President Muhammadu Buhari will, on Saturday, March 4, leave for the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LCDs) in Doha, the capital city of Qatar.
This follows an invitation by the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The conference which is from 5th to 9th March, 2023 under the theme: “From Potential to Prosperity,” holds once in a decade and provides an opportunity to garner the support of the international community for accelerating sustainable development in the LDCs as well as assist them make progress towards achieving prosperity.
In Doha, President Buhari will reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to support the most vulnerable countries to meet their development challenges, highlighting areas through which the Nigerian government has provided them with various forms of assistance over time.
As most of these countries struggle to find sustainable solutions to challenges of poverty, adverse effects of climate change, food and energy crisis as well as high-debt burden among others, the Nigerian leader will vigorously reiterate the need for sustainable solutions for countries facing these severe challenges.
The Summit will be attended by world leaders, the private sector, civil society and youth organisations. It aims to share developmental ideas and mobilize political will, solidarity, action and solutions to transform the LDCs, by finding sustainable solutions to the challenges of poverty, food insecurity, hunger, weak or non-existent infrastructure, inadequate health facilities, climate change among others as they struggle to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
President Buhari’s delegation includes some Ministers and top government officials who are expected to use the opportunity of the visit to sign some agreements and Memoranda of Understanding with the Qatari government.
The President is expected to return to the country on Wednesday, March 8.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 4, 2023.
PRESIDENT BUHARI COMMISERATES WITH ABACHA FAMILY OVER DEATH OF ABDULLAHI
President Muhammadu Buhari extends heartfelt condolences to the former First Lady, Marayam Abacha, and family on the death of their son, Abdullahi.
The President’s prayers and thoughts are with the family of Abacha as they grieve the passing of the young Abdullahi.
The President prays for the repose of the soul of the deceased and comfort for those who mourn.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 4, 2023
PRESIDENT BUHARI FELICITATES WITH MOST REVD AKINWALE AS NEW METHODIST CHURCH ARCHBISHOP OF ABUJA
President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates most warmly, His Grace, the Most Revd Michael Olusegun Akinwale as he officially assumes office as the new Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese of the Methodist Church Nigeria.
The President wishes the Archbishop a successful Enthronement ceremony on Sunday, March 5, 2023, to be performed by the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Oliver Ali Aba.
President Buhari, while commending Archbishop Akinwale for his services to the church particularly, during his immediate past position as the Secretary of Conference, expresses confidence that he will deploy his wealth of experience to do greater exploits in his new post in Abuja.
The President enjoins the Archbishop and other church leaders to use their exalted positions to preach love, unity and peaceful co-existence among their followers, especially during this period of general elections in the country.
According to him, “Our religious leaders have a crucial role to play in promoting brotherhood in our nation since they command large following and should serve as vanguards of peace and stability. As role models, their utterances and messages have the capacity to influence their listeners positively or negatively.”
President Buhari also prays for Archbishop Akinwale to have a blessed tenure as he continues to serve God and humanity in his new capacity in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
March 4, 2023
Naira Redesign: ‘Disclose how you’re obeying Supreme Court orders’, SERAP tells Buhari
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “disclose details of the measures your government is taking to immediately and effectively obey the Supreme Court decision extending the validity of the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes, and directing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to continue to receive the notes from Nigerians.”
SERAP urged him “to publicly instruct the CBN to immediately and effectively implement the Supreme Court decision ordering an end to the cash withdrawal limits imposed by banks because such restrictions violate citizens’ right to freely use their property.”
SERAP also urged him “to disclose the measures that your government is taking to direct the CBN to immediately re-circulate the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes, as ordered by the Supreme Court.”
In the letter dated 4 March, 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said, “There is an overriding public interest in disclosing the details of the measures your government and the CBN are taking to effectively and satisfactorily obey the Supreme Court decision.”
According to SERAP, “Disclosing the measures that your government and the CBN are taking to implement the Supreme Court decision would also enable Nigerians to monitor and scrutinize the level of compliance with the decision.”
SERAP said, “The public should not be kept in the dark on what your government and the CBN are doing to implement the decision. Widely publishing the implementation measures would also improve accountability of state officials and public confidence in the rule of law and Nigeria’s democracy.”
The Supreme Court last week extended the validity of the old N200, N500, and N1,000 Naira notes till 31 December, stating that the CBN must continue to receive the notes from Nigerians. The Court held that the president’s directive on the redesign of the new notes without due consultation is invalid.
The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the requested information and recommended measures are implemented within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our requests.”
“The implementation by your government of the CBN policy on the redesign of the country’s currency has contributed to violations of citizens’ rights.”
“SERAP is concerned about the persistent disobedience of court orders by your government, and the apparent lack of respect for constitutional and international rule of law obligations.”
“Nigerians are entitled to the details of the level of compliance by your government and the CBN with the Supreme Court decision as a matter of transparency, justice and the rule of law.”
“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and human rights treaties to which the country is a state party rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.”
“Your government has the legal duties to act as ordered by the Supreme Court, and consistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the CBN Act, and the country’s international obligations.”
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; the Freedom of Information Act; the CBN Act, and the country’s international obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
“According to our information, the Supreme Court has extended the validity of the N200, N500, and N1,000 Naira notes till 31 December, and directed that the CBN must continue to receive the old notes from Nigerians.”
“The Court held that your directive for the redesign of the new notes and withdrawal of the old notes without due consultation is invalid.”
“The Court also stated that the disobedience of its interim order of 8 February that the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes should continue to circulate alongside the new ones makes Nigeria’s democracy look like a mere pretension while democracy is replaced with autocracy or dictatorship.”
“The Supreme Court also ruled that the cash withdrawal limits imposed by banks as a result of scarcity of currency notes in circulation is illegal, as it amounts to impermissible restriction on citizens’ right to freely use their property.”
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
5/3/2023
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202
