On Wednesday, the president of the Africa First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), Aisha Buhari, visited the site of the ongoing construction of the new permanent secretariat of the AFLPM in Abuja, publicly demanding that women affairs minister Pauline Tallen immediately release N500 million she allegedly collected for the AFLPM project.

The first lady, accompanied by finance minister Zainab Ahmed, was satisfied with the work progress.

“I thank the Almighty Allah for giving me the opportunity to construct the secretariat of the Africa First Ladies Peace Mission during my tenure as the first lady of Nigeria, which will be inaugurated in few weeks’ time,” stated Ms Buhari.

While commending the contribution of the federal government to the project, the first lady expressed the need for the minister of women affairs to expedite action towards releasing funds donated by the Nigerian government to ensure the completion of the project.

“I will like to thank the Nigerian government for their intervention. We also understood that some funds amounting to N500 million were allegedly received by the honourable minister of women affairs on behalf of the Africa First Ladies Peace Mission,” stated the first lady.

Ms Buhari added, “We, therefore, appeal to the minister to immediately credit the account of the peace mission for the purpose of accountability.”

The first lady commended other stakeholders for contributing toward completing the secretariat.

Ms Ahmed commended the courage and tenancy of the first lady in delivering the multimillion-naira project. She expressed optimism that the project will add value to the efforts of African women in peacebuilding on the continent.

“We are very pleased with the progress of work that has been done here. This project started a year ago, and it is within the time frame and is going to be commissioned very soon,” said the finance minister.

She added, “And it is really a credit to our first lady that this project has been pushed so fast, and the quality of work here is very much. It is good that Nigeria is actually showing leadership, and we see this mission as our own, and it’s a representation of peace in Africa.” 

(NAN)