News
Osinbajo Lists Buhari’s 57 Achievements In Two Years
The Presidency on Saturday released a compiled list of achievements by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over the past two years, all amounting to 57.
According to the released by the Vice President’s Office to mark the independence anniversary of Nigeria, security, results of initiatives on growth of economy, war against corruption, release of Chibok girls and more are top in consideration.
Below are the achievements as compliled by the Offie of the Vice President
57 Achievements Of The Buhari-Led Administration
SECURITY & RELATED MATTERS
Release of 106 Chibok girls, as well as over 16,000 persons in Boko Haram captivity.
Tackling insurgency, decimation of Boko Haram in the North East.
Recovering 14 local governments and territories previously under Boko Haram control in the North East, rebuilding lives of citizens there; about one million displaced persons in the NE have returned to their communities in two years of this administration.
Curbing the incidence of kidnap across the country. (Arrest of kidnap kingpins and dismantling of kidnap cells across the country)
Restoring morale of the Nigerian military; re-organizing and better equipping the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Purchase of 12 Super-Tucano aircrafts worth $600 million to aid the Nigerian military’s current operations in the North East.
Ensuring continued peace in the Niger Delta through consistent funding of the FG amnesty programme for ex-militants.
Introduction of an improved mechanism for distribution of aid to IDPs in the North East through the establishment of the Special Intervention Programme of the Federal Government. (Door-to-door strategy)
ECONOMY
Implementing the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) to aid economic recovery, taking the country out of her worst recession in 29 years, despite fall in oil prices.
N1.2 trillion expended on capital/infrastructure projects nationwide, a milestone in the nation’s history.
Effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account, and increasing government revenue by over N3 trillion as well as entrenching transparency and accountability.
Implementation of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), thus tackling corruption by plugging loopholes for siphoning of public fund and tracking of illicit funds through multiple accounts
Ease of doing business: the Federal Government signed into law two bills from the National Assembly (Acts are the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, 2017 (otherwise known as Collateral Registry Act) and the Credit Reporting Act, 2017) which has facilitated access to more affordable credit for Nigerians, fast tracked budget submissions and promotes Made-in-Nigeria products.
Establishment of the Presidential Quarterly Business Forum to enhance interaction and private sector participation in the development of the economy.
Institutionalizing E-governance setting the foundation for the creation of a truly digital economy.
Creation of opportunities for youths to leverage innovation in technology through the introduction of the Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD) through which over N700 million has been disbursed to young entrepreneurs.
The revitalization of the Made-in-Nigeria campaign. (Emphasis on consumption of local products gain grounds)
Implementing reforms in the civil service which has led to the elimination of over 30,000 ghost workers, thereby saving the country billions of naira monthly.
Massive investments in agriculture, e.g, Anchors Borrowers Programme to improve local produce, improving fertiliser distribution and access across states through the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative.
Reduction in rice imports as a result of government’s policies that has encouraged massive rice production across Nigeria.
Improving transport infrastructure (rail and road); construction work ongoing on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, renovation of Abuja International Airport runway, completion of Abuja – Kaduna Railway among others.
Social Investment Programmes (SIP): N-Power Volunteer Scheme creating jobs for over 200,000 (and still counting) unemployed graduates in all the 36 states and the FCT.
SIP: Ongoing Government Enterprise and Empowerment (GEEP) Scheme; commenced in November 2016 in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, where soft loans ranging from N10, 000 to N100, 000 have been given to over 189,000 market women and traders across different states.
SIP: Home Grown School Feeding Programme, where almost three million schoolchildren have been fed, while tens of thousands of cooks have been engaged in their respective states.
SIP: Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, under which about 25,000 less privileged Nigerians so far are now being funded with the monthly N5,000 stipend in 9 pilot States (Bauchi, Borno, Cross Rivers, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun and Oyo). More beneficiaries are expected to be added in more states.
The establishment of MSMEs Clinics, a small Business support programme to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in different states.
Establishment of One-Stop-Shops to support policies on Ease of Doing Business.
The take-off of the 2nd Niger Bridge.
Phasing out subsidy for petroleum products, elimination of fuel scarcity and queues in petrol stations.
Implementation of the FG Niger Delta new vision, a comprehensive road map to improve livelihood and social infrastructure.
Improved power generation nationwide adding $500million to Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund and about $87million to its excess crude account.
The creation of the N30billion Solid Minerals Development Fund.
Encouraging the patronage of local contents and increasing export in agriculture.
Signing of Executive Order 001 which is the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment – to ensure that public servants offer prompt service in a predictable and transparent manner, and sanction undue delays.
Signing of Executive Order 002 which is on prompt submission of annual budgetary estimates by all statutory and non-statutory agencies of the Federal Government including incorporated companies wholly owned by FG.
Bailout of cash crunch states; about N689 billion to 27 states of the federation to pay salaries in 2015.
Complete refund of Paris loan deductions to states (unprecedented).
Implementing the 2011 UNEP report for the ongoing Ogoni clean-up process after decades of oil spills and pollution.
Modification of the tax system so that it is more efficient.
Reforms in the airports (reconstruction of the Abuja airport runway and ongoing work at the Lagos airport).
Reforms at the nation’s seaports (Issues with cargo clearance at the ports addressed)
Improved duration (under 48 hours) for visa approval especially for investors.
Resuscitation of the nation’s refineries which are now working at 50 percent capacity for the first time in over a decade.
Eleven of the dead 33 fertilizer plants have been resuscitated while four others are to be revived shortly and this has profound impact on the ongoing revolution in the agricultural sector.
For the first time in more than 45 years, the Mambila Power Plant is set to take off with the allocation of $5.6billion for its realization and an expected 3,050 MW output upon completion.
Increasing external reserves to a 13 month high of $33 billion from $29.13 billion which has surpassed the ERGPs target of $30.56 billion despite global low oil prices and production challenges.
tion of the Joint Venture cash calls with oil multinational companies operating in Nigeria (For the first time in the history of the industry) which has led to savings of billions of dollars lost to fictitious contract payments.
Release of N2 billion take off grant for the Maritime University as part of measures to address agitations in the Niger Delta region.
The new development bank of Nigeria (DBN) is finally taking off with initial funding of $1.3billion (provided by the World Bank, German Development Bank, African Development Bank, Agence Francaise De Development) to provide medium and long term loans to MSMEs.
ANTI – GRAFT WAR.
Improving Nigeria’s international image and regional cooperation with neighbouring countries in fighting insurgency.
Anti-corruption war: Prosecuting alleged corrupt public officers and recovering billions of naira of stolen public funds; the successful establishment of the whistle-blower policy.
Signing of Executive Order 004 – Voluntary Income Asset Declaration Scheme (VAIDS). This aims to increase tax awareness and compliance, and reduce incidence of tax evasion.
Signing of agreements with a number of nations to provide Automatic Exchange of Information.
Signing of the Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) toward strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.
Establishment of PACAC – a think-tank that has provided leadership, direction and also built capacity of personnel in the fight against corruption.
OTHERS
Eradication of polio disease in the country.
The introduction of the One Primary Health Centre per ward programme of the Federal Government.
The Oyo State Government has directed officials of the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development to halt the marking and demolition of houses situated beyond the 150-metre setback along the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road.
The decision comes as part of ongoing efforts to address the Oyo Govt Halts Demolition Beyond 150metres Along Ladoja Ibadan Circular Road of affected residents, while an enumeration of properties within the corridor is being conducted to ensure adequate compensation.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, during a joint press briefing on Friday with the Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Professor Dahud Kehinde Shangodoyin, at the Ministry’s Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan.
Akin-Funmilayo emphasised that Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s administration remains committed to prioritising the welfare of its citizens, denying claims that the governor had extended the setback from 150 metres to 500 metres.
He clarified that no new land acquisitions had been made in the Circular Road corridor since Governor Makinde assumed office in 2019.
He explained that the 150-metre setback on both sides of the road was initially acquired in August 2006 during the administration of Senator Rashidi Ladoja. An additional 350 metres on both sides was acquired and gazetted by the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2018.
“The governor has not acquired a single square metre of land along the Circular Road since 2019,” Akin-Funmilayo stated. “We are simply continuing with what was met on the ground, and we are developing the 150-metre segment for construction.”
He reassured residents that properties within the 150-metre boundary will be preserved, including housing settlements and villages, with no immediate plans for total clearance.
The commissioner also stressed that the current markings of buildings are for enumeration purposes, to assess affected properties for compensation and to prevent further unauthorised construction within the acquired land.
“Our focus now is on stopping new developments and determining the existing structures,” he explained. “The markings do not necessarily indicate demolition; they are part of the process to freeze further development and ensure proper compensation is made to those affected.”
The government, he added, has already started compensating residents whose properties are impacted by the project.
Akin-Funmilayo also instructed that no buildings beyond the 150-metre boundary should be marked or demolished at this time.
“We are taking every step to minimise the impact of the road construction on residents,” he said. “While some buildings will have to go, compensation will be paid fairly, and we are also exploring the option of providing alternate land to those affected.”
Prince Niyi Fasoye, speaking on behalf of the affected residents, expressed hope for more favourable responses from the government as the enumeration and compensation processes unfold.
The government has urged residents to support its efforts, assuring them that the project is being carried out in the public interest and not for personal gain.
The first phase of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit has transported over 250,000 passengers in just over 100 days since it began commercial operations.
This was revealed by John Zhao, an official of the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), which constructed and operates the rail system.
Zhao shared the update on his X handle on Friday.
According to Zhao, the rail network, consisting of two lines, covers a total length of 45 kilometers, with 12 stations across the city.
The trains have been operating safely, reaching a maximum speed of 100km/h, since commercial operations began on May 29, 2024, following its commissioning by President Bola Tinubu.
The rail lines connect the Abuja city center, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, and the Kubwa satellite town.
Zhao highlighted the impact of the rail system on traffic in the city, stating, “The Phase 1 of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit by #CCECC has been operating safely for over 100 days! Consisting of 2 lines with a total length of 45 km and 12 stations, the maximum operating speed of the trains can reach 100km/h. It connects Abuja city center, the international airport, and Kubwa satellite town. During its operation, over 250,000 passengers have already been served, significantly reducing traffic congestion in the capital.”
Popularly known as the Abuja Metro Rail, the service has provided a vital link for commuters, easing the burden on the city’s road network.
Also, President Tinubu recently approved the extension of free rides on the rail system for another six months, until the end of 2024. This follows an earlier announcement by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, offering commuters two months of free rides.
Canada has announced an immediate end to the policy allowing holders of visitor visas to apply for work permits from within the country.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, highlighting the move as part of broader efforts to manage the number of temporary residents and maintain the integrity of the immigration system.
The statement noted that while the temporary policy was originally set to expire on February 28, 2025, the decision to terminate it was accelerated due to concerns over misuse.
“IRCC is also aware that some bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorization,” the statement read.
The IRCC further assured that applications submitted before August 28, 2024, under the policy, will still be processed.
The policy was initially introduced in August 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed at assisting visitors who were unable to return home due to border closures.
It permitted them to apply for a work permit without needing to exit Canada. Additionally, it enabled those who had held a work permit within the previous 12 months but had switched to visitor status to legally work in Canada while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.
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