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Senate Cowers, Suspends Move to Override Buhari’s Veto on Electoral Act Amendment

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Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale, Juliet Akoje, Deji Elumoye, Emma Okonji, and Nosa Alekhuogie in Abuja, and Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie in Lagos

Despite many senators’ determination and threat on Tuesday to overturn President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Senate backed down yesterday. Instead of proceeding with the signature gathering, the upper chamber decided to consult with the House of Representatives on how best to deal with the president’s rejection of the electoral reform bill.

Read Also:  Buhari refuses to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill: National Assembly

The Senate also agreed to engage their constituents in the consultation process over the holiday break before making a final decision in January.

Buhari had refused to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, citing concerns about the bill’s direct primary provisions.

The president’s reasons for not assenting to the bill, according to members of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives, were merely a ruse to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from transmitting results electronically, using direct primaries as a peg.

Dr. Bukola Saraki, the former President of the Senate, has identified two viable options currently before the National Assembly. Saraki suggested that the legislature either veto Buhari’s refusal to assent or remove the contentious provisions on direct primaries and resubmit the bill to the president for his signature.

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Some senators expressed their displeasure with the president’s rejection of the electoral bill at the end of Tuesday’s plenary, claiming they had gathered over 75 signatures ahead of a plan to veto the president at Wednesday’s plenary. However, the threat was not carried out, as Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan said the senate would now consult with the House of Representatives on how to respond to Buhari’s letter on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, while summarizing the outcome of their closed-door session.

The provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), according to Lawan, do not allow the upper chamber to act solely on such matters in the absence of the House of Representatives, which had already gone on vacation. When both chambers reconvene in January after the Christmas recess, he assured Nigerians that a joint position with the House would be reached after due consultation with the people to determine the appropriate course of action.

“The senate in a closed session deliberated on matters relevant to the workings of the senate, in particular, and the National Assembly, in general,” the senate president said of the executive session.

“The Senate also discussed how to respond to Mr. President’s letter on the electoral bill amendment in closed session.” As a result, the Senate decided to meet with the House of Representatives in January, when both chambers will be in session.

“Right now, the House of Representatives is on recess, and as we all know, the Constitution requires the Senate and House of Representatives to work together to take appropriate action.

“During our January recess, the Senate also resolved to consult with our constituents.” The Senate believes that as major stakeholders in the laws that we pass in the National Assembly, our constituents have a role to play.”

In a statement released yesterday, the leader of the PDP caucus in the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, claimed that the president was attempting to avoid electronic transmission of results by using direct primaries as a ruse.

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When the matter was brought up for discussion, the caucus assured Nigerians that it would ensure that its members used their constitutional right to veto the president.

“The unspoken reason for declining is to avoid electronic transmission of results, which would improve the electoral system’s credibility,” Chinda said. Though contemplated, this refusal has left Nigerians perplexed by a president who continues to show utter contempt for the constitution and the reform of state institutions.

“Under him, our state institutions have regressed to the point where the gains of previous institutional reforms undertaken by Our Great Party while in power have either been lost to his inaction or to his deliberate ploy to leave our country in a worse state than when he arrived.” We are not convinced that he is interested in electoral reform based solely on this point.

“As an opposition caucus, we will ensure that our members exercise their constitutional right to veto the president under Section 58(5) whenever the National Assembly deems it appropriate to debate the issue.”

Before the legislature, Saraki identifies options.

Dr. Bukola Saraki, the former President of the Senate, spoke out against Buhari’s decision to throw out the entire amendments to the electoral bill, saying that federal lawmakers have two options.

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Saraki said in a statement that lawmakers could override the president’s refusal to sign the bill or remove the contentious provisions on direct primaries and send it back to him for signature.

“Now that Mr. President has conveyed his decision to decline assent to the Electoral Act [amendment] Bill, I am confident that I speak on behalf of millions of Nigerians in urging the National Assembly to act quickly,” the former Senate president said. This is because we cannot sit back and allow a single contentious clause in the proposed Electoral Act (amendment) Bill to negate all of the Bill’s positive aspects.

“At this time, the National Assembly has two options. They can either override the president’s veto or remove the contentious provision on direct primaries and send it back to him for his signature. Regardless of which option our legislators choose, it can be completed in the shortest amount of time possible. In January 2022, we may have a new electoral law.

“Anyone who has been paying attention to the mood of the country knows that Nigerians want a new electoral law that will lead to a credible, free, fair, and peaceful election process.” They want a system that ensures that their votes in the election of those who govern them are truly counted.

“This proposed electoral law is expected to reassure youths, many of whom avoid participating in politics because they lack faith in the system.” They believe that the system is frequently rigged and tainted. Enacting a new law that gives them hope in our country is one way to bring this active demography into the political system. This Electoral Act [Amendment] Bill accomplishes this goal.

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“This is why the National Assembly, as the representatives of the Nigerian people, must make a decision in the best interests of our country and its long-term democracy.” The option of doing nothing after the president’s refusal of assent is not an option. Our legislators in both chambers of the National Assembly, as well as Mr. President, must work quickly to make it a law.”

For Fear of 2023, the APC is scuttling electoral reform, according to the PDP.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of sabotaging the Electoral Act Amendment Bill because it contains key provisions that would prevent them from rigging the general election in 2023. According to the PDP, its investigations revealed a fear of failure in the 2023 general election, as well as the positive implications that the electoral bill would have by ensuring electronic transmission of election results.

The opposition party recalled that the APC had been wary of the Electoral Act amendment because it included provisions for electronic transmission of election results, which would completely eliminate election manipulation and alteration.

The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said in a statement that it was clear that the APC and the Buhari administration were never committed to amending the Electoral Act to ensure credible elections. The PDP accused the APC of instigating a debate over the mode of political party primaries as a ruse to kill the entire amendment, which included provisions for electronic transmission of results.

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“It is imperative to remind Nigerians of how the APC, in collusion with their leaders in the National Assembly, fought hard to stop the bill’s electronic transmission of results provision, but were resisted by Nigerians, supported by the courageous action of the PDP Caucus in the House of Representatives, which staged a walkout only for the APC to orchestrate controversies and set the stage for Mr. President’s withholding of assent,” the PDP said.

“The APC’s main motivation for manipulating the legislative process is to prevent the electronic transmission of results, allowing it to continue its culture of rigging and electoral impunity, which includes altering results at collation, snatching ballot boxes, and destroying data, among other things, in order to cling to power against Nigerians’ will.”

“This is consistent with the APC’s well-known machinations in the last six years to undermine every genuine effort to instill credible, transparent, free, and fair elections in Nigeria.” The APC thrives on electoral fraud, deception, shady dealings, violence, and political brigandage as part of their heinous plan to enslave Nigerians in perpetuity.”

PDP claimed that the APC had completely lost its capacity and goodwill for electoral contest after being rejected for its failures and having also self-decimated its structures across the country, and as a result sought to subvert any process that could guarantee credible elections in 2023.

The fact that the APC obstructed the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill further validated the fact that the party was opposed to Nigerians’ aspirations and did not believe in democratic principles of fair elections, according to the PDP.

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More Nigerians are reacting…

Meanwhile, Nigerians from all walks of life have continued to express their displeasure with President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the electoral bill into law.

Henry Nwawuba, a member of the House of Representatives, said he didn’t see any power struggle in the situation.

“It is part of the process that as it goes through the rounds in the House, we expose the law to public dialogue, and then we send it off for access,” Nwawuba said on the ARISE NEWS Channel’s Morning Show yesterday. The speaker has stated that “when we return in January, we will take another look at the electoral bill because it is not yet finished.”

In response to reports that nearly 80 senators had agreed to override the president, Nwawuba emphasized that the bill was in the hands of the National Assembly, which would come together and make the best decision in Nigeria’s best interests.

“This is a critical piece of legislation on our legislative agenda, and we are determined to see it through,” he said. By the grace of God, we’ll deal with the Electoral Act when we return in January.”

Read Also:  Nigeria Needs N348trn for Realistic 5-Year Nat’l Devt Plan, says Buhari

Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, a lawyer who also spoke on the Morning Show yesterday, clarified the issue of indirect primaries, saying that each political party has the right to choose between direct and indirect primaries.

Direct primaries, according to Osaze-Uzzi, allow every member of a political party to vote and choose the candidate for a specific election.

“There are many positive aspects of the bill,” he said, “and we must not overlook them.” There are also some issues that the president did not address, which some people find concerning. The deadlines for holding primaries have been extended to allow for all of the legal steps to be taken.”

Kunle Adegoke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said on the ARISE Morning Show that political parties had complete autonomy over their internal affairs. Adegoke explained that the legislature’s recent intervention to regulate political party affairs stemmed from the fact that the power granted to political parties to regulate their internal affairs had been widely abused, resulting in a lot of agitation.

Read Also:  Libya’s presidential election postponed

“The National Assembly knows that the Nigerian constitution recognizes only the legislature to make a final decision in this regard,” Adegoke said. We can simply pass the act again, and the president will be forced to make a decision. We can’t just say we have power and are free to use it; we have to consider all factors that are relevant to the process we’re trying to undertake.”

Libya’s presidential election postponed

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Libya’s election commission has called for a month’s postponement of the country’s first presidential election, which was set to take place on Friday.

The commission proposed the new date of January 24 after “consulting” with parliament, according to the commission.

A parliamentary committee had previously stated that holding elections on Friday would be “impossible.”

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The run-up to the election has been marred by disagreements over candidate eligibility and rising security concerns.

Libya has been in turmoil since Muammar Gaddafi, the country’s long-serving ruler, was deposed and killed in 2011.

The United Nations and Western powers had hoped that the election would boost efforts to bring ‘peace and democracy’ to Libya, a strategically important country that is a major oil producer and a transit point for migrants seeking asylum in Europe.

Richard Norland, the US ambassador to Libya, said the US shared the “disappointment of Libyans who wanted to vote.”

Read also:  Buhari’s aide, Ojudu, clarifies that Osinbajo will run for president in 2023

“All legal and political obstacles to holding elections, including finalizing the list of presidential candidates,” he said Libyan leaders should “address expeditiously.”

The electoral commission had rejected Col Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, as a candidate, but his lawyer claimed that the decision had been overturned by a court.

There was also no word on whether Gen Khalifa Haftar, the country’s military strongman, could run for president.

According to military prosecutors, the electoral commission should hold off on processing his application until he is interrogated about allegations of human rights violations.

He was sentenced to death in absentia by a court in Misrata, western Libya, last month for bombing a military college in 2019.

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Security concerns have been raised in Tripoli’s capital, where armed groups took up positions in the city’s suburbs on Tuesday.

Four oilfields in the south were shut down on Monday.

Real Madrid interested in signing Liverpool defender Steven Gerrard – Joe Gomez

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According to BBC Sport, Real Madrid is’monitoring’ Liverpool defender and England international Joe Gomez.

Gomez has fallen out of favor with Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, who has started both Joel Matip and newcomer Ibrahima Konate ahead of him. This is due in large part to Gomez’s inability to stay healthy and available after missing the majority of last season.

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The 24-year-current old’s Liverpool contract is set to expire in over three years. There is no indication that Real Madrid is interested in pursuing a transfer with the Merseyside club.
According to BBC Sport, while Real Madrid is interested in signing Gomez and a centerback, the club believes it will be impossible to do so in the January transfer window. The club has also been linked with a summer transfer for Chelsea defender Antonio Rüdiger, who will become a free agent if he is not re-signed by the end of 2022.

Nigeria Needs N348trn for Realistic 5-Year Nat’l Devt Plan, says Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that Nigeria will require N348.1 trillion in investment to meet the goals set out in its five-year National Development Plan (NDP) for the years 2021 to 2025.

The government would contribute 14.3% (N49.7 trillion) of the projected investment portfolio, he said, while the private sector would contribute 85.7 percent (N298.3 trillion).

The president spoke at the formal launch and public presentation of the NDP yesterday in Abuja, which is the successor to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020, which expires in December 2020.

According to him, the plan’s overall goal was to achieve a broad-based real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 5% on average over the Plan period, create 21 million full-time jobs, and lift 35 million people out of poverty through inclusive growth.

He went on to say that this would pave the way for the government’s National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy goal of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years (NPRGS).

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As a result, a strong partnership between the public and private sectors will be required for the Plan’s successful implementation.

“In this regard, a Development Plan Implementation Unit will be established in the Budget and National Planning arm of the Ministry, headed by the Vice President, with the Honourable Minister of State, Budget and National Planning as Vice-Chair, to ensure overall coordination with Ministries, Departments and Agencies; sub-national governments; private sector operators and Civil Society Organizations,” he said.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the Draft National Development Plan, 2021-2025, on November 10, 2021, which is the first of the envisaged Medium Term Development Plans to implement the Nigeria Agenda 2050.

“The Plan, as a result of deliberate efforts, is comprehensive and has the capacity to accelerate and sustain national development as well as the achievement of various Regional and Global Agendas, such as the African Union Agenda 2063, the ECOWAS Agenda 2050, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

“I have no doubt in my mind that with effective and sustained implementation, Nigeria will achieve a quantum leap in unlocking its potentials in all sectors of the economy for a sustainable and inclusive national development,” the President said before the weekly FEC meeting began.

The president praised the Ministers of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, as well as the leadership of the National Steering Committee, the Central Working Group, and the Technical Working Groups, for their sacrifices and efforts in achieving this milestone, noting that the ERGP not only helped the country exit the 2016 economic recession, but also maintained a modest growth until the emergence of recent global economic challenges caused by the outbreak of the Ebola virus.

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“The ERGP’s continued implementation ensured the execution of our social investment programs and infrastructure improvement across the country,” he said.

“It became necessary to prepare a successor plan to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan in order to ensure a smooth transition and continue the implementation of government policies, programs, and projects.”

“As a result, on September 9, 2020, I inaugurated the National Steering Committee (NSC), which is co-chaired by Mr. Atedo Peterside and Dr. (Mrs) Zainab Ahmed, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning.

“In addition to the NSC, the Plan’s institutional arrangement included the Central Working Group (CWG), Technical Working Groups (TWGs), and a strong Secretariat to support the process.”

“The Plan’s preparation process was not only participatory and consultative, but also inclusive, involving all segments of society, including Key Political Parties, Government Agencies, Labour Unions, Youth Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Women Society, Farmers’ Association, ALGON, Traditional and Religious Leaders, and Representatives of People with Special Needs, as well as Development Partners.”

Read Also:  Governor of Nasarawa swears in 14 new commissioners,18 advisers

According to him, the Plan’s broad objectives include laying a solid foundation for a diversified economy with strong MSME growth and a more resilient business environment, as well as investing in critical physical, financial, digital, and innovation infrastructure.

The president went on to say that the Plan would help to create a strong framework for security and good governance, as well as a vibrant, educated, and healthy population.

Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning Zainab Ahmed, who presented the plan to President Muhammadu Buhari, said the plan would focus on massive infrastructure investment, ensuring economic stability, improving the investment environment, and improving social indicators and living conditions of Nigerians, among other goals.

She went on to say that the plan was a blueprint for the kind of Nigeria that all Nigerians want, and that it would promote the use of science, technology, and innovation to achieve the desired growth.

“In order to achieve the future we all want, the plan is being developed to play a significant role in the international product complexity space and to adopt measures to alleviate constraints that have prevented the economy from reaching its full potential, particularly in the product mapping space.”

Read also:  I kidnapped 9-year-old girl from school and demanded N1.5 million in ransom from parents- Suspect

“The plan calls for major infrastructure and other development projects to be implemented across the six geopolitical zones, as well as opportunities for rural areas to ensure balanced development and increased competitiveness,” she added.

“Among other things, the plan aims to invest heavily in infrastructure, ensure macroeconomic stability, improve the investment climate, improve social indicators and living conditions, and address climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience strategies,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has praised Buhari’s administration for the initiative that has resulted in the creation of a series of economic development plans thus far, noting that no administration in Nigeria’s history has been as inclusive as this one.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, who was represented by Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, Governor of Kebbi State, said the new NDP 2021-2025 was the result of collaboration and consultation between the federal and state governments.

“We congratulate Mr. President on the launch of the 2021-2025 Development Plan, which was expertly introduced by the Minister of National Planning,” he said.

“We had an economic recovery growth plan that expired in 2020, which achieved the goal of, among other things, helping Nigeria exit the recession twice, and now we have a plan in place for 2021-2025 that is primarily aimed at ensuring that the gains have been consolidated and Nigerians continue to be included.”

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“This government, more than any other, has taken deliberate, active steps to include all economic groups and support them more than ever before in order for them to achieve their economic goals, for the country’s economy to continue to provide for all, and for us to see more prosperity.” We congratulate you, and I am confident that all of us in the 36 states and the FCT are overjoyed.

“Some of us who are members of various committees have been consulted.” It’s a consultative program, and we appreciate both the President and Vice President because, under their leadership, the National Economic Council, the Federation’s major economic decision-making body, has been quite inclusive; it’s not a monologue, and states are given pride of place,” he added.

Saraki calls on the government, private sector to ensure all Nigerians have access to health insurance

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Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the former Senate President, enrolled 1000 Kwarans in the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme through his Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation (ABS Foundation) in the 16 local government areas of Kwara.

Dr. Saraki, the program’s launcher, called for public and private sector participation to achieve 100 percent universal healthcare coverage across the country, speaking at the program’s launch, which has beneficiaries from 193 wards in Kwara.

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“Four days ago, at a Chatham House Health Summit in Abuja, I challenged Nigerians to scrutinize the healthcare manifestos and promises of all candidates seeking national and state leadership before the next general election.”

Nigeria’s health-care system is in desperate need of reform today. Our average lifespan is 55 years. The maternal mortality rate in our country is 917 deaths per 100,000 live births. For children under the age of five, our child mortality rate is 201 per 1000 live births. Our annual mortality rate from malaria is 300,000, the highest in the world. While we have confirmed nearly 3,000 deaths from COVID-19, the true number is likely to be much higher.

Read Also:  Borno Governor explains why IDP camps are closed

“This is why, on my 59th birthday, I am proud that, once again, we are leading from the front on healthcare — and backing up our ‘talk’ with deliberate action,” Saraki said.

Governor of Nasarawa swears in 14 new commissioners,18 advisers

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Abdullahi Sule, the governor of Nasarawa State, swore in 14 new commissioners and 18 Special Advisers in the state yesterday.

Members of the state House of Assembly were also praised by the governor for expediting the screening and confirmation of the new members of his cabinet.

“I applaud the Honourable Speaker and members of the state Assembly for expediting the screening and confirmation of the nominees,” Sule said. This demonstrates our shared commitment to providing purposeful leadership and providing excellent service to our people.”

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The governor, on the other hand, told the new appointees that they were arriving at a particularly trying time in his administration because the public is yearning for more democratic dividends, and the administration was nearing the end of its first term.

“This has put a heavy burden on you as new appointees,” the governor said, challenging his new political appointees. You must carry out your responsibilities in accordance with our principles of accountability, probity, loyalty, and prudent use of public funds.

“You must be dedicated, patriotic, and capable of meeting the challenges that lie ahead.” This is the only way we will be able to leave a legacy that will last.”

Sule expressed his displeasure with recent security breakdowns in some parts of the state, saying he was alarmed to see some threats to the state’s security and stability caused by the actions of some disgruntled elements.

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“I need to make it absolutely clear that the government will not take anyone who is bent on causing dissension and instability in any part of Nasarawa State lightly,” he said.

“I assure you that the perpetrators, no matter how powerful, will be apprehended and made to face the full force of the law.” Because we are one people bound by a common destiny, we cannot allow what is happening in other states to happen in our state.”

Aviation Authority shut downe of Globacom telecommunications service tower in Abuja

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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has shut down a Globacom telecommunications service tower in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, due to an outstanding debt of 4.7 billion Naira.

The tower has been turned off, according to NCAA Director General Captain Musa Nuhu.

Since 2007, all other telecommunications service providers, except Globacom Limited Company, have been paying, according to Captain Nuhu. He did, however, acknowledge that the company had paid only 500 million naira out of the total of 5.2 billion naira.

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“My Agency is under tremendous pressure from the Nigerian Government, and Globacom Limited is supposed to be paying tax to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and we have contacted and negotiated with them severely, but they have ignored us until recently when they paid 500 million, and the Government has mandated all federal agencies to recover all debts both at the executive and legislative levels,” he said.

“Globacom Limited is refusing to cooperate, and we have the authority to shut down their facilities. We’re starting by turning off a few of their towers until they pay, and if they don’t, we’ll use our full power under the Civil Aviation Act.”

Read Also:  Borno Governor explains why IDP camps are closed

“The NCAA ensures the safety of the airspace by determining the location of each telecommunications service tower in accordance with the location of each telecommunications service tower so that we can have flight safety, and the process entails payment of some fees by any telecommunications service providers.”

Globacom telecommunications limited’s management has yet to respond to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s action against them.

Borno Governor explains why IDP camps are closed

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Babagana Zulum, the Governor of Borno State, met with international and local non-governmental organizations to explain the State Government’s decision to close IDP camps and restrict food aid distribution in resettled communities.

The meeting took place as Governor Zulum distributed billions of Naira to 115,000 IDPs who had been safely resettled in 11 communities.

Each household consisting of a husband, wife, and a few children received N200,000, while widows received N150,000 and a large amount of food.

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The intervention was intended for IDPs who were given newly constructed or reconstructed homes to use as livelihoods by operating small businesses, while a committee was formed to monitor their progress on a regular basis and to deploy food aid intervention as needed.

Rather than lining them up every day and taking their pictures during the distribution of food rations, Governor Zulum wanted the resettled IDPs to be assisted in growing businesses as long-term sources of income.

“You are all aware of the (horrible) situation in the IDP camps, and the conditions of people in these IDP camps in the State, the threat of increased drug abuse, prostitution, Gender Based Violence, increased risk of epidemics such as cholera and meningitis, as well as increased risk of COVID 19,” the governor said. Muna camp, for example, is widely considered to be one of the worst camps in the world.
“It’s a camp where many of you wouldn’t want to keep your dog or a pig in terms of amenities,” Zulum said.

He explained that “people living in IDP camps in Borno are tired, and many have decided to return to their communities.” People from Nganzai, for example, decided to move on their own, and people from Damasak moved from Niger’s camps on their own, and we were told with facts that people were determined to return and restart their lives, with or without the government.

“We set out to voluntarily return and resettle our people where security permits, in accordance with the Borno State Resettlement Plan and the Return Strategy as agreed by the Government and our partners.”
We offered three options for our brothers and sisters in the voluntary resettlement and return efforts:

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1. People can leave the camp and relocate to Maiduguri township, where we will provide them with money to rent a house for a year as well as food to last them about three months.

They are eligible to apply for our SME Microcredit Grant Program.

2. People can safely return to their newly constructed homes in their LGA headquarters or villages, where the military has granted us security clearance and other civil security agencies are ready to deploy civil security.

3. People can choose to stay in an IDP camp, in which case we will relocate them to a new camp that has been merged to allow for the return of public services. In some of these camps, such as the Mohammed Goni College of Legal and Islamic Studies (Mongolis), the camp was re-established as a school and the NYSC camp was re-established as a National Youth Service camp.
“Camp Merger is a well-known international practice,” Zulum explained.

Governor Zulum also explained to humanitarian partners that, while humanitarian workers were encouraged to continue supporting IDPs in camps that still exist, the government imposed food aid restrictions in 11 communities that were rebuilt with the help of some foreign humanitarian and development partners, including the UN, after the communities were deemed safe for civilian reoccupation.

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Ajiri, Kalari, and Ngom in Mafa LGA, Kawuri in Bama, Baga town, and Cross Kyawa in Kukawa, Shuwari in Jere, Ngoshe in Gwoza, Marte town in Marte, Wulgo Town in Ngala, Gubio Town in Gubio, and Magumeri Town in Nganzai LGA were among the 11 communities named by the Governor.

I kidnapped 9-year-old girl from school and demanded N1.5 million in ransom from parents- Suspect

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Abdukareem Ka, a 24-year-old suspect, was arrested and paraded alongside 35 other suspects for kidnapping a 9-year-old student at a school gate in Karu New Nyanya, a Nasarawa State suburb.

The suspect kidnapped the 9-year-old under the guise of being sent by the boy’s mother to pick him up and teach him how to use a computer.

The suspects were apprehended from their various hideouts in various states thanks to the combined efforts of the Force Intelligence Bureau and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

The suspects were paraded in Abuja on Tuesday by the Force Spokesman, Frank Mba.

“The suspect successfully took the boy out of the school and effectively held him hostage,” according to Mba. The young boy was kidnapped and held captive until his parents were able to pay a ransom of 1.5 million naira.

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When the case was reported, Mba said, IRT officers tracked down the suspect, who is from Plateau state, and arrested him. The ransom money was recovered, and the boy was reunited with his family.

“The next time this kind of incident happens in schools, we will not only arrest the suspects, but we will also go after the proprietors of the schools and prosecute them under the appropriate rules of law,” he said, warning school owners to be vigilant about people who pick children from their schools.

“I was arrested for abducting a nine-year-old boy from school and telling him that I would teach him how to use the computer,” the suspect said. After that, I took him out of school and demanded 1.5 million naira, which I now have in my possession.

“I only had the boy for a week; I know this boy; he lives across the street.”

CP Mba said the suspect-Rakiya specializes in duping business owners by sending fake Keystone bank alerts to collect products, speaking about the fake medical doctor who specializes in sending fake bank credit alerts.

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“Under this guise, Rakiya travels from state to state, hotel to hotel, and business to business, duping people into purchasing goods under false pretense and making payments with forged bank alerts.”

“By developing and building confidence with people, she has perfected her act.” She had a history of committing this crime in the states of Kwara and Plateau, as well as in Abuja.

“Investigations show that she obtained gold in Kwara under the same ruse, which landed her in prison, where she briefly emerged and resumed her business.”

As a result, CP Mba advised business owners to obtain confirmation of a bank alert before entrusting their goods to unknown customers.

Mba also urged victims of her crime to contact detectives so that the case could be consolidated and prosecuted properly.

“I go to shops, collect goods, make fake bank alerts for them, and walk away,” Rakiya said in response to questions from reporters. Some people give me the products, while others don’t because they haven’t seen the alert.

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“I’ve been doing this for a year and a half now; I was arrested in Kwara in October last year and given gold and jarabiya to sell and return the money to them; I sold and never returned the money to them, and the same thing happened in Plateau.”

Nigeria will soon manufacture its own vaccines – NAFDAC

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Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has stated that the country will soon begin manufacturing its own vaccines and that products approved by the agency will be easily traded globally.

At a press conference to commemorate her administration’s fourth anniversary, Adeyeye stated that the agency’s efforts are paving the way for Nigeria to manufacture its own vaccines once the World Health Organization (WHO) inspects the agency and declares it ML3 compliant.

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The minimum WHO accreditation required to oversee vaccine production is ‘ML3’.

NAFDAC is working toward ML4, according to Adeyeye, which will allow products approved by NAFDAC to be easily traded across continents and globally.

If NAFDAC achieves WHO Maturity Level 4 (ML4) status, it will be able to perform Emergency Use Listing (EUL) with an emergency authorisation from the ML4 regulator, according to reliable sources. If the vaccine will be manufactured in a country whose regulatory agency is not ML4 but is considered “functional for vaccine oversight purposes,” it should be determined as soon as possible what level of authorisation (if any) will be required in the manufacturing country prior to EUL filing.

The foundation is being laid, according to Adeyeye, by the quality management system (QMS) and the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT), which will lead to a regulatory agency based on legacy building blocks.

Regulatory systems, she said, are critical in ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of medical products. Effective regulatory systems are an important part of health-care systems because they help to achieve desired public-health outcomes and foster innovation.

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As mandated by World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 67.20 on Regulatory System Strengthening for Medical Products, GBT is the primary means by which the WHO objectively evaluates regulatory systems.

The press conference provided a unique opportunity for the public to reflect on the flurry of events, regulatory activities, challenges, opportunities, and accomplishments that have characterized NAFDAC’s journey to where it is today over the last four years.

“The current administration’s goal for the next four years is to protect public health, strengthen the industry, pursue customer-centric regulatory activities, play a key role in the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), enthrone top-notch QMS, and strive to achieve the WHO’s Level 3 GBT ranking,” says the statement.

To strengthen the agency, Adeyeye said it would take putting in place seven internationally defined building blocks based on WHO recommendations. “A quality system approach or template must be in place for a strong regulatory framework that prioritizes the customer.” As a result, we decided to implement an agency-wide quality management system (ISO 9001) that required all employees to undergo training (from February 2018 to June 2019) in self-auditing, standard operating procedures, proper documentation, transparency, and digitalization of her processes, among other things,” she explained.

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She also stated that having a well-motivated staff who share the vision of making the agency strong is an important part of effective governance.

Staff training and capacity development have been given top priority under the current DG leadership, according to the agency. In the last four years, 3,600 employees have been trained or retrained. Similarly, employees are encouraged to enroll in academic programs to improve their job skills, as long as it does not interfere with their official responsibilities. Our employees are now more motivated, disciplined, and dedicated as a result of the transparent and quality-driven work environment that is expected of a regulatory agency.

“I believe that every state should have at least three vehicles for operation as an essential tool for the agency,” the DG continued. The agency’s most recent vehicles were purchased in 2014, before I took office. Because of the high rate of use, the majority of them are dilapidated. This is the type of vehicle that is always on the road. The directors, too, are without transportation. The contract for the 73 vehicles has been awarded, and the vehicles will be distributed among the directors for official use by December or January. The level of employee happiness has skyrocketed. There have been some exceptions that did not exist previously. We’re looking into the possibility of creating a new salary structure for our employees, as well as approaching the National Salaries and Wages Commission about the possibility of receiving additional benefits that we’ve never had before. For example, we’re considering how we can boost our hazard allowance, regulatory allowance, and other incentives to keep our employees motivated and productive.”

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Adeyeye specifically mentioned a conducive environment for regulatory activities. She explained that while touring many state and zonal offices across the country, she witnessed a pitiful environment for dealing with customers, which has harmed staff productivity. As a result of NAFDAC’s prudent financial management, some Zonal/State Offices were budgeted for. She stated that plans are in the works to build five more.

From the 2021 budget, state offices will be established in Edo, Delta, Kano, Enugu, and Kaduna. She also mentioned that the NAHCO Ports Inspection Office in Ikeja, the Yaba Drug Laboratory expansion, and the Biologics/Vaccine Laboratory upgrade are all in the works.

In Nigeria, there was also a focus on local pharmaceutical manufacturing. The NAFDAC DG stated that the agency has prioritized local manufacturing of regulated products in order to ensure drug security in Nigeria and reduce imports from 70% to around 30% by 2025.

NAFDAC also stated that it is putting a greater emphasis on local herbal medicines by halting approval of imported herbal medicines with equivalence in Nigeria. This, according to Adeyeye, is to bring a renaissance to the country’s herbal medicines while also preventing falsification and counterfeiting.

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“In order to achieve this goal, NAFDAC established the Herbal Medicine Product Committee in March 2019 and encouraged collaboration between herbal researchers and local practitioners.” This has resulted in the joint submission of research proposals for funding for clinical trials of products that have received NAFDAC listing approval so that they can receive full approval,” she explained.

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