STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE:

ONGOING REFORMS IN CUSTOMS SERVICE WILL ENHANCE REGIONAL TRADE AND BOOST SECURITY - PRESIDENT JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan said Tuesday in Abuja that in addition to
enhancing regional and continental trade, ongoing reforms in the Nigerian
Customs Service will also boost security in the country by helping to
curtail the influx of illegal small arms and light weapons.


Speaking at an audience with the visiting Secretary General of the World
Customs Organization, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, President Jonathan said that the
reforms were necessitated by the need to re-define the core values and
operations of the service.


The President told Mr. Mikuriya that with the reforms, the Nigerian Customs
Service was being progressively modernized and given the additional role of
trade facilitation.


"I started out my career in the Nigeria Customs Service. Within that period
and now, there have been significant changes. The role of the Customs
Service as a trade facilitator is becoming more apparent.


"We promise you that the Nigerian government will continue to support
reforms in the Customs. If we do things well, others will emulate us in the
region," he said


President Jonathan congratulated the Secretary General on his re-election
to lead the global body, saying that it must have been due to his strong
leadership skills.


Mr. Mikuriya told the President that he had toured ports in Lagos  and the
Nigeria Customs College, where well motivated staff showed a readiness to
learn and deploy new skills in their operations.


He said he also met with the business community in Lagos who testified to
the positive impact of ongoing reforms in the Customs Service.



Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS GOVERNOR SHETTIMA IS IGNORANT OF MILITARY EFFORTS TO CONTAIN BOKO HARAM INSURGENTS

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS GOVERNOR SHETTIMA IS IGNORANT OF MILITARY EFFORTS TO CONTAIN BOKO HARAM INSURGENTS

The Federal Government has dismissed claims by the Borno state Government that the Boko haram insurgents are better armed by the Nigerian military.

The special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said the Governor Shettima was
speaking from a military perspective and lacked proper information on efforts by the military
to contain the insurgency.

Mr Okupe asked Nigerians to remain calm and continue to trusty on the federal governement's
ability to contain the crisis.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DESCRIBES DEATH OF SENATOR BALAT AS SHOCKING.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DESCRIBES DEATH OF SENATOR BALAT AS SHOCKING.

The Federal government has described the death of Senator Isaiah Balat as shocking.

President Goodluck Jonathan via a press release by his spokesperson Reuben Abati described Mr
Balat as a loving and meritorious political leader who served the country passionately.

Also Vice President Namadi Sambo via another press release thorough his spokesman Umar Sani
said the late Senator was a notable personality who had made great sacrifices for the country.

The presidency condoled with Mr Balat's immediate family and his relatives.

Until his death, Senator Isaiah Balat was the Special Adviser to the
President on Special Duties attached to the Office of the Vice President, He had also served
as a one time Senator and Minister of Nigeria and hailed from Kaduna state.

AREWA CONSULTATIVE FORUM CRITICIZES PROLIFERATION OF ELDER GROUPS IN THE NORTH

AREWA CONSULTATIVE FORUM CRITICIZES PROLIFERATION OF ELDER GROUPS IN THE NORTH

The Arewa Consultative Forum ACF has criticized what it says is the proliferation of elder groups
in the north which claim to speak on behalf of the people.

The Chairman of the A.C.F Board of Patrons and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon while
inaugurating new leaders for the ACF in Kaduna yesterday said the forum was formed to pursue
peaceful co-existence and foster cooperation.

Mr Gowon said that the rise up of different groups claiming to be elder groups are not working
to support the ACF's objectives and added that though the region has experienced security
shortcomings, he is confident that it will soon be a thing of the past.

Vice President Namadi Sambo who was in attendance commended the ACF for their objectives and
called for the need of a regional plan to boost the economy of the North.

Mr sambo said Northern leaders should align with the efforts of the federal government in
improving education, agriculture and health, and also to diversify the Nigerian economy
because they which will have long lasting effects on northern growth and development.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS DEMAND F.G TO FISH OUT KILLERS OF CLERICS

RELIGIOUS LEADERS DEMAND F.G TO FISH OUT KILLERS OF CLERICS

Religious leaders have asked the federal government to bring the killers of Islamic clerics to Justice.

Sheikh Abdullahi Bala-lau while speaking at the 1st Annual Conference of the Ahlus-sunnah of Nigeria organised by the Izalatul Bid’a wa Ikamatus-Sunnah in Lagos, said there is a need for the federal government to ensure the violence in the North especially the North East is brought to an end.

Sheik Bala-lau said Islam has lost many notable scholars in the conflict and said it is in everybody’s interest for the violence to come to an end.

President Jonathan who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo assured those present that the federal government is working towards bring peace to the country.

President Jonathan said government will soon start the implementation of the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Conflict Resolution of Security Challenges in the North.

He charged religious leaders to preach peace saying there can never be any meaningful development in the absence of peace and unity and asked them to embrace inter and intra-faith  dialogue and consultations especially with their counterparts from other religion it is the only alternative to conflict resolution, mutual tolerance, understanding, love and harmony among all worshippers.

President Jonathan said the theme of the conference which is “Peace and Unity for Sustainable Development” is coming at a Nigeria is in most need of peace and security.

He informed those present that the federal government is also working to ensure Almajiri education is integrated with western education and asked Muslims around the country to be proper models for Islam.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER CALLS ON SECURITY AGENCIES TO PROFESSIONALLY ENGAGE THE MEDIA

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER CALLS ON SECURITY AGENCIES TO PROFESSIONALLY ENGAGE THE MEDIA

The National Security Adviser NSA Col. Sambo Dasuki has called on spokepersons of security agencies around the country to always quickly and proactively address security related issues.

Mr Dasuki represented by the Director Special Duties Col. Bello Fadile (rtd), said this at the inauguration of the Forum of Spokespersons in Security and Response Agencies (FOSSAR) in Abuja.

He said this is necessary to curtail rumour mongering among mischief makers and vital to the war against terror.

Mr Dasuki called security spokepersons to always provide true information and correct falsehood spread by propagandist.

He also asked communication officers in the various security agencies to synergize, work together and form formidable partnerships with the media as this is also important in the war against terror.

Mr. Dasuki charged the media to be nationalistic in their reportage especially as the nation transits into an era of electioneering and campaigs.

The forum include spokespersons from various security and response agencies which are the Army, Navy , Airforce, Police, Civil Defence, Fire Service, SSS, NIA, Road Safety and Customs, among others.

FG SUPPLIES RELIEF MATERIALS TO KONDUGA TERRORIST ATTACK VICTIMS

FG SUPPLIES RELIEF MATERIALS TO KONDUGA TERRORIST ATTACK VICTIMS

 

The Federal government has supplied relief materials to victims of the recent terrorist attacks in konduga, Borno state.

Konduga was recently attacked by insurgents suspected to belong to the terror group Boko haram with its market totally destroyed along with other residential properties.

Via a press release by the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, the Federal government said troops have also been deployed to protect lives and properties.

The North-West Zonal Cordinator of NEMA Muhammad Kanar said, the relief materials include food items, toiletries, clothing and other basic needs.

Mr Kanar said more materials will be supplied especially building materials which will help affected victims rehabilitate some of their destroyed properties.