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CVR: INEC Urges CSOs To Sensitise Nigerians

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to civil society organisations (CSOs) to sensitise Nigerians on the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Sam Olumekun, made the plea yesterday at a workshop for CSOs organised in partnership with African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention (AYICRIP) in Lagos.
The Tide source reports that the one-day workshop focused on Role of Civil Society Organisations and the Youth in the Mobilisation of Citizens for Electoral Participation and Education.
The workshop, themed, “The Fight Against Electoral Violence and Voter Apathy: The Role of Civil Society Organisations”, was organised in commemoration of the United Nations International Youth Day 2021.
Olumekun, who was represented by Mr James Popoola, INEC Administrative Secretary, urged the CSOs to be at the vanguard of voter education and sensitisation to curb voter apathy and deepen democracy.
The REC said that the workshop was held at an auspicious time when INEC had commenced the dual CVR online and physical registration exercise.
He commended AYICRIP for being a worthy partner with the commission in sensitisation of voters, adding that INEC also partnered the group for the door-to-door sensitisation of voters in preparation for the 2019 General Elections.
“As partners in progress, you assist through your various platforms to encourage more Nigerians who are able to use the online portal for their pre-registration to do so in order to reduce congestion at the state and local government offices of the commission.
“As representatives of various Civil Society Organisations, you will no doubt play a crucial role in sensitising the people, not only on how to register, but on how to imbibe voter education and electoral information.
“INEC cannot do it alone, we therefore enjoin other relevant stakeholders in their own way to be vanguard of voter education.
“They should help to spread the electoral knowledge to others,” he said.
According to him, CVR exercise is only for those who are 18 years and above and have not registered previously.
He added that the exercise was also for registered voters who had had any problem during accreditation in any past election with either the Permanent Voters Cards or their fingerprints not being read by the Smart Card Reader.
He added that registered voters who wanted to transfer their voting location from one place to another could also used the CVR window.
The INEC boss said that registered voters who wanted to correct issues with their data, such as misspelt names, dates of birth and others, and those whose PVCs had been lost or damaged could use the window.
Speaking, Mr Waheed Ishola, Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Lagos State, said that INEC had been doing its own bit on voter education in collaboration with NOA and other critical stakeholders.
Ishola said: “It behoves on our youths who have always been complaining of being left out of the decision making process to now take it upon themselves to get registered and take part in electoral process.”
Commenting, Mr Nelson Ekujumi, from the Committee for the Protection of People’s Mandate, said that the event was to enlighten Nigerians as well as to educate other CSOs on their roles to the society in engendering active citizens participation in elections.
Ekujumi added that the workshop was aimed at mitigating electoral violence, urging CSOs to swing into action towards addressing “the issues of voter apathy that has bedeviled elections in recent past”.
Earlier, Amb. Christogonus Ibe, Founder/Executive Director, AYICRIP, said that citizens had roles in the fight against electoral violence and voter apathy as well as other forms of challenges and vices in the electoral system.
Ibe, who noted that though the world was marking the International Youth Day, the CSOs considered electoral system the nation’s greatest problem because had thrown up bad leaders.
According to him, when the nation has a reformed electoral system and informed citizens, leaders that understand the plights of the citizens will emerge to tackle all other issues facing the masses.
He said that the group had monitored the ongoing CVR and discovered the lackadaisical attitude of most Nigerian youths, thereby disenfranchising themselves.
Ibe said: “It is incumbent on all of us if we claim we are representatives of the people and voices of the people. Most of us are resting on our oars.
“It is time we came out of our comfort zones and start talking to the people, the need for them to register in the ongoing CVR, be equipped and be armed with their voter card because that is their strength.
“World over, the process of registration actually determines the outcomes of elections, not the votes itself. If citizens don’t register to vote, they will not have the right of opportunity to cast their votes.”
He urged CSOs to go back to churches, mosques, markets, streets, community, religious and professional organisations with economy-friendly programmes of sensitisation, saying that most Nigerians were no longer interested in the electoral system.
Mrs Briana Olson, Political/ Economic Officer at U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, commended the CSOs’ role in electoral process, particularly in preventing electoral violence, voter apathy and engaging citizens.
She said that US shared a common interest with Nigeria in conducting peaceful, transparent and fair elections, which made Nigeria stronger and a more reliable partner of U.S.
She said that CSOs had a lot of roles to play including keeping voters engaged, increasing the participation of voters, monitoring election results as well as electoral malpractices.

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Monarch Hails Fubara Over Road Project

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Ogene of Asa Asi Asaga Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Andrew Enemuwa, has expressed gratitude to the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the award of the contract for construction of Igiri- Ubimini-Egbeda-Elele road project.
Eze Enemuwa said the people of the local government are proud associating with a visionary leader like Governor Fubara whose interest in the development of his people knows no bounds.
The monarch, also the Secretary of Ogba Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Council said the unprecedented crowd of ONELGA people that attended the event shows that Governor Fubara is greatly loved and cherished by the people.
The Eze Dike Di Nu Obi of Ogbaland said the presence of the traditional rulers at the event speaks volumes.
The Okene Asa Kaka urged the people of the area to support Governor Fubara to attract more development to the local government area.

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1,680 Children Abducted In Nigeria -UNICEF

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As Nigeria marks 10 years anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, the United Nations Children Fund( UNICEF) has  put the number of abducted children at different schools within the last 10 years in Nigeria at 1,680.
The organisation said this at an event it organised in conjunction with the Faculty of Media and Communications Studies in the University of Port Harcourt to mark the 10 years anniversary of Chibok girls abductions.
According to UNICEF release read by Communication officer, UNICEF Nigeria Dr Mrs Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe, 180 children were killed within the period under review due to attacks on schools, while an estimated 60 school Staff were kidnapped,14 killed and more than 70 attacks on schools.
It urged the Nigerian Government and security agencies to intensify effort towards the rescue of the 90 remaining Chibok girls.
UNICEF described the Chibok girls saga as a wakeup call to the severe risks children face in their pursuit of education
‘Today, reflecting on this tragedy and other recent abductions, it is evident that our efforts to safeguard our children’s future must be amplified
“Given this alarming statistics, we must address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of this crisis,” it said.
UNICEF also said that the threat of abduction of students is severely affecting children’s learning.
“As at 2021, over one million children were afraid to return to school and in 2020, around 11,500 schools were closed due to attacks”, it said.
It called on the government and the international community to ensure that all schools have the resources and tools to fully implement the minimum standards for safe schools, focus on the most vulnerable regions and address critical gaps in safe schools infrastructure.
UNICEF also called for preparedness for natural disasters, conflicts and comprehensive approaches to violence against children.
Others include, strengthening law enforcement and security measures to protect educational institutions and communities from attacks and abduction, prioritising education and child protection in national policies and budget allocations to create a safer, more inclusive environment for all Nigerian children and ensure the continuity of education and learning when schools are shut through multiple learning pathways such as radio and TV programme and through digital platforms the Nigerian learning Passport.
Ogwe said UNICEF is working with the Nigerian Government to ensure that every child can access safe learning environment.
“The agency has supported the inauguration of state safe school steering committees and the drafting of state costed implementation plans for safe schools in 13 States.
“It also provides school grants, safety kits training and awareness raising to accelerate the implementation of the minimum standards for safe schools.
“As we remember the Chibok girls and all children whose rights to education have been compromised, let this somber anniversary serves as a catalyst for change”, UNICEF said.
Speaking with The Tide, Dr Nwachukwu Ginikanwa said the anniversary should serve as a wakeup call to the authorities to take the issue of security seriously.

John Bibor

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Fubara Has Rekindled Rivers Hope-Former Envoy

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As the one year anniversary of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration in Rivers State draws closer, a former Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Amb.Oji Ngofa, says the Governor has rekindled the hope of Rivers people.
Amb. Ngofa said within the one year of the administration, the Governor has shown a sense of connecting the people and the government unlike the immediate past administration led by Chief Nyesom Wike.
The former Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) explained that within one year, Rivers people are seeing a visionary leadership whose imagination is essentially focused on the desire to improve the lives of the people, with the sole aim of creating an economy where everyone can participate.
Speaking in an interview in Port Harcourt, the forrmer Ambassador said Governor Fubara has been able to engage relevant stakeholders and sectors of the State which, according to him, remains the hallmark of leadership.
He emphasised that with Governor Fubara, no doubt, Rivers State is in safe hands, saying with Governor Fubara, there is the likelihood that the State would be greater than other States.
He noted that the Governor’s vision to develop and give capacity to the people in order to participate in the economy as well as creating the enabling environment for business to flourish in the State, coupled with his peaceful nature, have all combined to endear him to the people.
Amb Ngofa said real power comes from how well one is connected with the people through good leadership, and the people on their own voluntarily surrender to you just as Governor Fubara has demonstrated within the past one year, stressing that that has informed his decision as an astute politician just like all well-meaning Rivers people to align with the Governor in order to move the State forward .
He described Governor Fubara’s milestones in infrastructure, human capital development, health and agriculture as monumental.
Amb Ngofa urged the Governor to ensure his revitalisa- tion programme on Songhai Farms extends to Buguma and Andoni fish farms and Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), and expand on the initiative, as it is critical in job creation for the teeming youths of the State.
“ In his one year in office as governor, Rivers people have seen the difference in terms of governance and total departure from self. Now Rivers people are having easy access to their governor. His focus is on policies and programmes that are capable of revitalising the economy aimed at improving the wellbeing of Rivers people, not just one man. Projects are springing up in all parts of the State, not necessarily in Port Harcourt and Obio,/ Akpor. All in just one year despite the distractions”, he said.

The Port Harcourt ring road loan to small skill medium businesses are one of the biggest achievements of his administration
Aleto- Woji road abandoned by the last administration had been carried on by a government that has interest of the people at heart
Despite the destruction ,he had demonstrated sense of focus on his primary duties as a governor
We are not just seeing monumental projects ,Rivers people are seeing total commitment to create an economy that will enable Rivers people to have a hold on there lives especially with projects like revitalizing Shonghai ,plaintain farms .
It is critical focusing on human capital development .I am aware of his programme of revitalising the economy ,state owned industries through public private partnership
Rivers people hope had been rekindled and those of us who are critic to the governor Wike led administration had been vindicated
Urging Eleme people to support the administration of governor Fubara to achieve their common dream which is development.

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