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)

PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ATTEND DAKAR SUMMIT ON FINANCING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ATTEND DAKAR SUMMIT ON FINANCING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will depart Abuja Saturday evening for Dakar at the head of Nigeria's delegation to the African Union's Summit on Financing Infrastructure Development scheduled to hold in the Senegalese capital tomorrow.

President Jonathan whose entourage will include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, will join other participating Heads of State and Government, representatives of the United Nations, the African Union, global financial institutions and leading investors in deliberations at the summit aimed at accelerating  the implementation of key priority  infrastructure projects within the framework of the African Union's  Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

The President and other participants at the Summit which has been convened under the auspices of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) will also brainstorm on the mobilisation of domestic financial resources for infrastructure development, the creation of conducive policy environments to enhance investments in infrastructure development and the leveraging of Public-Private Partnerships for continental infrastructure transformation.

The summit is expected to pay particular attention to the evolution of fresh strategies for the financing of high priority infrastructure projects such as regional road and rail networks, power supply and ports development.

President Jonathan who will also be accompanied by the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed and his Special Adviser on NEPAD, Ambassador Fidelia Njeze, will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the summit on Sunday.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
June 14, 2014

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CALLS FOR MORE COOPERATION FROM NIGERIA’S NEIGHBOURS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CALLS FOR MORE COOPERATION FROM NIGERIA'S NEIGHBOURS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Friday in Abuja called for greater cooperation between Nigeria and neighbouring countries in the fight against terrorism.

Speaking at an audience with a Special Envoy of President Paul Biya of Cameroon, Mr. Emmanuel Sadi Rene who delivered a special message from the Cameroonian leader, President Jonathan said that Boko Haram and other criminal groups that operate in the countries' border regions must be seen as a common threat to them all.

The President said that Nigeria and its neighbours must take urgent action to harmonise their strategies and efforts to roll-back the menace of Boko Haram and other violent criminal gangs that operate between their borders.

"The issue of Boko Haram remains worrisome. If it is not properly handled, it could affect the security of neighbouring countries. We therefore expect maximum cooperation from all countries within our region to rout the sect," President Jonathan told Mr. Rene who is Cameroon's Minister of Interior.

Mr. Rene had conveyed President Biya's assurance to President Jonathan that Cameroon was committed to cooperating fully with Nigeria to combat all forms of terrorism and cross-border criminality.

He also assured President Jonathan that the Cameroonian Government will never allow its territory to become a safe haven for terrorists or a base for the destabilization of Nigeria.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 14, 2014

President Jonathan's Speech on “Human Security, Peace and Development: Agenda for the 21st Century”

Address by

His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR

On the

Occasion of the Centenary Conference on the Theme:

“Human Security, Peace and Development: Agenda for the 21st Century”

 Thursday, 27^th February, 2014

PROTOCOLS 
1.                        Today, as our Nation marks its first 100 years, we look back with gratitude to God and with pride in our citizens. We look forward also, to the future, with hope and confidence.

2. In this hall and beyond, I am delighted to welcome many of our past, current and future leaders, as well as our friends and partners, from near and far, persons and nations that have stood with us in times past, and whose friendship we will continue to cherish in the years to come.

3.                        It is my unique honour and privilege to welcome you all to this Conference, a shared moment, to celebrate the 100 years of the Nigerian nation; and for profound reflection on our challenges and opportunities as a continent.

Poverty eradication should remain in focus- President Jonathan

STATEMENT By DR GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR President Federal Republic of Nigeria
ON THE POST 2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA AT THE
22ND ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE AFRICAN UNION (AU)
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
FRIDAY, 31ST JANUARY 2014

Mr. Chairman
Your Excellencies

        I want to thank President Johnson-Sirleaf for her eloquent presentation on the work of the High level Committee on the Post 2015 Development Agenda.  Her presentation highlighted what should drive our position in the emerging structure that will propel the Post 2015 Development Agenda, as we approach the 2015 threshold that terminates the life of the current MDGs.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING OF AU MECHANISMS FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING OF AU MECHANISMS FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION
President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday in Addis Ababa called for urgent action to strengthen existing African Union mechanisms for the promotion of peace, security and political stability in Africa.
Delivering Nigeria's Statement on Peace and Security in Africa at the 22nd Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government which opened in the Ethiopian capital today, President Jonathan said that while the recent crises in South Sudan and the Central African Republic have reinforced the urgency of establishing the proposed African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC), instruments within the current African Peace and security Architecture must, in the interim, be activated to prevent the degeneration of conflicts into warfare.

NIGERIA READY TO SHARE ITS SUCCESSES IN BOOSTING FOOD PRODUCTION WITH OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES – PRESIDENT JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan declared Thursday in Addis Ababa that a total of about $11 Billion U.S. Dollars has been invested in Nigeria's agricultural sector by private investors and development partners since the Federal Government launched the country's Agricultural Transformation Agenda in 2011.

Speaking at a session of the ongoing 22nd Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government dedicated to the consideration of measures to boost agricultural production and food security in Africa, President Jonathan urged other African countries to emulate Nigeria's decision to treat agriculture as a viable business and not "a development programme", which, he said, was yielding positive benefits for the country.
"Over 65% of the arable land left to feed 9 billion people in the world is in Africa. We must not depend on others to feed our continent. We must feed ourselves, and do so with pride because Africa cannot be truly free, until it can feed itself.

PHOTOS: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN LEAVES FOR ADDIS ABABA

President Goodluck Jonathan  left been welcome by the foreign  affairs Minister of State Prof. Viola Onwuliri  on the President Arrival at the Ethiopia International  Airport Addis Ababa to attend  the 22nd Ordinary session of the Assembly  of African Union in Addis Ababa  Ethiopia on Wednesday  29th Jan., 2014

From left President Goodluck Jonathan , being welcome by the Agric Minister Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina, Water Resources Minister Mrs Serah Ochekpe  and Minister of Health Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu   on the President's Arrival at the Ethiopia International  Airport Addis Ababa to attend  the 22nd Ordinary session of the Assembly  of African Union in Addis Ababa  Ethiopia on Wednesday  29th Jan., 2014

From Right Vice President Arc. Namadi Sambo, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, FCT Minister of State Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide and Police Affairs Minister  Navy Capt  Caleb Olubolade   at Abuja International Airport to see off President Goodluck Jonathan  on his way to attend  the 22nd Ordinary session of the assembly  of African Union in Addis Ababa  Ethiopia on Wednesday  29th Jan., 2014

From Right Vice President Arc. Namadi Sambo Bayelsa, State Governor Seriake Dickson, FCT Minister of State Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide and Police Affairs Minister  Navy Capt  Caleb Olubolade   at Abuja International Airport to see off President Goodluck Jonathan  on his way to attend  the 22^nd Ordinary session of the assembly  of African Union in Addis Ababa  Ethiopia on Wednesday  29^th Jan., 2014

PHOTOS: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN IN ADDIS ABABA

President Goodluck Jonathan left Rwanda President Paul Kagame, and Saharawi President  Mahamed Abdolaziz right at the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Heads of Government in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on Thursday 30th Jan. 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan left Rwanda President Paul Kagame, and Saharawi President  Mahamed Abdolaziz left right at the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Heads of Government in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on Thursday 30th Jan. 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Foreign Affairs Minister of State  Prof. Viola Nwuliri at the Opening Ceremony of the 22ndOrdinary Session of the Assembly of African Heads of Government in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on Thursday 30th Jan 2014

Former Heads of State Gen Abdusalami Abubakar, Former President Chief Olusegun  Obasanjo and Former South African President Thambo Mbeki, at the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Heads of Government in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on Thursday 30th Jan 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Foreign Affairs Minister of State  Prof. Viola Nwuliri at the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Heads of Government in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on Thursday 30th Jan. 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Agric Minister Dr. Akinwumi Adesina at the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Heads of Government in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on Thursday 30th Jan. 2014

Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar  and former South African President Thambo Mbeki on arrival to the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Heads of Government in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on Thursday 30th Jan 2014

Courtesy: State House Abuja

PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ATTEND 22ND AU SUMMIT IN ADDIS ABABA

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ATTEND 22ND AU SUMMIT IN ADDIS ABABA

President Goodluck Jonathan will leave Abuja on Wednesday to attend the 22nd Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government which begins in Addis Ababa on Thursday.

The African Union has declared 2014 as The Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa and the 22nd summit of African Union Heads of State and Government will have "Transforming Africa's Agriculture: Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development" as its theme.

Address by His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR At the First African Legislative Summit, Abuja

Address by

His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR

At the

First African Legislative Summit, Abuja

Monday 11th November, 2013

PROTOCOLS
1.            On behalf of the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I warmly welcome you all - our highly esteemed guests and distinguished parliamentarians from across Africa and beyond, to Abuja, for this very important First African Legislative Summit.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ATTEND EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF AU LEADERS IN ADDIS ABABA

President Goodluck Jonathan will begin a two-day official visit to Addis Ababa tomorrow to participate in an Extraordinary Session of the African Union's Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

The Extraordinary Session has two main items on its agenda – consideration of a Progress Report on the Implementation of the Assembly's Decision of May 2013 on International Jurisdiction, Justice and the International Criminal Court and,  Election (by the Executive Council) and Appointment (by the Assembly) of a new Commissioner for Peace and Security. President Jonathan will be accompanied to Addis Ababa by Senator Emmanuel Paulker, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke and the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed.

He will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the summit on Saturday.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 10, 2013
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

LEGISLATION SHOULD FACILITATE SPEEDY DEVELOPMENT – PRESIDENT JONATHAN

 President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday in Abuja urged African legislatures to give greater attention to enacting laws that will further empower and enhance the living conditions of the people they represent. Speaking after receiving a briefing from the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba on the Africa Legislative Summit which is scheduled to hold in Abuja from November 10th-13th, 2013, President Jonathan said that legislation must be seen as a vital democratic tool that enables speedy and inclusive development.The President remarked that the legislative process will only become truly meaningful to the vast majority of Africans when it begins to positively address their needs and aspirations.

"As the first of its kind in Africa, we look forward to the  legislative summit with the expectation that it will x-ray and analyze issues that will help the separate arms of government to work in concert to bring the continent out of its present predicaments,'' President Jonathan said.

AFRICA NEEDS TO MOVE AWAY FROM DEPENDENCY PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS – PRESIDENT JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday in Abuja urged African leaders to do more to fully develop and exploit their countries' comparative economic advantages over other parts of the world, for the benefit of their people.
Speaking at an audience with Botswana's new Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Louis Matshewenyego Fisher, President Jonathan said that African countries must evolve and implement policies that will maximize their economic potentials to move away from current "dependency" partnerships with the industrialized nations of the world.
The President urged the continent's leaders to focus more on building domestic capacity around the strengths of their economies, instead of wasting their efforts on areas in which they lack a competitive edge.
Acknowledging the inter-connectivity of the world economy, President Jonathan said that globalization will work better when African countries take greater advantage of their human and natural resources to enhance their ability to compete effectively with other regions in world trade.

Somalia Islamists abandon Kismayo amid AU attack

Islamist militants in Somalia say they have withdrawn from their southern stronghold of Kismayo, following an African Union (AU) military attack.

Kenyan and Somali forces launched a beach assault on al-Shabab's last major bastion on Friday but encountered fierce resistance.
A Somali commander told the BBC that AU forces were not yet in the city.
Kenyan troops are part of a force trying to wrest control of the country for the new UN-backed president.