President MUHAMMADU BUHARI has charged the ministers-designate to live up to the tasks ahead of them saying his administration’s plan is to lay the foundation for 100 million Nigerians to be lifted out of poverty.

According to him, that target would be achieved at the end of his eight-year term in 2023.

President BUHARI spoke while declaring open the two-day Presidential Retreat for Ministers-designate and Federal Permanent Secretaries at the State House conference hall, Abuja.

He said the purpose of the retreat was, among others things, to familiarize the in-coming ministers with their colleagues in the Federal Executive Council with whom they would work closely for the next four years.

Speaking on the looming demographic potential of the country, President BUHARI charged the in-coming ministers to work towards finding solution to the frightening threat of population explosion of the country.

The Presidency has said that the Federal Government has not placed restrictions or outright ban on importation of food items into the country.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, GARBA SHEHU made this clarification in a statement.

He said President BUHARI’s recent directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop providing foreign exchange to food importers did not imply a ban on food importation by the government.

SHEHU explained that importers could still source FOREX from non-governmental financial institutions and pay the relevant custom duties to government.

The Igbo apex socio-cultural group, OhanaezeNdigbo Worldwide has condemned the attack on the former Deputy Senate President, Senator IKE EKWEREMADU, by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra in Germany.

It called on the German law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

A statement by Chief NNIA NWODO, President General of Ohanaezedescribed the assault on Senator EKWEREMADU as a disgrace.

The Federal Government the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA, described the incident as a show of shame and embarrassment to the country.

The attack on Senator EKWEREMADU followed the order given by the Indigenous People of Biafra to its members in 100 countries across the world to attack Igbos leaders seen as betrayals to their course.