All Posts in "Day: May 28, 2021"

Robust Electoral Process Will Solve Nigeria’s Problems – Abe

Rivers: Abe condemns attack on APC members, fingers Amaechi - Daily Post Nigeria
Former representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has said that only a properly organized   electoral process, can save Nigeria from its plethora of problems.
He stressed that if the country can get it right with her elections, the myriads of challenges facing the nation would be a thing of the past.
Speaking at a symposium organized to mark his 56th Birthday Celebration by the Rivers Voice of Freedom in Port Harcourt, the former lawmaker stated that the foundation of everything wrong in Nigeria, is the electoral process.
He said: “Today, we have a process whereby the preference of only the leader counts. So the leader can handpick a thug, an armed robber, a greedy man, somebody that nobody in the society respects and say ok! This is the person that will go, others can die if they want, and that is the person that will go.
“You turn left, you turn right, whatever the people say at the end of the day would not matter. That election would produce the person that has been predetermined.
“That is not democracy and that will not lead us out of our present economic and social predicament.
“If we have a situation where nobody can determine the outcome of an election, where it is, the votes of the people secretly casts that can determine who emerges, no leader would come up and say this is what I want because, he knows that only the people can have the final say and not the leader.
“Unlike what obtains today, where the people are afraid to come out and say this is what we want. They would want to hear from the leader because; they know that what the leader is saying that is what will happen.
“If we reverse the situation and say the people would decide, the same way the leaders too will wait to see where the people are going before he will come out to decide whether to go to the left, to go centre or forward.  Because then what the people want is what would happen: that is a democracy”.
The Senator went further to say that when the people are allowed to decide, things will change.
“What will happen then is that the people will speak first and the leader would speak only after the people have spoken, that will be a reflection of the fact that everyone will know that it is the people that decides. Once the people are the ones deciding, everything would change.
“The mere fact that you cannot compromise the process would be that you will not waste money on the things that could compromise the process. Everyone will be forced to put the people first”.
Abe noted that Nigeria spends so much on elections and frowned at a situation whereby over eighty percent of our resources go into pursuing the electoral process.
“The cost of getting to win an election is totally, totally unrelated to the cost of our economy. We have gotten to the stage now where people are now making budgets for an election to include monies to give to voters. If the voters have to be paid, the electoral officials have to be paid, the security officials have to be paid, the electoral umpires have to be paid even the observers have to be paid. If everybody is collecting money before a winner emerges, how will a winner be accountable to the people that have already been paid?
“Then you begin to shout, no dividends of democracy, the government is personal, who do you think brought out that money that you were sharing on Election Day? You cannot eat your cake and have it back.
“If we want a system that would provide for job opportunities, security, rule of law, impartial treatment, equal treatment of all citizens, you must have a true democracy where the voter and his votes determines the outcome of each and every election.
We must have elections in which money has no place, godfathers have no place, the leader has one vote, the follower has one vote: when we enthrone that kind of democracy, it would be a democracy that will work for all and not only for just a few people”.
Earlier, Comrade Dominic Dum-e-kpigi, President General, Rivers Voice of Freedom (RVF), organizers of the program, commended Senator Magnus Abe for his firm and unrepentant position as a defender of the People’s rights and freedom, as well as being the crusader of internal democracy in the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Rivers State.
He pledged the group’s unflinching loyalty as grassroots mobilisers to the dreams and aspirations of the Senator.
Online Editor by — May 28, 2021 in Politics 0
Universal Energy Resources Limited Wins NECA  Award

COVID-19: How Nigeria can cope with looming recession — NECA
Savannah Energy’s Universal Energy Resources Limited (“UERL”) has won the Employer of the Year Award for the Oil and Gas (Upstream) Sector at the prestigious Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (“NECA”) Annual Employers’ Excellence Awards which held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
The NECA Awards recognise companies that have exhibited ‘Excellence’ across a wide range of criteria. Companies are evaluated on their leadership, corporate performance, governance, health and safety, human resource management, innovation and technological optimisation, as well as their ability to promote best practices and responsible business engagement for the benefit of the Nigerian economy.
Nkoyo Etuk, Head of Stakeholder Relations & Communication and Regional Manager SE, Savannah Energy, commented:
“We would like to thank the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) for this prestigious award. It is a recognition of the tremendous impact we are making through our investment in Nigeria which includes our people and host communities. As a company, we live the Savannah SEE-IT core values in our practices every day. And these values are Sustainability, Entrepreneurialism, Excellence, Integrity and Teamwork.
We remain committed to supporting the career growth and development of our employees and maintaining our position as the employer of choice”.
Online Editor by — May 28, 2021 in Next Level 0
Gov. Buni Condoles Kebbi Boat accident Victims.

Buni mourns kebbi boat accident victims | Blueprint Newspapers Limited
Yobe state Governor and Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, has condoled the government and people of Kebbi State over the unfortunate boat mishap which claimed several lives.
The Governor Buni described as devastating the death of the young enterprising persons who died while pursing their legal means of livelihood.
“It is with sadness but with total submission to the will of  Allah, that we lost these hardworking Nigerians.On behalf of the govetnment and good people of Yobe state, l condole with the government and people of Kebbi State over this very sad and monumental loss”
Buni prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and to grant their families and  government of Kebbi State the fortitude to bear the loss.
He also  prayed that this is the last incident Nigeria will ever witness such a sad accident.
Online Editor by — May 28, 2021 in News 0
France Seeks  Partnership With Nigeria On Dry Port Development

Hassan Bello Backs NSC Staff Cooperative Leadership over Growing of Funds by 802% | MarimeandEconomy
The French Government has approached the Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC) seeking to collaborate with stakeholders to develop dry ports for easy exportation of agricultural and mining products to France.
This was part of discussions during the visit of Dr. Sonia Darracq, Regional Agriculture Counsellor, to Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Niger, Cameroon, in the Embassy of France in Nigeria, to the management of Nigerian Shipper’s Council in Abuja.
Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, (NSC), while welcoming the Embassy of France in Nigeria representative, noted that the meeting was to deliberate on the development of inland dry ports, rail transportation infrastructure, export and import promotion and development between both countries.
Bello, who received the visitor along with Fidet Okhiria, the managing director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Ahmad Rabiu, Managing Director, Dala Inland Dry Port, among other stakeholders, explained that after due study five locations where chosen by the federal government for the construction of a dry port and they are, Funtua, Kano, Ibadan,  Plateau and Isiala ngwa in Abia.
The dry port at Funtua is already 68 per cent completed and with the efforts by the NRC, it could be ready for operations in October or November,he said,adding that reasonable progress had also been made in the other various ports, adding that the critical issue was that the projects were concessioned  to the private sector.
“The Federal government thinks that in order to bring shipping closer to the people there should be ports
“The guidelines for the policy is that dry port will decongest the sea port,  it will make things easier for everybody, secondly we have to galvanise export.
“Nigeria cannot be import dependent country for a long time,  we need to export to earn all this foreign currency.  It is intended that the dry port will be centred for export.
“In which case we are going to bring standards. Pre-export inspectors so that once you are exporting,  it is certified,  everything is sealed and taken by rail mostly to the ship that is waiting and off it goes.
“What it does is that you are spreading the economy and giving exporters access to the ports. We are calling for government to declare the dry-port as centres for exports so everything will be there.
“There will also be free zones, so most of the taxes will be lessened. We want to make these ports very comprehensive, we have to add value, we must have the compliment of the cold storage as to really cure these post-harvest losses.
“The most important thing is that we need to enhance and open the ports for local and international investments,’’ Bello said.
On railway, the NSC boss said rail capacity was key to the success of the dry-ports, adding that to earn the confidence of investors we should have scheduled railway services.
He noted that some countries have indicated interest to invest, therefore it was important to get things right.
He explained that  the idea was  not just to have a port, but to have a modern/electronic port that ise in accordance and compliance with ISPS code and of international standard.
He thanked the MD, NRC, Fidet Okhiria for accepting to ensure availability of land for investors to create additional values.
He  implored him to take a critical independent survey of all the ports and lay it before the Federal Government so that rail shouldn’t be a course for delay of the port.
He also appealed that the ports shouldn’t be allowed to be congested like the Apapa ports, goods be cleared 24 hours,  no demurrage or rent seeking and the ports must relate to the economy and the community.
 In her remarks, Dr Sonia Darracq expressed the readiness her government to collaborate with Nigeria.
Reiterating the importance of the dry-port, she said it would amongst other things boost the agricultural sector of the country as it would curb post-harvest loss of food products.
“I am in contact with some French companies that will be interested in partnering in the development of the dry port be it for food or other things..And I brought in some documentation for companies that also cover the cold chain sector and they would be very much willing to know better about your policy in terms of dry-port development in order to investigate some ways of cooperation.
“I am here to understand better what the government and the private sector plan in developing the dry port sector and all other infrastructure. I am mostly concerned with the transportation of our food but I’m also very keen to know the strategy of development of the highway,  the roads.
“I came here specifically at the request of the number one in France in the cold chain.  This is a group of French companies which deals in cold chain for more than 50years.They have a vast experience,  they are private companies and are very much willing to start business discussions with you.
“I am a government person and the French government is very much willing to assist in the form of some financial tools we could activate for the beginning.We want to be part of the transformation of all or few environmentally friendly energy sources for all activities including the cold chain transportation and everything.
The Managing Director, NRC, in his remark, reiterated the importance of rail in industrialisation and development.
Okhiria reiterated efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to like the country through rail, stating that work was on going to revitalize/construct the narrow and standard gauge lines in the country.
Online Editor by — May 28, 2021 in Maritime 0
ANAN, ICAN  Disagree Over Forensic Institute Bill 

The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, (ANAN) has tackled  the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, (ICAN), for opposing the legalization of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Examiners of Nigeria in the House of Representatives.
  The  Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, (ICAN),  told the House joint Committees on Anti-Corruption and Commerce, that it would not be forced into joining a body that wants to takeover the known forensics function engaged into by ICAN over the years.
President and Chairman Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Fraud Examiners of Nigeria, I. B. Gashinbaki, who is also a member of ANAN, told journalists that “ICAN is speaking from both sides of the mouth”, on the matter, stressing that members of ICAN were already part of the Institute, with ICAN as a member of Board.
He  said that it was not clear again to ANAN, who is a sponsor of the bill, what ICAN was actually looking for, by opposing the Institute which it (ICAN) has been promoting before now.
He maintained that accountants were not fraud examiners, or forensic experts, ” anybody who still thinks this, is living in the past.”
He implored ICAN to reconsider its position and support the bill which seeks to fight corruption in the country.
The Institute’s  President said that the body was not about accounting forensics alone as ICAN made it to look, but encompassed electoral fraud, certificate amongst others.
“Forensics is multidisciplinary. For somebody to claim that it is pat of accounting is ignorance”, he said.
Representative of ICAN Innocent Okwuosa, Deputy vice president of ICAN, in his presentation,insisted that, ” you can’t criminalise ICAN for not joining the new body”, since the law is seeking to criminalise anyone practicing as forensics and fraud examiners without being certified by the Institute.
Okwuosa, who said, “we are already practicing forensics accounting, they can do their own forensics examination”, explained that  that the new law was seeking to make the practice an all comers affairs.
Chairman of the Chattered Institute of Forensic and Certified Fraud Examiners of Nigeria Dr. I B Gashinbaki who canvassed the position of ANAN at th hearing, believed that forensic was only for accountants was a misnomer.
He argued that the opposition by ICAN to the bill at the public hearing is a purely a mischief and the passage of the bill is an accelerated approach to the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
But, the Protem President of the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Professionals of Nigeria Dr. Mrs Enabe Victoria said that that the new bill is a duplication of the investigative professional institute enabling law that had been passed into law by the two chambers of the National Assembly.
She  said that having two chartered institutes to regulate the practice of forensic science in the country would lead to role conflict and clash of interest and added that it would not augur well in the overall interest of the county.
She also said that the passage of the bill is tantanmount to abuse of the legislative process, practice and procedure as parliament had hitherto passed a bill on the same matter as the proposed bill is seeking to enact.
Online Editor by — May 28, 2021 in News 0
 Ooni Tasks NITDA On Youth Development

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has charged  the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to deepen its interest in the area of youth development.
The monarch,who  gave the advice  when he received the Director General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi in Abuja,said  Nigerians youth are the backbone of the country’s growth.
He said:“As someone who is passionate about youth development, I will love to see NITDA doing more with regard to youth empowerment. There is need for NITDA to expand its initiatives across other regions, especially North, so that the youth can catch up with their counterpart in other regions of the country,” the monarch said.
He commended National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for various projects and initiatives the Agency has carried out to boost Nigeria’s digital economy.
 Ogunwusi, expressed satisfaction on the approach NITDA is using to engage Nigerians, particularly in the area of Information Technology.
He said:“I have been following the activities of NITDA over the years, and all I can say is, I am very happy and satisfied with all that you are doing.
“I must also commend the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), who under his watch, the Ministry and also the Agencies he supervises are doing wonderfully to move this country forward especially with regard to digital economy,” he said.
In his remarks, the boss of  NITDA thanked Oba Adeyeye for the words of encouragement and assured him of the agency’s commitment in ensuring that it discharges its duties by providing Nigerians with basic digital skills through capacity building.
He explained to the monarch that digital innovation and entrepreneurship and promotion of indigenous contents are some of the agency’s strategic pillars which involve the empowerment of youth, as the programmes challenge the local innovators to come up with indigenous contents that would bring digital solutions for the nation.
He also assured him that NITDA would continue to come up with developmental initiatives that would better the lives of Nigerians especially in the areas of emerging technologies.
Online Editor by — May 28, 2021 in IT&Telecoms 0
Attacks On INEC Facilities Must Stop-NSA 

Where is Buhari's NSA Major General Babagana Monguno? - P.M. News
The National Security Adviser, (NSA), Retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Mongonu has pleaded with the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency(NIIA) and members of the intelligence community to up their game towards resolving the emerging security challenges targeted at the scuttling the nation’s electoral process.
He spoke at an emergency meeting of the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, (ICCES) summoned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
He urged the intelligence community to enhance the operational capabilities of their men for them to continue to assist the security agencies meet the increasing criminalities and  challenges possed by non state actors, he said, are determined to dislodge the National effort to sustain democracy.
General Mongonu l,who is co-Chairman of ICCES assured that his office is however is steadfast unwavering and unrelenting in its support of activities of INEC,  stressing that the regardless of the plot by the non state actors the electoral process begun in 1998 would be sustained.
“We are on hand to ensure that the will of the people is sustained regardless of any individual situation and regardless of what happens . Of course we are hampered by non state actors who are determined to dislodge the effort but I hope the outcome of this meeting will be very productive towards extinguishing whatever is plaqing our socio political landscape “
Earlier in his address INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu had said that the spate of attacks on the nation’s electoral infrastructures is a national security emergency, as he demanded an all year round protection of election infrastructure.
He declared that the mere fact that elections in the country has become an all year round undertaking, the infrastructure needed to care for this constitutional mandate deserved to be protected.
 ” In the next nine months, two major elections will be conducted. The Anambra State Governorship election is scheduled to hold on 6th November 2021 to be followed by the end-of-tenure elections for 68 Area Council constituencies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) holding on 12th February 2022.
” These major elections will be followed by the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections ahead of the 2023 General Election which is just 632 days away.
“In addition to elections, the Commission is also preparing for the resumption of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on 28th June 2021 to enable Nigerians who have attained the age 18 years and those who did not register previously to do so. Similarly, registered voters who wish to change their voting locations and those who wish to correct their names and other details on their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) can do so.
“We plan to create 2,673 registration centres and deploy 5,346 officials for the exercise along with expensive voter enrollment machines. All these activities require security, thereby adding to the urgency and importance of this meeting”
​
Underscoring the urgency of the problem the said the spate of arson, vandalization and outright destruction of INEC facilities in the last two months has been particularly disconcerting.
” In the last two years, the Commission has recorded a total of 41 incidents involving deliberate attacks on the Commission’s facilities. Nine of these incidents happened in 2019 and 21 cases in 2020.
” In the last four weeks, 11 offices of the Commission were either set ablaze or vandalised. Two of these incidents were caused by Boko Haram and Bandit attacks while 10 resulted from thuggery during election and post-election violence.
“However, the majority of the attacks (29 out of 41) were unrelated to election or electoral activities. In fact, 18 of them occurred during the EndSARS protests in October last year while 11 attacks were organised by “unknown gunmen” and “hoodlums”.
“Our preliminary assessment so far indicate that we lost 1,105 ballot boxes, 694 voting cubicles, 429 electric generating sets and 13 utility vehicles (Toyota Hilux).
He expressed confidence that an all year round protection of INEC facilities under the auspices of ICCES will solve the problem.
Online Editor by — May 28, 2021 in News 0
Man,48,Arrested For Defiling Teenage Daughters In Anambra 

A 48-year-old man was arrested in Anambra for allegedly defiling his 3 underage daughters | Shauntv
 A 48 year old plumber, Thomas Igbo,has been  paraded by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, for defiling his three underaged daughters.
The daughters are within age bracket of eight, three, and one and half yeears
The state’s  commander of NSCDC Mr. David Bille told reporters that some civil society personnel on May 25, 2021 reported that Igbo was defiling his three underaged daughters.
He said: “When we got the report, we swung into action, arrested one Thomas Igbo, a plumber residing in Enugwu-Ukwu town in Njikoka area of the state.
“Our medical personnel later conducted test and uncovered that the children were been abused sexually.The suspect confessed to the crime and very soon, we will conclude investigation and arraign the suspect”, Billie said.
The suspect, Thomas, told journalists that he only had carnal knowledge of the eight year-old daughter once and used his fingers to penetrate others at different times.
“I had sex once with my eight years old daughter. Others I only used my fingers to penetrate their private parts when I am bathing them”, he said.
Igbo who hails from Ikoloani in Igboetiti council area of Enugu State claimed that he was under the influence of alcohol the day he slept with his daughter.
Online Editor by — May 28, 2021 in Crime/Metro 0
Cholera Claims 7 In  Gombe

BREAKING: Cholera Outbreak Claims 7 In Gombe – Independent Newspaper Nigeria
Cholera  outbreak has claimed the lives of seven persons including a two year old with six others still receiving treatment in some health facilities in Gombe.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, who disclosed this to newsmen,added that 32 others were affected but that they were treated and discharged.
He explained that on the 21st May, 2021, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre of the State Ministry of Health received a surveillance report of suspected cases of Cholera and death of a two year old child in Kalajanga village in Akko Local Government Area.
He said a Rapid Response Team was deployed immediately, the cases were confirmed in the laboratory and a free treatment centre for cases was established at Bogo Model Primary Health Care (PHC) Centre.
He added:“With the threshold of confirmed cases reached, I hereby declare an outbreak of Cholera in Garko ward of Akko LGA. So far, 32 cases have been treated and discharged, six are currently on admission”.
He assured that the ministry has activated a multisectoral incident management system for a prompt and coordinated response to outbreak.
Online Editor by — May 28, 2021 in Health 0
Akpabio Begs  Protesting Ijaw Youths To Suspend Action

The Minister of  Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has  appealed to   protesting youths from the Niger Delta to end the protest to ensure sustainable peace in the region.
The Minister made call while addressing representatives of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) in Abuja, also expressed fears that the protest if allowed to continue might be hijacked by hoodlums who may cause havoc.
Akpabio  remarked that the Niger Delta which has been one of the most peaceful regions in the country and should not allow itself to be plunged into crisis, promising that the issues tabled by the youths from the region will be addressed.
He said  a board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be constituted after the forensic audit ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He recalled that the audit exercise was to be completed within six months. But he regretted that the exercise was extended by three months due to the difficult nature of the job.
He disclosed that the auditors have already submitted two interim reports to the president, adding that by July, the auditors are expected to submit their final report to pave way for the inauguration of the board.
Responding on behalf of IYC, the National Spokesperson, Ebilade Ekerefe appealed to the Federal government and security agencies to rescue the President of the council, Igbifa who was adopted on his way to Abuja Tuesday morning.
He  noted that the Igbifa was on his way to Abuja to lead the council to the discussion with the Minister of Niger Delta when the unfortunate incident took place.
Online Editor by — May 28, 2021 in Niger Delta 0