CBN, FAAN departments will not be relocated to Lagos – VP
By Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri
Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) departments and other Federal Government institutions will not be relocated to Lagos.
According to him, the Federal Government has no plan to relocate its agencies and financial institutions from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Shettima made the clarifications on Sarturday at the 10th Sir Ahmodu Bello memorial lecture held in Maiduguri at the Government House.
Read Also: Road Crashes: FRSC warns motorists against overloading
The VP, represented by his Special Adviser political, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, disclosed: “There is no truth in suggestions that the Federal Government plans to relocate government institutions and other agencies out of Abuja.”
He added that the present administration will be just and fair to every part of the six geopolitical zones in the country.
Continued: “The Tinubu administration is beyond effecting administrative changes that will not disadvantage any part of the nation.
“I repeat, this administration will not disadvantage any of the geo-political zones in favour of others.
This year’s memorial lecture dwells on tackling terrorism, banditry and kidnapping through what he described as: “through effective good governance, accountability and transparency to the people.”
He noted that they underscore the importance of addressing the root causes of insecurity that has claimed many lives and property in the region.
Besides, he added that President Tinubu in this year’s federal budget, allocated the lion’s share to the military and other security agencies.
“The President has demonstrated his commitment to addressing the menaces of insecurity in the country,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also reiterated the Government’s resolve to deploy strategies to overcome challenges of insecurity to lives and property in the North and nation at large.
He, therefore, urged political and traditional leaders to actively engage in mediation of conflicts to achieve sustainable peace and unity in the region.
Chairman Northern Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Gombe state, Inuwa Yahaya and the Governor Babagana Zulum, who hosted the memorial lecture, noted that good governance is critical to curbing terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and former President of the UN General Assembly, Prof. Tijani Bande noted that to effectively fight insurgency and banditry, there was the need to rebuild trust, ensure quality and functional education for all.
He added that agriculture should be modernized with Information and Communication Technology (ICT), rebuild of the civil service with credible media in the various sectors of the economy
He also suggested that there is the need to have a coordinating body that will identify and develop road maps for key priority sectors to advance the course of the region.
Representative of the Senate President, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi and Chairman Board of Trustees, Sir Ahmodu Bello memorial foundation, Dr. Mu’azu Aliyu stressed the need for unity to strengthen government institutions, as well as traditional rulers to achieve sustainable peace and development.
The Foundation also presented lifetime and merit awards to four distinguished personalities including late Prof. Emeritus Umaru Shehu, Professors Adamu Baikie, Deborah Ajakaiye and Hajiya Aisha Nahuce, who returned lost found $800, 000 (N60 million) to S’Arabian authority during the recent hajj.
