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Report any bribe-seeking Nigerian official to me, Tinubu tells Qatari investors

Published

11 months ago

March 4, 2024

President Bola Tinubu has assured the international business community that Nigeria is ready for serious business as his administration will deal decisively with any and all entrenched interests in the country who undermine investor confidence in the Nigerian economy, pledging to remove all bottlenecks standing in the way of profitable and legitimate enterprise.

Speaking at the Nigeria-Qatar Business and Investment Forum in Doha, on Sunday, President Tinubu told Qatari investors that Africa’s largest economy and its systems are being reformed and upgraded, and asked Qatar’s captains of industry to report any government official who demands a bribe or any form of inducement at any point in their business endeavour moving forward with full assurance of their direct access to the President’s Office.

“I am here to give you the assurance that reforms are going on; forget about whatever you heard in the past. Whatever is the obstacle or problem that some of you might have experienced; it is in the past, because there is no obstacle in the future.”

“Do not offer a bribe to any of our people, and if it is requested or taken from you, report to us. You will have access to me. Nigeria will no longer be defined by the past, but by what we do now and moving forward. Do not let perceptions become a hindrance to your will to invest.

Nigeria is serious about revolutionizing investment promotion. We are removing obstacles today and we are going to continue to remove all obstacles. We have done so much within nine months. And I am assuring you, it is free entry, and free exit. Your funds will flow smoothly into and out of our country. Bring your investments,” the President stated.

Moreover, the President noted that the war against corruption and insecurity in Nigeria had been significantly strengthened with the appointment of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as National Security Adviser (NSA).

“We have a man who has won many global awards for anti-corruption as an anti-corruption czar.”

“My responsibility is to tell you that Nigeria is open for business, and to assure you that your investments are safe in our hands. We have men and women of great reputation here. And we believe we can forge a good committee that will advance our discussions to fruitful conclusions.”

“A nation is an artificial entity unless there are good people to drive it. People build great nations and we have great people. We are ready,” the President affirmed.

The President also noted that Nigeria possesses vast opportunities in various fields, telling his host: “We have oil and gas; we have solid minerals. I do not see why we cannot become prolific partners in exploring iron ore, as well as steel production, and energy across the board.

“I am here to give you assurances in all spheres: tourism, hospitality, healthcare, and in many other opportunities that abound around us. Do not be the investors who miss out on the golden opportunity we present,” the President added.

Welcoming the Nigerian delegation in the presence of Qatari captains of industry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani, Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, said his country looks forward to exploring opportunities in Nigeria, owing to its population demography and market, as it seeks to prioritize new investments in low carbon initiatives, mineral products, petroleum chemicals, industry, and consumables.
“We look forward to working with our Nigerian counterparts to achieve our joint objectives in these sectors,” the Minister said.

Accompanying the President to the Nigeria-Qatar Business and Investment Forum were: Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum; Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola; Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Youth, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperipe Ekpo.

Also at the meeting were the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Special Adviser on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen; and the President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Dele Kelvin Oye.

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How BPP Saved Nigeria N1.9 Trillion in 15 Years – DG

Published

15 minutes ago

January 20, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has revealed that it saved Nigeria a total of N1.9 trillion by reviewing procurement processes and verifying contract sums from 2009 to 2023.

The Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, stated during a budget defense session with the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement on Monday in Abuja.

He said: “Mr. Chairman, the Bureau’s Price Intelligence mechanism has generated significant savings to the federal government. The prior review of procurements and the verification of contract sums and approach, has resulted in cumulative savings of over N1.9trillion , and this has prevented funds from being diverted into personal pockets.

“This process also helps to reduce excessive projects costs and release more funds for other development investments”.

According to the BPP Boss these include in 2009 N46.519bn, 2010 N216.690bn, 2011:NN77.652bn, 2012:N124.113bn, 2013: N95.797bn, 2014: N127.368bn and 2015:

N49.519bn.

The rest are 2016: N32.398bn, 2017:N78.977bn, 2018:N170.485bn, 2019: N49.142bn, 2020:N172.676bn, 2021:N146.961bn, 2022:N365.568bn and 2023: N146.410bn totalling N1,900,282,844,421.28 trillion.

He said that beyond the direct savings, the bureau’s compliance mechanisms have also played a role in boosting revenue by ensuring bidders are up-to-date on their tax, pension, and social security payments before participating in any procurement process.

However, the Director-General expressed concern over the budgetary ceiling imposed on the agency, which he feared could undermine this and other strategies designed to enhance the system.

During the budget planning process, the Bureau requested N72,775,250,713, but the Budget Office allocated only N3,283,021,838, excluding the Personnel budget of N649,558,451.59.

Regarding the 2024 budget performance, he noted that N2,234,785,641 was allocated, with N2,110,061,164 utilized. However, the capital allocation of N289,418,688 was insufficient to achieve significant reforms or address the core mandates needed for effective contract administration. So far, only N184,024,690 of the capital expenditure allocation has been released.

For the 2025 budget, Adedokun highlighted the agency’s focus on addressing office accommodation needs, improving project monitoring and evaluation across the country, implementing an electronic procurement system, and enhancing capacity building.

While thanking the Committee for its continued support, he appealed for additional funding to help the Bureau meet its objectives.

“We also realise that we need to also intensify our audit exercise. It is better to prevent than to prosecute. Under our watch our strategy is to ensure we prevent misuse of funds through real time IT tools in procurement audit.

“We want to go digital in terms of our workflow, which means even if DG is not on seat, certification can be done anywhere in the country. We also provided for an upgrade of our national database of contractors and service providers.

“Under the 2025 budget, it would no longer be business as usual. We will be categorizing contractors meaning that contractors of equal competence must bid for projects within their funding capacity.

“I want to assure you that we have the capacity to transform the procurement space within the shortest possible time. We will do more if empowered financially.

“If we use procurement as a tool for good governance, it would reduce corruption and poverty and increase employment and industry if this appeal is given due consideration.

“BPP has the capacity to contribute significantly to the GDP of the country through the innovations we are bringing on board”, he stated.

Adedokun said the various achievements by the Agency over the years has been with very limited funding.

He said under his administration the Bureau is committed to making the contracting process even more efficient, transparent and competitive for foreign and local contractors.

Chairman of the Committee, Unyime Idem, said they were mindful of the ceiling imposed on the agency and would do something about that.

“I want to assure you that what you have seen before us the proposal, so we would engage the committee in charge of appropriation to ensure that those inadequacies in terms of funding are addressed,” he added.

Idem also said the BPP remains a vital institution for the ability of any government to achieve good governance and deliver the dividends of democracy.

He said if the BPP improves its productivity in playing its full role, it will improve the quality of governance, procurement and project management.

“However, how can the above be achieved without an empowered BPP? I have looked at the data with respect to the allocation to the BPP in 2024, which indicates that it was allocated N2,234,785,641 and N2,110,061,164 was released under the 2024 budget.

“Under the budget proposal before the National Assembly, the Budget Office of the Federation and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning allocated to the BPP a maximum ceiling of N3,383,021,838, excluding personnel cost. This is notwithstanding the impact of inflation between January 2024 and January 2025″.

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Presidency Slams Kemi Badenoch’s Insultive Remarks About Nigeria

Published

3 hours ago

January 20, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, to stop making disparaging remarks about Nigeria.

The Nigerian-born politician, sparked controversy in 2024 following repeated critical comments about her country of birth.

In her first address of the year at an event hosted by Onward, a British think tank focused on economic and social issues, Badenoch criticized Nigeria’s governance. She stated she did not want Britain to mirror what she described as Nigeria’s “terrible government,” which, in her words, “destroys lives.”

Emphasizing the need for reform and trust-building in governance, Badenoch argued that the Conservative Party was the right choice to steer the UK away from such pitfalls. She warned that without significant changes, Britain could risk adopting systemic flaws similar to those she attributed to Nigeria.

The remarks prompted a response from Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Policy Communications. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Bwala urged Badenoch to avoid using Nigeria as a rhetorical tool to gain favor with her political base.

“I truly wish that sister Kemi Badenoch would avoid denigrating Nigeria, the country of her origin, as a weapon to please her far-right base,” Bwala wrote. He drew a parallel with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, noting that Sunak had never criticized India, his ancestral home, to gain political advantage.

Bwala praised Badenoch’s intelligence and political accomplishments but expressed disappointment over her negative rhetoric about Nigeria. “She is smart, intelligent, and we are proud of her rise in UK politics, but we are equally saddened by her terrible rhetoric against Nigeria,” he added.

This development underscores ongoing tensions surrounding the portrayal of Nigeria on international platforms, particularly by individuals with ties to the country. It raises broader questions about the balance between constructive criticism and national pride in political discourse.

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BREAKING: Falana Declares INEC Should Stop Conducting By-Elections

Published

3 hours ago

January 20, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Constitutional lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to stop conducting by-elections in the country as such by-elections only lead to unnecessary and wasteful spending of funds.

Falana who made the call in a statement on Sunday, argued that since votes recorded during elections belong to political parties, the replacement of elected candidates as a result of death or resignation should not call for a by-election. “The political parties that sponsored the candidates that die or resign should be directed to fill the vacancy by nominating another candidate,” the lawyer said. He also urged the National Assembly to amend the electoral act to allow parties to replace elected officers without resorting to by-elections.

“The National Assembly should therefore amend the Electoral Act to allow political parties to replace elected public officers who lose their positions as a result of death, resignation or impeachment.

By virtue of Section 221 of the Nigerian Constitution, elections are won by political parties and not by candidates. “In the case of Amaechi vs. INEC & Ors (2 008) LCN/3642 (SC), the Supreme Court held that “The above provision (i.e.Section 221) effectually removes the possibility of independent candidacy in our elections, and places emphasis and responsibility in elections on political parties. Without a political party, a candidate cannot contest

“In his own contribution to the judgment, Pius Olayiwola Aderemi JSC (of blessed memory) emphatically stated that “…it is the political parties that the electorates do vote for at election time. “In P D.P. v. I.N.E.C. (1999)7SC (PT II) 30, Mr. Boni Haruna was allowed to be the governor of Adamawa State following the resignation of the elected governor, Mr Atiku Abubakar, who had been nominated as Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. “For some inexplicable reasons, the Independent National Electoral Commission changed the law when it decided to conduct an additional election after the death of Mr. Audu Abubakar who had emerged the Governor of Kogi State,” he said.