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Senate Passes 2nd Constitutional Amendment, Today
Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will today, make good its promise to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accelerate the process of the passage of its request for time extension in the electoral schedule.
The Upper chamber has also distanced itself from the alleged insertion of a clause for ‘right to first refusal,’ saying there was no such clause proposed in the second alteration.
By the passage of the second alteration, INEC will have more time to ‘play with’ as the commission will have to hold elections not earlier than sixty days before the May 29 hand-over date and not later than thirty days before the May 29 date which remains sacrosanct in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking to Senate correspondents, after plenary, yesterday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Senator Ayogu Eze said the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment may likely lay its report today while the Senate is expected to also consider the report and vote on it at the same time.
“I want to say that we meant everything we say. Hopefully, by this week or so, we will be done with the constitutional amendment and transmit it… “I want to put it on record that we are doing our own beat, whatever is required of us we are ready to do it to ensure that this process goes on smoothly
“All things being equal, we were hoping to lay it today (yesterday) and vote tomorrow (today). But our technical committee is doing its work and we are meeting this afternoon. It is very likely that we can lay and vote tomorrow. Very very likey that we can lay it and vote tomorrow and then wait for the house because, until they pass it in the House, we cannot transmit.”
Senator Ayogu Eze also elaborated on the Senate ‘s interface with Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega over the media report, which he said complained that NASS’s delay on the amendment may derail the 2011 elections.
He confirmed that the INEC Chairman’s denial of the allegation, and his follow up vote of confidence on the Senate has further ensured that NASS has really been doing all things possible to ensure a hitch free general election.
“I hope that you listen to Jega. He said we were doing everything possible and that the National Assembly has not constituted any distraction or any delay in the process of amending the constitution of the Electoral Act and has provided support to INEC to ensure that we have free, fair and credible elections
“I want to put it on record that we are doing our own beat, whatever is required of us, we are ready to do it to ensure that this process goes on smoothly.
I was also very happy that one of the most vocal critics of the process, Mr. Femi Falana was here and he confirmed that the civil society group is satisfied with the work we are doing to ensure that the process of holding free, fair and credible elections is on course”
On the issue of the clause right of first refusal, Senator Eze said the senate had never contemplated that and the committee on the constitution amendment has not come across such in the proposals for alteration in the constitution.
“I also know that the media has been awash with insinuation that in the National Assembly we have inserted the clause of right of first refusal.
I want to state categorically that that is not true. Nigerians are free to bring in whatever views they feel, but it will be the views of Nigerians that will prevail.
This National Assembly is very patriotic and we will not make personal and selfish laws that will serve the interest of the National Assembly alone as is being insinuated outside. We are not making any laws for ourselves.
“I am not aware that that clause is being considered by any of the chambers or any of the committees or sub-committees dealing with the process of amending the constitution of the Electoral Act. I want to clarify that before Nigerians.
The Senate spokesman also denied the insinuation that the lawmakers are only rejecting it because it is meant to favour the leadership of the National Assembly and not all members.
At a public hearing held at the National Assembly on the clauses for the second alteration in the Electoral Act, Monday, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC said it was comfortable with the ongoing second alteration of the constitution to extend the time-line for next year’s general elections in the country.
Speaking at the opening of a one day public hearing on the constitution second Alteration Bill, 2010 at the National Assembly, Abuja, Professor Jega said they had been privileged to have obtained and read a copy of the draft bill. According to him, the time they had asked for had been adequately provided for.
The Senate President, David Mark, noted that the National Assembly had no ulterior motive in the Constitutional Amendment as is being insinuated by the public.
Nneka Amaechi- Nnadi, Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has cautioned parents to closely monitor their children’s craving for cookies and gummies, warning that some of the products may contain illicit substances being smuggled into the country.
In a statement posted yesterday, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said recent seizures by the agency’s officers had revealed attempts by criminal elements to introduce prohibited substances under the guise of everyday snacks.
“As parents, if your kids and young ones always crave for cookies and gummies, you may have to pay a little more attention. There may be more to it than ordinary cookies and gummies,” Babafemi wrote, sharing images of seized packages.
The photos showed colourful pouches of “Cookies Delta 8 Gummies” in flavours such as Hawaiian Rain Pineapple Guava and Thai Mango, labelled as vegan and hemp-derived, alongside the actual gummy products.
The warning comes amid a major interception by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
Officers seized two 40-foot containers containing large quantities of cannabis-infused products concealed among legitimate imports such as used vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics.
The consignment included thousands of Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies, packs of cannabis-infused gummies and other cannabis-infused cookies, with a combined estimated street value of about ?373.8m.
The items were subsequently handed over to the NDLEA.
NDLEA officials described the products, which originated from the United States and were packaged to resemble ordinary vegan snacks with appealing flavours, as an emerging public health threat.
They noted that the attractive packaging could appeal especially to children, students and young people, raising the risk of accidental consumption of concentrated cannabis.
The Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has announced plans to partner with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to strengthen efforts at combating illegal waste dumping and improving environmental sanitation across the state.
The partnership was unveiled during a meeting between officials of RIWAMA and the leadership of the Rivers State chapter of the PCRC in Port Harcourt, recently, where both organisations pledged to work together to restore the Garden City status of the state capital.
In his speech, the Supervisor of Market and Community Sanitation in RIWAMA, Mr. Omereji Ukoha, said the collaboration was in line with the vision of the agency’s Managing Director, Dr. Ibimina Wokoma, and the Board Chairman, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, to promote a cleaner and healthier environment.
Ukoha described the PCRC as a strategic grassroots partner capable of mobilising communities and driving behavioural change through sustained public enlightenment on proper waste disposal.
He expressed concern over the increasing rate of indiscriminate refuse dumping in parts of Port Harcourt, particularly in New GRA, where blocked drainage channels and illegal shanties have continued to contribute to flooding and environmental degradation.
According to him, the agency is determined to intensify enforcement against environmental offenders, warning that unregistered cart pushers and residents who patronise them would be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the RIWAMA Act, 2014.
The RIWAMA official urged residents to embrace proper waste disposal practices and patronise only government-approved waste operators in order to safeguard public health and protect the environment.
Responding, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee in Rivers State, Dr. Voke Emore, commended RIWAMA for seeking collaboration with the committee in addressing environmental challenges confronting the state.
Emore said the PCRC would deploy its community-based structures across the state to support public sensitisation and encourage residents to comply with environmental sanitation regulations.
He also called on local government councils to play more active roles in waste management, noting that they collect sanitation levies and should complement the efforts of the state government in maintaining a clean environment.
The PCRC chairman described indiscriminate refuse disposal as a serious environmental and public health concern, stressing that sustained collaboration among government agencies, community leaders and residents remained critical to achieving lasting sanitation goals.
Both organisations expressed optimism that the partnership would promote cleaner communities, reduce environmental hazards and strengthen public participation in efforts to ensure a healthier and more sustainable environment for the people of Rivers State.
King Onunwor
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly terrorising communities in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the State.
The State Police Command disclosed this in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The suspects were arrested during a coordinated operation at Oyigbo, following directives by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju.
Those arrested were Ezekiel Emmanuel, 44, from Benue State; Chukwuma Mbanefor, 51, from Anambra State; Nicholas Diala, 65, from Imo State; Ndubuisi Uwakwe, 49, from Abia State; and Ifeanyi Nwakwo, 51, from Imo State.
The Command said the arrest represented another significant operational success in its ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the State.
According to the Police, preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects were allegedly involved in kidnapping operations within Rivers State.
The suspects, during interrogation, allegedly confessed to their involvement in kidnapping and further admitted participating in several operations carried out in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
The Command said investigation was ongoing, with efforts intensified to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected syndicate who may be connected with the criminal activities.
The Police boss said the operation reflected the implementation of operational directives and the intelligence-driven policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc, NPM.
Adepoju reaffirmed the Command’s determination to sustain aggressive intelligence-led operations against kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other violent crimes across Rivers State.
He warned kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the State that there would be no safe haven for them, stressing that the Command would relentlessly pursue, arrest and ensure that those found culpable were brought to justice.
The Commissioner further assured residents of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies in the fight against crime.
He appealed to residents to provide the Police with credible and timely information capable of assisting security operatives in preventing criminal activities and apprehending suspected criminals.
The Command urged members of the public who may have useful information on the activities of the suspected kidnapping syndicate or other criminal elements to contact the Police through its emergency lines, assuring that such information would assist ongoing investigations.
King Onunwor