building the first African Specialist Hospital in Abuja, and Energy Bank, pledging to inject more money into the economy to further build confidence of investors.

In the meeting with the EBRD, Mr Tinubu said: “We are challenged in terms of reforms, and we have taken the largest elephant out of the room with removal of fuel subsidy, and multiple exchange rates are equally gone.

“We are determined to open up the economy for business. Consider us a stakeholder in the Bank.’’

He told the EBRD President that Nigeria’s economy was too large and potent to be ignored, adding, “Ignoring Nigeria will be a peril to the universe.’’

Ms Renaud-Basso said it would be a mistake for the development bank not to invest in Nigeria, after considering six potential economies for investment.

She explained that focus would be on the private sector, especially Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

Edo PDP backs Tinubu on fuel subsidies and Naira float

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The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, on Thursday, commended President Bola Tinubu for his decision to remove subsidy from Petrol and free-float the naira currency.

PDP chairman in Edo, Tony Aziegbemi, gave the commendation during an interactive session with journalists in Benin.

Mr Aziegbemi said the two economic policies would give the country an excess of N2 trillion.

He, however, cautioned that the palliatives arising from the subsidy removal would determine the success of the economic policies.

“The two economic policies are the best way to go round the economy that has been grounded. I am an economist. So, when I see good economic policies from a distance, I will know,” he said.

Similarly, the PDP chief also lauded Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration for delivering on its promises to the people.

He noted that Mr Obaseki was the most misunderstood governor in the country, adding that he had done more for his Edo than any other governor.

Mr Aziegbemi listed education reforms, health and technology hub where youths are trained in software engineering as some of the Edo governor’s achievements.

“In the next five years in Edo, we are going to have over 15,000 trained software engineers that would generate programmes for companies like Google and others,” stated the PDP chair.

Tinubu explains why he acted on Forex and petrol subsidies

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Thursday in Lagos said he could have chosen to maintain the hitherto multiple foreign exchange systems and benefit from it, but instead opted to unify the official and parallel market rates to save the country from financial hemorrhage.

Dele Alake, Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy revealed this in a statement Thursday.

While speaking at a civic reception organised in his honour by the Lagos State Government at the Lagos House, Marina, President Tinubu said he took the decision in the nation’s best interest just like he did with fuel subsidy removal.

“I could afford to share the benefit by participating in the arbitrage, but God forbid! That’s not why you voted for me,” he said.

The President said it was imperative to take those decisive actions in the early days of his administration.

“We need to take the steps to stop the bleeding of our finances through speedy action on fuel subsidy. We have no choice,” he said.

President Tinubu said as a way of ensuring good use of available resources, the government would “re-engineer the effectiveness of the control and management of our resources in order to meet the obligations to Nigerians by political officeholders”.

The President used the opportunity to solicit the support of governors present at the event to work with him in ensuring even development of the country.

“We will work together with an open door policy. We will bring Nigeria from the brink to a resilient economy. I want us to be partners so that we can rescue our land and make it a born-again nation.”

An elated President Tinubu, who was thankful to the Lagos State Government for putting together the reception and to his friends and associates who attended, apologised to some of his friends in the audience who, he said, had been yearning to see him but could not, because of the demands of his office.

“The assignment is greater than the love of the living room. We got to do the job,” he said.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was overwhelmed with joy, while appreciating guests, expressed gratitude to God for making President Tinubu the leader of Nigeria. He described him as a competent manager of human and financial resources with the midas touch to turn around the economic fortunes of the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the forum, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, pledged that state chief executives, regardless of party affiliations, were ready to cooperate and work with the President to ensure the country becomes better and safer for all citizens.

“NGF is excited that both the President and Vice President are alumni of the Governors’ Forum. We are committed to work with a federalist who worked to get things done in a truly federal system. We reiterate our support for a renewed hope agenda regardless of our parties.”

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who spoke on behalf of members of the National Assembly, thanked President Tinubu for his leadership in smoothening the take-off of the 10th National Assembly.

“You will succeed. Nigerians are proud of you and the National Assembly is here for you 100 percent. We will do whatever is legislatively possible to make you succeed,” Akpabio said.

Immediate past Minister of Works and Housing and former Governor of Lagos, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, pleaded with governors and Nigerians that the work of remaking Nigeria should not be left alone to the President, stating that good governance must be replicated across 36 states.

Going down memory lane, leader of Lagos Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Pa Tajudeen Olusi, said the emergence of President Tinubu was a pay-back time for the state having contributed significantly to the political evolution of Nigeria since the colonial era of Herbert Macaulay till date.

“Those who have led this country were tutored in Lagos. We are grateful that the President of Nigeria this time finally came from Lagos. We have a man whom we are proud of. He has already started well and Nigerians have seen his first 30 days as remarkable.”

The event was attended by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima; wife of the president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of House Representatives, Special Advisers, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, among others.

Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat delivered the vote of thanks at the occasion which was also attended by serving and former govenors from across party lines in solidarity with the President.