I Will Hand Over Nigeria That Is Free From Insecurity

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the willpower of his administration to proceed to root out all types of banditry, criminality, terrorism and insurgency within the nation until the top of his tenure in 2023.

The President who assured that he’ll hand over a Nigeria that’s free from insecurity to the following era of leaders made promise whereas conferring Nationwide Honours on 450 Nigerians and non-Nigerians in Abuja on Tuesday

The president, who said this whereas conferring the awards on the recipients in Abuja on Tuesday, stated the affected residents had distinguished themselves within the service of the nation and humanity.

”We should all the time endeavour to do our greatest for our nation. We’ll proceed to root out all types of banditry, criminality, terrorism and insurgency within the land.

”As I said earlier in my Independence handle to the nation, I’ll hand over a Nigeria that’s free from insecurity to the following era of leaders.”

Talking on the nationwide honours, the President added that residents who contribute to nationwide growth should be inspired and appreciated.

”The Nationwide Honours usually are not merely ornamental. They remind us of an necessary a part of our accountability as residents.

He counseled the Nationwide Awards Committee headed by Justice Sidi Muhammad, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court docket and the Emir of Lafia for a terrific and patriotic responsibility in diligently going by over 5,000 submissions and developing with their suggestions.

The president famous that the screening and number of nominees for this yr’s award as all the time, adopted established broad standards, in accordance with the Nationwide Honours Act CAP.N43 of the Legal guidelines of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

They embody however not restricted to: ‘‘constant and significant participation in group and/or nationwide growth; rendering unsolicited, selfless and philanthropic companies to humanity;

”Excellent sacrifice within the defence of a trigger popularly adjudged to be constructive, related and helpful to the nation and group.’’

Different standards listed by the President for choosing the recipients are:

‘‘Distinct act of bravery within the safety and/or defence of nationwide curiosity, public peace, security of life and property.

‘‘Outstanding achievement in any area of experience the place the individual’s actions in that area have made important contributions to the attainment of nationwide targets and aims.

‘‘Immense contributions in direction of the uplift of group, state, nation and/or humanity by achievements by means of innovations and bringing excellent honour and glory to the state by private dedication and patriotic dedication.

”Service with integrity can also be a foundation for the choice course of.’’

Whereas emphasising that nation constructing includes a variety of sacrifice by the citizenry, the president declared that residents who contributed to nationwide growth deserved to be inspired and appreciated.

He, subsequently, lauded the 2022 Nationwide Award recipients for distinguishing themselves in varied methods ‘‘for the aim of recreating a brand new Nigeria of our desires by respect for the rule of legislation, picture laundering, transparency and accountability in administration of scarce assets.’’

The president added that these within the non-public sector had additionally creditably discharged themselves in enterprise, leisure, hospitality, transportation and different types of human endeavours to rework Nigeria.

‘‘We have now amongst the recipients right this moment, Amb. Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who’re doing our nation proud on the worldwide scene.

”Our pricey sisters are a supply of inspiration to our younger girls that by the dint of arduous work and dedication, they will obtain greatness.

‘‘We even have on the checklist, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, a non secular chief who hid over 262 Christians in his mosque from assaults in Yelwa Gindi Akwati village, in Plateau State.

”He is an effective instance of spiritual tolerance we preach amongst Nigerians. I’m excited that he’s being honoured right this moment with Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

‘‘Worthy of point out are our Artistes, notably, our very personal Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (Burna Boy), who gained the Grammy Awards in 2020.

”He al ong with different artistes have repositioned the Nigerian leisure trade and positioned it on the worldwide map.

”On the simply concluded Dubai Expo 2020, Nigeria’s pavilion was a beehive of actions as our musicians entertained friends from all over the world.

‘‘Regardless of the current financial challenges, Nigeria nonetheless boasts of women and men of integrity.

” Ms. Josephine Agu, an airport cleaner returned $12,200 US {dollars} present in a rest room at Murtala Mohammed Worldwide Airport, Lagos in addition to Ogbanago Muhammed Ibrahim, a financial institution safety man who discovered and returned $10,000 {dollars}.

‘‘Right now, we have a good time their dignity and energy of character by conferring Nationwide Honours on them.”

In accordance with the president, they’re a shining instance to the youthful era.

‘‘I congratulate all of the recipients right this moment who will probably be becoming a member of the league of Awardees.

‘‘I admire the non-Nigerian recipients and guarantee all of you that this administration will proceed to offer the enabling atmosphere so that you can undertake your lawful companies to will let you maintain your efforts at contributing to the event of our nation, Nigeria,’’ he stated.

The president acknowledged that the checklist of awardees was justifiably lengthy as a result of the train had not been carried out since 2015.

In accordance with him, for the reason that inception of this administration, there has not been such event like this the place people and mates of Nigeria have been so singled out for investiture apart from the Particular Investiture Ceremony in honour of Chief MKO Abiola, Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN.

He famous that the Investiture Ceremony for Abiola and others was specifically carried out to proper the incorrect performed prior to now, ”to assuage our emotions and to resolve to face agency now and sooner or later for the sanctity of the electoral course of and our democracy.”

In like method, he stated, the nation’s athletes have been additionally honoured just lately for his or her spectacular performances in a number of competitions.

He appealed to different Nigerians who’re but to obtain this recognition to be affected person and perceive that their efforts in nation constructing are appreciated and on the proper time, would equally be acknowledged.

‘‘This administration will proceed to associate with Nigerians and mates of Nigeria with like minds in our efforts to construct the Nigeria of our desires the place everyone will try to excel of their chosen fields devoid of parochial sentiments,’’ he stated.

Buhari additionally reminded the recipients and different Nigerians that Nationwide Honours ”usually are not merely ornamental.”

‘‘They remind us of an necessary a part of our accountability as residents. We should all the time endeavour to do our greatest for our nation.’’

The award, which is in 10 classes, was introduced to Supreme Court docket Justices, judges, high attorneys, incumbent and former governors, Ministers, conventional rulers, inventive artistes, politicians, businessmen, athletes, safety officers who died within the line of responsibility, and different distinguished Nigerians.

A complete of six individuals have been conferred with GCON, 55 obtained Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), 65 obtained the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) whereas 77 have been introduced with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

The president additionally conferred 110 residents with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON); 74 have been introduced with Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and 55 obtained Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).

There have been 4 recipients every for the Federal Republic Medal I (FRM I) and Federal Republic Medal II (FRM II) Second Class) respectively.

The seven foreigners honoured obtained the OFR Award.

Talking on behalf of the Awardees, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, thanked the President for the honour, pledging that the award is an encouragement to extra work and a name to responsibility to serve Nigeria with renewed energy, loyalty and honesty.

Main the 2022 Nationwide Honours Award recipients, within the class of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) are Senate President, Lawan, Appearing Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, speedy previous CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.

Others are; the Director-Normal, World Commerce Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Deputy Secretary-Normal of UN, Amina Mohammed and Nigeria’s Everlasting Consultant to the UN, Prof Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.