Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated several projects in Kano State

He described ongoing infrastructure development across the country as ‘fantastic’ urging citizens to appreciate what they have as the situation in the country is not dire when compared with other countries.

While in Kano, the President commissioned the National Tier IV Data Centre under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and the office complex of Galaxy Backbone Limited.

‘‘The Tier IV Data Centre is the highest anywhere in the world and this is the best Centre in the country and the first in Northern Nigeria’’ Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, told the President at the unveiling of the plaque to commemorate the formal inauguration.

Pantami added that the Datacentre, in the first stage, has a provision for storage of 2.2 petabytes and a possibility for expansion.

Video:
Commissioning the National Tier VI Data Centre in Kano by His Excellency, President @MBuhari. The project is for the Federal Government of Nigeria to be managed by @Galaxybackbone. pic.twitter.com/h54vlK8L7G

— Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim, CON (@ProfIsaPantami) January 30, 2023

Dala Inland Dry Port

The President had earlier inaugurated the Dala Inland Dry Port hosted by Kano State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government.

The Inland Dry Port Project was conceived as part of the Federal Government’s Ports Reform Programme designed to decongest the seaports, while also taking shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland.

On the Dala Inland Dry Port, the Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Sambo, recalled that in March 2006 the Federal Executive Council had granted approval for the establishment of this critical transport infrastructure at chosen locations across the country.

He said the infrastructure would undergo a concession to private sector operators on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) with a strategic framework to Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model.

‘‘Dala Inland Dry Port at Zawachiki in Kano State was among the six Inland Dry Ports approved and the concessioned went to Messrs Dala Inland Dry Port Nigeria Limited,’’ he said.

He stated that the dry port has been designated a Customs port with all the prerequisites of an international port including Customs, Immigration, Port Health Officials and Government security agencies.

He thanked Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State for his investments on infrastructural development particularly, road networks amongst others which has made the Dala Inland Dry Port a reality.

10MW Haske Solar Plant

The President also inaugurated the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)-funded 10MW Haske Solar Plant in a 24-hectare land in Kumbotso Local Government of Kano State.

The plant, which links industrial customers to an additional power supply, represents a significant step towards efforts to provide clean, reliable, and sustainable energy for all Nigerians.

The 10MW plant is the largest completed solar plant in Nigeria and the first under the NSIA renewable energy platform.

On the 10MW Haske Solar Plant, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, described the solar plant as a significant achievement in Nigeria’s power generation, achieving the energy transition goal as well as increasing the share of renewable energy in the power mix.

The Minister revealed that the construction of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant project is almost completed, while other power plant projects are at various stages of completion.

Family Homes Funds Estate

President Buhari also inaugurated the Family Homes Funds Estate, Darmanawa, Kano, which consists of 469 affordable housing units with ancillary infrastructure.

The inauguration is coming on the heels of the inauguration of the 2,600 Housing Estate on Potiskum road, Damaturu, Yobe State, a project executed by Family Homes in partnership with the Yobe State Government.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed that over 16,000 houses have been successfully built in the past 4 years by Family Homes Funds Limited, under the guidance of the Ministry.

She recalled that the Ministry together with the NSIA established Family Homes Funds Limited with a structured approach to address the housing deficiency issue in the country.

‘‘We had a vision to support your government’s housing agenda by ensuring we cater for the low-income earners of Nigeria by providing quality houses that are affordably priced,’’ she said.

The President also inaugurated the Cancer Treatment Centre at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyum Muhammadu Buhari Road Interchange at NNPC Mega Station Hotoro and Aliko Dangote Ultra-Modern Skill Acquisition Centre, Zaria Road.

The President who spoke at a State Banquet in Kano to conclude his one-day official visit to the State after inaugurating several projects executed by the Federal and State governments and the private sector.

‘‘We have a great country but we do not appreciate it until we visit our neighbors and other countries where the preoccupation is for people to have one good meal a day. 

‘‘When I fly by helicopter, the number of high-rise buildings I see and the amount of development on the ground are fantastic. We thank God. We thank God. We thank God,’’ he said.

President Buhari urged the elites to encourage and inspire young people to embrace education, saying whether we like it or not we are going to leave the country for them.

‘‘They must embrace education for education’s sake. Technology has made it possible for short cuts but nothing can replace real learning. Please encourage the children to learn.”

He congratulated Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State for doing very well on infrastructure, adding that his recent State visits to Kogi, Yobe, Lagos and Katsina have shown that the respective Governors have done very well, within the confines of funds available to them.

Security 

On security, the President, who described boko haram as a fraudulent organization with links to international groups bent on destroying Nigeria, said his administration has succeeded in decimating the terror group, limiting their capacity to inflict harm.

Earlier, while paying homage to the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, President Buhari urged Nigerians to respect traditional institutions and accord them the honour they deserve.

The President, who also inaugurated the Emir’s Council Chambers at the Palace, said of the traditional institution:

‘‘This system is good. It is good in the sense that our traditional institutions are respected and honoured. 

‘‘It is very important that we have understood the politics and we are respecting people from the bottom to upwards and this is common sense because people matter.

‘‘What the children see now is what they will hope to be in the future and the older ones hope that they can make their influence felt and improve the governance in the country from bottom upwards.’’

He thanked the Emir of Kano for associating him with the success of the traditional institution, lauding him for the vast improvement in the lot of his people, since he ascended the throne three years ago.

The Emir of Kano, who underscored the importance of the visit, thanked President Buhari for granting approval to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the deadline for the phasing out of old currency notes, and by implication the implementation of the cashless policy.

‘‘This is an indication that the President is focused on alleviating the plight of the citizenry and indeed a listening leader,’’ he said.

Election 

The Royal Father expressed appreciation to the Federal and States Government for the developmental projects in the State as well as the support to the Emirate.

He added that the ongoing electioneering campaigns should serve as an opportunity for politicians to understand the challenges facing the people and devise a means to solve them.

The Emir prayed for peaceful elections, as well as peace and prosperity in the country.

PIAK

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo says a cashless policy, when effectively operated, can help stem the surge of illicit election financing by making it possible to track funds.

He stated this on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he received a delegation of the European Union Election Observation Mission led by Mr Barry Andrews, the Chief Observer, who is also a member of the European Parliament.

“I think that what we should be looking at is to provide more infrastructures. The cashless thing has been really advantageous and helps with tracking.

“That sort of infrastructure is useful for more financial inclusion and the more financial inclusion you have, the easier it is to track.”

Prof. Osinbajo said so much money could be spent without it being tracked under the current election financing practices in the country.

Pointing out the serious difficulty the country faces in controlling election financing because of cash transactions, the vice president said that there were still infrastructure issues required to be in place to ensure an efficient cashless system in the country.

“With cash transactions, it is still difficult to seriously control election financing,” he said.

On the issue of electoral offences, the vice president said that there is the Electoral Offences Commission Bill at the National Assembly and expressed hope that it would begin a new regime of dealing with electoral offences which would be helpful.

“By and large, one shouldn’t expect INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) to be the investigator of electoral offences.

“I think that law enforcement agencies should be responsible for arresting and prosecuting offenders, State by State.

“Electoral offences are always seen through a political prism; people will always feel that they are being prosecuted because they belong to a certain party.

“What is more important is that we have to find a system where the police could have a special unit for offences during the course of elections. The Federal High Courts could also have a special jurisdiction to deal with offences and not extend beyond the Federal High Courts.” 

On the role of the judicial system, the Vice President said more attention should be paid to the monitoring of tribunals and their outcomes, calling for more scrutiny from the National Judicial Council.

He disclosed that discussions have been had in the past concerning malfeasance on the part of some judges and those found guilty should be brought to the fore.

“There should be sanctions and that way, we would be able to clean up and correct some of the problems,” Prof. Osinbajo stated.

The EU Chief Observer, Mr Andrews said the Observer Mission would be monitoring the elections coming up next month and hoped for a peaceful and fair electoral process.

According to him, this is the 7th time the Independent National Electoral Commission is inviting the EU Mission to monitor the elections.

He added that the team has been in the country since 11th January and would be here till the end of March 2023.

Other members of the delegation include Ms Samuela Isopi, Ambassador, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS and Mr Thomas Boserup, Deputy Chief Observer, EU Election Observation Mission.

PIAK

The Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria 2023, Mr Barry Andrews, Member of the European Parliament, has officially launched the mission in the country.

Mr Andrews at the official launch of the observation mission in Abuja, the country’s capital, urged stakeholders to ensure that the elections are peaceful, free and fair.

According to him, all observers are guided by a code of conduct, which requires strict impartiality and non-interference in the election.

It would be recalled that on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo received the delegation of the European Union Election Observation Mission led by Mr Barry Andrews.

READ ALSO: Cashless policy can help track election financing – VP Osinbajo

Mr Andrews said about one hundred observers had been deployed to follow the electoral process in all the 36 states of the federation including the federal capital territory.

“This is the seventh EU Election Observation Mission to Nigeria since 1999. The EU attaches great significance to these elections.”

The EU EOM Chief Observer urged authorities, candidates and political parties in Nigeria to ensure that the upcoming general election is peaceful and further election-related violence is prevented.

“Every voter has the right to cast their ballot in a safe environment free from intimidation and undue influence. “We encourage the authorities, candidates, and political parties to commit to peaceful conduct prior to, during and after Election Day. Cooperation between all institutions and parties participating in the elections is crucial. The presence of a level playing field, freedom of expression, assembly and association, respect for human rights and a neutral and independent election management body at all levels are all essential for democratic elections.”

The EU Chief Observer said the mission would also study the new electoral law and interact with the stakeholders on the challenges ahead.

He said the 2022 electoral act which introduced new measures aimed at enhancing various aspect of the conduct would be closely followed to monitor its implementation.

The Chief observer explained that the mission had met with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on the EU observation; Nigeria was prepared for the 2023 election

He said they have also met with media representatives and took their concern and challenges seriously.

The European Union Election Observation Mission is expected to present its preliminary reports two days after the elections.

During his four-day visit to Nigeria, the Chief Observer has met with a wide range of interlocutors including state authorities, the Independent National Electoral Commission, political contestants, members of the judiciary, media stakeholders, citizen observers as well as other civil society representatives to discuss the ongoing electoral process.

The EU has deployed the EU EOM following an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In total, the mission will comprise around one hundred observers from twenty-five EU Member States.

All mission members are bound by a code of conduct, which requires strict impartiality and non-interference in the elections.

The EU EOM undertakes its work in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation as commemorated at the United Nations.

The EU EOM operates under a separate and distinct mandate from the EU Delegation in Nigeria, and it is independent in its findings from EU Member States and all EU institutions.

The EU EOM will be in the country till the end of March 2023.

PIAK