By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called on political parties to review their manifestos to reflect the critical role of physical planning in their agenda.

Mr Nathaniel Atebije, National President of NTIP made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the 2023 quarterly press conference of the Institute.

He said as the 2023 general elections draws closer, there is need for political parties to put the issue of town planning on the front burner to curtail the rising cases of disasters in the country.

“We recommend to the political parties to review their manifestos to reflect the critical role of physical planning in their agenda.

“There is need to also carry out development in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning, 1992 as amended in 2004,” he said.

Atebije said the Institute was working on an holistic document to be presented to the political parties soon, that will address the issue of urban planning and disasters in the country.

The president also stressed the need for government at all levels to immediately begin sensitisation and installation of measures to minimise flooding this year.

He called for stiff punishment for offenders of building collapse and for more meticulous approval and monitoring of building projects across the country.

“There is need to enforce city management and building control standards stringently to minimize disasters of building collapse.

“Let the authorities for once make offenders and violators to face the wrath of the law with possibilities of capital punishment.

“This will possibly scare people in the production process of buildings and make them to strictly comply with extant regulations,” he said.

The NITP which was established in 1966 has steadily grown to be the leading body in sustainable, integrated and inclusive urban planning in Nigeria and Africa.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Centre for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI) has reiterated its determination to curb marginalisation of women, apathy and passiveness in the electoral process through enhance participation in the 2023 general election.

The centre’s Project Officer, Mrs Precious Uwubiti, stated this at a news conference, on Thursday in Abuja.

Uwubiti stated that the centre had executed projects in five communities in two Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory aimed at increasing young females’ participation in the 2023 general election.

She emphasised the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to put in place more measures that would guarantee women and girls’ safety during the election.

According to her, if adequate security is provided women will be encouraged to participate well in the election.

The project officer explained that youths make up over 70 per cent of the country’s population with young women and girls accounting to be more.

“INEC and security agencies should provide the enabling environment for women and girls to be encouraged to participate in the forthcoming election.

“Women have the mind of mother, they care about welfare and the future, if interested with anything they would not fail.”

She observed that young women and girls within the ages range of 18 to 35 were largely not represented in decision making and governance.

According to her, they are often reduced to agents of political violence during elections while a number of other young persons show little or no interest at all in elections and its processes.

” In order to address female marginalization, apathy and passiveness in Nigeria’s electoral processes the centre implemented the Action for Better Female Participation in elections in Nigeria (ABIPN) being supported by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD).

” The ABIPIN project sought to boost interest and increase young females’ participation and inclusion in the forthcoming elections, mobilized youths through active social media engagements and establishing female led cohorts to promote the tenets of the project which is women exercising their power and voice by voting and supporting more women in politics.”

” To gain a momentous impact within a short period of time, CWSI planned and executed the following; promoting a campaign on social media through the hashtags #HerVoteHerVoice #RaisingHerVote. This included training and engaging 14 influencers to develop social media content and promote online interactions on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Uwubiti also stated that the CWSI conducted virtual engagements featuring young influencers on Twitter, Zoom and Instagram Live.

” They lead conversations targeted at reducing voter apathy amongst young girls and women, encouraging young girls and women to collect their PVCs and vote in the forthcoming elections,

” We also encouraging them to register in political parties and run for elective positions of leadership from the ward, local government and the state levels.”

She revealed that through the project no fewer than 600 women and young girls were reached during the community voter education meetings and voter mobilisation outreach held in the University of Abuja.

” As a result of these sensitizations, 185 women and girls reported to have collected their PVCs, 280 women and young girls were reached during the voter awareness meetings and rallies organised by the community cohorts.

” As a result of which 100 women and girls have been able to collect their PVCs.

” Also the influencers through the use of Social Media platforms, have not only evolved from an identity of stable consumers of news and political narratives but have also become sources of newsfeeds, and trendy agenda framers concerning leadership, accountability and good governance online.

” And these engagements have provided the space and forum on which youths share their experiences and the state of the country’s preparation for the forthcoming elections online.”

Similarly, she disclosed that the online and virtual engagements have been able to reach over 15 million persons as a result of the influence from the social media messages shared, 100 (74 Females and 36 males) persons registered for their PVCs.

Collaborating, the Program Manager for the CAFOD, Mrs Omolola Mamedu, said the agency was concerned with the protection of women and girls’ right based on the conviction that all men and women are equal and indeed, they have right in the society.

“We protect women and girls right, we also promote equality for both gender.

” Giving justice to women is the same as giving justice to men, it is the only way to build a balance society.” (NAN)

Editing by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Ruth Oketunde

Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a Pan-African social enterprise, says it plans to deploy digital toolkits and engage fact checkers, to ensure that only accurate information are disseminated before, during and after the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

Mr Sani Suleiman, Program Assistant, PIN, said this at a media parley organised to address digital rights violations in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that the plan was to ensure that information provided on the social media by individuals and politicians were verified and corrected where necessary.

“We have developed AYETA which is an online toolkit for digital security. It was designed to provide users with tools and resources they need to protect their online privacy and security.

“This is particularly important in the run-up to the coming elections where access to information and the ability to communicate freely online is essential for a transparent election process,” he said.

Speaking, Mr Adeboye Adegoke, Senior Manager, Strategy, PIN, said that for the country to have a seamless electoral process, digital rights of the citizens must be respected.

“This meeting is a pan-african meeting and we hold it in every African country, holding an election.

“But what we know is that across Africa, it is very common for internet to be shut down, but we are calling on the government not to fall for that temptation.

“So let the platform of communication be left open so that people have access to alternative news and people can trust in the credibility of the election,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, PIN, said that there was need to preserve digital rights during the election, as the internet had become an indispensable tool for political discourse.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Inuwa

By Stephen Adeleye

Sen. Bola Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has promised to resuscitate Ajaokuta Steel Complex Ltd. and to dredge River Niger, if elected president.

Tinubu gave the assurance at the APC Kogi mega rally on Wednesday at Confluence Stadium Lokoja.

”I assure you that hope is here, Ajaokuta steel will be resuscitated and running, the dredging of River Niger will be done and agriculture will be our means of livelihood and prosperity.

”The North-Central zone has potential of great mineral resources, industrialisation, fabrication and industrial development,” Tinubu said.

The APC presidential candidate assured the people of a flourishing quality education, industrialisation and progress.

Tinubu commended the APC supporters in Kogi for mobilising themselves and managing to get to the stadium for the mega rally.

”Let me assure you that this your sacrifice will not go in vain. I thank you all,” he said.

Tinubu, however, urged the people to consolidate their support for the party to come out on Feb. 25 to cast their votes for APC candidates at all levels.

Earlier, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, said that the state had done it for APC in 2019 and would do it again from the top to bottom.

The governor assured the people that Tinubu would check insecurity in the country.

Bello maintained that the mega rally was a form of referendum for APC, saying, ”Kogi is no go area for other parties”.

NAN reports that governors at the rally included that of Jigawa Gov. Mohammed Badaru — Jigawa, Gov. Abubakar Bello — Niger and Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrasak — Kwara, among other members of APC Presidential Campaign Committe
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Angela Okisor/Kayode Olaitan