PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONDOLES FAMILY OF LATE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONDOLES FAMILY OF LATE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has received with much sadness, news of the death of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, yesterday in South Africa.

President Jonathan extends sincerest condolences to Ambassador Ashiru's wife, children, other relatives, friends, associates, former colleagues and staff of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs as they mourn the exemplary diplomat who gave the most productive years of his adult life to the patriotic service of his nation.

The President assures them all of the fullest sympathy, solidarity and support of the Federal Government as they mourn Ambassador Ashiru who will also be long remembered and honoured as one of the very elite few, who after a long and very distinguished career as a Foreign Service Officer in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was recalled from retirement to serve as Minister and political head of the same ministry in recognition of his widely acknowledged leadership qualities and diplomatic skills.

Nigeria, President Jonathan believes, will always owe the late Minister a huge debt of gratitude for his notable contributions, over many years, to the establishment of mutually-beneficial relationships with other countries where he served as diplomat and ambassador, and for the country's many diplomatic successes in the international arena during his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The President prays that God Almighty will comfort all who mourn Ambassador Ashiru and grant his gentle soul peaceful and eternal rest.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 30, 2014

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONDEMNS TERROR ATTACK ON KANO CENTRAL MOSQUE

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONDEMNS TERROR ATTACK ON KANO CENTRAL MOSQUE

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan extends heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of Kano State over the heinous attack on the Central Mosque in Kano, earlier today.

He commiserates with all the families who lost their loved ones.  The President calls on relief agencies and medical personnel to deploy every possible effort to assist the injured, and the general public to heed the call for the donation of blood by the hospitals where the injured are being treated.

The President has further directed the security agencies to launch a full-scale investigation and to leave no stone unturned until all agents of terror undermining the right of every citizen to life and dignity, are tracked down and brought to justice.

The President reaffirms that terrorism in all its forms and manifestation is a despicable and unjustifiable threat to our society. He reiterates the determination of the government to continue to take every step to put an end to the reprehensible acts of all groups and persons involved in acts of terrorism.

President Jonathan calls on all Nigerians not to despair in this moment of great trial in our nation's history but to remain united to confront the common enemy.

The President is confident that no terrorist act against fellow citizens will destroy the Nigerian spirit to remain positive, resolute and united in the quest for lasting peace and security in the country.

He appeals to all Nigerians to remain vigilant and cooperate actively with our security agencies to win the on-going war against terror.

REUBEN ABATI
SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT
(MEDIA & PUBLICITY)
NOVEMBER 28, 2014

 

Making new public procurement reforms work

Engr. Emeka Ezeh

DOING it right in the award of contracts or procurement inspired the first National Conference on Public Procurement early November in Abuja, where President Goodluck Jonathan directed that only contractors whose records were in the government’s database would be approved for business. Besides, those blacklisted by the World Bank, African Development Bank and other international bodies, are to be barred from public procurement. The presidential fiat will take effect from 2015; and the Bureau of Public Procurement has been ordered to see it through.

APOLOGISE FOR UNWARRANTED ATTEMPT TO CAUSE DISAFFECTION AGAINST PRESIDENT JONATHAN AMONGST MOSLEMS, PRESIDENCY TELLS MURIC

APOLOGISE FOR UNWARRANTED ATTEMPT TO CAUSE DISAFFECTION AGAINST PRESIDENT JONATHAN AMONGST MOSLEMS, PRESIDENCY TELLS MURIC

Our attention has been drawn to a press statement issued by the Muslims' Right Concern (MURIC) in which its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola made a number of allegations against the President Goodluck Jonathan, including the mischievous and false claim  that there is a Jewish symbol in the new commemorative N100 note which will be officially issued on December 19.

President Jonathan is certainly not anti-Muslim as Prof Akintola alleges. As we have often said, the President knows very well that he was elected to office by a representative majority of all Nigerians and he continues to deal with all Nigerians fairly and equitably irrespective of their personal or group religious beliefs.

The allegation by MURIC that President Jonathan is using the highest office in the country to promote Zionism and the state of Israel is completely spurious and unfounded.

The symbol Prof. Akintola refers to in his statement is the Star of David which cannot be found anywhere on the widely publicized specimen of the new 100 Naira note.

The symbol that he erroneously claims is the Star of David or a Jewish symbol is actually   a  spark security feature which is an optical magnetic feature that enables the public to determine if a currency note is genuine or counterfeit.

The design of the spark security feature on the new N100 note  is not in any way associated with Israel or Zionism. It is two squares merged into one with a Manila briquet, which is a symbol of the cowrie money used during the colonial era.

The value of the new N100 note is written in the three major Nigerian languages - Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. No attempt whatsoever has been made to use the N100 note to discriminate against any group of Nigerians.

The MURIC Director's claim that Muslims were marginalized in the recent National Conference is also untrue.

Contrary to Prof. Akintola's allegation, the National Conference organized by the Jonathan Administration has been widely praised and acknowledged  as one of the best of such conferences ever held in this country. It was a purposeful conference, a conference in which a lot of maturity was displayed and at which religion never became a big issue.

MURIC's  allegation that the security system in Aso Rock is saturated with Israeli security operatives is another  blatant lie. There are no Israeli security operatives  in Aso Rock. We invite Prof. Akintola to visit  the Presidential Villa and see for himself that there are no foreign security operatives on the premises and that the only security operatives in the Villa are Nigerians.

It is most unfortunate that such divisive falsehoods could have emanated from a supposedly knowledgeable man like Prof. Akintola and we demand an unreserved apology from him for the very unwarranted attempt to cause disaffection against President Jonathan amongst a major religious group in the country.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 25, 2014

PRESIDENT JONATHAN WISHES CHIEF (MRS.) AWOLOWO HAPPY 99TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

PRESIDENT JONATHAN WISHES CHIEF (MRS.) AWOLOWO HAPPY 99TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan heartily congratulates Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Dideolu Awolowo on the joyous occasion of her 99th birthday anniversary, tomorrow, Tuesday, November 25, 2014.

President Jonathan and his family join millions of admirers of the late nationalist, renowned political leader and sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in wishing his "Jewel of Inestimable Value" very happy birthday celebrations.

The President prays that God Almighty will grant Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo many more years of worthy service as the matriarch and moral compass of the great Awolowo political dynasty which continues to play a commendable role in national development and progress.

President Jonathan looks forward to personally participating in the celebration of Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo's landmark 100th birthday next year to honour the highly-revered spouse of one of Nigeria's famous founding fathers.

He prays that God Almighty who has blessed Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo with remarkable longevity will grant her continued good health and very memorable birthday celebrations.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 24, 2014

NIGERIA, NEIGHBOURS MUST COOPERATE MORE TO WIN WAR AGAINST TERRORISM - PRESIDENT JONATHAN

NIGERIA, NEIGHBOURS  MUST COOPERATE MORE  TO WIN WAR AGAINST TERRORISM - PRESIDENT JONATHAN 

President Goodluck  Ebele  Jonathan, Monday in N'Djamena reiterated the need for Nigeria and her neighbours to intensify joint actions and cooperation  to win the war against  terrorism and insurgency. 

Speaking  to reporters at the Presidential Palace in N'Djamena  after a closed-door meeting with his Chadian counterpart,   President Idris Deby Itno, President Jonathan said that their talks focused mainly on security and economic cooperation.

The President told reporters that Boko Haram had a lot of external influence from outside Africa and it had become even more imperative for all countries in the region to work together to overcome terrorism and other criminal activities across their borders.

"If you look at the economies of Nigeria and Chad both are linked. The Boko haram people don't take permission to move from Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria.

"If the countries do not cooperate,   we will not find it easy to win the war, because when the heat is strong in one country, the criminals and terrorists will go to  another one and hide.

"So we must work together and we are discussing along that line,'' President Jonathan told reporters.

 President Jonathan recalled that his visit to Chad was the second in the last one month, noting that it underscored  the importance of building a "robust relationship" between both countries to improve trade, economic and security  ties. 

He said thatdiscussions between both countries on cooperation in the ICT sector were ongoing and expressed optimism that more proficient use of modern technology will help greatly to address economic and security challenges in the region. 

President Jonathan who was accompanied on the one-day official visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali and the Director-General the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke has returned to Abuja.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 24, 2014

Supreme Court reinstates impeached Taraba deputy gov

The Supreme Court has ordered the immediate reinstatement of Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Sanni Danladi, who was impeached by the state House of Assembly in October 2012.
In a unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court held that the impeachment panel set up by the House of Assembly to investigate the allegations against Danladi violated his rights to fair hearing.

The impeachment panel was said to have gone ahead with its proceedings without hearing Danladi and recommended his impeachment, while the panel snubbed his court papers which he served on it to challenge its composition.

PHOTOS: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ARRIVES LONDON, UK FOR HIIC

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ARRIVES LONDON, UK FOR THE HONOURARY INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR COUNCIL (HIIC) MEETING ON 20/11/2014

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN BEING WELCOMED BY NIGERIANS DURING HIS ARRIVAL FOR THE HONOURARY INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR COUNCIL (HIIC) MEETING ON 20/11/2014

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN BEING WELCOMED BY NIGERIANS DURING HIS ARRIVAL FOR THE HONOURARY INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR COUNCIL (HIIC) MEETING ON 20/11/2014

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN BEING WELCOMED BY NIGERIANS DURING HIS ARRIVAL FOR THE HONOURARY INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR COUNCIL (HIIC) MEETING ON 20/11/2014

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN BEING WELCOMED BY NIGERIANS DURING HIS ARRIVAL FOR THE HONOURARY INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR COUNCIL (HIIC) MEETING ON 20/11/2014

Courtesy: State house Photo

President Jonathan swears in new CJN

Remarks by His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
On the
Occasion of the Swearing-in Ceremony of the Chief Justice of Nigeria
Thursday, 20th November 2014

PROTOCOL
Today marks another epoch making event in the annals of Nigeria's legal history with the formal Swearing-in of Honourable Justice Mahmud Mohammed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. I congratulate his Lordship on this well-deserved appointment, which is a befitting recognition of your worthy contribution and commitment in the service of humanity and the nation.

PHOTOS: 57TH BIRTHDAY OF PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (2ND R); FIRST LADY DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN (R) MOTHER OF THE PRESIDENT, MRS EUNICE JONATHAN (M) CHAPLAIN ASO VILLA CHAPEL, VEN. OBIOMA ONWUZURUMBA AND OTHERS AT THE 57TH BIRTHDAY OF THE PRESIDENT IN ABUJA ON THURSDAY (20/11/14).

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN  CUTTING HIS 57TH BIRTHDAY CAKE  AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA IN ABUJA ON THURSDAY  (20/11/14). WITH HIM ARE: FIRST LADY, DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN (3RD R); MOTHER OF THE PRESIDENT, MRS EUNICE JONATHAN (3RD L); FORMER GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE, MR. PETER OBI AND OTHERS

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND THE FIRST LADY, DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN DURING COMMUNION PRAYER TO MARK THE 57TH BIRTHDAY OF THE PRESIDENT AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA ABUJA ON THURSDAY (20/11/14)

57TH BIRTHDAY OF PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN BEING CONGRATULATED BY THE FIRST LADY, DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN AND HIS MOTHER MRS EUNICE JONATHAN DURING HIS 57TH BIRTHDAY IN ABUJA ON THURSDAY(20/11/14)

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WITH MEMBERS OF THE STATE HOUSE PRESS CORPS DURING HIS 57TH BIRTHDAY IN ABUJA ON THURSDAY (20/11/14)

MOTHER OF THE PRESIDENT, MRS EUNICE JONATHAN; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND THE FIRST LADY, DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN AT THE 57TH BIRTHDAY OF PRESIDENT JONATHAN AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA IN ABUJA ON THURSDAY  (20/11/14).

PRESIDENT JONATHAN’S SECURITY AIDES GET AWARDS FOR DILIGENCE

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S SECURITY AIDES GET AWARDS FOR DILIGENCE

Two of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's security aides have been conferred with awards for their exceptional commitment to the safety of the president, his family and the country.

The awards were conferred by Security Watch Africa, a Non-Governmental Organization, on the Chief Personal Security Officer to the President, Commissioner of Police, Moses Jitoboh and Commanding Officer of the Mobile Police Presidential Escort, Chief Superintendent of Police, Miller Dantawaye.

Security Watch Africa gave Jitoboh its award of the "Most Outstanding Security Operations Officer in Africa, 2014'' while Dantawaye was recognized as "Best Police Operations Officer in Nigeria, 2014''. Dantawaye's Mobile Police squadron was also awarded the ``Best Police Mobile Force Squadron in Nigeria, 2014.''

The organization said that it decided to confer the awards on the  two security officers after a careful monitoring of their selfless, patriotic and untiring efforts in providing effective security for the President of Nigeria.''

The two police officers will receive the awards at the 11th Africa Security Watch Awards, Lecture and Exhibition scheduled for November 25th – 27th, 2014, at the Al Ghurair Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirate.
 
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
November 18, 2014

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CALLS FOR SPEEDY RESOLUTION OF MULTI-BILLION NAIRA INDUSTRIAL PARK DISPUTE

STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CALLS FOR SPEEDY RESOLUTION OF DISPUTE THAT FORCED POSTPONEMENT OF GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY FOR MULTI-BILLION NAIRA INDUSTRIAL PARK

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has noted with regret the very unnecessary controversy and acrimony that has arisen over the postponement of the ground-breaking ceremony for the Gas Revolution Industrial Park at Ogidigben in the Warri South West Local Government Area.

President Jonathan is deeply saddened by the very unjust, uncharitable and unwarranted accusations of nepotism and partisanship that have been made against him in the wake of the postponement.

The President is particularly dismayed by the unseemly resort to the abusive denigration of his personal integrity and the whipping up of divisive ethnic sentiments by parties to the totally needless communal disagreement that resulted in the decision to reschedule the ground-breaking event.

It should be apparent to all Nigerians by now that while President Jonathan may be affiliated to the Ijaw ethnic group by birth, he knows fully well that he was elected President of all Nigerians and has always shown by word and deed that he will always uphold the oath he swore on assumption of office to protect and promote the interests of all citizens with justice, equity and fairness to all as his guiding principles.

The elders, community leaders and parties to the dispute over the location and ground-breaking event for the Gas Industrial Revolution Park who have resorted to threats and accusations of partisanship against the President in press conferences and paid adverts in newspapers are therefore being most unfair to him and doing a great disservice to continuing efforts to forge greater national unity and peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians.

We assure all concerned persons that as the leader of the nation, President Jonathan is not, and cannot be on the side of any party to the avoidable dispute over the location and ownership of the site of the Gas Revolution Industrial Park.

The project itself was conceived for the benefit of all Nigerians, not just Itsekiris, Ijaws, Urhobos or other ethnic groups in its immediate environment.

In terms of employment opportunities, it is projected that the Gas Industrial Revolution Park will ultimately create up to three million jobs for Nigerians in its catchment area and other parts of the country.

All the people of Delta State and Nigerians living in other parts of the country will also benefit greatly from the project by way of improved power supply and other ancillary products such as fertilizers, petrochemicals and more raw materials to boost local industrial production.

President Jonathan therefore urges all parties to the communal dispute over the location and ownership of the site of the Gas Industrial Revolution Park to cooperate fully with ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and the Delta State government to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues so that the project can proceed apace for the benefit of local communities, all Nigerians and investors.

For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the postponement of the ground-breaking ceremony for the project earlier scheduled for last Friday was not in furtherance of any anti-Itsekiri agenda.

Rather, it was borne out of the clear need to give all concerned parties more time to achieve the communal peace, understanding and harmony that will greatly facilitate the project's speedy actualization for the benefit of Itsekiris, Ijaws, Urhobos, Ibos, Isokos and all other Nigerians.

In the greater interest of the nation, President Jonathan expects the respected elders and leaders of the concerned communities to heed the pleas of Federal and state government mediators and expeditiously resolve their differences for the good of all and the progress of the country.

He looks forward to coming to perform the ground-breaking ceremony for the Gas Industrial Revolution Park very soon in conditions of communal peace, unity and harmony.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 17, 2014

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPLAUDS SUPER EAGLES’ REVIVAL OF NIGERIA’S HOPES OF NATIONS CUP QUALIFICATION

STATE  HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPLAUDS SUPER EAGLES' REVIVAL OF NIGERIA'S HOPES OF NATIONS CUP QUALIFICATION

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan congratulates the Super Eagles of Nigeria on their dogged and hard-fought victory over the Red Devils of Congo this evening in Pointe Noire which has revived Nigeria's hopes of qualifying for next year's African Nations Cup Finals.

President Jonathan applauds the Super Eagles' patriotic, determined and very courageous display in front of a very vociferous, aggressive and partisan home crowd which earned them an emphatic 2-0  victory  and placed Nigeria in a good position once again for qualification to defend the African Nations Cup which it currently holds at the next year's finals, now scheduled to hold in Equatorial Guinea.

On behalf of all soccer loving Nigerians, the President heartily commends the Super Eagles for their winning performance in Pointe-Noire which has wiped away the disappointment of their earlier outings in the Nations Cup qualifying series and rekindled the belief of Nigerians in their national soccer team's ability to bring further glory to the country.

President Jonathan joins other Nigerians in looking forward  to seeing the Super Eagles complete the task of qualifying to defend their title at the 2015 Nations Cup Finals with victory against South Africa in Uyo next week. 

He assures the Super Eagles and their handlers that they will have the fullest possible support of the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria for that final qualification match.

 
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 15, 2014

PHOTOS: NIPSS KURU JOS VISITS PRESIDENT JONATHAN

PRESIDENT GOOLUCK JONATHAN RECEIVING THE REPORT OF THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE COURSE 36 2014 OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR POLICY AND STRATEGIC STUDY, KURU, JOS FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL, PROF TIJJANI MUHAMAD AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA ABUJA ON THURSDAY (13/11/14)

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN IN A HANDSHAKE WITH THE MONITOR-GENERAL, SENIOR EXECUTIVE COURSE 36, OF  NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR POLICY AND STRATEGIC STUDY, KURU BRIG.-GEN ANLAINI CHINOKO AFTER THEIR MEETING WITH PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN IN ABUJA ON THURSDAY (13/11/14)

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (M) VICE-PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO; DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR POLICY AND STRATEGIC STUDY, KURU,  PROF TIJJANI MUHAMAD AND MEMBERS OF SENIOR EXECUTIVE COURSE 36 2014 AFTER THEIR MEETING WITH PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN IN ABUJAON THURSDAY (13/11/14)

PRESIDENT JONATHAN COMMISERATES WITH GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF YOBE STATE ON KILLING OF STUDENTS BY SUICIDE BOMBER

PRESIDENT JONATHAN COMMISERATES WITH GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF YOBE STATE ON KILLING OF STUDENTS BY SUICIDE BOMBER

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan extends heartfelt commiserations to the Government and people of Yobe state on the death of many students in a bomb attack on Potiskum earlier today.

President Jonathan also conveys his deepest sympathies to all parents who lost their beloved children in the heinous attack on the Government Science Secondary School which appears to have been carried out by a suicide bomber.

The President condemns the dastardly murder of the students on their school's assembly ground as they prepared to begin another week of study in pursuit of a better life for themselves and their families.

He assures the grieving parents and people of Yobe state that no matter how long it takes, the Federal Government will ensure that all those responsible for the senseless murder of so many promising youngsters and the continuing acts of terrorism across the country are brought to justice and made to pay for their atrocious crimes.

The President similarly assures all Nigerians that in spite of seeming setbacks, his Administration remains fully committed to winning the war against insurgency and terrorism.

Nigeria, President Jonathan affirms, will ultimately overcome the current security challenges imposed by domestic terrorists and their foreign allies, with the dedication of its Armed Forces and national security agencies, as well as the continued support and cooperation of all patriotic citizens.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 10, 2014.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ATTEND ECOWAS EMERGENCY SUMMIT ON EBOLA

PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ATTEND ECOWAS EMERGENCY SUMMIT ON EBOLA
 
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will join other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Accra tomorrow for an Emergency Summit on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which continues to ravage Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
 
The emergency summit which will also be attended by representatives of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation will seek greater international support and collaboration for the containment of the Ebola outbreak.
 
President Jonathan who will be accompanied to the summit by the acting Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan and the Director of the National Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Abdulsalami Nasidi, is expected to avail the gathering of the benefit of Nigeria's successful containment of the deadly EVD after it entered the country in July this year through a traveller from Liberia.
 
The President will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the one-day summit.
 
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 5, 2014

PHOTOS: PRESIDENT JONATHAN ARRIVES OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO TO HELP FACILITATE THE RAPID RESOLUTION OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS IN BURKINA FASO

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L) BEING RECEIVED BY BURKINA FASO INTERIM HEAD OF STATE,  LT.-COL. ISAAC ZIDA AT THE OUAGADOUGOU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON WEDNESDAY (5/11/14)

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L) WITH THE  BUKINA-FASO INTERIM HEAD OF STATE,  LT.-COL. ISAAC ZIDA  AT THE OUAGADOUGOU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON WEDNESDAY (5/11/14)

PRESIDENT MACKY SALL OF SENEGAL; PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA OF GHANA AND PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN OF NIGERIA DURING A MEETING ON THE CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS IN BURKINA FASO ON WEDNESDAY(5/11/14)

PRESIDENT MACKY SALL OF SENEGAL; PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA OF GHANA AND PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN OF NIGERIA DURING A MEETING ON THE CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS IN BURKINA FASO ON WEDNESDAY(5/11/14)

UK to Return Ex Delta Governor Ibori’s £6.8m of Loot to Nigeria

The UK government is to return  an additional 6.8 million pounds of the  confiscated loot of former Delta Governor, James Ibori, to Nigeria.

Rupert Broad, UK Metropolitan Police Senior Investigator, disclosed this in London on Tuesday at a meeting on “Supporting Policing in Nigeria: What Role for Police in the Nigerian Diaspora” held in the House of Commons.

While speaking  on UK and Nigeria’s anti-corruption partnership, Broad said “out of the eight million pounds confiscated from Ibori, 1.2 million pounds had so far been retuned to Nigeria, while the rest was waiting for redistribution as to when it would be sent back to Nigeria.”

He also said that an additional 80 million pounds had been temporarily confiscated from Ibori and his associates, including Patrice Gohil, one of his lawyers.

“Approximately, 80 million pounds is temporarily frozen and a confiscation hearing has been fixed for April 2015, where the judge will determine how much was stolen, after which it would be returned to Nigeria.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the British Southcrown  Court in April 2012  sentenced  Ibori  to 13 years jail term for fraud and money laundering.

Broad, who attributed the success of the Ibori case to partnership with the nation’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), said “the case signified Nigeria’s commitment to the fight corruption.

“In light of the Ibori case, Nigeria has done a fantastic job in tackling corruption.

“Corruption does not go away easily,  addressing it requires continuous process and the UK Metropolitan Police  will continue to collaborate with Nigerian authorities on cross border international investigation.”

Similarly, Nsikan Etuk, the Director of the UK Nigeria Police Forum, said that the diaspora was a powerful tool for the reformation of the nation’s police force.

Etuk, who spoke on “Supporting Policing in Nigeria”, expressed the commitment of the Forum in collaborating with government in tackling challenges impeding efficiency in policing in the country.

He said that the Forum, whose membership included serving and retired police personnel, was established following challenges facing  the Nigerian community in the UK.

In the same vein, Kunle  Bamgbose, the Nigerian Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, said the nation’s police officers were among the brightest in Africa, adding that they were only impeded  by operational challenges.

He said “inadequate equipment such as communication gadgets, the lack of efficient forensic laboratories  and other logistic problems are some of the challenges facing the police force.”

Bamgbose, however, said “it is difficult to impose UK policing culture in Nigeria because the environments are different.”

According to him, partnership in training and capacity building of officers will be an ideal area of collaboration.

The meeting, which had participants from the Nigerian community, was chaired by Meg Hillier, the Chair of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria.

Source: NAN

PRESIDENT JONATHAN, OTHER ECOWAS LEADERS HEAD TO OUAGADOUGOU FOR CRISIS TALKS

PRESIDENT JONATHAN, OTHER ECOWAS LEADERS HEAD TO OUAGADOUGOU FOR CRISIS TALKS

President Goodluck Jonathan will travel to Ouagadougou tomorrow as a member of the three-man delegation of Heads of State and Government raised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to facilitate the rapid resolution of the current political crisis in Burkina Faso.

Other members of the delegation of ECOWAS leaders are President Macky Sall of Senegal and President John Mahama of Ghana who is the current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

During their one-day visit to Ouagadougou, President Jonathan and his Ghanaian and Senegalese counterparts are expected to meet with Burkina Faso's interim Head of State, Lt.-Col. Isaac Zida, opposition leaders, members of civil society and other political stakeholders in the country.

Recent political turmoil in Burkina Faso led to the resignation of former President Blaise Compaore and the assumption of power by Lt.-Col. Zida

The African Union's democratic charter requires its 54 member-states to act against the forceful overthrow of elected governments on the continent.

The Union has given the Burkina Faso military an ultimatum to transfer power back to a civilian administration within two weeks or face sanctions.

President Jonathan will be accompanied to Ouagadougou by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed and some of his principal aides and advisers.
 
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 4, 2014