Singapore News Channel, Singapore News Network

President Muhamadu Buhari has said that his administration would focus more on the economy and fight against corruption if re-elected for a second term in office during next Saturday’s presidential election.

  The President, who spoke in Lagos, yesterday, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, however, said his administration has fulfilled most of the promises he made to the electorate in 2015, having made tremendous progress in the areas of security, the economy and corruption fight.

“We made promises in 2015 and we have fulfilled most of those promises. We have made tremendous progress in terms of security, the economy and corruption fight. I assure you that when I am re-elected, we would be more focused on the economy and will not relent in our fight against corruption. We would imprison those who have stolen our wealth. I urge everyone to vote for APC from top to bottom,” Buhari said.  Also addressing party faithful at the rally, the National Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, said the party would teach the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a lesson with Saturday’s election by ensuring that Buhari wins Lagos State in a landslide.

  Tinubu said: “We are not here to campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari. What we are here to do is to celebrate because APC will sweep Lagos votes and Buhari will win in a landslide. Lagos is very sure for the APC. This is a broom revolution. We will teach PDP a lesson; we will teach Atiku a lesson. When you go to the polling units, don’t leave. Make sure you vote APC. There are 73 parties, but we all know that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has collapsed and the other woman’s party has also collapsed as well. So, we are left with 60 something parties.

“I introduced independent generating power projects in Badagry. What did Obasanjo do? He and Atiku opposed it. I went to court.

Who was my lawyer in court? Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. I won in court and we started generating 300MW, the first state to do it. Imagine, that was in 1999. If Nigeria was dedicated to electricity generation, you would not see Dunlop and Michelin move out of the country. Look at our roads; look at the vehicular density in Lagos alone. Obasanjo is the greatest rigger of our time; he’s an expired product and Nigerians should reject him.”   Tinubu also threw a jibe at Atiku’s running mate, Peter Obi, describing the former Anambra State governor as only vast in creating a ‘container economy’ rather than real jobs.   He said: “One man they call Obi in one party said he will create jobs. He has not been able to tell us how we can make brake pads for the thousands of vehicles on our roads or how we can make wheel spanners on our own for those vehicles. And he said maybe he can go and expand the port in Benin Republic so we can clear our cargoes faster. I call that ‘container economy; Obi China.”  National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshimhole, who spoke earlier, told the crowd that the South-West has produced a Vice President who is a Professor of Law who, in his opinion, is more qualified than one who is a ‘China trader’.

The Sun

Minister of Sports; Solomon Dalung,
 has called on Nigerians to re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari  to complete the good work he has started.

Dalung  spoke at a Colourful Ceremony  All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Women and Youths Presidential Campaign Team (AWYPCT) on a solidarity walk for the re-election of President Buhari in Abuja urged Nigerians to Re-Elect buhari inorder to consolidate on the foundation he laid to place Nigeria on the path of total recovery and development.

Meanwhile, The wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha, on Saturday, urged voters to simply exercise their voting rights instead of engaging in unnecessary fights in the coming general elections.

The AWYPCT chairperson was represented by the wife of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Dolapo, at the walk which took off from the Unity Fountain to Eagle Square in Abuja.

The solidarity walk was attended by the FCT Minister; Musa Bello,  former Military Governor of Lagos State; Buba Marwa, and former Inspector General of Police (IGP); Suleiman Abba.

Others were the Senior Special Assistant to the President; Dr Hajo Sani, former deputy governor of Plateau State; Mrs Pauline Talle, and the wives of Ogun, Nasarawa, Borno and Ondo states governors, Olufunsho Amosun, Mairo Al-Makura, Nana Shettima and Betty Akeredolu respectively.

While speaking at the colourful ceremony, organised at Eagle Square after the walk, Mrs Buhari thanked the youths and women for showing their support for her husband’s second term bid.

She said Friday’s test-running of the Lagos -Abeokuta railway services underlined the need for a second term for President.

She urged them to continue with the door-to-door campaign, vote and stay away from violence on election day.

“President Buhari has already shown he is a good man worthy of support by Nigerians. It means we are sure APC is going to the next level, it means everyone is going to the next level. After we must have voted, we must endeavour to wait until the votes are counted in polling units. You all have to vote peacefully. There should be no fighting on the day of election,” she also said.

The Chairman, Central Working Committee (CWC) of the AWYPCT, Brigadier General Marwa (rtd), urged them to collect their permanent voter’s cards (PVCs) and exercise their rights

Marwa  spoke at a Colourful Ceremony  All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Women and Youths Presidential Campaign Team (AWYPCT) on a solidarity walk for the re-election of President Buhari in Abuja

Meanwhile, The wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha, on Saturday, urged voters to simply exercise their voting rights instead of engaging in unnecessary fights in the coming general elections.

The AWYPCT chairperson was represented by the wife of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Dolapo, at the walk which took off from the Unity Fountain to Eagle Square in Abuja.

The solidarity walk was attended by the FCT Minister; Musa Bello, Minister of Sports; Solomon Dalung, former Military Governor of Lagos State; Buba Marwa, and former Inspector General of Police (IGP); Suleiman Abba.

Others were the Senior Special Assistant to the President; Dr Hajo Sani, former deputy governor of Plateau State; Mrs Pauline Talle, and the wives of Ogun, Nasarawa, Borno and Ondo states governors, Olufunsho Amosun, Mairo Al-Makura, Nana Shettima and Betty Akeredolu respectively.

While speaking at the colourful ceremony, organised at Eagle Square after the walk, Mrs Buhari thanked the youths and women for showing their support for her husband’s second term bid.

She said Friday’s test-running of the Lagos -Abeokuta railway services underlined the need for a second term for President.

She urged them to continue with the door-to-door campaign, vote and stay away from violence on election day.

“President Buhari has already shown he is a good man worthy of support by Nigerians. It means we are sure APC is going to the next level, it means everyone is going to the next level. After we must have voted, we must endeavour to wait until the votes are counted in polling units. You all have to vote peacefully. There should be no fighting on the day of election,” she also said.

A former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba, has said that the All Progressives Congress, APC, party never knew what election rigging was, nor does it know how to rig elections, noting that it was the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that introduced election rigging in the country.

The ex-IGP also accused the PDP of corrupting the political space in Nigeria with election rigging of different kinds.

Mr. Abba gave the statement at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Saturday, during a rally organised by the Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team of President Muhammadu Buhari, tagged, “Walk for Buhari.”

He accused the PDP of engaging in propaganda against the APC instead of selling it’s plans to Nigeria.

Present at the event was also the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo.

Also at the event were the wives of the Ogun, Nasarawa, Borno and Ondo states’ governors, Olufunsho Amosun, Mairo Al-Makura, Nana Shettima and Betty Akeredolu respectively as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr Hajo Sani.

Others were the former Military Governor of Lagos State, Buba Marwa and the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung.

According to the ex-IGP, it was the PDP that declared election results in 2007 even when the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, a body meant to do that, was yet to declare the results.

He however said that while the PDP was embarking on propaganda, the APC was focused on its door-to-door campaigns.

According to him, “APC do not know how to rig election at all. Who are the masters of ballot box snatching? PDP. Who declared results in 2007 before the official results came out? PDP. While they are embarking on propaganda, we are focused on our door to door campaign.”

Vanguard

Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari on Saturday asked Nigerians especially women and youths to resist any form of violence during the 2019 general elections, telling them to vote and not fight.

Addressing the women and youths after a Walk for Buhari campaign on Saturday in Abuja, Hajia Buhari who was represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo said Nigerians should vote peacefully, wait until their votes are counted before going home.

She said “we don’t want any fight. Vote peacefully, don’t fight. Go from house to house and make sure nobody is sleeping at home on that day because if APC and Nigeria goes to the next level, you will go to the next level.’

She told the party supporters who turned out for the walk that Buhari was for all Nigerians and has proven to be President for the whole country with his record of achievements.

The nation

The Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha, on Saturday led the All Progressive Congress (APC) Women and Youths Presidential Campaign Team on a solidarity walk for the re-election of her husband.

 Vice-President, Dolapo Osinbajo, who led the team from the Unity Fountain to Eagle Square in Abuja.

The solidarity walk was attended by the FCT Minister Musa Bello, Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, former Military Governor of Lagos State Buba Marwa, and former Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba. Others were the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr Hajo Sani, and the wives Ogun, Nasarawa, Borno and Ondo states governors, Olufunsho Amosun, Mairo Al-Makura, Nana Shettima and Betty Akeredolu respectively.

Reports have it that the APC supporters who converged on the venue were mostly women and youths, who chanted solidarity songs for the APC.

They made various displays expressing their support to the re-election of the President on Feb.16.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole, National Leader Bola Tinubu, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi have graced the President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in Lagos.

He arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Saturday morning.

The President alongside the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, was received by the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige and other officials of the party.

Upon his arrival, he met with some business owners in the state under the auspices of Organised Private Sector (OPS) at the Lagos Marina House.

The President later left for the Teslim Balogun Stadium for the campaign rally where his supporters awaited him in anticipation.

Others in attendance are the state governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu, Minister of Power Babatunde Fashola, among other party officials.

Channels

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu, says President Muhammadu Buhari is a man of his words and will be victorious in the forthcoming Presidential election.

Akiolu spoke when Buhari and his campaign team visited his palace in Lagos Island on Saturday after arriving the state in continuation of the presidential rallies ahead of the Feb. 16 election.

The monarch who noted that the body of traditional rulers in the state were happy to receive the team, said that they appreciated Buhari’s efforts as a highly respected person in Nigeria.

He assured Buhari that there would be a repeat of his 2015 electoral victory in the coming election.

“Give Buhari another chance and you will see how Nigeria will move forward,” Akiolu said.

The monarch decried the rot that past administrations left behind in the country.

“We should not go back to the past again. Now that you are here, Isha Allau, on Feb. 16, God will open the way for you. The best will happen to you,” he said.

Akiolu, the Chairman, Lagos State Traditional Council of Obas and Chiefs, thanked the President for his achievements since assuming office and urged Nigerians to continue to support him.

He said that had a catalogue of requests, including mass transit and pressing issues on the Apapa ports, and they had all been committed into writing.

Akiolu presented Buhari with a Quran as he prayed for him.

In his response, Buhari commended Akiolu appreciating the efforts of his government.

“I appreciate all you have said and I assure you that I will continue to do my best.

“The promise we made through our party in 2015, our country needs to be secured and properly managed.

“If there is no security, we cannot do anything no matter your resources. We thank God our efforts have brought some fruits,” Buhari said.

He said that his government was working hard to end the importation of rice and ensure self-dependence.

“We can feed ourselves and the money we save, we can put it in infrastructure; we are building the roads, we are building the rails and we are building power.

“But the failure of former administrations in spite of enormous revenue they got to develop infrastructure is amazing,” Buhari said.

He commended the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on his hard work and efficiency for keeping contractors on their toes, saying that he has done creditably well.

Earlier in his welcome address, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode said that the state was very delighted to receive the President and for all he had done for the state.

(NAN)

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Lagos said his administration’s economic policies are making the desired impact, evidenced by steady growth in the economy in the last three years.

Speaking at a town hall meeting with the Business community in Lagos, President Buhari said he had kept his promise to boost the economy, through blocking leakages in government finances, increasing capital expenditure and inflows, and implementing the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), among others.

‘‘I firmly believe that our economic policies are beginning to make the desired impact.  Economic growth has resumed and is continuing to improve.

‘‘Growth was higher in 2017 than in 2016, data even from external sources shows that it will be higher in 2018 than in 2017.  I am confident that as we stay the course, it will be better still at the end of 2019.

‘‘Inflation is coming down steadily, there is stability in the exchange rate and foreign exchange is readily available for genuine business. Foreign reserves are adequate and growing; capital inflows have increased and the trade balance is positive.

‘‘We are paying off debts that were not even publicly acknowledged before now, including those owed to States, the electricity sector, oil marketers, exporters, backlog of salaries of workers and pensioners, amongst others,’’ he said.

The President who met with representatives of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, shortly before attending the APC presidential campaign rally in Lagos, said he is a strong believer in the importance of investing in infrastructure to promote development.

‘‘I am happy that the results of the priority we have placed on this sector are beginning to show.

‘‘Our commitment is reflected in the resources that we are providing for infrastructure.  In 2016 and 2017, capital expenditure was up to N2.7 trillion while over N800m has been released under the current budget.

‘‘This has been complemented by the inception of the $650 million Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund which will focus initially on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano expressway and the Mambilla hydropower plant,’’ he said.

The President also highlighted completed and ongoing projects in the transport and aviation sector, expressing delight that the rail projects are generating excitement across the country because it would help local businesses to grow.

‘‘The Abuja-Kaduna railway is up and running.  The Itakpe-Warri line is being test-run before going commercial.  The completed portion of the Abuja light rail project is facilitating movement to the airport.

‘‘The Lagos-Ibadan railway is nearing completion with people already taking test rides on the completed portions. We are determined to work at the same pace on the Coastal Railway Line and the line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

‘‘We completed the repairs to the runway in Abuja in record time, and just a few weeks ago, I commissioned the Baro Inland Port. All these achievements will help Nigerian businesses to grow,’’ he said.

On future plans to sustain the positive economic outlook, the President said the Federal Government would raise more revenue to boost the economic fundamentals and increase the level and quality of government services in support of the private sector.

‘‘I recently inaugurated a Technical Advisory Committee to identify new sources of revenue in this regard.   This is also to ensure that Government at all levels have the resources to pay the new national wage, which we are indeed committed to paying.

‘‘Our economic fundamentals are strong and, in the next four years by the grace of God, we are determined to stay the course in terms of partnerships with the private sector; support to the real sector; helping small businesses, providing infrastructure and an enabling business environment,’’ he said.

The President told members of the private sector that his administration has also stimulated growth in the economy by adopting and implementing new strategies to deal with the security situation in the country and tackle rampant corruption.

‘‘When this Government came into office, our three priorities were to increase the level of security across the country, tackle rampant corruption and improve the economy. These three factors are interconnected.

‘‘Without peace and stability, there will never be economic growth and development.”

The administration’s view on improving the economy, the President said, focused on a bottom to top approach.

‘‘We focused on developing the rural economy which we hope will result in growth that is inclusive. Boko Haram and the militants in the Niger Delta started their aggressive operations during the years of high oil prices and GDP growth.

‘‘These young and misguided youths did not benefit from the various statistics and indicators of prosperity we were celebrating in the past decade. No wonder they were recruited to cause violence and mayhem in their localities.

‘‘These three priorities, if addressed, will completely transform Nigeria to a diversified, inclusive and competitive economy. But this is not an overnight transition. We are not only transforming systems and processes, but we are also changing hearts and minds.

‘‘We have recaptured and held lost territories. Yes, we still have pockets of insurgency, but our sovereign integrity is intact,’’ he said.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 9, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday inaugurated the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) advanced Cancer treatment centre in Lagos, with a pledge to ensure that facilities for the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer are available to many more Nigerians.

At the inauguration ceremony of the state-of-the-art Centre in LUTH, Idi Araba,   President Buhari announced that the model will be replicated across the country to bring quality, first-class healthcare services to cancer patients in Nigeria.

‘‘We are aware that up to 40% of funds spent by Nigerians on medical tourism is attributable to patients seeking treatment for cancer. Despite having an increasing number of citizens suffering from cancer, we until now, had only two working radiotherapy machines in the country.

‘‘Working through the NSIA and LUTH we utilized a PPP model that unlocked investment capital to directly address this issue. We will replicate this model across the country to bring quality, first-class healthcare services to as many Nigerians as we can.

‘‘Indeed, over the coming months, under our leadership, the NSIA will commission two Modern Medical Diagnostic Centres to be co-located in the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State and the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, Abia State, respectively, bringing additional investment to Nigeria’s healthcare sector,’’ he said.

The President while wishing the management of the hospital good luck in operating the centre, emphasized the need for maintenance of the equipment.

‘‘Our goal today is not simply to celebrate and applaud the culmination of months of hard work to achieve this objective. Neither is it solely to revel in the successful completion of the most modern and best-equipped Cancer treatment centre in West Africa.

‘‘Indeed we are proud, but we recognize that this modest effort to address the gaps in our tertiary healthcare system alone is insufficient to address all the challenges faced by the sector.

‘‘Today, we showcase what feats we can accomplish when we are together, unrelenting in our effort to deliver a common objective.

‘‘No one ever prays to be diagnosed with Cancer, but if they are, what we have made possible here today is the hope that a true chance of survival and good quality of life becomes part of the story of many Nigerian patients with cancer,’’ he said.

The President promised that his administration, which has introduced programmes to alleviate common diseases, including the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund targeted at ensuring access to primary healthcare for all Nigerians, will continue to push hard to raise awareness about cancer, educate the people and facilitate early diagnosis.

He noted that this objective was part of his solemn commitment to Nigerians four years ago to improve the quality of health care in the country.

The President, who performed the ceremony after attending the APC presidential campaign rally at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, Lagos, said his administration had focused on greater investment in the sector and worked hard to ensure increased access to safe, high-quality healthcare.

‘‘We promised to effect policies that would remove debilitating constraints on the sector and create sustainable structures to strengthen our healthcare institutions.

‘‘Today, we are gathered here to acknowledge the modest but laudable strides we are making in fulfilling that promise. We recognize that progress in the health sector is handicapped by several bottlenecks.

‘‘Accordingly, we have worked and we will continue to work to ensure that systems are introduced to bridge these gaps,’’ he said.

The President told the audience at LUTH that the Federal Government has created an enabling environment for institutions such as the NSIA to help fund high impact projects on time and on budget, thereby delivering immense value for our people.

‘‘In the case of the Cancer Centre, we can measure this value in currency, but we prefer to measure the value in terms of its social impact, the number of lives of Nigerians that will be saved and positively affected as well as the impact of capacity building for our people,’’ he said.

In his remarks at the inauguration ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji said the Centre is expected to raise the bar in the quality and standard of cancer treatment in Nigeria with outcomes that would be consistent with the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

‘‘In addition, this Centre will demonstrate the economic potential of healthcare investments in Nigeria and catalyse increased private sector participation,” he said.

Also speaking, Professor Chris Bode, Chief Medical Director, LUTH, noted that the Centre is world-class and no Nigerian cancer patient needs to travel abroad again to receive treatment easily obtainable at home.

‘‘We, therefore, want to assure Your Excellency that we shall give what it takes to run this Centre as a pride to all Nigerians. NSIAs investment is not only safe but will yield ample dividend to encourage other deep pocket investors to open up the health sector as a veritable investors’ haven, ’’ he said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole described the Centre as the single largest investment in cancer treatment in the country by any administration since independence.

Prof. Adewole added that the facility can cater for 100 patients daily and provide training for over eighty healthcare professionals, among many others.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 9, 2019