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No rift between Tinubu, Shettima – Presidency

Published

2 months ago

September 3, 2024

President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima

No rift between Tinubu, Shettima – Presidency

ABUJA-THE Presidency has denied the alleged frosty relationship between President Bola Tinubu and his deputy, Senator Kashim Shettima, describing it as a lie from the pit of hell.

It also said that in the history of Nigeria’s Presidency, no vice president has enjoyed the total confidence and full support of his principal like Shettima.

These among others were contained in a tribute by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, to mark Senator Shettima’s 58th birthday anniversary.

Nkwocha in the tribute, titled “VP Shettima @ 58: A Boss, Mentor And Quintessential Leader”, debunked the insinuations in some quarters that the vice president had been sidelined by Tinubu’s government.

While heaping accolades on the vice president on his leadership qualities and statesmanship, Nkwocha said: “For me, therefore, as the Vice President celebrates his 58th birthday, it is more than celebrating a number.

“It is more for me the opportunity and moment to reflect on his remarkable leadership qualities, which have endeared him to millions of Nigerians, contrary to some mendacious narratives about an imaginary and non-existent marginalisation of the vice president, as well as pockets of tendentious mudslinging and smear campaigns targeted at mischaracterisation and projection of an illusory strife in the presidency.

“Throughout his political career, Senator Shettima has consistently demonstrated the attributes of an effective leader, inspiring hope and progress at every level he has served.
”It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve as a Senior Special Assistant to the President (Office of the Vice President) under him, an experience that has profoundly impacted my life and career.

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“In his four-fold shot at public service positions – commissioner, governor, senator, and now, vice president – Shettima has demonstrated what is possible when a leader prioritises majoritarian principle (greatest good for greatest number) over narrow, pedestal and selfish interests.”

On the alleged no love lost between the President and his deputy, Nkwocha said: “For those peddling ludicrous conspiracy theories of a fictional rift in the presidency which, according to the schemers, has led to Senator Shettima being sidelined and stripped of his roles as Vice President, here is also an opportunity to know the facts.

“In the history of Nigeria’s Presidency, no Vice President has enjoyed the total confidence and full support of his principal like Shettima. In return, his loyalty to his boss, President Tinubu, as attested by well-meaning Nigerians who have been keeping tab with the goings-on in the presidency, is absolute and unalloyed.

“In a political landscape where loyalty is often tested, Vice President Shettima stands out as a beacon of dedication and commitment to his principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His unwavering support and teamwork demonstrate a refreshing shift towards harmonious collaboration, setting a positive tone for their administration.

“VP Shettima’s recent praise for President Tinubu is heartfelt and genuine, describing him as a “good soul” and a leader Nigerians can trust. He has consistently demonstrated his loyalty through his words and actions, showcasing a remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life.

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“Unlike previous presidencies which were mired in protracted public disagreements between vice presidents and their bosses, VP Shettima’s approach is a welcome change. He has proven himself to be a true partner to President Tinubu, working tirelessly to support his initiatives and vision for Nigeria.

“The illogical conspiracy theories of the VP being sidelined peddled in recent days are the direct opposite of what is happening here in Aso Rock. As President Tinubu’s administration continues to take shape, there’s no gainsaying that one key player who has been making waves is Vice President Shettima.”

He said since assuming office, Shettima has brought a unique blend of experience, expertise, and energy to the table in support of the Renewed Hope Administration.

“His background in banking and finance has proven invaluable to his boss in shaping the administration’s economic policies. His advocacy for fiscal discipline, investment in critical infrastructure, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, has helped stimulate economic growth and development.

“Shettima’s commitment to social justice and human development has also led to significant investments in education, healthcare, and social welfare programmes.

”His passion for empowering marginalized communities has helped amplify the administration’s social reform agenda.

“As a proud son of the North East, he has ensured that the region’s concerns and aspirations are represented at the highest level of government. His influence has helped promote regional balance and inclusivity, fostering a sense of belonging among Nigerians from diverse backgrounds,” he said further.”

No rift between Tinubu, Shettima – Presidency

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Saudi Crown Prince assures Tinubu of govt support

Published

22 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Saudi Crown Prince assures Tinubu of govt support

The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has assured Nigeria of support in its economic reform programmes.

The assurance came when the Crown Prince and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met on Monday in Riyadh on the sidelines of the joint Arab-Islamic Summit.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the two leaders explored potential areas for cooperation, particularly oil and gas, agriculture, infrastructure and the constitution of the Saudi-Nigeria Business Council.

Nigeria wants an agreement with the Saudi government over a proposed $5 billion bilateral trade facility between the two countries.

The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company, SALIC, invested $1.24 billion in 2022 to acquire a 35.43% stake in Olam Agri, one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural firms.

Talks are being held so that SALIC can have more stake in the company.

The Saudis hoped the investment would make Olam one of the biggest agro-allied businesses in the world.

The Crown Prince commended President Tinubu’s economic reforms, noting similarities to his steps to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s stability and development when he became Prime Minister.

He also assured Nigeria of his support and promised to motivate his team to realise the various areas of partnerships discussed at the meeting.

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At the meeting with the Crown Prince were the Saudi Minister of National Guard, Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, and several senior officials.

Meanwhile, the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit has renewed the mandate of Nigeria and other member states on the Ministerial Committee assigned to engage with global leaders in seeking an end to the ongoing war in Gaza and Lebanon.

This decision was part of the resolution issued after the extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 11, 2024.

President Bola Tinubu and other leaders from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, and the League of Arab States were in attendance.

The Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was formed by a resolution at the First Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh on November 11, 2023.

The group includes the foreign ministers of Nigeria, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, Palestine, and Jordan.

In its final resolution, the summit urged the Ministerial Committee to “intensify its efforts and expand them to include working on ending the aggression on Lebanon.”

The committee will submit periodic reports, which the secretariats of the OIC and the League of Arab States will circulate to member states.

The Committee has also been tasked with further engaging actors across the Global South in the efforts to strengthen international support towards ending the war and Israeli occupation.

The resolution stressed the importance of protecting sea lanes by rules of international law and welcomed the signing of the tripartite mechanism by the League of Arab States, OIC, and the African Union to support the Palestinian cause.

The summit praised the African Union’s steadfast support of Palestine.

The leaders condemned recent Israeli military actions in northern Gaza, describing them as “crimes of genocide,” including allegations of torture, executions, disappearances, and “ethnic cleansing.”

They also criticised ongoing efforts to solidify Israel’s presence in occupied East Jerusalem, reaffirming it as the “eternal capital” of Palestine and calling for the unification of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem under a sovereign Palestinian state.

The resolution reiterated “the full sovereignty of the State of Palestine over occupied East [Jerusalem], the eternal capital of Palestine”. It rejected any Israeli actions aimed at altering the city’s identity or consolidating its occupation.

The summit also expressed unwavering support for Lebanon’s security, stability, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens.

Saudi Crown Prince assures Tinubu of govt support

News

Two Nigerian companies developed contactless passport renewal – FG

Published

23 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Two Nigerian companies developed contactless passport renewal – FG

The Federal Government has revealed that the contactless passport renewal solution, which went live in Canada on November 1, 2024, was developed by two Nigerian software companies.

The disclosure was made by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, during the Politics Today programme on Channels Television on Tuesday.

Tunji-Ojo explained that the Federal Government deliberately chose to trust indigenous technology for the project.

“The solution is completely indigenous. We did not go to look for foreign technology. We got Nigerian technology – the two companies/vendors that came together to develop the solution are Nigerian software companies,” he said.

The minister expressed confidence in the solution, citing his over two decades of experience as an IT cybersecurity expert and his extensive history as a project manager on numerous occasions.

He did not, however, mention the names of the companies, and at this time, they are not yet publicly known.

The Interior Minister emphasized that the contactless passport renewal solution is designed to alleviate the challenges faced by Nigerians in the diaspora, such as long travel distances, accommodation costs, and taking time off work to renew passports.

He shared specific examples of Nigerians in Canada and London who had to cancel lectures or miss work to complete their passport renewal process.

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While acknowledging that the new solution has encountered some initial hitches, Tunji-Ojo reassured Nigerians that these issues would be addressed.

Tunji-Ojo also clarified that delays in passport issuance, such as those reported by some Nigerians in Canada who experienced waiting times of up to 42 days after using the contactless passport renewal process, are not linked to the system itself.

Instead, he attributed the delays to the limited processing capacity of Nigerian embassies. For instance, he said that the UK embassy, which has received over 48,000 passport renewal applications (note: the contactless renewal system is not yet available in the UK and is currently exclusive to Canada), can only process 300 applications per day, leading to significant backlogs.

The Interior Minister explained that the contactless system leverages biometric databases, facial recognition, and live authentication checks, enabling applicants to renew their passports via a mobile app without visiting the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) office.

However, the system applies only to Nigerians aged 18 and above with existing biometric records, as first-time applicants must still visit the NIS office for interviews and biometric capture.

The Federal Government plans to expand the contactless passport renewal solution to other countries in the coming weeks.

Additionally, a centralized personalization center is being established in Abuja, equipped with advanced machines capable of printing up to 32,000 passports daily, to improve the efficiency of passport issuance.

Two Nigerian companies developed contactless passport renewal – FG

News

New Edo Gov Okpebholo takes oath of office, Shettima, others present

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2024

Trends Admin

New Edo Gov Okpebholo takes oath of office, Shettima, others present

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday led the Federal Government delegation to the inauguration of Monday Okpebholo as a brand new governor of Edo State.

Other dignitaries at the event are Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, chair of the governors forum; and Philip Shaibu, the reinstated deputy governor of Edo.

Many sitting state governors across the country elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that also graced the ceremony are Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, and Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto, among others.

The National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, were also at the ceremony, held inside the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

Okpebholo took his oath of office at about 1pm on Tuesday.

Dennis Idahosa was also sworn in as Edo deputy governor.

The new governor rode in an open-top van round the stadium while acknowledging cheers from supporters.

As candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo won the September 21 off-cycle governorship election in the state.

He polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who came second with 247,274 votes.

Olumide Akpata, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), came third with 22,763 votes.