Connect with us

NEWS

INEC Accredits 1,799 Journalists for 2019 Elections

Published

on

INEC makes U-turn, admits ownership of server
Share
By John Onah, Abuja

About 1,799 Nigerian journalists from over 150 domestic media organisations were accredited to cover the 2019 general elections.

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a meeting with the media to review the last general elections.

According to him, the elections were the ”most extensively covered event in Nigeria in 2019.

“INEC conducted the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 23, while the governorship and state assembly elections were held on March 9”.

“Supplementary elections in five states were also held in March”.

”The commission accredited 1,799 journalists from more than 150 domestic media organisations to cover the 2019 General ELections.

”We had 332 journalists from 52 foreign media organisations from different parts of Africa, Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Asia to cover the elections,” Mr Mahmood said.

According to the report of European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) released in June, government-owned media outfits favoured the interests of the ruling government at federal and state levels.

It further stated that journalists posted on duty to cover the elections were subjected to violence and harassment.

See also  Emir of Kaura-Namoda Dies at 71

Speaking at the event, the commission’s national commissioner, Festus Okoye, urged the media to be constructive in identifying the issues that are more important.

”The commission is not a court of law and does not have administrative powers, we would continue to comply with the superior jurisdiction of the court through the determination of issues in the electoral process

”We implore the media and media managers and practitioners to continue to study and analyse issues relating to the constitutional and legal framework in the electoral process, elections, and electoral process are complex and complicated and issues and procedures are not necessary subjects to the ordinary rules in the law

”We are not here to trade blames, we urge to (Media) to be constructive in identifying the issues that are more important to offer rational workable and implementable suggestions of recommendations on how we can improve on the electoral processes.

In his remarks, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, said the media remains the oxygen in the electoral process.

Metro

Regular Demolitions ‘ll End Insecurity – FCTA  

Published

on

Share

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja 

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Thursday, said its commitment to ensuring the security of Abuja, was the utmost reason for the periodic demolition of shanties and other illegal structures that aided criminal activities.

Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah made this known to journalists during the cleanup exercise at the Idu area of the federal capital.

Ikharo also condemned the building of makeshift houses at road junctions and at green areas by the illegal occupants of Idu.

“Such structures shall be demolished,” he said.

According to him, the structures that were demolished contravened the city’s urban and regional planning acts, and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board Acts.

“People see every busy junction, empty lands, as a place where they can just put shanties, thereby endangering the lives of other legal residents.

“Worst still, is that some of these structures served as hideouts for criminals; so when we succeed in removing these illegal structures, we would not have only restored the city’s master plan, but we would have also won the war against crime,” added Ikharo.

Speaking, the Head, Monitoring and Enforcement, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Kaka Bello, decried the stealing and vandalization of public properties in the area.

See also  Adamu: Only God Can Stop Tinubu in 2023

“As we can see the drainage manholes have been stolen; these cost the government a lot of money to provide. Aside from that it portends negative implications for the environment. It is an eyesore for a city like this, and we won’t allow this!” Kaka vowed.

Also speaking, the Field Coordinator, FCT Special Ministerial Committee on Transportation and Public Nuisances Olumiji Peter, said the demolition being carried out was essential.

“Some criminals lurk in these shanties, and they come out at night to rob innocent people of their valuables,” he said.

An occupant of one of the demolished shanties Sadiq Abubakar, said he is a native of Zamfara State, married to two wives, and has six children.

“I want to appeal to the government to give us space to sell and repair things. I don’t want to go into kidnapping,” Sadiq said.

Continue Reading

NEWS

FCTA Vows to Demolish Structures on Waterways

Published

on

Share

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja 

As part of the proactive measures to mitigate flooding in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Thursday commenced swift inventory and removal of structures on waterways.

“The Department of Development Control issued strong directives to all its sector monitors to forward their list of developments on flood plains, so as to remove them where necessary, before the rains come fully,” Town Planning Department Director Mukhtar Galadima made this disclosure during the removal of a perimeter fence and other obstructing structures on a flood plain in Mabushi District, Abuja.

Galadima added that officials of the Department are going to identify more locations and start removing the obstructing structures before the rains begin fully.

He explains: “What we did today (Wednesday) was as a result of an outing with my management team, where we spotted these developments across the flood plain in Mabushi District, which we had to return and removed.

 “We need to be more proactive. Our investigations showed that there are developments across flood plains. We can’t wait any longer, as we have to start removing them before the rain fully comes. We have issued directives to all our sector monitors to forward their list of developments on flood plains. 

See also  INEC Projects 95m Voter Population for 2023 Polls

“We are aware that the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has flagged off sensitization on flooding, and in line with this, we are going to identify these locations and start removing the structures before the rains begin fully. So it is an ongoing exercise, we will keep moving around, take notes and remove where necessary.

“There are no limitations to sensitization or awareness on why people should not build on waterways because it is disastrous. We have seen the floods and other natural disasters, and their consequences across the globe.”

While answering a question of whether there are sustainable punitive measures against the menace, the Director said,

“At a point in time, the FCTA had directed its Legal Secretariat to review in its entirety all legal framework governing developments in the FCT. 

“This (blocking of waterways) will definitely be part of the FCT laws and regulations governing development and management of the Territory.”

Continue Reading

Business News

Agba Leads Govt Delegation to South Korea on Bilateral Cooperation

Published

on

Share

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja 

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, is at the head of a Nigerian government’s delegation to Seoul, South Korea, for a week-long mission for strategic dialogues with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Korea-Africa Foundation (KAF).

The visit is intended to, among other purposes, forge new frontiers of mutual cooperation between the countries and deepen existing bilateral ties.

As a prelude to the series of meetings and dialogue sessions, Agba met with the Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Ali Mohammed Magashi, with top officials in the Embassy, and discussed cross-cutting  issues bordering on the status of the bilateral relations between Nigeria and South Korea.

Issues that featured during the discussions included outstanding Agreements such as the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement; Labour; Avoidance of Double Taxation to be concluded to further boost the investment climate and the volume of trade of USD 2 billion in 2021 and the way forward.

The Minister took the opportunity of the meeting to shed light  on the Nigeria’s National Development Plan 2021- 2025 and the investment opportunities for the South Korean private investors in key sectors  such as  Agriculture, Manufacturing, ICT, Oil and Gas (midstream) to accelerate the country’s  economic growth that is already diversified.

See also  Bauchi Stands Still as Buhari, Tinubu flag Off Campaign

He urged the ambassador to canvass for investments in the identified sectors in pursuance of Nigeria’s unwavering effort at ensuring and consolidating its concentric diversification of the national economy.

At the meeting with the President of the 5-year-old Korea-Africa Foundation,  Mr Lyeo Woon-Ki, the minister applauded the purpose of establishing the Foundation as an affiliate of the South Korean’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is to, among other things, foster business and cultural cooperation between the country and African continent as well as promote genuine partnership in political and  academic spheres.

He noted that South Korea had a vibrant private sector and gave insight into the plan envisaged for the sector in the NDP 2021-2025 for investment in Nigeria.

The minister allayed the fears expressed by the Foundation President regarding doing business in Nigeria and apprised him of the immigration and customs reforms in place and the country’s upward leap, by 20 points, in the ease of doing business ranking.

He also paid a courtesy visit to the Acting President of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Mr. Youn-Young Lee. 

As a grant aid provider under the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the minister lauded the “excellent cordial relationship” between the Federal Government of Nigeria and KOICA since it began operations in 2008.

See also  Emir of Kaura-Namoda Dies at 71

He thanked the President of the Republic of South Korea, His Excellency, Yoon Suk Yeol, the Government and people of South Korea for the prestigious National Award of Diplomatic Service Merit (Heungin Medal) recently awarded to him in Abuja as first recipient in Africa.

Agba said the several grant aids and technical cooperation projects implemented by the Agency had been impactful.

He acknowledged the various KOICA-supported capacity-building training extended to the Nigerian government officials in several fields of human endeavours as well as technical cooperation.

The training, according to him, “covers short-term, long-term, Masters and Postgraduate scholarship programmes and in-country training programme.”

The minister noted the future areas of cooperation mentioned by the KOICA President and confirmed their alignment with Nigeria’s priorities as encapsulated in the NDP 2021-2025.

Meanwhile, the Minister, consequent upon receiving a report about a Nigerian family who lost four children in domestic fire that razed their apartment in Ansan Danwon, on the outskirts of Seoul, decided to pay the family and the Nigerian community in Ansan Danwon a condolence visit.

The visit happened on Monday, March 27, 2023, in company with the Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea.

They condoled with the Nigerian family of seven, Mr. Felix Nwafor, who lost four children (2 boys and 2 girls) to an inferno that occurred in the early hours of that day.  The couple and a two-year old daughter who survived are receiving medical attention at a Korean Hospital in the area.

See also  Ortom Mourns Death of Special Adviser, PA
Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

Metro7 hours ago

Regular Demolitions ‘ll End Insecurity – FCTA  

Share Post Views: 18 By Laide Akinboade, Abuja  The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Thursday, said its commitment to ensuring...

NEWS9 hours ago

FCTA Vows to Demolish Structures on Waterways

Share Post Views: 40 By Laide Akinboade, Abuja  As part of the proactive measures to mitigate flooding in Abuja, the...

SPORTS9 hours ago

Kick-off and Final Match Dates Confirmed for 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire

Share Post Views: 67 Dates for the kick-off and final matches at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled...

CRIME9 hours ago

Woman, 33, Arraigned for Impersonating Police Officer

Share Post Views: 67 A 33-year-old woman, Damilola Odutola, who allegedly impersonated a police officer in an attempt to invade...

Economy9 hours ago

Experts Canvass Better Attention to Taxes, Untapped Minerals, others 

Share Post Views: 67 By Gom Mirian, Abuja Experts in the research and development sectors have called on the incoming...

Nigeria Army Nigeria Army
DEFENCE9 hours ago

Army to Review Troops’ Conduct During Elections, other Operations

Share Post Views: 67 The Nigerian Army is set to review the conduct of troops in Operation Safe Conduct during...

Business News9 hours ago

Agba Leads Govt Delegation to South Korea on Bilateral Cooperation

Share Post Views: 69 By Tony Obiechina, Abuja  Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba,...

DEFENCE10 hours ago

Buhari Pleased with Troops` Performance in North East – Gen. Irabor

Share Post Views: 66 The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, says that  President Muhammadu Buhari is happy...

CRIME10 hours ago

Court Remands 9 Persons for Allegedly Robbing, killing a Police Inspector

Share Post Views: 78  A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court in Benue on Thursday, ordered the remand of nIne persons in...

Business News10 hours ago

Dangote Lists N300bn Bonds, Largest Ever on NGX, FMDQ

Share Post Views: 68 Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has formally listed its N300 billion Series 1 and 2 bonds issued...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc