Do you know that Nigerians in Nigeria have not known ten years of peace since the independence of the country from the colonial rule of the British Empire on October 1, 1960?
The political history of Nigeria is full of contradictions of modern democracy and governance caused by the recurrent incidents of the abuse of political power by the majority of the citizens since 1960 to date
From the parliamentary government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria truncated by the military coups of 1966 that precipitated the country into a catastrophic internecine civil war between the military regime of Nigeria led by General Yakubu Gowon and the secessionist republic of Biafra led by Lieutenant colonel Chukwuemeka Odinegwu Ojukwu from 1967 - 1970.
The details of the cause and consequences of the coups and civil war are common facts of the political history of Nigeria.
The civilization administration from 1979 to 1983 was truncated by military coup and counter-coup by young military officers and another coup terminated the next attempt of another civilian administration after the ill-fated 1993 presidential election of which the election of winner, Chief M. K. O. Abiola was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda and provoked the widespread violent June 12 crisis.
Read the details on Nigerians Report Online: June 12 and The Mandate of MKO Abiola
The maladministration of the Nigerian government is caused by corruption that is caused by greediness, cronyism, nepotism, tribalism, religious bigotry, administrative incompetence, rebellion and stupidity of both the political ruling class along with their beneficiaries and majority of the citizens who have no principles of accountability, dignity, integrity and nobility in the Nigerian society.
Read
Nigerians Report Online: The Cause of the Widespread Violence Destroying Thousands of People in Nigeria
We have seen the gradual destruction of the foundation of Nigeria by corruption for decades by kleptomaniacs in the corridors of power; from every local government to every state government and the federal government and partners in crime in the private sector.
We have seen the decadence of governance from the street to the Office of the President.
The legislators who are the so-called lawmakers are also the lawbreakers of Nigeria. Corrupt and incompetent public office holders without accountability and integrity in public office are plundering the government in gross misappropriations of allocations of revenues. These political title chasers are not nation builders, because they are political opportunists and political jobbers who are not patriots.
The Solution
Read
Nigerians Report Online: Nigeria Does Not Need Any Sovereign National Conference
There is no need for any political election in Nigeria, but a political revolution for the eradication of corruption from the local government to the Office of the President.
We must destroy corruption in order to begin the national orientation for the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among the comity of nations in the world.
By
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chma,
Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", 'The Prophet Lied"and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.
Today, we cannot celebrate the annual United Nations' International Day of the Girl Child with joy, because of the murder of innocent girls in Israel and Gaza since Saturday, October 7, 2023 when the Hamas terrorists attacked Israel in broad daylight and murdered hundreds of innocent people, including children and women.
The video of one of the Israeli girls murdered by Hamas is what Nigerians Report Online is showing today, because we cannot celebrate when fathers and mothers are mourning the murder of their innocent daughters.
The theme of the International Day of the Girl 2023 is "Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being."
This can only be possible if we can guarantee the safety and security of girls in the world.
Girls are still being kidnapped, raped and held as captives by the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in northern Nigeria and by ISIS in the Middle East.
We support every effort to save all girls in location of conflicts; in Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Nigeria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, the Americas and the rest of the world.
Let us pray for all the girls who cannot celebrate the annual International Day of the Girl Child today.
FOR THE RECORD: FAREWELL SPEECH BY MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
My fellow Nigerian brothers, sisters and friends of Nigeria.
2. I address you today, in my last assignment as a democratically elected President of our great and well-endowed nation, with a deep sense of gratitude to God, a great deal of appreciation to the Nigerian people and a modest sense of fulfilment.
3. Today we mark and celebrate another peaceful transition of power from one elected government to another in our steady march to improve and sustain Nigeria’s democracy.
4. This year we witnessed the most keenly contested Presidential Elections since the first Republic and this demonstrates that our democracy is getting better and more entrenched with each election.
5. We must as a nation improve and sustain gains we make in the electoral process, on an incremental basis for Nigeria to take its rightful place among Nations.
6. Our democracy provides for, allows and encourages seeking redress for perceived injustices, enabling some candidates and political parties that did not agree with the results to go to court.
7. Irrespective of the outcome of the various cases, I urge all parties involved to accept the decision of our courts and join hands to build a better Nigeria.
8. I salute the doggedness and resilience of all the Presidential Candidates and their political parties for believing in our judicial system by taking their grievances with the election results to court.
9. In the course of the campaigns, we had argued and disagreed on how to make Nigeria better but we never disagreed or had any doubts that Nigeria has to be better.
10. As your President, I call on all of us to bring to bear the strength of our individualism, the power of our unity, the convictions of our beliefs to make Nigeria work better and together with one spirit and one purpose.
11. To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years - Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu -, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world.
12. You have indeed worked for this day and God has crowned your efforts. I have no doubt that your passion for excellence, reliance on competence, fairness in relationships, commitment to equity, loyalty to the country and desire for Nigeria to be globally relevant would come through for you, under God’s guidance, as you lead our country to levels higher that I am leaving.
13. You are the best candidate among all the contestants and Nigerians have chosen well.
14. The last eight years have been an exciting experience in my desire and commitment to see a Nigeria in which public goods and services are available, and accessible within a united, peaceful and secure nation.
15. Fellow Nigerians, on the strength of your overwhelming support for me and my political party, I started this journey with a great deal of promise and expectation from you. I never intended to be just politically correct but to do the correct things that will make meaningful impact on the lives of the common Nigerian.
16. This high expectation was not misplaced because, like the ordinary Nigerian, I had grown tired of watching the country progressively moving away from the path of correctness.
17. To ensure that our democracy remains resilient and our elected representatives remain accountable to the people, I am leaving behind an electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics reduced to the barest minimum. And Nigerians can elect leaders of their choice.
18. We are already seeing the outcome of this process as it provided an even playing field where persons without any political God-Father or access to money defeated other well-resourced candidates.
19. The Nigerian economy has become more resilient due to the various strategies put in place to ensure that our economy remained afloat during cases of global economic downturns.
20. You would all recall the supply chain disruptions and economic downturn that the world witnessed between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a global best practice.
21. Furthermore, we increased the ability of the poor and rural Nigerians to earn a living, provided more food for millions in our villages and gave our women opportunities to earn a living.
22. Young men and women in urban centres were also supported to put their skills into productive use. Our administration also provided an enabling environment for the private sector to engage in businesses for which their return on investments is guaranteed.
23. The private sector proved a strong partner in our drive to build a resilient and sustainable economy as evidenced by the growing number of turn-key projects in various sectors of the economy.
24. In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the over-all good of the country.
25. Mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic growth, we completed age-long projects and processes notably amongst which are the Petroleum Industry Act, completion of some power projects, completion of the second Niger bridge and various important roads linking cities and states.
26. Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably.
27. To sustain the gains made so far, I call on all Nigerians to be more vigilant and support the security agencies by ensuring that our values defined by being your brothers’ keeper govern our actions.
28. Up-till now, I still grieve for our children still in captivity, mourn with parents, friends and relatives of all those that lost loved ones in the days of the senseless brigandage and carnage. For all those under unlawful captivity our Security Agencies are working round the clock to secure their release unharmed.
29. Fellow Nigerians, you know how dear the desire in my heart is, to rid the country of corrupt practices that had consistently diminished our efforts to be a great country.
30. I did pursue this commitment relentlessly, in spite of the expected push back. I am happy that considerable progress had been made in repatriating huge sums of money back to the country and also taken over properties illegally acquired from our common wealth.
31. To improve service delivery, we began the implementation of a number of reforms aimed at producing an Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-oriented (EPIC) Federal Civil Service and the results are beginning to show.
32. On the international scene, Nigeria’s influence continues to grow as exemplified by notable Nigerians occupying headship and leadership positions in renowned global bodies.
33. Our democracy is built on and continues to thrive on the principles of separation of powers. The leadership and members of the National Assembly deserve my appreciation for their patriotism which did not detract from their roles as a check to the executive arm.
34. I also want to use this opportunity to express my appreciation to a good number of Nigerians who provided their support and encouragement to help me navigate the exciting journey in moving Nigeria forward.
35. I cannot and will not forget the millions who prayed for me during my illness in my first term of office. I am constantly praying for you and for Nigeria to thrive in peace.
36. As I retire home to Daura, Katsina State, I feel fulfilled that we have started the Nigeria Re-Birth by taking the initial critical steps and I am convinced the in-coming administration will quicken the pace of this walk to see a Nigeria that fulfils its destiny to be a great nation.
37. I am confident that I am leaving office with Nigeria better in 2023 than in 2015.
38. I thank you all. And may God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
My Testimony on the 2015 Presidential Election, published by Lulu and Amazon.
Do you know that Nigeria has never known 10 years of peace since Independence Day of October 1 to date?
There were two of the bloodiest coups in the 1960s and flung Nigeria into a civil war from 1967-1970.
Coups in 1975 and 1976.
Coups in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
Coup attempt in 1990 and June 12 crisis in 1993 and Gen. Sani Abacha seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful coup d'etat in the military history of Nigeria.
Niger Delta crisis from 2003 and overtaken by the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009 to date.
Nigeria is still under construction for the nation building of a New Nigeria.
Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", "The Prophet Lied", "Diary of the Memory Keeper", "Scarlet Tears of London" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers worldwide.
Eagle Wings, The Best War Film on the War on Terrorists in Africa
The film from writer/director Paul Apel Papel was shot entirely on location in Nigeria and is one of Vision's emerging catalog from prolific filmmakers in the region. Eagle Wings depicts the on-going devastating regional conflicts of insurgents, their pervasive mistrust of the government, and the mission of those who try to diffuse the war against all odds. The production value of aerial fighter jet scenes as well as ground combat, add to the realistic and epic scope of the film.
Synopsis: As insurgents overtake territories and kill civilians, the Nigerian Air Force is called in to bring peace to the area. When a recently married commander is lost behind enemy lines, his brothers-in-arms swear to his wife they will bring him home safely. The rescue mission leads them into a war-torn area and directly into a terrorist stronghold where loyalties are put to the test.
Eagle Wings on the following ONLINE VOD PLATFORMS:
Vision Films to Release Nigerian Air Force Action Film 'Eagle Wings' to VOD
ANGELES, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Films, Inc is set to release the action film Eagle Wings to VOD on May 17, 2022. The film from writer/director Paul Apel Papel was shot entirely on location in Nigeria and is one of Vision's emerging catalog from prolific filmmakers in the region. Eagle Wings depicts the on-going devastating regional conflicts of insurgents, their pervasive mistrust of the government, and the mission of those who try to diffuse the war against all odds. The production value of aerial fighter jet scenes as well as ground combat, add to the realistic and epic scope of the film.
Synopsis: As insurgents overtake territories and kill civilians, the Nigerian Air Force is called in to bring peace to the area. When a recently married commander is lost behind enemy lines, his brothers-in-arms swear to his wife they will bring him home safely. The rescue mission leads them into a war-torn area and directly into a terrorist stronghold where loyalties are put to the test.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/QacLYzpSfwc
Lise Romanoff, CEO/Managing Director of Vision Films shares, "Eagle Wings is the perfect blend of an epic war movie and a relationship story."
Filmmaker Paul Apel Papel adds, "Eagle Wings is a fictional re-enactment of true events of insecurity in Nigeria. I'm glad to share the film with the world."
The film stars Enyinna Nwigwe (The Wedding Party), Femi Jacobs (Omo Ghetto: The Saga), Yakubu Mohammed (Shuga), Francis Duru (Otondo), Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Uzee Usman, and Sadiq Daba
The Nigerian film industry is rapidly growing, producing thousands of movies that are finding global audiences and success. Nollywood, as the Nigerian movie business is known, has become one of the leading film industries in the world and currently is the second-largest film industry in the world.
Eagle Wings will be available on cable, major streaming platforms, and DVD in the US and Canada.
About Vision Films
Vision Films is a leading independent sales and VOD aggregator specializing in the licensing, marketing, and distribution of over 800 feature films, documentaries, and series from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world. Led by Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO Worldwide Distribution, Vision Films releases 2-4 films a month across Theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television platforms. Visionfilms.net
Media Contact: Andrea McKinnon (818) 415-9442 334230@email4pr.com
Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vision-films-to-release-nigerian-air-force-action-film-eagle-wings-to-vod-301527128.html
"Eagle Wings", The Best War Film in the History of Filmmaking in Nigeria
"Eagle Wings’, a Nollywood and the Nigerian Airforce film collaboration is the best war film in the history of filmmaking in Nigeria since "Palaver", the first film shot in NIgeria by the Academy Award winning English filmmaker, Geoffrey Barkas in 1926.
Other notable NIgerian war films include "Ija Ominira" (Fight For Freedom) of 1979 directed by Dr. Ola Balogun and produced by Adeyemi Afolayan, aka "Ade Love", classified as one of the classics of the Cinema;
"Cry Freedom" (1981) by Dr. Ola Balogun, "Battle of Love" (2003), "Across the Niger" (2004), "Laviva" (2007) and "76" (2016) by Izu Ojukwu.
"Eagle Wings" is one of the best NIgerian films in 2021 and the best in original screenplay, best cinematography, best casting, best visual effects and the best directing in combat choreography.
“The film explores the often tragic, yet thrilling business of fighting for life, peace, and the freedom to love in the face of great violence. An uplifting journey through a terror-filled landscape and the power of newly found love, faith, duty and sacrifice ," said the director Paul Apel Papel.
Eagle Wings’ follows the story of an Air Force Fighter pilot who must navigate his way to safety amid an insurgency. It highlights the sacrifices of the military in combating insecurity and keeping the peace of the nation. The movie also explores the often tragic, yet thrilling mission in battling for life, peace, and freedom to love, in the face of great danger.
Starring Nollywood stars Enyinna Nwigwe,Femi Jacobs, Yakubu Mohammed, Francis Duru, Sadiq Daba, Keppy Ekpeyong, Uzee Usman, Saeed Muhammed, Patience Ujah, Jamila Ibrahim and Abdul Zada.
The film is a poignant action war drama about an Airforce Fighter Pilot who is caught in the harrowing world of insurgency.
The director and producer, Paul Apel Papel, is a Colorado Film School-trained filmmaker.
“Overall, it is an uplifting journey through a terror-filled landscape and the power of newly found love, faith, duty and sacrifice,” he noted.
With this project, Papel said he will be able to successfully tell not just any story, but an original African story from a place of power and grace.
Papel said he has pushed all boundaries and taken new risks, not just with the storyline, but also with the quality of production he seeks to put out.
This first of it's kind to be shot using the Atlaslensco Orion 2x Anamorphic lenses on the ARRI Alexa Mini cameras, shooting OpenGate-the first to be ever done in West Africa and Nollywood.
Alexa Mini is the favourite of the best DPs in Hollywood. ALEXA Mini LF was used to shoot the British war film "1917" (2019) by Sir Roger Alexander Deakins CBE, winner of five BAFTA Awards for Best Cinematography, and has had fifteen nominations and two wins for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Sir Samuel Alexander Mendes CBE, Academy Award winner for "American Beauty" (1999) directed "1917" and received ten nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, and three wins, for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Mixing.
*Eagle Wings" can be converted to an IMAX film by DMR (digital re-mastering). IMAX's 3D conversion technology enables live-action movies that were originally shot in 2D to be converted into stunning IMAX 3D.
Who is Qualified To Be the Next President of NIgeria?
I have more than 30 years experience in working for the presidential campaigns of top presidential aspirants in the political ruling class of NIgeria. I was a special aide in the Publicity Department of the Presidential Campaign of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, CON for the National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1990-1992. He later became the President of the Africa Business Roundtable in 2012 and was National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) from March 2012 to January 2014. I was one of the brains behind the social media campaign of the Transform NIgeria Network for former President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR in 2014.
I have done a comprehensive political evaluation of all the potential presidential aspirants for the 2023 presidential election, and the only presidential aspirant who can tackle the widespread insecurity in NIgeria is former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON.
Only a fearless strong Commander-in- Chief can command the Nigerian Armed Forces to guarantee the national security of NIgerians. Boko Haram and ISWAP are on rampage in the country, because President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to be a competent Commander-in-Chief and he is overwhelmed by the failures of the NIgerian military to defeat the bandits and terrorists who have killed over 300, 000 people with over 2, 000, 000 people left homeless and abandoned in the IDPs' camps in the worst humanitarian crisis since the first NIgerian civil war of 1967-1970.
The other presidential aspirants don't have the political pragmatism of visionary leadership and competence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who was the Vice President of former President Olusegun Obasanjo for eight years and they subdued every threat of terrorism and secured the lives and properties of NIgerians in every state of the federation.
I don't have to mention the shortcomings of the other presidential aspirants, because they are not capable of the political leadership of NIgeria in such a critical period of political crisis and national insecurity. They are too weak to be a powerful Commander-in-Chief.
Rigging gubernatorial elections to become state governors and turning the Treasury of the State to your ATM machine does not make you a competent presidential candidate when you should actually be in jail for corruption without any plea bargain. What we need is a powerful Commander-in-Chief and not a wonderful thief of public funds from the revenues of your state.
"It's not the events of our lives that shape us, but our beliefs as to what those events mean."
-Tony Robbins'
How do events shape our narratives and perspectives on life as artists, filmmakers and writers?
I don't totally agree with Tony Robbins' opinion, because the events of unforeseen circumstances in human lives have shaped the characters and attitudes of many people, especially the innocent children who don't have beliefs to define or determine their reactions to the events in their lives.
They simply react by their human nature as an earthworm reacts when you drop a pinch of salt on it.
What beliefs do children have?
They just want to survive and live happily.
Boko Haram terrorists strapped bombs to the waists of two innocent little girls who were totally clueless about bombs. They took them to a crowded market and pushed them to go into the midst of the crowd. Then left them. Minutes later, the bomb on one of the girls exploded and blew up the girl and killed those surrounding her. The second girl screamed in fear and shock; and trembling, she ran away from the crowd helplessly trying to remove the bomb strapped to her waist. Everyone was running away from her whilst she was crying and screaming for help. The bomb exploded and left her in pieces. People were crying, screaming, yelling and wailing at the horrifying suicide bombings. The innocent girls, daughters of the victims of the Boko Haram terrorists had been used as suicide bombers without their knowledge. The horrors of the tragedies of terrorism have altered the beliefs of many people in northern Nigeria to hate the Islamic religion, to hate their political leaders or to lose faith in Almighty God.
The loss of a beloved younger sister made one of the foremost educationists in south western Nigeria to become an atheist, because his cries, prayers and tears did not save the life of his sister. If God really existed, He would have been moved by his cries, prayers and tears. I could understand his unbelief shaped by the harrowing event of the loss of his beloved sister. I reached out to him before he passed on. Because, in our mortality, we cannot comprehend Immortality.
The catastrophic event of the internecine Nigerian civil war from 1967-1970 affected the psyches and shaped the lives of millions of Igbo children who were the worst victims of the war and actually has been more critical to my existential attitude to life and my faith into what is called Christian Existentialism.
And I agree with Jean Paul Sartre’s maxim that “man is nothing else but what he makes of himself”. But what he called the first principle of existentialism, another writer said, "flies in the face of a belief in a God greater than all of us.". What Sartre meant is, our choices in different circumstances of life will either make us succeed or make us fail in the world.
St. Augustine, the famous Catholic Philosopher and author of the classic, "The City of God" and other books was a Christian existentialist.
The critical events in our formative years shape the characters of most of us before the development of our beliefs.
I would not have been an artist and writer if my parents did not relocate our family from Obalende on the Lagos Island to Shomolu on the mainland of Lagos. I was only 13 when it happened and that disrupted my growing up, because I was separated from my childhood sweethearts and playmates in Obalende and in the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Lafiaji. To me, moving to Shomolu was a nightmare and I suddenly became an introvert and being called the "Monk of Morocco Ville", because I preferred to stay indoors after returning from school. Morocco Ville was the name of the bungalow where we resided at the Morocco Bus Stop on the Bajulaiye Road in Shomolu. I did not like the other children in the neighborhood. And I became engrossed in reading books and daydreaming and started drawing, painting and writing.
Parents don't know that relocations can affect and alter the development of the characters of their children. Relocations can cause depressions in children if you don't discuss with them before relocating your family to another environment.
Children are innocent of our beliefs and choices in life.
No child asked to be a victim of circumstances in the existential realities of life.
No child asked to be born poor or rich.
Before we take decisions on the affairs and situations in our lives, please let us think of how the consequences will affect our innocent children and their future in the world.
- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, Author of "Children of Heaven" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tower Books and other booksellers.
Independence Day Speech by President Buhari on the Occasion of Nigeria 61st Independence Anniversary Citizens of Nigeria. It is with full gratitude to God that today, we celebrate Nigeria’s sixty first Independence Anniversary.
2. For 1st of October 1960 to happen, all hands were on deck. East, West, North all came together to celebrate freedom. Today should not only serve as a reminder of the day the British handed over the reins of power to Nigerians, but also unified Nigerians from all ethnic groups, religions and regions.
3. Today, despite the challenges we face, most Nigerians still maintain the spirit of 1st October. That positive outlook and determination to make Nigeria a peaceful and prosperous nation. It is due to this collective attitude that Nigeria doggedly continues to remain a united and indivisible nation.
4. Fellow Nigerians, the past eighteen months have been some of the most difficult periods in the history of Nigeria. Since the civil war, I doubt whether we have seen a period of more heightened challenges than what we have witnessed in this period.
5. Our original priorities for 2020 were to continue stabilising our economy following the deep recession while restoring peace in areas confronted with security challenges. But the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on all nations meant we needed to shift gears and re-strategise.
6. Nigerians came together as one to fight against COVID-19. It is this attitude and by the special grace of God, we continue to survive the pandemic as a nation and indeed, provide leadership and example at regional and international levels.
7. The doomsday scenario predicted for our country never came. Even as the Delta variant continues to spread, we have built the capacity we need to respond now and into the future.
8. I will therefore appeal to Nigerians not to take COVID lightly, adhere to public health and social measures, put your mask on and get vaccinated. We can control this pandemic, but it requires effort on everybody’s part. The investments we made in response to COVID-19 will also serve our country to tackle any future disease outbreaks or pandemics.
9. Despite the global inequity in access to vaccines, the Government of Nigeria has continued to explore all available options to ensure Nigerians have free access to safe and effective vaccines.
10. Some five million vaccine doses have been administered to Nigerians through efforts led by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and we will continue to explore options for purchase or acquisition of vaccines such as through COVAX and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust.
11. I will take this opportunity to remind the global community that the current state of access to COVID-19 vaccines is unacceptable. We cannot afford a situation where a handful of countries keep the global vaccine supply to themselves at the expense of other nations.
12. We must act now to accelerate equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. This is the message I conveyed to the international community in New York last week.
13. As we push to source vaccines for our immediate needs, we shall invest more to support our pharmaceutical and research agencies to come up with ideas for locally developed vaccines. Should another pandemic arise in the future, Our question is simple; will Nigeria be ready?
14. Accordingly, I have directed the Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Health, Education and Science and Technology to work with Nigerian and International pharmaceutical companies and research organisations to enhance Nigeria’s domestic pharmaceutical capacity.
15. Already, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority is raising a $200 million fund for this initiative that will complement the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ongoing N85 billion Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme to support local researchers in the development of vaccines and drugs to combat communicable and non-communicable diseases, including COVID-19.
Fellow Nigerians, this is just the beginning. 16. Similarly, on our approach to food security, I am proud to announce Nigeria has commenced its journey to pharmaceutical independence. 17. This journey, which will take years to achieve but will ultimately result in Nigerian based companies developing the Active Pharmaceutical substances and competence needed for us to make our own drugs and vaccines.
Fellow Nigerians,
18. As our economy continues to open after the COVID-19 related lockdowns, we have also seen the resurgence of insecurity in certain parts of the country.
19. In the last four months, the gallant men and women of the Military and Security Agencies have made tremendous progress in addressing these new security challenges. We are taking the fight to our enemies from all angles and we are winning.
20. Earlier this year, I launched the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, the Deep Blue Project, which is designed to secure Nigerian waters up to the Gulf of Guinea. I am happy to inform Nigerians that we have taken delivery of key assets for this project and very soon, its impact will be felt.
21. In the North East region alone, over eight thousand Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered.
22. To support our surge approach to fighting banditry, the Nigerian Armed Forces have recruited over 17,000 personnel across all ranks. Furthermore, I have also approved for the Nigerian Police Force to recruit 10,000 police officers annually over the next six years.
23. I am also pleased to note that most of the Air Force platforms we acquired over the past three years have started to arrive in Nigeria. These will positively impact our security operations in all parts of the country.
24. In line with section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the security and welfare of Nigerians continue to be the prime focus on which programmes and projects of our government revolves.
25. Therefore, as a Government, we are ready to arrest and prosecute all persons inciting violence through words or action. Our resolve for a peaceful, united and one Nigeria remains resolute and unwavering.
26. That said, our hope is not to fight for peace. We can always settle our grievances peacefully without spilling any blood.
27. I will therefore take this opportunity, on this special day that symbolises the unity and oneness of our great nation, to ask all Nigerians to embrace peace and dialogue, whatever your grievances.
28. The seeds of violence are planted in people’s heads through words. Reckless utterances of a few have led to losses of many innocent lives and destruction of properties.
29. Such unfiltered and unsubstantiated lies and hate speeches by a few evil persons must be stopped. Our media houses and commentators must move away from just reporting irresponsible remarks to investigating the truth behind all statements and presenting the facts to readers.
30. We must all come out and speak against the lies being peddled. At this point, I would want to sincerely appreciate the large number of our Traditional, Religious and Community leaders as well as other well-meaning Nigerians who, in their various fora are openly spreading the message of peaceful co-existence and conflict settlement through dialogue in their respective communities.
31. Nigeria is for all of us. Its unity is not negotiable. And its ultimate success can only be achieved if we all come together with a common goal of having peace and prosperity for our nation.
32. We shall continue to work on dialogue based solutions to address legitimate grievances. But we remain ready to take decisive actions against secessionist agitators and their sponsors who threaten our national security.
33. The recent arrests of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo, and the ongoing investigations being conducted have revealed certain high-profile financiers behind these individuals. We are vigorously pursuing these financiers including one identified as a serving member of the national assembly.
Fellow Nigerians, 34. This is a clear example of how people abandon their national leadership positions for their selfish gains. Instead of preaching unity, they are funding and misleading our youth to conduct criminal acts that sometimes lead to unfortunate and unnecessary loss of lives and property.
35. As the so-called leaders run abroad to hide, our innocent youths are misled and left in the streets to fight for their senseless and destructive causes.
36. Government will continue, with greater level of peoples’ participation and in collaboration with our international partners, to improve the security architecture, reduce enabling environment for criminality to thrive and eliminate opportunities for terrorism financing.
37. Fellow Nigerians, our unrelenting effort at resolving an almost two-decade stalling on the management of our Petroleum resources and ensuring equitable consideration to our host communities has resulted in the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
38. This Act not only overhauls the Institutional, regulatory and fiscal framework of the Petroleum Industry but also reduces the previous opacity associated with this sector.
39. This is the first step to the reforms as the process is a continuous one. Already, to further improve the governance framework, I have sought for an amendment of sections 11(2)(b) and 34(2)(b). We will also continue to review and amend as appropriate.
40. At this juncture, it is very appropriate that I salute the leadership and members of the Ninth Assembly for their patriotism, dedication to duty, candour and most importantly the dispatch with which they have enacted legacy legislations for this nation. I do not take such level of cooperation for granted and hope it continues for the overall efficiency of the Federal machinery.
41. Nigeria’s Roadmap on Local Refining is on track with the Commissioning of a Modular refinery in Imo State.
42. A second is scheduled for commissioning by the end of this year in Edo State and the third one in Bayelsa State by 2022.
43. In addition to the modular projects, we also have the two mega refinery projects coming up in Lagos and Akwa Ibom States.
44. As these refineries are commissioned, more employment opportunities are created and there would be increased petroleum products available for local consumption which will significantly reduce our reliance on importation.
45. In further demonstrating our plan to reduce our dependence on oil and tapping from our enormous gas resources, this administration remains committed to the “Decade of Gas” Initiative, which is aimed at bringing to focus the utilization of our huge gas resources.
46. Already, we are supporting and promoting various gas-based projects including NLNG Train 7 and the mega urea and ammonia projects in the South-South region.
47. As we continue to optimise and enhance our oil and gas sector, I am also proud and delighted to state that our economic diversification strategy remains on course with the persistent increase in Non-Oil Sector contribution to GDP.
48. We recovered from economic recession in quarter four of 2020 with a GDP growth rate of 0.11%, and grew by 0.51% and 5.01% in real terms in the first and second quarters of 2021.
49. The Agricultural sector remains key to our economic diversification efforts as the sector has been a consistent driver of the non-oil sector contributing 22.35% and 23.78% to the overall GDP in the first and second quarter of 2021.
50. We have seen significant private sector investments in almost all areas of the agricultural value chain. And these have continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
51. Unfortunately, as our food production capacity has increased, food prices have been going up due to artificial shortages created by middlemen who have been buying and hoarding these essential commodities for profiteering.
52. To address this, I am hereby directing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to rehabilitate the National Food Reserve Agency and also work with security agencies, the Nigerian Commodity Exchange, and the National Assembly to find a lasting solution to these disruptive and unpatriotic hoarding activities.
53. To further enhance food production, we have completed several new dams and are in the process of rehabilitating several River Basin Development Authorities to enhance ground water supply for rainfed agriculture as well as surface water for irrigation agriculture.
54. The water projects we completed between 2015 to 2020 have improved Nigerian’s access to potable water to 71% between 2015 and 2020. This means 12.5 million additional Nigerians now have direct access to potable water.
Fellow Nigerians, 55. This Government remains concerned by the significant transportation infrastructure deficit we have. Addressing the challenges our commuters and lorry drivers face on the motorways is still a high priority to us.
56. To complement our budgetary allocations, the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund and the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, we recently established a N15trillion Infrastructural Corporation of Nigeria Limited (INFRACO), which is expected to begin operation by the fourth quarter of this year.
57. INFRACO will also focus on leveraging resources on a public-private sector basis for infrastructural development in Nigeria.
58. We hope through these innovative programs, the additional cost burden on individuals and businesses because of inefficient logistics operations will be reduced and ultimately, eliminated.
59. We currently have over 13,000 kilometres of roads and bridges under construction all over the country of which a fair percentage have been completed.
60. As we fix our roads, we also continue to extend and upgrade Nigeria’s railway network with the notable opening of the Warri- Itakpe standard gauge rail line.
61. To increase capacity, we have introduced more locomotives, coaches and wagons including the establishment of a Wagon Assembly in Kajola, Ogun State.
62. The sea ports however still remain problematic. The effect of our various interventions to reduce the gridlocks and inefficiencies have been slower than expected.
63. However, the implementation of the Electronic Call-Up System as well as the conversion of the Lillypond Container Terminal to a Vehicle Transit Area will further enhance the ease of cargo evacuation.
64. Our prioritisation of developing Nigeria’s Digital Economy has positively impacted the contribution of the ICT sector to our GDP.
65. We hope our present efforts to ensure all Nigerians use a National Identification Number as well as our planned roll-out of the fifth generation (5G) network technology will ensure we stay in line with the global innovation curve as a Nation.
66. As we embrace the digital economy in Nigeria, we are fully aware of the prospects and the perils. Our policies have been developed to enable Nigerians to take advantage of the prospects and avoid the perils of digital technologies.
67. Social media is a very useful platform that has enabled millions of Nigerians to connect with loved ones, promote their businesses, socialise, and access news and other information.
68. However, recent events have shown that the platform is not just an innocuous platform for information dissemination.
69. Rather some users have misused the platform to organise, coordinate, and execute criminal activities, propagate fake news, and promote ethnic and religious sentiments.
70. To address these negative trends, the Federal Government of Nigeria suspended the operations of Twitter in Nigeria on June 5, 2021 to allow the Government put measures in place to address these challenges.
71. Following the suspension of Twitter operations, Twitter Inc. reached out to the Federal Government of Nigeria to resolve the impasse. Subsequently, I constituted a Presidential Committee to engage Twitter to explore the possibility of resolving the issue.
72. The Committee, along with its Technical Team, has engaged with Twitter and have addressed a number of key issues. These are:
a. National Security and Cohesion; b. Registration, Physical presence and Representation; c. Fair Taxation; d. Dispute Resolution; and e. Local Content.
73. Following the extensive engagements, the issues are being addressed and I have directed that the suspension be lifted but only if the conditions are met to allow our citizens continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements.
74. As a country, we are committed to ensuring that digital companies use their platform to enhance the lives of our citizens, respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, cultural values and promote online safety.
75. Nigeria’s progressive diplomacy continues to manifest through growing numbers of highly placed Nigerians in positions of regional and global influences. Very recently, Nigeria won election for the position of Commissioner for the expanded Political, Peace and Security Affairs of the African Union.
76. Our persistent calls for a reorganized and reformed ECOWAS, to make the organization citizens-sensitive, paid off with the acceptance by the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS to commence the agreed reforms in the organization ahead of the next elections of the organization’s principal officers in December this year.
77. At the African Development Bank, World Trade Organization and indeed, the United Nations, footprints of Nigeria’s Diplomacy are clearly evident.
78. We remain confident that our goal of lifting 100million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years is achievable.
79. Considering the positive impact of our Social Investment Programs, I recently approved an increase in the number of N-Power program beneficiaries from 500,000 to 1,000,000.
80. Out of this, 510,000 have started the programme while the competitive selection process for onboarding the outstanding 490,000 beneficiaries is in progress.
81. The National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is currently being implemented in 35 States of the Federation and the FCT. Over 103,000 women have been engaged and empowered as cooks under the programme, while about 10 million pupils are being fed across public primary schools in the country.
82. To grant increased access to credit to the most poor and vulnerable, I have directed an increase in the disbursement of Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme loans to an additional one million beneficiaries laying more emphasis on the smallholding farmers through the farmers Moni program.
Fellow Nigerians, 83. For far too long we have neglected the centrality of the civil service as the engine of governance and this has manifested in ineffective service delivery.
84. There is widespread discontent and disillusion about the efficiency and probity of our civil service.
85. It is for this reason that we are refocusing the Nigerian Civil Service to provide World class service to run our country.
86. The youths of this great country remain propellants for our today and provide guarantees that we would have a secure tomorrow.
87. It is for this reason that I remain focused on expanding opportunities for their participation in politics and governance.
88. Recent appointments of young people into positions of authority and their track record so far, gives me confidence that we need to bring more of them into governance and this I promise to do. 89. More specifically, to encourage Girl-Child Education, female scholarship schemes, life skills and digital literacy skills to boost girl’s enrolment, retention and completion of schooling, are all initiatives put in place to ensure gender balance in appropriately positioning our youths for positions of leadership. 90. The commitment of this Administration to the well-being of people living with disabilities remains unwavering. 91. Government recognises their contributions to development and I have, in this regard, directed that all relevant Government Agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of different abilities in the implementation of policies and programmes. 92. Rape and Gender Based Violence remains a sore point in our Nation as in many countries worldwide and this was worsened during and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 93. We are currently engaging Heads of Courts to establish Specialised Courts for the speedy and seamless trial of Rape/Gender-Based offences especially to ensure that justice is done for child victims of sexual violence. 94. On the other hand, work has advanced in the reformation, reintegration and reunification of Minors involved in one crime or the other. 95. The reformation in our Correctional Services has manifested in an increase in modernised custodial centres and a transformation from strictly punitive to attitudinal changes so that criminals do not relapse into their previous lifestyle. 96. As we begin to celebrate our sixty one years as a Nation, we need to be conscious that Nigeria does not start and end with the Federal Government. This country is a great collective where Government at all arms and levels as well as the private sector, and more importantly individuals, have a role to play. 97. In particular, security is a bottom to top undertaking. Joining hands and hearts together would enable us to secure ourselves and our country. 98. I fully understand the anxiety of many Nigerians on the inability of this country to go beyond a never-ending potential for becoming a great nation to an actually great one. 99. A lot has been achieved in the last six years on many fronts: in infrastructure, social care, governance, Nigeria’s image and influence in Africa and the international community. 100. But critics misdiagnose incremental progress as stagnation. Since coming to power, this Administration has tackled our problems head-on in spite of the meagre resources. No government since 1999 has done what we have done in six years to put Nigeria back on track. 101. We shall continue to serve the country: listen to all and protect our democracy and country. Thank you all and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The great Man of the Masses, Mallam Aminu Kano (9 August 1920—17 April 1983) would have wept over this elitist display of megalomania.
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero already has official Rolls Royce car.
This is not a gift, but traditional political bribe that will soon be followed by receiving a new traditional title from the Emir and another selfish pursuit.
Billionaire Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu should have spent the N200 million on scholarships for the indigent students from poor families in Kano to sponsor them to go to tertiary institutions; provide safe drinking water boreholes for his village to prevent the recurrences of Cholera epidemic or build a well equipped Primary Heath Care Centre in his village.
They ruling elites of the Hausa Fulani political ruling class will never end their enslavement of the poor Talakawas and the millions of underprivileged children out of school in Kano and the rest of the predominantly Muslims states of northern Nigeria, because they need the poor and powerless commoners for the regular supply of cheap labour as underpaid housemaids, houseboys, messengers, drivers and factory workers in their institutionalization of poverty in the social class hierarchy of the society.
There are more than five million Alamajiri and Almajira in Kano in the so called Almajiranci system of Islamic education for children willingly sent by their parents. But only the underprivileged children of the poverty stricken poor Talakawas or commoners become Alamajiri and Almajira and not the privileged children of the elites who are enrolled in modern public and private schools.
The Alamajiri have become easy recruits of the Boko Haram terrorists and bandits who have been on rampage in northern Nigeria with incessant terrifying occurrences of killings and kidnappings. And as the saying goes, the Chickens have come home to roost.
The Insensitivity of President Muhammadu Buhari and First Lady Aisha Buhari
It is heartbreaking to hear that some of the 156 abducted girls of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School, Tegina in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State have died in the den of the bandits since they were kidnapped on May 30, 2021. The girls,including some as young as 5 years old spent the Eid- el-Kabir festival in the den of their abductors.
Since January, there have been over 111 tragic incidents of kidnappings with more than 1, 520 people killed in different states in Nigeria, with the worst cases in Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna and Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari. But it is really shocking that while these horrifying incidents of kidnappings and killings have been increasiing, President Buhari and his wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari who pretends to be humane were busy pampering their own children in their safe havens in Nigeria, the UK and Dubai when the parents of the abducted children have been harrowing in sorrow over their missing children and others mourning the tragic loss of the precious lives of their sons and daughters in the hands of the evil and wicked bandits and terrorists. The mother of one of the kidnapped children of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School collapsed and died from heartbreak.
In the gloomy atmosphere of insecurity in the country, President Buhari and his wife were using the wedding of the arranged marriage of their son, Yusuf Buhari and Princess Zahra Ado Bayero, the daughter of the Emir of Bichi in Kano State for boosting their public relations and distractions of gullible Nigerians from the terrifying occurrences of kidnappings and killings in the Middle Belt and northern Nigeria. And at the same time, there was a big ceremony televised live for the draws of the innaugural Dr. Aisha Buhari Cup's Invitational Women’s Football Tournament for selected countries in Africa, that will be hosted by Lagos from 13th – 21st September 2021. Simply, an image laundering event for the promotion of her public relations.
The millions of dollars spent on the glamorous state wedding attended by Nigerian millionaires and billionaires who flew on dozens of private jets to Kano would have been more than enough to pay the ransoms to free the hundreds of unfortunate underprivileged children suffering and dying in the dens of bandits. But the insensitive President Buhari and his wife Aisha and their fellow egocentric elites of the greedy ruling class don't care, because none of their precious children has been kidnapped or murdered by bandits and terrorists on rampage in Nigeria.
The insecurity in Nigeria is caused by corrupt and incompetent government administraton and not by poverty.
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