NEWS
Buhari Hosts Children at State House, Unveils Comic Book
In celebration of Children’s Day, President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday, hosted some select pupils and students from schools in the Federal Capital Territory, using the event to present his comic book, which contains seven key messages on the role of children in nation building.
Addressing the children, the President admonished them to build a great Nigeria through honesty, patriotism and unity.
He expressed fulfilment in having this interaction with them at the Council Chamber, State House on the cusp of his exit from office after eight years of service to the nation, stressing that children are the leaders of tomorrow.
The President encouraged the children to be good citizens before becoming leaders, highlighting the importance of self-reliance and responsibility to build and develop Nigeria.
He shared his own life journey, recounting how he went from being a child to becoming the leader of the country both as a military officer and a civilian.
His words:
”God spared my life to grow up from child to an adult. As students, we were told that we were the leaders of tomorrow. I never knew that I would one day lead my country, much less lead it twice as a military officer and as a civilian.
”Therefore, I would like to say that among you, there are future councillors, lawmakers, governors and presidents. But you must first be good citizens before you become leaders.
”You may become engineers, doctors, accountants, journalists, IT experts, judges and lawyers, to name just a few. The country is going to be in your hands one day. We are not going to import foreigners to come and run our country. We must do that ourselves.
”When we say the future of the country is in your hands, we are not doing you any favour. It is a fact of life. That is why I find it satisfying that I am having this interaction with you.
”I am privileged to be standing in front of a new generation of future citizens and leaders to whom we hope to bequeath a country they can be proud of and a country they will take higher in the comity of nations when it is their turn to serve their fatherland.
”I am 80 years old. I have seen Nigeria at its best and at its worst. I have seen Nigeria fight for Independence from the colonial powers. I have also seen Nigeria fight a war to remain one. I did not only see the war, I fought in it and I could have lost my life in the course of that conflict.
”I have seen the country enjoy an oil boom and prosperity. I have also seen the country nearly go bankrupt. I have seen the best of public officers and I have also seen the worst. I have seen honest Nigerians and I have also seen dishonest ones.”
Asking the children what kind of Nigeria they want, the President underscored the importance of honesty, patriotism and unity in building a peaceful and prosperous nation.
”My Dear Children, what kind of Nigeria do you want? Do you want a country of honest people who will do everything to make Nigeria great? Do you want a country of dishonest people? Do you want a country of patriots whose motivation is building a peaceful and prosperous nation that everyone will be proud of? Do you want a country where it is hatemongers that will be calling the shots?
”I will tell you one thing: the choice is yours. When I talk about a country full of honest people and patriotic citizens, I am not talking about some aliens. I am talking about you.
”The future starts with you. If you are going to be honest, it starts today, not when you get into public office or become a Managing Director. If you are going to be patriotic, it starts today, not when you have finished school.
”You must be prepared to be leaders and also followers. Not all can be leaders. You must follow your leaders.
”You are the future and the future has started already. Whatever you are going to be, you are already preparing for it. If you do not prepare today, there will be no good future.”
President Buhari also shared his experiences as a follower and leader, stressing the need to rebuild the country from its foundation and combating corruption.
”My experiences in life as a follower and as a leader have shown me that to rebuild a country, you have to rebuild from the foundation.
”When the building is faulty, you can only struggle to keep it standing. My war against corruption in the last years has shown me that it will take a new generation for the message to be part of your way of thinking.
”That is why I am happy to be having this discussion with you on your role in making Nigeria great. We need a new orientation. We need new Nigerians to own this message and make it their way of life.”
In the comic book titled, ‘‘HOW TO MAKE NIGERIA GREAT’’, the President outlined seven lessons from the publication that will help shape the future of a great country, Nigeria.
These lessons include believing in God and loving Nigeria, understanding and respecting our differences, living by the rules, thinking for the community, embracing good values, seeing government money as our money, and being good children at home and in school.
President Buhari expressed gratitude to the children for spending time with him and concluded his speech by reiterating a statement he made 39 years ago:
”I said something in 1984 and I will end this speech by repeating it: ‘We have no other country but Nigeria. We will stay here and salvage it together.’ ”
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said the Media has a duty to hold the elected and appointed officials accountable and ensure that they do their work in a manner to strengthen democracy and not weaken it.He said in any thriving democracy, the roles of the government and the media are intertwined, both essential in serving the public interest.
Saying the alignment enables us to achieve common goals that benefit society at large. Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation Hon. Mohammed Idris handed down this during the 20th All Nigeria Guild of Editors Conference at the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa the state capital.He said in the room are many veteran journalists who played very important roles in ushering in the age of enduring democracy in Nigeria. “I salute your individual and collective efforts not just at that time, but even right through to today, as we celebrate a quarter of a century of unbroken democratic experience”.This year’s theme which was titled:”Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country” had in attendance media moguls across the federation.According to the president, “Indeed, our roles are most effective when they are not adversarial but cooperative.By viewing each other as allies in nation-building, we can create an environment where transparency, accountability, and mutual respect thrive. Together, the government and the media can empower citizens, strengthen democratic institutions, and build a more informed and resilient society”.”As editors and media managers, your role in national development cannot be overemphasized. You are the custodians of public perception, the gatekeepers of information, and, importantly, the voice of the people. You have the power to shape narratives that inspire, inform, and engage Nigerians positively and productively. We count on you to report truthfully and to engage constructively to help the public understand not only what this government is doing but also why we are doing it.With a united effort from government, citizens, and the media alike, we can build a resilient, diversified economy that offers security, opportunity, and hope for all Nigerians”.In his opening speech, the host governor senator Douye Diri said, the significance of the media in democratic governance has been recognised since the 17th century. Speaking as the fourth pillar of democracy, the press educates, informs, and entertains, shaping public agenda and debate. Democracy relies heavily on the press to thrive.According to Diri, as ethnic nationalities and diverse interests vie for attention, “your work serves as a beacon of hope, promoting understanding and unity. In these turbulent times around our nation and the world at large, your role as guardians of truth is more critical than ever”.He said integrity remains the cornerstone of the profession, building trust with the public and fortifying the foundations of a healthy democracy.“Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country,” your theme for this conference, is both relevant and timely. Therefore, we implore you as editors and influential voices, to advocate for policies that prioritise sustainable development and empower local communities.In his goodwill message, the former governor also of Ogun state, Chief Olusegun Osoba urged the NGE before they leave to set up a committee to look into the crisis brewing in the NUJ, “they are supposed to hold their annual conference but some people are saying that the president has overstayed his tenure and they took him to court. “You are the only united group after the NPAN to intervene in that crisis brewing in the NUJ”.In his speech, the chairman of conference Chief Nduka Obaigbena said, the time is hard but Nigeria journalists are harder so they have to be tough to cope with the time.He said, Nigeria needs to be fixed first if we want to get it right, saying that it is the first thing to do and work hard to ensure that we also protect our Industries.”Are we going to protect Dangote refinery from cheap imports? If Dangote fails then we all have failed. If we are going to use whatever means to deal with the oil mafias, we should keep our refinery alive. If you say you want to stop monopoly then the four refineries must work””Let that four refineries be completed with Dangote so that they can compete. We challenge the Minister of information to get the refineries working. Everybody is feeling the pains in the country”.In his welcome address, the president of Nigeria Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba said, the biggest threat to media survivors today is availability of resource materials. Saying they are here because they recognize the critical role that both a strong economy and a resilient media sector play in fostering a prosperous, informed and democratic society.”Today, as editors, we stand at a crossroads where our decisions, priorities and strategies will shape the future of our country and journalism. The growth of our nation’s economy directly influences every sector, and our industry is no exception. A strong economy fuels consumer spending, drives innovation, and creates opportunities for media organizations to expand and thrive. Yet with opportunities come new challenges.”Media organizations face mounting pressure to adapt to modern trends while staying financially viable and maintaining journalistic integrity. Now, we thought the only challenge facing the media will be adapting to modern trends. But the biggest threat to media survivors today is availability of resource materials to produce our papers or to broadcast on our TV stations.”The growth of our nation’s economy directly influences every sector, and our industry is no exception. Today’s economic landscape demands that we be agile and innovative.”Many media houses are devising different ways to survive. However, as we exploit these strategies, we must keep sight of our mission to provide accurate, trustworthy and independent information to our audiences.”Sustainability is about more than economic survival. It’s about preserving the values and principles that make our profession a pillar of democracy. And there is a constitutional guarantee for that.Section 22 of our constitution challenges us to hold the government to account despite the poverty in our profession today because we are struggling to meet demand conditions.”The Constitution builds on us to hold the government to account. So at the same time, we must consider how we as editors can contribute to broader economic growth. We know that reliable media support informed citizens, foster accountability and encourage investments in democratic institutions.”An informed public is empowered to make decisions that spur economic growth, create jobs and promote sustainability, in this our work is essential not only to our audiences but also to our economic and social fabrics of our country.”
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike on Thursday revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the dualization of kuje-Gwagalada road.The FCT Minister stated this while inspecting the ongoing road projects in Kuje that are handling by Arab Contractors (linking road from Kuje to Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport and Kuje internal road, by Gilmor Contractor, in AbujaHe said Gilmor is handing over the project by December 2024 and the Arab contractor would have finished the earthwork.
According to the Minister, “What is most important is that the promise Mr President made is being carried out to the letter, particularly as we came in from the airport to the Kuje community, the work is going on very well as I expected, by Arab Contractors.”They have promised that by the end of 2024, they would have finished everything pertaining to earthwork. So, the work is going on fast and here in Kuje, as per the dualization of this carriage road, we believe that by this December, the contractor, Gilmor, would have handed it over.”We have also directed them to continue the dualization from Kuje to Gwagwalada and that will ease off transport difficulties and also reduce travel time when going to Gwagwalada. So, people who have no business along the Giri-Airport axis will now come to town.”Everybody in Kuje who is going to Gwagwalada will also go straight and I know the economic implications these will trigger. Mind you, all these constructions include streetlights. We think that it will change the landscape of the entire city. People do not need to leave Kuje to go and live in the city to go to work. It will be within 20 to 25 minutes and you are already in the city and that is what everybody hopes for. We thank God that we are keeping to the promises made by this Administration”.Wike therefore urged, “This is a public road, not a private road. It is to be used by everybody for the interest of the public. The transmission company will accordingly be told to expedite actions so as to relocate their electrical installations. We are going to make sure that every stakeholder understands the importance of the quick handover of that road”.Responding to questions on funding, he said, “It is a matter of strategy and a matter of being prudent with available resources. No government or institution can say they will have all the required resources to be able to carry out every service. But what is important to us is that we try to make sure people pay their taxes. One thing I can tell you about Nigerians is that when they see that the taxes they pay are being utilized, they reciprocate that by making sure that they pay their taxes but when they see that they pay taxes and nothing is done with it, they will be reluctant to pay.”We are trying as much as we can to continue to increase our IGR. It is our IGR that we are using to pay. There is no other money coming from anywhere. And again, we are strict on the number of projects and we ensure that we have gone far before awarding another project and that the funding is available so that it does not become an abandoned project. So, it is not that we have much money but it is just that we are trying to prudently manage what we have and apply it to the best interest of our people”.
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
In its concerted effort at combating insecurity, the Nigeria Police Force has now authorized that all Constables will henceforth carry arms to combat insecurity.The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 7 Abuja, Benneth Igweh stated this while on an official visit to Niger that everyone now has the power to make an arrest.
According to him “Community Policing is everyone’s business, we have granted all Police Constables the power to carry arms henceforth. ”We have given them two weeks to get trained by the l SPU, CTU or Mobile base; and this will give them the ability to carry out their duties.”According to him “With the rate of crime in our various communities, everyone now has the right to make an arrest. If you see something say something, and then the Police including the community will do something”The Assistant inspector GeneralofPolice, Igweh explained that, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has assured that there will be recruitment into the Police, adding that Niger and Abuja will get more slots.Niger state Commissioner of Police Shawulu Danmamman said the AIG’s visit is a practical initiative to enhance Community Policing.He added that “crime rate is relatively low compared to previous antecedents due to the crime prevention strategies employed since my assumption in office.”However, he said that “insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and farmers/herders clash are prevailing challenges at Munya, Mariga, Rafi, Shiroro, and parts of Kontagora LGAs because of our neighborhood with Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna states”.
Tinubu Tasks Media to Hold Leaders Accountable
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said the Media has a duty to hold the elected and...
Youth Advocate Urges LG Chairman to Key into Kogi Gov’s Devt Agenda
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja A Youth Advocate on grassroots advancement, Andrew Ochika has urged the newly elected chairman of Dekina...
FCTA to Dualize Kuje-Gwagwalada Road
ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike on Thursday revealed that President Bola Tinubu...
Insecurity: Nigeria Police Force Constables to Bear Arms
ShareFrom Dan Amasingha, Minna In its concerted effort at combating insecurity, the Nigeria Police Force has now authorized that all...
New Terrorists Group Emerges in Sokoto, Others – DHQ
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group known as ‘Lukarawas’ in...
Gen. Babangida Commiserates with Nigerians over Lagbaja
ShareFrom Dan Amasingha, Minna Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has commiserated with the President and Commander in Chief...
NESG, Tourism Stakeholders Meet to Validate Draft National Tourism Policy
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja Key stakeholders from Nigeria’s tourism, hospitality, and cultural sectors convened in Lagos for a pivotal validation...
Mutfwang Condole with Tinubu, Nigerian Army over Lagbaja’s Demise
ShareFrom Jude Dangwam, Jos Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has extended his heartfelt condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian...
Niger Procures Five Mega Metal Boats to Curb Incessant Boat Mishap
ShareFrom Dan Amasingha, Minna Worried by the incessant boat mishaps that has claimed several lives over the years, Niger state...
FUTH Lafia to Provide Early Breast Cancer Treatment as TotalEnergies Donates Mammography
ShareFrom Abel Zwànke, Lafia In a major healthcare boost for Nasarawa State, TotalEnergies in partnership with other stakeholders has donated...