PRESIDENT JONATHAN SETS UP 17 MEMBER COMMITTEE TO HELP FIND MISSING GIRLS

President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a Presidential Committee to help in the rescue of over 200 female students in the custody of the Boko Haram terrorist group. This was disclosed in a  statement  released by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim.

Mr. Anyim said the committee has 17 members, is headed by Ibrahim Sabo, a retired brigadier general and will be inaugurated on May 6th. Read Mr. Anyim’s full statement below.

Meanwhile, World Economic Forum opens in Abuja on 7th May, 2014. And there are reports that all government business, schools in the nation's capital will be shut down for 3 days.

That the Nigerian government is also advising private organizations with large number of staff to close down as well. This shut down order during the world economic forum is reportedly to ensure free flow of traffic in Abuja.

PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON THE RESCUE OF THE ABDUCTED FEMALE STUDENTS AT GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL – CHIBOK

    As part of efforts to ensure successful rescue of the abducted female students of Government Secondary School CHIBOK, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, has approved the constitution of a
    Presidential Committee on the rescue efforts for the missing female students.

    The Committees whose work shall be largely fact findings is charged with the following terms of reference:

        To liaise with the Borno State Government and establish the circumstances leading to the School remaining open for boarding students when other schools were closed;

        To liaise with relevant authorities and the parents of the missing girls to establish the actual number and identities of the girls abducted;

        To interface with the Security Services and Borno State Government to ascertain how many of the missing girls have returned;

        To mobilise the surrounding communities and the general public on citizen support for a rescue strategy and operation;

        To articulate a framework for a multi-stakeholder action for the rescue of the missing girls;

        To advise Government on any matter incidental to the terms of reference.

        2. The Committee is composed as follows:

        (i) Brig. General Ibrahim A. Sabo (Rtd.) – Chairman

        (ii) Barrister Femi Falana, SAN – Member

        (iii) Hajia Hawa Ibrahim – Member

        (iv) Hajia Fatima Kwaku – Member

        (v) 2 representatives of National Council of Women Societies (NCWS)   – Member

        (vi) 2 representatives of the All (one whom shall be a female) Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) – Member

        (vii) 2 representatives of the National Parents Teachers Association

        (viii) 2 representatives of the Nigeria Police “ – Member

        (ix) 2 representatives of the State Security Service “ – Member

        (x) 2 representatives of the Nigerian Army “ – Member

        (xi) 2 representatives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) “ – Member

        (xii) 1 Representative of the Federal Ministry of Information (who shall be the Committees’ Spokesperson) – Member

        (xiii) 1 Representative of the Federal Ministry of Justice – Member

        (xiv) 3 Representatives of Borno State Government (two of whom, preferably, shall be women) – Member

        (xv) 1 Representative of the United Nations – Member

        (xvi) 1 Representative of ECOWAS (who shall be a woman) – Member

        (xvii) Permanent Secretary (Special Services Office) OSGF – Secretary

        3. The Committee will be inaugurated at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday, 6th May, 2014 by 12 noon.

    SIGNED

    Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON, Secretary to the Government of the Federation.