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  • Immigration to foreigners: vote and go to jail

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has reiterated its warning to foreign nationals to keep off voting areas during elections or face prosecution, deportation.

    King Ekpedeme, the head of the service in Lagos gave the warning during a phone chat with our Correspondent on Friday.

    He said that the NIS had in the past five months engaged leaders of foreign nationals especially those from the Economic Community of West and Central African States (ECOWAS), (ECCAS) to speak to their people on the need to stay out of Nigeria’s elections.

    Ekpedeme also said the service had retrieved several Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) from none Nigerians, adding that it has emplaced mechanisms to forestall foreigners from taking part in the exercise.

    He said: “Lagosians should not be worried about the possibility of foreign nationals voting in this election.

    Already, the borders have been closed today and the NIS had been retrieving PVCs from non-Nigerians.

    “Also, we have had several engagements with the leaders of our brothers from neighbouring countries who have spoken to their nationals and assured us they will not come out in election.

    “We have also made it clear that anyone found will be prosecuted and afterwards deported to their country. I want to believe that the message has been well received by them. This election is for Nigerians only and none Nigerians should stay in their homes.“

  • Slain prisons boss buried in Lagos

    The remains of the retired Deputy Controller-General of Prisons, Dr Adewale Oloyede, have been buried in Volts and Garden at Ikoyi, Lagos, a Nigerian Prisons Service official has said.

    Mr Francis Enobore, the Public Relations Officer of the service, said in a statement in Abuja that the remains were buried on Thursday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that he was killed by gunmen alongside his orderly, Michael Yusuf on Feb. 1, near Osara Town in Kogi while on their way to Lagos.

    According to the PRO, testimonies of late Dr Oloyede, as he was fondly called, were given, with many saying that he personified patriotism and honesty.

    Enobore said that the ceremony, which commenced at the Olive Tree Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was witnessed by a number of dignitaries who turned out to pay their last respect to the fallen senior citizen.

    He, however, added that the officiating minister, while admonishing the audience to live a life of testimony in honour of the creator, said that the departed Oloyede ran a fruitful life and would be remembered for his labour of love to mankind.

    The Controller General of Prisons, Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, in his condolence message to the family, said the late officer was a disciplined and hardworking man who used every opportunity he had to reach out to the vulnerable in the society.

    ”He pioneered the establishment of a comprehensive health care structure for prisoners.

    ”He also remained irrevocably committed to sustaining improved condition of living for the inmates,” he added.

    Ahmed said that Oloyede continued to demonstrate his passion for the prisons service even after retirement in various areas, including the National Stakeholders Committee (NSC) on Prisons Reformation and Decongestion where he was a member.

    Oloyede was the Head of Health and Social Welfare Services in the Nigerian Prisons Service for several years before retiring in 2007.

    He was also the President of National Association of Retired Para-military Officers (NARPO).

  • Lagos gets e-platform to fight corruption

    •Ambode: portal ready in three weeks

    The Lagos State Government will activate its e-procurement platform in three weeks to eliminate corruption in public procurement, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said yesterday.

    In an address he sent to the second Lagos State Annual Public Procurement Summit, held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Ambode said the portal would be activated with the “key” Ministries of Works, Health and Education.

    He was represented by the Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, at the summit, which theme was: “Entrenching transparency and prudence in the management of government’s procurement process: The responsibility of stakeholders”.

    “By the end of 2019, 80 per cent of other ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) would have been brought on board. It is projected that by the end of 2020, e-procurement will be fully implemented at all levels of public governance, including local governments,” Ambode said.

    He described the summit’s theme as apt, saying it speaks on the need for integrity, “which is the combination of honesty, accountability, transparency, fairness, self-discipline and probity, to take its course in the public procurement process.”

    The governor said the summit was a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on emerging issues and challenges and come up with ideas that would align the state public procurement law and implementation with global best practices.

    “Apart from being the process by which the government contracts infrastructure, supplies and professional services; transparent procurement is central to expenditure management of any government.

    “Thus, there is an urgent need to ensure the procurement process is transparent, efficient and effective, in order to curb wastage and misappropriation of public funds and resources,” he said.

    Ambode said before the coming of the public procurement law, corruption thrived in the procurement of goods, works and services.

    “However, the public procurement law has entrenched clear and unambiguous governing rules on public procurement. A full and committed implementation of the governing rules on public procurement reduces public procurement malpractices, uncompleted contracts or unexecuted contracts,” he said.

    The governor said his administration was working to ensure that the procurement process was transparent, adding that this was part of the reason the platform was being activated.

    The responsibility of entrenching transparency and prudence in the public procurement sector, he said, did not rest solely on the government.

    “It is a collective responsibility which requires the efforts of stakeholders, including contractors/suppliers and non-governmental organisations.”

    Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (LSPPA) General Manager Mr. Fatai Onafowote said public procurement had come to stay.

    “Public procurement is about total life cycle of the goods, works and services to be procured, using public fund. It is about planning, contract formation, contract management and disposal of public asset,” he said.

     

  • Polls: Be peaceful, shun violence, Ambode tells Lagosians

    With just two days to the presidential/national assembly elections which comes up on Saturday, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has called on Lagosians to conduct themselves peacefully especially at the polling centers and shun any act of violence or misconduct that could threaten the exercise.

    In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, on Wednesgovernor, the governor said the nation was on the threshold of history as the outcome of the election would be a defining moment in Nigeria’s political and economic landscape.

    He said it was important for residents, especially the electorate to see the election as one that they must not sit on the fence but come out to exercise their franchise albeit in a peaceful and orderly manner, devoid of rancour and all forms of electoral violence.

    “As we prepare for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, I appeal to every Lagosian to ensure that the peace we have enjoyed in the last four years in the State is replicated across all the polling units/voting centres on Saturday.

    Read Also: Ambode hails Senator Tinubu for her ‘life changing projects’

    “Your PVC is your voice and it is what you would need to cast your vote. I urge you to come out, be orderly, take your place in the queue and avoid any form of violence that can mar the process or put the lives of our peace loving citizens at risk,” he said.

    While stressing that he would be casting his vote for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Presidential election and other candidates for the National Assembly elections, the Governor said Lagos in the last four years had benefitted immensely from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    He listed some of the key capital projects which the State had initiated with the support of the Federal Government to include the release of Oshodi-Muritala Muhammed Airport (MMA) road for reconstruction; release of land space in Oshodi for the construction of the interchange and terminus; release of Oshodi- Abule Egba lane for BRT and the release of the Presidential Lodge, Marina for the Lagos History Centre project.

    The Governor also mentioned the ongoing road infrastructure works in Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Badagry-Seme and Ikorodu axis as other intervention projects that President Buhari expeditiously approved to be carried out in the State.

    “The fact is that since 1999, Lagos has never benefitted from the Federal Government under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, the way it has benefited in the last three and half years. Most of the interventions that we have carried out have made life more meaningful to the average resident of the State.

    “Beyond reasonable doubt, President Buhari has shown his love for Lagos and under his administration, Lagos has thrived. It is important that we continue on this trajectory for another four years,” the Governor said.

  • Polls: Police to deploy gunboats to riverine communities

    Ahead of Saturday’s elections, the police have allayed fears of possible attacks by militants and miscreants in riverine communities in Lagos, assuring residents of maximum security.

    Concerns have been raised by residents of Ijedodo, Ijegun, Ishawo, Epe and other Lagos riverine communities plagued by activities of militants, and miscreants who usually capitalised on the inaccessibility of the areas to operate.

    But Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu Wednesday assured the residents of their safety and security before, during and after the elections, noting that gunboats would be deployed for constant waterway patrols.

    Read Also: 2019: Police warn against discouraging Nigerians from voting

    Reacting to a text message from our Correspondent on how the command intended to cover voters in riverine areas, Muazu said they have been captured in the operation order.

    He said the areas would be properly manned and patrolled by operatives the Marine Police.

    “Our operation order covers the riverine areas to be properly manned and patrolled by the Marine Police. We have serviceable gunboats for this purpose,” he said.

  • Atiku promises to make Lagos Africa’s industrial hub

    PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar yesterday promised to revive the country’s ailing economy and make Lagos the commercial capital of Africa.

    Address a cheering crowd at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, venue of the PDP presidential rally, Atiku said as a Lagos boy, he passed through the hustle and bustle of the Centre of Excellence.

    The PDP candidate added he had never reneged on any promise, noting he would restructure the country and ensure true federalism.

    A vote for him, he said, is a vote for job security and end to unemployment.

    “I am not like the All Progressive Congress (APC) that makes empty promises. I promise Nigerians that I will restructure the country; I will do it.

    “I promise to create jobs, I will do it. Today, the country is writhing in insecurity. Initially, insecurity was limited to the Northeast, but had spread to the Northwest and Northcentral.

    “I promise to reverse all these trends. I promise to work with the National Assembly, protect the judiciary and respect the rule of law, if I become the President.

    “You also saw for yourself when President Muhammadu Buhari came to Lagos, all the trailers disappeared on the Ojuelegba and Apapa bridges, but immediately he left, they come back. It means the traffic issue in Lagos can be addressed.”

    PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus said the party was sure of victory on Saturday. He noted that the trend of the PDP rallies across the country was favourable.

    “Today, we are in the Centre of Excellence and commercial nerve of Nigeria. You saw what happened in Kano, Katsina, the Northwest, Northcentral and Southwest. Everywhere PDP campaigns, the whole place was shut down.

    “The man the PDP is putting forward is competent and can do the job. He will bring his full ability to rescue the country. Our financial and business climate will boom again.”

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said a vote for Atiku is a vote for better economy and better life. He noted that when Atiku is given the mandate on Saturday, the country would start a new journey for progress.

    He said the PDP candidate had the capacity to revamp the economy and hence, create massive jobs for citizens.

    Saraki claimed that the APC government had brought sufferings to the country, urging Lagos residents to reject the ruling party at the polls.

    Atiku’s running mate Peter Obi said the PDP was the best bet for the country’s progress and the citizens’ well-being.

    He urged Nigerians to cast their votes for the party on February 16 and March 2 “for a better Nigeria”.

    Agbaje, in his speech, said the PDP and Atiku had solutions to all the problems bedevilling the country.

    He said it was time Lagos State freed itself from what he called the political hegemony of people with vested interests and embrace a government that truly cares.

    He said if elected, he would deliver service and provides the real governance that residents deserved.

    Director-General, Atiku Campaign Organisation Gbenga Daniel said some Yoruba, who had been in the forefront of restructuring have backed out.

    He noted that Atiku was committed to ensure the country was made better, noting that it would start manifesting immediately he was elected.

    The Lagos PDP candidates contesting for the various offices were presented with the flag of the party at the campaign.

    Some hoodlums attempted to disrupt the rally.  A fight broke out among a group of miscreants, who found their way into the arena.

    The incident, which happened at about 1.50pm, saw the miscreants throwing punches and chairs at each other. It was not immediately clear what caused the fight.

    Those around the place fled, as policemen chased the hoodlums around the premises.

    It happened when flags were being presented to candidates for National Assembly positions.

    This was despite the heavy security presence as everyone was body searched before being allowed into the TBS before the event began.

    However, some boys were seen smoking within TBS, while drink sellers were allowed to sell assorted alcohol.

    Also present at the event are former PDP Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George; Atiku’s wife, Titi; former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose; Ogun State PDP governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu and former Kogi State Governor Idris Wada.

    Other are former Minister of State Defence Erelu Olusola Obada, PDP chieftain Doyin Okupe, former Majority Leader House of Representatives Mulikat Adeola, Senator Ben Bruce, Southwest Vice Chairman PDP Eddy Olafeso, Oba Olateru Olagbegi, Lagos PDP Chieftain Adedeji Doherty, former Minister of Integration and Cooperation in Africa Abimbola Ogunkelu, among others.

  • AFAR: technology critical to forensic accounting research

    Technology is a key component of forensic accounting research and ongoing fight against graft in the country, a group, the Association of Forensic Accounting Research (AFAR), has said.

    Its global President, Dr Godwin Oyedokun, who spoke on the sidelines of the group’s Intensive Training and Induction ceremony at Airport Hotel, Lagos at the weekend, commended ongoing efforts by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s current onslaught against corruption but urged the president to do more.

    According to him, corruption is a cultural virus which has eaten deeply into the fabrics of the nation.

    He said: “Corruption is a cultural thing. In my family for instance, you can’t buy any obscene thing and expect they will celebrate you. No. The first question they will ask is: Where did you get the money to buy it? That is one culture. There are other families that if you do not have material things, nobody reckons with you. That is another culture.

    “But to be candid, this administration is trying its best to fight corruption but its best is still not good enough. Without giving my personal opinion, when you listen to people talk outside, they commend the anti-graft war, they say it is good, but it is one way. I will be doing disservice to the nation to say it is total. It is not total. It must be holistic.”

    He said the group comprises people who want to conduct accounting investigation in a forensic manner, stressing that its aim are first to prevent fraud, detect and deter. He said it was better to prevent fraud from taking place than taking remedial measures, adding that funds must have got missing after the fraud had been perpetrated.

    On the place of technology in fraud prevention and forensic research, he said: “When you say forensic examination, you can’t do it with the mundane things people are using in Nigeria. The key thing is technology. There is a special session on this during this two-day training. In order to conduct research on forensics, you have to dig down and to do that, you need technology. So we have many data mining technology that will get into your system, give it command and you will be able to analyse such.”

    He said no fewer than 300 members was inducted on the occasion, adding that  to conduct effective forensic investigation, there’s need to have investigative mind.

    He recalled that when before now, there was nothing like forensic investigation but said the stolen mandate of Rauf Aregbesola in Ousn State was restored courtesy of forensic investigation and analysis. He said in the past, forensic experts were imported into the country to look into the books of organisation such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and others, adding that members of AFAR now have to competence to do the job, stressing that there was no longer any need to waste foreign exchange hiring foreigners to investigate what local professionals could do better.

    AFAR inducted 150 fellows members, 10 associate members and six patrons while it also launched its first journal, the print version and unveiled a book on forensic accounting research development. There was also an award of meritorious service to deserving Nigerian

  • 2019: INEC creates 57,023 voting points

    …Lagos, Kano leads with highest voting points

    ..Ekiti, Bayelsa holds record of lowest voting points

     

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has created 57,023 voting points across the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    There are 119,973 polling units in the country.

    The creation of the voting points, therefore, brings to 176,996 voting designation for the forthcoming elections.

    The voting points INEC argued was for the ease of voting population. The polling unit is the designated voting point conveniently designed for voters and each polling units according to INEC should not exceed 700 voting population.

    The creation of voting points, which is not far from the original polling units, according to INEC was created to accommodate the extra voters within a polling units.

    For the purpose of 2019 general elections, besides the official 119,973 polling units, the commission created 57,023 voting points across the country.

    A total of 84, 004, 084 million people registered to vote in the general polls scheduled for 16th February and 2nd March, 2019.

    Lagos and Kano states have the largest number of designated voting points in the forthcoming general elections.

    Lagos has 8, 462 polling units and 4,976 voting points while Kano has 8,074 polling units and 3,148 voting points.

    Ekiti and Bayelsa have the lowest voting points in the country. Ekiti has 2,195 polling units and 250 voting points; Bayelsa has 1,804 polling units and 440 voting points.

    The breakdown of polling units and voting points for the 2019 general elections made available yesterday by the Commission shows: Abia with 1,932,892 million registered voters has 2,675 polling units and 1,387 voting points. Adamawa, with 1,973,083 has 2,608 polling units and 1,496 voting points.

    Read Also: INEC to domestic, foreign observers: you’re to observe, not monitor

    Akwa Ibom recorded 2,119, 727 million registered voters with 2,980 polling units and 1,373 voting points.

    Anambra has 2,447,996 million registered voters with 4,608 polling units and 1,112 voting points. Bauchi state has 2,462,843 million voting population with 4,074 polling units and 1,348 voting points. Bayelsa state has a voting population of 924,182 with 1,804 polling units and 440 voting points.

    Benue has 2,480,131 million registered voters with 3,688 polling units and 1,414 voting points. Borno with a registered voting population of 2,315,956 million has 3,933 polling units and 1,138 voting points. Cross River registered 1,527,289 million voters for the coming general elections and has 2,283 polling units and 998 voting points. Delta recorded 2,845, 274 million voters and has 3,624 polling units and 2,239 voting points.

    Ebonyi with 1,459,933 million registered voters has 1, 785 polling units and 1,161 voting points.

    Edo recorded 2,210,534 million registered voters and has 2,627 polling units and 1,892 voting points. Ekiti has a voting population of 909,967 with 2,195 polling units and 250 voting points,

    Enugu with a voting population of 1,944,016 million has 2,958 polling units and 1,187 voting points. FCT has registered voter population of 1,344,856 million with 562 polling units and 2,261 voting points.

    Gombe has 1,394,393 million registered voters with 2,218 polling units and 770 voting points. Imo recorded 2,272, 293 million registered voters while polling units is 3,523 and voting points 1,235 voting points.

    Jigawa has 2,111,106 million voting population and has 3,523 polling units and 1,235 voting points.

    Kaduna has a registered voting population of 3,932,492 million with 5,101 polling units and 2,911 voting points. Kano has 5,932,747 million eligible voters with 8,074 polling units and 3,148 voting points. Katsina recorded 3,230,230 million voting population with 4,901 polling units and 1,751 voting points. Kebbi has 1,806,231 million registered voters and 2,398 polling units and 1,345 voting points. Kogi with 1,646,350 million registered voters has 2,548 polling units and 960 voting points. Kwara recorded 1,406,457 million registered voter and has 1,872 polling units and 1,015 voting points. Lagos with a voting population of 6,570,291 million has 8,462 polling units and 4,976 voting points. Nasarawa recorded 1,617,786 million registered voters with 1,495 polling units and 1,783 polling units.

    Niger with 2,390,035 registered voters has 1,495 polling units and 1,765 voting points. Ogun has a voting population of 2,375,003 million with 3,213 polling units and 1,846 voting points. Ondo with 1,822,346 million voting population has 3,009 polling units and 923 voting points. Osun state has 1,680,497 million voting population with 3,010 polling units and 753 voting points. Oyo state recorded 2,934,107 million, voting population and has 4,783 polling units and 1,607 voting points.

    Plateau has 2,480, 455 million registered voters and 2631 polling units and 2,358 voting points.

    Rivers has 3,215,273 million registered voters, 4,442 polling units and 2,424 voting points. Sokoto has 1,903, 166 million voting population with 3,035 polling units and 855 voting points. Taraba with 1,777,105 million registered voters has 1,912 voting points and 1,685 voting points. Yobe has 1,365,913 registered voters with 1,714 polling units and 1,109 voting points.

    Zamfara with the voting population of 1,717,128 million has 2,516 polling units and 1,013 voting points.

  • Polls: Lagos, Kano leads with highest voting points

    ..Ekiti, Bayelsa holds record of lowest voting points

     

    Lagos and Kano states have the largest number of designated voting points in the forthcoming general elections.

    Lagos has 8, 462 polling units and 4,976 voting points while Kano has 8,074 polling units and 3,148 voting points.

    Ekiti and Bayelsa have the lowest voting points in the country. Ekiti has 2,195 polling units and 250 voting points, Bayelsa has 1,804 polling units and 440 voting points.

    Read Also: Lagos 2019: Christian group declares support for Salis

    The polling unit is the designated voting point conveniently designed for voters, which should not exceed 700 voting population.

    The voting points, INEC noted was created to accommodate the extra voters within a polling unit. For the purpose of 2019 general elections, besides the official 119,973 polling units, the commission created 57,023 voting points across the country.

    A total of 84, 004, 084 million people registered to vote in the general polls scheduled for 16th February and 2nd March, 2019.

     

  • NGO to complement FG effort on peace building

    The Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS) is set to commence its peace building campaign in some states in Nigeria.

    Mrs Bridget Affiah, Co-state representative of WGWYPS-WAS NG in Delta, said this on Tuesday during the official inauguration of the #Workingroupng4peace Campaign in Warri.

    Affiah said the campaign would be conducted in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that the objective of the NGO was to propagate peace, particularly in  violence prone states.

    She listed the states to include; Abia, Benue, Borno, Delta, Enugu, Gombe and Kaduna,.

    She said the others were Kano, Lagos, Kogi, Osun, Rivers, Plateau, Yobe and the FCT.

    According to her, the campaign was to further ensure increased awareness on the need to reduce violence especially against the vulnerable populations like the youth, women, children and the physically challenged persons.

    “WGWYPS-WAS was set up in April 2009 with the support of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) across 15 West African Countries and the Sahel.

    “WGWYPS-WAS NG with the hash tag, #workingroupng4peace was inaugurated in  December 2016 in Nigeria.

    “It is an all inclusive platform for experience sharing, analysis and participatory evaluation within the West African Region and the Sahel.

    ” It is also for the promotion and implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and related ones on women and youth participation, conflict prevention mechanism and peace building,”she said.

    Affiah said the group recognised states where violence, hate speeches, conflicts and insecurity were prevalent, adding that there could be no meaningful development in a conflict situation.

    “We will try and see what we can do to achieve sustainable peace for sustainable development.

    ” We are going to be working with the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in Delta,” she said.

    Read Also:Breaking: INEC declares Benue guber election inconclusive

    Another Co-state representative, Mrs Rachael Ruppee, said other objectives of the NGO was to strengthen the capacity of members and bring skills together to achieve good result.

    “The aim is also to enhance information and knowledge sharing in peace, conflict and violence resolutions,” she said.

    One of the guests, Dr Agboro Andrew, said that peace and security was the collective responsibility of everyone.

    “There are a lot of issues right now in Delta, post political issues, cult issues and without peace the communities will be under developed.

    “A lot of companies are leaving the state as a result of issues related to conflict,” he said.