• Nominates Eko, Augie Supreme Court Justices
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye and Fred Itua, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said his administration is talking to Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.
He made the disclosure at a farewell audience with Mr. Michael Zinner, the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria at the State House.
The Presudent said his administration was studying the instruments of the Amnesty Programme inherited from the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration with a view to carrying out commitments made that were undelivered.
“We understand their feelings. We are studying the instruments. We have to secure the environment, otherwise, investment will not come. We will do our best for the country,” he affirmed.
Buhari thanked the government of Germany for its continued support to Nigeria in the efforts to tackle insecurity and the on-going rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced citizens in crisis areas in the North-Eastern parts of the country. President Buhari also thanked Nigeria’s neighbours for their firm and unflinching support in the war against terror.
The outgoing German Ambassador noted that bilateral relations between Nigeria and Germany “had improved very much in the last 12 months of this administration.”
He expressed the readiness of his country to assist Nigeria in the rehabilitation process in the North-East to help displaced persons return to their villages. He also expressed the eagerness of German businesses to invest in the country, now that the “conditions for investment have been put in place”.
The German Ambassador reiterated the standing invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel to President Buhari to visit Germany.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has forwarded two names to the Senate for confirmation as Justices of the Supreme Court. They are Hon. Justices Ejembi Eko and Amina A. Augie.
In a letter addressed to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, Buhari said the two nominees would represent North-Central and North-West respectively.
“In accordance with Section 231 subsection (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, I have the pleasure to forward for your confirmation, the nomination of the two nominees as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” Buhari wrote in the letter.
President Buhari has also formally forwarded names of a former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and 18 others as chairman and members of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Buhari pleaded with the senate to give the request an expeditious consideration and confirmation.
Besides, Senator Egba, who hails from Cross River State, others appointed are Nsima Udo Ekere, who is to serve as managing director. He hails from Akwa Ibom State. Adjogbe Ajenakevwe is to serve as executive director in charge of projects and hails from Delta State. Mene Ienyie Derek, executive director, is to head finance and administration and hails from Rivers State.
Other board members are Donatus Enyinnah (Abia State), Frank Samuel George (Akwa Ibom state); Brambaifa Nelson (Bayelsa state); Sylvester Effefiom Nsa (Cross River state); Ogaga Ifowodo (Delta state); Uwuilekhue Saturday (Edo state) and Osita Bonaventure Izunaso (Imo state).
Olatokunbo Ayotunde Ajasin (Ondo State); Harry Iboroma Dabibi (Rivers state); Bernard Banfa (North-Central zone); Yahaya Mohammed (North-East zone); Mustapha Dankadai (North-West zone); Igo Weli (Niger Delta region); Mahmoud Isa-Dutse (Federal Ministry of Finance) and Abdul-Kazeem Kasumi Bayero (Federal Ministry of Environment) were also on the list.
The consideration and subsequent confirmation of the nominees would be done when the senate resumes from its 6-week break in September, 2016.