The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EU

  • INEC uncovers plan to use food vendors for vote-buying

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had uncovered plans by some political actors to use food vendors around polling units for vote-buying in the forthcoming general elections.

    Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this when he received a delegation European Union (EU) Observation Team, led by Chief Observer, Mrs Maria Arena, on a visit to INEC on Monday, in Abuja.

    Yakubu said that in INEC’s determination to improve elections and ensure that votes counted, the commission had taken steps to address the disturbing trend of vote-buying by politicians.

    He said that the steps included modification of the administration of polling units to make it difficult for voters to expose their marked ballot papers on day of election.

    He said that the commission had also introduced partial ban on the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices by voters while in the voting cubicles.

    “We are also introducing the rolling and flattening of ballot papers by voters on day of election.

    “We are training our election duty staff, in addition to voter education and sensitization, on this new innovation. We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the sanctity of the ballot.’’

    The chairman explained that political actors planned to use food vendors “around polling units with large voter populations as collection points for cash-for-votes as well as other forms of material inducement to voters on election day’’.

    “We are aware of this trick. It will not work,” he, however, said.

    Yakubu also denied the claim that INEC had outsourced the recruitment of election duty staff to partisan actors.

    He said that the Commission had established clear criteria for recruiting its ad hoc staff and Collation and Returning Officers, which, according to him, has been the practice over several electoral cycles.

    “In addition, there is a clearly established system of vetting all election duty staff before they are engaged.

    “Therefore, the claim that the Commission has outsourced the recruitment of election duty staff to partisan actors is the usual allegation on the eve of elections and should be disregarded.

    “With 25 days to the 2019 General Elections, the Commission’s attention is firmly focused on the conduct of credible elections. We will not be distracted into a fatuous debate.’’

    Yakubu stated that complaints arising from the collection of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were being addressed.

    “We are committed to ensuring that all voter cards are made available for collection by registered voters who should collect the cards in person.

    “There will be no collection by proxy.”

    Read Also: We are not under pressure to rig – INEC

    He said that the commission had enhanced the functionality of the Smart Card Reader that would be used for the elections.

    “Clause 10 of the Regulations and Guidelines recently released by the Commission make the use of Card Readers mandatory. It is an offence to accredit a voter by any other means.”

    Yakubu described the EU as one of the long-standing partners of INEC in deepening Nigeria’s electoral democracy, through the EU-Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN).

    “We have implemented all the recommendations made by the EU Mission in 2015 that are within the powers of the Commission to do.

    “These include simultaneous accreditation and voting system which we introduced on Jan. 9, 2016 and used it to seamlessly conduct off-season elections into 194 constituencies.

    “We have similarly introduced the continuous registration of voters. Over a period of 16 months, from April 27, 2017 to Aug. 3, 2018, over 14 million new voters were registered,” he said.

    He assured the EU that INEC preparation for the 2019 general election was on course.

    Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Arena, had said that EU would deploy 40 observers to all states of the federation during the elections.

    Arena added that the EU would also have its Parliamentary observation mission on ground during the exercise.

    “We will issue two preliminary reports after the elections. We will work strongly with all the stakeholders of this country.

    “We will also have the final reports two months after the elections, with recommendations.

    “We really appreciate the work that INEC has done with the previous recommendations after the 2015 elections,” Arena said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yakubu also received a delegation of the ECOWAS Observers Mission led by former Chairperson of Electoral Commission, Ghana, Ms Charlotte Osei.

    Osei said that the mission was to let INEC know that ECOWAS would be deploying long-term and short-term observer missions for the elections.

    She added that the mission would focus on legal, media, operations, gender and disabilities during the elections.

    NAN

  • EU court faults Africa emergency fund

    European Court of Auditor has faulted the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa. It said   its objectives are too broad to efficiently steer action across Africa, and the European Commission has encountered difficulties in measuring the extent to which the fund has achieved its objectives said auditors.

    The Fund is a flexible tool for providing assistance in areas such as food, education, health, security and sustainable development.

    The EUTF for Africa was created as an emergency trust fund in 2015 to foster long-term stability and address the root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa. The fund currently pools €4.1 billion and supports activities in 26 countries across three regions of Africa, the Sahel and Lake Chad, the Horn of Africa and North of Africa. The auditors assessed whether the fund is well designed and implemented. They examined projects in Niger and Libya the countries with largest fund allocations in their respective regions.

    The auditors also claim to have found weaknesses in its implementation and note that projects face similar delays to traditional development aid.

    A member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the report, Bettina Jakobsen,  said considering the unprecedented challenges and the budget at stake, the fund should be more focused and steer the support towards specific actions likely to produce measurable impact unlike what is practicable now.

  • EU pledges $1b to tackle human trafficking in Nigeria, others

    •Nigeria drops as main contributor of illegal migrants

    THE European Union (EU) has agreed to commit $1 billion to support institutions and create job opportunities for the youth as a way of discouraging irregular migration in Nigeria and other African countries.

    The news came as the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration appeared to be yielding results as the EU said Nigeria has dropped from its position as a main contributor of illegal migrants in Europe to sixth position.

    Ambassador of EU to Nigeria and ECOWAS Mr. Ketil Karlsen broke the news in Benin City during the launch of Coordination Matrix at the 2nd Roundtable dialogue on Managing Migration through Development Programme (MMDP).

    Ketil said there was no reason to relapse in the successes recorded against the scourge.

    The EU Ambassador, however, warned that no fund would be made available to any state operating in isolation without involving local stakeholders, adding that a holistic approach and legal framework has been identified to capture the return of illegal migration via investment in migration institution, youths and jobs.

    Hailing Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki for launching the coordination matrix, Ketil assured that he would ensure that Nigeria and Edo State in particular get a fair share of the EU financial aides to Africa.

    Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, who was represented by the Director of Research and Programme Development, Mr. Godwin Morka, urged stakeholders to empower returnees by making them language translators as a way of boosting the tourism industry.

    Dame Okah-Donli said the Edo State’s model should be studied and replicated in other states.

    She noted that the state government was quite proactive in nipping the menace in the bud, noting that the coordinated approach and the institutional reforms set up to tackle the menace helped in large measure to restore hope to victims of human trafficking in the state.

    Governor Obaseki, who called for more synergy among relevant stakeholders in tackling the problems of human trafficking and illegal migration, said he has entered into collaboration with key partners, which has significantly changed the narrative as regards the fight against the scourge.

    Obaseki said he would tackle the problem of human trafficking and illegal migration by constantly finding a common ground and seeking more collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyema, who was represented by Martin Eze, appealed to foreign partners, especially countries in EU, to smoothen their visa issuance process so that eligible Nigerians, who have genuine reason to travel, are not frustrated.

     

  • EU: No preferred candidate, party for 2019

    The European Union (EU) has committed over €100 million to the conduct of elections in Nigeria since 1999.

    Its electoral administration and communications expert, Manji Wilson, stressed that the EU, despite the huge investment, has no preferred candidate or party for the forthcoming general elections.

    Speaking yesterday at a capacity building for journalists in Abuja, Wilson also said that EU provides technical and other form of supports to the electoral body.

    He, however, said that the support was not because of any personal gains but part of the global agreement to support partners.

    According to him: “Beginning from 1999 till this time that we speak, the EU has contributed over €100 million to support election processes in Nigeria through various donations.

    “However, despite the donations, the EU does not have any special interest in any candidate or any political party.”

    Speaking on involvement of youths at the recent concluded party primaries, he said: “Over 1000 of them across the country indicated interest to contest the 2019 general elections.

    “As many that indicated interests were encouraged but unfortunately, the exorbitant price of the Expression of Interest and Nomination form could not afford it.

    He also added the readiness of INEC to engage all stakeholders have helped in bringing a lot of steady improvement.

     

  • Leah Sharibu: Student theologians urge EU, US, UK to intervene

    The newly elected First Chairman of National Theological Students Body, Mr. Okorie Chukwuemeka, has called on the European Union, United Kingdom and United States of America, to support Nigeria’s efforts to secure the release of Leah Shaibu and others in captivity.

    Chukwuemeka, of World Harvest Bible College and Seminary, Calabar, Cross River State, in his inaugural address, demanded that the plight of the girl should be of concern not only to the Christians but to all countries and organisations of conscience.

    In his speech, Okorie said “we are concerned because we are students of the Word of God, and we also know that people in captivity have the right to move freely and choose who to worship”.

    He called on youths to know their rights, develop strong morals and seek national unity and peace.

    The chairman of the student theologians warned upcoming Christian leaders to avoid heresy and worldliness.

  • UNDP, EU engage 600 displaced persons in Borno

    The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and European Union (EU) have engaged over 600 persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in environmental sanitation programme in Borno, the Head of UNDP North-East sub-office, Mizuho Yokoi, has said.

    Yokoi made this known yestersday at the inauguration of Sustainable Waste Management and Environmental Protection project in Maiduguri.

    She said the programme was designed to fast track community clean-up, waste management and sanitation services in the state.

    She added that the project, which was being implemented with the support of the EU, focused on empowerment and providing means of livelihood to persons in insurgency affected communities.

    Yokoi explained that the UN agency engaged persons affected by the conflict in emergency employment to undertake waste and drains clearance, as well as provide sanitation services in selected communities.

    The UNDP official noted that sequel to massive displacement in countryside and increased population in Maiduguri metropolis, solid waste and debris from the conflict had accumulated, thereby, exposing residents to pollution and health risks.

    She said: “Through partnership with EU, over eight million Dollars will be invested in activities aimed at ridding the region of debris both from the conflict, reconstruction and cleaning up communities in Maiduguri, Bama and Biu local government areas of the state.

    She added that “the project is part of UNDP’s early recovery initiative to resuscitate households’ source of livelihood that will sustain communities beyond humanitarian aid. Beneficiaries of the intervention include Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their hosts in communities. Income generated from opportunities like this will help families to meet household needs, including feeding, medication and children’s school fees. Previous beneficiaries of similar opportunities have used income earned to start small businesses and support other community members.”

    Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Kurt Cornelis, said the union was implementing a three-year environment and livelihood support programme in Borno.

    Cornelis said about 12,000 persons were projected to benefit from the programme in the conflict affected areas of the state.

    He explained that “it is our hope that the processes and procedures of the implementation will contribute significantly to attitudinal change in caring for the environment in general.”

    Borno State Deputy Governor Alhaji Usman Durkwa, described the project as ‘timely’, saying it would provide jobs to the teeming unemployed youth, enhance waste management and control environmental degradation.

  • EU lawmakers move to ban throw-away plastics

    European Union ( EU )lawmakers moved on Wednesday to ban widely-used, throw-away plastics such as straws, bags and cotton buds, putting the burden on manufacturers to recycle more in an effort to clear up ocean pollution.

    Under the proposal, overwhelmingly backed by the European Parliament, some single-used plastic products with readily available alternatives would be banned by 2021.

    EU states would be obliged to recycle 90 per cent of plastic bottles by 2025, while producers would help to cover costs of waste management.

    EU lawmakers added very light-weight plastic bags, polystyrene fast-food containers.

    Read Also: Wife to Court: My husband cannot sexually satisfy me

    The soldiers added products made of oxo-degradable plastics, which critics say do not fully break down, to the list proposed by the EU executive earlier this year.

    The EU’s final rules still need to be approved in talks with member states.

  • U.S., EU, UK observer team concerned about report on poll

    The United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union observer team said yesterday it would investigate reports of irregularities in the Osun state supplementary governorship election.

    A member of the team told reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, that they heard about irregularities, harassment and interference by inappropriate persons in the election.

    “We are very concerned by these reports and will be checking the facts with stakeholders.

    We call on all stakeholders to remain calm,” he said.

    Another observer group, the Centre for Democracy and Development, said: “In the light of these anti-democratic acts, which have undermined the sanctity of the ballot therefore, we hold strongly the view that the re-run poll of Thursday, September 27, 2018 does not meet up with the minimum standards for free, fair and credible elections.”

  • EU urges security agencies to be neutral

    THE European Union (EU) has expressed concern over the recent invasion of the National Assembly by heavily armed security operatives in hoods.

    EU stressed the importance of the law enforcement agencies staying neutral, while advocating for independence of institutions in line with constitutional provisions.

    In a statement in Abuja, the EU Heads of Mission also posited that the coming 2019 general elections are vital for the country’s peace and stability.

    The statement reads: “Heads of Missions have noted with concern recent examples of interference in the democratic process by law enforcement services – the most recent case being the barring of access to the National Assembly on August 7.

    “The EU is fully committed to supporting democracy in Nigeria, and it commends the Federal Government’s swift action to protect the independence of the National Assembly as a critical pillar of democracy.

    “The EU reiterates the importance of all law enforcement services staying neutral and ensuring that independent institutions can operate in line with their constitutional mandates, free from interference and intimidation.

    “The upcoming general elections in 2019 are vital in ensuring national stability, peace and prosperity for all Nigerians. It is for the Nigerian people to decide the outcome of the elections, and the EU calls upon all stakeholders in Nigeria to play their part so that voters can make their decision through a free, fair, credible and peaceful election process.”

     

     

  • U.S and EU agree to avoid trade clash

    The United States has agreed to work towards lowering trade barriers with the European Union, Donald Trump said on Wednesday after a meeting with European Commission chief, Jean-Claude Juncker.

    The two agreed to launch a “new phase” in relations and work towards zero tariffs, the U.S president said.

    The BBC reports they also agreed to increase trade in services and agriculture, including greater U.S soy bean exports to the EU.

    The agreements come amid heightened tensions between the U.S and EU.

    The two leaders defused what had threatened to become a trade war between the two blocs, fuelled by tariffs set by Mr. Trump on European steel and aluminium exports, and threats to expand the tariffs to cars.

    The relationship between the U.S and Europe had been further frayed by Mr. Trump’s apparent fondness for the Russian President Vladimir Putin and attacks on NATO and the EU.