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After the cut is President Goodluck Jonathan’s inauguration address on the occasion of his swearing-in as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of   Nigeria on May 29, 2011.
PROTOCOL

1.          My Dear Compatriots, I stand in humble gratitude to you, this day, having just sworn to the oath of office as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of our great nation.

2.          I thank you all, fellow citizens, for the trust and confidence, which you have demonstrated through the power of your vote. I want to assure you, that I will do my utmost at all times, to continue to deserve your trust.

3.          I would like to specially acknowledge the presence in our midst today, of Brother Heads of State and Government, who have come to share this joyous moment with us.  Your Excellencies, I thank you for your solidarity.  I also wish to express my gratitude, to the Representatives of Heads of State and Government who are here with us.  My appreciation also goes to the chairperson of the African Union and other world leaders, our development partners, and all our distinguished guests.

4.          I want to specially thank all Nigerians for staying the course in our collective commitment to build a democratic nation. To members of the PDP family and members of other political parties, who have demonstrated faith in our democratic enterprise, I salute you.

5.          At this juncture, let me acknowledge and salute my friend and brother, Vice-President Namadi Sambo; and my dear wife, Patience, who has been a strong pillar of support.

6.          I thank her for galvanizing and mobilizing Nigerian women for the cause of democracy. In the same vein, I owe a debt of gratitude to my mother and late father. I cannot thank them enough.

7.          I cannot but paytribute to our late President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, with whom we won the Presidential election four years ago, when I contested as his running mate.   May God bless his soul.

8.          I also wish to pay tribute to our founding fathers, whose enduring sacrifices and abiding faith in the unity and greatness of our country, laid the foundation for the nation. We take enormous pride in their contributions.  The pivotal task of this generation is to lift our fatherland to the summit of greatness.
9.          Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, earlier this year, over seventy-three million eligible Nigerians endured all manner of inconvenience just to secure their voters cards,in order to exercise the right to choose those that will govern them.

10.     At the polls, we saw the most dramatic expressions of the hunger for democracy. Stories of courage and patriotism were repeated in many ways, including how fellow citizens helped physically challenged voters into polling stations to enable them exercise their franchise.  The inspiring story of the one hundred and three year-old man, and many like him across the country, who struggled against the physical limitations of age to cast their vote, is noteworthy.

11.     Such determination derives from the typical Nigerian spirit of resilience in the face of the greatest of odds.  That spirit has, over the years, stirred our hopes, doused our fears, and encouraged us to gather ourselves to build a strong nation even when others doubted our capacity.

12.     Today, our unity is firm, and our purpose is strong.  Our determination unshakable. Together, we will unite our nation and improve the living standards of all our peoples whether in the North or in the South; in the East or in the West.  Our decade of development has begun.  The march is on.  The day of transformation begins today.We will not allow anyone exploit differences in creed or tongue, to set us one against another. Let me at this point congratulate the elected Governors, Senators, members of the House of Representatives and those of the States Houses of Assembly for their victories at the polls.

13.     I am mindful that I represent the shared aspiration of all our people to forge a united Nigeria: a land of justice, opportunity and plenty. Confident that a people that are truly committed to a noble ideal, cannot be denied the realization of their vision, I assure you that this dream of Nigeria, that is so deeply felt by millions, will indeed come to reality.

14.     A decade ago, it would have been a mere daydream to think that a citizen from a minority ethnic group could galvanize national support, on an unprecedented scale, to discard ancient prejudices, and win the people’s mandate as President of our beloved country. That result emanated from the toil and sacrifice of innumerable individuals and institutions, many of whom may never get to receive public appreciation for their effort.

15.     Only a couple of days ago, I received an entry on my Facebook page. It was sent by Mr. Babajide Orevba. He wrote to inform me that I had lost a great fan. That fan was his father, Mr. Emmanuel Bamidele Orevba. The deceased, the son told me, was no politician, but had campaigned enthusiastically for my ticket. Tragically, overwhelmed by the joy of our victory, he collapsed, and passed on three days later. I pray God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest.

16.     The success of the 2011 elections and the widespread acclaim which the exercise received was due to the uncommon patriotism and diligence exhibited by many Nigerians, including members of the Armed Forces, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and others. Unfortunately, despite the free, fair and transparent manner the elections were conducted, a senseless wave of violence in some parts of the country led to the death of ten members of the NYSC and others.  These brave men and women paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of our fatherland. They are heroes of our democracy. We offer our heartfelt prayers and condolences in respect of all those who lost their lives.

17.     In the days ahead, those of us that you have elected to serve must show that we are men and women with the patriotism and passion, to match the hopes and aspirations of you, the great people of this country.  We must demonstrate the leadership, statesmanship, vision, capacity, and sacrifice, to transform our nation. We must strengthen common grounds, develop new areas of understanding and collaboration, and seek fresh ideas that will enrich our national consensus.

18.     It is the supreme task of this generation to give hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak and protection to the defenceless.

19.     Fellow citizens, the leadership we have pledged is decidedly transformative.  The transformation will be achieved in all the critical sectors, by harnessing the creative energies of our people.

20.     We must grow the economy, create jobs, and generate enduring happiness for our people. I have great confidence in the ability of Nigerians to transform this country.  The urgent task of my administration is to provide a suitable environment, for productive activities to flourish. I therefore call on the good people of Nigeria, to enlist as agents of this great transformation.

21.     My dear countrymen and women, being a Nigerian is a blessing. It is also a great responsibility. We must make a vow that, together, we will make the Nigerian Enterprise thrive.

22.     The leadership and the followership must strive to convert our vast human and natural resources into the force that leads to a greater Nigeria. The Nigeria of our dreams must be built on hard work and not on short cuts. Let me salute the Nigerian workers who build our communities, cities and country. They deserve fair rewards, and so do the women that raise our children, and the rural dwellers that grow our food.

23.     The moment is right. The signs are heart-warming. We are ready to take off on the path of sustained growth and economic development.  In our economic strategy, there will be appropriate policy support to the real sector of the economy, so that Small and Medium Enterprises may thrive. Nigeria is blessed with enormous natural wealth, and my Administration will continue to encourage locally owned enterprises to take advantage of our resources in growing the domestic economy.  A robust private sector is vital to providing jobs for our rapidly expanding population.  But this must be a collaborative effort.

24.     We must form technical and financial partnerships with global businesses and organizations. We live in an age where no country can survive on its own; countries depend on each other for economic well-being.  Nigeria is no different. Returns on investment in Nigeria remain among the highest in the world. We will continue to welcome sustainable investment in our economy.

25.     We will push programs and policies that will benefit both local and foreign businesses, but we must emphasize mutual benefits and win-win relationships. The overall ongoing reforms in the banking and financial sectors are therefore designed to support the real sector of the economy.

26.     To drive our overall economic vision, the power sector reform is at the heart of our industrialization strategy. I call on all stakeholders, to cooperate with my administration, to ensure the success of the reforms.

27.     Over the next four years, attention will be focused on rebuilding our infrastructure. We will create greater access to quality education and improved health care delivery.  We will pay special attention to the agricultural sector, to enable it play its role of ensuring food security and massive job creation for our people.

28.     The creation of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority will immensely contribute to strengthening our fiscal framework, by institutionalizing savings of our commodity-related revenues. With this mechanism in place, we will avoid the boom and bust cycles,and mitigate our exposure to oil price volatility.

29.     The lesson we have learnt is that the resolution of
the Niger Delta issue is crucial for the health of the nation’s economy.  In the interest of justice, equity and national unity, we shall actively promote the development of the region.  I believe that peace is a necessary condition for development.

30.     Fellow citizens, in every decision, I shall always place the common good before all else.  The bane of corruption shall be met by the overwhelming force of our collective determination, to rid our nation of this scourge. The fight against corruption is a war in which we must all enlist, so that the limited resources of this nation will be used for the growth of our commonwealth.

31.     I am confident that we have every reason to lookto the future with hope.  We owe ourselves and posterity the duty of making this country respectable in the comity of nations. Nigeria, as a responsible member of the international community, will remain committed to the maintenance of global peace and security. We will continue to play an active role in the United Nations. Our role in the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Gulf of Guinea will be enhanced to ensure greater human and energy security.

32.     Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a new dawn for Africa. We fought for decolonization.We will now fight for democratization.  Nigeria, in partnership with the African Union, will lead the process for democracy and development in Africa. In particular, we will support the consolidation of democracy, good governance and human rights in the continent.  Africa must develop its vast resources to tackle poverty and under-development.

33.     Conscious of the negative effect of insecurity on growth and development, my Administration will seek collaboration at bilateral and multilateral levels, to improve our capability in combating trans-border crimes. In this regard, we will intensify our advocacy against the illicit trades in small arms and light weapons, which have become the catalyst for conflicts on the African continent. All Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad are to accord this vision of defending the dignity of humanity the highest priority.

34.     My fellow countrymen and women, Nigeria is not just a land of promise; it shall be a nation where positive change will continue to take place, for the good of our people.  The time for lamentation is over. This is the era of transformation.  This is the time for action. But Nigeria can only be transformed if we all play our parts with commitment and sincerity. Cynicism and skepticism will not help our journey to greatness. Let us all believe in a new Nigeria. Let us work together to build a great country that we will all be proud of.  This is our hour.

35.     Fellow Compatriots, lift your gaze towards the horizon. Look ahead and you will see a great future that we can secure with unity, hard work and collective sacrifice.

36.     Join me now as we begin the journey of transforming Nigeria.

·       I will continue to fight, for your future, because I am one of you.

·       I will continue to fight, for improved medical care for all our citizens.

·       I will continue to fight for all citizens to have access to first class education.

·       I will continue to fight for electricity to be available to all our citizens.

.      I will continue to fight for an efficient and affordable public transport system for all our people.

·       I will continue to fight for jobs to be created through productive partnerships.

37.     You have trusted me with your mandate,and I will never, never let you down.

38.     I know your pain, because I have been there.  Look beyond the hardship you have endured. See a new beginning;a new direction;a new spirit.

39.     Nigerians, I want you to start to dream again.  What you see in your dreams, we can achieve together. I call upon all the Presidential candidates who contested with me to join hands with us as we begin the transformation of our country.

40.     Let us work together; let us build together; let us bequeath a greater Nigeria to the generations to come.

41.     I thank you! God bless you all! And God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Source

After the cut is President Goodluck Jonathan’s inauguration address on the occasion of his swearing-in as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of   Nigeria on May 29, 2011.
PROTOCOL

1.          My Dear Compatriots, I stand in humble gratitude to you, this day, having just sworn to the oath of office as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of our great nation.

2.          I thank you all, fellow citizens, for the trust and confidence, which you have demonstrated through the power of your vote. I want to assure you, that I will do my utmost at all times, to continue to deserve your trust.

3.          I would like to specially acknowledge the presence in our midst today, of Brother Heads of State and Government, who have come to share this joyous moment with us.  Your Excellencies, I thank you for your solidarity.  I also wish to express my gratitude, to the Representatives of Heads of State and Government who are here with us.  My appreciation also goes to the chairperson of the African Union and other world leaders, our development partners, and all our distinguished guests.

4.          I want to specially thank all Nigerians for staying the course in our collective commitment to build a democratic nation. To members of the PDP family and members of other political parties, who have demonstrated faith in our democratic enterprise, I salute you.

5.          At this juncture, let me acknowledge and salute my friend and brother, Vice-President Namadi Sambo; and my dear wife, Patience, who has been a strong pillar of support.

6.          I thank her for galvanizing and mobilizing Nigerian women for the cause of democracy. In the same vein, I owe a debt of gratitude to my mother and late father. I cannot thank them enough.

7.          I cannot but paytribute to our late President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, with whom we won the Presidential election four years ago, when I contested as his running mate.   May God bless his soul.

8.          I also wish to pay tribute to our founding fathers, whose enduring sacrifices and abiding faith in the unity and greatness of our country, laid the foundation for the nation. We take enormous pride in their contributions.  The pivotal task of this generation is to lift our fatherland to the summit of greatness.
9.          Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, earlier this year, over seventy-three million eligible Nigerians endured all manner of inconvenience just to secure their voters cards,in order to exercise the right to choose those that will govern them.

10.     At the polls, we saw the most dramatic expressions of the hunger for democracy. Stories of courage and patriotism were repeated in many ways, including how fellow citizens helped physically challenged voters into polling stations to enable them exercise their franchise.  The inspiring story of the one hundred and three year-old man, and many like him across the country, who struggled against the physical limitations of age to cast their vote, is noteworthy.

11.     Such determination derives from the typical Nigerian spirit of resilience in the face of the greatest of odds.  That spirit has, over the years, stirred our hopes, doused our fears, and encouraged us to gather ourselves to build a strong nation even when others doubted our capacity.

12.     Today, our unity is firm, and our purpose is strong.  Our determination unshakable. Together, we will unite our nation and improve the living standards of all our peoples whether in the North or in the South; in the East or in the West.  Our decade of development has begun.  The march is on.  The day of transformation begins today.We will not allow anyone exploit differences in creed or tongue, to set us one against another. Let me at this point congratulate the elected Governors, Senators, members of the House of Representatives and those of the States Houses of Assembly for their victories at the polls.

13.     I am mindful that I represent the shared aspiration of all our people to forge a united Nigeria: a land of justice, opportunity and plenty. Confident that a people that are truly committed to a noble ideal, cannot be denied the realization of their vision, I assure you that this dream of Nigeria, that is so deeply felt by millions, will indeed come to reality.

14.     A decade ago, it would have been a mere daydream to think that a citizen from a minority ethnic group could galvanize national support, on an unprecedented scale, to discard ancient prejudices, and win the people’s mandate as President of our beloved country. That result emanated from the toil and sacrifice of innumerable individuals and institutions, many of whom may never get to receive public appreciation for their effort.

15.     Only a couple of days ago, I received an entry on my Facebook page. It was sent by Mr. Babajide Orevba. He wrote to inform me that I had lost a great fan. That fan was his father, Mr. Emmanuel Bamidele Orevba. The deceased, the son told me, was no politician, but had campaigned enthusiastically for my ticket. Tragically, overwhelmed by the joy of our victory, he collapsed, and passed on three days later. I pray God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest.

16.     The success of the 2011 elections and the widespread acclaim which the exercise received was due to the uncommon patriotism and diligence exhibited by many Nigerians, including members of the Armed Forces, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and others. Unfortunately, despite the free, fair and transparent manner the elections were conducted, a senseless wave of violence in some parts of the country led to the death of ten members of the NYSC and others.  These brave men and women paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of our fatherland. They are heroes of our democracy. We offer our heartfelt prayers and condolences in respect of all those who lost their lives.

17.     In the days ahead, those of us that you have elected to serve must show that we are men and women with the patriotism and passion, to match the hopes and aspirations of you, the great people of this country.  We must demonstrate the leadership, statesmanship, vision, capacity, and sacrifice, to transform our nation. We must strengthen common grounds, develop new areas of understanding and collaboration, and seek fresh ideas that will enrich our national consensus.

18.     It is the supreme task of this generation to give hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak and protection to the defenceless.

19.     Fellow citizens, the leadership we have pledged is decidedly transformative.  The transformation will be achieved in all the critical sectors, by harnessing the creative energies of our people.

20.     We must grow the economy, create jobs, and generate enduring happiness for our people. I have great confidence in the ability of Nigerians to transform this country.  The urgent task of my administration is to provide a suitable environment, for productive activities to flourish. I therefore call on the good people of Nigeria, to enlist as agents of this great transformation.

21.     My dear countrymen and women, being a Nigerian is a blessing. It is also a great responsibility. We must make a vow that, together, we will make the Nigerian Enterprise thrive.

22.     The leadership and the followership must strive to convert our vast human and natural resources into the force that leads to a greater Nigeria. The Nigeria of our dreams must be built on hard work and not on short cuts. Let me salute the Nigerian workers who build our communities, cities and country. They deserve fair rewards, and so do the women that raise our children, and the rural dwellers that grow our food.

23.     The moment is right. The signs are heart-warming. We are ready to take off on the path of sustained growth and economic development.  In our economic strategy, there will be appropriate policy support to the real sector of the economy, so that Small and Medium Enterprises may thrive. Nigeria is blessed with enormous natural wealth, and my Administration will continue to encourage locally owned enterprises to take advantage of our resources in growing the domestic economy.  A robust private sector is vital to providing jobs for our rapidly expanding population.  But this must be a collaborative effort.

24.     We must form technical and financial partnerships with global businesses and organizations. We live in an age where no country can survive on its own; countries depend on each other for economic well-being.  Nigeria is no different. Returns on investment in Nigeria remain among the highest in the world. We will continue to welcome sustainable investment in our economy.

25.     We will push programs and policies that will benefit both local and foreign businesses, but we must emphasize mutual benefits and win-win relationships. The overall ongoing reforms in the banking and financial sectors are therefore designed to support the real sector of the economy.

26.     To drive our overall economic vision, the power sector reform is at the heart of our industrialization strategy. I call on all stakeholders, to cooperate with my administration, to ensure the success of the reforms.

27.     Over the next four years, attention will be focused on rebuilding our infrastructure. We will create greater access to quality education and improved health care delivery.  We will pay special attention to the agricultural sector, to enable it play its role of ensuring food security and massive job creation for our people.

28.     The creation of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority will immensely contribute to strengthening our fiscal framework, by institutionalizing savings of our commodity-related revenues. With this mechanism in place, we will avoid the boom and bust cycles,and mitigate our exposure to oil price volatility.

29.     The lesson we have learnt is that the resolution of
the Niger Delta issue is crucial for the health of the nation’s economy.  In the interest of justice, equity and national unity, we shall actively promote the development of the region.  I believe that peace is a necessary condition for development.

30.     Fellow citizens, in every decision, I shall always place the common good before all else.  The bane of corruption shall be met by the overwhelming force of our collective determination, to rid our nation of this scourge. The fight against corruption is a war in which we must all enlist, so that the limited resources of this nation will be used for the growth of our commonwealth.

31.     I am confident that we have every reason to lookto the future with hope.  We owe ourselves and posterity the duty of making this country respectable in the comity of nations. Nigeria, as a responsible member of the international community, will remain committed to the maintenance of global peace and security. We will continue to play an active role in the United Nations. Our role in the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Gulf of Guinea will be enhanced to ensure greater human and energy security.

32.     Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a new dawn for Africa. We fought for decolonization.We will now fight for democratization.  Nigeria, in partnership with the African Union, will lead the process for democracy and development in Africa. In particular, we will support the consolidation of democracy, good governance and human rights in the continent.  Africa must develop its vast resources to tackle poverty and under-development.

33.     Conscious of the negative effect of insecurity on growth and development, my Administration will seek collaboration at bilateral and multilateral levels, to improve our capability in combating trans-border crimes. In this regard, we will intensify our advocacy against the illicit trades in small arms and light weapons, which have become the catalyst for conflicts on the African continent. All Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad are to accord this vision of defending the dignity of humanity the highest priority.

34.     My fellow countrymen and women, Nigeria is not just a land of promise; it shall be a nation where positive change will continue to take place, for the good of our people.  The time for lamentation is over. This is the era of transformation.  This is the time for action. But Nigeria can only be transformed if we all play our parts with commitment and sincerity. Cynicism and skepticism will not help our journey to greatness. Let us all believe in a new Nigeria. Let us work together to build a great country that we will all be proud of.  This is our hour.

35.     Fellow Compatriots, lift your gaze towards the horizon. Look ahead and you will see a great future that we can secure with unity, hard work and collective sacrifice.

36.     Join me now as we begin the journey of transforming Nigeria.

·       I will continue to fight, for your future, because I am one of you.

·       I will continue to fight, for improved medical care for all our citizens.

·       I will continue to fight for all citizens to have access to first class education.

·       I will continue to fight for electricity to be available to all our citizens.

.      I will continue to fight for an efficient and affordable public transport system for all our people.

·       I will continue to fight for jobs to be created through productive partnerships.

37.     You have trusted me with your mandate,and I will never, never let you down.

38.     I know your pain, because I have been there.  Look beyond the hardship you have endured. See a new beginning;a new direction;a new spirit.

39.     Nigerians, I want you to start to dream again.  What you see in your dreams, we can achieve together. I call upon all the Presidential candidates who contested with me to join hands with us as we begin the transformation of our country.

40.     Let us work together; let us build together; let us bequeath a greater Nigeria to the generations to come.

41.     I thank you! God bless you all! And God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Source

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, gave reasons why he can not reduce the size of the next Federal cabinet below 36 ministers, saying that he was under legal obligation to appoint a minister from each state of the federation.

The President told the Presidential Advisory Council, PAC, led by Gen. TY Danjuma, that though the cabinet has 43 ministers currently, he lacks the legal powers to prune it beyond 36 ministers.
Speaking while winding down the existence of the Danjuma 26-man advisory group which he constituted in March last year, President Jonathan said the federal cabinet was large due to the constitutional provision which stipulates that each state of the country must produce a minister.

He said: “Your suggestion for a smaller cabinet is excellent and I agree with you, but this cannot be achieved without constitutional amendment.”

Earlier, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, Chairman of the PAC, said they were privileged to have been selected to proffer advise to the new administration of President Jonathan, adding that all members had contributed immensely to the Committee’s work.

He advised the President to apply the same diligence he applied in selecting the PAC to the appointment of his new cabinet from among the abundant qualified Nigerians willing to serve the country, and expressed the Committee’s appreciation for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

Meanwhile, as the scramble by various political interest groups for ministerial slots into President Goodluck Jonathan’s new cabinet peaked, the President-elect, yesterday, vowed that only those with the required competence would make his new cabinet.

This  came on the heels of expectation that President Jonathan will, next Wednesday, dissolve the Federal Executive Council, FEC, ahead of the May 29, 2011 inauguration of the new government even as he explained why he would maintain large cabinet.

Jonathan appointed the present 43-member council in April 2010, following his dissolution of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s cabinet.

A minister who is confident of a return to the cabinet, confided in Vanguard that “ministers who had outstanding memos were advised to bring them to FEC today (yesterday) to enable the Council approve urgent projects before its dissolution.

“It is customary that the cabinet is dissolved before the end of every administration and I can confidently tell you that the valedictory session for this council will be next Wednesday.”
News

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, gave reasons why he can not reduce the size of the next Federal cabinet below 36 ministers, saying that he was under legal obligation to appoint a minister from each state of the federation.

The President told the Presidential Advisory Council, PAC, led by Gen. TY Danjuma, that though the cabinet has 43 ministers currently, he lacks the legal powers to prune it beyond 36 ministers.
Speaking while winding down the existence of the Danjuma 26-man advisory group which he constituted in March last year, President Jonathan said the federal cabinet was large due to the constitutional provision which stipulates that each state of the country must produce a minister.

He said: “Your suggestion for a smaller cabinet is excellent and I agree with you, but this cannot be achieved without constitutional amendment.”

Earlier, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, Chairman of the PAC, said they were privileged to have been selected to proffer advise to the new administration of President Jonathan, adding that all members had contributed immensely to the Committee’s work.

He advised the President to apply the same diligence he applied in selecting the PAC to the appointment of his new cabinet from among the abundant qualified Nigerians willing to serve the country, and expressed the Committee’s appreciation for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

Meanwhile, as the scramble by various political interest groups for ministerial slots into President Goodluck Jonathan’s new cabinet peaked, the President-elect, yesterday, vowed that only those with the required competence would make his new cabinet.

This  came on the heels of expectation that President Jonathan will, next Wednesday, dissolve the Federal Executive Council, FEC, ahead of the May 29, 2011 inauguration of the new government even as he explained why he would maintain large cabinet.

Jonathan appointed the present 43-member council in April 2010, following his dissolution of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s cabinet.

A minister who is confident of a return to the cabinet, confided in Vanguard that “ministers who had outstanding memos were advised to bring them to FEC today (yesterday) to enable the Council approve urgent projects before its dissolution.

“It is customary that the cabinet is dissolved before the end of every administration and I can confidently tell you that the valedictory session for this council will be next Wednesday.”
News

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, directed the Cement Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (CMAN) to bring down the price of cement within 30 days.

The president gave the directive at a meeting he summoned at the State House, Abuja, with the top five cement manufacturers in the country.

Speaking with journalists after the closed-door meeting, which lasted more than three hours, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, said Jonathan called the meeting because of the growing concern of government over increase in the price of cement.
“As we all know, cement prices are going through the roof and the administration is very concerned about it and he wants the prices to come down,” he said. “The president has agreed with them that the price of cement should be brought down within the next one month and they have promised to do so.”

The Minister of State for Commerce, Josephine Tapgun, who was at the meeting, said all stakeholders agreed that the price must come down within the shortest possible time. She said Jonathan assured the manufacturers that government was prepared to intervene where necessary in addressing all issues causing the high cost of the commodity.

The Chairman of CMAN, Joseph Makoju, said cement price stabilized from 2008 to 2010 because the local production of the commodity increased. “In those two years, and for the first time in our history,  we were producing so much cement that the suppliers could not sell all that we were producing which had never happened before,’’ he said.

He said the recent scarcity and high cost of the commodity was as a result of increased cost of production and haulage. “In addressing these causes, some of the issues are on our side and some of the issues are on government side and I am very confident that over the next few weeks you will see the impact on the issues of supply and prices of cement,” he said.

Similarly, the Chairman of Dangote Cement, the largest producer of cement in Nigeria, Aliko Dangote, said that the major challenges being faced were in the areas of supply of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) mainly used by the industry. He said Benue Cement, under his group, lost almost two weeks of production resulting to loss of over 6000 trucks of cement.

Dangote also attributed the shortage and high price to the post-election crisis in some parts of Northern Nigeria, which caused a shutdown of production for weeks, adding that arrangements were being made by his companies to sell cement directly to retailers who were buying as little as one truck as part of moves to bring down prices.

He said marketers also capitalised on the increase in the pump price of diesel to transfer additional costs to the final consumers, adding that his group had ordered for 5, 000 additional trucks to ameliorate the problem of haulage of cement to all parts of the country.

“We are doing all that to try and bring down the cost of transportation but we will do it in such a way that it will not affect other transporters because we also need them in the business to survive,” he said. “Cement will definitely be exported from Nigeria, worst case scenario, by first quota of next year. Nigeria should be earning a lot of foreign exchange and I can guarantee you that cement would be one of the major foreign exchange earners in the next few months to come.”
News

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, directed the Cement Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (CMAN) to bring down the price of cement within 30 days.

The president gave the directive at a meeting he summoned at the State House, Abuja, with the top five cement manufacturers in the country.

Speaking with journalists after the closed-door meeting, which lasted more than three hours, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, said Jonathan called the meeting because of the growing concern of government over increase in the price of cement.
“As we all know, cement prices are going through the roof and the administration is very concerned about it and he wants the prices to come down,” he said. “The president has agreed with them that the price of cement should be brought down within the next one month and they have promised to do so.”

The Minister of State for Commerce, Josephine Tapgun, who was at the meeting, said all stakeholders agreed that the price must come down within the shortest possible time. She said Jonathan assured the manufacturers that government was prepared to intervene where necessary in addressing all issues causing the high cost of the commodity.

The Chairman of CMAN, Joseph Makoju, said cement price stabilized from 2008 to 2010 because the local production of the commodity increased. “In those two years, and for the first time in our history,  we were producing so much cement that the suppliers could not sell all that we were producing which had never happened before,’’ he said.

He said the recent scarcity and high cost of the commodity was as a result of increased cost of production and haulage. “In addressing these causes, some of the issues are on our side and some of the issues are on government side and I am very confident that over the next few weeks you will see the impact on the issues of supply and prices of cement,” he said.

Similarly, the Chairman of Dangote Cement, the largest producer of cement in Nigeria, Aliko Dangote, said that the major challenges being faced were in the areas of supply of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) mainly used by the industry. He said Benue Cement, under his group, lost almost two weeks of production resulting to loss of over 6000 trucks of cement.

Dangote also attributed the shortage and high price to the post-election crisis in some parts of Northern Nigeria, which caused a shutdown of production for weeks, adding that arrangements were being made by his companies to sell cement directly to retailers who were buying as little as one truck as part of moves to bring down prices.

He said marketers also capitalised on the increase in the pump price of diesel to transfer additional costs to the final consumers, adding that his group had ordered for 5, 000 additional trucks to ameliorate the problem of haulage of cement to all parts of the country.

“We are doing all that to try and bring down the cost of transportation but we will do it in such a way that it will not affect other transporters because we also need them in the business to survive,” he said. “Cement will definitely be exported from Nigeria, worst case scenario, by first quota of next year. Nigeria should be earning a lot of foreign exchange and I can guarantee you that cement would be one of the major foreign exchange earners in the next few months to come.”
News

The Presidency on Saturday shed light on what transpired while President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy was heading for the airport in Kampala, Uganda, on his way back to Nigeria, after the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni.

Jonathan’s convoy was reportedly stoned by anti-Museveni protesters.

However, fielding questions from journalists, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, said nothing of that nature actually happened.

He restated an earlier claim that the presidential convoy was not stoned in Kampala.

Narrating what he said was the true story, the presidential spokesman said, “What actually happened is that after the event the President was on his way to the airport when he was requested to return to his hotel, that there was an ongoing protest on his route to the airport.
“So the President decided to return.

“On the way to the hotel, the convoy passed through an area identified as a stronghold of the opposition.

“But the crowd was quite courteous and some even waved at us.

“However, a particular Ugandan VIP protection jeep seemed to enter a panic mode, given the neighbourhood, and began to swerve frantically from side to side, and in the process forcing passersby into a ditch.

“Those affected pelted the jeep with stones.

“It was a brief incident, lasting no more than a few seconds.”

Continuing, Niboro said, “When the Ugandans gave an all clear for the President to leave for the airport, the convoy came across a peaceful protest led by the leader of the opposition, Col. Kizza Besigye.

“They passed on one side and the president’s convoy passed the other side.

“There was no altercation whatsoever.

“There was no attack on Jonathan though some people may have been pushed out of the road by the Ugandan security Jeep after the President had passed the particular spot.”
News

The Presidency on Saturday shed light on what transpired while President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy was heading for the airport in Kampala, Uganda, on his way back to Nigeria, after the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni.

Jonathan’s convoy was reportedly stoned by anti-Museveni protesters.

However, fielding questions from journalists, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, said nothing of that nature actually happened.

He restated an earlier claim that the presidential convoy was not stoned in Kampala.

Narrating what he said was the true story, the presidential spokesman said, “What actually happened is that after the event the President was on his way to the airport when he was requested to return to his hotel, that there was an ongoing protest on his route to the airport.
“So the President decided to return.

“On the way to the hotel, the convoy passed through an area identified as a stronghold of the opposition.

“But the crowd was quite courteous and some even waved at us.

“However, a particular Ugandan VIP protection jeep seemed to enter a panic mode, given the neighbourhood, and began to swerve frantically from side to side, and in the process forcing passersby into a ditch.

“Those affected pelted the jeep with stones.

“It was a brief incident, lasting no more than a few seconds.”

Continuing, Niboro said, “When the Ugandans gave an all clear for the President to leave for the airport, the convoy came across a peaceful protest led by the leader of the opposition, Col. Kizza Besigye.

“They passed on one side and the president’s convoy passed the other side.

“There was no altercation whatsoever.

“There was no attack on Jonathan though some people may have been pushed out of the road by the Ugandan security Jeep after the President had passed the particular spot.”
News

A whopping N500 million has been earmarked by Federal Government to mark the inauguration ceremony of President Goodluck Jonathan as the president of Nigeria for the next four years later this month.

Also, former president of Brazil, Mr Lula Da Silva, has been slated to deliver an inaugural lecture as a mark of honour for of the president with about 35 presidents and heads of governments across the world having signified their intention to be part of the inauguration ceremony.

The lecture, with the theme: “Consolidating Democracy For National Transformation,” is billed to come up on the 27th of May  in Abuja.

In the same vein, an inaugural football match between the Kaduna United Football team of Kaduna and the Eyimba Football Club of Aba is slated for the Abuja Stadium on May 28.

According to investigations, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, will chair the inauguration committee, which also has eight serving ministers as members. The inauguration ceremony, it was learnt, is tagged; ‘A Celebration of Nigerians.’
Source

A whopping N500 million has been earmarked by Federal Government to mark the inauguration ceremony of President Goodluck Jonathan as the president of Nigeria for the next four years later this month.

Also, former president of Brazil, Mr Lula Da Silva, has been slated to deliver an inaugural lecture as a mark of honour for of the president with about 35 presidents and heads of governments across the world having signified their intention to be part of the inauguration ceremony.

The lecture, with the theme: “Consolidating Democracy For National Transformation,” is billed to come up on the 27th of May  in Abuja.

In the same vein, an inaugural football match between the Kaduna United Football team of Kaduna and the Eyimba Football Club of Aba is slated for the Abuja Stadium on May 28.

According to investigations, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, will chair the inauguration committee, which also has eight serving ministers as members. The inauguration ceremony, it was learnt, is tagged; ‘A Celebration of Nigerians.’
Source

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, recounted the violent riots that broke out in the wake of the last presidential elections in some of the states of the North which claimed the lives of 10 National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and declared that there will be no hiding place for the killers of NYSC members. He also announced N5million for each slain corps member’s family.

This came just as northern governors condemned the post election violence and stressed their support for the appointment of a 22_ man panel of inquiry to look into the remote and immediate causes of the violence, adding that the move will help curtail future occurrences as those involved would be brought to book.
President Jonathan spoke when he hosted family members of the slain corps members at the Presidential Villa where he formally condoled them on the loss of their loved ones and unveiled some of the goodies which the government has set aside to compensate them.

The first on the list of the goodies, according to President Jonathan, is the immediate disbursement of N5 million to each family of the 10 members of the NYSC killed in the post election violence that erupted in parts of the North.

But the families which include a widow and four children insisted that the best compensation for their slain loved ones was to ensure that all those who were involved in the heinous act were brought to face the full weight of the law.

Similarly, the President also approved automatic employment in the Federal Civil Service for one graduate from each of the immediate family of the slain NYSC members.

 Immortalisation of victims

Speaking when he received the families of the deceased at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan said the victims are to be immortalised.

He said: “In demonstration of our gratitude for the supreme sacrifice that they have paid in the service of Nigeria, I have decided that each of the ten families of these gallant young men and women will receive a token monetary compensation of N5 million.

“Tomorrow, I will formally inaugurate the Fact-finding Committee which will undertake a thorough investigation of the unfortunate incident. I want to assure you that those found culpable will be brought to justice.”

Responding, spokesperson of the bereaved families, Mr. Awuchewu Okpokiri observed that “communication in the last violence was nothing to write home about. Most of us families did not know about the death of our dear ones until about a week after.

“I don’t think that is very good because I feel that when this kind of thing happened and we approached the authorities we should have been told of what had happened. A lot of us did not know the death of these children until April 24 for something that happened on April 18. We also want to ask just like every other Nigerian is saying today that the NYSC scheme should be reviewed in all its ramifications.
www.vanguardngr.com

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, recounted the violent riots that broke out in the wake of the last presidential elections in some of the states of the North which claimed the lives of 10 National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and declared that there will be no hiding place for the killers of NYSC members. He also announced N5million for each slain corps member’s family.

This came just as northern governors condemned the post election violence and stressed their support for the appointment of a 22_ man panel of inquiry to look into the remote and immediate causes of the violence, adding that the move will help curtail future occurrences as those involved would be brought to book.
President Jonathan spoke when he hosted family members of the slain corps members at the Presidential Villa where he formally condoled them on the loss of their loved ones and unveiled some of the goodies which the government has set aside to compensate them.

The first on the list of the goodies, according to President Jonathan, is the immediate disbursement of N5 million to each family of the 10 members of the NYSC killed in the post election violence that erupted in parts of the North.

But the families which include a widow and four children insisted that the best compensation for their slain loved ones was to ensure that all those who were involved in the heinous act were brought to face the full weight of the law.

Similarly, the President also approved automatic employment in the Federal Civil Service for one graduate from each of the immediate family of the slain NYSC members.

 Immortalisation of victims

Speaking when he received the families of the deceased at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan said the victims are to be immortalised.

He said: “In demonstration of our gratitude for the supreme sacrifice that they have paid in the service of Nigeria, I have decided that each of the ten families of these gallant young men and women will receive a token monetary compensation of N5 million.

“Tomorrow, I will formally inaugurate the Fact-finding Committee which will undertake a thorough investigation of the unfortunate incident. I want to assure you that those found culpable will be brought to justice.”

Responding, spokesperson of the bereaved families, Mr. Awuchewu Okpokiri observed that “communication in the last violence was nothing to write home about. Most of us families did not know about the death of our dear ones until about a week after.

“I don’t think that is very good because I feel that when this kind of thing happened and we approached the authorities we should have been told of what had happened. A lot of us did not know the death of these children until April 24 for something that happened on April 18. We also want to ask just like every other Nigerian is saying today that the NYSC scheme should be reviewed in all its ramifications.
www.vanguardngr.com

US President Barack Obama said Wednesday he called Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, congratulating him on his election victory while denouncing post-election violence in Africa's most populous nation.

Obama said in a statement he commended the people of Nigeria "for their resolve and patience during last month's historic presidential, legislative and gubernatorial elections."

Jonathan, a southern Christian, defeated ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim from the north, in the April 16 vote that led to an explosion of rioting in Nigeria.
Obama said that "the success of the elections was a testament to Nigerian voters who waited in long lines, stayed to watch their votes counted and were determined that these elections mark a new chapter in Nigerian history."

The US leader said Nigerian authorities should "investigate and address any allegations of fraud or irregularities."

Obama's comments echoed those of a US diplomat last week who said Nigeria's elections bode well for the future of democracy in that country and send a strong signal that other African states can hold successful polls.

"While the majority of Nigerians cast their ballots free from intimidation and coercion, the post-election violence that followed the presidential election on April 16 was deplorable," Obama stated.

"Violence has no place in a democratic society, and it is the responsibility of all Nigerians to reject it. Democracy, however, neither begins nor ends with elections. Now is the time for Nigeria's leaders and its people to come together and build the future that they deserve -- a multi-party democracy that addresses the aspirations of all Nigerians.

"As Africa's most populous country, Nigeria can show what is possible when people of different parties, ethnicities and faith backgrounds come together to seek peace, provide for their families, and give their children a better future. Today, Nigerians have an historic opportunity to move forward together and make their nation into a model for Africa."
AFP

US President Barack Obama said Wednesday he called Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, congratulating him on his election victory while denouncing post-election violence in Africa's most populous nation.

Obama said in a statement he commended the people of Nigeria "for their resolve and patience during last month's historic presidential, legislative and gubernatorial elections."

Jonathan, a southern Christian, defeated ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim from the north, in the April 16 vote that led to an explosion of rioting in Nigeria.
Obama said that "the success of the elections was a testament to Nigerian voters who waited in long lines, stayed to watch their votes counted and were determined that these elections mark a new chapter in Nigerian history."

The US leader said Nigerian authorities should "investigate and address any allegations of fraud or irregularities."

Obama's comments echoed those of a US diplomat last week who said Nigeria's elections bode well for the future of democracy in that country and send a strong signal that other African states can hold successful polls.

"While the majority of Nigerians cast their ballots free from intimidation and coercion, the post-election violence that followed the presidential election on April 16 was deplorable," Obama stated.

"Violence has no place in a democratic society, and it is the responsibility of all Nigerians to reject it. Democracy, however, neither begins nor ends with elections. Now is the time for Nigeria's leaders and its people to come together and build the future that they deserve -- a multi-party democracy that addresses the aspirations of all Nigerians.

"As Africa's most populous country, Nigeria can show what is possible when people of different parties, ethnicities and faith backgrounds come together to seek peace, provide for their families, and give their children a better future. Today, Nigerians have an historic opportunity to move forward together and make their nation into a model for Africa."
AFP