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January 21, 2022 INEC To Activate Additional 1,862 Centers To Aid Voter Registration

INEC To Activate Additional 1,862 Centers To Aid Voter Registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, met with security agencies to review Nigeria’s security situation.

The meeting was with a view to activate additional centers nationwide for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, disclosed this at the first regular Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting in 2022, in Abuja.

Yakubu said that INEC was aware of the constraints experienced by many citizens in reaching the 811 designated centers nationwide to register in the ongoing CVR.

“I want to assure Nigerians that we are aware of the constraints experienced by many citizens in reaching the 811 designated centers nationwide to register.

“Some of them are separated by considerable distance from the places where citizens reside.

“We are looking forward to activating the additional 1,862 centers nationwide to make it easier for citizens to exercise their right to register as voters.

“At the same time, we are mindful of the imperative of securing the process, especially the lives of registrants and our personnel. We will not put the lives of Nigerians and our registration officials at risk.

“For this reason, this meeting will review the security situation with a view to achieving our ultimate goal of activating 2,673 registration centers nationwide,’’ he said.

The INEC chairman, who commended security agencies’ professional conduct at the Anambra governorship election, urged them to sustain it for upcoming off cycle elections.

He said he was confident that the standard of professional conduct displayed by INEC officials and the security agencies in the Edo, Ondo and Anambra governorship elections would be maintained in all forthcoming polls, including the 2023 general elections.

“Our responsibility is to protect the process to guarantee its integrity while leaving the outcome of the election for voters to determine,” Yakubu added.

He said that 2022 would be a very busy year for the commission as it would be conducting pending nine constituencies’ bye-elections.

He added that INEC would also conduct Ekiti and Osun governorship elections scheduled for June 18, and July 16 respectively as well as the FCT Area Council poll holding on Feb. 12.

He noted that the Commissioner of Police in FCT would brief the meeting on the state of preparation with emphasis on the identified flashpoints and the security situation generally in the FCT.

Yakubu added that INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner and the commission would also provide an overview of the commission’s readiness for the FCT election.

“In addition to these off-cycle and bye-elections, we must also continue to prepare for the 2023 general elections holding in 394 days.

“Securing the nation under current circumstances is challenging enough. It is more so in an election year.

“Beginning from this meeting, we shall focus mainly on the best way to secure the electoral process in the most professional manner,” he said.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to ensuring free, fair and credible elections in Ekiti, Osun and the 2023 general elections.

Represented by Mr Sanusi Galadima, Monguno said that all available security and intelligence assets of government would be mobilised toward achieving the same objective.

Monguno, who is also the Co-Chairman of ICCES, commended INEC chairman and staff, security personnel and other international partners that made Anambra governorship election credible and peaceful.

He said that the ICCES meeting would help members to collectively brainstorm on how to address the identified challenges with the electoral process and proffer solutions in a proactive manner.

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January 21, 2022 NLC Rejects Proposed Petrol Price Hike

NLC Rejects Proposed Petrol Price Hike

The National Economic Council had recently recommended that the price of petrol be pegged at N302 per litre.

The president of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba has kicked against the proposed increase in the price of petrol, saying it would send many Nigerian to their graves early.

The ad-hoc committee of the National Economic Council (NEC) had recently recommended that the price of Premium Motor Spirit better known as petrol be increased to N302 per litre.

It was also recommended that the price hike should take effect from February.

Currently, a litre of petrol is between N162 and N167.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, the NLC president insisted that the union would reject the proposed price hike.

He said the hike would compound the problems of Nigerians whose salaries are not enough to take them home.

Ayuba said, “In 2016, they promised minimum wage will be implemented and everybody will be paid. As I speak to you, six states have not even started. It is part of the agreement.

“About the palliative in 2016, we also discussed palliative. N500 billion was earmarked for palliative, including housing and the issue of transportation. These things are not in place.

“Therefore, it goes beyond promise. It is now about looking at the issue and importantly, the whole world is now in a very precarious situation. Many workers have lost their jobs, those on fixed wages their salaries cannot take them home — that is the reality.

“In this complex issue, if we compound it with the price hike of PMS, it then means that many people will go to their graves early. It is better we try to also resist the issue and make sure people are safe.”

Speaking further, Ayuba said Nigeria has four refineries and should not have any reason to import petrol.

He said, “We have every reason not to import refined products. We have four refineries that are moribund. Those refineries are new; they are not old.

“In India, we have a refinery that is 100 years old. Refineries can be refurbished. Refineries can be upgraded from one refining capacity to another. This can be done.

“Those refineries are not old. Deliberately, they are made not to work just because there are a lot of incentives.”

Also, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) has warned the Federal Government against increasing the price of petrol.  

Abubakar issued the warning on Thursday, January 20, 2022, while speaking at the 19th Daily Trust Dialogue in Abuja.

January 21, 2022 NCDC Reports 6 COVID-19 Deaths, 123 New Infections

NCDC Reports 6 COVID-19 Deaths, 123 New Infections

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 123 additional lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and witnessed six more deaths linked to virus in 12 states of the federation on Thursday.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 123 additional lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and witnessed six more deaths linked to virus in 12 states of the federation on Thursday.

The agency, via its official website on Friday morning, said 38 of those cases were in Edo, 25 were in Osun, 22 were in Rivers, 12 were in Kaduna and 10 cases in Oyo State.

The agency noted that Kwara added six new cases on Thursday, Ogun reported three cases, Bauchi and Kano reported two cases each, Borno, Delta and Ekiti reported one case each.

According to it, today’s report includes five states with zero cases reported: Abia, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau and Sokoto.

The NCDC said that the country had a total of 3,123 COVID-19-related deaths among residents has been recorded since the start of the pandemic in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, 175 patients were reported to have recovered from the infection and discharged from hospitals on Thursday.

With the latest update by NCDC, the tally of infected people in the nation reached to 251,694, out of which 225,455 COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged since the nation was hit by the virus outbreak.

January 19, 2022 Brighton Further Dent Chelsea’s Fleeting Title Charge After A Draw At The Amex

Brighton Further Dent Chelsea’s Fleeting Title Charge After A Draw At The Amex

Brighton came from behind to earn a well-deserved draw at the Amex Stadium, further reducing Chelsea’s already slim chances of winning the Premier League this season.

Thomas Tuchel’s side got off to a shaky start and lacked dominance throughout, with Hakim Ziyech scoring against the run of play with a well-struck low drive from outside the box.

In the second half, Adam Webster found all the space he needed to head in from a corner and give the home side a point to reward an energetic and determined performance.

But the Blues couldn’t capitalize on the momentum, never looking confident, and despite their best efforts, they couldn’t reclaim the lead and claim the crucial victory.

The difference between the Blues and Manchester City, who are in first place, is 12 points, with Thomas Tuchel’s side having played one game more – a seemingly insurmountable chasm, while Brighton are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, and Graham Potter’s side continues to improve in confidence and class.

They appeared significantly more likely to win the game in the closing 30 minutes after their equalizer, but instead had to settle for a point, leaving them on 29, three points short of a European qualification spot.

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