REMARKS BY JONATHAN AT THE LAUNCH OF THE BOOK: “REFORMING THE UNREFORMABLE” WRITTEN BY DR. NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA

PROTOCOLS

1.         I am glad to be here today to launch the book entitled: "Reforming The Unreformable: Lessons from Nigeria," written by one of our country's shinning lights,   Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy. 

2.         I would like to commence my remarks by congratulating Dr. Okonjo-Iweala for finding the time, in spite of her busy schedule, to document her experience and in the process, provide insight to the workings of the Economic Management Team.
3.         On a personal note, I see this publication as an attestation of patriotism on the part of the author. As an Administration, we shall always support such enterprise, for the purpose of setting the records straight. 

4.         The central message of this important book is hope - hope that Nigeria can reform, and grow to become one of the world's most dynamic economies. In the past, there was a lot of cynicism about Nigeria. Many people claimed that the political and economic institutions of this country could never be reformed. 

5.         I commend this book for documenting some of the important reforms, which have occurred in Nigeria since our recent democratic transition. Indeed, the CME argues convincingly, in this book, that Nigeria is gradually reforming. She shares her own personal experiences in playing a pivotal role in some of the recent economic reforms. 

6.          As President, one of my major objectives is to build strong institutions and embark on vital and needed reforms that will consolidate our democratic enterprise and guarantee sustainable development.
7.         Sustained reforms flourish better in an atmosphere of democracy and freedom – and we are continuing to work to ensure that sound democratic principles are upheld in the country. Ever since, the 2011 presidential elections adjudged to be one of the freest and fairest in our nation's history, we have successfully held several state and local government elections, which have been equally applauded. 

8.         Just last week, we also conducted a very successful gubernatorial election in Ondo State, where Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who is not from the ruling party at the National level, was declared winner and returned elected. This is a new dawn in our initiative on electoral reform. 

9.         In all successful democracies, the leadership pauses periodically to take stock of changes, which have occurred: what new institutions have been built, what successes have been achieved, and what challenges remain? In the case of Nigeria, this book fills the void created by the dearth of literature and good systematic account of the reforms and institutional changes, which have occurred in the country, since our return to democratic rule in 1999.
10.    Too often Africa's history, economic challenges, and progress have been written and narrated by outsiders. Now, we have a book, written by one of our very own scholars, who is candid about our problems, and also commends us when our reforms are successful. Nigerian and African leaders need to invest more in writing about their experiences, and I commend Dr. Okonjo-Iweala for investing time and resources into writing this book. 

11.    I am aware that many people may have read about Nigeria's debt relief from the Paris Club, about the privatization program, or about the establishment of the excess crude account from newspapers. In this book, you will find a concise, well-organized discussion of all these policy measures without the big, technical, "grammar" and jargon. In each case, you will learn more about what the problem was; what reforms were introduced to address the problem and finally what are the challenges that still remain. 

12.    As the author points out in her book, the challenges of creating jobs, fighting corruption and completing various structural reforms are important task needing urgent attention. I am glad to reiterate that these concerns are already being tackled in the current Transformation Agenda of this Administration. 

13.    Let me assure you that my administration is not only committed to reform, we are indeed building on some of the reform measures initiated by my predecessors. Specifically, we are consolidating the macroeconomic reforms introduced in recent years. We are going further to focus on the various sectoral reforms, which will create jobs in our economy. 

14.    On the governance front, we are going after those who commit various economic crimes and corrupt practices with impunity. As you may be aware, Government is taking every legal measure to ensure that those who defraud the government in the petroleum subsidy scheme are made to pay back the stolen funds, and also are severely punished. 

15.    Let me also use this opportunity to restate this Administration's commitment to diversifying our economy, with particular emphasis on agro-business and value addition in the exploitation of other resources, all aimed at generating employment and creating wealth. 

16.    Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, a book as comprehensive as this will not be without controversy, and will definitely touch some raw nerves. However, I know the author well, and can attest that she is someone with a great deal of objectivity, and also one who means well for Nigeria. I beleive that this book is motivated by an honest desire to provide lessons, which can support our nation's long-term economic future. 

17.    Although this book focuses mostly on the reforms implemented at the Federal Level, I believe it also has many lessons on how reform measures can be implemented at the sub-national levels. I therefore urge State Governors and Local Government Chairmen to avail themselves copies of the book, which I am confident would stimulate robust discussions. 

18.    I also recommend this book to all of you here who are interested in our country's ongoing economic reforms. The practical advice and economic policies that the minister discusses would provide encouragement to policy-makers not only in Nigeria, but also in many other African countries. Reforms are possible, we can build sound and transparent democratic institutions, and we can also fix our economies to transform the lives of our people.
19.    Once again, I congratulate Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for this work and for contributing richly to the advancement of governance scholarship. It is now my pleasure to present to you the book: "Reforming The Unreformable: Lessons from Nigeria" authored by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. 

20.    Thank you all very much for your attention. 

21.     God bless you. 
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE: PRESIDENT JONATHAN NOT INVOLVED IN RIVERS/BAYELSA BORDER DISPUTE

Our attention has been drawn to a publication in some newspapers today about a protest staged by the Kalabari National Forum and some monarchs in Abuja, in which the so-called protesters accused President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of interfering in a boundary dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states.

The protesters alleged directly and through innuendoes, that there are plans to "cede five Rivers state oil communities to Bayelsa with the connivance of various Federal Government agencies under the watchful eyes and supervision of his Excellency, Mr. President whose home state, most ingloriously, is the direct beneficiary."

 We consider these allegations irresponsible and most unfortunate considering the status of the persons who reportedly championed the protest. The statutory agencies being referred to by the protesters do not take orders from the President; they are independent bodies. Besides, there are laid down procedures for resolving inter-state boundary disputes.

In this particular case, the dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states predates the Jonathan administration, and has been a matter for consideration by the National Boundary Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and other relevant agencies, long before now. The matter has never at any time been brought before either the President or the Vice President.

The school-boy style protest is an attempt at cheap blackmail. We find the motive deplorable. It is all the more surprising that a man of Alabo Graham Douglas's stature, a former Minister who ought to know what is right, will team up with a group intent on causing disaffection between the President and his Ijaw kinsmen.

 We advise the Kalabari National Forum, its members and hidden sponsors, to avoid the temptation to instigate conflict between the Nembe and Kalabari people of Rivers and Bayelsa states, who are both of the same Ijaw stock. The statutory agencies assigned the responsibility of resolving boundary disputes should be allowed to do their work.

President Jonathan appeals to the good people of Rivers and Bayelsa to refuse to be dragged into the politics of conflict being orchestrated by individuals pursuing a hidden agenda. The Federal Government, under President Jonathan's watchful eyes and supervision, remains committed to the promotion of fairness and justice in the interest of all parties concerned.

REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
October 30, 2012
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

President Jonathan and the Floods By Reuben Abati

Barring any other development of equally impactful effect, the great event of the year 2012 for Nigerians would probably be the floods that submerged many communities across the country, forcing a rude awakening about the reality of climate change and Nigeria's share of this global phenomenon. Which is ironic in one sense more than any other, for when President Jonathan travelled to Rio de Janeiro to attend the Earth Summit, known as Rio+20, in June, many had criticized him for paying attention to "an irrelevant subject."

     The principal lesson lies in how Nigeria shares with the rest of the world, the increasing challenge of climate change and its consequences, described in the Rio+20 document as "an immediate and urgent global priority." The floods were caused according to the experts by excess rainfall, which resulted in the overflooding of Rivers Benue and Niger and their tributaries, from Taraba, to Adamawa, Kogi, all the way to the states of Southern Nigeria. Natural disasters had always seemed to the average Nigerian like something that affects other people, and seen on CNN, and if there had been any knowledge of floods, it was regarded as something rare, occurring as a marginal reminder of the Biblical Flood. But this year, the floods reminded us all of how vulnerable our lives have become, and the sameness of both the rich and the poor in the face of natural disaster. Houses were submerged, farmlands were flooded, persons were displaced; the rich and the poor cried.

      This conflict between man and nature playing out on our shores, underscored the pivotal place of environmental challenges in the unmaking of human habitats. With water, an indispensable resource unleashing its power, the ordinariness of every man was exposed. Steven Solomon writes sentiently in his book

Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization (2010),  that "by grasping the lessons of water's pivotal role on our destiny, we will be better prepared to cope with the crisis about to engulf us all." That pivotal role is ambiguous. We had failed to pay attention to this. In many of the affected communities, houses had been built on riverbeds, along flood plains, and reclaimed land, and for decades, persons had gotten used to living in those places, naturally and successfully, having no reason whatsoever to imagine the kind of tragedy that crept upon the land this year. When the floods finally recede, many of the affected houses would no longer be habitable: adjustments have to be made by both people and the authorities.

    In the meantime, we can look back, with pleasure, on the quality leadership that was demonstrated in managing the effect of the floods and in providing immediate relief for the affected persons. The incident brought government closer to the people; it highlighted the value of strategic institutions such as the National Emergency Management Agency, which deployed human and material resources nationwide, and worked with other agencies such as the Red Cross, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the state governments to ameliorate the people's suffering. Deservedly, NEMA has received fulsome praise for its efforts. Needless to state that NEMA and other government agencies were responding to a strong charge from the very top, for as the flooding occurred, President Jonathan immediately directed that all relief measures should be mobilized to assist the states and the people. The moment called for leadership. And the President took charge as expected.

     He also promptly set up an Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee led by the Minister of Environment to go round the country to assess the extent of the floods. That Committee presented its interim report to the President at a meeting attended by state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly. The following day, President Jonathan addressed the nation and announced a 17.6 billion Naira relief fund for all the states, which was immediately made available for their use. All the affected states had set up displaced persons' camps and were actively providing feeding, accommodation and health services. Further, President Jonathan constituted a National Flood Relief and Rehabilitation Committee co-chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, to raise funds to complement government's efforts in assisting the flood victims, and to mobilise the general public to support the initiative. With these steps, the administration had pushed the management of the flood crisis to the level of high national priority,

 generating nationwide empathy in the process.

    In addition, President Jonathan announced that he and Vice President Namadi Sambo will visit the affected states. In the week that followed, Nigerians saw their President, without his trademark attire. This had given way to simple shirt and trouser, rolled up sleeves, and a face cap.

  The President travelled to Kogi, Rivers, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Taraba, Adamawa, and Benue states. He went from one camp to the other, identifying with the people, empathizing with them. He listened to their stories. He shared their agony. His own village in Bayelsa had also been submerged. When he went home to his village, Otuoke, he met his compound flooded up to chest level.

      In Kogi, he was told that a man who took a loan for his farm, and had lost everything, contemplated suicide. Everywhere he went, the President took a message of hope, advising the victims not to commit suicide, but to remain confident that with government on their side, there is hope. Together with the state governors, he thanked the relief agencies and all the persons who had come to the rescue of the victims. He didn't listen to official versions alone; he personally invited spokespersons of displaced persons to lay their concerns before him. There had been a baby boom in many of the camps: women who had given birth in the camps brought their babies to the President. He carried the babies, and posed for photographs with them and their mothers, the most impressive being a photograph of the President with four new-born babies and their mothers at the Makurdi camp.

     But the visit to the various camps was not without the touch of occasional comedy. In one of the states for example, one gentleman who felt that the spokesperson for the victims did not convey their feelings fully enough insisted on having a say in the matter. Some officials tried to prevent his intrusion. But when it was President Jonathan's turn to speak, he collected the microphone and took it straight to the agitated fellow. Speak! It was with much ceremony that the man proceeded to narrate how people who were not affected by the floods were thronging the displaced persons' camp to collect food meant for the victims and how this was already causing problems.

     He wanted the authorities to share the money that had been sent to the states by the Federal Government, directly among the victims in order to shut out non-victims who want "to shorten their ration". President Jonathan deplored the cruel activities of those seeking to profit from other people's misfortune, but patiently, he told the man that he had not come to discuss food, because all the state governments according to reports were doing a lot to assist the victims, and nobody would die anyway in any of the camps because of food. While government is providing necessary short term relief, the Administration is more concerned about how the people will manage their lives after the flood, how to prevent the outbreak of any kind of epidemic, how to rehabilitate the affected persons and how to prevent a similar tragedy in the future.

       Indeed, there has been so much pre-occupation with the "sharing" of either food or money, and journalistic nitpicking over the ecological fund, whereas the Jonathan administration's response to the crisis is much broader and comprehensive comprising short, medium and long-term measures. From the outset, the President had ordered an informed, multi-perspective analysis of the incident and its aftermath to guide

 interventions. A mapping of the affected areas has been done, the nature and extent of the damage has been properly studied; engineers have been dispatched to the states to assess the infrastructural impact of the floods. On all his visits to the states, President Jonathan was accompanied by the House Committee Chairman on Environment, Hon. Uche Ekwunife and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Clever Ikisikpo.

      He was also joined by the Director of Army Engineering, whose department had gone round to assess the damage and was providing the President with preliminary engineering analysis. Bridges linking communities collapsed, roads were washed away.

  Public infrastructures in the affected communities need to be fixed, and the military was also called in to help.

 In the wake of the floods, fears were expressed about the possibility of drought in the coming year. President Jonathan promptly directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to intervene, and a National Flood Recovery Production Plan was immediately launched. Under this plan, the Federal Government is providing high-yielding, flood-resistant seedlings and fertilisers for farmers, technical assistance and other incentives to boost the national yield, as well as releases from the national strategic grains reserves. The Ministry of Agriculture has since allayed fears of a food crisis, noting that the bulk of the country's farmlands remain unaffected.

      Similarly, the Federal Ministries of Works, Water Resources, Health and the Environment have been directed to design other relief plans. In all of these, the Federal Government is collaborating with the state governments. The Ministers travelled to each state ahead of the President with their teams, and they were on the ground to provide necessary information. In the few states where there is no State Emergency Management Agency, President Jonathan has asked NEMA to work with the state governments to set up such agencies to further strengthen the country's preparedness to tackle emergencies. When the floods occurred, there were also reports of a certain Cameroonian connection to wit that due to excess volume of water caused by excess rainfall, the Cameroonian authorities had released water from Lagdo dam; some other dams in Nigeria also had to be emptied raising the hydrological level in many places.

     Fact: the floods were predicted as far back as March by the relevant agencies. But we all took the predictions for granted. We are all such lucky people we often imagine that the worst cannot happen here. Even when government advises the people accordingly about likely dangers, the natural response is to resist official wisdom and insist that in a democracy, the people have a right to everything including self-immolation. To prevent artificial contributions to the effect of climate change, nonetheless, the administration has taken the additional step of reviewing available infrastructure that can serve the purpose. To this end, President Jonathan has directed that the dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue be expedited. He has also visited the Kashimbila Dam in Takum LGA, Taraba State, which is under construction. The buffer dam is designed to provide power and irrigation services, but more importantly to hold water released from Lake Nyos in Cameroon with a holding capacity of 18 million cubic litres. There are plans also, as part of long term intervention measures to build dams on the River Benue as well as dykes in identified vulnerable plains.

       President Jonathan has brought to the delivery of all these measures, passion, action and commitment. He asked the engineers in charge of the Kashimbila Dam when they think they are likely to complete the dam. "2013 sir!" He told them he hopes the promise will be kept because the nation cannot wait.

      The promptitude with which he has personally attended to the flood crisis has been commended by many an observer; the actual truth is that this is the nature and character of the man that Nigerians chose as their President in April 2011. He is one of the people, so he understands their feelings, and he speaks their language.

 He is informal, people-committed and devoted to the assignment that Nigerians have given him. He does not see the Presidency as a privilege-posting; he is committed to serving the people and making a difference, and he has removed "do-or-die" inclinations from the country's electoral process.

 Nigerians, this includes those with

 politically determined ocularity, should see that whenever they are looking for someone to stand by them, Goodluck Jonathan is the leader that they can count upon.

Dr Abati is Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to President Goodluck Jonathan

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ONE DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO SIERRA LEONE

PIC 1. CROSS SECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE NIGERIAN COMMUNITY  IN SIERRA LEONE DURING THEIR MEETING WITH PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN IN FREE TOWN ON MONDAY.

PIC 2. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L) BEING WELCOMED BY NIGERIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT THE NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSION IN FREE TOWN ON MONDAY.

PIC 3. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (R) INAUGURATING THE NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSION BUILDING IN FREE TOWN ON MONDAY.  WITH HIM ARE: THE NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SIERRA LEONE, MR EYO ASUQUO (2ND R) PDP NATIONAL SECRETARY, CHIEF OLAGUNSOYE ONYINLOLA AND WIFE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER, MRS EKEI ASUQUO,

PIC 4. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L) BEING CONFERRED  WITH THE AWARD OF HONORARY GRAND COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE (GCRSL) BY PRESIDENT ERNEST BAI KOROMA AT THE STATE HOUSE FREE TOWN ON MONDAY

PIC 5. FROM LEFT: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (2ND L) ADDRESSING LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF POLITICAL PARTIES ON THE FORTHCOMING GENERAL ELECTION IN SIERRA LEONE ON MONDAY. WITH HIM ARE:  MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AMB OLUGBENGA ASHIRU (L) NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SIERRA LEONE, MR EYO ASUQUO (2ND R) AND THE COMMISSIONER, NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF SIERRA LEONE, MRS  CHRISTIANA THORP.

PIC 6 PRESIDENT ERNEST BAI KOROMA OF SIERRA LEONE (R) RECEIVING PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AT THE LUNGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DURING PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S ONE DAY VISIT TO SIERRA LEONE ON MONDAY
STATE HOUSE PHOTO

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

President Jonathan and the Floods

Barring any other development of equally impactful effect, the great event of the year 2012 for Nigerians would probably be the floods that submerged many communities across the country, forcing a rude awakening about the reality of climate change and Nigeria's share of this global phenomenon. Which is ironic in one sense more than any other, for when President Jonathan travelled to Rio de Janeiro to attend the Earth Summit, known as Rio+20, in June, many had criticized him for paying attention to "an irrelevant subject."

The principal lesson lies in how Nigeria shares with the rest of the world, the increasing challenge of climate change and its consequences, described in the Rio+20 document as "an immediate and urgent global priority." The floods were caused according to the experts by excess rainfall, which resulted in the overflooding of Rivers Benue and Niger and their tributaries, from Taraba, to Adamawa, Kogi, all the way to the states of Southern Nigeria. Natural disasters had always seemed to the average Nigerian like something that affects other people, and seen on CNN, and if there had been any knowledge of floods, it was regarded as something rare, occurring as a marginal reminder of the Biblical Flood. But this year, the floods reminded us all of how vulnerable our lives have become, and the sameness of both the rich and the poor in the face of natural disaster. Houses were submerged, farmlands were flooded, persons were displaced; the rich and the poor cried.

This conflict between man and nature playing out on our shores, underscored the pivotal place of environmental challenges in the unmaking of human habitats. With water, an indispensable resource unleashing its power, the ordinariness of every man was exposed. Steven Solomon writes sentiently in his book Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization (2010), that "by grasping the lessons of water's pivotal role on our destiny, we will be better prepared to cope with the crisis about to engulf us all." That pivotal role is ambiguous. We had failed to pay attention to this. In many of the affected communities, houses had been built on riverbeds, along flood plains, and reclaimed land, and for decades, persons had gotten used to living in those places, naturally and successfully, having no reason whatsoever to imagine the kind of tragedy that crept upon the land this year. When the floods finally recede, many of the affected houses would no longer be habitable: adjustments have to be made by both people and the authorities.

In the meantime, we can look back, with pleasure, on the quality leadership that was demonstrated in managing the effect of the floods and in providing immediate relief for the affected persons. The incident brought government closer to the people; it highlighted the value of strategic institutions such as the National Emergency Management Agency, which deployed human and material resources nationwide, and worked with other agencies such as the Red Cross, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the state governments to ameliorate the people's suffering. Deservedly, NEMA has received fulsome praise for its efforts. Needless to state that NEMA and other government agencies were responding to a strong charge from the very top, for as the flooding occurred, President Jonathan immediately directed that all relief measures should be mobilized to assist the states and the people. The moment called for leadership. And the President took charge as expected.

He also promptly set up an Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee led by the Minister of Environment to go round the country to assess the extent of the floods. That Committee presented its interim report to the President at a meeting attended by state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly. The following day, President Jonathan addressed the nation and announced a 17.6 billion Naira relief fund for all the states, which was immediately made available for their use. All the affected states had set up displaced persons' camps and were actively providing feeding, accommodation and health services. Further, President Jonathan constituted a National Flood Relief and Rehabilitation Committee co-chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, to raise funds to complement government's efforts in assisting the flood victims, and to mobilise the general public to support the initiative. With these steps, the administration had pushed the management of the flood crisis to the level of high national priority, generating nationwide empathy in the process.

In addition, President Jonathan announced that he and Vice President Namadi Sambo will visit the affected states. In the week that followed, Nigerians saw their President, without his trademark attire. This had given way to simple shirt and trouser, rolled up sleeves, and a face cap. The President travelled to Kogi, Rivers, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Taraba, Adamawa, and Benue states. He went from one camp to the other, identifying with the people, empathizing with them. He listened to their stories. He shared their agony. His own village in Bayelsa had also been submerged. When he went home to his village, Otuoke, he met his compound flooded up to chest level.

In Kogi, he was told that a man who took a loan for his farm, and had lost everything, contemplated suicide. Everywhere he went, the President took a message of hope, advising the victims not to commit suicide, but to remain confident that with government on their side, there is hope. Together with the state governors, he thanked the relief agencies and all the persons who had come to the rescue of the victims. He didn't listen to official versions alone; he personally invited spokespersons of displaced persons to lay their concerns before him. There had been a baby boom in many of the camps: women who had given birth in the camps brought their babies to the President.

To be continued.

Dr Abati is Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to President Goodluck Jonathan
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE: OTHER OIL INDUSTRY COMMITTEES TO SUBMIT REPORTS TO PRESIDENT JONATHAN

Two other committees set up by the Federal Government earlier this year on different aspects of the country's petroleum industry are to also present their reports to President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, November 2, 2012.
They are the committee established to design a new corporate governance code for ensuring full transparency, good governance and global best practices in the NNPC and other oil industry parastatals which had Mr. Dotun Sulaiman as its Chairman; and the Committee headed by Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu which was charged with the duty of conducting a high-level assessment of the nation's refineries and recommending ways of improving their efficiency and commercial viability.
President Jonathan will receive the two reports at the Presidential Villa immediately after the presentation of the report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force.
 
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 29, 2012

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE: OTHER OIL INDUSTRY COMMITTEES TO SUBMIT REPORTS TO PRESIDENT JONATHAN

Two other committees set up by the Federal Government earlier this year on different aspects of the country's petroleum industry are to also present their reports to President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, November 2, 2012.
They are the committee established to design a new corporate governance code for ensuring full transparency, good governance and global best practices in the NNPC and other oil industry parastatals which had Mr. Dotun Sulaiman as its Chairman; and the Committee headed by Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu which was charged with the duty of conducting a high-level assessment of the nation's refineries and recommending ways of improving their efficiency and commercial viability.
President Jonathan will receive the two reports at the Presidential Villa immediately after the presentation of the report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force.
 
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 29, 2012

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT JONATHAN DIRECTS THAT RIBADU COMMITTEE REPORT BE SUBMITTED AT PRESIDENTIAL VILLA ON FRIDAY

In furtherance of the administration's commitment to transparency, probity, and accountability in the petroleum sector, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that a comprehensive report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force chaired by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu should be presented to him this week.
The Committee which was set up in February 2012, was required to, among other tasks, determine and verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenues (taxes and royalties, etc,) due and payable to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and to take all necessary steps to collect all debts due and owed; to obtain agreements and enforce payment terms by all oil industry operators.
 The presentation of the Committee's report will take place on Friday, November 2, at 11 am, at the State House, Abuja.
REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser (Media &Publicity) to the President
October 29, 2012

Serena Williams wins WTA title, ends year No. 3

ISTANBUL (AP) — Her year filled with titles and trophies over, Serena Williams can at last admit it: This was a title she had her eye on.

Not that any more evidence of her all-consuming, powerful game was needed, but Williams gave it anyway. She dismissed Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3 Sunday to win the WTA Championships for the third time and finish the year with another title, but not the top ranking.

"Now that I can be honest, I really wanted to win," Williams said. "I wanted it so bad, but I didn't want to say it. ... It was really important for me to end the year with this title in particular."

Williams ended the year with a 59-4 record and seven titles. Since her first-round loss at the French Open, she is 31-1, winning Wimbledon, the Olympic gold medal and the U.S. Open.

The 31-year-old Williams became the oldest player to capture the year-end championships. But she will finish the year ranked No. 3, behind No. 1 Victoria Azarenka and No. 2 Sharapova, because she did not play as well in the first half of the year. Azarenka lost to Sharapova in the semifinals.

"I had such a good year, it was important to end on a good note," Williams said. "It was good for my sanity to win. I really wanted it although I didn't need it."

In 2001 and '09 Williams also won the elite, year-end tournament that brings together the world's top eight players.

A fist-pumping Williams closed the first set with an ace, one of 11 she had in the match. The American broke serve to start the second and was never threatened again. Williams hit a powerful return on her first match point. She finished with 40 winners to Sharapova's 13.

"Today she had another great serving day against me," said Sharapova, who never had a break point.

Williams finished the tournament without dropping a set. She also beat Azarenka in round-robin play, one of her four wins against the No. 1 player this year.

"If I'm playing well and doing everything right, it's pretty difficult to beat me, without trying to sound too full of myself," Williams said. "And I hate to lose."

She has won 12 straight against opponents ranked No. 1 or No. 2 and has not lost to a player ranked in the top 2 since 2007.

Williams was not her mighty self early in the year following injuries and illness. Shortly after winning Wimbledon two years ago, she cut her foot on glass at a restaurant, leading to a series of health problems, including hospitalization for blood clots in her lungs. She also injured her ankle at the start of the year in Brisbane, Australia.

Williams last finished the year as No. 1 in 2009. She has held the No. 1 ranking for 123 weeks.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASEPRESIDENT JONATHAN CONDEMNS KADUNA CHURCH SUICIDE BOMB ATTACK

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has condemned Sunday's suicide bomb attack on a Catholic Church in Kaduna.The President who was extremely saddened by the explosion, described it as "barbaric, cruel and uncalled for."President Jonathan noted that the apparent objective of the criminal and unpatriotic elements and forces behind the attack is to set back the progress the Administration has made in the fight against terrorism in the country. "It is obvious that these people do not mean well for Nigeria and its unity and development," he said.The President however, expressed confidence that the war against terrorism would become more unrelenting as the nation would never give in to the forces of terror and retardation.  He added that the persistence of messengers of evil will not prevail over the will of the government and the people to secure peace and safety."Our efforts to deal with all acts of terror and violence would only be redoubled even as the security agencies continue to receive all the support they need from government to reverse this unfortunate and unacceptable trend that threatens the peace and stability of our nation," President Jonathan said.

The President commiserated with the Catholic Church, family and friends of the victims of the bombing, assuring them that government's resolve to deal with the threat of terrorism remains strong.

REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to the President
October 28, 2012