China meets President-elect Tinubu on trade, diplomatic relations with Nigeria

The Chinese government said its delegation headed by its ambassador to Nigeria has met with President-elect Bola Tinubu to discuss diplomatic and trade relations.

China said it had identified people-to-people cooperation, which leads to cultural exchanges, as one of the main focus areas in its relationship with Nigeria and other countries.

Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, said this at a one-day seminar held at the University of Abuja on Tuesday day.He added that he was ready to work with the new administration to be sworn in on May 29.

“I have talked with the president-elect and the vice-president-elect, and I believe we shared a lot of ideas, and I have also shared my ideas and practices with the current President Buhari, and China believes that the current president has set a very solid foundation for the next government,” Mr Cui said.

“In spite of the challenges Nigeria faced, the country has smart, hardworking and talented people.”

The seminar had as its theme ‘Chinese Harmony and China-Nigeria Symphony’.Mr Cui said policy coordination, financial integration, facilities connectivity, and trade and investment were the other cooperation priorities of its government.

The ambassador explained that policy coordination included planning and supporting large-scale infrastructural development projects, and financial integration included enhancing monetary coordination and bilateral financial cooperation.

He also described trade and investment as facilitating cross-border investments and supply chain cooperation, and the facilities connectivity included building facilities to enable connectivity along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The BRI, also called the New Silk Road, is a China-led infrastructure project that aims to stretch globally.

The initiative was launched in 2013 by President Xi Jinping and had a collection of development and investment initiatives originally devised to link East Asia and Europe through physical infrastructure.

The project has, however, expanded to Africa, Oceania, and Latin America.Moreover, Mr Cui said the trade value between China and the BRI countries was ¥13.8, approximately N923 trillion or $2 trillion, which Nigeria is part of.

“The BRI is an initiative proposed by the Chinese government aimed at promoting Nigeria-China, Africa-China relations. It is good to try to increase trade among the big countries, not only the individual countries. Nigeria and China have huge potentials, which both countries can work together to harness,” explained the Chinese ambassador.

Mr Cui added;

“The most important thing is how we can increase our productivity in Nigeria, and I am working hard on trying to build industries, trying to get Chinese investment. I do believe in the future that we can have products exported to Chinese markets.”

The envoy, who said BRI had achieved its objectives, urged both countries to explore the extensive consultations, enjoy the contributions, and share the benefits.

NCC denies tracking and leaking phone calls of Nigerians

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has denied any involvement in the tracking and leaking of phone conversations between individuals, groups, or organizations.

The Commission stated this in a statement issued and signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka.

Part of the statement reads;

“The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been inundated with enquiries by the media on allegations of telephone “tracking” and “leakage” made against the Commission by some individuals and groups in the social and alternative Media.

The Commission wishes to make the following clarifications, The Commission denies the allegations in their entirety.

By the provisions of the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA) 2003 and other extant Laws of the Federation, the Commission does not and cannot “track” nor “leak” telephone conversations of anyone.

The Commission has reported the allegations, which we take seriously, to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action.

The Commission restates its commitment to discharge its responsibilities to the Nigerian people in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the NCA 2003; and other extant Laws of the Federation; and global best practices.”

Recall that last weekend, a purported telephone conversation between Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Bishop David Oyedepo, went viral.

Some Nigerians including musician Peter Okoye, questioned the safety of telephone calls in Nigeria.

Ebonyi court rejects bail application of politician over attempted murder

A magistrate court in Abakaliki has refused to grant the bail application filed by Chukwuma John, a politician charged with alleged possession of a firearm and attempted murder.

Mr John is charged with attempted murder, conspiracy, unlawful firearm possession, and intimidation with a weapon.

The prosecuting counsel, Bassy Okon, told the court that the defendant, a native of the Okposi community, committed the offence on March 2 in Okposi-Okwu, Ohaozara council area of Ebonyi.

Magistrate Ojemba Isu held that the court did not grant the bail request for want in jurisdiction.Mr Isu adjourned the matter until May 3 for further hearing.

Justus Unigwe, the defence counsel, said he was not disturbed by the rejection of the bail.

“Based on the kind of charge brought against my client, this court lack jurisdiction to grant him bail.

You know, this is a magistrate court, though, in some circumstances, the court is empowered to grant bail, but when the charges are mixed up with more difficult charges, the best option is to seek relief in the high court, which is what we are going to do and my client will be free,” Mr Unigwe added.

Mr John pleaded not guilty, insisting that he was arrested and tortured over what he knew nothing about.

“My hands are clean. I know nothing of what I am being accused of. Please allow me to go and attend to my family because my pregnant wife’s delivery date is fast approaching,” he told the court.

Kaduna government confirms kidnap of 10 students

The Kaduna state government says it has received preliminary reports from security agencies on the kidnapping of about 10 students in Kachia Local Government Area.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Mr Aruwan said that according to preliminary reports about 10 students of Government Secondary School, Awon (a day secondary school) were kidnapped on Monday.

“The exact location of the incident is yet to be ascertained but detailed reports being awaited will clarify whether the incident occurred within the school premises or elsewhere.

“The government will issue a public statement accordingly, when these reports are received,” he said.

Buhari seeks senate approval of Data Protection Bill

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Senate to consider and approve the Nigerian Data Protection Bill sent to it by the Executive.

The president’s request is contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Alhaji Ahmad Lawan, and read at plenary on Tuesday.

“Pursuant to Section 58, sub section 2 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, I forward herewith the Nigerian Data Protection Bill for consideration and approval of by the Senate,’’ the letter read.

The Bill seeks to provide a legal framework for the protection of personal information and the establishment of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission for regulation of laws on personal information.

In a separate letter, Buhari urged the Senate to approve the re-appointment of Abdul Abubakar as non-Executive Director of the CBN for a second and final term.

In yet another letter, the president transmitted a Bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force College Training School and Institution, for consideration and approval by the Senate.

“Pursuant to section 58, sub section 2 of the 1999 Constitution, I forward herewith the Nigerian Police Force College Training School and Institution Establishment Bill 2023 for consideration and passage of the Senate,’’ the letter read.

According to Buhari, the school seeks to provide a comprehensive and legal institutional framework to provide specialised training for police officers.

The institution would advance the performance of officers in accordance with the provision of the Nigeria Police Act, Buhari explained.

The president also sought the Senate’s approval for reimbursement through the issuance of promissory notes to Plateau and Borno, the sums of N6.6 billion and N3.8 billion, respectively.

The reimbursements are for road projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government by the state governments.

88 died in 2023 elections, over 450 rights violation petitions received-NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says it received over 450 human rights-related cases from the February 25 and March 18 elections in which 88 people died.

The human rights adviser to the NHRC’s executive secretary, Hilary Ogbonna, announced this Monday at a media briefing.

The NHRC inaugurated the Mobilising Voters for Election (MOVE) on October 17, 2022. MOVE is a multifaceted and multi-dimensional programme and human rights-based campaign that seeks to facilitate access and promote the electorate’s participation in the 2023 elections.

MOVE’s broad goal is to promote access, participation, credibility and accountability in the 2023 elections in Nigeria.

The NHRC said it set up a National Hate Speech Register in October 2022, recording 22 hate speech cases, with investigations launched on committed before, during and after the elections.The commission revealed that 88 people died during the elections.

“The emerging external threats and fear existing are insecurity and violence across the country. There are hate speech and incitement from politicians and their supporters. New threats are the attack on media organisations and intimidation of the judiciary,” stated the NHRC.

The commission added;

“Possible impacts are loss of faith and integrity in the judicial process. Incitement leads to renewed violence and ethnic violence.”

NHRC boss, Tony Ojukwu, said;

“You have been with us through the process, and it is important that we brief you on how far we have gone. We thank the media and our partners, (the) UN resident coordinator, Ford Foundation and Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP).

It is important, whatever happens, that we should remain law-abiding. This is the only way we can develop as human beings.”

Emefiele is sadist, he committed crime worse than electoral fraud- Wole Soyinka

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, is a sadist and has committed a crime against humanity with his naira redesign policy which has “impoverished” many Nigerians, says Wole Soyinka.

For several months, Nigerians have had to grapple with a cash crunch due to the CBN’s limiting of cash in circulation. But the central bank is accusing politicians of hoarding cash. Deposit banks have complained of receiving limited cash from CBN.

Mr Soyinka, a playwright and rights activist, slammed Mr Emefiele and President Muhammadu for stifling “lives and livelihoods” through the cash policy that has made cash withdrawals at banks, ATMS and PoS difficult.

“You can’t buy newspapers. You can’t buy guguru. Which means the saleswoman cannot pay for plantain, which means that the farmer cannot pay for transportation of his goods from his farm to the market,” said Mr Soyinka regarding the cash scarcity caused by the CBN’s naira redesign policy. The rights activist stated this in a Channels TV interview aired on Monday.

He added;

“Emefiele has committed a crime against humanity, over and beyond even any electoral mago-mago. He struck at the heart of the subsisting survival principles, minimal needs and entitlements of the ordinary people in the street.”

The apex bank, in October 2022, announced the redesign of the N200, N300, and N500 banknotes. The CBN announced that the banknotes would cease to be legal tenders on February 15, 2023.

The policy and deadline were approved by Mr Buhari, who claimed he was trying to stop vote buying and other corrupt practices ahead of the February 25 and March 18 elections.

However, the Supreme Court nullified the arbitrary withdrawal of the old banknotes and ordered the Buhari regime to allow the currencies to remain in circulation until December, following a lawsuit challenging the naira policy.

The suit was initially filed by Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.Mr Soyinka expressed concern that the scarcity of the naira has persisted with its attendant economic and social hardships.

“…Don’t bully me, don’t take my voice away. Don’t take my economic potential away. Don’t throw me on the mercy of a sadist like Emefiele, who impoverished…he and his boss, Buhari, because ultimately, responsibility (rests) with him to have allowed this to happen. But this is the expert,” Mr Soyinka stressed.

“This is the one who gives advice and executes the policies.”

He further stated;

“And (Mr Emefiele) reduced this nation to a state where even a few days ago, I sent a cheque to the bank, and the cheque came back, they had no cash. One of the bankers eventually brought me something from his own cash and explained to me what had been going on and how they would sit and wait for money to come.”

Man who went onboard a plane to say Tinubu will not be sworn in as President, arraigned and remanded in prison

Mr Obiajulu Uja, the middle-aged man who disrupted an Abuja to Lagos flight over the weekend, when he stood up to say that President-elect, Bola Tinubu, will never be sworn-in as President on May 29, was on Monday, April 3, arraigned before the Zuba Magistrates’ Court, Abuja and remanded in prison custody.

In a viral video, Uja could be seen saying Tinubu will never be sworn-in as President.

Six airport security officers later came in and forcefully evacuated him from the aircraft. His actions prevented the flight from leaving for over an hour.

According to the court papers, Uja was charged with “public nuisance, resistance to a lawful arrest, threatening violence and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace contrary to sections 396, 267,188,172 and 144 of the Penal Code Law.”

Uja had through his counsel told the police that he was mentally unstable and should not be arraigned. This was however dismissed by the police who took him to the court for arraignment.

The court will on Thursday, April 6 hear his bail application.

Gunmen storm Osun ruler’s palace, kidnap wives, ruler and others die chasing attackers

The police command in Osun has confirmed the kidnap of two wives of a ruler, Oba Ogboni Agbaye and Awise Iwase of Yorubaland, Oba Adetoyese Olakisan, at Imesi-Ile in the Obokun council area of Osun.

Gunmen invaded Mr Olakisan’s residence on Sunday and whisked the women away.

The police said the ruler got into a vehicle to search for his wives, but the vehicle veered off the road and rammed into a tree.

“The Ogboni Agbaye and the policeman in charge of Oke-Imesi, were in the vehicle with another woman when they had the lone accident. They were rushed to the hospital, where they all died later,” stated the police.

“Police operatives are, however, still inside the forest to rescue the kidnapped women.”

The police also confirmed the release of a trader kidnapped by gunmen on Ikirun-Osogbo Road on Friday.

Police spokesperson in the state, SP Yemisi Opalola, told journalists that the kidnappers abandoned their female victim in the bush with the security operatives on their trail.

The police said the victim was going to Ile-Ife from Ilorin when the kidnappers ambushed the vehicle in which she was travelling and that the driver of the vehicle, who managed to escape, alerted the police in Iragbiji town.

Following the report, operatives, with the assistance of local hunters, “swung into action, combed the bushes around the scene and rescued the victim.”

Former Abia governor Orji Kalu loses wife, Ifeoma

Ifeoma Kalu, wife of a former governor of Abia state and the chief whip of the senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, is dead, Peoples Gazette can confirm.

Her death was announced by Mr Kalu via his verified Facebook page on Monday afternoon as he asked people to remember the bereaved family in their prayers.

However, the cause of death was not disclosed by the senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, who has publicly expressed his desire to become the next senate president of the nation.

She was aged 61.

A memorial service to honour the late Mrs Ifeoma Kalu is scheduled to take place in the United States of America.

“With a heavy heart and pain, we announce the passing on to eternal glory of Mrs Ifeoma Ada Kalu aged 61 years,” he said.

“She was a woman of virtue who was committed to the service of God and humanity. A memorial service in her honour is scheduled to be held in the United States of America (USA).

“Please remember her and loved ones in prayers at this difficult period. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

Gunshots fired as APC and PDP members clash over inspection of electoral materials in Port Harcourt

Violence erupted at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC on Monday, April 3, after members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state clashed in Port Harcourt, the state capital over the inspection of electoral materials.

According to Channels TV, chaos broke out when the APC Governorship Candidate in the March 18 poll, Tonye Cole, and members of his party arrived at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state for the inspection of materials used in the last election in the state.

The APC members were forced to turn back by members of the PDP who were already on ground at the INEC office before their arrival.

The situation caused pandemonium as the PDP members demanded the joint inspection of election results and the Certified True Copies of result sheets for the just-concluded 2023 general elections.

The PDP protesters had blocked both the waterlines and GRA areas of Aba road, the two major access points to the INEC head office. No car was able to drive through that stretch of Aba road from the ground lanes, while those on the GRA flyover were trapped as there was no exit route.

The PDP protest was led by the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie who was re-elected in the March 18 election and Samuel Nwanosike, the Chairman of the Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Though the party won the governorship and State Assembly elections, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly who jointly led the protest, demanded that INEC grant the party a joint inspection of the materials used in conducting the March 18 elections.

The protesters believed that their demand would introduce the level of transparency needed to forestall unnecessary litigations and arguments.

Apart from the demand for joint inspection of materials, some inscriptions on the placards displayed during the protest also request INEC to make available the Certified True Copies of results.

Nigerians will not stop demanding restructuring – Prof Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has stated that Nigerians will continue to call for a restructuring, even as citizens gear up for the inauguration of the new administration on May 29.

Soyinka said the government of President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, must place a renewed focus on the persistent calls for restructuring the Nigerian federation otherwise its programmes and policies will face serious challenges.

“Whomever it is must understand that the people of this country will not cease demanding a restructuring of this nation,” he stated on Channels TV.

“New voices are being heard and they are more powerful than before. They are not just whining voices, they are voices based on actualities. We have failed in so many directions and they are saying, ‘let us try in this direction’ and you cannot ignore it.

“Otherwise, even your economic policies will fail, your infrastructure and transformation will fail. We will just go back threading the same old spur.”

INEC appoints nine SANs to defend election

No fewer than nine Senior Advocates of Nigeria have been appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission to defend the results of the February 25 presidential election.

The team, according to City Lawyer, is to be led by former Nigerian Bar Association President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN). Other members of the team are Stephen Adehi (SAN), Oluwakemi Pinheiro (SAN), Miannaya Essien (SAN), and Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN).

It was gathered from a member of the legal team that four SANs who are staff members of INEC’s legal department are also members of the team alongside Garba Hassan, Musa Attah, and Patricia Obi.

INEC budgeted over N3bn to defend the results of the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections and the March 18 governorship and state assembly polls.

The PUNCH reports that several candidates who lost in the elections have filed petitions at the presidential and state election petition tribunals to challenge the outcome of the polls.

So far, over 100 election petitions have been filed by aggrieved candidates and their parties across the country.

The presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party, Peter Obi; the Action Alliance, Solomon Okangbuan; Allied Peoples Movement, Chichi Ojei, have also filed petitions for the nullification of the presidential election results.

The commission had on March 1, 2023, declared Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

Minister calls for international support for Nigeria’s quest to save Lake Chad

The Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, has urged the international community to fully support Nigeria’s quest to save Lake Chad from extinction and revive its potential.

Mr Adamu, who made the call in an interview with journalists in New York, said it was important to lend his voice to President Muhammadu Buhari’s call to revive Lake Chad.Mr Adamu was in New York to attend the just-concluded 2023 UN Water Conference.

“If you recall from the beginning of this administration, President Buhari has made this call in several fora, especially at all the engagements during Conference of Parties (COP) on Climate Change and his interactions with world leaders.

“It is a consistent call because you know the problem we have in the Northeast, problem of Boko Haram. It has been clearly linked to the lack of opportunities and abject poverty around the Lake Chad that was caused by the shrinking of the Lake. It sank as low as 10 per cent of its storage capacity 50 years ago,” he said.

The minister said the shrinking of the Lake had impacted negatively on the source of livelihood of the people leaving in the area, adding that more than 40 million people were affected.Mr Adamu said that all the opportunities for finishing, farming, irrigation, grazing were all lost, and the lack of opportunities had caused poverty in that area, giving room for breeding ground for Boko Haram fighters.

“From the security perspective, it’s very important to make this call and from economic development perspective, loss of jobs and poverty. Also, there is climate change issue and desertification,’’ he said.

The minister added that Nigeria had recently ratified the instrument of Accession to the UN Water Convention and had submitted it at the conference.Mr Adamu said Nigeria, under the leadership of President Buhari, had acceded to the Water Convention as an instrument to strengthen the existing transboundary commitments under the Niger Basin Authority and the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

Nigeria shares at least one transboundary water body with each of its neighbouring states.The Lake Chad Basin is the largest inland drainage area in Africa and covers an area of 2,434,000 km2, equal to eight per cent of the total area of the African continent.

The basin extends through Algeria, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, Central Africa Republic, Chad, and Sudan. In Nigeria, the basin drains about 20 per cent of the country.

Nigeria is also home to about 80 per cent of the 100 million people residing in the basin of the River Niger, which crosses Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Chad before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of Guinea.

President Buhari ratified the Accession to the Convention in December 2022 and Nigeria also ratified the Amendment to Articles 25 and 26 of Nov. 23, 2003.

Stop congratulating Tinubu, cleric warns Nigerians

Dr Mustapha Bello, an Islamic cleric and educationist, says Nigerians should stop congratulating the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, but rather set agenda for him.

Mr Bello, a lecturer, Department of Religions and Peace Studies, Lagos State University (LASU), made the remarks at the 9th Ramadan Lecture of Anwar-Ul Islam College, Agege, Old Students’ Association (ACAOSA), on Saturday in Lagos.

The Guest Speaker delivered a lecture titled: “Islamic Perspective of a Good Governance: Any Lesson for Nigeria?”

Mr Bello described the topic as apt and imperative because of the concern every discerning Nigerian now had about the state of affairs in the nation.

According to him, the nation will by May 29, experience 24 years of uninterrupted democratic rule being led by the PDP and APC, but the question is whether Nigerians have enjoyed good governance or not.

He said Nigerians could not be said to have enjoyed good governance in the light of prevailing socio-economic challenges they were faced with.

“Good governance is the responsibility of all Nigerians. Those who have been elected, we congratulate them but Nigerians should put them on their toes.

“We must set agenda for them, we must tell them what we want in terms of education, infrastructure, environment, health and others. We should not leave them, we should advise them.

“It is not enough for us to be congratulating them. Sen Bola Tinubu has emerged President-elect, and he will be inaugurated, we must set agenda for him.

“Stop doing congratulatory messages now, let us set agenda on education, environment, public morality.

“Look around, there is so much indiscipline in the society. We must also pray for them,” he said.

The cleric said that the President-elect, his deputy and all elected public office holders should be commended if they do well and criticised if they misbehave, for the nation to get good governance.Mr Bello said that when there is good governance, there would be peace, prosperity, plenty for everybody and less insecurity.

“The President-elect and Vice President-elect have enormous responsibility to unite our minds together. We are so divided as a people by religion, ethnicity and social classes.

“The first task before them is to find a way of assuaging our feelings and unite us; It is when we have a common objective with our mind united that we can move forward,” Bello said.

He said that good governance according to United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), relates to the political, institutional processes and outcomes that are necessary to achieve the goals of development.Mr Bello said the UNHRC identified transparency, responsibility, accountability, participation, and responsiveness as key attributes of good governance.

“Good governance in a layman language is the provisions of abundance of goodness by a government to its citizens which is the fundamental objective of the state as entrenched in the Nigerian constitution.

“Good governance is the major determinant of how stable, prosperous and peaceful a society or a country is.

“In essence, wherever you find poverty, crisis and they are on the rise, the only reason for the absence of prosperity is the absence of good governance.

“Virtually, all parametres used in measuring good governance as it relates to Nigeria is negative,” he said.

I won’t honour loans granted from March 18 without my consent- Kano Governor-elect

The Kano State Governor-elect, Abba Yusuf, has warned all subsisting and prospective lenders to the current Kano State Government against granting fresh loans.

The advisory is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Kano by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor-elect, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa.

It warned that from March 18 to May 29, no lender, domestic or international, should grant any loan facility to the incumbent Kano State Government without the expressed consent of the incoming administration.

“Any such loan facility approved and issued to the Kano State Government between the date of election and the date of swearing-in without the explicit knowledge and consent of the incoming administration will not be honoured by the new administration.

“All subsisting lenders to the Kano State Government shall take notice that all terms and conditions for all existing loan facilities shall be renegotiated by the new administration guided by the utilisation audit/review of each loan facility,“ the statement said.

NPC insists 2023 census will be credible, cannot be manipulated

The National Population Commission (NPC) has promised to conduct a credible and reliable 2023 National Population and Housing Census.

Pam Dame, NPC Director in Plateau, gave the assurance when he visited the Plateau Chpater of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Friday in Jos.

Mr Dame, who reiterated the importance of the exercise to planning and national development, said that the commission would deploy technology to ensure that the exercise was done with minimal hitches.

“The forthcoming census will be a bit unique because we have made arrangements for improvement over the previous ones

“We will deploy technology for the exercise so as to curtail chances of manipulation, so as to make it credible, reliable, and acceptable to Nigerians.

“This is why we are putting in the best methodology; and the conduct will conform to global.standards.

“It will be very difficult for anyone to manipulate this census because we will deploy what is needed to make it credible and acceptable,” he said.

The director, who said the commission started preparing for the exercise in 2014, noted that the visit was to seek media support toward the success of the exercise in the state.

“Media is an important community to us, because no matter how good your product is you must market it, and so publicity is key.

“We cannot do without the media, because we believe you will help us sing the song or else the investment of government in the forthcoming census will be in vain

“So, we are here to intimate and update you on what is expected of Nigerians in the forthcoming exercise,” he said.

Mr Pam, who said that the exercise was slated to hold between May 3 to May 7, called on residents of the state to support and cooperate with NPC personnel during the exercise.

Responding, Paul Jatau, NUJ chairman in the state, thanked the commission for the visit.He assured that journalists in the state would support the commission toward the success of the forthcoming national exercise.

Mr Jatau, however, advised the commission to conduct proper training for its officials to avert challenges experienced during the just concluded general elections.

El-Rufai government inaugurates committees ahead 2023 census

The Kaduna Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC), has inaugurated media and publicity and security committees for the May 2023 population and housing census in the state.

Inaugurating the committees in Kaduna on Thursday, Umma Aboki, PBC commissioner, explained that the committees would ensure a hitch-free census.

Ms Aboki explained that she would chair the media and publicity committee, with the deputy director of state planning, as the secretary.

She identified other committee members as the commissioner for human services and social development and special adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on media and communication.

They also include the zonal manager of the News Agency of Nigeria, the zonal director of the National Television Authority, the zonal manager of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, and the state director of the National Orientation Agency.

Others are the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the chairman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, and the co-chair of the Open Government Partnership.

According to Ms Aboki, the committee will be responsible for awareness creation and community mobilisation for the exercise.

“The committee will also develop television and radio jingles, carry out media engagements and carry out community sensitisation and advocacy to relevant community stakeholders for a hitch-free exercise,” she stated.

Nigerians who protest against Tinubu at White House, APC calls them ‘losers’

Tai Balofin, chairman of the APC United States chapter, says Nigerians should not be disturbed by people protesting the emergence of Bola Tinubu as president-elect in front of the White House.

Mr Balofin, in a statement on Thursday, said the chapter had mobilised “true” Nigerians to come out in support of Mr Tinubu’s mandate.

He expressed optimism that those protesting against Mr Tinubu’s emergence as the president-elect would not succeed in their mission to disrupt the peace and stability of Nigeria.

“We wish to inform the public that a group of the Nigerian 2023 presidential election losers are currently protesting at the park in front of the White House,” said the statement.

It added;

“It is important to note that the US government is not involved or in support of the protest, as anybody can get approval for a peaceful protest. It is our belief that the Nigerian presidential election was free and fair, and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu won the election.”

The statement pointed out that the majority of Nigerian voters gave the former Lagos governor their mandate, and “no propaganda, manipulation or tissue of lies” can stop his inauguration.

“We want to assure Nigerians that Nigeria will not secede, and it will remain united. We must work together to salvage it,” said Mr Balofin and urged Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful.

The APC chieftain in the U.S. stated that justice would prevail and the mandate the people gave Mr Tinubu at the poll would be respected.

INEC fixes April 25 to conclude Ido-Osi Constituency 1 election in Ekiti

INEC has fixed the election for Ido-Osi Constituency 1 in the Ekiti House of Assembly for April 15.

The resident electoral commissioner in the state, Ayobami Salami, announced this in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday while presenting certificates of return to 25 other assembly members elected on March 18.

INEC declared the election in Ido-Osi Constituency 1 inconclusive because of the disruption of the exercise by suspected hoodlums.

Mr Salami noted that the exercise was declared inconclusive in only three polling units in the constituency.

He expressed the preparedness of INEC to conduct a peaceful and hitch-free supplementary election in the polling units on April 15.

He appealed to stakeholders in the constituency to cooperate with the electoral body and with security agencies for a successful conclusion of the process.

“The commission has only three polling units in Ido-Osi Constituency 1, where election was inconclusive. The inconclusive election will be concluded on April 15. We are prepared; we are ready to conduct the election,” stated the INEC chief in Ekiti.

Mr Salami added;

“We appeal to all the stakeholders in Ido-Osi Constituency 1 to please, cooperate with INEC and the security agencies so that the commission can have a successful conclusion of the process. I believe we shall get more support and more collaboration of all stakeholders.”