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

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)

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Mu’azu 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, that’s 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, we’re 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 KPI’s 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

By Felicia Imohimi

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), has called for the collaboration of researchers, hunters and trado-medics, to save pangolins from eminent extinction.

Spokesperson of the NCF, Oladapo Soneye, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja, in commemoration of the World Pangolin Day (WPD).

NAN reports that WPD, observed every third Saturday of February, is a day set aside to remember and celebrate pangolins, raise awareness and fight against global pangolin capture in Africa and Asia.

The theme for 2023 is: “Celebrating the Wilderness of Pangolin”.

Soneye identified the pangolin as one of the animals on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Red List of Threatened Species.

He listed the threats to pangolins to include; habitat degradation and loss, high levels of poaching for illicit trade in their meat, skin and scales, as well as hunting them for trado-medicines uses or purposes.

“Pangolins are the world’s most heavily illegally-traded and trafficked wild mammals, resulting into alarming decreasing population for all the species.

“They face a bleak future, and their prospects for long-term survival look increasingly ominous, unless the trend is reversed, halted and populations are allowed to recover.

“NCF is calling on all Nigerians, especially environmentalists, conservationists, researchers, hunters and trado-medics, to team up and save the pangolin from looming extinction,” he said.

According to Sonoye, one of the benefits of pangolins to humans is that they are ant eaters that assist in protecting the forests from being destroyed by ants.

“By feeding on ants, they control their population from having exponential growth. This prevents the likes of termites from forest destruction, thereby maintaining a balanced ecosystem.”

He said the 2023 theme was aimed at creating awareness on the need to conserve, preserve and protect the remaining population of the pangolin.

Sonoye therefore, urged humans to allow the animal to exist, and ensure its survival in the wild. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

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 politician’s money.

“We have suffered enough. We want water. We want good roads. We want a good governor like you, Frank Nweke Jr. We don’t want money” she said.(NAN) (wwwnannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

Prof. Razaq Abubakre

By Abigael Joshua

Prof. Razaq Abubakre, a former Vice – Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin has commended the APC presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu for always appointing competent Nigerians to positions without discriminating.

Abubakre who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that this is one of the qualities that make Tinubu best suited to be president of Nigeria.

He said that Tinubu, a former Lagos governor, appointed Raji Fashola, Ben Akabueze, Joe Igbokwe and Yemi Osibanjo among others and the personalities had excelled in their service to Lagos State and the nation.

The emeritus professor said Tinubu has leadership qualities and the ability of turning challenges into opportunities, as such he is always proactive in his decisions and policies.

“For example, he increased internally generated revenue by many folds when President Obasanjo withheld the local government allocation for Lagos State.

“Tinubu is innovative. He embraced innovation to remove ghost workers and ghost positions through effective database management of big and deep data. He also enshrined good governance and respect for the rule of law.

“This strengthened institutions and ensured the sanctity of agreements which enhanced ease of doing business and reduced transactional costs allowing businesses to thrive in Lagos,” Abubakre said.

He expressed the strong belief that what Tinubu achieved in Lagos as the state governor would be replicated if he is elected president of the country.

Abubakre said that Tinubu’s qualities and innovative way of proferring solutions to challenges and issues made him best suited to address insecurity, low national cohesion, Nigeria’s revenue challenge and the massive exodus of Nigerian youths.

“He will build industrial hubs across the country, revive critical industries by ensuring essential sectors such as the steel sector, e.g. Ajaokuta steel rolling mill, and unleash the benefit of using and exporting cleaner gas by encouraging investment.

“Notably, he will create the enabling environment to support Nigerian youths to leverage their energy, dexterity and passion in technology, entertainment and fashion to earn foreign exchange while working from Nigeria.

“Many actors in his detractors’ political camps often behave as agnostics, underestimating what God shall do or acting His role,” he said.

Abubakre said such detractors took delight in arranging to put stones, snakes and scorpions on Tinubu’s way in order for him not to advance.

“They are always oblivious of the primordial divine intervention from the mysterious power of The Almighty God.

“With this divine superior might, all the strategems of the opponents often boomerang resulting in reversal of fortune for them.

“It is this unassailable and inalienable power of God The Omnipotent that more often than not abide by Tinubu and shall grant Tinubu victory at the poll to the eternal chagrin of the evil plotters, come what may, ” he predicted.

Abubakre was Head of the Department of Religions at the University of Ilorin from 1992 to 1995 and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ilorin from 2001 to 2003.

After that, he became Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin from 2008 to 2010 and Federal Commissioner, Osun Public Complaints Commission from 2012 to 2018.

Abubakre is a member of Agba Osun (Elders of Osun) from 2021 to date. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

By Cecilia Ijuo

The British Council through the European Union-funded Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation (ACT) Programme, has advised the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to promote compliance to legislative and regulatory requirements, self-governance, and transparency among others.

The Country Director, British Council, Lucy Pearson stressed this on Thursday, in Abuja while it assembled 200 CSOs at a discuss titled Knowledge Share Fair.

The theme of the discus is “Nigerian CSOs Translating Knowledge to Capacity and Impact” harped on compliance to legislative and regulatory requirements, self-governance, and transparency among others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that ACT works in partnership with CSOs in 10 states across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.

The states are Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

ACT supports the capacity development of CSOs in Nigeria to become more effective and credible agents of sustainable development among others.

According to Pearson one of the programme’s focus is to help citizens to contribute towards inclusive and open society.

She said the programme had assisted CSOs from the 10 focal states since 2019 in the area of training, coaching and mentorship.

Pearson said the knowledge share fair was organised to “enable CSOs that benefitted from the programme over the years to share with others.

“The fair is also organised to help find solution to challenges affecting CSOs in Nigeria.”

The country director assured of British Council’s commitment to contributing to inclusive, open and prosperous society.

The ACT National Programme Manager, Mr Damilare Babalola said the knpwledge share was organised to allow CSOs share their learnings and experience on the programme.

“Today’s event is meant to ascertain how the programme has translated to tangible results and impact on the various organisations and communities.

“The British Council wants an inclusive society and sustainable development, “he said.

Mr Oyebisi Oluseyi, Executive Director, Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organisations(NNNGO) said CSOs in Nigeria had been faced with issues of trust, transparency and accountability in recent times.

He said the body was not unmindful of the fact that some CSOs might not be credible.

According to Oluseyi, who was a keynote speaker at the event, NNNGO is working with relevant stakeholders to purge the sector of any CSO found wanting.

While thanking the British Council for the ACT Programme, the executive director said there was a need for CSOs to comply with regulatory requirements.

“Data has shown that about 95 per cent of CSOs are using their own resources and only between three and five per cent of the CSOs have access to funds from donors.

“It is also important to note that CSOs are voluntary, self-governing and not for profit in nature.

“But be that as it may, the moment you are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) as a body you have become public and should be ready to abide by the rules” he said.

He equally said it was important for regulators to minimise the demands on CSOs, adding that CSOs complain of parting with a “chunk of their budgets to regulators, leaving them with meagre amount.’

He said CSOs also complained of not meeting up with their obligations as a result of that.

Mr Erinomo Temilope, Chief Superintendent of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said the EU-ACT Programme had assisted the commission to extend its mandate.

Temilope, who is from the Special Control Unit against Money laundering, said, “We appreciate the platform provided to reach out to where we might not be able to reach.”

NAN reports that the event was attended by government agencies like the Pension Commission (PenCom), Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS) and other relevant stakeholders.

High point of the event was gallery tour, documentary show and exhibition among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Kingsley Okoye

Nigerian entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer, Sotab Continental Limited, Mr Adesote Adebowale, has been inducted by the Chartered Institute of Public Resource Management and Politics (CIPRMP), Ghana, into its 2023 Fellowship Hall of Fame.

CIPRMP has a focus to re-position economy of the African continent through cross-fertilisation of ideas from high-level intellectual executives and outstanding statesmanship leaders, and growth oriented public servants.

It is poised to make the African continent an exemplary hub of unrivalled political and socio-economic excellence.

According to a statement by the institute in Abuja on Friday, Adebowale bagged an Honorary Doctorate, also received a special Gold Award.

The award was conferred on him as a world-class corporate professional, policy development expert, exceptional business executive, renowned entrepreneurial of international repute in construction and housing sectors development.

The award was presented by the Executive Directors of the institute, led by the Head, West African Operations, Dr Richard Ikpadaku.

“This award is given to only individuals who have consistently demonstrated uncommon resilience and innovation in their various economic engagements,” he said.

Ikpadaku said that the institution greatly commended Adesote’s corporate relevance over the years and “his indefatigable passion for economic growth, having spent several years in projecting excellent image of Nigeria internationally”.

He said the wonderful humanitarian services through his foundation and indefatigable passion for economic growth of Nigeria as an exemplary and patriotic nation builder, was phenomenal.

Adebowale in his remarks after the award, said: “This is another reason for myself to keep doing my best to pursue and support dreams of all those who need help.

“My foundation has been there to continue to support the youths and those vulnerable persons in our streets; If we all continue to contribute in our own little way, Nigeria will be better”.

He also thanked the institution for the recognition and pledged to keep supporting them as their mission resonated with his ideas. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman