The Nation Newspaper

Tag: security

  • Security, knowledge gap hinder cryptocurrency

    Though the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is yet to give its nod to trading in virtual currencies in form of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ripples, Monero, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Onecoin, and exchanges, such as NairaEx, it is a growing business in neighbouring countries. In Kenya, the value of trade in crypto has risen up to $1.5million, LUCAS AJANAKU writes that security and dearth of knowledge militate against its potential.

    Despite a $1.5million trading in crypto-currency in Kenya, according to the Blockchain Association of Kenya, lack of education is hindering its progress, report has said.

    Titled: “Kaspersky Africa’s Cryptocurrency Report 2019”, it was based on feedback from respondents, and highlighted several risks, including volatility in value, lack of regulation locally, taxation issues and cyber fraud.

    Enterprise Sales Manager at Kaspersky Africa, Bethwel Opil, said: “The survey found that there is a desire among many consumers to use cryptocurrency, but a knowledge gap is getting in the way of taking the plunge. In addition, many people who thought they knew what they are dealing with later decided against using cryptocurrency.”

    What is cryptocurrency?

    According to online resources, cryptocurrency is a digital currency built with cryptographic protocols that make transactions secure and difficult to fake.

    Blockgeeks, an online platform, said the most important feature of a cryptocurrency is that it is not controlled by any central authority: the decentralised nature of blockchain makes cryptocurrency theoretically immune to the old ways of government control and interference.

    Cryptocurrencies make it easier to conduct any transaction, for transfers are simplified through use of public and private keys for security and privacy purposes. These transfers can be done with minimal processing fees, allowing users to avoid the steep fees charged by traditional financial institutions, it added.

    This introduction explains the most important thing about cryptocurrencies. After you‘ve read it, you‘ll know more about it than most other humans.

    Today, cryptocurrencies have become a global phenomenon known to most people. While still somehow geeky and not understood by most people, banks, governments and many companies are aware of its importance.

    How miners create coins

     A cryptocurrency like Bitcoin consists of a network of peers. Every peer has a record of the complete history of all transactions and thus of the balance of every account.

    A transaction is a file that says, “Bob gives X Bitcoin to Alice“ and is signed by Bob‘s private key. It‘s basic public key cryptography, nothing special at all. After signed, a transaction is broadcast in the network, sent from one peer to every other peer. This is basic p2p-technology. Nothing special at all, again.

     CBN’s position

    The CBN has warned Nigerians against cryptocurrencies.

    In a circular titled: Virtual Currencies not Legal Tender in Nigeria – CBN, it said: Further to the circular issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on January 12, 2017, to banks and other financial institutions on virtual currency operations in Nigeria, the bank wishes to reiterate that cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ripples, Monero, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Onecoin, etc and exchanges, such as NairaEx are not licensed or regulated by the CBN.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, dealers and investors in any kind of crypto currency in Nigeria are not protected by law. Virtual currencies are traded in exchange platforms that are unregulated, all over the world. Consumers may therefore lose their money without any legal redress in the event these exchangers collapse or close business.

    “Members of the public are hereby warned that virtual currencies are not legal tender in Nigeria. Accordingly, we wish to caution all and sundry on the risks inherent in such activities.”

    The report also provided insight into the South African market and stated that nearly a fifth of South African respondents (14 per cent) stopped trading in cryptocurrency because it became too technically complicated.

    “This lack of understanding could be leading to mistrust in cryptocurrencies’ ability to keep consumers’ money safe. For instance, 35 per cent of South African respondents stated that they believe cryptocurrencies are quite volatile and they need to be stable before they are prepared to use them,”  Opil said.

    The void in education in keeping cryptocurrencies safe has seen fraudsters take advantage of the situation and more people are being scammed. Fraudsters can use cryptocurrencies to their advantage, with around five per cent of those surveyed in South Africa saying they have experienced hacking attacks on exchanges.

    “Criminals also create fake e-wallets to attract people to unwisely invest their money, and 16 per cent of South African consumers have been victims of cryptocurrency fraud,” Opil added.

    At the global level, over 80 per cent of respondents have never used cryptocurrencies underlining the low penetration for digital currencies. Only 10 per cent  said they understood how these digital currencies work, with 35 per cent viewing it as a fad.

    Despite the slowly growing trend on digital currencies, Opil sees cyber security as very important to adoption.

    He said it was commendable for government to set up a task force to understand the space and also help in curbing criminal activities fuelled by the use of digital currencies.

    “Always verify a web wallet’s address and not following links to an online bank or web wallet. “Double-check recipient addresses, the amount being sent, and the size of the associated fee before sending a transaction,” Opil said.

  • Stakeholder advises govt on tourism development, security

    Chairman Crystal Courts Hotel, Lagos, Prince Emmanuel Obi, has urged the Federal Government to focus more on developing the tourism sector, saying that tourism can only grow in a good operating environment where security and social amenities are available.

    Prince Obi stated that the inability of government to effectively address tourism challenges would truncate the growth of the hospitality businesses across states.

    Advising Nigeria to take a cue from Kenya, Obi pointed out that to achieve tourism growth, the government should be able to provide necessary social amenities such as good roads, security, electricity supply, tourism sites amongst others.

    According him, the industry should be able to afford guests places to go such as museums, landmark centers, beaches, which must be secured to assume full blown hospitality environment.

    He noted that for hospitality to thrive in the country, the environment must be made conducive enough, stressing that what Nigeria does presently is just to operate hotels, which has not attracted enough tourists and visitors.

    Obi who appealed to Lagos State’s Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to help harness Lagos State tourism potentials, said government should provide practitioners with incentives at all levels as indication of taking the sector serious.

    Read Also: UNWTO, Barca launch sports tourism contest

    He stated that growing the hospitality business depends on the impression on one’s mind, noting that the term is highly abused in the country mind.

    “We don’t really have hospitality in this country. Hospitality is not just about hotel”, he said.

    According to him, the tourism potential in this country is tremendous but has not been adequately harnessed.

    “Every nation of the world that is thriving in tourism would always have a museum of history, arts, monuments, libraries, landmarks, old building and these things make tourism tick. Eko Atlantic is the haven we have. Government should create synergy with private owners in making Eko Atlantic a haven for the visitors to see”.

    “The numbers of hotels on the streets in Nigeria have actually shrunk due to lack of patronage. So, there must be a definition while setting up a hotel. The visitors we have in this country are business men who came for conferences and seminars, they didn’t come to have fun,” he added.

    Narrating his experience, Obi said: “I believe in setting  up one and  make it work very well before going to the next one. My hotel is barely five years now but I have been in hospitality business for the past 24 years.

    “In a couple of years,  Crystal Courts Hotel shall be one of the leading hotels with  very comfortable brand as signature”, he promised.

  • Security initiative: the north present, and the south absent?

    There is a need for a public commitment by southern governors to planning to solve the problem of insecurity, the North has started

    A week ago, northern governors resolved to end insecurity in that part of the country. At the meeting, the 19 members of the Northern Governors Forum deliberated on many regional problems they believe to be crying for solution. Two issues stood out:  establishment of a joint financial institution to accelerate the region’s attainment of financial independence from the central government and finding holistic solution to “insecurity currently bedeviling the region and various ways and means of dealing with the situation.” Some would consider the decision of the northern governors a little late, given the magnitude of security breaches in many northern states while many would say ‘better late than never’ and congratulate the region for taking a good move to stop a bad situation. But citizens from the 17 southern states may be wondering about the silence of their governors on security issues in the south.

    Imitation is a fact of life in all sectors. Good governance is to a large extent a product of imitation, just as the spread of democracy results from the will of countries to emulate good governance processes or ‘best practices’ in other countries. If governors in the southern region are still assessing the security situation, they need to act fast, especially that the citizens under their jurisdiction are living in fear for their lives. The situation is very bad in the Southwest, thus calling on governors to act immediately, to prevent further killing and kidnapping of citizens in the region.

    It is a no brainer that governors from the south from all political parties would know, as much as their northern counterparts, that President Buhari should be open to suggestions from the three zones in the south on how to solve the problems of security in the country. It is also constitutional for the government of any state or region to do what Northern Governors Forum has decided to do; providing a plan to the country’s president on how to end insecurity. There is a need for a public commitment by southern governors to planning to solve the problem of insecurity in the land. If anything, the North has started an enviable initiative in this respect and this initiative deserves to gain the attention of southern states.

    If, for whatever reasons, the southern states have difficulties in organizing a Southern Governors Forum to think together like their northern counterparts, nothing should prevent governors in each of the three southern zones to act and talk about how each of them wishes to address the danger of dwindling security. Although the ideal thing would be for the three zones to organize a southern governors forum to address this urgent matter, it is still acceptable for each zone to do something to assure its citizens that governors in each zone has not chosen to ignore the pains of their citizens at the instance of marauders. It is, however, remarkable that the Southwest Governors Forum has renewed  its mission for another four years. The zone should not delay on launching its own Security Advisory Initiative to assist President Buhari and the federal legislature on a matter that means so much to life and property in the region.

    Without doubt, governors in the southwest would have been receiving information from citizens in the region regarding sudden changes in their lives since the onset of herdsmen-farmers conflict and more so since phenomenal rise in cases of kidnapping in various parts of the region. Without exaggeration, citizens in our region are living in fear because of violent kidnappers in different parts of the region. Given that a major driver of money circulation in the southwest is constant traveling for cultural reasons, a situation, such as now exists in the region, which makes traveling a source of anxiety is bound to slow down circulation of money between Yoruba people in the  big cities and the villages and towns in the Southwest.

    Currently, many Yoruba people with the courage to take the risk of traveling out of their regular stations now park their vehicles and patronize public transport between Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and other cities and towns in the Yoruba region, in the hope that traveling in rickety commercial buses would save them from kidnappers. This is not happening. Commercial buses are reported to have been stopped by kidnappers. Of course, a combination of those who reduce traveling out of their stations and those that go by public transport cannot but affect the economy of many towns and villages that depend on weekend visitors from the urban areas.

    Many petrol stations between towns in the Southwest no longer have as many customers as they used to have for fueling vehicles and buying snacks. For example, the population of women who sell food items along the highways in the region has been getting smaller by the day since inter-city roads have become theatres of operation for kidnappers. In many Yoruba towns, more money is circulated between Friday and Saturday than in the rest of the week, but many towns in the region are now receiving fewer of their children living in big urban economies like Lagos and Abuja, apparently because such visitors are now afraid of risking being kidnapped between towns.

    Apart from security problems in states visibly threatened by terrorists like Boko Haram, it is conceivable that northern governors have also observed drastic changes in the flow of inter-city travels in their respective states and that such awareness may have influenced the decision of northern governors to work on plans to assist the federal government towards reinforcing the country’s security. That a few days after the meeting at which such decision was taken, the committee has been able to start work suggests how urgent northern governors view the security situation in their region.

    Whatever may have slowed down southern states from embarking on a similar plan needs to be addressed by southern governors, especially Southwest governors. Given that there may be invisible obstacles to forming and sustaining a Southern Governors Forum, there is no reason for any of the three zones in the south to wait indefinitely on establishing dialogues with their citizens on how to make their communities safe from kidnappers and bandits and how to make farmers in the rural areas safe from harassment from herdsmen. It is, therefore, necessary that Southwest governors provide leadership for study and recommendations on how to improve the region’s security, just as their northern counterparts have set out to do.

    Moreover, it is not in the interest of any region to fail to make recommendations to the federal government on solutions to security problems in each region. Regardless of how busy Southwest governors may be on other matters of governance, they need to respond fast to troubling security deficits in the zone. Threats to the way of life of citizens in the region are rising and require immediate attention of not only governors but citizens as well.   Readiness on the part of Southwest governors to contribute to direly needed templates on peace and safety for all is part of functions of any government that is working towards unity, harmony, and development. It is thus proper for governments in the southwest to arrange bi-partisan committees to prepare the region’s blueprint on security in the region and the country.

    Ideally, no region should fail to respond to the challenges facing a country to which we have all made contributions from the era of decolonization to now. But the Yoruba region should show public interest in seeing, like their northern colleagues, the importance of doing a thorough analysis of the current security challenges and making recommendations to the federal government. There should be no reason to make citizens in the southern states look like orphans with no parents to plead the region’s case. And it is not wise to keep mum over the region’s security and unintentionally leave room for suspicion, especially if at the end if only recommendations on how to secure the country by northern governors reach President Buhari.

    There is a Yoruba proverb worth selling to realistic leaders: Ki omo ma ku, aa ni fi nnkan baba re se oogun (To save a son from a deadly disease should not require sacrificing his father). In political language, national and continental unity, though important, cannot justify sacrificing of innocent citizens in any part.

  • Security and sincerity

    •Buhari must confront Nigeria’s security challenges more aggressively

    As President Muhammadu Buhari prepares for a second four-year term in office, it is vital that his administration tackles Nigeria’s critical security problems with increased sincerity and commitment. There is little doubt that the country is in the grip of interrelated security challenges that have become an existential threat to its continued growth and progress.

    Apart from the long-running Boko Haram insurgency and the ongoing herdsmen-farmer clashes in the country’s Middle Belt region, there have been outbreaks of widespread violence in Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara states. In addition, big cities like Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt have witnessed significant increases in serious crime, especially kidnappings, armed robbery, murder and sexual assault.

    The country’s security condition is so dire that an increasing number of individuals and groups have become much more direct in their criticism of a perceived lack of capacity on the part of the Federal Government in dealing with the situation.

    The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has described efforts at combatting insecurity as grossly inadequate. It is demanding that current strategies be reviewed and security chiefs held responsible for their actions. In similar fashion, the Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, Reverend Father Stephen Mamza, accused government of sleeping on duty. Criticising what he saw as a deteriorating security situation, he appealed to the government to listen to the citizens and rededicate itself to ensuring the safety of their lives and property.

    The Buhari administration has expectedly rejected such criticism of its capacity and motives. It argues that it prevented the Boko Haram insurgency from getting worse, improved the care of internally-displaced persons (IDPs), and was working assiduously to eradicate security challenges once and for all.

    Regardless of its claims to the contrary, the Federal Government cannot deny that the country has witnessed a marked decline in peace and stability in recent times. Old threats have failed to disappear; new ones are emerging with alarming alacrity. The United States-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) estimates that 19,890 people have died of security-related causes since June 2015.

    Nor can there be any doubt as to a troubling tardiness on the part of government in responding to security issues. The Zamfara killings, for example, reached scandalous proportions before serious efforts were made to contain the crisis. This followed similarly lamentable patterns in Benue and Kaduna, where impending crises were allowed to degenerate without timely intervention.

    This seeming indifference can be seen most glaringly in the way in which the country’s security architecture has remained impervious to change. Security chiefs who have clearly failed to stem the violence have not been removed; policy formulation is rigidly inflexible; messaging is limited to a constant repetition of the same old mantra of ultimate victory.

    Security is the first duty of any government. Without peace and stability, economic growth, social development and political progress can never be attained. The Buhari administration must rediscover the will to frontally address the greatest security issues to face the nation since the end of the civil war.

    The first demonstration of a renewed commitment to securing Nigeria is a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s security hierarchy. It is obvious that both the military and ministerial capacity to deal with the problem has not been good enough; nothing less than a complete clear-out will suffice. Their replacements must be given definitive deadlines and timelines within which to achieve set performance targets; failure to achieve them should result in summary dismissal.

    More must be done to take cognisance of affected communities and state governments in developing long-term solutions to security challenges. The problems in Benue especially were needlessly aggravated by an utterly unnecessary war of words between the Federal and Benue State governments. The resultant poisonous relationship has stymied attempts to deal with the herdsman-farmer crisis.

    In achieving this, it is crucial that government avoid the temptation to throw money at the problem. If this is not done, the anti-insecurity campaign will simply degenerate into another bonanza that security chiefs will be reluctant to end because of the fabulous benefits being derived from it.

  • What was spent on security?

    How do governments in Nigeria spend public funds meant to provide security for Nigerians?  It is interesting that a civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), is interested in the answers of President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors of the 36 states of the federation to this question.

    SERAP sent Freedom of Information requests, dated April 12, to them, asking for information on specific details of spending of appropriated public funds as security votes between 2011 and 2019. The organisation limited its request to details of visible, specific security measures and projects executed, excluding spending on intelligence operations.

    The organisation’s move was prompted by “the growing level of insecurity, violence, kidnappings and killings in Zamfara State and other parts of Nigeria.” According to SERAP, “Section 14(2) (b) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. It is the security of the citizens that is intended and not the security of select individuals in public office.”

    SERAP added: “Available evidence would seem to suggest that many of the tiers of government in Nigeria have used security votes as a conduit for grand corruption rather than spending the funds to improve and enhance national security and ensure full protection of Nigerians’ rights to life, physical integrity, and liberty.”

    Indeed, it is disturbing that the organisation said: “In fact, former governor of Kano State Musa Kwankwaso once described security votes as ‘another way of stealing public funds’.” It also said: “The current security realities in the country would seem to suggest massive political use, mismanagement or stealing of security votes by many governments.”

    The concerned governments are expected to provide the requested information “within seven days of the receipt and/or publication” of the organisation’s letter.”If we have not heard from you by then,” SERAP said, “the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal action under the Freedom of Information Act to compel you to comply with our request.”  It remains to be seen whether the concerned governments would obey the law or disobey the law.

    SERAP’s letter, no doubt, puts the concerned governments on the spot. This is what happens when governments do not govern as expected. It’s a shame that the concerned governments are being asked to account for security votes between 2011 and 2019. When insecurity reigns, it is unsurprising that a concerned organisation wants to know how security budgets were spent.

     

     

  • Easter: IGP tells Christians to be security conscious

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has tasked Christians to be security conscious as they celebrate Easter.

    The IG also directed Assistant Inspector Generals of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in Zonal and State Commands across the country to deploy their men adequately to vulnerable areas so as to ensure hitch-free celebration.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba.

    It reads: “As part of measures to ensure a peaceful and incident- free Easter Celebration, the Inspector General of Police, Ag IGP Mohammed Adamu has directed Assistant Inspector Generals of Police and Commissioners of Police in Zonal and State Commands across the country to deploy adequate intelligence, human and operational assets of the Force to ensure intensified routine patrols and protection of vulnerable points within their jurisdictions, including major highways, places of worship, residential areas, recreation centres, motor parks, financial institutions, Government/Private Infrastructures and all places of public resort.

    “They are also directed to ensure that their officers and men conduct themselves in most professional manner in line with extant laws and standard best practices before, during and after the festival.

    “The IGP also tasked Christians nationwide to emulate the selfless lifestyle of Christ as they join other Christians around the globe to celebrate the remembrance of the victorious death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as price for the redemption of mankind.

    The IGP, while suing for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians irrespective of their religious, political and socio-cultural leaning in consonance with the principles and teachings of Christ, urged them to be security conscious and continue to provide the Force with useful information that will assist to effectively track down criminal elements in our society.

  • Security: Police propose joint training with NSCDC

    The Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, has called for joint training between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure synergy during security operations.

    According to the The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adamu made the proposal during a courtesy visit to his office on Saturday in Abuja by NSCDC Commandant General, Abdullahi Gana.

    The IGP assured that the force would continue to ensure that the purpose of policing the country was achieved.

    He commended the leadership of the NSCDC for its resilience in ensuring that the 2019 general elections turned out peaceful.

    Earlier, Gana said the collaboration with the police, being the head security agency, would help reduce the rate of crime and criminal tendencies in the country.

    He pledged the corps’ commitment towards a united Nigeria, noting that officials of the NSCDC would leave no stone unturned to achieved the needed peace in the country. (NAN)

  • Security not responsible for voter apathy, says Lagos CP

    Lagos Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu yesterday denied that observed voter apathy in some areas of the state was connected to lack of security presence during the presidential election.

    Violence sprang up in some polling units in the state during the March 23 presidential and national assembly (NASS) elections following the disruption of voting exercises by hoodlums.

    But the commissioner, who toured the state during election, told reporters that watertight security was provided for this gubernatorial and house of assembly elections to ensure voters’ safety.

    Muazu, alongside his boss, Lawal Shehu, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone Two, toured Oshodi, Okota, Ijora, Apapa and Surulere areas of the state, said he was satisfied with the professionalism of security operatives deployed for the exercise.

    “It is not true that voters did not come out because of fear or insecurity. We provided adequate security and have been assuring the electorate to come out and vote. We had assured that security measures will be doubled and also ensured that armed policemen were stationed not far from polling units to wade off miscreants.

    At most of the polling units visited, The Nation observed that voter turnout was unimpressive. At polling unit (PU) 010 on Bola Shadipe Street, Masha in Surulere, 89 persons voted as of 12:55pm out of 692 registered voters.

    According to the officials, they got to the polling unit before 8am and were waiting for voters to come out. They told our correspondent they had no issues, adding that they were waiting for 2pm to resume counting.

    At a PU along Ago Palace Way Okota, the INEC official had an altercation with the policewoman on duty over the latter’s assistance in showing some of the electorate where to thumbprint. The INEC official chided the cop for ‘interfering’ which caused bad blood between the duo.

    This issue was reported to the police commissioner, who immediately ordered the redeployment of the policewoman, reiterating the need for security agencies to keep off.

    Meanwhile, 12 suspects were arrested by soldiers in Makinde for alleged attempt to disrupt election exercise in Oshodi.

  • Security, missing card readers, others top polls discourse

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), police, candidates and party faithful are in a rush to be ready for Saturday’s polls, report Our Correspondents.

    Three days to polls… Security, missing cards readers, others dominate

    IGP warns would-be troublemakers

     

    Acting Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu has warned would-be troublemakers to abandon their plots against next Saturday’s governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

    He spoke with State House correspondents at the end of security chiefs’ meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He also said security personnel have been increased for trouble spots identified during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    He said: “We are all aware of the fact that we just concluded the presidential and National Assembly elections and we want to congratulate Nigerians for the peaceful conduct of the elections and we are prepared now for the governorship and the House of Assembly elections in the country.

    “We’ll like every Nigerian to come out and cast his or her vote. The security arrangement we provided during the presidential elections is being enhanced so as to provide enabling environment for everybody to come out and cast his or her vote for their preferred candidates.

    “We will again advise those that will want to disrupt the process to rethink because during the presidential election, we had some few challenges here and there, those challenges, we’ll not allow those challenges to repeat themselves. We are taking more security measures to address those pockets of challenges we noticed.

    “So, thuggery again, is not allowed, ballot snatching is not allowed, disruption of the election process is not allowed. We, the security personnel have resolved to deal ruthlessly with anybody that attempts to disrupt the process of this election.

    “For that reason, we expect, every states, the conduct of the election should be respected. We expect that electoral materials must not be tempered with, we expect that the INEC officials would do their work without fear or favour and without being allowed to compromise. The same thing, the security personnel are to perform their duties without allowing themselves to be compromised.

    “So, we have heightened the security arrangement to make sure that the election goes without any hitch.” he stated

    Asked if the police made any arrest of hoodlums disrupting the Presidential and National Assembly elections, he said: “We’ve made a number of arrests all over the country but probably we shall come out with the number of arrest we have made in terms of those that disputed the process of the election in some areas within the country. We’ve a lot of arrest.”

    On the special effort being put in place to ensure peaceful elections in the troubled spots, he said: “Virtually, in Bayelsa and there are other states within that zone that we have taken notice of the fact that people there prone to violence so we have increased the number of security personnel that have been posted there.

    “Also, we have increased intelligent outfit that has been posted there so as to help us identify those people that are trying to cause problem so that we can take them out of the environment before they cause the problem. Therefore, there is increase in security personnel.”

    On the allegation of militarisation of the process by security agencies, he said: “Well, as I said before, everybody, the lives of Nigerians are secured in terms of provision of adequate security to come out and vote. If you judge what you have said with the report of the international observers and local observers, you will see that both the local and international observers have adjudged the process to be peaceful.

    “So pocket of challenges you get here and there did not affect the peaceful conduct of the elections. The process was peaceful and credible.”

    Asked when those arrested would be prosecuted, Mohammed Adamu said: “Investigation is ongoing. There is an investigative team that has been setup headed by the Commissioner of Police in-charge of legal, they are compiling the case files, they are investigating them. At the end of the investigation, the police in liaising with INEC will prosecute them.”

    Those at the meeting are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete IIbas, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.

    Also present at the meeting were the National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno, Director of National Intelligence Agency, the Director General, Department of Security Service.

    Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Danbazzau and Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali were also at the meeting.

     

    INEC omits APC governorship

    candidate in Enugu

     

    All Progressives Congress (APC) may not field a governorship candidate in Enugu after all for the February 9 gubernatorial election.

    A final list for the March 9 governorship election published on the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC) showed that Enugu APC had no candidate.

    The list signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary, INEC, said it was in obedience to court order as the party was yet to submit a fresh name after Ayogu was sacked.

    In the 330-page final list of candidates, Enugu occupied pages 100 to 111, with the APC having none in provision for candidate.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Senator Ayogu Eze as the governorship candidate of the party in Enugu State.

    In the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice I. Ekwo of the Federal High Court 5, the court urged the INEC to recognise George Ogara as the candidate.

    The APC National Working Committee (NWC), which earlier declared that Ayogu was still the candidate known to the party, was yet to obey the order of the court, which had asked that Ogara’s name be submitted to the INEC.

    The Ayogu Eze campaign organisation, however could not offer any reaction to the development.

    The spokesman of the campaign organisation, Okey Ezerigwe told The Nation that Ayogu Eze was in Abuja to tackle the issue, assuring that “he is making some progress and is due back to Enugu today (Tuesday).”

     

    Our 63 card readers missing

    in Bayelsa, says INEC

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa has raised the alarm over its missing 63 card readers in the state.

    The commissioned appealed to persons in possession of the card readers to return them before Wednesday ahead of the House of Assembly election scheduled for Saturday.

    The commission said it discovered the missing item after the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Speaking on Tuesday in Yenagoa, Head of Department, INEC Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah,  said the the card readers were found missing in Brass, Sagbama, Southern-Ijaw, Nembe and Yenagoa local government areas.

    Ifogah explained that one smart card disappeared in Brass ward 6 unit 19; 24 in Nembe, ward 1, 4, 12 and 13 while 24 were not found in Southern-Ijaw, ward 1, 2, 3, 12, 15.

    He said; Eight are missing in Sagbama ward 1 unit 5 and ward 6 unit 3 while in Yenagoa, a total of six are also missing in ward 1, 11 and 16 respectively.

    “Yes, about 63, card readers are missing.  The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) has issued a statement that those involved should return it to a point where it will get to INEC on or before Wednesday”.

     

    Unity Forum members agree

    to work for Adelabu in Oyo

     

    Members of Unity Forum, the break-away faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have agreed to work for the governorship candidate of the party, Adebayo Adelabu in the Saturday election.

    They came to the agreement at an emergency meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday.

    In a statement by the coordinator, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, the group said it “bowed to pressure from the national leadership of the APC and resolved to team up with their former party to ensure victory for Chief Adebayo Adelabu in this Saturday gubernatorial election in the state.”

    The statement continued: “The Forum, which is made of many aggrieved Oyo APC faithful, had broken away in the wake of crises which engulfed the ruling party during its Congresses in May last year. It is also recalled that members of the Unity Forum later scattered as most of them landed in popular opposition parties such as African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “But the fall-out of the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections which clearly indicated that Oyo APC might be facing a difficult task in its desire to produce another executive governor as a successor to Senator Abiola Ajimobi had sent a signal to the national leadership of the APC which swung into action immediately the results were announced by calling for a truce among the warring factions.

    “In an emergency meeting held on Tuesday at a private location in Ibadan, leaders and members of the Forum unanimously considered the reports of a delegation which had earlier met with Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu and agreed to unite for the sake of peace and progress of the pacesetters state.

    “According to the leader of the delegation which recently had an interface with Tinubu in Lagos home, all the issues that led to the schisms within the Oyo APC were presented and treated accordingly while far reaching agreement were reached by both parties with a view to facilitating victory for the APC gubernatorial candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, on Saturday.”

     

    Ladoja, Lanlehin, others present

    Makinde as joint candidate

     

    Five opposition parties in Oyo state on Tuesday publicly presented a coalition governorship candidate to run against the ruling All Progressive Congress in the March 9, governorship poll.

    The parties in the coalition include, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the New Progressive Movement (NPM).

    The coalition adopted the PDP candidate, Seyi Makinde for the governorship poll while retaining their separate structures for the house of Assembly elections.

    Former Governor Rashidi Ladoja made the public presentation of the joint candidate during a well-attended news conference which held at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

    While reading a speech titled “An alliance for the freedom of Oyo State”, the ADC governorship candidate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin said the parties decided on the move as a workable solution to what it described as “unpalatable situation where Oyo State has been remotely controlled in the last eight years.”

    Meanwhile, SDP National Working Committee (NWC) yesterday endorsed the adoption of Makinde as the joint governorship candidate of the opposition parties.

    Its National Chairman, Chief Supo Shonibare, spoke  in Abuja.

    According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Alfa Mohammed, the chairman observed that participation of multiple opposition candidates in the governorship race would have granted the APC advantage.

     

    ‘Ishaku sure of victory’

     

    Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has expressed confidence he will be re-elected in free, fair, peaceful and credible poll.

    He spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, urging the people to go out in numbers on Saturday, March 9 and vote.

    Ishaku, who is flying the flag of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), advised his supporters to conduct themselves peacefully during voting.

    He alleged that his main challenger and the All Progressives Congress (APC), knowing they will lose in a serene atmosphere, were plotting violence for the polls to postpone.

    “I am aware of all their plans -they don’t want the election to hold. But my concept is that peace should always reign in whatever we do. Peace is a prerequisite of the development Nigerians are yearning for.”

    Ishaku said a win for him means consolidating the gains of the “Rescue Agenda” of his administration in the first four years, which he described as a “foundation laying stage.”

     

    PWDs call for removal

    of Cross River REC

     

    People living with disabilities (PWDs), who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have called for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Cross River State, Dr Frankland Briyai.

    The PWDs, who went on a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Calabar, alleged that the REC was instrumental to the manipulation of the polls in the state, especially the last National Assembly elections.

    Speaking on behalf of the PWDs, their leader, Mr Offiong Okon, said: “It is with great disappointment that I on behalf of all the PWDs and the entire membership of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State address you today on the fatality that is hovering around our hard earned democracy. That fatality is unfortunately being orchestrated by none other than the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Cross River State, Dr. Frankland Briyai.

    “The issue in question is that the REC has been instrumental to the manipulation of the polls in the state. The just concluded National Assembly Elections in the State speaks volume of the monumental fraud perpetrated by Dr. Briyai.

    “We witnessed how results were hastily declared to the advantage of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the government of Cross River State who are his paymasters. In some cases too, results were changed to reflect the bidding of the PDP. There were several other cases of manipulation space will not allow us.”

    They alleged that the REC, was working with the government towards rigging the March 9th Governorship/State House of Assembly polls,” Okon said.

    When The Nation visited the INEC office to get his response to the accusations, the REC declined audience, saying he was busy at the time. A response could not be gotten before press time.

     

    APC to PDP, APGA:

    get ready for epic battle

     

    The All progressives Congress (APC) has promised other political parties in the state an epic battle on Saturday.

    There is no governorship election in the state, as it had its own on November 17, 2017 where Governor Willie Obiano was re-elected.

    APC declared yesterday that what happened in the presidential and National Assembly elections was a conspiracy against President Mohammadu Buhari and vowed it would not happen again.

    The leader of Good Governance Ambassadors of Nigeria GOGAN, Chief John Bosco Onunkwo, told the APC faithful not to lose hope because of what happened during the last elections

    However, based on the threats from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and APC over Saturday’s elections, the governor has held meetings with the stakeholders of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka yesterday.

    Obiano addressed workers at the state secretariat, telling them not to vote for any other party on Saturday except APGA

    Addressing the stakeholders, a visibly angry Obiano said he was not happy with what some people in the party were doing, adding that few people do not want the party to grow with their attitudes of being selfish.

    Also, he told the workers that a vote for APGA would be a vote for better welfare of workers in the state, reminding them of his interest in the election

     

    20 Edo communities

    promise to vote APC

     

    Over 20 communities in Ward 2 of Oredo Local Government Area have promised to vote for candidates of the All Progressives Congress for Saturday’s House of Assembly election.

    The communities said their purpose for opting to vote for the APC was because of the number of road projects being constructed in their domain.

    They spoke when Chief of Staff to Governor Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, inspected over ten road projects at Amagba, Ogumwenyin, Irhirhi, Iyekogba, Ugbor amongst others.

    Leader of Ogumwenyin community, Mr. Frank Omogiate, said many landlords had sold their properties and moved away because of no passable roads.

    Omogiate said all members of Ogumwenyin have keyed into the next level agenda of the All President Congress.

    According to him, “Whoever is plying these roads will see how fast the communities are developing. We can now drive out within five minutes unlike before when there are no roads.

    Traditional head of Amagba community,  Frank Imadamwan, said no government has provided infrastructure for the community in the past ten years.

    Akerele said Obaseki needs a friendly House of Assembly to enable him get more funding to provide infrastructure across the state.

     

    Ondo opposition Assembly candidates raise alarm over alleged rigging

     

    Opposition political parties for Saturday’s House of Assembly elections in Ondo State have accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) of planning to rig the House of Assembly election in favour of the on behalf of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The candidates alleged that Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Akeredolu held a secret meeting in the Ondo State Government House in Akure yesterday with the chairman of the NURTW in Ondo State, Adebo (aka Idajo).

    Speaking on behalf of other candidates, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for Akure South Constituency 1,Ebenezer Adeniyan, said ‘Idajo’ and all the leaders of the NURTW in the state are card-carrying members of the APC.

    “This plot was hatched as a result of the poor performance of the APC in the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly election in the state, particularly in the central senatorial district where the party did not win any seat. The coming House of Assembly election has therefore been tagged a must win for the party, using “all means necessary.”

    “Consequently, Idajo immediately summoned all the 18 local government chairmen of NRUTW for a meeting today in Akure to deliver the message of the governor and to mobilise members of the union for the election.”

    However, Akeredolu, through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Segun Ajiboye, wondered when it has become an offence for the governor to hold meetings with stakeholders.

    He said: “Akeredolu is a man of honour and will never be associated with such plan as to rig an election. This is election season when all sorts of lies are being peddled to gain attention.

    “This attitude was a sign that they have accepted defeat even before the game and are looking for excuses for their anticipating failure.

    “Akeredolu knows the importance of the election and has been holding meetings with party members on how to excel at the polls.

    According to Ajiboye, these people are merely crying wolves where there is none instead of getting more people to accept them.

     

    Group warns against ethnic politics 

     

    The Integrity Friends for Truth and Peace Initiative (TIFPI),  has warned against ethnic politics in some part of the country.

    The Executive Director of the Group, Livingstone Wechie, gave this warning,  while presenting the preliminary report of the group for the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Wechie said no ethnic group should be subjected to any form of intimidation, harassment or violence because of their choice of candidate in the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections coming up this Saturday March 9 nationwide.

    The group called on the government to set up a Commission of Enquiry into these cases of violence and killings with a view to bring perpetrators to justice. “Thus it is important to note that threats and killings of innocent people who are rightfully stakeholders in the electioneering processes are absolutely unjustifiable.”

     

    , seeking to undermine the credibility of the elections at the expense of citizenship participation.

    “Hence we propose that a 30- year jail term be enshrined in our laws as punishment for electoral violence offences. This will serve as a deterrent to ready-made perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

    Therefore whoever is found culpable should be barred from political participation for a fixed period in spite of sentence.

    “We also advise all those who lost and those who won to see themselves as victors. Nobody should resort to self-help but head to the Courts where the law provides hope for the common man.

    “We strongly urge INEC to make frantic efforts to improve from the shortcomings during the governorship and states Assembly elections coming up on March 9, 2019 to further address whatever shortcomings and doubts in the minds of stakeholders,” the group said.

     

     

     

     

  • 9,500 security personnel to provide security in Niger

    The police in Niger say 9,500 security personnel have been deployed to strategic locations across the state for today’s elections.

    Police Commissioner Sabo Ibrahim told the  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the personnel comprise  6,500 policemen and 3,000 from other security agencies.

    Ibrahim said that all the operatives, especially those from other agencies had been trained on how to provide security before, during and after the elections.

    He pledged that all identified black spots in the state would be under surveillance so as to deal with any form of security threat, and expressed the command’s readiness for hitch-free elections in the state.

    He also said that the command would handle electoral offences that may occur during the polls according to extant laws.

    According to him, anyone arrested for any electoral offence will be prosecuted according to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    He said:”We have deployed policemen and other security agencies to all polling units to ensure orderliness.

    “There will be security at the collation centres during vote-counting and for those that want to celebrate after the winner is announced.

    “We will leave no stone unturned as there will be normal patrols and standby units at the command’s headquarters to ensure no breach of peace during and after elections,’’ he said.

    The police commissioner explained that the deployment of security personnel was to ensure peaceful elections, adding that various security checks were in place to deal with any unforeseen circumstances.

    He warned trouble makers and suspected criminals to turn a new leaf or face the law.

    “As security agents, we all have a duty to ensure a level-playing field for all political actors,” he said.