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President Muhammadu Buhari will attend
the 5th European Union-African Union (EU-
AU) Summit in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on
November 28-29, 2017.
The president will participate in
working sessions on the Summit theme:
“Investing in the Youth for a
Sustainable Development,” and on the
margins of the Summit, meet with a
number of African Heads of State and
their European Union counterparts.
Buhari will use the occasion of the
Summit to reiterate Nigeria’s readiness
to work with African and European
countries to address the challenges
affecting both continents, such as peace
and security.
Femi Adesina, special adviser to the
president on media & publicity made
this known on Facebook on Monday,
November 27.
READ ALSO: Army captain sends
message to Buhari over treatment of
soldiers
The Nigerian leader will attend the
official luncheon to be hosted by the
government of Cote d’Ivoire in honour
of visiting Heads of State and
Government and other delegations.
According to the organizers, 83 Heads
of State representing 55 African
countries and 28 European countries
are slated to attend this high-level
meeting.
Delegations from partner countries, the
African Union Commission, the
European Union Commission, regional
and international organizations, will
also participate at the Summit.
The governors of Akwa Ibom and
Bauchi States and some ministers are
among the top government officials that
will accompany President Buhari.

The Incumbent Governor of Anambra and one

of the contenders of the just concluded

election has been declared winner by the

Independent National Electoral Commission,

INEC with a total vote of 234,071.

From results gathered Tony Nwoye of APC

came second with 98,752 votes, Oseloka

Obaze took third with 70,593 votes and Osita

Chidoka of UPP fourth with 7,746 votes.

However, Chief Willie Obiano of APGA

expressed gratitude and thanked electorates for

their support.

Read his Speech bellow:

Time to Build a New World

Being the text of the Acceptance Speech by the

Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie

Maduaburochukwu Obiano on his Re-election

as the Governor of Anambra State on Sunday,

November 19, 2017

Ndi b’ anyi, ekenem unu

With utmost humility, I stand before you to

accept thehistoric mandate you have bestowed

on me today!

Umu nnem, the victory we savour today

belongs neither to Willie Obiano nor to our

great party, APGA. No! This sweet victory

belongs to Ndi Anambra!

It belongs to the wheel barrow pushers and the

Okada riders who have clearly seen in our

recent political experience, a glimmer of light in

the horizon.

It belongs to the farmers in Ayamelum, Onono,

Ogbaru, Omasi, Omor and Ufuma who have

now realized that Agriculture is the future of

Nigeria.

It belongs to the teachers and civil servants

who have seen that a motivated workforce is

the greatest asset of any government and have

rewarded our faith in them with an

overwhelming verdict at the polls.

It belongs to the illustrious sons and daughters

of Anambra State who have seen the STAR of

this great state rise in the Eastern Skies and

have answered our call for Aku luo uno;

bringing home their Naira and Dollars to put

our dear state on the investment map!

This victory belongs to all of us! Umu nnem,

this victory isnot a winner takes it all. For in

the New Anambra of my dream, everyone is a

winner. Everyone!

So, I reach out a hand of brotherhood to my

fellow contestants…Oseloka, Tony, Osita,

Godwin and others whose names I cannot

easily recall here. And I say to you;my brothers,

we have all fought a good fight. But Anambra

State is the WINNER!

The interest of AnambraState is bigger than the

private ambitions of anyone of us.. Therefore, I

pray you to join hands with me and build a

better place for Ndi Anambra! Our beloved

state needs our talent and our time. The time

to build a better place is NOW!

Indeed, this victory is a referendum on the solid

resolve of Ndi Anambra to rise above average

in all we do. We have demonstrated that we

are indeed capable of taking charge of our

lives and making difficult decisions that will

brighten the future of our children. I have no

doubt in my mind that we shall continue to lay

the building blocks for a prosperous tomorrow

for all.

Ndi Anambra, this mandate is dear to my heart.

I see it as a historic call to inspire my people

to greatness. I see it as a call to deny myself

sleep that my people might sleep better. Umu

nnem, I will not give myself rest until our

beloved state has fully assumed the status of

the model state of Nigeria. This is my promise

to you all.

Fellow compatriots, this victory did not come

by chance. It is the final product of the

combined efforts of brilliant men and women

who sacrificed their personal comfort to ensure

that Anambra’s steady march to progress is

not derailed.

My first and deepest gratitude goes to the

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

President MuhammaduBuhari for proving to Ndi

Anambra that under his watch, democracy will

sink deeper roots in the Nigerian soil. Mr

President promised us a free and fair election.

Today, we can all see that he has kept his

promise. Thank you so much Mr President!

I must also thank the Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting

what has been widely adjudged a transparent

election in Anambra State. With this election,

INEC has shown that it has fully braced up for

the 2019 elections. Thank you so much.

I will also not forget the vigilance of the

Nigerian Police, the Nigerian Army and other

law enforcement agencies whose alertness

ensured that the expressed will of the people

was not thwarted. Indeed, you have done an

incredible job!

To the indefatigable DG of my re-election

campaign organization, Chief Victor Umeh,

Ibobo Aguleri, Ohamadike! You and the entire

Campaign Team have written your names in

gold. My immense gratitude goes to every

member of APGA, from the Ward Chairman to

the members of the National Executive Council;

you have made us proud! Chukwu gozie unu

nine.

And to all the members of the Anambra State

Traditional Rulers Council, all the PGs and

members of the various town unions across

Anambra State, all the Bishops, Reverend

Fathers and Pastors, the members of the

organized Labour, the youths of Anambra

State, the traders, the farmers, the ordinary

men and women who look up to government

for a better day, I assure you that my team and

I shall never fail you.

Indeed, Ndi Anambra, on behalf of my capable

Deputy, Dr Nkem Okeke, I thank you all for

renewing this mandate and I urge you to

prepare for the speedy transformation of

Anambra State into a prosperous sub-national

entity in the next four years.

Umu nnem, we have stepped into our finest

hour. We have finally hit the proverbial bend in

the river. Our journey into greatness is now

assured. We are ready and willing to work with

anyone who has something to share that will

make Anambra State great.

We are open to new ideas, new visions of

society and a New Hope!

God bless Anambra State

God bless Nigeria

Dalunu

Willie Obiano

Governor

After much waiting, the people of Anambra state will today, Saturday, November 18, 2017, head to the polls to elect a new governor. The top candidates are incumbent governor Willie Obiano, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate who is seeking a second term in office. Next is All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Tony Nwoye, who has the full support of President Muhammadu Buhari. The president, in his visit to Anambra days ago, assured voters of good times if Nwoye makes it in. READ ALSO: Nigerians speak on upcoming Anambra governorship election Also a tough contender is Peoples Democratic Party (PDP's) Henry Oseloka Obaze. He and his party believe that there should be a change in the leadership of the state. For the people of Anambra, they are ready to hit the polls. INEC materials were already on ground as at Friday, November 17. However, there were threats of boycott from supporters of some separationist groups in the southeast. It remains to be seen if the threat will be carried out. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app On Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC's) part, the materials have already arrived in the state ahead of the process. NAIJ.com 's duo of Jerrywright Ukwu and Gift Ufuoma are already in the state fondly called Light of the Nation to monitor the electoral process. Stay tuned to NAIJ.com for latest updates in the Anambra election.

*Insist it’s best in UN peace mission, Africa,
one of the best in the world
By Joseph Erunke
ABUJA-CONTRARY to a report credited to two
foreign bodies, The International Police
Association and the Institute for Economics
and Peace, which described it as the worst in
the world, the Nigeria Police Force has rated
itself not only as the best in the United Nations
Peace Keeping Operations and Africa but also
one of the best in the world.
Nigerian Police
The report was a fallout of the 2016 World
Internal Security and Police Index, WISPI,
credited to two bodies, The International Police
Association and the Institute for Economics
and Peace.
The report claimed to have measured the
ability of the police to address Internal Security
Issues in 127 Countries in four key areas of
capacity, process, legitimacy and outcomes.
But reacting to the report which was carried by
an online medium, The Cable, Friday, the Force
Headquarters said it rejected the report in its
entirety, saying the framers of the so called
rating were out to blackmail the Nigeria Police.
The reaction came just as the Inspector-
General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, assured
Nigerians, international community and
stakeholders of policing with integrity and
international core values and world best
practices.
“Nigeria Police Force is the best in UN Peace
Keeping Operations, best in Africa, one of the
best in the world. The Force rejects the report
as unempirical and absolute falsehood, and
should be disregarded and discountenanced,
“the police high command said in a statement
released to the media through Force Public
Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, a Chief
Superintendent of Police, CSP.
” The Nigeria Police Force after a careful study
of the report and the news items emanating
from it, wishes to state categorically that the
report is entirely misleading, a clear
misrepresentation of facts and figures and
essentially unempirical, considering the area of
coverage of the report which was said to have
been carried out in 2016 by the above
mentioned associations, “the Force
Headquarters’ statement said.
The statement read further:” The report did not
take into cognisance the significant
improvement in the areas of capacity building,
training and re-training of the entire personnel
of the force as provided for by the current
Federal Government of Nigeria and other
foreign and local NGOs which has greatly
improved the efficiency and service delivery of
the personnel of the Force throughout the
country.
” It is pertinent to state that the instruments
used to evaluate the performance of the Force
vis-à-vis that of other countries is absolutely
incorrect and grossly inadequate and therefore
a plain distortion of facts and figures.
” The strength of about 370,000 police
personnel in the country stands at around one
policeman to less than 600 people in a
population estimates of 180,000,000 Nigerians.
”
The statement further read:” It is equally
significant to state that the current recruitment
of additional 10,000 police personnel into the
Force by the Federal Government of Nigeria
and the request by the Inspector General of
Police to Government for approval of the
recruitment of 31,000 police personnel yearly
for a period of five years will definitely increase
the strength of the Force to meet up with the
UN ratio of one policeman to 400 citizens.
In the UN Peace Keeping System, the Nigeria
Police Force is rated as the best in UN Peace
keeping operations in the world. This clearly
shows that the Nigeria Police Force is not and
cannot be the worst in the world under any
known scientific yardstick or measuring
instrument.
” Currently, the Nigeria Police Force is one of
the only two African delegates representing the
whole of Africa continent on the executive
committee of Interpol, a position the Force
attained based on high performance, merit and
sustained good track records.
” For avoidance of doubt, since the inception of
the present Police administration in July 2016,
the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K.
Idris, has introduced and implemented diverse
internal reforms aimed at improving capacity
building and efficient service delivery of the
personnel of the Force, which is yielding
positive results in the standardization of the
capability of the Nigeria Police Force to deal
with violent crimes and terrorism throughout
the country.
” The establishment and take-off of a world
class Terrorism Investigation Bureau for the
Force with state-of-the-art equipment and
technical support from foreign partners has
greatly improved the capacity of the Force to
deal with threats posed to internal security in
this regard.
“However, it must be pointed out that the
Nigeria Police Force sees the report as a clear
demonstration of mischief, ignorance and
calculated attempt to distort the feat being
recorded by the Force in ensuring adequate
security and safety of Nigerians.
” Nowhere in the report were references made
to either the improved capacity or
achievements recorded by the Nigeria Police
Force across the country in the recent time, the
Force therefore implores all Nigerians and
international community to disregard the report
as unfounded and misleading.
“The renewed determination of the Force to
adhere to Internal Police Reforms for greater
efficiency in service delivery and conform to
standard principles, building trust and
confidence in the citizenry for their safety
remain unequivocal and unwavering.”

NIGERIAN OPINION POLLS: Senior lawyer, Femi Falana, warns that Morocco wil...

NIGERIAN OPINION POLLS: Senior lawyer, Femi Falana, warns that Morocco wil...: Senior lawyer, Femi Falana, warns that Morocco will harm Nigeria'a economic prosperity if it joins ECOWAS - Director general of the NII...

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Senior lawyer, Femi Falana, warns that Morocco will harm Nigeria'a economic prosperity if it joins ECOWAS - Director general of the NIIA, Fred Agwu, says Nigeria has the power to block Morocco from joining ECOWAS - The federal government of Nigeria has agreed to pay the sum of N88 billion as compensation to victims of the 1967-1970 Biafra-Nigeria civil war Human rights activist, Femi Falana, has warned that any attempt to allow Morocco join the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) will be detrimental to Nigeria’s economic prosperity. READ ALSO: IGP Idris refuses to answer questions at Senate committee Falana made the statement on Thursday, November 9, when speaking at a one day public hearing put together by the House of Representatives joint committees on foreign affairs and cooperation for Africa integration, Vanguard reports. Other stakeholders at the gathering also objected to Morocco’s bid to join ECOWAS. While objecting to the North African country’s bid to join the bloc, former director general of the Nigeria institute of international affairs (NIIA), Bola Akinterinwa, argued that any attempt to allow Morocco to join the regional body will harm the interest on Nigeria. On his part, the representative of the director general of NIIA, Fred Agwu, said Nigeria had the power to block Morocco from ECOWAS. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app In other news, the federal government of Nigeria has agreed to pay the sum of N88 billion as compensation to victims of the 1967-1970 Biafra-Nigeria civil war, Vanguard reports. The government also said it will complete the demining and destruction of abandoned explosives littered around the southeast, southsouth and north central region of Nigeria. In an agreement document signed by both parties and adopted by the ECOWAS court as its consent judgement - two firms RSB Holdings Nigeria Limited and Deminers Concept Nigeria Limited were contracted to carry out the demining process in these regions. What is working well and what needs improvement in Nigeria? on NAIJ.com TV Source: Naija.ng READ MORE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT? SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS! SHARE ON FACEBOOK SEND VIA EMAIL Advertise with us Advertise with us Read more: https://www.naija.ng/1134596-femi-falana-stakeholders-oppose-moroccos-bid-join-ecowas.html#1134596

Inspector general of Police refuse to talk before the senate

The Inspector General of Police, Mr.

Ibrahim Idris , on Wednesday

appeared before the Senate ad hoc

committee investigating the allegations

levelled against him by lawmaker

representing Bauchi Central Senatorial

District, Senator Isa Misau .

The police boss , was accompanied by

his lawyer, Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN ); and

the Special Assistant to the President

on National Assembly Matters (Senate),

Senator Ita Enang , as well as chiefs of

the Nigeria Police .

Tempers however rose after Chairman

of the committee , Senator Francis

Alimekhena, read a summary of the

probe and its objectives , and asked the

IG to make comments before an oath

could be administered on him for his

submissions .

Izinyon , however, rose to speak

instead, but he was interrupted by the

lawmakers who pointed out that the

Police boss must be the one to speak .

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria

insisted on speaking on behalf of his

client but the lawmakers insisted that

he was not recognised by the panel .

While the exchange was ongoing,

Enang rushed to where the panelists

were seated and approached

Alimikhena , whispering some

information into his ears.

Agreeing to speak for himself, Idris

told members of the panel that he

would not answer any question from

them as the matter was pending in

court.

He said , “ I will not make any oral

comment or answer any question in

respect of the allegations in view of

the various civil and criminal cases

pending in the law courts ; more

especially when the senator has

already been arraigned in court in

respect of this matter.

“ I decided to appear before this Senate

committee on the allegations out of

high respect I have for the Senate and

my respect for the rule of law .

“ Furthermore , it is expected that the

Senate and the committee will refrain

from making references to the issues

as it will be against Order 41 (7 ) and

53 (5 ) of the Senate Standing Orders 2

(15 ) as amended .”

After the IG ’s submission , Izinyon told

the committee that a court order was

obtained on Wednesday morning

directing the Senate President, Bukola

Saraki, and members of the committee

to appear at the FCT High Court on

November 18 , 2017, “ to show cause

and for hearing of the substantive

application. ”

A copy of the court ruling , which was

sighted by our correspondent after the

meeting, granted an “ interim

injunction restraining the

respondents, their agents, privies ,

assigns and whosoever acting through

them from taking further steps in

connection with the subject matter of

the application or maintaining the

status quo or staying all actions

relating to their investigations of the

application pending the determination

of the original application or in the

alternative granting an order for the

Respondents to show cause why the

order should not be made. ”

Izinyon also cited Order 53 (5 ) of the

“ Senate Standing Rules which states

that reference shall not be made to

any matter on which a judicial

decision is pending in such a way as

might , in the opinion of the President

of the Senate, prejudice the interest of

parties thereto. ”

The lawyer urged the panel to adhere

to the Senate rules , saying that a

document had been submitted to the

committee with detailed response to

each of the allegations against Idris .

Izinyon also pointed out that the case

of alleged virement in the 2016 budget

of the Nigeria Police by the IG without

legislative approval was a criminal

matter.

The IG was accused of diverting

N7 .2 bn appropriated for Armoured

Personnel Carriers and rehabilitation

of 102 barracks across the country to

purchase of personal vehicles , among

others.

A member of the committee , Senator

Hope Uzodinma, however, retorted,

asking Izinyon , “ Do you know the

opinion of the Senate President on this

matter?”

The lawmaker added, “ This place is

not a law court ; this is a parliament ,

and you will be doing us a favour if

you toe the line for a quick resolution

of the contending issues. The IG is in

charge of peace and security .

Assuming a warrant was issued for his

arrest, he has the statutory role of

effecting it by bringing himself here .

“ If the IG has come , he should allow

the committee to do its work. If he is

not inclined to speak because of the

legal implications, he can so submit

and we will get back to him .”

Several members of the committee

who spoke agreed that the

investigative hearing be adjourned to

allow them to study the submissions

made by the IG and his lawyer.

Enang , who made a closing remark,

expressed appreciation for “ the warm

reception” and for the move by the

lawmakers to adjourn the hearing .

“ I hope the adjournment is not just to

study the document but also to pursue

a multi - door option on the matter ,” he

said .

Alimikhena thereafter adjoined the

hearing “ sine die .”

Misau had earlier appeared before the

panel , where he made more

allegations against the Police boss

including how Idris gave two Sports

Utility Vehicles to wife of the

President, Aisha Buhari.

Misau had accused the Nigeria Police

and Idris of collecting N120 bn

annually from high- profile persons

and corporate organisations for

security services among other

corruption allegations .

NIGERIAN OPINION POLLS: JUMIA black Friday.

NIGERIAN OPINION POLLS: JUMIA black Friday.: Your comment matters JUMIA black Friday starts on 13 Nov at 80% discount for every product you buy.

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Overview of the New budget.

2018 BUDGET SPEECH: BUDGET OF CONSOLIDATION



Delivered by:



His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari

President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

At the Joint Session of the National Assembly, Abuja

 Tuesday, 7TH of November 2017

PROTOCOLS

1.            I am here to present 2018 Budget Proposals. Before presenting the Budget, let me thank all of you Distinguished and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, and indeed all Nigerians, for your support and prayers for my full recovery while I was on medical vacation.

2.            I am very pleased to address this Joint Session of the National Assembly, on the revenue and expenditure estimates, and related matters, of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the 2018 fiscal year.

3.            The 2018 Budget will consolidate on the achievements of previous budgets and deliver on Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2018 – 2020.

OVERVIEW OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN 2017

4.            2017, so far, has been a year of uncertainty on many fronts across the world. Whether it is Brexit, the crisis in the Korean Peninsular, or indeed, the political uncertainty in key oil producing nations of the Middle East and South America, we can all agree that these developments have in one way or another impacted Nigeria’s economic fortunes.

5.            By all accounts, 2018 is expected to be a year of better outcomes. The tepid economic recovery is expected to pick up pace and the global political terrain is expected to stabilize. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is anticipating global GDP growth of 3.7 percent in 2018. Emerging markets and developing economies are expected to lead with GDP growth of 4.9 percent, while advanced economies are projected to grow at a slower rate of 2 percent.

6.            Nigeria’s journey out of the recent recession was a revealing one. We heard many opinions from within and outside Nigeria on how best to address our economic woes. We listened carefully and studied these proposals diligently. Our belief has always been that the quickest and easiest solution may not necessarily be the best solution for a nation as diverse as ours. We took our time to create a balanced and equitable response, keeping in mind that only tailored Nigerian solutions can fix Nigeria’s unique problems.

7.            And from the recovery that we are seeing today, it is clear that we made the right decisions. Distinguished and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, I am now asking you to continue to support our economic policies in order to consolidate and sustain on the success achieved so far. We simply cannot go back.

8.            In the non-oil sector, crop production has been one of the main contributors to non-oil growth, which rose to 0.45 percent in the second quarter of this year. This was primarily driven by our ongoing financial, capacity building and infrastructure development programs.

9.            The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, working with development partners and the private sector, have embarked on numerous capacity building projects. We have also completed over 33,000 Hectares of Irrigation Projects that have increased water availability in key food producing states. We shall continue to intensify our interventions through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative to ensure that this momentum is sustained. We have also made provisions in the 2018 Budget to complete ongoing Irrigation Projects at Ada, in Enugu State; Lower Anambra, in Anambra State; and Gari, in Jigawa State. In 2017, many factories and projects in the food and agricultural sectors were commissioned in Kebbi, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Anambra, Edo, Jigawa, Rivers, Niger, Ogun and Ebonyi States, to mention a few. This is a clear statement that our economic diversification and inclusive growth ambitions are coming to fruition.

10.         Significant progress has also been made in the Solid Minerals development sector. In Ondo State, for instance, work is ongoing to fully exploit the bitumen resources to meet the 600,000 MTs of asphalt imported per annum for roads and other construction projects. To consolidate on these efforts, we have also established a 30 billion Naira Solid Minerals Development Fund to support other minerals exploration activities across the country.

11.         In the oil and gas sector, the relatively higher crude oil prices supported our economic recovery. Our mutually beneficial engagement with oil producing communities in the Niger Delta contributed immensely to the recovery in oil production experienced in recent months. We would like to thank the leadership and communities in the Niger-Delta for their continued support and to also reiterate our assurances that this Administration will continue to honour our commitments to them. We cannot afford to go back to those dark days of insecurity and vandalism. We all want a country that is safe, stable and secure for our families and communities. This means we must all come together to address any grievances through dialogue and peaceful engagement. Threats, intimidation or violence are never the answer.

12.         We are working hard on the Ogoni Clean-up Project. During the year, we engaged 8 international and local companies proposing different technologies for the mandate. To enable us select the best and most suitable technology for the remediation work, we asked each company to conduct Demonstration Clean-up Exercises in the 4 Local Government Areas of Ogoni Land. These Demonstrations were recently concluded and the results are being studied by the Governing Council of the Ogoni Clean-up Project. Although the Project will be funded by the International Oil Companies, we have made provisions in the 2018 Budget for the costs of oversight and governance, to ensure effective implementation.

13.         On the international front, I would like to thank our friends and partners in the Joint OPEC / Non-OPEC Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) who graciously granted Nigeria an exemption from the output cuts imposed on OPEC Member Countries in January 2017. This exemption, which was extended in September 2017, significantly helped during our most challenging time. We shall continue our positive engagement with other oil producing nations to ensure that the momentum generated is sustained.

14.         Permit me, Mr. Senate President and Right Honourable Speaker, to state that despite the downturn in oil prices and our challenging economic circumstances, this Administration was able to invest an unprecedented sum of over 1.2 trillion Naira in capital projects through the 2016 Budget. This is the highest ever in the history of this country. This is a clear demonstration of our commitment to consolidate on our economic diversification reforms and lay a stronger foundation for future growth and development.

15.         Our Sovereign Wealth Fund, which was established in 2011 with US$1 billion, did not receive additional investment for 4 years when oil prices were as high as US$120 per barrel. However, despite record low oil prices, this Administration was able to invest an additional US$500 million into the Fund. This further demonstrates that in our struggle to have a stable and secure nation today, we have not, and will not, lose sight of the need to lay a solid foundation for the future prosperity of successive generations.

16.         We have asked the Sovereign Wealth Fund to look inward and invest locally. Some of the successes we are seeing today in the agricultural sector are driven by this new investment approach by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). The NSIA also has a very strong pipeline of local investments that will support our inclusive and diversified economic growth plan.

17.              Stability has been restored to the foreign exchange market due to the interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria to improve access to liquidity, discourage currency speculation and increase net foreign exchange inflows. As at the 30th of October, 2017, our external reserves had increased to US$34bn. This stability has supported our efforts to provide the enabling environment and interventions needed to empower Micro, Small and Medium-Sized enterprises, investors, manufacturers and exporters, to sustain and in some cases, grow their operations. Indeed, by the second quarter of 2017, exports significantly outpaced imports, resulting in a trade surplus of 506.5 billion Naira.

Ease of Doing Business Reforms

18.         One of the targets we set for gauging our progress in creating an enabling environment for business was to achieve a positive movement in the World Ease of Doing Business Index. You would recall Nigeria experienced a decade-long decline in this ranking. In 2008, Nigeria was ranked 120th. By 2015, our situation had deteriorated to 169th of the 189 countries surveyed. Our very simple, logical and user-friendly reforms are reversing this trend. A recently released World Bank business ranking report announced that Nigeria had moved 24 places to 145th position in 2017. I am delighted that we have met and even surpassed our target of moving at least 20 paces up this global ranking. The same World Bank report also stated that Nigeria is among the top 10 reforming countries in the world.

19.         To ensure these reforms are institutionalized, Executive Order Number #1 on the Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment was issued in May 2017. The Order contained measures that ease the process of business registration, approval of permits, granting visas and streamlining port operations. We are committed to continuing and accelerating the Ease of Doing Business reforms, which are critical to attracting new investments, growing the economy and creating jobs for our people.



Improved Tax Administration

20.         Although the economy is diversified with non-oil Sector accounting for over 90 percent of total Nominal GDP, the Government’s revenues are not as diversified yet. Our Tax-to-GDP ratio of about 6% is one of the lowest in the world. This situation is not consistent with our goal of having a diversified, sustainable and inclusive economy. Accordingly, we are stepping up efforts to ensure all taxable Nigerians comply with the legal requirement to declare income from all sources and remit taxes due to the appropriate authorities.

21.         Already, we have introduced the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) on the 1st of July, 2017. The Scheme provides non-compliant taxpayers with a nine-month window to regularise their tax status relating to historical periods. In return, overdue interest and penalties will be forgiven. In addition, no investigations or criminal charges will be brought against participating taxpayers. We expect that this Scheme will widen the tax net for both the Federal and State Governments. I am therefore, asking all Nigerians to seize this opportunity and do right thing. Let us not shy away from our duty to build a better Nigeria.

Optimising Efficiency in Expenditure

22.         In 2016 this Administration adopted a policy of allocating at least 30 percent of our annual budget to capital expenditure. This was entrenched in the ERGP to unlock further growth in the economy. This tradition was maintained in the 2017 Budget and has been reflected in the proposal for 2018, in which 30.8 percent of total expenditure has been set aside for the capital vote.

23.              To support these efforts, you would recall that an Efficiency Unit was set up under the Federal Ministry of Finance to reduce wastage, plug leakages and foster greater fiscal transparency. We have intensified the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) across government MDAs to automate personnel records and salaries’ payment process, with the goal of eliminating ghost workers. 461 Federal MDAs have been captured on the system, so far. Our target is to enroll all MDAs. I have directed the military and other security agencies to ensure total compliance without further delay.





Increased Investment in Infrastructure

24.         Mr. Senate President, and the Right Honourable Speaker, we shall continue to develop our infrastructure across the country. Although a lot of progress has been made, the huge contractor liabilities we inherited have adversely impacted our infrastructure development timetable. Indeed, contractors were owed trillions of Naira when this Administration came into office. In some areas, we have made payments so projects may be completed; while in others, we are reconciling the liabilities to identify and settle legitimate claims. As a responsible and accountable Administration, we decided that clearing this backlog was an important priority.

25.         For instance, at the outset of this Administration in 2015, the Abuja Metro-Rail Project, which began in 2007 was only 50% completed, after 8 years. Today, in just 18 months, we have pushed the project to 98% completion. This was achieved as the Nigerian Government was diligently able to meet its counterpart funding obligations for the Chinese loans.

26.         We have also continued work on key strategic Roads. Over 766 kilometres of roads were constructed or rehabilitated across the country in 2017. For instance, work is at various stages of completion on these strategic roads with immense socio-economic benefits:

a.   Rehabilitation of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Road;

b.  Dualization of Oyo-Ogbomosho-Ilorin Road;

c.   Rehabilitation of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road;

d.  Dualization of Kano-Maiduguri Road;

e.   Rehabilitation of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega Road and Kotangora-Makera Road that transverse Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger States;

f.    Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Enugu-Port-Harcourt Road;

g.  Rehabilitation of Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway Road;

h.  Rehabilitation of Aleshi-Ugep Road and the Iyamoyun-Ugep Section in Cross River State;

i.     Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Expansion of Lagos-Ibadan Dual Carriageway Road;

j.    Construction of Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States; and

k.   Construction Gokanni Bridge along Tegina-Mokwa-Jebba Road in Niger State.

27.         Under the Federal Roads Development Programme, we recently completed a Data Collection Exercise on the 7,000km Federal Road Network which was funded by the World Bank. This information is enabling us to make informed decisions regarding the planning, budgeting and management of the Federal Road Network. Going forward, we will be working based on facts rather than subjectivity.

28.         Furthermore, we have also invested a lot of time and effort in identifying alternative means of funding new projects. For example, the recent 100 billion Naira Sukuk Financing will cater specifically for the development of 25 roads across the country. We also developed different structures that empower private investors to contribute to the development of roads of significant national importance. Already, we are seeing results. For example:

a.    The Bonny-Bodo Road is being jointly funded by the Federal Government and Nigeria LNG Limited. This project was conceived decades ago but it was abandoned. This Administration restarted the project and when completed, it will enable road transportation access for key communities in the Niger- Delta region; and

b.    The Apapa Wharf-Toll Gate Road in Lagos State is also being constructed by private sector investors in exchange for tax credits.

29.         Distinguished Members of the National Assembly, our Power Sector Reforms still remain a work in progress. Although we have increased generation capacity significantly, we still have challenges with the Transmission and Distribution Networks. That said, I am pleased to announce that since 2015, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Niger-Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) have added 1,950 MVA of 330-132kV transformer capacity at 10 Transmission stations, as well as 2,930 MVA of 132-33kV transformer capacity to 42 substations nationwide. With these additions, the Transmission Network today can handle up to 7,000 Mega Watts (MW).

30.         The key bottleneck now is the Distribution Network where the substations cannot take more than 5,000 MW. This is constraining power delivery to consumers. We are working with the privatized Distribution Companies to see how to overcome this challenge. Nigerians should be rest assured that this Administration is doing all it can to alleviate the embarrassing power situation in this country.

31.         Furthermore, to sustain the continued expansion of generation capacity and enhance evacuation, we approved a Payment Assurance Guarantee Scheme which enabled the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) to raise 701 billion Naira. This assures the Generation Companies of up to 80% payment on their invoices. This intervention has brought confidence back into the sector and we expect additional investment to flow through, particularly in the gas production sector.

32.         Distinguished Members of the National Assembly, this Administration is committed to the development of Green Alternative Energy Sources. To date, we have signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) with 14 solar companies. We also approved:

a.    The completion of the 10 MW Wind Farm in Katsina State, a project that was abandoned since 2012; and

b.    The concession of 6 small hydro-electric power plants with a total capacity of 50 MW.

33.         To enable the successful take-off of these, and future Green Projects, I am pleased to inform this Distinguished Assembly that the Federal Government will be launching the first African Sovereign Green Bond in December 2017. The bond will be used to finance renewable energy projects. We are very excited about this development as it will go a long way in solving many of our energy challenges, especially in the hinterland.

34.         On Rail, we recently received 2 additional locomotives and 10 standard gauge coaches for the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line. These will be deployed for the new non-stop express service between the two cities that will only take one hour and fifteen minutes. This new service will complement the existing service currently in place. We plan to commission this by December 2017.

35.         We have also kick-started the abandoned Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Line. This project has been on for over 17 years. We had to take some drastic measures but I am pleased to announce that work is ongoing and we expect to commission this service by September 2018. This service will start with 7 standard gauge coaches.

36.         The situation at the Apapa port complex is a top priority for this Administration. The delays due to congestion and their adverse impact on business operations and costs is a key concern to our Government. As I mentioned earlier, we are partnering with the private sector to fix the road. We shall do the right thing considering. We will not cut corners.

37.         In addition to the road, we have also commenced the extension of the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail Line to connect Apapa and Tin Can Port Complexes. This project will significantly ease the congestion at the ports and enhance both export and import operations. This project shall be completed by December 2018. Already, working with the private sector, we have repaired the Apapa Port Narrow Gauge Line which is currently being used to evacuate goods from the port, thereby easing congestion.

38.         As we all know, sometimes doing the right thing takes time and requires sacrifices. I am therefore appealing to all stakeholders to work with us in ensuring we deliver a solution that we will all be proud of.

39.         Certainly, the infrastructure requirement to reposition Nigeria for the future is huge and our resources are limited. Government, therefore, will pursue private partnerships to maximise available capital and developmental impact. In the next fiscal year, we will also establish 7 tertiary health institutions across the country through partnership with our Sovereign Wealth Fund and other private sector investors.

Agricultural Development

40.         The agricultural sector played a crucial role in Nigeria’s exit from recession. Today, it remains the largest employer of labour and holds significant potential to realise our vision of repositioning Nigeria as a food secured nation.

41.         We will consolidate on existing policies and develop new ones to ensure the numerous value chain challenges in the agricultural sector are addressed. As I mentioned earlier, several investors have deployed significant capital in the production and processing of rice, sugar, maize, soya, cassava, yams, tomato, oil palm, rubber and poultry, to mention a few. We are also seeing increased investment in the agro-inputs manufacturing sector such as fertilisers.

42.         We are determined to protect these investments and encourage more. Food Security is an important aspect of this Administration’s National Security agenda. Any person involved in smuggling of food items is a threat to our National Security and will therefore be dealt with accordingly. A Committee chaired by the Vice President is working on this matter. A key part of their work will be the reactivation of the Badagry Agreement signed between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin in 2003. This agreement, which was abandoned by previous Administrations, established a mutually beneficial framework for the two neighbours and allies to partner in tackling smuggling and other cross border crimes. I would like to assure investors in the agricultural value chain that the menace of smuggling will be handled decisively.

43.         To further support investors and State Governments, we will accelerate the establishment of at least 6 Staple Crop Processing Zones, in the first phase. This initiative will develop infrastructure for the production, processing and storage of strategic commodities. The focus is on backward integration for grains, horticulture, livestock, fisheries and sugar; as well as exportable commodities such as cocoa, cassava and oil palms.





Health Sector Developments

44.         During 2017, the country had a number of disease outbreaks such as Meningitis, Yellow Fever, Monkey Pox and Lassa Fever. I would like to commend the Federal and State Ministries of Health for their selfless service and timely responses to contain these outbreaks. I would also like to thank the World Health Organisation, the Global Fund and UNICEF, for their continued support during these trying times. This collaboration was a key factor in the low mortality rates experienced. To further improve our response to such outbreaks, we are working to upgrade our Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System. This will further enhance the efficiency of our diagnostic and clinical management processes.

45.         In this respect, I urge this Distinguished House to expedite the passage of the Bill for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to enable us consolidate on the successes recorded to date.

Implementing the Social Investment Program

46.         I am pleased to inform you that we have recorded tremendous success in the implementation of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Program. Specifically,

a.    Over 4.5 million Primary 1 to Primary 3 pupils in public schools are being fed under the School Feeding programme;

b.    Over 200,000 unemployed graduates have been employed under the N-Power Scheme in education, health and agricultural sectors;

c.    Over 250,000 enterprises have benefitted from the sum of 12.5 billion Naira, which has been disbursed to entrepreneurs to expand their businesses; and

d.    Over 110,000 households are currently benefitting from the Conditional Cash Transfer programme across the country.

PERFORMANCE OF THE 2017 BUDGET

47.         The 2017 Budget of Recovery and Growth was based on a benchmark oil price of US$44.5 per barrel, oil production of 2.2 million barrels per day, and a Naira-to-US Dollar Exchange Rate of 305. Based on these assumptions, total revenue of 5.084 trillion Naira was projected to fund aggregate expenditure of 7.441 trillion Naira. A projected fiscal deficit of 2.356 trillion Naira was to be financed mainly by domestic and external borrowing.

48.         On revenue performance, collections were 14 percent below target as of September 2017, mainly due to the shortfall in non-oil revenues.

49.         A key revenue shortfall was from Independent Revenues; only 155.14 billion Naira was remitted by September 2017 as against the projected pro-rated sum of 605.87 billion Naira. This represents a 74 percent shortfall, which is very disappointing.

50.         This recurring issue of under-remittance of operating surpluses by State Owned Entities is absolutely unacceptable. You will all recall that in September 2017, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced that they were ready to remit 7.8 billion Naira back to the Government. The shocking discovery was that in the last decades, JAMB only remitted an aggregate of 51 million Naira. This clearly illustrates the abuses that occur in State Owned Entities as well as their potential for increased Independent Revenues, if only people would do the right thing. We all need to play our role to ensure the right thing is done. I would also like to remind Nigerians that the Whistle Blower lines are still open.

51.         Accordingly, I have directed the Economic Management Team (EMT) to review the fiscal profiles of these agencies, to ensure strict compliance with the applicable Executive Orders and Financial Regulations. There may be a need to consider a review of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Executive will be approaching the National Assembly on this issue in due course.

52.         On the expenditure side, a total of 450 billion Naira of the capital vote had been released as at the end of October 2017. With your support for our funding plan, our target is to release up to 50% of the capital vote for MDAs by the year’s end.  We have prioritised payments of our counterpart obligations on our concessionary loans, as well as funding of critical infrastructure and other projects with socio-economic benefits. Furthermore, MDAs have made provisions to carry over to the 2018 Budget, capital projects that are not likely to be fully funded by year-end 2017, to ensure project continuity.

53.         Regrettably, the late passage of the 2017 Budget has significantly constrained budget implementation. As you are aware, the 1999 Constitution authorized necessary Federal Government expenditures prior to the 12th of June, 2017 when the 2017 Appropriation Act was signed into law. This year, we have worked very hard to achieve an earlier submission of the Medium-term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP), and the 2018 Appropriation Bill. Our efforts were to avail the National Assembly with sufficient time to perform its important duty of passing the Appropriation Bill into law, hopefully by the 1st of January, 2018. It is in this spirit that I solicit the cooperation of the Legislature in our efforts to return to a more predictable budget cycle that runs from January to December.

PRIORITIES FOR THE 2018 BUDGET OF CONSOLIDATION

54.         The 2018 Budget Proposals are for a Budget of Consolidation. Our principal objective will be to reinforce and build on our recent accomplishments. Specifically, we will sustain the reflationary policies of our past two budgets. In this regard, the key parameters and assumptions for the 2018 Budget are as set out in the 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP). These include:

a.    Benchmark oil price benchmark of US$45 per barrel;

b.    Oil production estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day, including condensates;

c.    Exchange rate of N305/US$ for 2018;

d.    Real GDP growth of 3.5 percent; and

e.    Inflation Rate of 12.4 percent.

 Federally-Collectible Revenue Estimates

55.         Based on the above fiscal assumptions and parameters, total federally-collectible revenue is estimated at 11.983 trillion Naira in 2018. Thus, the three tiers of Government shall receive about 12 percent more revenues in 2018 than the 2017 estimate. Of the amount, the sum of 6.387 trillion Naira is expected to be realised from oil and gas sources. Total receipts from the non-oil sector are projected at 5.597 trillion Naira.

Federal Government Revenue Estimates

56.         The Federal Government’s estimated total revenue is 6.607 trillion Naira in 2018, which is about 30 percent more than the 2017 target. As we pursue our goal of revenue diversification, non-oil revenues will become a larger share of total revenues. In 2018, we project oil revenues of 2.442 trillion Naira, and non-oil as well as other revenues of 4.165 trillion Naira.

57.         Non-oil and other revenue sources of 4.165 trillion Naira, include several items including: Share of Companies Income Tax (CIT) of 794.7 billion Naira, share of Value Added Tax (VAT) of 207.9 billion Naira, Customs & Excise Receipts of 324.9 billion Naira, FGN Independently Generated Revenues (IGR) of 847.9 billion Naira, FGN's Share of Tax Amnesty Income of 87.8 billion Naira, and various recoveries of 512.4 billion Naira, 710 billion Naira as proceeds from the restructuring of government’s equity in Joint Ventures and other sundry incomes of 678.4 billion Naira.

Proposed Expenditure for 2018

58.         A total expenditure of 8.612 trillion Naira is proposed for 2018. This is a nominal increase of 16 percent above the 2017 Budget estimate. In keeping with our policy, 30.8 percent (or 2.652 trillion Naira) of aggregate expenditure (inclusive of capital in Statutory Transfers) has been allocated to the capital budget.

59.         We expect our fiscal operations to result in a deficit of 2.005 trillion Naira or 1.77 percent of GDP. This reduction is in line with our plans under the ERGP to progressively reduce deficit and borrowings.

60.         We plan to finance the deficit partly by new borrowings estimated at 1.699 trillion Naira. Fifty percent of this borrowing will be sourced externally, whilst the balance will be sourced domestically. The balance of the deficit of 306 billion Naira is to be financed from proceeds of privatisation of some non-oil assets by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

61.         The proposed 8.612 trillion Naira of 2018 Aggregate Expenditure comprises:

a.    Recurrent Costs of N3.494 trillion;
b.    Debt Service of N2.014 trillion;
c.    Statutory Transfers of about N456 billion;
d.    Sinking Fund of N220 billion (to retire maturing bond to Local Contractors);
e.    Capital Expenditure of N2.428 trillion (excluding the capital component of Statutory Transfers).
Statutory Transfers

62.         456.46 billion Naira was provided in the 2018 Budget for Statutory Transfers. The 5 percent increase over last year’s provision is mainly due to increases in transfer to Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), which are related directly to the size of oil revenue.





Debt Restructuring

63.         We are closely monitoring our debt service to revenue ratio. We shall address this ratio through our non-oil revenue-generation drive and restructuring of the existing debt portfolio. Presently, domestic debt accounts for about 79 percent of the total debt. Our medium-term strategy is to reduce the proportion of our domestic debt to 60% by the end of 2019 and increase external debt to 40 percent. It is noteworthy that rebalancing our debt portfolio will enhance private sector access to domestic credit.  In addition, annual debt service costs will reduce as external debts are serviced at lower rates and repaid over a longer period than domestic debt.

Recurrent Expenditure

64.         A substantial part of the recurrent cost proposal for 2018 is for the payment of salaries and overheads in key Ministries providing critical public services such as:

a.    N510.87 billion for Interior;

b.    N435.01 billion for Education;

c.    N422.43 billion for Defence; and

d.    N269.34 billion for Health.

The allocation to these Ministries represent significant increases over votes in previous budgets.

Personnel Costs

65.         Personnel costs is projected to rise by 12 percent in 2018. Although we have made substantial savings by registering MDAs on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform, the increase is mainly due to provision for staff promotion arrears, and recruitments by the Military, Police Force and para-military agencies. Furthermore, I have directed agencies are not to embark on any fresh recruitment unless they have obtained all the requisite approvals. Any breach of this directive will be severely sanctioned.

Overhead Costs

66.         Overhead costs is projected to rise by 26 billion Naira in 2018, a modest increase of about 12 percent reflecting inflationary adjustments. MDAs are required to adhere to government regulations regarding cost control.







Capital Expenditure

67.              To consolidate on the momentum of the 2017 Budget’s implementation, many ongoing capital projects have been provided for in the 2018 Budget. This is in line with our commitment to appropriately fund ongoing capital projects to completion. By allocating 30.8 percent of the 2018 Budget to capital expenditure, the Federal Government is also demonstrating its strong commitment to investing in critical infrastructure capable of spurring growth and creating jobs in the Nigerian economy.

68.         Key capital spending allocations in the 2018 Budget include:

a.    Power, Works and Housing: N555.88 billion;

b.    Transportation: N263.10 billion;

c.    Special Intervention Programmes: N150.00 billion;

d.    Defence: N145.00 billion;

e.    Agriculture and Rural Development N118.98 billion;

f.     Water Resources: N95.11 billion;

g.    Industry, Trade and Investment: N82.92 billion;

h.    Interior: N63.26 billion;

i.     Education N61.73 billion;

j.     Universal Basic Education Commission: N109.06 billion;

k.    Health: N71.11 billion;

l.     Federal Capital Territory: N40.30 billion;

m.  Zonal Intervention Projects N100.00 billion;

n.    North East Intervention Fund N45.00 billion;

o.    Niger Delta Ministry: N53.89 billion; and

p.    Niger Delta Development Commission: N71.20 billion.

69.         As I had previously indicated, we aim to consolidate on our achievements in 2017. We shall meet our counterpart funding obligations. We shall complete all ongoing projects. And we shall carry forward all strategic projects that were budgeted for but which we were unable to kick start due to liquidity challenges, late passage of the budget, prolonged contractual negotiations, and other matters.

70.         Specifically, I would like to bring your attention to the following key projects and programmes that we are determined to implement in 2018:

a.    N9.8 billion for the Mambilla hydro power project, including N8.5 billion as counterpart funding;

b.    N12 billion counterpart funding for earmarked transmission lines and substations;

c.    N35.41 billion for the National Housing Programme;

d.    N10.00 billion for the 2nd Niger Bridge; and

e.    About  N300 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of the strategic roads mentioned earlier.

Consolidating on the Social Intervention Programme

71.         This Administration remains committed to pursuing a gender-sensitive, pro-poor and inclusive growth. We are keenly interested in catering for the most vulnerable. Accordingly, we have retained the 500 billion Naira allocation to the Social Intervention Programme. Under the programme, 100 billion Naira has been set aside for the Social Housing Programme.

72.         Government will also continue to implement the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme, as well as the National Home-Grown School Feeding programme in 2018. These initiatives are already creating jobs and economic opportunity for local farmers and cooks, providing funding to artisans, traders and youths, as well as supporting small businesses with business education and mentoring.



Regional Spending Priorities for Peace, Security and Development

73.         To maintain peace and security in the Niger Delta for economic and social activities to thrive, the provision of 65 billion Naira for the Presidential Amnesty Programme has been retained in the 2018 Budget. In addition, the capital provision for the Ministry of Niger Delta has been increased to 53.89 billion Naira from the 34.20 billion Naira provided in 2017. This is to further support the development in the region. We will complete all critical projects, including the East-West Road, which has a provision of about 17.32 billion Naira in 2018.

74.         Across the nation, and particularly in the North East region, our commitment to the security of life and property remains absolute. We will ensure that our gallant men and women in arms are properly equipped and well-motivated. The result of our efforts is evident in the gradual return to normalcy in the North East. It is in this spirit that I recently assented to the North-East Development Commission Bill that was passed by this Distinguished House. We expect that this development will consolidate on our ongoing efforts to combat insurgency, reintegrate Internally Displaced Persons and rebuild communities in the North East Region, which have been adversely affected by the insurgency.

75.         Similar attention is being given to efforts to reduce violent crime across the country. The Nigerian Army was recently deployed to combat the growing scourges of cattle rustling and banditry that have plagued our communities in Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara States. We will also continue to arrest the incidence of Armed Robbery, Kidnapping and other Violent Crimes across our nation.

76.         We have also increased our focus on cyber-crimes and the abuse of technology through hate speech and other divisive material that is being propagated on social media. Whilst we uphold the Constitutional rights of our people to freedom of expression and association, where the purported exercise of these rights infringes on the liberties of other citizens or threatens to undermine our National Security, we will take firm and decisive action.

77.         In this regard, I reiterate my call for Nigerians to exercise restraint, tolerance and mutual respect in airing any grievances and frustrations. Whilst the ongoing national discourse on various political issues is healthy and welcome, we must not forget the lessons of our past. I trust that the vast majority of our people would rather tread the path of peace and prosperity, as we continue to uphold and cherish our Unity in Diversity.

CONCLUSION

78.              Distinguished and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, you will recall that in my 2017 Budget Speech, I promised a new era for Nigeria and an end to the old ways of overdependence on oil revenues. The statistics and initiatives I mentioned clearly show that this new era has come and the old Nigeria is surely disappearing. We must, therefore, all work together to protect and sustain this CHANGE to create a new Nigeria:

a.      A Nigeria that feeds itself;

b.      A Nigeria that optimally utilizes its resources;

c.       A Nigeria with a diversified, sustainable and inclusive economy.

79.         Mr. Senate President, Mr. Speaker, Distinguished and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, this speech would be incomplete without commending the immense, patriotic and collaborative support of the National Assembly in the effort to move our great nation forward. I wish to assure you of the strong commitment of the Executive branch to deepen the relationship with the Legislature.

80.         Nigeria is currently emerging from a very difficult economic period. If we all cooperate, and support one another, we can consolidate on our exit from the recession and firmly position Nigeria for economic prosperity. All the projects presented within this Budget have been carefully selected and subjected to extensive consultations and stakeholder engagements. As a Government, we are determined to bring succour to our people, improve their lives, and deliver on our promises to them. 2018 is a crucial year as we strive to ensure that we consolidate our successes and institutionalize the policies and practices that drove this turnaround.

81.         I appeal to you to swiftly consider and pass the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

82.         It is therefore with great pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility, that I lay before this Distinguished Joint Session of the National Assembly, the 2018 Budget Proposals of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

83.         I thank you most sincerely for your attention.

84.         May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

...

WE NIGERIANS

Over the course of time, As Nigerians, we've ignored the fact that "WE THE PEOPLE" are actually at the top of the food chain as far as authority is concerned in this Nation.
The APCs don't run our country. The P.D.Ps don't run our country. WE DO! (Nigerians Do). However, by dividing and engaging in political squabbles, we have allowed the government to grow so large and powerful, that it has now become the boss, progressively taking charge of all our lives. It has reached the size where it is incredibly dangerous for one half of the dividers to take control, since they can then wreak havoc on the lives of those who oppose them.

Permit me to ask;
Are we just gonna sit down, fold  our arms, cross our legs and watch the APCs, PDPs, ADPs e.t.c continue to rain havoc and send us to our early graves?

Ignorance, whether it takes the form of revisionism or laziness is hurting our nation.
If we don't have enough basic information to manage our lives, we will continue to give up our freedoms to those who promised to take care of us. It is time for us to stand up and educate ourselves and our children before we allow misinformation and ignorance to destroy our beautiful and fragile Home Nigeria.

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Live updates: President Buhari presents N8.6b budget of consolidation for 2018, makes special promises Updated: 31 minutes ago Author: Eromosele Ebhomele Views: 64576 Category: Local news FACEBOOK EMAIL WHATSAPP President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with a joint session of the National Assembly for the presentation of the 2018 budget, a constitutional requirement in Nigeria. Ahead of the president’s arrival, the House of Representatives is reportedly engaged in a closed-door session The meeting of the lawmakers followed an earlier secret session held by members of the Senate and presided over by Bukola Saraki with issues including the planned scuttling of the budget presentation dominating discussion, according to Daily Sun. Buhari is expected to present the budget by 2pm Reports say some members of the House of Representatives are not happy with the executive arm of government over the alleged non-release of funds for their constituency projects. Buhari’s letter informing the House of his intention to present the budget had earlier resulted in a rowdy session when it was read at plenary. 3.49pm: The joint session recites the national anthem to signify the close of the event. 3.46pm: Hon Garba Mohammed gives closing Muslim prayers while Senator Barnabas Gemade presents the Christian closing prayer. READ ALSO: Buhari’s letter on 2018 budget estimates causes protest in House of Reps 3.44: Dogara thanks Buhari for moving Nigeria out of recession. He, however, laments that despite this status, many of the citizens still live in poverty which must be tackled. 3.41pm: Dogara pleads with the executive arm of government to run the government carrying along the legislators in the scheme of things. 3.35pm: Speaker Yakubu Dogara gives votes of thanks. He thank president Buhari for the way he is handling the economy of the country. He says it is unprecented to have Boss Mustapha, the new SGF visit the leadership of the National Assembly. 3.33pm: Buhari is hailed as he hands the budget over to the leadership of the joint session. 3.31pm: Buhari finally lays the budget of N8.6 trillion to the joint session. The budget is projected at an oil price of $45 per barrel and an estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day. He adds that the budget is further projected on an exchange rate of N305 to $1, a real Gross Domestic Growth of 3.5 per cent and inflation rate of 12.4 per cent. 3.25pm: The Niger Delta Amnesty programme is sustained in the 2018 budget as President Buhari says all projects in the region would be completed. He says attention is being given to the northeast ravaged by insurgency as well as other areas where cattle rustlers operate. 3.23pm: "We are truly interested in catering for the vulnerable," Buhari says, adding that the government would continue with the school feeding programme as it creates jobs and supports small business. He christens the 2018 budget the 'Budget of Consolidation'. READ ALSO: Business operations at National Assembly shut down ahead of Buhari's 2018 budget presentation 3.18pm: Buhari says overhead cost is projected at 12 percent increase from the previous. He says with this, the government is investing in critical infrastructure to create jobs. Power, Works and Housing will get N55.8 billion. Education gets N61.7 billion. Niger Delta gets N71.2 billion. "We shall complete all ongoing projects." 3.13pm: Part of the 2018 budget is to be financed through privatisation of non- oil government assets. Oil revenue for 2018 projected at N2.442 trillion oil revenue. 3.07pm: Buhari says the 2018 budget is based on the inflation rate of 12.5 percent. N2.22 trillion is projected as revenue from oil in 2018. 3.05pm: Buhari causes mild drama when he says: "I would like to inform Nigerians that the whistle blowers line is till open." He adds that he has given instructions for further actions. 3.02pm: Buhari reviews the 2017 budget and its challenges. The arrival of President @MBuhari at the National Assembly to present 2018 budget estimates before a joint session of the two chambers. 2:33 PM - Nov 7, 2017 4 83 88 Bashir Ahmad

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JUMIA black Friday

Jumia set to sweep Nigerians off their feet with up to 80% discount on Black Friday sales, free flight tickets to Europe, a free car & more giveaways Updated: 17 hours ago Author: Mitchelle Okuku Views: 8416 Category: Local news, Business and Economy FACEBOOK EMAIL WHATSAPP Jumia Nigeria announces its biggest black friday sales event ever - the 2017 Jumia Black Friday Festival, featuring 1 million deals, a lottery giveaway that includes a brand new car and roundtrip airline tickets to Europe over the course of 31 days. The much anticipated event will run from Monday, November 13th until December 13th. To ensure that Jumia brings its customers the best deals and widest assortment, the e-commerce giant has partnered with top brands including Intel, Pampers, Infinix, Phillips, Fero, HP, MTN, Coscharis and Air France-KLM. For the first time ever, Jumia has also teamed up with music entertainment company, TRACE Naija to host a MAD (Music and Deals) fest on Saturday, November 18th. The exclusive 2-in-1 concert and shopping event will feature Nigeria's finest artistes including Simi, Falz, Wande Coal, 9ice, Mayorkun, Niniola, Sound Sultan, Skales, Lil Kesh, Pencil, Jimmie DJ Consequence, DJ Cuppy, Nedu to thrill attendees to exclusive app flash sales and lots of exciting giveaways including a 500,000 naira shopping voucher! CEO of Jumia Nigeria, Mrs. Juliet Anammah explained that this year’s Jumia Black Friday is designed to bring customers exceptional value. “We’re always looking to push the envelope for online shoppers and this year we’re bringing an even bigger dimension with exclusive app-only flash sales, a weekly black friday lottery draw and the first-of- its-kind TRACE and Jumia MAD fest.” Some of this year’s surprise elements include a brand new Ford Figo from Coscharis Nigeria Limited to be awarded to the lucky grand prize winner of the 2017 Jumia Black Friday lottery. Shoppers simply have to shop during the course of the 31 day event to be eligible to win any of the prizes which includes five Air France - KLM return tickets to Europe; 20 discounted Air France - KLM tickets at 35% off and much more. Shoppers can also enjoy a 10% discount off their purchase when they make payment online using an FCMB bank account via Jumia Pay. Back by customer demand, the online Wheel of Fortune will also be churning out free shopping vouchers daily to provide shoppers with additional discounts to shop on jumia.com.ng . Those who download the Jumia app, will gain special access to a special app-only deals sales event and flash sales in addition to instant notifications to snap up the best deals before they sell out. Supporting the CEO’s remarks, the Head of Engagement Marketing, Ojuola Asuquo stated that “For those who have been looking to purchase and stock up on certain items, this is the best time to shop. Jumia has the best prices across different categories, from electronics to baby and kids items, customers will find everything on Jumia this Black Friday and even into the Yuletide season.” [Sponsored] Source: Naija.ng

Illegal crossing of mediterranean sea

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Evelyn Usman & Aliyu Dangida ….Illegal migration not worth it, Dabiri-Erewa warns …Says govt has returned 5,000 Nigerians this year …It’s part of the danger of illegal immigration — NAPTIP LAGOS — No fewer than 26 young Nigerian girls, whose ages range from 14 to 18, were found dead in a Spanish warship as they tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea, last weekend. British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, which disclosed this, yesterday, said Italian prosecutors had commenced investigations into the death of the girls. This came as 50 children were reportedly lost to a strange disease, while 40 others are currently hospitalised in Gidan Dugus village of Wangara district, Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State. According to the report, the girls are believed to have been sexually abused and murdered as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean. Following several rescues, their bodies were discovered in a Spanish warship, Cantabria, also carrying 375 migrants and 23 of the dead girls had been on a rubber boat with 64 other people. Italian media reported that the bodies were being kept in a refrigerated section of the warship and that most of the 375 survivors brought to Salerno were sub-Saharan Africans from Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, The Gambia and Sudan. Among the 375 survivors were 90 women, eight of them pregnant, 52 children and some Libyan men and women on board. The report said people-smuggling gangs charge each migrant about $6,000 (£4,578) to get to Italy, (the equivalent of N2,160,000 at prevailing exchange rates) $4,000 of which is for the trans-Saharan journey to Libya, adding that many migrants have reported violence, including torture and sexual abuse, by the gangs. Five migrants are being questioned in the southern port of Salerno. Efforts to get the reaction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the tragedy, yesterday, proved abortive as officials of the Ministry referred Vanguard to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, who said they would have to get in touch with Rome before reacting. It’s not worth it, Dabiri-Erewa warns However, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Matters, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, bemoaned the reported loss of the 26 Nigerian lives across the Mediterranean Sea at the weekend. Responding to the development, Dabiri-Erewa said the journey had become more risky on account of the use of smaller but more dangerous boats by the traffickers, a situation she said had been exacerbated by the increasing indifference by European authorities to the plight of those on the sea. While appealing for increased awareness on the dangers and the opportunities available at home, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said the present administration had in the last six months, returned close to 5,000 Nigerians under the voluntary repatriation scheme. While noting that she was, however, yet to get an official confirmation on the development, she said: “We are yet to get official reaction on it, but if it is true, it is very, very unfortunate. “We have been saying it for a very long time that these dangerous journeys are not worth it. It is still a problem of ignorance and we have to do more about awareness and now, it is getting more dangerous because the boats being used are smaller, so there is every likelihood of drowning in these smaller boats. “Secondly, the authorities at the other end are not too anxious to save them anymore, so more often than not, they are going to be left to drown. So, in the last six months, this administration has brought down almost 5,000 voluntary returnees, and some of them have gone into productive ventures and have found ways of surviving. Some are even being enrolled in the N-Power programme. “My appeal is that it is not worth risking your life for. Even when you get there, if you succeed, there is no better life there. “So, what we need is more awareness on the dangers of this kind of migration. No matter what, it is not better there and these people pay for the journey, why don’t you use that money to do something better here? “It is tragic but we need to keep emphasising that it is not worth it and it is going to get more dangerous with the use of smaller boats for the journey.” It’s danger of illegal immigration —NAPTIP Also reacting, Public Relations Officer, National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons, NAPTIP, Mr Josiah Emerole, said: “That is part of the danger of illegal migration. We have been preaching that people should travel through normal routes whenever they want to travel. ‘’We believe that if people migrate appropriately, we will not be having such incidences. It is also important to investigate properly to know whether the bodies are even those of Nigerians. Right now, we are not sure of the nationalities of the dead you are talking about. ‘’Our message is that Nigerians should stop illegal movements out of the country. If you want to move outside Nigeria, it is your right but you must do it appropriately by going through the normal routes and with the appropriate documentation.” 50 die from ‘strange illness’ in Jigawa Meanwhile, a strange illness has taken the lives of 50 children, while 40 others were hospitalized in Gidan Dugus village of Wangara district, Dutse Local Government of Jigawa State. Investigations revealed that the children under the age of five, are dying on daily basis as a result of high fever, stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhoea and shortage of blood. A visit to Gidan Dugus village revealed that parents of the deceased children were mourning the death of their loved ones, while those whose children were affected are living in fear due to their worsening health condition. One of the parents who lost his seven children to the strange illness, Haladu Usman, said: “Within 14 days, I lost seven of my children, three males, and four female. The children, aged between three and one and infant, died one after the other, I lost three in a day.” Another parent, Salisu Abdullahi, said he lost four of his children in one week, despite several efforts made to secure medication from nearby clinics. “I was scared by this unknown sickness which consumed the lives of innocent children of this community,” he said. Also speaking, the ward head of Gidan Dugus, Mallam Umar Dashiru, said what had happened was alarming and pathetic, noting that the community now lives in fears and agony of seeing its children die in numbers. He explained that they reported the case to the state government which sent a team of medical personnel to take blood samples of some children for test, adding that results of the test were being awaited. Contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Ali Garba Dandidi, confirmed the incident but faulted the community for not informing the ministry in good time. He said the ministry immediately deployed its personnel to the area with preventive measures as soon as it received reports of the incident in October. Dandidi explained that the ministry received a report of 35 deaths from different households, stressing test of the blood sample collected identified malaria fever as the strange illness. He attributed the incident to failure of the people to patronise health institutions in the area, but rather purchase medicines from patent stores or drug vendors. ADEKUNLE View All Posts By Adekunle → You might also like Recommended By Disclaimer Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof. Report ad Bitcoin's Richest Mom Earns R 2800/hr By Doing This Johannesburg Moms Are Making R 20 000 000 Per Year With This Bitcoin Hack Learn More Sponsored by Bitcoin Sorry, the browser you are using is not currently supported. Disqus actively supports the following browsers: Firefox Chrome Internet Explorer 11+ Safari Afroblacco • 32 minutes ago It is not enough for Abike Dabiri to claim that illegal migration is not worth it! While I agree with her, she also has to acknowledge that her government, the Buhari government is an absolute disaster! On every indices or indicator used to gauge advancement in any society , the Buhari regime has failed miserably! Buhari has not advanced Nigeria one bit , in fact, he has made it worse! Spain Police Speaks On Nigerians Forced Into Prostitution Voodoo rituals, near-drowning in the Mediterranean, abortions: Spanish police recounted Wednesday the harrowing experiences of young Nigerian migrant girls forced into prostitution in places like Benidorm and eventually rescued. January 5, 2017

Sunsets don't get much better than this one over