Nigerian President's inauguration to cost N830m

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Abuja (WorldStage Newsonline)-- The inauguration ceremony of Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday May 29 is to cost N830 million, Yayale Ahmed, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said in Abuja on Monday. Ahmed said at the press briefing that N1.3 billion was initially earmarked for the programme before it was cut to N830 million. “The actual cost is 830 million to be specific. Our initial budget was N1.3bn, it was reduced to N830 million. Now, it may reach the figure of N1bn plus or minus but no more. I will want you to follow it up after the event,” he said. On security, he said all necessary measure were on ground to ensure adequate security in place in all the 26 states where inaugurations will take place. “Right from the venues, from incoming roads to Abuja, not only in Abuja, anywhere the security concerned for this particular day because we are celebrating in 26 states of the federation, security measures are being put in place the details of which for known security reasons are not disclosed even to me as the chairman,” he said. So far, he said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed about 10 to 15 heads of overnment would be attending the event. Other activities lined up for the programme include a presidential special session with Youths in Lagos today, 24th May, 2011, and a dinner for corporate Nigeria at state house Marina, while an exhibition and unveiling of Mr. President’s Portrait at Shehu Musa Yaradua centre in Abuja will come up on Wednesday. There would an inaugural lecture by a distinguish scholar at Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference Hall Abuja on Thursday, with the First Lady’s Banquet for women at the Banquet Hall, State House same day. The activities would be seasoned with Juma’at Prayer and special supplication for the peace, Unity ad progress of Nigeria on Friday as well as a special children’s day on Friday which will feature a children Match Past, a special session of the Children’s parliament and other activities organized for the less privilege children by the first lady Patience Jonathan. On Saturday there would be a football match between Kano Pillar FC and Enyinmba FC of Aba at the National Stadium Abuja, this would be followed by a thanks giving service to be attended by the president at the National Christian Worship Centre Abuja by 4pm on same day. There would also be a musical/cultural and firework display on the evening of Saturday. All these activities would be capped with the actual swearing-in ceremony of the President on May 29, 2011, at the eagle square, in Abuja Story by Victor Iluyemi (info@worldstagegroup.com)