The Nation Newspaper

Tag: South-South

  • South-South residents groan under broken state-owned roads

    South-South residents groan under broken state-owned roads

    Our reporters take an inventory of state-owned roads requiring serious and urgent attention in the South-South region in the face of rising revenue from the federal purse.

    Residents of the various states in the South-South have decried the poor conditions of their state-owned roads, especially access routes located within their capital cities.

    Investigations revealed that most of the state-owned roads have remained impassible, impacting negatively on commercial activities, businesses and socio-cultural interactions.

    While people are always quick to point accusing fingers at the federal government over the conditions of the federal roads in their domains, the decrepit nature of most state roads in the South-South have caused lamentations among the road users.

    Residents insisted that with improved revenue accruing to their states under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, watching critical and internal roads degenerate to their present conditions, especially in the state capital, is inexcusable.

    For instance the South-South states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo and Cross Rivers received N568.9bn in the first quarter of 2025 from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, according to a report by BudgIT Nigeria. It represented the highest regional share for a period and was said to be a 27.74 per cent increase when juxtaposed with the N445.3bn the zone received in the first quarter of 2024.

    In the first quarter of 2025 Rivers State got N374.56bn; Delta, N368.75bn; Akwa Ibom, 309.15bn; Bayelsa, 259.94bn; Edo, N138.34bn and Cross Rivers N106.34bn from the FAAC. The states also generated humongous amount of money in Value Added Tax (VAT) in the first quarter with Rivers posting N278.23bn; Bayelsa, N27.26bb; Delta, N20.04bn and Edo N20.73bn.

    In 2024, out of the N15.26tn distributed by FAAC, the South-South states received N1.57trn according to the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transperancy Initiative (NEITI). Delta state topped the list with N450.4bn; Rivers, N349.9bn; Akwa Ibom, N309.15bn; Bayelsa, N259.94bn and Edo, N138.34bn.

    With such significant improvement in revenues accruing to the South-South states, residents insisted that their governments should embark on massive repairs, rehabilitation and reconstruction of deplorable internal roads and other highways linking their communities.

    RIVERS

    In Rivers State, for instance, many internal roads within the Port Harcourt capital city are in deplorable conditions. The Chinda-Douglas Road linking other communities in Obio-Akpor has been impassible for many years. Commercial drivers are plying the routes sparingly. The drivers of commercial tricycles, who ply the route regularly to eke out a living, complained that they spent all their money repairing their vehicles because of the chains of failed portions of the road.

    Businesses along the road are suffering low patronage, unable to break even. Matthias, who sells electrical fittings, said commercial activities along the popular road dropped significantly as people avoided the road.

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    “Rather than patronise us, they prefer to go to other areas with good roads. We are suffering and we are appealing to the state government to come to our aid.

    “We hear that states are having a lot of money from the federal government. We are begging them to help us reconstruct the Chinda-Douglas Road, because it has failed completely.”

    Other roads that require urgent attention in the capital city are Obi Wali, Okporo, Eliowhani-Eneka, Rukpokwu roundabout and some parts of Rumuokwuta-Choba Road, among others.

    BAYELSA

    In Bayelsa State, many internal roads are in deplorable conditions. Residents lamented the decrepit state of Ambassador Otiotio Road located in Yenizue-Gene in the heart of Yenagoa, the capital city. 

    Residents, motorists and commuters plying the road have continued to groan over its deplorable state. With the rainy season peaking and most of the area without drainage, and with potholes often filled with stagnant water, residents and tenants alike lamented the negative impact of flooding on their businesses and homes.

    Ambassador Otiotio Road is strategic and hosts the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Sector 2, Operation Delta Safe as well as hospitals, shops, restaurants, churches and residential buildings.

    A landlord, Deacon Marcel Osuji, decried the deplorable condition of the road, adding that his house adjacent the worst failed portion of the road gets flooded if the potholes are filled. He said the flooding occasioned by the bad road often leaves his premises muddy and waterlogged.

    Osuji said: “Honestly speaking, since the road got bad, it has affected business and social life. Sometimes when it rains, we experience flooding of our homes and shops. In front of my house rainwater collects in a massive crater that releases its contents into my home and other buildings.

    “It is a terrible situation we face due to the bad road condition. The road is affecting us badly —commuters, residents and even students. The worst part of it all is the absence of drainage to channel flood to nearby canals.”

    Osuji appealed to the state government to rehabilitate the road, adding that adequate drainage must be built to ensure long lasting work.

    Africa, a graphic artist, who bemoaned the flooding of shops and offices, stressed that the muddy and waterlogged environment discourages potential customers.

    He urged the state government to come to the aid of residents by rehabilitating the road.

    Mr Wealth Obio, a commercial tricyclist, appealed for state intervention, adding that the poor condition of the road was having a negative impact on maintenance costs.

    Obio said that riders plying the road often experience aches and pains resulting from the poor condition of the road.

    He said: “The road is really affecting us. It is making us (tricyclists) to go to the mechanic frequently.

    “It also affects our body system and our passengers, especially pregnant women who attend hospitals situated on this road.

    “We are crying for help. The state government has not done any remedial work since the construction of the road in 2004, and, as a result, the road is in poor condition.”

    DELTA

    In Delta State, road users lamented the deplorable condition of the ever busy Otor-Udu/ECN Road in Udu and Ughelli South local government areas.

    They particularly lamented the terrible condition of the Ovwian Grammar School, Ujewu, Otu-Jeremi, Ekakpamre, and Iwhrekan sections of the road.

    The road, which is a major access to the Ujewu Terminal of the Warri-Itakpe train route, connects scores of communities such as Aladja and Ovwian, hosts to Delta Steel Company, as well as Iwhrekan and Otu-Jeremi which also host West Africa’s biggest gas plant, the Utorogu Gas Plant.

    Other communities linked to the road are Ubogo, Egini, Owhrode, among others.

    Some road users disclosed that palliative work carried out on the road by the incumbent council chairman in 2024 could not stand the test of the rains this year.

    They lamented that they were losing time that could be put into productive use on the road, adding that their vehicles also suffer damage caused by the potholes and floods.

    A trader at the popular Ubogo Market located off the Udu road said: “This road, we have cried and cried for government to fix it.

    “When it rains on market days, we find it difficult to get keke (tricycles) because it gets flooded. The keke that would be willing to carry us will charge us (transport fare) very high. This affects the market (business).

    “So the government should consider our plight and do the road.”

    A tricycle operator, Jackson, recalled that protesters mounted the road a few months ago demanding the state government’s attention.

    “Well, all I can say is we spend more on fuel, on repairs and wasted time because of the bad condition of the road.

    “So if government can come and repair it, life would be made easier for us,” Jackson said.

    A bus driver at the Otor-Udu Express Junction noted that due to the bad portions, motorists become susceptible to attacks by hoodlums when driving at night.

    EDO

    In Edo State, residents raised concerns over St Saviour Road in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, which was reconstructed in 2020. After its reconstruction, the road brought relief to residents of more than 10 communities and helped to reduce heavy traffic congestion on the Benin-Abraka Road.

    The 10.92-km St Saviour Road was awarded at for N3.55bn by the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Commission (EDSOGPADEC).

    The road users expressed fears over failed portions of the road following poor channeling of flood water at the time of construction. The failed sections of the road usually resulted in heavy traffic whenever it rains.

    At the Tipper axis of the road, residents are constantly living in fear during the rain due to heavy flooding. It was gathered the road would cost as much as N10bn if proper drainage were to be constructed.

    Other areas where the road has failed are Umelu and Evbologun.

    AKWA IBOM

    In Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, residents of some areas are experiencing intense hardship and discomfort caused by the collapse of internal roads.

    People living at Urua Ekpa, Udoete, Itu Road, Ikpa Road, Church Road, Idaha Okpo Road, Ukana Offot Road and many other adjoining streets have been cut off from the city centre due to bad roads.

    Ukana Offot Street, which links two major roads, Aka and Abak, is not only in bad condition but is also a death trap. The Federal Government Science and Technical College is located along Ukana Offot, making it one of the economic nerve centres of Uyo metropolis.

    It was rehabilitated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) few years back but the road broke down within a year, probably due to the poor quality of job done.

    Urua Ekpa, Udoete, Itu Road, Ikpa Road, Church Road, Idaha Okpo Road, Ukana Offot Road and many other adjoining streets are densely populated with students due to their proximity to the University of Uyo and the Uyo City Polytechnic.

    Yet these roads are impassable. They have been major sources of agony to residents as flood water pours into people’s houses whenever it rains.

    In response to the situation, the Akwa Ibom State Government had two years ago awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of the roads to Benest Engineering Technical Services.

    However, despite the mobilization of heavy construction equipment to the areas, the roads are still in terrible shape.

    Some residents of the areas lamented their plights, saying rather than bring succour, the rehabilitation works have caused more damages and pains to them. Commercial activities in the affected areas have also slowed down.

    Smart Ifiok, a 400 level student of the University of Uyo, who resides at Church Road, lamented that with the rainy season the roads have become impassable.

    He said: “I was in 100 Level when this construction company brought their equipment to try to rehabilitate the roads, but almost three years now, nothing has changed.

    “We experience heavy flooding whenever it rains, and you would see people scooping flood water out of their houses.

    “You can imagine the situation at times. We have lost a lot of property to flood.”

    Mrs. Akpanette Mboso, a resident of Udoette Street, says she has not driven her car for months because the roads are impassable.

    Mboso also complained about the problem of flood, warning that if nothing is done urgently, most houses in the area will be destroyed by water.

    She said: “I haven’t driven my car for months because there are no roads. The construction company has blocked the roads with their heavy equipment yet we cannot see anything it is doing.

    “I board keke (tricycle) with my family to be able to access the city centre. Even at that, it is very difficult for the tricyles to navigate the bad roads.

    “The governnment really has to show more commitment to redressing the situation.

    “It is either this construction company is changed or the government funds it to do a faster and good job.”

    State governments react

    The various state governments in their reactions said they were paying attention to all internal roads in the state expressing commitment to making the people’s lives comfortable.

    The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, upon resumption of office after emergency promised to address the concerns of the people.

    Speaking to Rivers’ people, he said: “Our immediate responsibility is to return to the path of governance and development by completing the projects which we started by ensuring none of them is starved of funds or neglected, thereby reviving our economy, protecting lives and property, and improving the wellbeing of all Rivers people

    Akwa Ibom State Government said that the pace of repair work on internal roads in Uyo was being slowed down by heavy rains.

    Commissioner for information, Aniekan Umanah, said that government was working to rehabilitate roads in Uyo and other major towns in the state.

    He said the government had already awarded contracts for the repair of the affected roads, urging residents to be patient until the rains are over.

    The State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, said: “Weeping may tarry in the night, but joy comes in the morning.

    His Excellency is not unaware of the present state of the road and is only waiting for the rains to abate.”

    Edo State Commissioner for Information, Paul Ohonbamu, said the state government planned holistic repair of failed roads across the state.

    Ohonbamu said the state did not want to follow pattern of precious administration where roads were hurriedly rehabilitated but failed after a few days.

    He said the plan of Governor Monday Okpebholo was to ensure that proper repair works were carried out.

    In Bayelsa, the state governor, Senator Douye Diri, was said to have given a marching order for comprehensive rehabilitation of internal roads in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said a directive to that effect was given to the Ministry for Works and Infrastructure for an audit of failed internal roads in the capital city.

    He said the directive was to enable strategic planning and execution of roads as the dry season sets in.

    He said a comprehensive audit of internal roads was ordered for reconstruction works on Ambassador Otiotio Street, Swali Market Road and Okaka Road, among others, in the next dry season.

    Alabrah lamented that many internal roads were in a deplorable conditions because they were poorly constructed in the past, stressing that with new directive, many internal roads will be adequately addressed.

    He added that marching orders had been given to the Ministry for Works and Infrastructure to ensure that high engineering standards are maintained when reconstruction works begin.

  • Group launches campaign for good governance in Southeast, South-south

    Group launches campaign for good governance in Southeast, South-south

    A non-governmental organization, the South East South South Alliance for Good Governance (SESSAGG) has launched a campaign to foster a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability in governance across the two geo-political zones.

    In a statement, its President, Alfred Ojinika said the initiative is coming against the background of the increasing demands for equitable policies and sustainable development. He added that the SESSAGG has outlined a comprehensive strategy to empower citizens and promote active civic engagement.

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    This initiative, he said, will include a series of educational workshops, community forums, and advocacy campaigns aimed at strengthening the principles of good governance at all levels.

    He said: “We believe that good governance is the cornerstone of a just and prosperous society. Our mission is to ensure that every individual in the Southeast and South-south regions has the opportunity to thrive through fair and transparent governance practices.”

    Ojinika said the key components of the initiative would include educational workshops on the importance of transparency, ethics, and accountability for public officials and community leaders.

    Others are community forums for citizens to voice their concerns, share ideas, and collaborate on solutions to local governance challenges, as well as advocacy campaigns that support equitable development and hold public officials accountable for their actions.

  • Strategic option for development of South-south and Southeast

    Strategic option for development of South-south and Southeast

    • By Mark Osonwanne

    Our country Nigeria turned 63 years this year 2023. In the individual life, this is a significant benchmark for it signals the onset of midlife for some people. For most successful persons this age indicates the period when much of the earlier investments in hard work, creativity, enterprise development would have matured and fruits of success would have been seen. Thus the rest of life for many will be period of consolidation and much harvesting from earlier endeavours. It is a critical period in the life of an individual. 

     The Niger Delta Regions situated on the Gulf of Guinea which is now one of the world’s leading domains for deep water oil and gas exploration account for less than 10% of the land area of Nigeria. It is one of the large wetlands of the world whose diverse ecology provides a challenge to the concept of sustainable development given the relative fragility of the ecosystem and particularly the potential for loss of biodiversity. Since the area accounts for up to 95% of the oil production, approximately 2mbpd and proven oil reserves of Nigeria, approximately 25 billion barrels with a potential for up to 40 billion barrels; its development should constitute a national priority. It is Nigeria’s ark of development or circle of development if we include offshore. The development if properly executed has the potential to drive the economic development of the rest of the country. If this is to happen our approach to its development must be comprehensive and holistic. We must also take into account the damage that has already been done by over 63 years of exploitation of the oil and gas reserves in a period when the world was not as environmentally conscious as we are today.

    There is now discussion of renewable energy and action. The ecological damage already done through loss of swamps especially of its flora and fauna, increase in turbidity of surface water, as well as the long term effects of gas flaring and potential environmental damage due to oil spills must be taken into account. The erosion menace and havoc in many parts of Southeast and South-south can be traced as a consequence of environmental degradation of the regions. 

    Situating Niger Delta region’s discourse in global ethical context 

    How is it possible that regions as resource-rich as the South-south and Southeast, with oil and gas streams that account for nearly 90% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, be ranked with the poorest in the world? What kind of distributive justice places emphasis only on the distribution of benefits without a commensurate attention to the distribution of burdens?

    Put in another way, what world order purports and supports a global citizenship are enjoyed by only a few at the expense of the rest? The South-south and Southeast belong to, and is inalienable from, the world community under the United Nations Charter. The principle still holds that all nations within this community are by nature equal, irrespective of the levels of their political, socio-economic and economic development. This being the case, the fundamental values, outlined in the Millennium Declaration in September 2000, namely, freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility should apply in these regions as elsewhere in the world.

    The international system that was founded on ‘cooperation’ rather than on ‘competition’ among and between states should actively pursue the path of collaboration among equal and reciprocally responsible partners on all issues, especially ones that lie at the very basis of the survival of mankind, not just nationally or regionally, but internationally. The absence of such international interest, cooperation and action on all issues, especially ones that concern indigenous communities who lack the political wherewithal, social connexion and fiscal means to resolve issues that adversely affect them, is a disturbing trend.

     The environmentally destructive engagement of multinational oil corporations in the South-south and Southeast qualifies, to be evaluated internationally on account of its global consequences, present and yet to come. This is why the issue of responsible and accountable use of the resources of the earth as a ‘public good’ demands central importance in international discourse.

    In the case of Nigeria, there appears to be a nexus between the collapse of public probity and the demise of environmental accountability, a potent mix at best. Operating on a faulty economic paradigm, successive policy regimes were primed into the blind quest for economic growth, with the hope that this would solve all the problems that development posed in the post-independence period and beyond. This has however not yet materialised, more than six decades later.

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     Instead Nigerians have witnessed the jettisoning of their African ethics of mutuality, where every individual was a sacred person-in-community, the string protecting the weak and the rich in the context of the community; where the ‘one’ was an unalienable part of the ‘whole’ that accorded her/him the full dignity of personhood irrespective of his/her particular limitations; where the ‘one’ lived, scarified and died for this ‘whole’ in return for the assurance of security and fullness of life that this ‘whole’ represented; where progeny was desired, planned for and celebrated as the epitome of intergenerational longevity.

    In place of this ethic, Nigerians have submitted, albeit grudgingly, to the official adoption of a survival-of-the-fittest mentality that subjects everything and everybody to assuaging the greed and ambitions of the powerful. 

    The massive resources needed for the development of the regions must involve the international community. However, the days of aid and charity are gone. Thus the resources that need to be mobilised must come as foreign and local investments. What programmes and incentives do we need to put in place to attract the massive foreign investments needed? Given the strategic location of Nigeria on the Gulf of Guinea and this at the hub of sea lanes of the South Atlantic and given the dominant position of Nigeria now and in the future in the international oil and gas industry, it must be our vision to build up the South-south and Southeast regions as the international hub for oil and gas industry in Africa and South Atlantic, much as Singapore has done for trade in the Asian region. 

    •Osonwanne, retired Oil and Gas professional, sent this piece from Saint Johns, Newfoundland, Canada

  • All eyes on INEC

    As Nigerians cast their votes in the presidential and National Assembly polls today, all eyes will be on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Will it deliver the credible elections INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has promised? ROBERT EGBE asks.

    FEMI Erinjogunola should not have had any reason not to cast his vote when this year’s polls get underway from 9 am today. The Graphics Artist and Judo aficionado registered for and obtained his Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) four years ago, just before the 2015 polls. But sometime last year, he noticed that his picture on the card had faded away, following which he lodged a complaint and applied for another one at INEC’s Mushin, Lagos office.

    “The officials noted my complaint, collected the damaged PVC and issued me a slip of paper. They promised to notify me as soon as the new card is ready,” Erinjogunola said. But they never did until last Wednesday, at exactly 6pm, when he got a text message, asking him to come for his PVC. He said: “When I got there, it was another story entirely. My name was not on the list of those whose cards were ready. They asked me and some others to come back for our PVCs after the elections.” Disenfranchised voters, unclaimed PVCs Erinjogunola’s story is not unique. There are probably hundreds of thousands like him around the country who fall within the same category, compulsorily disenfranchised by imperfections in the INEC’s system.

    There are also other categories: would-be voters who registered for PVCs but were put off by the sometimes stressful collection process, among other reasons. Since late last year, INEC has been raising the alarm about millions of unclaimed PVCs in many states across the country. On January 16, it moved about one million unclaimed Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to 245 wards in Lagos State to make collection easier for their owners. INEC facilities going up in smoke But recently, unclaimed PVCs have been the least of INEC’s immediate worries. Last Tuesday, 4,695 smart card readers were destroyed by fire that razed INEC’s facility in Anambra State. It was the third fire incident affecting INEC in 12 days, following closely behind those of INEC’s offices in lsiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of  Abia State and Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State. Some of the items destroyed in Isiala Ngwa included 2979 PVCs and other materials. At the Qua’an Pan office, items destroyed included 5987 uncollected PVCs, 380 Voting Cubicles, 755 ballot boxes, 14 generators, election forms and official stamps.

    How impartial is INEC? Last Wednesday, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole accused INEC of working for the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Oshiomhole alleged that two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the South-South were seen campaigning with the PDP during the electioneering. He said: “As we speak, there are two Resident Electoral Commissioners who are virtually campaigning line by line with the PDP in the South-South. “INEC, without giving us any explanation and without any concrete evidence, went ahead to say we can’t field candidates in Zamfara, thereby seeking to award, without any context, and nullify democracy in Zamfara State. “Is that the way your friends behave if they are your friends? INEC is working more for the PDP, based on evidence I can show. How can they explain that a court of competent jurisdiction gave orders in Zamfara to say this candidate is eligible to contest election and another high court in Abuja also gave a verdict saying APC did not conclude its primaries but did not give order to INEC? “There is no order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The Court of Appeal made a pronouncement on this matter today that there was no order from the court in Abuja, but that there was a concrete order from a Zamfara High Court which upheld the primaries that was conducted in Zamfara. “The INEC Chairman has said that when there are two court orders, they will adopt the last judgment. In Zamfara State, the Abuja judgment came first and the Zamfara judgment came last even though it is the same say. “More as INEC has said they will always obey the last judgment when it came to the Zamfara issue, they changed the goal post. As media, you have to be careful. When you say people alleged there were meetings and can’t even cite any, it is a disservice.

    We have been at the receiving end of abuse. “There is a candidate in Kano whose nomination we forwarded to INEC, but they changed the nomination and as we speak, we are in court over that. We showed our evidence.” We are impartial, says INEC But the commission denied the claims of collusion with any party to breach the polls. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, called on Oshiomhole to provide proof of his allegations. Oyekanmi said: “It is not true that the Independent National Electoral Commission is working hand in gloves with any political party to do the wrong things. The issue of Zamfara and Rivers are well known. “In the case of Zamfara, the commission had written to the APC leadership to notify it that, due to its inability to conduct its primaries in Zamfara State within the stipulated time as required by law, the party cannot field candidates for the governorship election.

    Thereafter, two cases were instituted in court resulting in two rulings which were delivered the same day. The commission then adopted one of the rulings. “In the case of Rivers, it was the Supreme Court that took a final decision on the fate of APC. Therefore, both cases were purely judicial and INEC, being a law abiding institution, will always obey court orders/judgment.” Safety of NYSC members Last December 19, two United States-based political institutes National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) – expressed worries over the general elections.

    They said Nigeria’s persistent insecurity and the perception about the lack of neutrality on the part of security forces could undermine voter participation and confidence in the outcome of next year’s polls. Several local analysts have also raised concerns about break out of violence in the elections, which could affect INEC staff, especially members of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), among others. Seven corps members were killed in Bauchi State during the violence that erupted after the 2011 general election. Also, one corps member was killed in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State during the legislative rerun election in the state in March of 2016. However, the NYSC DirectorGeneral, Suleiman Kazaure, assured corps members last November 6 that those who chose to work with INEC during the polls would not be sent to volatile areas. Kazaure, a Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army, gave this assurance when he visited the NYSC Orientation Camp in Sagamu, Ogun State. “I want to also state it here that no corps member will be used as ad-hoc staff in the volatile regions during the elections as their safety is of paramount concern to the scheme,” he said. 91 parties, 84m voters: Is INEC ready? The general elections will be contested by 56 out of 91 registered political parties and a total voting population of 84,004,084. According to INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, the polls will hold in 1,558 Constituencies and 774 Local Government Areas throughout the federation.

    “The collation of results will take place in 8, 809 Registration Areas/Wards and in 119, 973 Polling Units and 57, 023 Voting Points nationwide,’’ he said. The Presidential Election will be contested by 73 candidates, while the Governorship election will feature 1,068 candidates in 29 states. “The 109 Senate seats will be contested by 1,904 candidates, while the 360 seats in the House of Representatives will be contested by a total of 4, 680 candidates. “The 991 State Constituency elections will be contested by a total of 14, 583 candidates. The 68 Area Council seats in the Federal Capital Territory will be contested by 806 candidates,’’ he said. The commission will also conduct Area Council elections in the FCT, Abuja. “A total of 806 candidates will contest the election. This will involve 105 Chairmanship candidates and 701 Councillorship candidates.” Logistics hitches The logistics requirements of conducting such critical elections are bound to be huge. In previ ous elections, there were several cases of logistical hitches.

    This time round, can INEC fulfill its logistical duties? Are ballots going to be delivered to polling places on time? Will polling places open on time? How INEC will cope But INEC Chairman Prof Yakubu is not perturbed. He believes that several measures implemented by the agency will forestall any serious crisis. He assured Nigerians that their votes will count. Yakubu spoke when he received a delegation of the Commonwealth Observers Group led by former Tanzanian President, Dr Jakaya Kikwete, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. He stressed that the Commonwealth in its report on the 2015 general election made 32 recommendations, including the adoption of Simultaneous Accreditation and Voting System.

    The INEC boss said the commission had looked into the recommendations and implemented those within its power administratively, while those requiring amendment of the Constitution and Electoral Act had been sent to the appropriate authorities. Yakubu added that INEC had conducted 194 off-season elections with simultaneous accreditation and voting system, which is now part of election guidelines issued by the commission. The commission also said it had made other arrangements to make the elections peaceful around the country. For instance, INEC said it hired 1,700 buses for election duty in Enugu state for today’s elections. The commission said it would hire more than 10 trailers to move heavy materials and equipment before, during and after the polls – Enugu state currently has 1,942,776 registered voters, 4,146 voting locations and 260 political wards.

  • 2019: S/South, S/East monarchs worried over security of communities

    With the 2019 general elections drawing closer daily, traditional rulers from the Southern part of Nigeria have deemed it fit to draw a road map for elections that would be free, fair and violence free.

    They also expressed concerns for the safety and security of lives of members of their community during the forthcoming election.

    Arising from  the second Consultation Meeting of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) South-South, South East Chapter which held recently at the Best Western Homerville Hotel, Benin City, Edo State, the monarchs noted that if “the local community is saved, the whole Nigeria is saved.”

    Chairman of the Second Consultation Meeting of the Southern monarchs, HRH Edmund Daukoru, the Mingi XII Amanayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, said the meeting was convened to consider the security situation in the country particularly at a time when the elections are just round the corner.

    “This period is usually tensed and as traditional fathers, we felt we should get together and look at the matter from the grassroots point of view. Being that we have at many times look at it from the holistic national point of view but we felt that such brand of skills required quite some injection of money to get implemented.

    “So this time we changed the tactic and said we should look at it from a practical and local point of view because if our local community is saved, Nigeria is saved. So this is a complete departure from the past when we always focused on the problems from a very high level. But now we are talking about community security at the local government level, at the level of our respective kingdoms and the senatorial districts that is where our concerns rest now,” he said.

    Riding on the theme, “Ensuring a Violence-free 2019 General Elections in Our Zones and Kingdoms: The Role of Traditional Rulers”, he said, “We have made sure that the recommendations we arrived at this meeting does not require much money but require something that we as traditional rulers do every day and can implement by just applying a bit of more of our own time. But close to elections, we need to rededicate ourselves to what we already have been doing and draw up a sort of check list by engaging with local authorities and stakeholders.”

    “Elections exaggerate already exiting problems and tensions in our community, so we have to address those flash points and those cannot be immediately solved, at least stakeholders must have an understanding. And from the screening to primaries to the actual campaign strings and then the election day itself, we should ensure that we have secured places in our communities where voting materials and ballot boxes can be stored, and again, we should consider the means of the day,” he added.

    HRH (Dr) Appolus Chu, the Ebere Emere Okori, Eleme of Eleme Kingdom, Rivers State; HRH (Dr) Appolus Chu, (event sponsor) said the meeting was a platform where the traditional rulers from the South-south and South East part of Nigeria will come together and speak with one voice on the policies that would be made in the interest of the nation.

    “For today’s consultation, the main issue will be looking at ways of ensuring a violence-free 2019 general elections. Aside that, we are going to look at other areas of common interest and grounds where the traditional rulers from the Southern part of Nigeria would come together and rub minds.

    “We have touched the area of violence free election which is the theme of this meeting and we have touched other areas of collaborations amongst our various communities. The whole essence is to ensure that traditional rulers rise up to their responsibilities to ensure that things go the right way during the forthcoming general elections,” Chu said.

    He called on government and other stakeholders to provide conducive environment for people to vote during the elections and also calling on individuals in their various communities to conduct themselves properly during the voting process.

     

  • ‘APC to use Akwa Ibom to launch party to South-south’

    The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, on National Assembly Senate Matters Sen. Ita Enang, has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would use Akwa Ibom to launch the party to the South-South.

    Enang said this during the solidarity rally in honour of President Buhari and Nsima Ekere, Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) held in Uyo on Saturday.

    According to him, the president had said that Akwa Ibom is the greatest among the states in the South -South.

    “Akwa Ibom state shall be the launching ground from where APC shall launch to conquer Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Cross River and other South-South states,” Enang said.

    He called on all Akwa Ibom people to support Buhari in the forthcoming 2019 general elections, stressing that the president would do more for the state in his second term.

    The Presidential aide reminded the people that the Federal Government had approved the dualisation of Abak – Ekparakwa – Ette – Ikot Abasi road.

    Enang urged the people to support all APC candidates in the state to ensure even development, stressing that the PDP government in the state have utilise effectively the resources of the state.

    In his speech, Mr Nsima Ekere, Managing Director of NDDC, said Akwa Ibom people could not afford to play opposition again as an oil producing state.

    Ekere urged the people to support Buhari and vote APC massively to launch into the mainstream politics.

    “Akwa Ibom people have made up their mind that they cannot play opposition party in the state, they want to be part of APC government at the centre.

    “That is why Akwa Ibom people have troop out in thousands to identify with President Buhari and to say that they will vote APC all the way.

    “Today,  Akwa Ibom North East senatorial district had spoken that come 2019 APC in Akwa Ibom is one,” Ekere said.

    He promised to rename the Ibom Airport after the former governor,  Obong Victor Attah, and ensure the unity of all elder statesmen in the state.

    The large crowd of APC supporters thronged the venue of the event. (NAN)

  • FG slams PDP over infrastructural development in South East, South South

    Information and Culture Minister  Lai Mohammed, has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to present its scorecard of achievements, especially in the area of infrastructural development, in the South-East and the South-South in its 16 years in office.

    The Minister  threw the challenge while inspecting ongoing construction of the Enugu/ Port Harcourt Expressway on Thursday.

    He said it is disheartening that some politicians have made it their pastime to criticize the current administration for allegedly neglecting the two regions without any verifiable proof.

    “I’m particularly glad that we came on this trip for two reasons. I think it has given the lie to those naysayers, who have painted the administration as having done nothing for the South-East and the South-South,” he said.

    “When we were coming on this (third) stretch of the road, I was informed that until this administration came, an entire lane was completely impassable after it was turned to a refuse dump. Now the question is: In 16 years, what did the PDP do on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road?

    ‘’Everything that we saw (along the Enugu-Port Harcourt road) today is what this administration has achieved, yet some politicians are so fraudulent. They sit in Abuja and accuse the administration of doing nothing for the South-East and the South-South.”

    Alhaji Mohammed said the intervention of the present administration in the provision of infrastructure in the South-East, in particular, has exposed the PDP for deceiving the people of the region for the 16 years it was in power without anything to show.

    ‘’From what you have seen yesterday and today, you will see that this administration has done so much for this zone. We can now see that some people are just misinforming the public. I am glad that from the feedback we are getting, the people in the South-East know what is going on because they know what was going on for 16 years and are also here in the last three years and they have seen the difference,” he said.

    The Minister gave the assurance that the federal government will remain focused on completing inherited projects across the country.

    “The most important thing is that this government has been faithful, sincere, passionate and committed towards infrastructural development.  What we are doing has never been done in almost 16 to 20 years at least along this axis,” he said.

    The minister, who is currently on a nationwide media tour of federal  government infrastructural projects, had earlier inspected ongoing work at the Second Niger Bridge, where he expressed satisfaction with the pace of work.

     

  • NHRC to probe torture allegation against SARS

    …Seeks information from public

     

    The National Human Rights Commission has concluded plans for the probe of allegation of torture against men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in South South and South Eastern parts of the country.

    NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Anthony Ojukwu made this public on Tuesday while speaking at an event put in place by his agency, the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Human Rights Agenda Network (HRAN).

    Ojukwu said the planned probe was informed by increasingly complaints of torture against officials of SARS in those parts of the country.

    He said probe which will take the form of public hearing on SARS in the South South and South East geo-political zones, is “due to the endemic nature of Torture in the operations of SARS in those areas.

    “It is hoped that members of the public and the police authorities will assist the commission and cooperate to curb the practice of torture by SARS and other security agencies and hence reduce the incidence of torture in our polity.

    “In this regard, the commission wishes to commend the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for signing into law the Anti~Torture Act of 2017.

    “The Commission also commends the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for putting together the draft guidelines for the implementation of the new legislation.

    Read Also:El-Zakzaky: Shi’ite Members Protest at NHRC Headquarters over Police brutality

    “This is a clear statement on the part of the Federal Government of Nigeria to outlaw torture in our polity. It is therefore recommended to law enforcement agencies to take a cue from this message of the Federal Government on this day and stop all further acts of torture.

    “l also call on all Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to participate robustly in the discussions around adopting the guidelines for the implementation of the Anti-Torture Act 2017.

    “The commission uses this opportunity to call attention to it earlier directive on respect for human rights, while carrying out law enforcement duties as torture cannot be justified under any circumstance,” he said.

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) assured that the Federal Government was committed to curbing torture in the country.

    Represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF), Dayo Apata, the AGF said his office has, in line with its powers under the Anti-Torture Act, has drafted the rules and regulation for the effective implementation of the Act.

    The AGF added: “This rules and regulations have been drafted in such a manner as to give a simple appreciation of the Act. Key provisions have been repeated and clarified.

    “These should be no doubt about the commitment of the administration in ensuring that acts of torture are identified and penalised wherever and whenever they occur,” the AGF said.

    The Chairman, National Committee Against Torture (NCAT), Samson Ameh (SAN) urged all security agencies to shun acts of torture and abide by the provisions of the Anti-Torture Act.

  • Regional integration: South South, South East governors meet Sunday

    GOVERNORS of South South and South East zones will converge at Enugu state on Sunday July 9 to discuss various salient issues affecting the two regions as part of efforts by the governors of the two zones to further deepen regional integration. A statement by Emmanuel Uzor, the Chief Press Secretary to Ebonyi State Governor and Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Chief David Umahi, said the governors of the two zones are expected to meet and deliberate on issues of regional and national interests.

    He said the meeting which will hold at the Enugu State Government House is expected to bring about the much clamoured unity among the two zones as well as issues of how best to achieve cohesion, peace and tranquility in the two regions. “The Governors of South South and South East under the aegis of South South/South East Governors’ Forum are expected deliberate on various issues of national interests as leaders which includes, peace, security, economic situation in the region as well as how best to harness the rich human and natural resources abundant in the two regions.

    “They are also expected to talk on various issues including interstate crises among the two regions and find a lasting way of ending loss of human lives and property to intermittent outbreak of communal wars arising from boundary disputes between the two regions. “Governor David Umahi, the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum is indeed in high spirit to welcome his brother governors from the South South region led by the governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Udom Emmanuel to the all-important meeting”.

  • Suspected criminals set family house ablaze, kill three in Rivers

    Suspected criminals set family house ablaze, kill three in Rivers

    Unidentified criminals believed to be cultists has set ablaze a family house at Okpako-Ejemah in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State killing one  Alhaji Hamza Garuba, his wife and a step son.

    Mr. Muhammed Sani, younger brother to Garuba, narrated to The Nation that the arsonists, five in number invaded his brother’s house at about10.00p.m. Tuesday and attempted to rob the family.

    Sani said the bandits had attempted to rape wife of Garuba, but that the deceased who was infuriated stabbed one of the bandits to death.

    He said: “I believed the stabbing of that criminal may have infuriated other gang members who quickly ran out of the house, locked the entrance door and set the house ablaze. My brother, his wife and a step son were locked up inside the house while the house was on fire. Nobody was at hand to rescue them as all of them were burnt beyond recognition.”

    Muhammed stated that killing was not in connection of the clash between Hausa community and task force team in Onne, Eleme LGA, Monday, adding that Garuba was killed by criminals that invaded his house.

    However, the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident and added that two persons have been arrested in relation to the matter.

    Meantime, Arewa Consultative Forum, South-South, South-East branch, has condemned the killing and worried that mischief makers want to cause disunity among Hausa community and the people of Eleme.

    Speaking, the Coordinator of the body, Alhaji Musa Saidu, noted that Garuba was killed by bandits, saying: “The incident at Okpako-Ejemah was a clear case of robbery and arsonist attack. The Young man and his family were killed by arsonist who set their house ablaze. Hausa people have co-habited with their host community and they don’t have any issue.”