By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, asked the Ministry of
Finance to explain why the foreign loans obtained for various key rail projects by the Federal Government were diverted elsehow under the watch of former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The President issued the query on a day he set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption headed by a prominent professor of law and rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay. President Buhari also dismissed the general notion that Nigeria is a rich country, arguing that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement a
nd improved social services are lacking in Nigeria. www.vanguardngr
By Rotimi FasanBy Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, asked the Ministry of Finance to explain why the foreign loans obtained for various key rail projects by the Federal Government were diverted elsehow under the watch of former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The President issued the query on a day he set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption headed by a prominent professor of law and rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay. President Buhari also dismissed the general notion that Nigeria is a rich country, arguing that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking in Nigeria. www.vanguardngr
THEY might seem little to those who don’t know or remember its past history but the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has taken quite a few positive steps in recent years. These are remarkable transformations in the activities of the organisation of which I have taken mental note, hoping the time would come when these could be properly acknowledged. There are not too many good things to report about public institutions in Nigeria. That the ugly many times overshadow the beautiful has made nonsense of our ability, to say nothing of our readiness, to get out of the rot of what would seem a perpetual habit of nagging and seeing all that is wrong about us but always too tight-lipped about the few things we are doing right. The August 2 interview Saturday Punch had with the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, was all the prompting I needed to finally put this down in writing.
Many of the observable changes in JAMB’s current activities are actually the result of hit-and-miss experiments, trials and errors, over the last one and half decades. In addition to positive steps newly initiated by him, Prof. Oderinde has had the good fortune of building upon the foundation laid by past registrars of JAMB. This is not as simple as it may sound, nor is it rocket science requiring the most nimble minds around to take control of. It takes a good student of history, one assured of and confident in their own ability, to set aside all ego and continue with the tasks begun by others. As we can all readily attest: policy flip-flop or discontinuity is the bane of many organisations/administrations in this country, from the private to the public. Everyone of us wants to reinvent the wheel and so embark on wild goose chase of our own in order to pamper our ego and line our pockets.
Such philosophy appears to be very far from the thoughts of the present managers of JAMB. The first thing to note about the Board today is that it has streamlined its processing of candidates’ admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. While I can’t be sure yet of its ultimate benefit, limiting candidates’ choice of institution to just one has the immediate benefit of reducing the chaos of multiple applications where only one would eventually be utilised. Although they may not be content with the institutions assigned to them but no candidate who sits the unified tertiary matriculation examinations would be totally without placement of some sorts. If their result does not qualify them for admission in a university, they could have a choice of either polytechnic or college of education. This underlines Prof. Oderinde’s statement in a section of the Saturday Punch interview that no candidate fails an examination organised by JAMB. Rather, it is the ratio of available admission spaces that determines the number of students to be offered placement, provided candidates meet the minimum basic requirement. Where there are available spaces, every applicant would be fixed somewhere.
This may be an equable way of ensuring everyone gets a tertiary
education who wants it. But I hold what I would call a traditional view
of examination which makes me not too eager to accept Prof. Oderinde’s
postulation. My intuition tells me that while everyone could be
considered prima facie eligible for admission for having met the minimum
basic requirement, not all could be offered admission once a 50-50
ratio of application to admission is achieved. A university candidate,
say, should in addition to meeting the basic requirement, prima facie,
have certain qualities that should indicate their readiness for the type
of education they aspire to. Five credits at two sittings in addition
to say, 180 or 200 post-UTME test, is not necessarily sufficient
qualification for admission.
The computer-based test, CBT, is an innovation that reduces to the barest, if not completely eliminate, unwholesome practices such as malpractices and/or missing answer scripts which are associated with hand written/multiple choice answers. Yes, it requires some level of technological know-how and availability of ancillary services and equipment such as uninterrupted electricity and availability of computers. The basic thing is that the CBT is the future of public exams and the earlier it is embraced, whether we like it or not, the better. JAMB is being 21st century compliant in its entire move towards a digitised operation. The advantages that come with this are obvious enough: application forms can be purchased online, exams taken online, results checked within 48-72 hours online, and now admission letters which used to take months to arrive where they are not lost in transit, can be printed by candidates online! Time was when UME candidates waited for at least six months before the release of results. We a
lso know what horrors hundreds of anxious and harassed candidates who travelled from far and near saw as they milled around gates of JAMB offices to check their results or even purchase application forms. It used to be simply hell a few years back. The happy news is that things are, however, now much different.
Virtually all recent JAMB innovations are money-driven as young Nigerians pay, exorbitantly in certain cases, to enjoy them. To be part of many of these online activities candidates have to purchase ‘scratch cards’. Sometimes more often than they need to which raises questions of extortion. These are areas the Nigerian government and JAMB itself have to work on and try to make amends. The public should also be realistic about their expectations of JAMB as with other public institutions. We know we have many spendthrifts we call leaders wasting our commonwealth on frivolities, which makes us to insist on our share of the national garri. We shouldn’t forget, though, that these services ought to be paid for. We shouldn’t be too quick to want free things while insisting on quality service. Paying for services enjoyed is about the only way to ensure those services don’t stop.
On a measuring scale, the benefits of the many digital age innovations initiated by JAMB far outweigh their disadvantages. And this is what we must take away from what the Board is doing: its entire move toward digitised operations should be seen within the framework of the country’s move towards a digitised society where people become internet-savvy, do less paper work and or carry cash all over the place as if they were human bullion vans.
Many of us may be struggling with the internet but in due course we would be the better for it. Digitised operations would allow for proper and prompt planning. In the case of JAMB, it will help in the appropriate documentation of Nigerians, providing data that could be used alongside census figures and related data.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/jambs-gradual-steady-progress/#sthash.sFhMMHVk.dpuf
Finance to explain why the foreign loans obtained for various key rail projects by the Federal Government were diverted elsehow under the watch of former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The President issued the query on a day he set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption headed by a prominent professor of law and rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay. President Buhari also dismissed the general notion that Nigeria is a rich country, arguing that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement a
The
President, who spoke at the end of a presentation by the Ministry of
Transport by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was disappointing to find out that
foreign loans obtained in line with signed agreements were moved from
one project to another. According to a statement by Mallam Garba Shehu,
his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, President Buhari
was reacting to the specific instance of the diversion of a substantial
part of the $1.005 billion loan from the Chinese Exim Bank, obtained for
the construction of a standard gauge rail line linking Lagos with Kano
but which was moved elsewhere.
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The President, who spoke at the end
of a presentation by the Ministry of Transport by the Permanent Secretary,
Alhaji Mohammed Bashar at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was
disappointing to find out that foreign loans obtained in line with signed
agreements were moved from one project to another. According to a statement by
Mallam Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity,
President Buhari was reacting to the specific instance of the diversion of a
substantial part of the $1.005 billion loan from the Chinese Exim Bank,
obtained for the construction of a standard gauge rail line linking Lagos with
Kano but which was moved elsewhere.
The loans were obtained from China
in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as
Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed
the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of
Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope
that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking
money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that
government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding
obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or
abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need
to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation
sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed
the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such
as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some
vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House
Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that
the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and
agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to
present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform
efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the
stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme
and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we
sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a
lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to
continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has
expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity
building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of
the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will
continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we
should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements
that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the
terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are
relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway,
standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed
the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to
Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to
Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some
challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track
has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive,
which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the
deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his
seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari,
yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported
the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by
three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur
Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist
implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the
Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be
headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee
include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University;
Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of
Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda,
Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil
society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced
Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise
the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the
implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop
comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential
spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust
Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme
presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President
Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich
country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such
as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to
be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when
he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr.
Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
The
President, who spoke at the end of a presentation by the Ministry of
Transport by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was disappointing to find out that
foreign loans obtained in line with signed agreements were moved from
one project to another. According to a statement by Mallam Garba Shehu,
his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, President Buhari
was reacting to the specific instance of the diversion of a substantial
part of the $1.005 billion loan from the Chinese Exim Bank, obtained for
the construction of a standard gauge rail line linking Lagos with Kano
but which was moved elsewhere.
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The
President, who spoke at the end of a presentation by the Ministry of
Transport by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was disappointing to find out that
foreign loans obtained in line with signed agreements were moved from
one project to another. According to a statement by Mallam Garba Shehu,
his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, President Buhari
was reacting to the specific instance of the diversion of a substantial
part of the $1.005 billion loan from the Chinese Exim Bank, obtained for
the construction of a standard gauge rail line linking Lagos with Kano
but which was moved elsewhere.
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
According to him, the privileged and influential citizens clearly have to do more now than in the past to help the country deal successfully with its economic and security problems.
President Buhari also told Kaberuka that his administration will welcome more support from the AfDB for projects in versatile sectors like agriculture that can easily be explored to create more jobs for unemployed Nigerians.
He said: “With the shock of falling oil prices, lack of revenues, and insecurity, the Nigerian elite must now wake up and provide the right guidance in their communities, and also lead the economy on the right path more than they used to do.
“An impression has been erroneously created that we are a rich country but looking at the economic profile of the country today, you will see that this is not necessarily the case.
“Our social services have to be seriously rehabilitated. We need urgent attention in areas like education and health services, not only in the north-eastern part of the country, but all round the country.
“We will fall back on institutions like the AfDB for support in generating employment. We have vast potentials in the agricultural sector that can be explored to create more jobs.
“We also have small businesses that need funds for expansion.”
The outgoing AfDB President, however, told President Buhari that some development institutions like the World Bank, German Development Bank and the European Development Bank have already indicated their readiness to provide long-term loan facilities to small businesses in Nigeria.
Mr. Kaberuka assured the President that the AfDB will always support economic projects in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina will replace the outgoing AfDB President next month.
The AfDB currently has a strong capital base of 4.8 billion U S dollars.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
According to him, the privileged and influential citizens clearly have to do more now than in the past to help the country deal successfully with its economic and security problems.
President Buhari also told Kaberuka that his administration will welcome more support from the AfDB for projects in versatile sectors like agriculture that can easily be explored to create more jobs for unemployed Nigerians.
He said: “With the shock of falling oil prices, lack of revenues, and insecurity, the Nigerian elite must now wake up and provide the right guidance in their communities, and also lead the economy on the right path more than they used to do.
“An impression has been erroneously created that we are a rich country but looking at the economic profile of the country today, you will see that this is not necessarily the case.
“Our social services have to be seriously rehabilitated. We need urgent attention in areas like education and health services, not only in the north-eastern part of the country, but all round the country.
“We will fall back on institutions like the AfDB for support in generating employment. We have vast potentials in the agricultural sector that can be explored to create more jobs.
“We also have small businesses that need funds for expansion.”
The outgoing AfDB President, however, told President Buhari that some development institutions like the World Bank, German Development Bank and the European Development Bank have already indicated their readiness to provide long-term loan facilities to small businesses in Nigeria.
Mr. Kaberuka assured the President that the AfDB will always support economic projects in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina will replace the outgoing AfDB President next month.
The AfDB currently has a strong capital base of 4.8 billion U S dollars.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The
President, who spoke at the end of a presentation by the Ministry of
Transport by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was disappointing to find out that
foreign loans obtained in line with signed agreements were moved from
one project to another. According to a statement by Mallam Garba Shehu,
his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, President Buhari
was reacting to the specific instance of the diversion of a substantial
part of the $1.005 billion loan from the Chinese Exim Bank, obtained for
the construction of a standard gauge rail line linking Lagos with Kano
but which was moved elsewhere.
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
According to him, the privileged and influential citizens clearly have to do more now than in the past to help the country deal successfully with its economic and security problems.
President Buhari also told Kaberuka that his administration will welcome more support from the AfDB for projects in versatile sectors like agriculture that can easily be explored to create more jobs for unemployed Nigerians.
He said: “With the shock of falling oil prices, lack of revenues, and insecurity, the Nigerian elite must now wake up and provide the right guidance in their communities, and also lead the economy on the right path more than they used to do.
“An impression has been erroneously created that we are a rich country but looking at the economic profile of the country today, you will see that this is not necessarily the case.
“Our social services have to be seriously rehabilitated. We need urgent attention in areas like education and health services, not only in the north-eastern part of the country, but all round the country.
“We will fall back on institutions like the AfDB for support in generating employment. We have vast potentials in the agricultural sector that can be explored to create more jobs.
“We also have small businesses that need funds for expansion.”
The outgoing AfDB President, however, told President Buhari that some development institutions like the World Bank, German Development Bank and the European Development Bank have already indicated their readiness to provide long-term loan facilities to small businesses in Nigeria.
Mr. Kaberuka assured the President that the AfDB will always support economic projects in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina will replace the outgoing AfDB President next month.
The AfDB currently has a strong capital base of 4.8 billion U S dollars.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
According to him, the privileged and influential citizens clearly have to do more now than in the past to help the country deal successfully with its economic and security problems.
President Buhari also told Kaberuka that his administration will welcome more support from the AfDB for projects in versatile sectors like agriculture that can easily be explored to create more jobs for unemployed Nigerians.
He said: “With the shock of falling oil prices, lack of revenues, and insecurity, the Nigerian elite must now wake up and provide the right guidance in their communities, and also lead the economy on the right path more than they used to do.
“An impression has been erroneously created that we are a rich country but looking at the economic profile of the country today, you will see that this is not necessarily the case.
“Our social services have to be seriously rehabilitated. We need urgent attention in areas like education and health services, not only in the north-eastern part of the country, but all round the country.
“We will fall back on institutions like the AfDB for support in generating employment. We have vast potentials in the agricultural sector that can be explored to create more jobs.
“We also have small businesses that need funds for expansion.”
The outgoing AfDB President, however, told President Buhari that some development institutions like the World Bank, German Development Bank and the European Development Bank have already indicated their readiness to provide long-term loan facilities to small businesses in Nigeria.
Mr. Kaberuka assured the President that the AfDB will always support economic projects in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina will replace the outgoing AfDB President next month.
The AfDB currently has a strong capital base of 4.8 billion U S dollars.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The
President, who spoke at the end of a presentation by the Ministry of
Transport by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was disappointing to find out that
foreign loans obtained in line with signed agreements were moved from
one project to another. According to a statement by Mallam Garba Shehu,
his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, President Buhari
was reacting to the specific instance of the diversion of a substantial
part of the $1.005 billion loan from the Chinese Exim Bank, obtained for
the construction of a standard gauge rail line linking Lagos with Kano
but which was moved elsewhere.
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
According to him, the privileged and influential citizens clearly have to do more now than in the past to help the country deal successfully with its economic and security problems.
President Buhari also told Kaberuka that his administration will welcome more support from the AfDB for projects in versatile sectors like agriculture that can easily be explored to create more jobs for unemployed Nigerians.
He said: “With the shock of falling oil prices, lack of revenues, and insecurity, the Nigerian elite must now wake up and provide the right guidance in their communities, and also lead the economy on the right path more than they used to do.
“An impression has been erroneously created that we are a rich country but looking at the economic profile of the country today, you will see that this is not necessarily the case.
“Our social services have to be seriously rehabilitated. We need urgent attention in areas like education and health services, not only in the north-eastern part of the country, but all round the country.
“We will fall back on institutions like the AfDB for support in generating employment. We have vast potentials in the agricultural sector that can be explored to create more jobs.
“We also have small businesses that need funds for expansion.”
The outgoing AfDB President, however, told President Buhari that some development institutions like the World Bank, German Development Bank and the European Development Bank have already indicated their readiness to provide long-term loan facilities to small businesses in Nigeria.
Mr. Kaberuka assured the President that the AfDB will always support economic projects in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina will replace the outgoing AfDB President next month.
The AfDB currently has a strong capital base of 4.8 billion U S dollars.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
According to him, the privileged and influential citizens clearly have to do more now than in the past to help the country deal successfully with its economic and security problems.
President Buhari also told Kaberuka that his administration will welcome more support from the AfDB for projects in versatile sectors like agriculture that can easily be explored to create more jobs for unemployed Nigerians.
He said: “With the shock of falling oil prices, lack of revenues, and insecurity, the Nigerian elite must now wake up and provide the right guidance in their communities, and also lead the economy on the right path more than they used to do.
“An impression has been erroneously created that we are a rich country but looking at the economic profile of the country today, you will see that this is not necessarily the case.
“Our social services have to be seriously rehabilitated. We need urgent attention in areas like education and health services, not only in the north-eastern part of the country, but all round the country.
“We will fall back on institutions like the AfDB for support in generating employment. We have vast potentials in the agricultural sector that can be explored to create more jobs.
“We also have small businesses that need funds for expansion.”
The outgoing AfDB President, however, told President Buhari that some development institutions like the World Bank, German Development Bank and the European Development Bank have already indicated their readiness to provide long-term loan facilities to small businesses in Nigeria.
Mr. Kaberuka assured the President that the AfDB will always support economic projects in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina will replace the outgoing AfDB President next month.
The AfDB currently has a strong capital base of 4.8 billion U S dollars.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The
President, who spoke at the end of a presentation by the Ministry of
Transport by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was disappointing to find out that
foreign loans obtained in line with signed agreements were moved from
one project to another. According to a statement by Mallam Garba Shehu,
his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, President Buhari
was reacting to the specific instance of the diversion of a substantial
part of the $1.005 billion loan from the Chinese Exim Bank, obtained for
the construction of a standard gauge rail line linking Lagos with Kano
but which was moved elsewhere.
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
According to him, the privileged and influential citizens clearly have to do more now than in the past to help the country deal successfully with its economic and security problems.
President Buhari also told Kaberuka that his administration will welcome more support from the AfDB for projects in versatile sectors like agriculture that can easily be explored to create more jobs for unemployed Nigerians.
He said: “With the shock of falling oil prices, lack of revenues, and insecurity, the Nigerian elite must now wake up and provide the right guidance in their communities, and also lead the economy on the right path more than they used to do.
“An impression has been erroneously created that we are a rich country but looking at the economic profile of the country today, you will see that this is not necessarily the case.
“Our social services have to be seriously rehabilitated. We need urgent attention in areas like education and health services, not only in the north-eastern part of the country, but all round the country.
“We will fall back on institutions like the AfDB for support in generating employment. We have vast potentials in the agricultural sector that can be explored to create more jobs.
“We also have small businesses that need funds for expansion.”
The outgoing AfDB President, however, told President Buhari that some development institutions like the World Bank, German Development Bank and the European Development Bank have already indicated their readiness to provide long-term loan facilities to small businesses in Nigeria.
Mr. Kaberuka assured the President that the AfDB will always support economic projects in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina will replace the outgoing AfDB President next month.
The AfDB currently has a strong capital base of 4.8 billion U S dollars.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
The loans were obtained from China in 2012 under President Goodluck Jonathan, while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.
The Permanent Secretary had informed the President that only $400 million of that loan remained with the Ministry of Finance.
The President then warned: “I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done properly.”
The President regretted that government had, over the years, failed to meet its counter-part funding obligation on some projects, leading to such projects being left uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to streamline, harmonize, and priortize on-going projects in the transportation sector.
The Permanent Secretary also briefed the President on some challenges facing the transport and maritime sectors such as encroachment on railway land, lack of security on inland waterways and some vague agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports concessionaires.
Buhari’s directive
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting the president, the Permanent Secretary said that the President directed that strict adherence should be paid to terms and agreements of various loans.
“Basically, what we did was to present to the President the various programmes, projects and the reform efforts that we have been undertaking in the last couple of years, the stages of the various projects, especially the railway rehabilitation programme and development in our seaports. Also some of the regulatory issues that we sought are due for review and attention.
“The President quite appreciated a lot of what has been achieved so far and he has indicated his willingness to continue with a lot of projects and programmes already on ground. He has expressed his support, especially when we started talking about capacity building for individual operators in the country. He is really appreciative of the entrepreneur initiatives of Nigerians, an indication that government will continue to give its full support.
“There are issues that he thinks we should pay a lot of attention to, especially in the execution of agreements that we have entered into. He emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the terms of agreements and we are going to abide by that.
“Basically, those agreements are relating to the projects we entered into with the construction of railway, standard gauge lines and rehabilitation programmes.
“As you are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational. Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos. We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt, and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some challenges.
“With regards to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December, 2015”, he said.
Sagay heads Advisory Committee
Meanwhile, to demonstrate his seriousness in the war against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption.
His government has also supported the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund by three international development partners, namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation with $5 million fund to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee is to be headed by a professor of law and civil rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
Other members of the committee include Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology from Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos; E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano; Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist and Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
The Committee’s brief is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
It is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving other recommended reforms.
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina added that the “fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organization with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.”
Nigeria not a rich country—Buhari
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is erroneously being regarded as a rich country, stating that indices and parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and improved social services are lacking.
He, however, enjoined the elite to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country. The President spoke when he received out-going President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka and other officials of the bank.
According to him, the privileged and influential citizens clearly have to do more now than in the past to help the country deal successfully with its economic and security problems.
President Buhari also told Kaberuka that his administration will welcome more support from the AfDB for projects in versatile sectors like agriculture that can easily be explored to create more jobs for unemployed Nigerians.
He said: “With the shock of falling oil prices, lack of revenues, and insecurity, the Nigerian elite must now wake up and provide the right guidance in their communities, and also lead the economy on the right path more than they used to do.
“An impression has been erroneously created that we are a rich country but looking at the economic profile of the country today, you will see that this is not necessarily the case.
“Our social services have to be seriously rehabilitated. We need urgent attention in areas like education and health services, not only in the north-eastern part of the country, but all round the country.
“We will fall back on institutions like the AfDB for support in generating employment. We have vast potentials in the agricultural sector that can be explored to create more jobs.
“We also have small businesses that need funds for expansion.”
The outgoing AfDB President, however, told President Buhari that some development institutions like the World Bank, German Development Bank and the European Development Bank have already indicated their readiness to provide long-term loan facilities to small businesses in Nigeria.
Mr. Kaberuka assured the President that the AfDB will always support economic projects in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina will replace the outgoing AfDB President next month.
The AfDB currently has a strong capital base of 4.8 billion U S dollars.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/rail-ways-upgrade-buhari-queries-diversion-of-1-005b-china-loan/#sthash.6RQkzsQ6.dpuf
By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, asked the Ministry of Finance to explain why the foreign loans obtained for various key rail projects by the Federal Government were diverted elsehow under the watch of former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, asked the Ministry of Finance to explain why the foreign loans obtained for various key rail projects by the Federal Government were diverted elsehow under the watch of former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The President issued the query on a
day he set up a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption headed by a
prominent professor of law and rights activist, Professor Itse Sagay.
President Buhari also dismissed the
general notion that Nigeria is a rich country, arguing that indices and
parameters of evaluating a rich country such as economic advancement and
improved social services are lacking in Nigeria.
www.vanguardngr
THEY might seem little to those who don’t know or remember its past history but the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has taken quite a few positive steps in recent years. These are remarkable transformations in the activities of the organisation of which I have taken mental note, hoping the time would come when these could be properly acknowledged. There are not too many good things to report about public institutions in Nigeria. That the ugly many times overshadow the beautiful has made nonsense of our ability, to say nothing of our readiness, to get out of the rot of what would seem a perpetual habit of nagging and seeing all that is wrong about us but always too tight-lipped about the few things we are doing right. The August 2 interview Saturday Punch had with the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, was all the prompting I needed to finally put this down in writing.
Many of the observable changes in JAMB’s current activities are actually the result of hit-and-miss experiments, trials and errors, over the last one and half decades. In addition to positive steps newly initiated by him, Prof. Oderinde has had the good fortune of building upon the foundation laid by past registrars of JAMB. This is not as simple as it may sound, nor is it rocket science requiring the most nimble minds around to take control of. It takes a good student of history, one assured of and confident in their own ability, to set aside all ego and continue with the tasks begun by others. As we can all readily attest: policy flip-flop or discontinuity is the bane of many organisations/administrations in this country, from the private to the public. Everyone of us wants to reinvent the wheel and so embark on wild goose chase of our own in order to pamper our ego and line our pockets.
Such philosophy appears to be very far from the thoughts of the present managers of JAMB. The first thing to note about the Board today is that it has streamlined its processing of candidates’ admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. While I can’t be sure yet of its ultimate benefit, limiting candidates’ choice of institution to just one has the immediate benefit of reducing the chaos of multiple applications where only one would eventually be utilised. Although they may not be content with the institutions assigned to them but no candidate who sits the unified tertiary matriculation examinations would be totally without placement of some sorts. If their result does not qualify them for admission in a university, they could have a choice of either polytechnic or college of education. This underlines Prof. Oderinde’s statement in a section of the Saturday Punch interview that no candidate fails an examination organised by JAMB. Rather, it is the ratio of available admission spaces that determines the number of students to be offered placement, provided candidates meet the minimum basic requirement. Where there are available spaces, every applicant would be fixed somewhere.
File: Candidates writing the UTME at the University of Abuja, Saturday.
The computer-based test, CBT, is an innovation that reduces to the barest, if not completely eliminate, unwholesome practices such as malpractices and/or missing answer scripts which are associated with hand written/multiple choice answers. Yes, it requires some level of technological know-how and availability of ancillary services and equipment such as uninterrupted electricity and availability of computers. The basic thing is that the CBT is the future of public exams and the earlier it is embraced, whether we like it or not, the better. JAMB is being 21st century compliant in its entire move towards a digitised operation. The advantages that come with this are obvious enough: application forms can be purchased online, exams taken online, results checked within 48-72 hours online, and now admission letters which used to take months to arrive where they are not lost in transit, can be printed by candidates online! Time was when UME candidates waited for at least six months before the release of results. We a
lso know what horrors hundreds of anxious and harassed candidates who travelled from far and near saw as they milled around gates of JAMB offices to check their results or even purchase application forms. It used to be simply hell a few years back. The happy news is that things are, however, now much different.
Virtually all recent JAMB innovations are money-driven as young Nigerians pay, exorbitantly in certain cases, to enjoy them. To be part of many of these online activities candidates have to purchase ‘scratch cards’. Sometimes more often than they need to which raises questions of extortion. These are areas the Nigerian government and JAMB itself have to work on and try to make amends. The public should also be realistic about their expectations of JAMB as with other public institutions. We know we have many spendthrifts we call leaders wasting our commonwealth on frivolities, which makes us to insist on our share of the national garri. We shouldn’t forget, though, that these services ought to be paid for. We shouldn’t be too quick to want free things while insisting on quality service. Paying for services enjoyed is about the only way to ensure those services don’t stop.
On a measuring scale, the benefits of the many digital age innovations initiated by JAMB far outweigh their disadvantages. And this is what we must take away from what the Board is doing: its entire move toward digitised operations should be seen within the framework of the country’s move towards a digitised society where people become internet-savvy, do less paper work and or carry cash all over the place as if they were human bullion vans.
Many of us may be struggling with the internet but in due course we would be the better for it. Digitised operations would allow for proper and prompt planning. In the case of JAMB, it will help in the appropriate documentation of Nigerians, providing data that could be used alongside census figures and related data.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/jambs-gradual-steady-progress/#sthash.sFhMMHVk.dpuf
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