NCWS National President, Hajiya Lami Lau

By Dorcas Jonah

The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has called on Nigerians to shun violence and ensure peaceful atmosphere during the general elections.

The National president of NCWS, Hajiya Lami Lau, made the call in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

She urged women and youths to come out en masse to exercise their civic responsibility and should not allow themselves to be intimidated during the polls.

Lau called on Nigerian youths to denounce electoral violence during and after the elections.

It is the votes of women that will determine who will lead the country after the elections, therefore, Nigerians should stand united against violence and activities that will jeopardise the elections.

I advised all Nigerians, specifically women and youths to work together towards free and fair elections regardless of political party affiliations.

As women, we are worst hit in times of violence and as patriotic Nigerians, our collective goal should be a better Nigeria, she said.

Lau discouraged women from vote buying and selling or mortgaging their conscience and future for mundane things.

She advised youths against been used by selfish politicians to disrupt elections as thugs or engaging in unpatriotic activities.

Vote for people who will not forget you when they win the next elections. This is for the sake of your children and the children of your children, she said.

According to her, no nation can move forward without active participation of women in politics.

If we must move the country forward, we must position women to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Leadership must be inclusive, creating equal opportunities for women to function in key positions both at the Federal and state levels, she said.

This, she said represents the best practices and standards for sustainable development, gender equity and justice.

It cannot be denied that the democracy practiced in Nigeria for many years has not met the full ideals because of its lack of inclusion of women in important decision making processes.

For Nigerian women, democracy is seen as retrogressing, sadly moving backward, with the dwindling number of women in governance in Nigeria, which we consider rather alarming.

However, not voting will not only worsen the situation, but tactically widen the gender gap in politics and leadership hence women are advised to go all out and support every female candidate, she said.

Lau said that voting women into elective positions, will greatly enhance the quality of lives of women in terms of healthcare, agriculture, procurement, business and access to funds, grants and loans.

She expressed confidence that in spite of series of attacks on INEC personnel and facilities, the commission has committed to live up to expectations.

Lau called on the public to support INEC, while urging the commission to be open to comments from Nigerians that would help in achieving its set objectives.

The president urged INEC to do more to ensure that elections are won at the polls and not at the court as a result of technicalities.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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(Edited by Joseph Edeh)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former Ghanaian President John Mahama will lead West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mediation Team to Nigeria for the 2023 general election.

The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) in a statement by its Communications Officer, Wealth Ominabo, in Abuja on Saturday said that Mahama and his team are billed to arrive in Abuja on Feb. 22.

Ominabo said that the team was expected to be on the ground for the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections as well as the March 11, state elections.

He listed other members of the team to include Nigeria former President Goodluck Jonathan; former Beninese President, Boni Yayi, and former Vice President of the Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang.

Also in the team are former Burkinabe Prime Minister and president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Kadre Ouedraogo and former Deputy Chair of the African Union (AU), Dr Erastus Mwencha.

Ominabo said the GJF Executive Director and Coordinator of the WAEF Secretariat, Ann Iyonu, disclosed that the focus of the forum is to interface with key stakeholders and provide the necessary support that would ensure peaceful elections.

Iyonu added that the leaders would be working with key stakeholders in the elections as well as the observer missions, to ensure a crisis-free process before, during, and after the elections.

Unlike other observation missions, the forum has a special focus on election-related conflicts, and the Elders will be on the ground for a longer time.

The forum made up of former Presidents and Heads of Government in West Africa will be interacting with the candidates, political parties and members, the citizens, the election umpire, observers, and other key stakeholders all the time.

The leaders will be looking out for crisis triggers, with the mind of nipping them in the bud by offering mediatory roles and giving relevant advice to ensure peaceful polling, based on their personal experiences as former leaders of the sub-region.

The leaders will also be calling for individual accountability by those who by their actions or inactions undermine the democratic process and endanger lives, Iyonu said.

Ominabo recalls that during the Gambian elections in December 2022, WAEF carried out a similar engagement where they deployed a team led by Jonathan.

He said that the presence of the WAEF team in The Gambia and their mediatory activities, especially after the elections, helped to resolve post-election tensions that threatened the integrity and outcome of the poll.

He added that WAEF team would be in Abuja to witness the second signing of the National Peace Accord by Presidential candidates and chairpersons of political parties.

He recalled WAEF earlier deployed a three-man delegation to Nigeria to undertake a pre-election mediation mission.

The delegation, which had strategic engagements with key stakeholders from Dec. 4 to Dec. 6, 2022 was made up of former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma; former Vice President of the Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang.

Also in the team was Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambers; former President of the ECOWAS Commission and former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the UNOWAS.

The WAEF, an initiative of the GJF, was established to serve as a home-grown and non-partisan platform of past heads of state and government in West Africa.(NAN)
Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

DD/Website

AU body appoints Nigerian clergyman its ambassador

By Temitope Ponle

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he stands ready to work with leaders of African countries to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

In a statement issued by the Peoples Republic of China in Abuja, Xi said this in his message to the 36th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday.

The Chinese president extended congratulations to African countries and the people in the opening of the summit.

He said the AU, over the past year, had united and led African countries to stand up to global challenges and accelerate the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

He also said the AU played an important role in mediating issues in Africa, which had boosted its international status and influence.

He also spoke of sincere hope for African countries and people to achieve greater success on their path of development and revitalisation.

Xi further said China-Africa relations maintained sound momentum in development in 2022, adding that cooperation between China and Africa was moving steadily forward in an all-round, multi-tiered and high-quality fashion.

He said the cooperation took the lead in international collaboration with Africa.

However, the Chinese president said he was willing to work with African leaders to further enhance friendly cooperation between China and Africa, and facilitate coordination in international and regional affairs. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

DD/Website

EFCC operatives

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered an additional sum of nine hundred million Naira for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The spokesman for the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday.

He alleged that the sum was part of money which some deposit money banks fraudulently withheld since 2015 and refused to remit into the Treasury Single Account for NHIS.

According to him, the recovered sum was released to NHIS on Feb. 8.

He noted that the commission, had on Feb. 10, 2022, released to the NHIS, N1.5 billion recovered from the banks.

The commission had also on Aug. 5, 2022, released N1.4 billion to the scheme.

The Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Muhammad Nasir Sambo, had on July 29, 2021, praised EFCC for assisting NHIS in the recovery of funds trapped in commercial banks. (NAN)(www.nannews ng)

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Source: NAN News

Gov. Babajide-Sanwo-Olu of Lagos

By Florence Onuegbu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Saturday appealed to residents to remain calm, even in the face of the difficulties and frustrations due to cash shortage.

Sanwo-Olu made the appeal while addressing newsmen at Lagos House, Marina, on the current situation caused by Naira redesign in the country.

He urged Lagos residents to avoid all forms of violence, arson and rioting, as sure were not the solutions to the difficulties and frustrations being presently experienced.

Let me thank you, the good people of Lagos for your patience and unwavering perseverance even in these challenging times.

My fellow Lagosians, this is a heartfelt call to you, as your Governor, to please remain calm at this time, and avoid all forms of violence, arson and rioting.

Even in the face of the difficulties and frustrations being faced by all, violence and destruction should not and will never be the answer.

We know that there are unscrupulous persons who want to sow seeds of violence and discord by their very utterances and actions, all with the view of robbing you of the chance to cast your votes in the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Do not allow them to use you to achieve their evil intentions, the governor said.

According to him, there is no justification whatsoever for attacking public or private property.

He said that the law enforcement agents had received clear instructions to take full control and ensure zero tolerance for any and all acts of arson, violence and destruction.

Sanwo-Olu enjoined all law-abiding residents to carry out their lawful activities without fear.

As a government that fully understands the challenges that you are faced with, with regards to access to cash, we are working very hard to provide palliative measures to lessen the burdens being faced.

As part of these measures, I have already approved an immediate reduction in transportation charges for public-owned transport, across the Lagos State public transport system: our buses, ferries and taxis.

We are also equally in discussion with private transport operators not to hike fares at this point of time, given the difficult circumstances in which many Lagosians find themselves.

We have also since commenced the distribution of food packs, to the most vulnerable citizens, the people most impacted by this disruption in the supply of cash.

We will continue to highlight more vulnerable groups within our distribution channels who would benefit from the palliatives.

As we scale up the rollout of these palliatives, we ask for your continued patience and understanding. Remain calm and go about your lawful activities and duties, he said.

The governor said the Lagos State Government under his watch would continue to stand by, with and for the ordinary people of Lagos.

He thanked the Police and other security agencies/operatives that had been working round the clock to maintain the peace, law and order in the state.

We owe you a debt of gratitude. May I also use this opportunity to ask you not to relent in your efforts at continuing to keep the peace in and around the metropolis, Sanwo-Olu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

Mr Peter Obi

Peter-Obi

By Angela Atabo

A coalition of Obidient groups on Saturday called on Nigerians to vote for a presidential candidate without political baggage ahead of the Feb. 25 elections.

Mr Marcel Ngobgehei, Head of Strategy and Operations, Obidient Global March, made the call on Saturday during a rally in Abuja.

Ngobgehei said that this was because the political atmosphere had been characterised with moneybags and godfatherism politics.

He said that the 2023 General Elections had presented Nigerians with the opportunity to change the narrative of politics in the nation .

He said that the Obidient Movement started from the idea of rescuing Nigeria by ensuring that credible leaders came into power.

So at the inception, the obedient movement came together and said it was enough, Nigeria has to move ahead the way other civilised countries are moving.

We deployed some strategies and identified a candidate different from what we have in the political space of the country where we have money bags.

This is because we dont want our candidate to carry baggage because when people sponsor your candidate, then it becomes baggage.

When he gets into office they will want to influence him to say remember we put you there, but Peter Obi has no political baggage, nobody can say he is the one that brought him this far .

Ngobgehei said that the masses were the structure of Labour Party and they would do their best to ensure his victory, adding that Obi had come this far because of the goodwill of the people and notary political father.

He said that the group deployed some strategies to promote his presidential ambition by mobilising resources and people.

He called on Nigerians not to sell their votes but use them wise to decide their leader .

It is a new era where the youth decide who becomes their president and not one imposed on them by some money bags or groups of delegates anywhere, enough is enough.

Ms Nina Atalor, Focal Person for Support Groups at the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said so far the party had carried women along in its affairs .

She said it was a sign that women would benefit greatly and be supported in the govement of Peter Obi.

The female gender is well represented, most of our regional and state coordinators are females, they are well positioned and they have proved themselves.

This is our time, not just the youth this, its the time for the female gender .

Our principal Peter Obi has always said that he is very interested in the female gender, in positioning and strengthening us .

Atalor urged Nigerians to come out in mass and vote for Obi for a better nation.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Alex Enebeli

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Frank Nweke Jr, has warned traders in Afor Ogwuiga and Eke Obinagu, against accepting money in exchange for their votes in the coming election.

Sharing his plans for the people during a tour of some markets on Friday, Nweke stated that politics and elections were no longer business as usual.

Politics should be about the welfare of the people.

In the case where a political party has failed to uplift you, the only option left is for you to vote them out and vote for people whose sole interest is to serve you, he said.

In response several traders reaffirmed their commitment to voting for competence and character in the coming election.

They stated that their desire was to have a change in the state of affairs.

Victoria Sylvanus, a trader, said they did not need any politicians money.

We have suffered enough. We want water. We want good roads. We want a good governor like you, Frank Nweke Jr. We dont want money she said.(NAN) (wwwnannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

DD/Website

Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Muazu Sambo

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Muazu Sambo, has appointed the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) as port regulator to establish a Port Community System (PCS) before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

Sambo made the call when he paid a visit to the council in Lagos on Friday.

According to Sambo, Nigeria needs a port community system that can compete favourably with its counterparts.

The minister cited the Republic of Benin as a country that has working port community system.

You are the regulator of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and other agencies that have anything to do with the port.

The responsibility is on you to ensure we have a port community system. I think it is because we have not placed the responsibility on somebody, thats why we have not been able to achieve the PCS.

Next week, I will call you and other agencies and roll-out the issue. We must have a PCS working for us in Nigeria before the administration comes to a close, he said.

Sambo, however, noted that NSC would be held responsibile if a PCS was not provided by May 29.

He urged the council to look at a country with an effective port community system and replicate its template for Nigeria.

This is a question of direct procurement, were not going to circumvent the law of the land. The Public Procurement Act gives us opportunity to do direct procurement.

You need to coordinate as I have given you the role today, he said.

According to him, having a single window is attainable if the country had a functioning port community system that works, because all that is needed is integrating those presently available.

On concessioning of terminal operators leases, he noted that the NPA should not have recommended to the ministry its renewal without the impute of the council.

Renewal of leases should be done terminal by terminal, with original agreement, Keep Performance Index (KPI) should be looked into, to know if they have met with the development plan, cargo traffic, revenue and others.

Others include the obligations incumbent on them, how they have performed, everything should be clear and if they have achieved what was set out to achieve, he said.

Sambo noted that port reforms were meant to achieve efficiency, increase cargo, revenue amongst others.

He urged the council to ensure that when terminal operators leases were not to be renewed, they must be bold enough to say so.

I am going to give you this role. So start getting ready for it, get the concession agreement that was signed in 2006, identify all the KPIs now, lock everything in your system and be ready to work, he said.

Earlier, Mr Emmanuel Jime, Executive Secretary, NSC, hinted that the minister of transportation on some of the tasked achieved by the council.

According to Jime, the council has been charged to focus on some of the tasks that can quickly be achieved within the time frame given to it.

I told you that we needed to complete the process of the development of the inland dry port infrastructure put in place, as well as update on other key transport infrastructure being promoted NSC.

We accompanied you this month together with the President to deliver on your first low hanging fruit in the industry, the Dala dry port and also the Funtua as the port of origin and destination.

These are key transport infrastructure that will aid the policy of the federal government as regards exportation, he said.

Jime explained that the next milestone was the implementation of the cargo tracking note as well as its history and challenges.

Jime noted that the minister had given the assurance on the implementation of the note.

He stressed the need to strengthen the legal framework of the NSC to be able to perform its functions and bring about efficiency at the port.

The funding source of the NSC is completely inadequate. The one per cent freight stabilisation levy is the main source of the NSC and we have never been able to access that source of revenue, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the visit had in attendance the board and management team of the NSC as well as the entourage of the minister. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

Source: NAN News

Some foodstuffs in Nigeria

By Aderemi Bamgbose

Residents of Okitipupa, in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State appeared to have find succour in Hausa traders in Sabo Market in the town where they now swap their old naira notes for foodstuffs and condiments.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that traders and commercial motorists in the town began full rejection of the old N500 and N1,000 notes, immediately after President Muhammadu Buhari addressed on Thursday, sparing only N200 as continued legal tender, until April 10.

A visit by NAN Correspondent to Sabo Market in Okitipupa on Friday, showed large crowd of residents, openly swapping their old N500 and N1000 notes for items like rice, beans, tomatoes, pepper, onions among others.

NAN also reports that the Hausa traders, in turn, jacked up the prices of their foodstuffs, as a rubber of rice and beans formerly sold for N1,500 and N800, now cost N2,500 and N1,500 respectively.

In same vein, the quantities of pepper, tomatoes and onions, hitherto sold for between N200 and N300, have now been increased to between N500 and N800.

Alhaji Amidu Abubakar, a Hausa rice trader said he had sold more than seven bags of rice between Thursday and Friday, and that residents were indeed trooping to the market to swap their old naira notes for foodstuffs.

My sales have increased since yesterday because residents here are no longer collecting the old notes and we are still collecting, because its Nigeria money, Abubakar said.

Mr Kabiru Muhammed, a beans trader, said he had sold eight bags of beans since Thursday, saying that he was surprised at the crowd that suddenly began to besiege the market since yesterday(Thursday).

I have sold eight bags of beans since yesterday, the price of a rubber is N800 if you have the new notes, but it is N1,500 for old notes, he said.

Another Hausa condiment trader also said his pepper, tomatoes and onions sales have increased, saying he was happy for the turn-over.

Mrs Rebecca Korede, a resident, said she heard from her neighbour that Hausa traders were still collecting the old notes, in exchange for foodstuffs, and that since she still had large amount of the old notes, she had to patronise Sabo market.

I still have large amount of old notes and our Yoruba market women no longer collect the old notes, so I have to partronise Hausa traders at Sabo Market to exchange some part of the old notes for foodstuffs, so I dont lose on both sides., she said.

Another resident, Mrs Modeola Ajayi also said she preferred swapping the old notes for foodstuffs, rather than wasting the large chunk of the old notes she still had at hand.

Although, these Hausa traders have increased the prices of their goods, but do I have any other choice? I have to patronise Sabo market in order to relieve me of the frustration concerning the old notes, Ajayi said.

Mr Olusegun Adeyi, another resident also said that the Yoruba traders should also reason along and take a bold steps like their Hausa counterparts on the issue of the old notes, so that the frustration would not degenerate into further protests. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idowu Ariwodola/Tayo Ikujuni

Source: NAN News

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested an accountant of a filling station at Dutse Alhaji in Abuja.

The Commissions spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the accountant was arrested over alleged new Naira notes racketeering.

According to her, this latest arrest follows the continued onslaught by the commission on some elements who have taken advantage of the scarcity of the new Naira notes to swindle unsuspecting Nigerians.

Ogugua said that the Commissions Monitoring Team had earlier received a tip-off that the said filling station deliberately disconnected its Point of Sale (POS) services to aid its fraudulent practices.

Hence, motorists could not have access to the Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called Petrol, using their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

Upon reaching the Petrol Station, the Team found out that motorists were forced to pay for the product in cash, and those without the new notes were directed to a POS operator directly opposite the station to access their cash.

ICPC operatives found out that the POS did not only belong to the accountant of the Filling Station, but it was indulging high charges as commission against the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) was discovered with the POS operator which the Team directed that it should be paid into a bank account.

Ogugua said the accountant and the POS operator were promptly arrested, adding that, both of them have been granted administrative bail by the Commission.(NAN)

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Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News