Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chairman of the presidential transition council (PTC) has disclosed that security operatives have been assigned to Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu, and his deputy, Kashim Shettima.
Mustapha also announced on Tuesday that Tinubu has appointed the outgoing governor of Kebbi state, Atiku Bagudu, and Wale Edun into the PTC.
He noted that there has been the refurbishment of offices for the president and vice-president-elect, as he details all efforts that have been put into a peaceful transition.
He explained that the process of interface was necessary to keep Nigerians abreast of developments, build inclusiveness and lay a solid foundation for peaceful transition of power in our country.
“The Presidential Transition Council which was inaugurated on 14th February 2023 is made up of 24 members which includes two persons from the president-elect’s team.
“After the declaration of Bola Tinubu as the president-elect, the PTC requested him to nominate his representatives on the council as provided in the Executive Order. The president-elect nominated Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state and Olawale Edun both of whom have since joined the process actively.
Mustapha explained that, “Since the inauguration, the Council has met four times with the 5th holding today to ensure a smooth transition process and make the work more efficient, the PTC broke into 3 committees;
“The first of these is Inauguration Committee which is responsible for organizing the swearing–in and the inaugural parade; working out the details programmes and other logistics necessary for the successful inauguration ceremonies.
“This committee is headed by the SGF with 15 members and is working through 13 sub-committees facilitate effective planning and execution of the Inauguration activities. These sub-committees are;
media and publicity; church service; Juma’at service; protocol and invitations; transport and logistics; the inauguration lecture; ceremonial parade; venues and swearing in; medical; inauguration dinner/gala night; post inauguration luncheon; accommodation and Children’s Day celebration,” Mustapha said.
“The president-elect has also been requested to nominate 13 persons that will work across the 13 sub-committees. The sub-committees have been working round the clock to ensure that all preparations are in place for a smooth inauguration ceremony.
“The second committee is the Transition Documents Committee which is headed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The committee is responsible for compiling all policy, programmes and projects of this administration in the form of a compendium that focuses on this government’s nine priority areas. It is also in charge of ensuring the preparation of sectoral briefs and handover notes of the current administration for the in-coming administration. The committee is working assiduously to finalize the compilation of these documents.
“The third committee is the facilities, security and intelligence committee. The duty of this committee is to organise necessary facilities, including furnished office and personnel for the president-and vice-president-elect and their transition team; Provision of security for the president and vice-president-elect; provision of covert and overt security before, during and after the 2023 Presidential Inauguration including venues of events, hotels, airports, entry points, roads and general surveillance of FCT. This committee is headed by the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Mustapha added that, “The Committee has been active and the refurbishment of offices for the president and vice-president-elect has been completed. The facility at the Defence House is ready. Security personnel of the Department of State Service and the Nigerian Police Force have also been deployed to the president and vice-president-elect.
“Protocol officers have also been assigned to both the president and vice-president-elect from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Intelligence Agency.
Mustapha noted that, “As part of transition, four members of the president-elect’s team will be joining the federal government delegation to the Spring meeting of the World bank.
“The transition process is on course and all efforts are being made to ensure that it is smooth and on May 29th, there would be peaceful formal transfer of power to the new president,” Mustapha said.
