Author: The Nation

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the extension of registration by applicants for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by one week, starting from yesterday (February 15).

JAMB’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, announced the extension of time in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

According to the board, by the extension, the sale of ePINs will end on Monday, February 20, while the UTME registration ends on Wednesday, February 22.

In line with the board’s 2023 Schedule of Activities, as earlier released, the closing date for the sale of both ePINs and the 2023 UTME application documents was slated for Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

The board said at the close of the sale of ePINs on February 14, a total of 1,527,068 candidates had successfully registered for the 2023 UTME exercise, inclusive of the 168,748, who indicated their interest to take the Mock-UTME

“It should also be noted that the board, based on its projections, had expanded its capacity to register up to 100,000 candidates per day. With this, it was possible to register all desiring candidates within a few days.

“However, less than 50,000 candidates were turning up for registration, which is less than the installed registration capacity. Surprisingly, in the last two days before the closing date, the pace picked up remarkably with over 100,000 candidates registering on a daily basis.

“Furthermore, the board, as a responsive and proactive agency, took cognisance of the reports from across the country, indicating some difficulties being faced by many Nigerians in using their electronic channels to purchase the ePINs or obtain cash readily within the stipulated period.

“It has, as a consequence, granted this extension to ensure that all candidates who desire to register for the 2023 UTME are given the opportunity to do so, especially when the extant challenges are not of their own making,” the statement said.

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday invited the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen, over threats by Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, to stop this year’s general election in the Southeast.

Ekpa, a factional leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has repeatedly declared sit-at-home orders across the Southeast, insisting that there would be no election in the region this year.

The IPOB agitator recently declared a sit-at-home from February 23 to 28, apparently to stop the conduct of the 2023 general election in the region.

He said the sit-at-home orders and stopping this year’s polls in the region would help his faction of the IPOB to achieve the sovereign state of Biafra for Igbo-speaking people in the Southeast and the Southsouth.

Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama met with the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Pylvanainen, to discuss the threats by the factional IPOB leader.

The minister expressed displeasure over the sit-at-home orders by Ekpa to his followers, who he said consequently embarked on killings, maiming, burning and other destructive activities.

Onyeama, who was represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, said Ekpa’s action was fast becoming a threat to the forthcoming elections.

• $53.1m approved for power equipment

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved a contract for the Electronic Cargo Tracking (ECT) note which will revolutionise Nigeria’s capacity to monitor maritime cargo movements.

Transportation Minister Mu’azu Jaji Sambo announced this while addressing State House correspondents after the week’s FEC meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.  

According to Sambo, the state-of-the-art scheme, which had been in use in not less than 26 African countries, including Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo and Senegal, will also help to check oil theft along the nation’s maritime waters.

He said it “would tackle under-declaration at ports and secure imports and exports, provide transparency in cargo invoicing and declarations”.

Sambo added: “Some of the benefits of the cargo tracking system: these countries have recorded tremendous improvement in the management of trades across borders.

“The deployment of the state-of-the-art ECT will ensure the elimination of loopholes in border operations and boost the Federal Government revenue in the form of duties, port charges and levies. The platform will be deployed by a consortium of five companies made up of a foreign technical partner and four local companies. “

“This scheme will generate revenue to the Federal Government, ranging from about $90 million per annum to a peak of about $235 million per annum.

“Additionally, this scheme includes also the tracking of our oil exports. This way, we are going to reduce or totally eliminate oil theft. Furthermore, it is at no cost to the government.

“The investments are going to be made by the investing private sector companies, and revenues that would be derived from the small margin of charges would be shared in the ratio of 60 per cent to the government and 40 per cent to the consortium of companies.”

Also, the Federal Government approved $53.1 million for the procurement and installation of electricity conductors and transformers that will help boost power supply across the country.

Power Minister Abubakar Aliyu said when installed, the conductors will help address the challenge of constant tripping of circuit breakers due to overloading of electricity lines.

The minister said the cost of the conductors also includes a naira component of N2.1 billion.

“The total amount for these four components of conductors is $53,131,128.93, plus an onshore component of N2,127,068,626.45,” he said.

According to him, the new conductors will be used to upgrade existing power lines with the aim of enhancing their efficiency. 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from proceeding with the forthcoming general elections in view of the exclusion of eligible Nigerians living in foreign countries.

In a judgment yesterday, Justice Inyang Ekwo found that the existing law in the country did not guarantee the right of Nigerians abroad to vote in any election.

Justice Ekwo, while describing the suit as unmeritorious, held that where a right was not provided for in the Constitution, there was no need to insist on the enforcement of such a right not recognised by law.

The judgment was on a fundamental rights enforcement suit, filed by Chikwe Nkemnacho and Kenneth Azubuike Nkemnacho (on behalf of Nigerians abroad).

The judge added that it was the responsibility of those affected by the issue to engage the legislature to enact the needed law to accommodate them in future elections.

He said: “The court does not enact laws. It cannot also expand the law in order to accommodate an issue before, it no matter how sympathetic or humanitarian the cause or situation is.

“It only interprets and expounds the laws. And, it is the law, as stated before in this judgment, that when interpreting the provisions of a statute, the court must not ascribe meanings to clear, plain and unambiguous provisions in order to make such provisions conform to the court’s view of their meanings or what they ought to be.”

He noted that by the provisions of Sections 77 (2) and 117 (2) of the Constitution, the right to vote is reserved for every citizen of Nigeria, who has attained the age of 18 years residing in Nigeria at the time of registration of voters for the purpose of election.

Justice Ekwo said: “The right to vote for a president or governor is tied to the right to vote in an election of any legislative house, going by the provisions of Sections 132 (5) and 178 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The applicants can only be commended for bringing this matter to the fore. However, the court is not where the solution lies for now. What this case has revealed is that there is a lacuna in the existing law with respect to the right of Nigerians in the diaspora to vote in elections in Nigeria.

“The lacuna here is not such that the court can fill by pronouncement or by importing statutory provisions from anywhere. There is a situation whose solution is by legislative and not judicial process.”

INEC, its chairman, Mahmood Yakubu; President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Republic of Nigeria were listed as defendants in the suit.

• Southwest governors, ministers set to receive Tinubu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reiterated that today’s (Thursday) presidential rally in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to canvass support for the party’s candidate in next week’s presidential election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima will hold as scheduled.

The campaign rally was initially scheduled to take place on January 9 but it was shifted to February 7 and subsequently postponed again due to pockets of protests across the state.

It was thereafter fixed for February 16 at Mapo Hall, Ibadan.

The chairman of the Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council in Oyo State, Dr Isiaka Kolawole confirmed the development in a statement yesterday. He said every necessary arrangement for the rally has been concluded with the venue ready and stage set.

Kolawole attributed the protest in the capital to the nefarious activities of hoodlums being sponsored by the state government and its agents to cause strife and ensure that the rally does not work. He said: “The presidential rally of our party, which is scheduled to hold tomorrow (today, February 16) at Mapo Hall will hold as planned.”

The chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Oyo, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan said all Southwest governors elected on the platform of the APC, former governors, as well as ministers are expected to grace the rally in honour of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. They will be joined by their counterparts from other parts of the country, including Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Nasir El- Rufai (Kaduna); Hope Uzodinma (Imo); Abdullahi Sule (Nassarawa); Sanni Bello (Niger) and others.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has assured the people of Jigawa State that he would fulfil all his campaign promises if elected as president.

Atiku, who spoke yesterday during his campaign stop in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, described the crowd at the rally as one of the most exciting ever witnessed since his presidential campaign started.

The PDP candidate listed his campaign promises to include aggressive agricultural policy, the opening of land borders and getting out-of-school children back to school.

Also listed was a promise to set aside $10 billion to assist women and youth to grow their businesses, end incessant university teachers’ strike actions and revive livestock farming.

Atiku said: “I am indeed delighted for the show of love to the PDP. I promise you that farming and trading, which are the main occupations of the people of Jigawa will be revived. Now, we are prepared to give you assistance so that you can partake in agriculture and also in business. I promise you that we will open the borders by God’s grace.

“We will also revive farming, cattle rearing and businesses. We will also ensure that our children return to school and there won’t be strikes by teachers.

SOME governors have warned those rejecting the redesigned N1000, N500 and N200 notes in their states to refrain from such acts, failing which they risk sanctions.

The governors are: Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).

Their warning followed yesterday’s extension of the interim order by the Supreme Court restraining the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or any of its agents from phasing out the old naira notes until the determination of a suit pending before it.

Sanwo-Olu, who spoke through a statement  by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, threatened to prosecute those rejecting the old naira notes.

“It is against the law to reject the old notes as ‘doing so is contrary to the position of the Supreme Court,” the governor said in the statement.

Appreciating the patience and calmness of Lagosians, the governor said the government has also joined the dispute at the Supreme Court.

It reads: “The Supreme Court today (yesterday) adjourned hearing of the matter till February 22. When the matter first came up on February 8, the apex court said the old notes remained legal tender. That position has not changed.

“The state government hereby warns those rejecting the old notes to desist from doing so or face prosecution. It is against the law to reject the old notes as doing so is contrary to the position of the Supreme Court.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu urges Lagosians to remain law-abiding and shun mischief makers who may exploit this temporary situation to promote their anti-people agenda. He is confident that the judiciary will resolve all the issues around the currency shortage crisis.

“To cushion effect of the CBN directive on the old notes, especially on the vulnerable among us, Lagos State has started the distribution of food packs promised by the governor. The 50 per cent fares slash on all government transportation facilities also continues, as directed by Mr. Governor.”

Governor Abiodun vowed to deal decisively with businesses rejecting old naira notes in the Gateway State.

He reiterated his threat that his government will clamp down on banks and businesses flouting the apex court ruling.

Abiodun said that part of the measures being considered may include getting security agencies to arrest anyone who refuses to accept old naira notes, stressing the directive became imperative after an on-the-spot assessment of business transactions at some filling stations in Ijebu-Ode.

He said the old notes of N1000, N500 and N200 remain legal tenders and that anyone who refuses to accept would be dealt with according to the dictates of the law.

“It has come to the notice of the State Government that some people and traders were rejecting the old Naira notes from the citizens, a development that is not healthy thereby inflicting untold hardship on the people of the state,” he said in a statement by his spokesman, Kunle Somorin.

In Kano, Ganduje said he would not hesitate to sanction commercial banks for rejecting the old naira notes.

He also threatened to revoke operational licenses of major business owners who refuse to accept the old naira notes as a means of transaction.

Ganduje, in a statement by his Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, insisted that the old naira notes are still a legal tender.

He said the Supreme Court was emphatic on its interim injunction on the issue of old naira notes which would continue to be used as legal tender hand in hand with the new ones until gradual and final phase out.

The statement reads: “It has come to the notice of the government that some business owners such as supermarkets, malls, banks, restaurants, hotels, traders in markets, filling stations, motor parks, among others, are in the habit of rejecting the old naira notes in business transaction.”

“This non-acceptance by some selfish individuals is further worsening the already tensed situation exacerbated by the non-availability of the new naira notes.

“Business and economic activities are seriously affected by the naira redesign and unfortunately some self-centered individuals are cashing on the situation to cause further hardships on the people by not accepting the old naira notes during transactions.”

The Osun governor also warned commercial banks against hoarding the new naira notes and rejecting old naira currency.

Adeleke lamented the pain and suffering the cash crunch had subjected the people to. He called on all stakeholders to reach a consensus to put an end to the current hardships.

Decrying the rejection of the old notes, the governor called on the banks to be compassionate by either making the new notes available or continuing acceptance of the old currency notes.

He said: “I am pained by the current hardship inflicted on our people. Daily living has become a nightmare. All sectors of society are witnessing untold hardship. I call on bank chiefs to have mercy on the poor, the middle class and even the rich.

“We must make the new naira notes available or we continue to accept old notes. We must stop punishing the citizens even when they commit no sin.”

“I hereby warn the banks in Osun state to be humane. We should not encourage insurrection against the government by citizens through unfair policies and actions.

“Banks in Osun state must meet the demands of the people for new notes. Those banks that have stopped receiving old notes must reverse that policy. Our people are being pushed to the wall.”

In Lafia, Sule lamented the sufferings of the rural dwellers on their inability to get the new naira notes to take care of their basic needs.

According to him, as governor, he cannot access the new currency.

“Yesterday, I sent the SSG to the various banks and a lot of these banks have no new naira at all to give,” the governor.

He accused the apex bank of confiscating the people’s cash rather than exchanging the old notes with the new naira.

On the way forward, he said: “The only way the CBN can ameliorate the suffering of the people occasioned by its cash swap policy, is to allow the old Naira to be in use alongside the new currency for a period of six months.”