Politics

I’ll restructure Nigeria within six months if elected, Atiku vows

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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar says he will ensure Nigeria is restructured within six months of his administration if elected.

He said this at the PDP presidential diaspora campaign grand finale held in Abuja.

Mr Abubakar, who was represented by former National chairman of the PDP, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, said that sufficient research work needed to achieve restructuring in Nigeria had been concluded.

Mr Nwodo is the Deputy Director, Research and Strategy, of the PDP presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

He said that Nigeria worked better when every region controlled its natural resources.

The former vice president recalled that existing socio-economic developments were put in place when regions controlled their resources.

“When we are talking about restructuring by Executive Order, in the first six months, this country will not be what you are seeing today.

“This has been worked out and I’m just waiting to be sworn in on May 29 and the plans will be rolled out.”

He said that Nigeria was a great country, adding that all that it required was good leadership.“We will provide that kind of leadership,” he declared.

Mr Abubakar further said that if elected, he would rescue Nigeria from all indices that had portrayed it in bad light.

He listed his five-point agenda to include education and security, saying that he would restore security to the country by nipping in the bud factors responsible for rising violence.

Earlier, Director, Directorate of Diaspora Groups, PDP PCC, Professor Isa Odidi, had said that Nigerians in Diaspora believe that Mr Abubakar would articulate and implement the Diaspora Policy Framework to help capture, harness and channel their expertise to the country.

“Atiku’s government will do more to remove obstacles and create opportunities for Nigerians in the Diaspora to engage in economic development of Nigeria.

“We all unequivocally support Atiku/Okowa for President and Vice President of Nigeria,” he asserted.

Lifestyle, Politics

Governor Makinde suspends campaign activities over fuel, naira scarcity

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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo has suspended his campaign activities until further notice over unending fuel and new naira notes crisis in the state.

Mr Makinde, whose campaign trail had visited parts of the state, announced the suspension at the flag off of the Omi-Adio-Ido Road on Friday.

The suspension was contained in a statement by Wasiu Olatubosun, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism.

Mr Makinde said the suspension was in solidarity with the people over the harrowing experiences in recent time over the unending fuel and currency scarcity.

The governor, who was in Ido to continue his campaign, directed all campaign activities be suspended, noting that the people’s suffering was too much.

He said that the decision was taken because he was elected to protect the interests and wellbeing of citizens of the state.

Mr Makinde, who flagged off the Omi-Adio-Ido Road, also directed leaders of the party in the state to suspend further political activities.

“Makinde’s love for his people necessitated this unprecedented move, at this time.

“We urge all residents and citizens of the state to remain calm as we navigate through this difficult period together,” the governor was quoted as saying.

Politics

Buhari holds closed-door meeting with APC governors on cash, fuel scarcity

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President Muhammadu Buhari has met behind closed doors with governors elected under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Though the agenda of the meeting was not officially disclosed, it was gathered that some national issues including the ongoing currency swap, fuel shortages in some parts of the country and their possible effects on the February and March general elections might have been discussed at the meeting.

Some of the governors in attendance include the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, governors of Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Imo, Hope Uzodimma.

Others are those of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle; Ogun, Dapo Abiodun; Yobe, Mai Mala-Buni; Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai; Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje; Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; Niger, Sani Bello among others.

Politics

Tinubu promises to double four-year university education to eight years

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Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Thursday promised to double the duration of university education in the country from the current four years to eight years, saying Nigerians should elect him to be able to actualise his intention.

“Those of you in school, write it down,” Mr Tinubu said to Nigerian youth during a campaign stop in Osogbo on Thursday afternoon.

“Call me a bastard if you spend more than eight years in school. You will be in school for eight years.”

Mr Tinubu’s comments could be deemed insensitive in a country plagued by unnecessary delays in academic years due to persistent strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary education bodies.

Mr Tinubu’s promise marks a breakaway from longstanding academic programmes in Nigerian universities that run typically four years with the exception of highly specialised studies such as law and medicine, which last five and six years of university study, respectively.

The comment has further fueled criticism from Nigerians on social media, who maintain that Mr Tinubu’s worsening physical health has diminished his mental awareness and should be disqualified from seeking the country’s highest office.

A spokesperson for Mr Tinubu’s campaign did not return comments seeking clarification of his comments.

Mr Tinubu has made comments that seemed to disparage Nigerian youth in recent months.

While seeking the ruling party’s ticket for president, he vowed to conscript 50 million Nigerian youth into the military, saying they would do well feeding on corn, cassava and other farm produce while protecting the country.

He, however, failed to say how his idea would help modernise the country’s military infrastructure, which has been deemed among the most backward globally.

Politics

Court orders INEC to accept LP candidates in Lagos, Kano, Rivers, 21 other states

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The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept the nomination of candidates of the Labour Party (LP) in 24 states of the federation for the 2023 general elections.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Thursday while delivering 24 different judgments in 24 different suits brought before him by the party.

The judge held that INEC violated Sections 31, 33 and 36 of the Electoral Act 2022 in rejecting the Labour Party’s candidates in the affected states on the grounds of non functioning of its nomination portal.

The court asked the electoral umpire to accept the list of the candidates in the 24 States either manually or through its electronic nomination portal.

Mr Ekwo held that the evidence of the Labour Party through exchanged letters with INEC in the nomination issue was credible and proceeded to attach probative value to it.

He said that the consequences of a non-functional electronic nomination portal could not be visited on the Labour Party.

He agreed with the submissions of the party that nomination and submission of candidates list could not be rejected by INEC from any party until 90 days to the general elections.

The court said that the time the Labour Party sought to submit the list of its candidates in the 24 states was more than 90 days to the 2023 general elections, and so it was within the time allowed by law.

Mr Ekwo held that INEC was bound to accept the party’s candidates’ list manually if its electronic nomination portal was faulty.He subsequently ordered INEC to open its website for the purpose of allowing the Labour Party to submit the list of its candidates or accept the same manually with immediate effect for the purpose of the 2023 general elections.

The 24 states affected include; Bayelsa, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Borno, Osun, Adamawa and Cross Rivers.Others are Benue, Bauchi, Ebonyi Ekiti, Kwara, Plateau, Katsina, Nasarawa, Lagos, Kaduna and Oyo states among others.

The Labour Party told the court that in November 2022, it substituted candidates who withdrew from the 2023 general elections in the affected states.

The party told the court that the withdrawals were communicated to INEC by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

This, the party said, was done along with notification of the October 27 date to conduct substitution nomination primary elections.

However, at the point of uploading the fresh candidates names, INEC claimed that its nomination portal was faulty and declined to accept the candidates list manually and this led to the filing of 24 suits.

Lifestyle, Politics

INEC says 522,000 PVCs remain uncollected in Edo

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, announced that a total of 522,000 permanent voter cards (PVC) had yet to be collected in Edo.

INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Timidi Wariowei, stated this during a town hall meeting on youth’s participation in elections.

The town hall meeting, organised by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), YES Project, was tagged: ‘Value Your Votes Najia.’Mr Wariowei, said that the 522,000 uncollected PVCs comprised both the old and the new ones.

He noted that at the end of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, a total of 419,000 PVCs, including transfers and information updates, were sent to the INEC office in the state.

“As at Feb. 1, out of the 419,000 PVCs, 299,000 had been collected, while a total of 120,000 are still uncollected.

“Also, about 402,000 old PVCs have yet to be collected in the state,” he said.

Mr Wariowei noted that when the distribution of the PVCs commenced, the daily collection was above 20,000, adding, however, that now, the daily collection had reduced to between 1,000 and 3,000 across the state.

He called on youth organisations and civil society organisations in the state to continue to sensitise residents on the need to collect their PVCs.

“It is the only means through which they can vote for their preferred candidates during forthcoming general elections,” he added.

Earlier, the Executive Director of YES Project, Oche Precious, in his address of welcome, said that the event was aimed at sensitising the youth on the need to come out en masse and cast their votes for their preferred candidates.

“This is the time to change the narrative by going out to cast our votes and decide the next leader that will pilot the affairs of our nation,” he said.

Politics

Supreme court dismisses suit against Oyetola’s participation in Osun poll

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The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to restore the nullification of the participation of Osun ex-Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi in the July 16, 2022 governorship election.

A judgment by a five-member panel of justices led by Centus Nweze held that the appeal by the PDP was without merit and directed the lawyer to the PDP, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, to withdraw it.

The court held that the PDP could not, under the law, question the process leading to the emergence of Mr Oyetola and Alabi as candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had, in a judgment on September 30, 2022, nullified the participation of Oyetola and Alabi in the governorship election on the grounds that their nomination forms were endorsed by an acting chairman of APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni.

Mr Nwite’s judgment was set aside by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, in a judgment in December 2022, a decision the PDP appealed to the Supreme Court.

Politics

Akwa Ibom Government Demands Apology From Tinubu For Insulting, Making ‘Immature’ Comments About Gov Emmanuel, Indigenes

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The Akwa Ibom State government has vowed to take seriously, the threats made by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu to send reptiles to invade the Governor’s Lodge in the state and eventually seize the property.

The state government in a statement issued on Wednesday by the state commissioner for information and strategy, Ini Ememobong, berated the former Lagos State governor for calling Governor Udom Emmanuel “a boy” and hurling what it described as “unwarranted, uncharitable and anachronistic” on the people of the state without provocation.

The state government asked Tinubu to tender a public apology to the state governor and the people of the state.

It said the APC candidate should rather concern himself with answering questions about his “nebulous history and his amorphous manifestos” as the matter of Nigeria’s presidency is a very serious business that must be treated with seriousness and intellectual depth.

“Mr. Udom Emmanuel was duly elected as Governor of Akwa Ibom State and therefore, it is clearly unpresidential and undemocratic for Senator Tinubu to say that he ‘calls himself governor’.

“Senator Tinubu should, during his campaigns, concern himself with answering questions about his nebulous history and his amorphous manifestos. The Presidency of our country Is a very serious business that must be treated with seriousness and intellectual depth.

“The Government advises all her citizens to ignore the vituperations of Senator Tinubu and continue to co-exist peacefully with all Nigerians who are living and doing legitimate business in our state.”

Also speaking on Tinubu’s outing in the state, Governor Emmanuel in a video making the rounds on the internet questioned Tinubu’s actions, including calling him a boy, pointing out that if he should return the insults, Tinubu will be unable to bear it.

Politics

Two killed as gunmen attack INEC office, police station with bombs in Anambra

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The Idemili South Local Government Area office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was attacked early Wednesday, police authorities confirmed.

The Anambra police command also said a police station was attacked by the gunmen in Ojoto.Spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga added that two casualties were recorded.

“The hoodlums, who came in their numbers at about 1:45 a.m. today with four unmarked Sienna cars, armed with improvised explosive devices, petrol bombs, invaded the INEC office, the police station and a residential building within the station.

“Unfortunately, a 16-year-old relative of a serving policeman in the station was murdered by the armed men while another 15-year-old girl sustained gunshot injury,” Mr Ikenga said.

He said that the injured girl was taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

Entertainment, Politics

Writer Solomon Buchi Weds Fiancée

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Popular writer, Solomon Buchi, has wedded his fiancée, Arike.

Buchi shared pictures from the wedding via his Instagram account on Wednesday.

He wrote, “The most beautiful moment in our lives yet. I got to be joined as one with Àríké Adeola, now Adeola Solomon-Buchi 🥰Marriage, an institution so sacred, and in the presence of family and a few friends, we tied our nuptial vows and committed to forever.

On this note, on behalf of my wife and I, we’d like to wish you a happy Wednesday ✌🏾🫶🏾”

Politics

Buhari back in Abuja after Lagos, Senegal, Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Jigawa trips

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President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after visits to five states (Bauchi, Lagos, Katsina, Kano and Jigawa) in the country and a trip to Senegal.

Before departing for Lagos on January 23, Mr Buhari had attended APC rallies in Bauchi.

The president departed Lagos for Senegal on Tuesday after a two-day official visit to the state.

While in Lagos, the president inaugurated the Lekki Deep Sea Port, and the Imota Rice Mill projected to create more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Mr Buhari also inaugurated the Bestaf Lubricant at MRS Holdings Company Limited, Apapa, the historic first phase of the Blue Line of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit, and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History on Tuesday.

The first phase of the Lagos Blue Rail Line, taking a ride from the Marina Station to National Theatre Station, executed by the State Government, which spans 13km, has five stations – Mile 2, Suru-Alaba, Orile Iganmu, National Theatre and Marina.

The Nigerian leader arrived in Senegal on January 24, to attend the 2nd Dakar International Conference on Agriculture. The high-level Dakar second summit was hosted by President Macky Sall of Senegal and the Chairperson of the African Union.

The conference, which seeks to create favourable conditions for achieving food security in Africa, was convened jointly by the government of Senegal and the African Development Bank.

In his goodwill message to the Feed Africa Summit of Heads of State and Government on Wednesday in Dakar, Buhari welcomed the provision of 538.05 million Dollars for the first phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) for Nigeria programme.

The African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development provided the facility.

Mr Buhari held a bilateral meeting with the president of Ireland, Michael Higgins, on the sideline of the Dakar conference on agriculture.

The Nigerian president, who returned to Nigeria on Wednesday night, embarked on another official visit to Katsina on Thursday.

While in Katsina, he inaugurated projects across the state and visited the Emir of Daura, Farouk Umar Farouk.

Mr Buhari inaugurated the Muhammadu Buhari Meteorological Institute undertaken by the Ministry of Aviation, the Darma Rice Mill in Batagarwa and the Katsina State General Hospital.

He also inspected ongoing work on the first flyover in Katsina, which had reached 90 per cent completion in the Government Reserved Area.

The president hosted the APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu at his country home Daura. Mr Buhari had on Monday, and Tuesday visited Kano and Jigawa, respectively. During his one-day official visit to Jigawa on Tuesday, the president visited four local government areas to inaugurate some projects, including the Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme at Auyo, Birnin Kudu Specialist Hospital, Malam Alu Integrated Agro-Allied Farm, Birnin Kudu, and the dualised Unity-Pentagon-Fanisau Road.

The president unveiled a 50.3 metres flag pole at the farm, described as the tallest in the country.

Before returning to Abuja on Tuesday evening, Mr Buhari also had an aerial view of some roads, infrastructure, bridges and places affected by the September flooding disaster, which affected many parts of Jigawa.

Politics, World News

Brazil’s ex-president Bolsonaro seeks six-month U.S. visa

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Brazil’s ex-President Jair Bolsonaro has applied to extend his stay in the United States on a six-month visitor’s visa amid claims that he wants to escape facing a lawsuit on returning home.

The Financial Times first confirmed the development by citing Mr Bolsonaro’s immigration lawyer, Felipe Alexandre.

The 67-year-old politician travelled to Florida in December, two days after the inauguration of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as Brazil’s new president.

In the wake of Mr Lula’s inauguration, thousands of Mr Bolsonaro’s die-hard supporters trooped to the street across Brazil, protesting the emergence of the incumbent president.

The protesters invaded and damaged government buildings while demanding the election that brought Mr Lula to power be overturned.

Following the violence across various cities in the country, authorities in Brazil launched an investigation into the part Mr Bolsonaro played in the inciting attacks to topple a democratically elected government official.

It is one of several pending legal issues awaiting the former president once he returns home from the U.S.

Mr Bolsonaro, reported to have entered the U.S. on an A-1 visa, would not be entitled to immunity from legal prosecution once he returns to Brazil.

The A-1 visa is reserved for sitting heads of state.

Politics

General Elections: Buhari directs NIS to tighten security around borders

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President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to tighten security around the nation’s borders before and after the general elections.

Interior minister Rauf Aregbesola disclosed this in Katsina on Tuesday while inaugurating the Katsina State headquarters of the service.

“The order from President Muhammadu Buhari is that between now and the time we will conclude elections, you must make sure our borders are secured,” Mr Aregbesola said.

The minister charged officers to ensure that illegal immigrants do not create problems during and after the elections.

“The service should live up to the directives of Mr President,” he said.The minister also tasked them on ensuring the documentation of all migrants.

Mr Aregbesola said that Katsina State had 400 kilometres of border lines and 14 border positions which the service needed to protect.

He said the government was upgrading the capacity of the NIS to control the nation’s borders effectively.

“We are deploying electronic digital technology to ensure 24/7 surveillance of the 5,000 kilometres border lines.

“We have already awarded the contract, so, very soon, the comptroller-general, from his office, will be able to see what is happening anytime at any border point,” he said.

In his remarks, Governor Aminu Masari, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Muntari Lawal, commended the NIS for the project and affirmed the administration’s readiness to support the service to secure the nation’s borders.

Also speaking, the State controller, Bello Garba, who reiterated the commitment of officers and men to their responsibilities, said the service currently had 688 officers and men across the state.

Politics

Representative member’s aide kidnapped in Cross River

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Kenneth Abang, a legislative aide to a House of Representatives member representing Boki-Ikom Federal Constituency in Cross River, has been kidnapped.

Mr Abang, an aide to Rep. Chris Agibe, was abducted in the Betem community in the Biase Local Government Area of Cross River.

He was kidnapped alongside his relative, Eunice Abang, on January 30.

Mr Abang’s friend, Fidelis Ekpah, in a telephone interview on Tuesday in Calabar, said the aide was travelling to his home town in the Boki Local Government Area when he was abducted.

Mr Ekpah explained that Mr Abang was travelling to prepare for his late father’s burial, scheduled for February 3 and 4.

“Mr Kenneth Abang has been kidnapped along the Calabar-Biase highway while travelling to Boki to make preparations for his father’s burial.

“He was kidnapped alongside his relative, Miss Eunice Abang. They took them away and abandoned his car by the roadside.

“This is a double tragedy for us. We were already planning for his father’s burial before this ugly incident occurred.

“I want to appeal to the police, the army, civil defence and the department of state service to come to our aid and rescue our brother and his relative,” Mr Ekpah said.

The spokeswoman of the Cross River State Police Command, Irene Ugbo, who confirmed the abduction in a telephone interview, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims.

“The deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations has drafted our men to the area to ensure the release of Abang and his relation,” she said.

Politics

Governor Yahaya Bello begins Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign

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Governor Yahaya Bello on Sunday began the Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign in Anyingba, Kogi East.

The governor, who described APC as a strong united family in Kogi, assured of an outstanding outing at the February 25 and March 11 elections in Kogi.

The rally in Anyigba saw the governor receive scores of estranged APC members returning to the party.

Mr Bello said the attendance at the Kogi East rally alone, was a testimony that;

“APC is one and united family ready to sweep the votes for Tinubu-Shettina presidency in the state.”

Presenting the APC flags to the candidates in Kogi East, the Kogi governor reiterated that the party’s presidential flag bearer Bola Tinubu, and his running mate Kashim Shettima as the right choice for Kogi electorates.

“Today, we are declaring to the world that Kogi APC is committed to coming up with the highest percentage amongst the entire 36 states for the presidential, senatorial, house of rep and state assembly elections,” stated Mr Bello.

“It’s in the records that In 2019, you did deliver 100 per cent because you are trustworthy people and I believe this time around, similar feat will be repeated across board.”

He added;

“Of course, such results will give Kogi a vintage advantage to demand for certain dividends from the central government after its emergence.”

The governor urged party supporters to reach out to their families, friends and associates to vote again for the ruling APC for outright victory.

Politics

My victory shows INEC needs to improve its processes, says Oyetola

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Gboyega Oyetola, the immediate past governor of Osun, says the verdict of the election petition tribunal which validated his victory in the July 16, 2022 governorship election, shows that there are anomalies in the voting process deployed by electoral body INEC.

“INEC is the greatest beneficiary of the judgement,” said Mr Oyetola who flew the flag of the All Progressives Congress in the election.

“It will afford them the opportunity to look at all the anomalies and make necessary adjustments to prevent such mistakes now that the general elections are coming.”

Nigerians will head to the polls on February 25 and March 11 for national and state elections, respectively.On Friday, a majority ruling by the three-man Osun Elections Petition Tribunal held that the July 16 elections conducted by INEC did not comply with the Electoral Act which came into force in 2022.

Following the passage of the Electoral Act, Osun was one of the few states where INEC first deployed its recently introduced Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, which it claimed was fraud-proof.

But the Justice Tersea Kume-led panel found that there was indeed over-voting in 774 polling units in 10 local government areas in the state.

He said it was the duty of the tribunal to deduct the valid votes cast from the over-voting and therefore awarded victory to Mr Oyetola after retabulating the figures to score him 314,931 votes as against Governor Ademola Adeleke’s 290,266 votes.

A minority judge, however, ruled that Mr Adeleke won the election.Mr Oyetola, while speaking with reporters in his country home, Iragbiji, said “it is a collective victory for our state and our nation’s democracy.”

Mr Adeleke, however, vowed to appeal the judgement which he described as a miscarriage of justice.

Lifestyle, Politics

Reps asks tertiary institutions to suspend academic activities for students to vote

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The house of representatives has appealed to management of tertiary institutions in the country to suspend academic activities ahead of the elections.

In the appeal made to National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NABTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), and the ministry of education, the lower chamber of the national assembly said suspension of academic activities will enable students to travel to the areas where their polling units are situated and also ensure they are disenfranchised.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also asked to make special arrangements for students to collect their PVCs.

The resolution was reached on Thursday, January 26, following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Kabir Ibrahim, a lawmaker representing Zuru/Fakai/Danko-Wasagu/Sakaba federal constituency of Kebbi.

Ibrahim who pointed out that there are over 2.1 million students in universities, and over 2.4 million students in polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education, noted that the academic calendars of various tertiary institutions “are structured in a way that most students are disenfranchised as school calendars do not take into consideration the timelines and date for elections”.

He also revealed that a report released by INEC shows that 3.8 million of the newly registered voters are students, accounting for 40.8 percent of the total number of newly registered voters.

Ibrahim said;

“These students who constitute 40.8 percent of the newly registered voters, have their polling units sited in states outside their campuses, thereby necessitating travelling outside their respective institutions to vote in the 2023 elections.

“Tertiary institutions are not considering academic breaks for students during the general elections, despite knowing that most students registered outside their campuses during the continuous voter registration exercise, which took place during the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), strike.

“INEC has devolved PVCs distributions at the registration areas and wards across the 774 local government offices throughout the federation.

“Distribution of PVCs at the wards has ended, and the exercise moved back to the local government/area council offices, thereby further limiting the chances of the students to collect their PVCs which is a precondition for voting at the polls.

“While the students are busy with academic activities, INEC is engaged in distributing PVCs at the wards across the 774 LGAs of the federation which deprives students of the opportunity to collect their PVCs.

“Tertiary institutions do not consider periods of elections in designing academic calendars, as most of them conduct semester examinations when the preparations for the general elections are almost completed or when the polls are going on, thereby disenfranchising the students from exercising their civic duties.”

Following the unanimous adoption of the motion, the house mandated committees on tertiary education and electoral matters to “liaise with the agencies to facilitate the process” and report back within one week.

Politics

Governor Zulum directs set up of emergency banks to mop up old naira notes in Borno

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Borno governor Babagana Zulum has directed the state Ministry of Finance to quickly establish branches of existing microfinance banks in 25 local government areas in the state, ahead of the January 31 deadline for the withdrawal of some old naira notes from circulation.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the governor on Communications and Strategy, Isa Gusau, and made available to reporters on Thursday in Maiduguri.

According to the statement, the ministry of finance is to work with that of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in that direction.

“Zulum’s directive follows the CBN’s policy on stoppage of old naira notes amid the absence of banking services across 25 out of Borno’s 27 LGAs due to over 12 years of destruction by Boko Haram insurgents.

“The governor announced the microfinance measures on Wednesday in Maiduguri during an extraordinary stakeholders meeting which was attended by the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Garbai Elkanemi, represented by the Waziri of Borno, Mustapha Waziri Muktar.

“Zulum directed that where possible, branches of the microfinance bank should start being established this week in Monguno and Gwoza LGAs,’’ the statement explained.

Mr Zulum also directed the ministry of finance to immediately develop a template to organise and ensure people in rural communities deposit their old Naira notes before the January 31 deadline.

Besides, the governor ordered the ministry of higher education, science, technology and innovation to support mobile telecommunication providers toward improving their network coverage for internet connectivity across all the 27 LGAs in the state.

Lifestyle, Politics

Gunmen kidnap traditional ruler in Kaduna

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Gunmen have abducted Joshua Ahmadu, the district Head of Chawai in Kauru Local Government of Kaduna State.

Abel Adamu, president of Chawai Development Association, CDA, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

Mr Adamu, in the statement signed by Raphael Joshua, Public Relations Officer of CDA, said that the traditional ruler was kidnapped on Tuesday night, January 24, by unknown gunmen who invaded his house at Zambina.

“It was reported that the kidnappers stormed the house of the traditional ruler in their numbers around 9:30 p.m. and took him away,” the statement read.

The CDA president was further quoted as expressing dismay over the situation while assuring residents that CDA was working hard to ensure that the victim was released unhurt.

“Already, relevant authorities and heads of security operatives on special duty in the chiefdom have been duly informed and have already swung into action to rescue the traditional ruler. We are calling on all sons and daughters of Tsam land to pray for the safe return of the district head.”

The statement urged youths of the chiefdom to always take communal security seriously so as to avert such breaches.

“We have to be on our feet to ensure the land is safe. It’s unfortunate that at this critical time, the youths, who ought to be the communal force to guarantee security across communities, are not ready to work in collaboration with security personnel to secure the land,” he lamented.

The CDA boss appealed to government to direct security agencies to ensure that the district head was rescued and released unconditionally.

Politics

Buhari’s regime approves new policy to protect children online

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The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday in Abuja approved the National Child Online Protection Policy and Strategy.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isah Pantami, told reporters at the end of Wednesday’s cabinet meeting that the strategy was aimed at protecting children from the harmful side of the digital environment.The meeting was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Mr Pantami said the policy was in line with the International Telecommunication Union’s policy document for all its member countries.

“Today, we have around 6.3 billion people online and by implication, among this number, you will discover many children.

“They will not be able to differentiate what is beneficial and what is harmful.

“According to a report by the International Telecommunication Union, more than one billion children were online during COVID-19 lockdowns for their studies because schools were shut.

“Today, without any solicitation, you will discover that many things are coming into your device on-line and unsolicited,” the minister said.

According to him, children will not be able to avoid such unsolicited items online which will definitely affect their innocence; affect them morally and otherwise.

“The document has been titled: ‘keeping children safe in the digital environment’.

“All member countries have been urged to ensure they come up with a policy where children will be protected.

“It is because of this that we organised stakeholder engagement, where we invited around 37 institutions of government since it is a multi-sector issue.

“The Ministry of Information and Culture, the National Broadcasting Commission and the National Orientation Agency, among others, have roles to play.

“The Office of the National Security Adviser and other security agencies have roles to play; the Ministry of Justice has a role to play to differentiate what is legal and what is illegal,’’ Mr Pantami added.

He said the cabinet also approved the Nigeria Data Protection Bill to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of data being submitted to the government and to other institutions.

The minister said FEC also approved the National Duct One Policy aimed at institutionalising the provision of ducts during construction at federal, state and local government levels. “This is the global best practice today.

“Before construction and even during the conceptualisation and design, there should be provision for ducts for road construction, bridges, rail lines, sea ports, and any important building,” Mr Pantami said.

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