Buhari presides over first post-election FEC meeting; tells envoys: Our best will be good enough for Nigeria

By Ismaila

Chafe /Chijioke Okoronkwo

Abuja, March 13, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the first Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting since after the Presidential, National Assembly and Governorship and State Assembly elections in Nigeria.

Also, President Buhari has told  a delegation of non-career Ambassadors, who came to State House, Abuja, to congratulate him on his re-election that the Federal Government is doing its best to correct and reverse the terrible mismanagement the country had experienced, “and with some luck, our best will be good enough.”

He said Nigeria was trying to live within her means, “so we can improve our lot,” adding that government was determined to upgrade the country’s profile, both locally and internationally.

President Buhari said it would be inexcusable for government not to take care of its Ambassadors in their various stations, hence the special attention being paid to the country’s foreign missions.

Amb. Ashimiyu Olaniyi, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, said President Buhari’s election in 2015, and his recent re-election, “are divine interventions in the affairs of the country.

“You are God-sent. You have always come on stage at the critical moments of our national history to right the wrongs of the past.’’

He added that the President would be remembered “as an astute political leader who does not interfere in the political affairs of states,” noting that the singular quality had given credibility to all elections conducted since 2015.

The delegation submitted that apart from records of achievements in the three focal areas of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, “your integrity is responsible for your victory, which we are privileged to celebrate with you today.”

The Ambassadors appreciated the intervention funds that were released to various missions abroad, and pledged continued loyalty and support to the Buhari administration.

Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council, among other decisions,  approved the sum of 64.75 million Euros to improve water supply in Kano State.

Hajia Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

She said that the project, which would be executed by the Kano State Government, would improve the living conditions of the people of the state.

“Today at the FEC meeting, we got an approval for a facility in the sum of 64,750,000 million Euros for a National Urban Water sector reform project in Kano State.

“The project is to improve the living conditions of up to 1.5 million people in the greater urban area of Kano by improving access to quality water and also we are seeking to increase the financial viability of the Water Board by increasing its revenue and enhancing its governance framework.

“The project is to rehabilitate and build infrastructure needed to increase access to water services to the population in greater Kano and to help improve key sector reforms to ensure the sustainability of the project.

“The Kano State Ministry of Water Resources through its State Project Management Committee is to implement the project.

“The funding is a facility to the Federal Government of Nigeria; the Federal Government of Nigeria will be on lending to Kano State at the same terms and conditions,’’ she said.

The minister said that the funding was from the French Development Agency with an interest rate of 1.02 per cent, a repayment period of 20 years and a seven-year moratorium period.

According to her, there is also a fee of 0.25 per cent for appraisal and a commitment fee of 0.25 per cent.

Ahmed said that the low cost facility with a seven-year moratorium was meant to provide good quality drinking water to up to 1.5 million people in greater Kano.

No fewer than 28 ministers attended the meeting which was the first since after the Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno were also in attendance.