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Adamawa guber poll: Tinubu asks police to conduct full investigation

Mustapha USMAN
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Adamawa guber poll: Tinubu asks police to conduct full investigation

PRESIDENT-Elect Bola Tinubu, has asked the Nigeria Police Force to investigate what transpired during the supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State.

Tinubu also urged all those who feel aggrieved at the outcome of the poll to pursue legitimate means of addressing their grievances.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2023 presidential election disclosed this in a statement he signed and released via his Twitter handle on Wednesday, April 19.

He also called on all those elected in the general elections to brace themselves for the task ahead, urging them to rededicate themselves to selfless service.

He wrote: “With the conclusion of the 2023 elections, I now welcome all of us who have been elected to brace up to serve our people with diligence and dedication and to join hands with me as your President-elect in the pursuit of our agenda to renew the hopes of our people in a better, stronger, more secure, economically vibrant and prosperous Nigeria.

“I congratulate the winners of the Supplementary Governorship elections held in Kebbi and Adamawa States on Saturday, April 15, 2023. I also rejoice with those elected into the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly during the last round of elections in states where such took place. These victorious men and women have earned the trust of their people and I call on them to rededicate themselves to the service of their respective constituents.

“The supplementary polls have now brought the 2023 elections to a final, fitting conclusion. I observed, with satisfaction, the largely peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the supplementary election on Saturday. It was a further testimony that our citizens have accepted democratic norms and have unalloyed faith in the electoral process.

“However, I note the matter of Adamawa Supplementary Governorship Election and I urge police authorities to fully investigate all that transpired in the election given the attendant controversy.

“In every democratic contest there has to be one winner. I call on those aggrieved to pursue legitimate means of addressing their grievances.”

The ICIR had earlier reported how the resident electoral commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, illegally announced APC’s Aishatu Binani as the winner of the election despite ongoing collation of results.

The announcement caused widespread outrage among residents of the state and some concerned Nigerians.

Subsequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission nullified the announcement made by the REC, noting that it was unconstitutional and unofficial

On Tuesday, April 18, the electoral body finally declared Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election after collating the the result of the supplementary election.

According to the returning officer of the state  Muhammed Melee, Fintiri secured a second term in office after polling 430,861 votes to defeat other contestants.

Nigerian Railway Corporation revenue drops from N6bn to N5.6bn in 2022

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Nigerian Railway Corporation revenue drops from N6bn to N5.6bn in 2022

THE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) generated an income of N5.57 billion from passengers, goods and other services in 2022, a 7.69 per cent reduction from the N6.03 billion it generated in 2021.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its latest data report on the NRC performance for the third and fourth quarters of 2022, the Corporation generated N4.54 billion from only passengers last year, while it got N5.69 billion in 2021.

The NRC also raked in N416.85 million in 2022 from cargoes, an improvement on the N299.80 million figure it earned in 2021 from such service.

The report showed that the NRC realised N607.80 million as income from other receipts in 2022, compared to the N38.42 million recorded in 2021.

The NBS further noted that the Corporation generated N2.07 billion and N598 million in the first and second quarters of 2022, while it raked in N715 million and N1.15 billion in the third and fourth quarters.

The report stressed that N71.76 million, N86 million, N101.8 million and N157.233 million were generated from goods and cargoes in the first, second, third and fourth quarters respectively.

It also showed that the N603.80 million got from other income revenue receipts spread across the four quarters.

Although N57.92 millon and N49.72 million were gathered in the first and second quarters, N117.98 million and  N382.16 million were generated in the third and fourth quarters.

The report stated that more that 3.2 million passengers made use of the railway service in 2022.

It also revealed that 118,000 volumes of goods used NRC’s cargo service.

Train attacks affected NRC’s revenue

The ICIR reported that the NRC temporarily suspended services on the Abuja-Kaduna route.

The suspension followed a terrorist attack on a Kaduna-bound train carrying hundreds of passengers on the evening of May 28.

According to the NRC, there were reports of gunshots, and the train derailed due to the attack.

The report noted that the bandits detonated a bomb on the Abuja-Kaduna track and successfully immobilised it at a point between Katari and Rijana.

Further revelations from the NRC stated that 146 of the 362 passengers on the Kaduna-bound train attacked by terrorists on March 28 could not be reached six days after the incident.

More than 60 passengers were whisked away and abducted, while nine were killed.

Subsequently, The ICIR reported that the NRC suspended the Lagos-Kano and Ajaokuta train services due to threats of terrorist attacks.

According to the NRC managing director, Fidet Okhiria, the Lagos-Kano and Ajaokuta train services were suspended due to insecurity fears.

Okhiria had said, “We have not stopped (services). Rather, what we said was that we are not going to be stopping at the Ajaokuta station.

“This is because yesterday (Monday), while passengers were leaving the station with their private cars and buses, they had people shooting at them. So we said we will not stop there again for passengers.”

Also, in January 2022, the Warri-Itakpe train service (WITS) was grounded after a train operating the route was derailed, which left passengers stranded. The ICIR reported that the NRC declared that its services along the Abuja-Kaduna rail lines and Nigeria resumed on Tuesday, January 31.

Consequently, The ICIR further reported that the NRC bemoaned that about N113 million was lost due to the shutdown of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line for over eight months.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in December 2022,  Okhiria said many Nigerians incurred some losses indirectly due to the halt of operations on the route.

He said, ”The last time we checked –  that was between the months of February to August – we have lost about N113 million, using what we were earning between January and March as a working document.

“When the train was working, there were a lot of other businesses that were going on.

“So those were indirect benefits and costs that had been lost to the Nigerian economy.

“More so, somebody who would have travelled from Kaduna to Abuja via train for some form of transaction and couldn’t make it because the trains were not running would have also lost something.

“The economic benefits are also lost. So we should not only look at the Naira and kobo that the NRC would have been able to make from it, but at all other losses by Nigerians,” he said.

Two die as building under construction collapses in Abuja

Ijeoma OPARA
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Two die as building under construction collapses in Abuja

TWO persons died in a building collapse that occurred in the Wuse 2 area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday, April 19.

A fence adjacent the building fell on the structure, which was still under construction, trapping six workers.

According to eye witnesses, the foundation of the building had been dug too close to surrounding houses, and affected the fence of the adjoining building, leading to the collapse.

Corroborating eyewitness accounts, Head of Operations, FCT Fire Service Adebayo Amiola, while addressing journalists at the scene, said there was no retaining wall around the structure which could have mitigated the incident.

“Out of the six people that were trapped, four were rescued alive and two were fatally injured. The building was under construction and the adjacent fence to the main building under construction collapses on men that were working on the site.

“No retaining wall was introduced while they were excavating the site where the building will be situated, so the adjacent wall fell on the people that were working,” Amiola said.

He said the injured persons have been conveyed to the General Hospital, Asokoro for medical treatment.

Director, Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCDA) Mukhtar Usman Galadima told journalists that there was an earlier order stopping work at the site until necessary measures were put in place.

“The Department of Development Control has done all within its power by even stopping the work here. But then the developer, maybe using his engineer, did not heed the warning and then this incident happened.

“Because when you are doing this kind of activity, you need to shore it up, retain the wall so that there will be no collapse. We didn’t know that work had resumed until this thing happened this morning.”

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), FCT Fire Service, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others, were present at the scene.

On Thursday, February 2, a three-storey building still under construction collapsed in the Gwarimpa area of the FCT, killing three persons.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) subsequently revoked the allocation for the plot on which the building was being constructed.

Also, in 2022, at least two people died when a building housing a shopping mall collapsed at the Kubwa area of the FCT.

Adamawa guber: Lawyer charges NBA to sanction suspended REC

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Adamawa guber: Lawyer charges NBA to sanction suspended REC

CHAIRMAN of the Section of Public Interest and Development (SPIDEL) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani, has charged the association to take disciplinary actions against the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, Hudu Ari.

Ari, a lawyer, was suspended by INEC for “illegally” declaring the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Aishatu Binani, the winner of the Adamawa State governorship election.

Speaking on Channels TV on Wednesday, April 19, Ubani commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the suspension of the REC.

Ubani urged the NBA to join INEC in sanctioning Ari.

“I haven’t seen the kind of brazenness ever exhibited by any public officer, and I know that the Nigerian Bar Association would take this matter up with the issue of discipline on that lawyer. He didn’t behave very well at all and he never represented Nigeria very well.”

Ubani further commended INEC for stabilising the situation in Adamawa.

“What saved the day was INEC’s quick intervention. As pointed out, the INEC office in Abuja did the right thing by suspending collation and inviting all the necessary officers to come to Abuja to look at what has happened.

“There is a due process that the Act has provided and he (Adamawa REC) must comply with all that and there is nothing anyone can do about it. You have done the wrong thing and I am very happy that INEC has done the right because of the outcry.”

According to Ubani, INEC’s position against letigitimization of illegality was in line with the reaction of Nigerians.

“It is impunity that has actually grown in this country where people are not punished for offences and I am very happy that the institution has corrected itself instantly over this particular thing because of the outcry.

“It has happened when the PDP was there, they were doing everything and getting away with it and asking you to go to court.”

Ubani called for a comprehensive probe of what transpired in Adamawa, adding that those found culpable should be made to face the law.

“There is nothing wrong in carrying out what we call a comprehensive audit, comprehensive investigation of what transpired in Adamawa and to know those behind what has happened,” he said.

“There is nothing wrong in going into a proper investigation of what transpired. Who was behind what? Who authorised him to announce results without any basis?

“Who are these security agents that were with him? Who authorised them to be with him? Why will he brazenly do what he did and think he can get away with it?”

The ICIR reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on April 18 declared the incumbent governor of Adamawa and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmadu Fintiri, winner of the controversial gubernatorial poll in the state.

Fintiri secured a total of 430,861 votes, surpassing his main opponent, Binani of the APC, who got 398,788 votes.

Peter Obi vows to reclaim ‘mandate’, says no going back

Vincent Ufuoma
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Peter Obi vows to reclaim ‘mandate’, says no going back

LABOUR Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has vowed there is no going back in efforts to reclaim his mandate.

Obi is currently challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election, which saw Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) declared as the winner.

In a series of tweets, Obi urged his supporters to remain calm.

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“I encourage Nigerians to remain calm and steadfast in the journey to reclaiming their mandate of a New Nigeria. I will never give up on this journey until victory is achieved.

“The struggle to reclaim this mandate is not about me as a person but, about millions of Nigerians who placed their trust in me through their votes.

“The millions of Nigerians who voted for me did not just cast their votes but, they invested their hopes in me and they deserve justice. So, we must stay the course.”

Obi noted that his opponents are making attempts to distract him and tarnish his image.

He also noted that those who benefited from the status quo are fighting back.

Stressing that he would not be deterred, the LP presidential candidate said, “I never expected the journey to a New Nigeria to be an easy one. The forces, who had over the years, lived off the old order, are bound to fight back, as is being experienced now.

“If they come at us through land, air and sea, we will respond to them through land, air and sea but, we will remain law abiding and will never give up on the nation. We are on the right path and we will remain committed to the course.”

The former governor of Anambra State reassured his supporters that the court case would provide an opportunity to reclaim their mandate, and promised to rebuild the wealth of the nation if given the chance as president.

He also pledged to start with the North, which has been plagued by poverty and insecurity.

He also reiterated his commitment to lifting people out of poverty and transforming Nigeria for the better.

Despite the obstacles in his path, Obi expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious in the end.

He insisted that he had always lived his life in a law-abiding manner and was not afraid of the lies and propaganda against him.

The presidential election held on February 25, 2023, was highly controversial, with many allegations of rigging and irregularities.

Obi and his party, the LP have refused to accept the outcome and are challenging it in court.

The ruling party, APC, has dismissed the allegations and accused Obi of trying to foment trouble.

Excitement at Immigration as FG directs Acting CG to proceed on retirement

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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Excitement at Immigration as FG directs Acting CG to proceed on retirement

THE Governing Board of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has asked the Acting Comptroller-General (CG) of Immigration, Isah Jere Idris, to proceed on retirement on or before April 24, 2023.

The Punch reported that the Board gave the directive in a memo dated Monday, April 17.

The memo was signed by the secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, Obasi Edmond, on the orders of the Board Chairman and Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola.

It was titled, “Notification of expiration of one-year extension in office as acting Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service.”

In the memo dated April 17, 2023, with code number CDCFIB/APPT.CG&DCG/61/VOL.IV/74, the Board advised the CG to hand over to the most senior officer in the organisation. 

Part of the memo reads, “I write to draw your attention to the end of one-year extension in office granted to you by Mr President via letter no. SH/COS/42/3/3/A128 date April 22, 2022, and which would be expiring on April 24, 2023.

“Consequently, you are directed to hand over to the most senior Deputy Comptroller-General on or before Monday, April 24, 2023, pending Mr President’s appointment of a substantive Comptroller-General of the Service.

“The Board is grateful to you for your immense contributions to the Nigeria Immigration Service and to the country and wishes you success in your future endeavours.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had, last year, extended the service of the acting CG, who was due to retire on April 17, 2022, when he clocked 60 years, according to the civil service rule.

Buhari had appointed Idris to replace Muhammed Babandede, whose tenure ended in 2021. He was in office for five years.

His appointment was frowned at by some Nigerians who accused the President of picking people of Northern extraction to head all the country’s paramilitary agencies throughout his two terms in office, totalling eight years.

The President leaves office on May 29.

Idris was in charge of Finance and Accounts in the Immigration Service when he was appointed.

Meanwhile, sources at the Immigration Service told The ICIR on Wednesday, April 19, that Idris was not ready to leave until the Board asked him to quit.

During a visit to the NIS headquarters on Wednesday, The ICIR reporter observed that many Immigration staff were excited about the government’s decision to retire the acting CG.

The ICIR reporter spoke to a number of Immigration personnel, who expressed happiness at the development.

“Don’t mind him. He was supposed to go last year in April. He was looking for an extension. He was not ready to go until Aregbesola (interior minister) told him to go,” a staff who did not want to be named said.

Other staff who spoke with The ICIR reporter expressed similar views. It was gathered that many personnel of the Immigration Service were not happy with the extension of the acting CG’s service last year.

Another staff urged the Federal Government to appoint the most senior official of the agency as the substantive CG.

“The government should look at the year of entry of the two most senior (people in the organisation). Aregbesola must put a CG there before quitting because he (the minister) is leaving with the President. Let’s see how it goes between now and next week.”

Checks by The ICIR revealed that the most senior official in the institution is due to retire next month (May).

Reuters Institute hosts seminar series

Blessing OTOIBHI
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Reuters Institute hosts seminar series

THE Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism will host a series of weekly seminars on global journalism from April to June on Zoom as part of its Journalist Fellowship Program.

Guests will discuss some of the most pressing issues in journalism including climate reporting and the environment, the intersection between AI and journalism, and crowdfunding.

They will also share how to use tools like TikTok and how to deal with online hate and harassment.

The weekly sessions will run from April 26, 2023, to June 21, 2023. Anyone can attend this free program.

Registration is ongoing but required. Interested persons should apply here.

NCoS blames govs as number of prisoners on death row rise to 3,298

Beloved JOHN
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NCoS blames govs as number of prisoners on death row rise to 3,298

THE Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has said there are about 3,298 inmates on death row in Nigerian prisons.

NCos public relations officer, Abubakar Umar, said this in an interview with NAN on Wednesday, April 19.

The prisons spokesman blamed the high number of death row inmates on the hesitation of state governors to sign death warrants.

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According to him, death sentences are not always carried out due to the governors’ reluctance to sign warrants for execution of condemned prisoners.

“As of today, we have a total of 3,298 inmates on death row. They constitute about 4.5 per cent of the total number of inmates in our various custodial centres nationwide,” he said.

“They are awaiting the hangman’s noose in our custodial centres after being found guilty of capital offences.”

However, Umar further explained that sometimes execution of condemned prisoners is delayed because the concerned cases are still being appealed at higher courts.

“There are often long periods of uncertainty for the convicted prisoners while their cases are being appealed at higher levels.

“Some offenders have not been executed more than 15 years after their convictions.”

He noted that some inmates on death row committed capital offences like culpable homicide, armed robbery and terrorism.

The NCoS spokesman noted that, although they have been condemned, the inmates are given the opportunity to turn a new leaf.

“The good thing is that we engage all of them in activities that will reform and modify their behaviours.

“The goal is to make them better citizens of the nation.

“We also make them undergo personal development programmes like anger management, civic education, as well as entrepreneurship.”

Although the death sentence is legal in Nigeria, executions are a rarity.

While state governments rarely approve the execution of the death penalty, judges continue to pronounce the capital punishment for offences like treason, kidnapping, murder, armed robbery and involvement with militia groups.

The Federal Government has repeatedly called on state governors to exercise their constitutional responsibility of signing death warrants of criminals on death row.

In a report released in 2018, the human rights group, Amnesty International noted that Nigeria has the highest death row population in sub-Saharan Africa.

The group disclosed that between 2007 and 2017, there were seven executions in the country, with the last in 2016.

However, Amnesty International has also called for the abolition of the death sentence in Nigeria.

Biophilia Award recognises environmental communication

Blessing OTOIBHI
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0
Biophilia Award recognises environmental communication

THE BBVA Foundation is accepting entries for the Biophilia Award for Environmental Communication.

The award aims to recognise contributions in any aspect of environmental communication, especially in the areas of biodiversity conservation and climate change, characterised by a particularly innovative approach.

These contributions may encompass a wide spectrum of formats, styles, and channels, including articles, monographs, multimedia materials and books, the preparation, editing, and presentation of reports and documentaries, the design and curatorship of exhibitions, and projects in any medium (press, radio, television, film, documentary or Internet).

READ ALSO:

The winner will receive EUR100,000 (US$109,278), a diploma, and a commemorative artwork during a public ceremony.

Journalists, filmmakers, and documentarians can compete for a cash prize.

The deadline for submission of entries is May 31, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.

Nikon, others offer grants for visual photographers

Blessing OTOIBHI
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0
Nikon, others offer grants for visual photographers

WOMEN Photograph, Leica USA, MPB and Nikon are inviting emerging visual journalists to apply for documentary grants.

Grants, which vary from US$5,000 to US$10,000, can support either new or in-progress documentary projects.

Applicants are invited to submit a photo story, rather than singles, as part of the application. Multimedia projects are welcome.

Additional consideration will be given to applicants who are engaged with the communities they cover beyond traditional journalistic documentation.

The organisers say funding should primarily be used to support the production of new work, including the hard costs of reporting, and photographers’ creative fees, but may also partially fund community engagement programming.

Women and non-binary documentary photographers of any nationality can apply for grants.

The deadline for the submission of application is May 15, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.

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