No less than two million residents of communities in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State were displaced by flood, making life brutish and nasty for them. Their days of worries are ending, writes ROSEMARY NWISI, Port Harcourt 

Flood victims in the six Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Ekpeye land of Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State can now heave a sigh of relief from hunger and starvation following the Intervention of the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR).

No fewer than 26 communities were affected by the flood, with over a million residents displaced and chased into IDP camps in the area.

Ekpeye Kingdom is located along the coastal line of river Niger. It is rich in oil and gas and made up of two local government councils, Ahoada East and Ahoada West.

All was well with them until the 2012 flood event which took over homes, villages, communities and all their farmlands with their economic plants and trees, and even killing some of them, leaving the survivors with no option than to flee their homes to IDP camps.

Since then, flood disaster has continued to ravage the area every rainy reason with their homes and farms getting flooded making them to always turn back to the camps for safety.

When the flood occurred in 2012, inmates of the camps were cared for by the government which released huge sum to cater to their needs. People of goodwill, companies, groups and individuals both locally and internationally, came to their aid. Churches were not also left out of the list.

However, things are now different; hardship abounds, most of the companies have shut down. Yet the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) continues to predict the flooding of the areas.

This year again, NIMET listed the two local government areas among the high-risk group. The flood came and as usual, overran the communities forcing them back to the camps. Unfortunately, help was short in coming, leaving the affected communities to shoulder the heavy weight of feeding and providing the other needs of people in camps.

The Regent of Ekpeye Kingdom, King Felix Otuwarikpo, (Eze Ekpeye Logbo III), got the members of flood victims committee he formed to approach the NDPR, an indigenous oil company in the area, to seek help for the hungry but handicapped IDPs.

NDPR Head, Community Relations and Security, Alhaji Bubah Mauzu, on Tuesday, presented relief materials worth several millions of Naira to the IDPs.

The materials were delivered to the people through King Otuwarikpo and members of his council of chiefs. At the ceremony were the representatives of the women and the chairman, Ekpeye Flood Victims Committee, Mr. ThankGod Okedike.

Mauzu said: “In response to the letter we received some time ago from this respected council of Chiefs in respect of those in IDP camps, we have come to present these to you for onward delivery to them.

“This is what we can afford for now, no matter how small it is, accepts it from us as it is from the depth of our hearts.

“We have brought here 100 pieces of mattresses, 100 pillows, 100 cartons of Indomie, 100 bags of 50 kg size of rice, 10 cartons of milo, 10 cartons of Peak milk, 100 pieces of sleeping blankets and three bags of granulated sugar (150 kg).”

The monarch thanked the company for what he called timely intervention to the pressing need of the Kingdom, regretting that the governments, federal, state and local government deliberately abandoned the area in the face of such daunting challenge. He assured the company that the gesture would remain memorable in their hearts.

He said: “We sincerely thank NDPR for making available these materials for the suffering flood displaces people of Ekpeye Kingdom who are currently in various IDP camps within our area.

“You have saved our land from these troubles, with these kind and free-will donations you have demonstrated that you are with us in thick and in thin. We are happy and gladly accept and appreciate these gifts and assure you that they will be delivered to the people for which they are meant for.

“You were not the only company operating and doing business in this letter locality. We reached out to every firm in Ekpeyeland to solicit the assistance for this need, while others are still yet to decide, you responded as soon as you got our appeal letter, we are grateful, you have contributed to saving the lives of our people from dying of hunger and starvation.

“We want to commend this singular act by the management of NDPR to have committed so much resource to attend to the needs of our people, we thank you. We want to assure you of our continuous good relationship.

“Our late father (late Eze Robinson O. Robinson), had a smooth relationship with the company, we shall consolidate on that relationship. You have demonstrated that inspire passing unto glory of our father that you still have lived for the children, we thank you for the gesture and assure you of our supports in whatever area you want Ekpeye people to support you, you need us and we also need you to survive.”

Eze Ekpeye Logbo expressed disappointment on the alleged failure of the governments to provide relief materials for Ekpeye flood victims in IDP camps, stressing that they are suffering and badly ravaged by hunger and hardship, with the children going malnourished as a result of lack of care.

He said: “Government at all levels should recognise the fact that Ekpeye is part and parcel of this country called Nigeria.

“Ekpeye is not outside Nigeria, there is no reason if Ekpeye is affected by natural disaster or any form of disaster and government at all levels shy away from attending to the needs of Ekpeye people.

“We count, only when they need our votes, we are only recognised when they want to use us to achieve their personals interests, now that our people are suffering. Nobody cares for any Ekpeye person, the time has come for governments at all levels to rethink about Ekpeye nation.

“If we mobilise our people adequately, they will realise that nobody can effectively win and election in Rivers State without the votes of the people of Ekpeye nation.”

He urged the flood victims committee to ensure the materials among the victims with utmost transparency, adding: “under no circumstance should you allow anybody including me to influence you to do things that are accepted by Ekpeye people.”

He added: “Discharge this duty with the utmost sense of responsibility. Our people are suffering in various IDP camps, these materials are essential for those in the IDP camps, they are not for members of Eze Ekpeye Lobo in Council, they are not for members of Ekpeye traditional rulers and chiefs, they are not for any Ekpeye person other than the IDPs, so ensure that you carry everything that has been supplied today, to the IDP camps.”

He noted that 26 communities were affected in the areas, with most of them completely overrun by the disaster with their houses flooded and farmlands submerged.

“There are six IDP camps scattered across Ekpeye Nation, each of them hosting no fewer than 300 persons, including women and children.

“Twenty-six communities were submerged, people’s homes, houses, farmlands among others were completely flooded, members of the affected communities have been in the camp for almost four months now, there has not been any form of intervention from any quarter whatsoever government at all levels have abandoned us, including the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), who sent the early warning and prediction of flooding this year, everybody, including the state and Local Governments are pretending not to know what is happening, even after several correspondences and appeals have been made to them.

“This singular act by NDPR to our people is one in a million, we will never forget it, they may not know what they have done to our people. Members of my council and I have not had good sleep since the event of the flood b cause our people are gingery and sleepless, it has not been easy for us you will not understand.”

The women lauded the company for the show of love and appealed to its management to answer them again whenever the need arises.

Animal scientist Prof F. O. Ahamefule believes the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat can meet the meat and dairy needs of 60 million people in Nigeria’s rain-forest and derived/guinea Savannah ecological zones. Can it? ROBERT EGBE asks

 

They jump on your car, eat your flowers, knock over your rubbish bin, chase pre-schoolers walking home alone from kindergarten and, sometimes, (the male) put even adults off with their foul smell: but there’s more to the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat than a public nuisance.

Prof F. O. Ahamefule knows the animal and its potential well.

As a lad – the second son in a family of 17 – domestic animals captivated him. Years later, Ahamefule followed his passion and bagged an Animal Science degree at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Recently, the lecturer from UNN’s Department of Animal Production and Livestock Management delivered ‘Rhymes from rainforest dwarf caprine: ancient and modern’, the 7th Inaugural lecture of his alma mater’s College of Animal Science and Animal Production (CASAP).

In Rhymes from rainforest dwarf caprine: ancient and modern, Ahamefule makes a bold claim: the WAD goat, properly harnessed, can solve the meat and dairy needs of no fewer than 60 million residents of its natural habitat: mostly southern Nigeria.

 

WAD goat’s natural habitat

The bases for Ahamefule’s conclusion are difficult to disprove.

The researcher noted that the WAD goat is widely found in the humid and sub-humid zones of Africa and are distributed across 15 countries.

“In Nigeria, it thrives within the rainforest as well as in the derived/guinea savannah ecological zones of Nigeria, which covers the area surrounding the South-East, South-South and the Western States of Nigeria (Nuru, 1985).

“The rainforest belt is characterised by tropical forests which have been preserved over the years. They are characterised by dense vegetation with high ambient temperature all year round. The trees found in this zone are multi-tied with a dense canopy that scarcely allows sunlight to penetrate. The annual amount of precipitation does not exceed 1600 mm. It is home to the wildlife of various forms. Insect vectors abound prominent of which is the tsetse fly. The humid climate, dense undergrowth and animal population makes the environment conducive for proliferation of tsetse flies.”

 

Super ruminant? Why the WAD goat is important

The WAD is raised or kept for two major products, meat and milk. The former, also known as chevon, has since been the principal motive for production of WAD, lately, however, the growing awareness of the importance of milk and its relevance in family nutrition has reinforced interest in the capability of WAD goat to meet this demand locally especially in the wake of costly imported milk products.

Goat milk is very nutritious. It is easier to digest than cow’s milk. It is typically digested in 20 minutes whereas it would take 24 hours for humans to digest cow’s milk. People who suffer from lactose intolerance may find goat milk a better alternative. Goat milk does not contain complex protein compounds that stimulate allergic reactions to milk. Goat milk is rich in antibodies and low in bacterial counts and is free from tubercle bacilli -an aetiological agent that causes tuberculosis. It is valued for the elderly, sick babies, patients with ulcers, and more so, preferred milk for raising orphan foals or puppies and those convalescing.

As a source of meat, the WAD is highly relished, making it favourite for festive and religious ceremonies. The WAD goats are useful to humans during periods of cyclical and unpredictable food shortages. They also help balance the energy and protein supply during normal variations between seasons and years. Smaller carcasses are also easier to market and can be consumed in a short period. This is important as most rural areas lack proper storage facilities. An adult goat can be consumed by one family over a few days, unlike cow.

Goat meat also has less fat than sheep, because goats form fat mainly around the organs and not between the muscles as sheep does. One striking feature of goat meat is that it is usually leaner than mutton and beef, and the distribution of fat on the carcass differs as fat in goats are concentrated around the kidney and pelvic regions before developing pockets of fat behind the shoulders and over the ribs.

 

Ability to adapt

Ahamefule observed that in animal production systems, the relevance of any species increases by its ability to adapt.

He noted that years of natural selection under humid tropical conditions have made the WAD goat breed highly adapted to the humid forest zone.

Ahamefule said: “In marginal environments, this goat remains the only domestic species that can survive. The WAD goat is tolerant to trypanosomiasis and this has made it possible for the animal to thrive in the humid tsetse fly-infested region.

“Their rusticity also allows them to be grazed on land not available to other domestic livestock. Their easily adoptable backyard systems of management as well as their cultural significance contribute to their popularity. Their relatively short legs and stocky disposition enable them to traverse the vegetative terrain and often bushy landscape characteristic of the zone.

“Its unique feeding behaviour, the efficiency of feed use and disease tolerance enable WAD goats to thrive on natural resources left untouched by other domestic ruminants. Its small body size and low metabolic requirements enable the animal to minimize its requirements where food sources are limited in quality and quantity.

“Coat colour which varies plays an important role in the adaptation of this goat breed. Dark brown and black are the most common but white, red and multi-coloured goat do occur. Reproductive fitness as manifested by prolific breeding is also a major factor of adaptation.”

 

Reproductive performance

Another reason for Ahamefule’s conclusion is that, unlike temperate goats, the WAD is a continuous or non-seasonal breeder.

He said: “The import of this is that the does can be bred at any time of the year. WAD goats are early breeders, reaching puberty at 6 to 7 months of age. The age at which they first kid is between 16 and 18 months. The WAD goat is prolific and under traditional village conditions kid three times in two years. Gestation length is approximately 150 days. Twins are the usual with single and triplet births also common. Less frequent is quadruplet litter. The kidding pattern indicates that the prolificacy of WAD goats increases with age, reaching its peak at four years of age. West African dwarf goat is very prolific and possesses high frequency for kidding.”

 

Hardiness

The WAD goat is hardy, resilient and, as a ruminant, it has the advantage of utilising marginal lands, poor fodder and agro-industrial wastes, converting them into high-quality protein (meat and milk).

Ahamefule said: “The goat is considered superior to other ruminant species in the utilisation of poor quality and high fibre forages for body maintenance and production.

“Defence mechanisms against infectious agents enable this small ruminant breed to thrive well in the hot humid tropics. The WAD goat resists gastrointestinal parasites more effectively than any other breed of domestic goat. The breed can thrive and survive under harsh environmental conditions of heat and humidity. It also can digest a broad range of diets, resistant to high humidity pathogens and tolerant of gastrointestinal nematodes.

“They are described as trypano resilient since, in the face of parasitic challenge, they maintain positive weight gain and record low mortality rates.”

 

Milk production

He noted further that the WAD doe gives “a surprising quantity of milk for its size.

“Its production ranges from 0.5-4kg of milk per day with an average doe producing about 2kg of milk per day. Production depends however on genetics, parity, quality of feed, and management.

“Since it breeds year-round, it is possible to stagger breeding in a herd, for year-round production of milk; thus, they are ideal milk for most families. The milk has a higher butterfat content averaging 6.5%.”

According to Ahamefule, the WAD goat’s lactation potential became prominent in the early colonial era when they were transported from Africa on the ship to Europe as food for captured carnivores kept in zoos. The survivors were then maintained in herds. The animals that exhibited exceptional dairy traits were selected and bred resulting in the dairy WAD goats we know today.

He added: “Their anatomy compares favourably to those of proven dairy breeds. The dairy potential has become even more enhanced in the last 20 years. It is the only miniature dairy goat breed. Their milk can be higher in protein relative to kinds of milk of other goat breeds. They produce lower absolute quantities of milk than cattle, however, when their body weight is taken into account, their milk yield is higher than other species, with the possible exception of camels.

“WAD goats convert their feed more efficiently into milk than any other dairy breed. It is the sweetest, richest milk of all the dairy goat breeds. Given their relatively small size, it can be easier to handle and house than the large dairy goat breeds. They can be accommodated both in the rural and suburban environment.”

 

Meeting diary, meat needs of 60m Nigerians

Ahamefule believes the WAD goat parades outstanding attributes which should be of foremost interest to everyone.

He said: “This indigenous small ruminant breed holds staggering potential capable of meeting the animal protein needs of over 60 million Nigerians who live within the rainforest and derived savanna zones that constitute the natural habitat for this breed. The resilience, fecundity and ease of handling make it a choice animal for improvement.

“Considering its dairy and meat (chevon) potential, it is possible to develop a base population with a full expression of these traits upon which improvement of this animal species could leverage.

“A wide range of unconventional feedstuffs both of forage and concentrate origin abound which can further be exploited for the productivity of the WAD goat.”

He lamented that Nigeria “blessed with such indigenous potent animal species” has remained recalcitrant to its development.

Ahamefule warned that until research findings concerning the WAD goat and other livestock species “begin to find expression in our smallholder animal units, mixed farm enterprises and integrated animal farms, the food security we clamour for, especially in the animal subsector, would continue to remain a mirage.

He observed that it is possible to transform the WAD goat from its present local profile to an internationally acclaimed meat or dairy breed, like the Boer meat-type goat of South Africa.

 

What must be done

Prof Ahamefule believes everyone – government, the private sector, non-governmental organisations – have a role to play in harnessing the WAD goat’s potential.

He makes the following recommendations:

• The WAD goat has not received the prominence it deserves from successive governments in Nigeria, this has made production and developmental strides slow and epileptic. Government policies should be progressive and consistent to chart a course that can be leveraged. Policy somersault remains a bane to developmental initiatives in animal agriculture in this country
• Young school leavers and graduates of Animal Science should be encouraged by State and Federal governments to go into WAD goat production as a panacea to the perennial short supply of animal protein in Nigeria. This could be achieved by creating the enabling environment through the provision of incentives and soft loans to beneficiaries.
• The rural populace upon whom the saddle of WAD goat production lies, for now, should be on constant sensitisation possibly through audiovisuals and extension agents, to be amenable and agreeable to changes and innovations aimed at increasing and multiplication of this breed
• The process of improving the WAD goat for milk and meat production should be initiated and addressed with all sense of commitment by animal breeders. Research efforts in this regard should be aggressive and consistent to yield desired goals. The National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria should be revived and enabled to rise to this responsibility.
• Donor agencies and NGOs should also partner Federal Government through massive support and funding of studies and investigations which reinvent and invigorate animal agriculture especially those of small ruminants of WAD goat extraction.
• The WAD goat should receive attention even at the present subsistence level of production. A little care and passion developed for this animal would nevertheless engender interest, love and possibly affection for this friendly and lovely creature. Show the WAD goat some love today, every day and every other day.

The WAD goat resists gastrointestinal parasites more effectively than any other breed of domestic goat. The breed can thrive and survive under harsh environmental conditions of heat and humidity. It also can digest a broad range of diets, resistant to high humidity pathogens and tolerant of gastrointestinal nematodes.

 

Quick facts about the WAD goat

• The weather and climate of Nigeria are very suitable for WAD goat farming.
• WAD goat produces high-quality meat and milk for human consumption.
• People of any profession can establish WAD goat farming business with their current job. because goat farming doesn’t require much labour.
• The initial investment for starting WAD goat farming in Nigeria is low.
• Housing, feeding and other management costs are less in rearing WAD goats.
• WAD goat farming in Nigeria can be a great source for earning extra income
• WAD goat produce meat, milk, skin, manure etc. and none of these is a waste. Every product is marketable.
• WAD goat farming is a great source of self-employment for young school leavers and the unemployed educated people
• You can easily raise 8-10 WAD goats within the same space or raise them on feed needed by a cow.
• WAD goat farming is very easy and simple. Even the care and management process can be done by the children and housewives.
• Commercial WAD goat farming in Nigeria can help to eradicate poverty.
• Commercial WAD goat farming has a great return on investment ratio (ROI). That means you will get good returns of your total capital or investment within a year or two. Good profit starts from the second year of operation.
• Goat farming gives people economic freedom. And it helps to reduce economic crisis and crime

Worried by the violence, ballot box snatching and bloodshed that have come to characterise elections in the country, the Senate has initiated fresh moves to address these challenges through a rejig of the Electoral Act, GBADE OGUNWALE reports

 

The consensus opinion among key political stakeholders and the informed public is that until the nation gets its electoral process right, elections in the country will continue to record needless human casualties. The sanctity of the ballot, credibility of the electoral process and the integrity of the electoral umpire, have come under intense debate since the present democratic journey began in 1999.

With six general election cycles down the line, little progress has been recorded in terms of electoral reforms. For the first 16 consecutive years (1999-2015) that it held power at the centre, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed to entrench a workable electoral process in the country.

For the eight years (1999-2007) in the leadership saddle, former President Olusegun Obasanjo failed to initiate any concrete reforms to the delinquent electoral process he inherited from the preceding military regime. Rather, Obasanjo and his PDP chose to progress in error, devising unconventional means to win elections to the chagrin of the opposition parties.

The first general elections conducted under the Obasanjo Presidency in 2003 did very little to the credibility of the electoral process. Having secured reelection through a flawed process, the former President saw no need to fix the gaping holes in the electoral process. Buoyed by the gains his party recorded in that poll, Obasanjo went ahead to conduct the 2007 elections with greater opportunistic fervour. Through that brigand election, he was able to instal a hand picked successor, the late Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua.

However, in a departure from Obasanjo’s vainglorious gloating over his party’s “landslide victory”, Yar ‘Adua, on assumption of office, publicly admitted that the election that brought him in, was indeed flawed. Yar ‘Adua had promised to initiate the necessary electoral reforms that would preserve the credibility of subsequent elections in the country.

The then General Muhammadu Buhari, who contested the election on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), had challenged the outcome of the election up to the Supreme Court. Although the apex court did not reverse the victory of the PDP at the presidential level, the various divisions of the Court of Appeal upturned the victory of the PDP in the governorship category in a number of states. Some of the affected statesman were Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Edo and Anambra states. That accounts for the off season governorship elections in those states.

 

The Uwais committee report

True to his word, Yar ‘Adua had, in August 2007, set up a 22-member Electoral Reform Committee chaired by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais. Far reaching recommendations were made by the committee in its report submitted in December 2008. Some of the highlights of the recommendations required the President to cede the power of appointment of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the judiciary. It also made request for the establishment of Electoral Offences Commission to deal with cases of electoral offences. Yar ‘Adua had in 2009, forwarded an edited version of the report to the National Assembly for consideration, but rejected the request to cede the power of appointment of the INEC chair to the judiciary. Upon

Yar ‘Adua’s death and on assumption of office as President, Jonathan had sent the full report to the lawmakers for consideration in amendment to the constitution. But the lawmakers had similarly rejected the request to allow the judiciary appoint the INEC chairman. In its appraisal of the electoral process in Nigeria, the committee, among others, observed the existence of weak democratic institutions and processes. It also pinned the violent and disruptions in elections to negative political culture, weak legal framework, lack of independence and capacity of the electoral management bodies.

 

Fresh attempt by the Ninth Senate

Meanwhile, the Ninth Senate has also listed 13 items and various Sections of the Electoral Act for amendment. The items are contained in Order Paper, an in-house publication of the Senate. The draft emanated from the office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, who incidentally is the chairman of the Constitution Review Panel of the two chambers of the National Assembly. The media office of the Deputy President of the Senate said the planned amendments to the Sections would be carried out in good time before the next election cycle. The envisaged amendments covered pre election, election day and post election phases.

 

The proposed amendments

 

Pre election: Conditions for INEC staffing

Section 8 (5) of the Electoral Act which concerns staffing into the commission mandates a person who is a member of a political party and seeks employment into the commission to disclose their partisanship. Failure to do so, attracts minimum of five years, a fine of N5 million or both.

 

Charges on nominees by political parties

Section 87 of the Principal Act is changed to allow the inclusion of total fees imposed by a political party on an aspirant not to exceed a stipulated amount for the purpose of nomination of candidates for election.

N150,000 for a Ward Councillorship aspirant in the FCT, N250,000 for an Area Council Chairmanship aspirant in the FCT, N500,000 for a House of Assembly aspirant, One Million Naira for a House of Representatives aspirant, Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) for a Senatorial aspirant, Five Million naira for a Governorship aspirant and Ten Million Naira for a Presidential aspirant.

 

National register of voters and voters’ registration

Section 9 of the principal act was amended to include a subsection (1a) for INEC to keep both documents in manual and electronic formats in its National Headquarters and other locations according to its discretion.

 

Procedure of displaying voters’ register

Section 19 (1) changes the timing in which the commission is expected to display a copy for each Local Government, Area Councilor ward from  a period of not less than 5 days and not exceeding 14 days to not later than 30 days to a general election, appoint a period of 7 days and on its official website or any website established by the Commission for that purpose.

Noncompliance to this provision attracts imprisonment for a minimum term of 6 months or a minimum fine of N100,000.

After displaying the documents, an introduced subsection (1A) mandates the Commission to accept and rectify complaints in the voters’ register within 14 days of publishing the register.

 

Death of a candidate before declaration of result

Section 36 of the Principal Act makes provision for the death of a candidate before the announcement of the final result.

The new bill inserts a new subsection (3) to allow INEC to suspend the election for a period not exceeding 21 days while the political party whose candidate died, if it intends to continue to participate in the election, conduct a fresh primary within 14 days of the death of its candidate and submit the name of a new candidate to the Commission.

 

Election day: Video inspection of electoral materials

Before the commencement of election in a polling unit, a new subsection (4A) in Section 43 of the Principal Act allows accredited electoral official to inspect original electoral materials through writing or video recording and noncompliance results to a minimum imprisonment term of one year or a minimum fine of N1 million or both. Also, 20 days before the elections, political parties shall be invited by the commission to inspect it’s identity in electoral materials while the party shall respond within two days on it’s approval or disapproval of the inspection. Non-appearance of party after invitation signifies acceptance.

 

Smart card reader for accreditation

A new provision in Section 41 allows the use of Smart Card Reader or any other technological device for accreditation of voters.

 

Electronic transmission of voter accreditation

Also in Section 41, Presiding officers are mandated to transmit the voter accreditation data by secured mobile electronic communication to the collation center to which the polling unit belongs in the constituency and central database of the Commission kept at the National Headquarter of the Commission. If there is a breach in the above provision, the election in the polling unit can be  invalidated by a Tribunal or Court and the Presiding Officer shall be liable, on conviction, to a minimum imprisonment for at least 5 years, without an option of fine.

 

Electronic voting

An amendment was made to Section 52 (2) which prohibits the use of electronic voting machine to empower the Commission by adopting either electronic voting or any other method of voting with its discretion.

 

Post election: National electronic register of election results

A new subsection in section 65 introduces this register containing database of all election results, which is to be updated continuously, kept by the Commission at its National Headquarter and can be obtained by any person or political party in printed or electronic format upon payment of reasonable fees determined by the Commission.

 

Period to shut down INEC database

Another provision in Section 41 mandates INEC not to shut down it’s central database containing the data of accreditation of voters and polling unit results for an election until all the election petitions and appeals are heard and determined by a Tribunal or Court.

 

Issuance of false result

Any official of the Commission or a State Independent Electoral Commission who issues, endorses or certifies a false report or result in respect of an Adhoc Delegates Election or primaries of a Political Party shall be liable on conviction to minimum imprisonment term of five years, without an option of fine.

 

Post election: Court order on disqualification of winner

In Section 140 (2) of the principal act, once an election is nullified by an election tribunal or court on the ground that the winner was unqualified to contest the election, the court orders a fresh election but an amendment to this section allows the election Tribunal or Court to declare the person with the second highest number of valid votes cast at the election winner if the candidate satisfies the requirements of the Constitution and remains a member of the political party on which platform he contested the election.

Also, another new subsection in this provision states that if an election was marred by substantial irregularities or non-compliance, the election tribunal or court shall not declare the person with the second highest votes as elected.

 

Breach of court orders by INEC

Section 151 (3) has been included to sanction the electoral body where it breaches a tribunal or court order to produce, inspect or take copies of electoral materials. The official to whom the order was directed  will be convicted to imprisonment for at least two years without an option of fine.

 

Clamour for electronic voting

Calls for electronic voting ahead of the 2023 general elections have been strident among prominent individuals and organisations. Electronic voting requires that the entire registration, accreditation, vote counting, collation and announcement chain would be done electronically.

Twenty years into the democratic journey, the country still operates manual collation, counting and announcement. The only electronic component of the entire process is the smart card reader, which is being used for authentication and accreditation of voters.

But the general opinion is that electronic voting will go a long way in checking ballot box snatching and disruption of result collation at the various centres. Once the results had been transmitted to the INEC central server at the commission’s headquarters, the ballot papers would no longer be useful for the purpose of altering results. Speaking at a recent convocation ceremony at the University of Ibadan, former INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega called for the strengthening of the nation’s electoral legal framework in order to achieve credible elections and sustainable democratic development. Jega blamed the political class for taking undue advantage of the loopholes and discrepancies in the Electoral Act to abuse the electoral process. Stressing the need to ensure the integrity of the ballot, Jega said, “Africa will be satisfied when there is periodic elections but there must be integrity in the way elections are conducted to achieve sustainable development.

“It is generally recognised that fortifying democracy is vital to sustainable development, what is not as widely acknowledged is that improving the integrity of elections is key to democratic development. Deeply embedded unwholesome practices and a range of malpractices and fraudulent activities in the electoral process grossly undermine its utility as a vehicle for liberal democratic development. The less the malpractices, the better the electoral process. The realistic thing is to bring malpractices to the barest minimum”.

Speaking in similar vein, Dr Jonathan also canvassed electronic voting to ensure that the people’s votes count. The former President who spoke at a book presentation in Port Harcourt a few days ago, said the electorate would be able to elect quality leaders when they begin to vote electronically.

He dismissed insinuations that most Nigerians have not attained the required technology knowledge to enable them key into electronic voting. According to him, electronic voting would work in Nigeria, owing to the fact that many Nigerians transfer billions of dollars from one bank to the other through electronic means.

Dr Jonathan lamented the violence that characterised electioneering campaigns for the November 16 governorship campaigns in Kogi and Bayelsa States, saying that the situation could be avoided with electronic voting. Jonathan had said, “Look at what is happening now; we have governorship elections in two states in Kogi and Bayelsa. The signals coming from both are quite disturbing. The use of thugs, shooting guns and our people are already being killed when the voting process has not even started is disturbing. This would not happen if we have got to a point in this country where voter card matters.

“That is why I have always advocated electronic voting. We must go into electronic voting. If people these days can transfer billions of dollars from one bank to the other, using electronic means, then I believe that we can do electronic voting perfectly and that will ensure that the use of thugs during elections would not come up again.”

Jonathan further noted that political offices in the country did not change their holders, rather, the people with low integrity were being voted into offices. “When we develop as a nation to the point where our voter cards matter, where the people can vote who they believe in, the behaviour of the politicians would change; politicians would stop recruiting group of boys and feeding them like dogs, calling them thugs to be used for elections while their children attend the best universities abroad”, Jonathan said.

President Muhammadu Buhari had declined assent to the amendment to the Act passed by the Eighth National Assembly two months to the general election. The President had expressed concern that signing a new Electoral Bill close to the 2019 general elections could create uncertainties about legislation guiding the elections. “Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process”, the President had stated.

Some analysts however, attributed the refusal of the President to sign the bill to the frosty relationship that existed between him and the leadership of the Eighth National Assembly. Others said some of the amendments effected by the last Assembly were self serving and that they sought to usurp the functions of INEC. This was cited in the amendment that sought to reorder the sequence of elections.

However, with the cordial relationship between the Buhari Presidency and the Ninth Assembly, it is expected that there would be no friction that could impede progress on either side this time around. And by virtue of his position as the Deputy Senate President, Omo-Agege will be presiding over the next phase of amendment to the Electoral Act expected to kick off anytime soon. Already, an amendment has been made to Section 52 (2) which prohibits the use of electronic voting. However, attached to it is a proviso which gives INEC the discretion to adopt either electronic voting or any other method of voting. Will electronic voting carry the day? Over to Omo-Agege and his team.

The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commenced its 2019/2020 legal year. At the event marking the commencement of the New Year, speakers drew stakeholders’ attention to the court’s any challenges, Eric Ikhilae reports.

For courts, the new legal year ceremony provides an opportunity to review the activities of the previous year and project for an improved outing in the new year. But, for the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Court) the 2019/2020 new legal year ceremony, held in Abuja, provided an opportunity to do more.

It allowed the court’s leadership to draw member states’ attention to some of their practices and decisions that do not only hamper the court’s effectiveness, but threaten the realisation of the much-touted economic integration of the sub-region.

In attendance were representatives of member states of the ECOWAS and its organs, including President, ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Clade Kassi Brou; President, ECOWAS Judicial Council, Justice Akakpovi Gamatho and Nigerian Ministers of Justice, Foreign Affairs and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abubakar Malami, Geofrey Onyeama and Muhammad Bello.

The President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro, and the Director General of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof Muhammed Ladan were also in attendance

The court’s President, Justice Edward Asante; the Registrar, Tony Anene-Maidoh and Prof Ladan observed that the recent decisions and actions by member states of the ECOWAS now placed the court in a disdvantaged position.

Inadequate manpower

The court had seven judges until recently when, at meeting of the sub-regional body’s decision-making organ, member states decided to reduce the number of judges to five. The argument was that the ECOWAS commission was hit by dwindling contributions from members.

But, Asante and Anene-Maidoh want ECOWAS to reconsider its position on the issue. They argue that the policy not only impedes the court’s effective operations, but now compels the remaining five judges to over labour themselves given the growing number of cases.

They noted that the reduction in the number of judges poses a serious threat to the court, and creates difficulties in the composition of multiple panels to hear the rising number of cases.

Beside the inadequacy in the number of judges, Asante and Anne-Maidoh also drew attention to the paucity of interpreters, which they said resulted from the decision by ECOWAS member states to reduce the number of translators from nine to six in the 2018 organogram of the court. Anene-Maidoh added: “Currently, there are 210 court processes (documents) awaiting translation and we are relying more and more on freelance translators for the translation of court processes into Portuguese.

“This is not an ideal situation. Realistically, the court needs a minimum of 12 translators for the three languages – English, French and Portuguese.

“It must be emphasized that Article 19 of the Rules of Procedure of the ECOWAS Court of Justice provides that: ‘the court shall set up a translating service staffed by experts with adequate legal training and a thorough knowledge of several official languages of the court in accordance with Article 87(2) of the Treaty.’

“It is therefore obvious that the present reality in the court is not in conformity with the above provision. It is necessary for the community (ECOWAS) to address this problem in order to make the court more efficient.”

Disruptive succession regime

The court’s President, its Registrar and Prof Ladan called for a review of the amendment to the court’s tenure system, which altered the earlier seamless succession arrangement, where a judge was entitled to a five-year renewable tenure, to a new disruptive arrangement of a single tenure of non-renewable four years.

The implication of this alteration, they noted, is that all the judges are appointed the same time, assume office the same time and depart the same time; a clear departure from the earlier tradition of a staggered tenure system that had existed for members of the court, which guaranteed continuity in the court’s operations.

This policy, Asante argued, negates the principle in the Initial Protocol of the court that allowed for staggered tenure of members, and as a result, has now created “a grave concern for the court because of the attendant loss of institutional memory when the tenure of all the judges expire at the same time.”

Ladan added that “no other regional court has this type of composition and tenure of judges” as has just being foisted on the court. Ladan urged the court’s leadership to “continue to engage all stakeholders/relevant authorities to redress this anomaly in recognition of the peculiarity of the court as the principal judicial institution of the community.

Poor enforcement of court’s decisions

Asante, Anene-Maidoh and Ladan were unanimous in observing that member states’ reluctance to comply with the court’s decisions, by ensuring prompt implementation of its judgments constitutes another challenge.

Asante said the problem of enforcement of the court’s judgments was “another very critical challenge. We are concerned about the unsatisfactory rate of compliance with the judgments of the court. The judgments of this court are binding on member states, institutions of ECOWAS, individuals and corporate bodies.

“It is worrisome that since 2005 only five member states have appointed the Competent National Authority for the enforcement of its (the court’s) decisions as prescribed by the Supplementary Protocol,” Asante said. He gave the names of the countries as the Republic of Guinea, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Togo.

Ladan warned about the negative consequence to the sub-region’s quest for economic integration and mutual progress should institutions like the ECOWAS court be allowed to only exist in name, its decisions rendered ineffectual and its operations crippled by member states’ actions and inaction.

“The experience of the ECOWAS region, though not perfect, confirms that unless member states give up some parts of their national sovereignty and empower regional integration institutions to make binding decisions on their behalf, and implement them at national level, little progress can be made.

“For effective delivery of justice and realisation of community economic integration objectives, it is very imperative for member states to demonstrate greater political will in the enforcement of the court’s judgements as required by the community law,” Ladan said.

Inadequate accommodation

The court equally suffers from the challenge of having to function in an environment not conducive for its operations, owing to the failure of member states to abide by their pledges.

Asante pointed this out when he observed that “acute accommodation crisis remains a major constraint the court has faced over the years. We do not have sufficient space to accommodate the Judges and staff who have been working in very unconducive work environment.”

He traced the history of this problem to Nigeria’s reluctance to honour its pledge to accord the court a befitting accommodation.

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the host of the court, and the present office building was provided by the government of Nigeria in year 2002 at a time that the court had skeletal staff strength.

“Due to the increase in the number of staff over the years, this office building has become grossly inadequate. The court was compelled to rent an annex office to accommodate some departments of the court, in addition to this main building.

“We wish to recall, that under Decision A/DEC.20/12/01 of 2001 of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, and the 2003 Headquarters Agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Nigeria was given the responsibility to provide a befitting office accommodation for the court.

“We have been in contact with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on this issue and we are delighted to report that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is making arrangement to rent a temporary office building for the court, pending the acquisition or the building of a befitting office complex for the court. It is our hope that this objective will be realised without further delay.

“It is our hope that the promises made to the delegation of the court by the honourable minister will be fulfilled in this new legal year,” Asante said.

Underutilisation of court’s services

Perhaps, owing to their lukewarm attitude towards the court and its capabilities, member states have over the years, failed to effectively explore the court’s potentials by taking steps to activate its many jurisdictional competences.

The court was established under the provision of Article 15 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty and listed in Article 6 of the Treaty as one of the key institutions of ECOWAS. The initial Protocol on the court was adopted in 1991.

The essential role of the court, as enshrined in the preamble of that initial Protocol, “is to ensure the observance of law and justice in the interpretation and application of the Treaty and the Protocols and Conventions annexed thereto,” and “to be seized with responsibility for settling such disputes as may be referred to it in accordance with the provisions of Article 76 of the Treaty” and disputes between states and the institutions of ECOWAS.

The Protocol was amended in 2005, granting direct access to individuals for the first time. The amendment also gave the court four distinct mandates – mandate as a Community Court; mandate as an Administrative Court for ECOWAS Public Servants; mandate as an Arbitration Tribunal, and mandate as a Human Rights Court.

Ladan argued that it is odd that the court is little known outside the human rights community, given ECOWAS’ broad economic integration objectives and programmes since 1975, and the court’s powers since 2001.

He observed that, in view of its broad mandate areas, the court play arbitration role, by serving as a forum for the settlement of some disputes between foreign investors and host member states; disputes arising under the community law, including any matter provided for in an agreement where parties agree that the court shall settle disputes arising from the agreement.

The NIALS boss regretted that the court’s power to act as the Community Arbitration Tribunal has not been functionally activated or utilised since the court’s inception given its benefit to economic development in the sub-region and its capacity to reduce frictions inherent in business interactions among states.

Need for appellate chamber

It was also argued that the absence of a venue where the court’s decisions could be reviewed contributed to why the court has not enjoyed the much-needed patronage and respect.

Ladan argued that, for a stronger ECOWAS court, there is the need for an appellate chamber of the court in line with the 2006 Agreement by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.

The creation of an appellate chamber, he noted, will allow litigants exercise their fundamental right of appeal.

The bright side

For the court, it is not all about problems and challenges. The last legal year was the first for the current set of judges, who assumed office on August 27, 2018 after being sworn in on July 31, 2018 by then Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema.

They include the President, Asante (from Ghana), Gberi-be Ouattara, Vice President (from Cote D’Ivoire) Dupe Atoki (Nigeria), Keikura Bangura (Seirra Leone) and Januaria Costa (Cape Verde).

Presenting the court’s scorecard for the last legal year, Asante said the court held 95 sessions, delivering 28 judgments, eight rulings, with 115 cases pending.

“Out of the 115 cases, 20 cases have been adjourned for judgment, while 40 cases are undergoing hearing and 77 cases undergoing written procedure,” he said.

He added that the court has deployed Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to ease its operations and enhance access to its services, among other measures.

In a society characterised by the cravings for titles by eminent persons, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has dropped the peculiar prefix: His Excellency, preferring to be addressed simply as Mr.Governor. What message is he trying to pass across? Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the essence of depersonalisation of power, humility in officialdom and modesty in governance

Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, surveyor, banker and politician, commands great power and immense influence as governor of Lagos, the most populous state in the country.

In the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, he may attract envy as the governor of the economic capital of Nigeria.

Like his colleagues, he is shielded by immunity.

Governors are also strengthened somehow by the power of coercion. As controllers of undisclosed security votes, and other state resources. they elicit jealousy from detractors, particularly the opposition.

So powerful are governors in some states that they try to submerge the Houses of Assembly and the judiciary as if they are an extension of the executive arm. Critics have often decried that arrogance of power and executive recklessness.

But, Sanwo-Olu appears to be poles apart. He is conscious of the transience of political power and the limit of authority, which also underscore the inevitability of a tenure eclipse after four or eight years of political control.

Having operated on the corridor of power for unbroken 17 years as special adviser, acting commissioner, commissioner and managing director of a corporation, his election as governor was the crowning of his political career. But, the future is still bright.

He has been exercising power as chief executive since May 29. To many, power is sweet and alluring. However, conscious of where he was coming from, he is exercising caution.

Sanwo-Olu presides over a mini-Nigeria. Lagos is a highly complex and politically sophisticated state. It is a blend of diversity. The Lagos State House is not rosy all the time. The governor has to be at alert all the times. Sanwo-Olu affects, just as he is affected, by the forces of socio-political pressure.

The governor is ‘using’ power, based on a constitutional mandate. But a wise man, he does not want power to use him. The Lagos helmsman is not oblivious of the strength and weakness of his predecessor, and the perception of the people and the political family that midwife his administration about his place in history.

In a society where politicians, especially elected and appointed officers, relish being addressed as “Honourable Councillor, Honourable Chairman, Honourable Commissioner, Honourable Special Adviser, and Honourable parliamentarians, Sanwo-Olu wants to be an exception. He said he should not be addressed as His Excellency but as Mr. Governor.

The great lesson in leadership this season in Lagos is that Sanwo-Olu is trying to create a new standard of governance by depersonalising power. He is simply attempting to make a difference by putting on a garment of humility and decorum, by refocusing his agenda for good governance as dictated by his party manifestos and campaign promises, and by rededicating himself to the service of Lagosians.

Many may erroneously think that the governor is playing to the gallery.

But, to the discerning, Sanwo-Olu has prescribed for himself, or impose on himself, certain rules, conditions and restraints, which can always prick his conscience, whip him to the line and make him ponder on the unavoidability of life after office in the future.

In his view, history and posterity must be the ultimate judge. Therefore, what the governor of Lagos should be remembered for is not the arrogance of power, but the good legacies he leaves behind.

Sanwo-Olu is sensitive to the greatest encumbrance, which is the culture of praise-singing and unmerited adulation of big men in power by bread and butter partisan supporters and uncritical followers whose pretentious, false and misleading activities only draw wool across the eyes of unsuspected leaders.

For him, this is a moment of sober reflection. Five months after, the euphoria of victory at the poll may have withered. Reality may have dawned on Sanwo-Olu that governance is not a tea party. Time waits for nobody; it is always running out.

The governor inherited, not only the pecks of office but a monumental burden. In the last one year, Lagos has had the worst of times. The heap of refuse had returned the Centre of Excellence to the pre-1999 era. Traffic snarl accentuated by bad roads were an eyesore. During the raining season, it was not possible to quickly fix the roads. As the potholes were being filled, they were washed away by the heavy downpour. Predictably, impatient Lagosians were about grumbling.

Sanwo-Olu was concerned. He put on his thinking cap. Contractors were summoned and mobilised to site, not for symbolism. The budget he had just presented last week when it is implemented, will resolve some of the infrastructure challenges. Lagos will become a huge construction site as from next year.

Although his first 100 days were action-packed, and discerning Lagosians hailed his focus, resilience and resolve to make an impact, the governor only believed he was on the weighing scale.

Now, having conducted a realistic self-assessment, Sanwo-Olu surprisingly declared that he should not be addressed as ‘His Excellency,’ describing the prefix as a mockery of the mortal being. Only God can be addressed that way, he said.

To observers, the general interpretation given to that style was that the governor can only adjust to the title, following his conviction that he has accomplished many “excellent things” in the course of working relentlessly for the people, with time.

Sanwo-Olu observed that the office of governor may have been uncritically celebrated as the paragon of excellence, a temple of perception and a throne of purity.

In his Twitter, the governor adduced reasons for dropping the prefix.

Sanwo-Olu said: “Fellow Lagosians, I have come to the conclusion that for us to change the narrative of governance, we have to strike down this seeming symbol of executive arrogance that commands popular obeisance and underlines the democratic role of citizens as the master of those they have elected and appointed to serve.

“This demi-god mystique spreads over the entire machinery of the executive arm of government, symbolising an authoritarian disposition on the governed.

“It has defined the orientation of the elected and appointed persons who are paid from the taxes of the people to see themselves as oppressors who can do no wrong and must be served, rather than serving the people.

“Whatever might have been the reason for this myth, let us be honest, the office is occupied by a mortal who has been called upon to serve the electorate with humility and sincerity. The office of governor is a public trust that calls for sacrifice, modesty and willingness to add value to the lives of the people.

“Only God, the Almighty Creator, the protector is the Most Excellent. No man can share this external quality. Henceforth, I wish to be addressed simply as Mr Governor, a title that will constantly remind me that I have been chosen out of my so many compatriots to lead a collective savage of our political economy.

“It is a salutation that sanitised the paraphernalia of office and reminds us of all of our imperfections and mortality. To give official effect to this announcement, I shall issue an executive order that formally ensures full compliance with the new policy.”

Sanwo-Olu is just trying to maintain a clean break from the past. From time immemorial, the prefix, ‘Excellency, ‘ has been an honorific title given to certain top officers of sovereign state who are isolated from the pack, and representatives of the country in a foreign land. It is a mark of class, status and distinction.

According to historians, those who are entitled to the title retain the right to the honour or courtesy throughout their lifetime.

As incumbent officeholders, the title, which is attached to the particular office, is only held for the duration of the office.

In Bible times, Luke, the physician and disciple of Jesus Christ, addressed his epistle of Luke and the Act of Apostles to the “Most Excellent Theophilus.” The personality of that Theophilus cannot be ascertained. Biblical writers offered two opinions or assumptions; he was either a high ranking officer or governor, or as the name connotes, a “lover of God.”

In contemporary Nigeria, the title was cherished by colonial governors, who were representatives of the King or Queen of England. Then, while on tour of the hinterlands, they were carried on a mobile platform. They never walked on the ground like the natives.

Before and after independence, early political pathfinder, particularly Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and Premiers Awo, Zik, Bello and Osadebe, were so addressed. Successive military and civilian Heads of State and governors also inherited the prefix.

Today, those addressed as “Excellencies” are the president, vice president, governors, deputy governors and ambassadors.

In the not too distant past, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu tried to drop the title, saying he preferred to be addressed as the “Servant Leader.” Today, the anti-graft agency is still after him.

Also, in Kogi State, former House of Assembly Speaker Clarence Olafemi rejected being addressed as “His Excellency,” when he became the acting governor.

Historically, many Excellencies have bastardised the title by not living to its billing. At the helm of affairs, they perceived power as an avenue for primitive accumulation. They acted as lords of the manor. What is the worth of His Excellency who cannot be a role model in probity, transparency, rule of law and due process?

Military Excellencies, through their tradition of coups, crippled orderly political evolution. They murdered democracy, dethroned the federal principle and imposed Unitarianism. Also, they were reluctant to relinquish power to legitimate civilian authorities.

His Excellency the Evil Genius converted Nigeria into a political laboratory for dubious experimentation. He made history as the annuller of the best presidential election.

His Excellency the dreadful Abacha was a terror, who caged Nigeria for five years.

Once, His Excellency the President of the Second Republic won, or rigged, by moon slide.

His Excellency the Ota farmer once described the election as a war; a do or die affair.

Today, several Excellencies the former governors are in jail or on the way to jail. This makes the prefix very boring. These may be examples that are discouraging to the Lagos governor.

Whether he drops the prefix or not, Sanwo-Olu ‘s place in history will also be assessed by his performance later.

The import of his declaration is not lost on the students of the morality of power. If power is moral, then, there can be a limit to political obligation. And here lies the supremacy of the people’s power, which is collective, comprehensive and more potent, over the governor’s mandate, which in popular valuation, is delegated to him by the people. The greatest power of the populace is the power of choice, change and affirmation of leadership.

The governor of Lagos has conveyed the impression that he would not entertain frivolities, deceit, prevarication and praise singers whose pastime is adulation of power.

But, his name can only be written in gold, if he always connects with the people through diligent service.

But, does Sanwo-Olu not deserve the title? So far, according to observers, he is on course in Lagos. Having set up his cabinet of talents, the administration is not sleeping.

As part of activities marking his first 100 days, the governor commissioned the Olusosun Dumpsite Building. The facility is meant for the training and re-training of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) staff. He has started getting rid of the heap of refuse that has dented the image of the state. Through his intervention, he has also started creating jobs in the sub-sector.

Sanwo-Olu has launched the State Blue Box Recycling at Simpson Transfer Loading Station, Lagos Island. It is part of the new initiatives and strategies to ensure a clean environment.

During the campaigns, Sanwo-Olu had expressed concern over the environmental condition of the city-state. The traffic snarl starred him in the face. In response to people’s yearnings, the governor signed an executive order on indiscriminate refuse dumping, traffic management and public works.

The order on indiscriminate refuse duping is being vigorously enforced. Information and Strategy Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso said the move has restored sanity. Also, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has been directed by the governor to operate a minimum of two shifts until 11.pm daily. The Office of Drainage Services in the Ministry of Environment has been directed to embark on aggressive cleaning of the secondary and tertiary drainage system to ensure the free flow of rainwater during the raining season.

Sanwo-Olu has directed LASTMA not to spare offenders on the road. The officials are also to shun indiscipline, particularly bribery and corruption. Since motivation is critical to efficiency, the governor has increased their allowances by a hundred per cent.

The filling of potholes on the roads has contributed to the easing of movement and reduced traffic snarl.

When he assumed the reins, Sanwo-Olu was inundated by complaints that the Apapa gridlock was wreaking havoc. He appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state. The federal and state governments put heads together on how to end the logjam. He was in the company of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who was on inspection of the axis. The governor said: “Fixing the road in Apapa, completing the trailer park and deploying technology solutions that ensure we never have to experience the trailers nightmare again are critical for Lagos and the Federal Government.” The situation is better today.

Sanwo-Olu is not a vendetta-seeking governor. There is much to accomplish instead of succumbing to self-distraction. He is promoting the culture of inclusiveness. He also believes in a motivated workforce. Thus, apart from regular payment of salaries, he has fulfilled his promise of better welfare packages for a civil servant.

Sanwo-Olu has mobilised security agencies to sustain the prevailing atmosphere of security, curtail or prevent cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping and pipeline vandalism. The governor has held many meetings with security chiefs, with the permanent aim of securing Lagos. He has also mobilised traditional rulers, community leaders and community development associations to contribute their quota to intelligence gathering that is critical to security.

The governor is now recruiting more teachers for public primary and secondary schools.

Much is expected on Sanwo-Olu in the next three and a half years. His programme of action gives a ray of hope. During his inauguration, he promised to work for a “greater Lagos” through the implementation of “six pillars of development agenda.”

The pillars, which he described as the framework that encapsulates his vision, include traffic management and transportation, health and environment, education and technology, making Lagos as a 21st-century economy, entertainment and tourism, and security and governance.

Sanwo-Olu said: “These six pillars of development represent our response to the yearnings of the people. They constitute the foundations that must be restored for future generations. Should we fulfil our promise and deliver on these pillars, we are most confident that we would have succeeded in setting Lagos on a new trajectory of economic growth and development that would be unprecedented in our entire history.”

Above all, Sanwo-Olu is loyal to his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), its values, ethos and leadership.

 Olatunde Odebiyi

 

OPERA, the Norwegian browser developer and leader on AI driven digital content, has announced that Opera News, the most downloaded news app in Nigeria, is expanding its platform with the introduction of  Opera News Hub. The hub is a new online media platform that helps authors and bloggers produce their original online content and share it with the fast-growing Opera user base of more than 350 million users worldwide and over 120 million users in the African countries.

Opera News Hub connects seamlessly with other Opera mobile applications, such as the popular Opera Mini browser and the standalone news app Opera News. It allows content creators who choose to distribute original content in Opera News Hub have a unique opportunity to reach a new international audience, increase their number of followers on social media channels, and run their own online publication across the various Opera mobile products.

“With Opera News Hub, we are enabling thousands of Nigerian authors and bloggers to explore their creativity in a collaborative online media platform based on generated content,” said Scot Eritemu, Product Manager for Opera News. “Opera News Hub also guarantees premium content placement across the Opera mobile apps, allowing them to be discovered by a large international audience of over 350 million Opera users.”

The statement announcing the news hub explained that: “The user interface of Opera News Hub is easy to use and allows content creators to set up their online content in minutes. Once the login and registration process is completed, Opera News Hub allows you to create an article where you can edit the text and images according to the goals of your publication.

“Content creators that are already using other social media platforms to share their content can link their social media profiles to their own website in Opera News Hub to increase their traffic and profile views.

“The Opera News Hub platform also allows authors and bloggers to keep track of their publication traffic, helping them better understand the topics that their audiences are primarily interested in. The platform’s dashboard displays detailed information about the number of impressions, visualisations and shares that their articles have. This information becomes valuable for content creators who are searching for detailed information that they can use to improve the monetisation of their online content.”

Read Also: Opera Mini introduces offline file sharing

The company added: “Opera has great ambitions to continue leading the digital transformation of Africa. Last year, Opera announced its Africa First strategy, wherein the company committed to launch its new products and services in Africa before anywhere else in the world. This strategy was set up with the ambition of contributing to the growth of the African digital economy and speed up internet adoption across the continent.

“The inclusion of Opera News Hub into Opera’s product portfolio is part of Opera’s strategy to expand its products beyond mobile apps. Opera News Hub joins the recently announced online content and marketing platforms Opera Ads, OLeads and OList. With these digital content and marketing platforms, African businesses and content creators now have better opportunities to interact with their audiences and grow in popularity by expanding their online presence.

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“Opera is a global web innovator. Opera’s browsers, news products and fintech solutions are the trusted choice of more than 350 million people worldwide. Opera is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange (OPRA).”