Tag Archives: State House

President Buhari Meets The 21 Released Chibok Girls In State House. [Pictures]

Posted on by
1

President Muhammadu Buhari received the 21 recently released Chibok girls at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.

Prior to the meeting, the girls, who were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014, underwent screening.

The former captives were released last week following negotiations between the federal government and Boko Haram, with intervention from the Swiss government and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The government is allegedly working to release the remaining Chibok girls as well as other Nigerians captured by the terrorist group.

“Today I received 21 dear daughters,” the president said on his Twitter page.

“They have seen the worst that the world has to offer. It is now time for them to experience the best.”

 

chibok-girls2

 

Mr. Buhari gave the following speech:

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT THE RECEPTION FOR THE RECENTLY RELEASED 21 CHIBOK SCHOOL GIRLS AT THE STATE HOUSE, ABUJA OCTOBER 19, 2016

My dear children. This is a happy moment for me and for all Nigerians. I welcome you back to freedom. It is a moment your parents, the Nation and the International Community have been eagerly waiting for, since your abduction on 14th April 2014.

We must from the onset, thank Almighty God for this day that 21 of the Chibok girls have again breathed the air of freedom and are reunited with their parents. We are equally prayerful, that God in his infinite mercies and benevolence, will see to it that the girls remaining in captivity will be freed and returned to us soonest.

All Nigerians recall, sadly the night of 14th April 2014, 276 young female Nigerian students were abducted from the Government Secondary School in Chibok Borno State by the Boko Haram.

Fortunately, 57 of the kidnapped school girls were able to escape, leaving 219 in captivity. One of the abducted girls, Amina Ali was found in May 2016. And today we are here celebrating the freedom and return of another 21 girls that regained freedom on Thursday 13th October. We are equally as hopeful as we are praying, that the remaining girls will be freed and returned to us without further delay.

 

chibok-girls1

 

The release of these 21 girls followed a series of negotiations between Government and the Boko Haram group, brokered by our friends both local and International. Since this Administration assumed office, we have been working towards the safe release of the girls. The Nigerian DSS, Military and other Security Agencies have spared no effort to secure our girls. These 21 girls are the manifestation of our doggedness and commitments to the release and return of the Chibok girls.

While joining their parents to rejoice and praise the Almighty, we shall redouble efforts to ensure that we fulfill our pledge of bringing the remaining girls back home. Already, the credible first step has been taken and Government will sustain the effort until all the remaining girls return safely

These 21 girls will be given adequate and comprehensive medical, nutritional and psychological care and support. The Federal Government will rehabilitate them, and ensure that their reintegration back to the Society is done as quickly as possible.

Aside from rescuing them, we are assuming the responsibility for their personal, educational and professional goals and ambitions in life. Obviously, it is not late for the girls to go back to school and continue the pursuit of their studies.

 

chibok-girls3

 

These dear daughters of ours have seen the worst that the world has to offer. It is now time for them to experience the best that the world can do for them.  The Government and all Nigerians must encourage them to achieve their desired ambitions.

The Federal Government appreciates the patience and understanding of the parents of all the abducted Chibok girls. We equally thank Nigerians and the International Community for their support and prayers, and for never losing confidence in our ability to secure the safe release of our girls.

Once again, I congratulate the 21 released girls, their parents, the Chibok Community the security agencies and all Nigerians on this day of delight and rejoicing.

Thank You.

State House Reporters Restricted From Covering John Kerry’s Visit

Posted on by
Reply

Indications emerged on Monday that reporters covering the State House have been restricted from covering the visit of the United States (US) Secretary of State, John Kerry, to the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to receive Kerry by 3p.m.

According to sources, only photographers and videographers will cover his visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The photographers and videographers that will be allowed to establish arrival of Kerry by 2.55 pm, according to sources, are expected to set-up by 2.15 p.m.

Also only the official photographers and videographer will be allowed to establish the bilateral meeting at the President’s office.

The Secretary of State will not grant any press interview at the end of the meeting with the President.

After meeting Buhari, Kerry is expected to meet with select Governors from the Northern part of Nigeria at the State House Press Waiting Room.

Again seven media personnel comprising of photographers and videographers will be allowed to establish the event.

At the end of the meeting with the governors, Kerry again will not grant any press interview.

Reporters, according to the sources, won’t be allowed near the visiting Secretary of State.

Credit:

Kerry’s visit: State House reporters restricted

Buhari Welcomes Jacob Zuma At State House

Posted on by
1
President Buhari received visiting South African President, Jacob Zuma, at the state house today. Zuma is on a two day state visit to Nigeria.
The Federal Government says South African President Jacob Zuma is visiting President Buhari today with a view to deepening the trade relations between both nations.

See photos of his arrival below:

Buhari Receives Pastor Adeboye, Ooni Of Ife In State House (PHOTOS)

Posted on by
1

President Buhari receives in audience, H.R.H. Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife in Statehouse, also he welcomed Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Pictures below are shared by the president’s official photographer, Bayo Omoboriowo.

President Buhari receives in audience, H.R.H. Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife in Statehouse on 16th Feb 2016
President Buhari receives in audience Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Statehouse on 16th Feb 2016

Permanent Secretary Explains State House Medical Centre Budget

Posted on by
1

The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr Jalal Arabi, has reacted to criticisms that the 3.219 billion naira budget for the State House Medical Center is over bloated.

Mr Arabi appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs and the House Committee on Special Duties, to defend the 2016 budget appropriation to the state house.

Having given a breakdown of some of the key areas of the budget before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, the amount allocated to the medical centre attracted most criticism. The same questions he faced at the House of Representatives Committee on Special Duties.

The Permanent Secretary explained that the State House, among others, extends to Marina and the Dordan Barracks in Lagos and most of the infrastructure in the places are calling for attention and need to be made to function optimally, hence the need for increase in budgetary allocation to the State House.

He said that the improvement of the medical center will propel it to serve as a center of excellence and reduce medical tourism.

He added that the medical center does not charge fees for its services and hence does not generate revenue for itself.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Total Sum Buhari Will Spend Running State House Compared To Jonathan- Report

Posted on by
1

President Muhammadu Buhari will spend N18.1 billion in 2016 to run the State House, Nigeria’s seat of power, an amount that is N11.5 billion more than what his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, spent in 2015.

The amount is also N5.9 billion more than what Mr. Jonathan spent in 2014 on the State House,  according to the details of the 2016 budget.

Mr. Buhari will, however, reduce the cost of feeding for the first and second families, when compared to what the Jonathan administration spent in previous years.

Mr. Buhari presented a N6.08 trillion budget to the National Assembly last week, promising more jobs, economic growth and a cut-down on frivolous spending. But details of the budget show that the State House will cumulatively receive N18.1 billion in 2016.

In 2014, Mr. Jonathan spent N12.2 billion on the State House, while in 2015, the government spent N6.6 billion for the presidential office, amid dwindling revenue occasioned by sliding oil prices.

The costs cover the State House Headquarters, the president’s office and the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. They also cover the budgets of the State House medical centre and the Lagos Liaison office.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Ex-Perm Sec Returns Two Cars To State House

Posted on by
1

The former Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr Nebolisa Emordi, on Wednesday returned the two official cars and Villa identity card in his possession as he bowed out of office.

 

He handed over the property to the Director of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), in a brief ceremony held in his former office.

 

Emordi, who had put in about 31 years in the civil service, was among the permanent secretaries retired by President Muhammadu Buhari on the eve of the inauguration of his 36 new ministers.

 

In an emotion-laden speech, Emordi thanked Buhari for the “honour and rare privilege of working as the permanent secretary of the state house” that he gave him since he assumed office on May 29.

 

He said he believed very much in the public service and that Buhari had reflected all the positive images expected of the service.

 

“I will continue to fervently pray for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to correct the various ills that are facing the nation,” he said.

 

He said the return of the public property entrusted to him in the course of his assignment was in line with the accountability and transparency posture of the President.

Emordi thanked the President for the humane and fatherly manner he conveyed the decision of the Federal Government to the 16 retired permanent secretaries.

 

According to him, “he could have ordered an announcement and you could have just heard it but he invited us to a meeting and explained why government had to take some tough decisions and why we were affected.”

 

The former perm sec said that nobody knew exactly how his journey might end and same was applicable to the civil service.

He said the private sector was prone to instant termination and the public sector also not insulated from such “sudden deaths”.

 

Emordi described nation building as a relay where everyone comes to play a part and allows the next person to improve the service to the Nigerian people.

“It is a musical chair and any person that finds himself in such an assignment strives to give his best at all times as required of the scheme and the Constitution.”

 

While he apologised to the workers who might have felt aggrieved in the course of his service, he also prayed for God’s guidance for those affected in the pursuit of future goals.

“I have enjoyed working in the State House with all the issues, handling human beings, some pleasant
experiences and some not very pleasant experiences.

“But that is life and we took it in our stride and tried to do our best; so, I want to plead with you to extend the same level of corporation that you have accorded me to the in-coming permanent secretary.”

 

NAN reports that the new Acting Permanent Secretary, Jalal Arabi, had assumed duties.