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We Can Conduct LG Elections If Given Responsibility – INEC Boss

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2 years ago

July 25, 2024

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…reiterate readiness of commission for Edo, Ondo Gubernatorial elections

By Gloria Ikibah

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has disclosed that it can comfortably conduct local government elections if given the responsibility.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this when he appeared before the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States on Thursday in Abuja.

He explained that INEC has the capacity to handle the local government elections but that would only be possible pending when the law is amended to permit it to do so.

He highlighted that the Commission had been conducting area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory which has been devoid of the problems associated with the conduct of local government elections.

Prof. Yakubu noted that some advantages of INEC handling elections includes the conduct of elections as and when due, stability of tenure, and also that there has never been a caretaker committee in the FCT.

The INEC chairman also noted that there has never been a time one political party has won all the seats at the elections as is common in the states.

He said if INEC handles the election, it would be better for democracy.

But however this he said can only happen if the constitution is amended to take the responsibility from State Electoral Commissions.

Yakubu also said it was more challenging to conduct off-cycle elections than general elections.

He also raised security concerns in the Edo State election with the likely deployment of the Edo State Security Network for the polls.

The INEC boss said the flood that affected the Edo office soaked their BVAS machines but that they recover most of them.

He also pointed out that the power of incumbency was a major challenge against the conduct of elections.

He said, “You wanted to know the position of the Commission on issues surrounding the Supreme Court judgement and local government elections, the position of the Commission. So far we have had three broad positions canvassed. One, the transfer of responsibility for the conduct of local government elections to INEC. The question is if that is done, can INEC cope? The second proposition we have had is that there should be a new federal electoral commission for local government elections and thirdly there is another argument that says leave the state electoral commission to conduct local government elections in the spirit of federalism but find a way of ensuring that they improve on the conduct of local government elections.

“Right now the law has not been amended. The same Constitution that creates INEC also creates the States Electoral Commissions. So it is up to the National Assembly to amend the law to transfer that responsibility to the INEC. If the responsibility for the conduct of local government election is transferred to INEC, can INEC cope? The answer is yes! INEC can cope.

“What are we? By definition, INEC is the Independent National Electoral Commission but right now we do national elections, we do state elections, we do local government elections. A national electoral commission may be expected to handle only the Presidential and National Assembly elections but we also do governorship elections, we do State Assembly elections and do the Area Councils Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the only part of the country where INEC conducts local government elections.

“So, if we are asked to do these elections, yes we can and actually our track record actually proves that we can do it. Check the case of FCT and I would like to say one or two things about the FCT local government elections. There are six Area Councils in the FCT. Like I said there are six chairmen in the FCT, there are 62 wards in the FCT. Each Ward is a councillorship Constituency for the election of Councilors and this is one part of the country that INEC has conducted local government elections and it has resulted in the following:

“Number one, it is perhaps only part of the country where local government elections are held regularly as at when due, elections are held in the FCT. Number two, there has never been a Caretaker Committee for any Area Council in the FCT, INEC has been conducting the election regularly. Number three, there is stability of tenure, it used to be three years but in 2022, the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act to provide for a four year tenure for Area Councils in the FCT. Number four, no single political party has ever won elections in all the constituencies in the FCT. In fact, what is interesting now is that out of the six chairmen of the FCT; APC had three Area Councils, PDP has three Area Councils. So there is no election where one party has dominated.

“Perhaps this is what has been encouraging many Nigerians to say that if INEC is saddled with the responsibility of conducting local government elections the same thing will be replicated and it is good for our democracy. But as I said, the same section of the Constitution that creates INEC also creates the SIECs so until the Constitution is amended and it transfers the responsibility to the commission, this is what our position is.

“In any case, if you transfer local government elections to INEC what it means is that you are going to transfer almost 10,000 Constituencies to INEC. We have 8,809 wards, each ward is a councillorship constituency. We have 774 local government areas and each local government has a chairman. So if you add this to the existing 1, 591 constituencies where INEC conducts elections is well over 11,000 constituencies but the election may not be held all in one day.

“So, in terms of capacity to do it, INEC can do it. We have been doing it in the Federal Capital Territory, we have no issues. But if the decision of the National Assembly is to amend the Constitution to saddle INEC with that responsibility, then we need an engagement with the National Assembly. There are certain consequential amendments that have to be done for us to handle those additional responsibilities. For instance, who is going to fund the 10,000 new Constituencies that INEC will be saddled with? There is a need for a discussion to determine who is going to fund it. Or will the Federal government continue to fund for the states?

You have to do something about the bye-elections. If INEC is saddled with additional 10,000 Constituencies we will probably be doing bye-elections every week.

“But broadly speaking, if you ask us if we can handle local government elections, yes we can handle the local government elections. When is it going to happen? When you amend the law and empower the commission to do so”, Yakubu stated.

He said so far out of 13 activities outlined and leading to the election as required by law from publication of notice for elections to conduct of election, eight has been implemented.

He stated: “We are on the ninth activity and not one activity has been shifted by one day. We have implemented those activities in Edo and Ondo seamlessly. The ninth activity is the submission of names of polling agents by political parties. For Edo, by the end of this month 30th July but for Ondo would be 30th of September.

“The Commission is prepared for the election. We are prepared. In terms of preparation we don’t anticipate much problems in spite of the unfortunate case of flooding in our Edo office. Not for the first time. In 2020 we actually operated from a rented facility but this time around thank God the act of God came early so we have enough time to respond and to conduct the election in our facilities.

“What is our concern for the Edo State governorship election is security.

When we were there one of the political parties raised an issue in Edo about the likely deployment of the ESSN. The Edo State Security Network. But immediately we received the complaint, we headed to the office of the Commissioner of Police and summoned a meeting with all security agencies in Edo state. We agreed to meet with all political parties and at that meeting we agreed to meet with all the political parties which we did the following day and the Commissioner of Police told us and the party leaders that he would take up the matter with the state government.

“The issue at that time was the ongoing continuous voter registration and since then I am not aware of any official complaints from any party or candidate on the role of the ESSN. I believe that the Commissioner of Police must have spoken to the leadership of the ESSN so far so good.

“We have conducted the continuous voter registration. A few of the registered voters require validation. We have 82 in Edo and 164 in Ondo. We started validation for these voters on Monday. As at yesterday we achieved 72 percent success for the validation.

“We are doing so because after the registration we are required by law to display the registers for claims and objections by citizens and also to do the Automated Biometrics Identification System.

“We are not happy with the quality of the biometrics for this 246 registered voters in the states out of over 260, 000 voters. So the number is actually 0.03 percent. It is the right of every registered Nigerian to be able to vote seamlessly during the election and it is our responsibility to ensure that every citizen is given the opportunity. By next week we would publish for Edo State, the final outcome of the continuous voter registration.

“The second concern is what we often grapple with. For the Commission it is more difficult to conduct off-cycle governorship elections than it is to conduct general elections. These off-cycle elections are very difficult and very challenging for us. For the simple reason that you have one stage conducting governorship elections and all the political parties would form their campaign councils and would deploy all the governors, all the honourable members in support of their colleagues.

“It becomes very challenging for us. But in the Nigerian election, all of you would be in your various constituencies fighting your own battles. But this one you would descend on a small constituency which makes the management of the process extremely difficult. Even accommodation becomes very difficult. In Osun for instance I was stranded because the politicians actually took over all the hotels when we went for the signing of the peace accord. I managed to get one room. The following day I had to rush to Akure to get back to Abuja. So it is more difficult because there is pressure on all facilities.

“Thirdly, the power of incumbency is used to the advantage or disadvantage of parties and candidates and this is a clear violation of the provision of the electoral act that prohibits the use of the power of incumbency to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate whether it is outdoor advertisement or campaign in the state media or the use of state facilities like stadia and public spaces.

“It has been an issue in previous elections. So far so good but it is now the campaign is heating up and this matter is likely to come up. Outside these concerns we have been doing well. For Edo there are 17 political parties fielding candidates. Only one female candidate. Others are male. There is no person with a disability in Edo State.

“In Ondo State we have 17 candidates. No female candidate. There is one person with disability in Ondo and that is the governorship candidate of the ADC. In Edo we have approved the names of 134 observers to cover the election. 124 are domestic observers and 10 are international observers. We’ll soon start printing the voter register for the two states.

“In Edo in terms of election technology we had a challenge when our office was flooded. The BVAS machines deployed were substantially soaked in water. The good thing is that we were able to recover well over 3500 of a little over 4000 BVAS machines in Edo State. They are all in working order. We are lucky that this is an odd cycle election so we can rely on resources from neighbouring states. So we have called for additional machines from Abia and they arrived in Edo yesterday, 58 days before the election. So we are very good to go on that score,” he added.

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FG reserves 33000 hectares for FCT livestock settlements

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2 hours ago

August 15, 2026

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The Federal Government has earmarked about 33,000 hectares of land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for livestock settlements as part of efforts to curb cattle movement within Abuja and shift livestock production to a more settled, commercially viable system.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during a ministerial press briefing, fielding questions from journalists.

Maiha said the land, captured in the Abuja Master Plan and located outside the city centre, would provide designated areas where livestock could be raised under improved conditions without competing for space with residents in densely populated parts of the capital.

He said the initiative is part of the Federal Government’s broader livestock transformation programme, focusing on settled production, improved animal genetics, better husbandry practices, and the establishment of Livestock Development Centres across the country.

“The city is not designed to co-mingle livestock with people,” Maiha said.

He explained that livestock owners would still be free to conduct their businesses within the city, while their animals would be kept in designated production areas where adequate feed, water, veterinary services, and other facilities would be provided.

The minister said the Federal Government was already engaging the FCT Administration to rehabilitate existing livestock facilities, including the Cow Grazing Reserve, Karshi, Piko, and Kore.

He said improvements had commenced at the Cow Grazing Reserve, where three boreholes and a digital weather station had been provided to enhance livestock production and management.

Maiha added that discussions were ongoing with the FCT authorities to rehabilitate other facilities and integrate them into the government’s proposed settled livestock production system.

The minister said the government was determined to address the practice of moving livestock over long distances in search of pasture and water, describing the system as economically inefficient and detrimental to animal productivity.

According to him, animals that continuously trek long distances expend energy that should ordinarily contribute to weight gain, milk production and other productive purposes.

He described cattle subjected to such movements as “athletes”, stressing that the extensive production system was partly responsible for Nigeria’s low livestock productivity.

Maiha said animals were not roaming for the sake of movement but because the existing production system compelled livestock owners to search continuously for feed and water.

He said the government’s preferred model would keep animals within designated production areas where they could access feed, water, veterinary care, breeding services and other essential inputs.

The minister noted that the approach would not only increase meat and milk production but also reduce waste and some of the social and economic challenges associated with uncontrolled livestock movement.

Maiha also identified low genetic potential and poor animal husbandry practices as major constraints on Nigeria’s ability to meet growing demand for meat, milk and eggs.

He said indigenous livestock breeds were not necessarily inferior but had not undergone the systematic genetic improvement required to substantially increase their productivity.

According to him, some indigenous cattle require several years to reach marketable weight, whereas genetically improved breeds can achieve considerably higher weights in a shorter period.

He also highlighted the disparity in milk production, noting that many indigenous cows produce between 1.2 and two litres of milk daily, compared with significantly higher yields obtainable from improved dairy breeds.

“The rate of growth matters a lot. Serviceability matters a lot,” Maiha said.

He said genetic improvement, better feeding and modern animal husbandry would therefore be critical components of the Federal Government’s livestock development programme.

Maiha said the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in July 2024 had begun to trigger institutional reforms at the state level.

Only three states, he said, had dedicated ministries or agencies responsible for livestock when the ministry was established, but the number has since increased to 20 states.

He said this development would strengthen collaboration between federal and state governments in implementing livestock policies and attracting investment into the sector.

The minister, however, cautioned that transforming a sector that had operated largely through traditional systems for decades would take time.

“It’s a gradual process,” he said, adding that the impact of the reforms should not be assessed solely on immediate outcomes.

Under the emerging framework, the Federal Government would provide policy direction, technical and animal health standards, traceability systems, data infrastructure, investor facilitation and regulatory coordination.

State governments would be expected to provide suitable land and local infrastructure, undertake community engagement and security coordination, and mobilise livestock producers.

Private investors and producer organisations would, in turn, finance and operate commercial activities across livestock value chains.

Maiha said the proposed Livestock Development Centres would serve as commercially oriented production clusters rather than government-owned farms.

The centres are expected to accommodate investments in breeding, feed and fodder production, cattle finishing, dairy production and chilling, sheep and goat fattening, poultry production, pig breeding, feedlots, modern abattoirs and meat processing.

Other opportunities include cold-chain facilities, logistics, biogas and organic fertiliser production, and hides, skins and leather processing.

He said states would be encouraged to develop livestock industries based on their comparative advantages, available feed and water resources, agro-ecological conditions, producer populations, and market demand, rather than adopting a uniform model.

For cattle and dairy production, investment opportunities would include irrigated fodder, hay and silage production, feedlots, breeding and artificial insemination, milk collection and chilling, abattoirs and meat packaging.

The poultry value chain would encompass hatcheries, breeder farms, feed mills, broiler and layer clusters, vaccination and laboratory services, egg grading and packaging, processing and cold-chain facilities.

Similar investment opportunities would be developed for sheep and goats, pigs and micro-livestock, including rabbits, grass cutters, snails and bees.

Maiha said the reforms were aligned with the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), which seeks to raise the livestock sector’s contribution to the Nigerian economy from about $32 billion to at least $74 billion by 2035.

The minister said the reforms would also reduce the economic and security risks associated with transporting live animals over long distances from major livestock-producing areas to consumer markets.

He noted that although a significant proportion of the country’s livestock population is concentrated in the North, major markets are located elsewhere, resulting in animals travelling more than 1,000 kilometres.

Maiha said developing livestock production, processing and marketing infrastructure across states would reduce dependence on long-distance movement of live animals.

He said the combination of settled livestock production, improved genetics, adequate feed and water, animal health services, processing infrastructure and private-sector investment would enable Nigeria to produce more meat, milk and eggs while creating jobs and strengthening rural economies.

Meanwhile, the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, presented awards to Maiha and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Chinyere Ijomah Akujobi, in recognition of their contributions to developing the livestock sector.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NVRI, Dr Yakubu Gunya Dashe, presented the awards alongside institute officials.

The institute recognised Maiha for service delivery, while Akujobi was honoured for her leadership and supportive role in advancing the ministry’s mandate.

The recognition highlighted the importance of collaboration among government institutions, veterinary research organisations, livestock producers and private investors in building a modern and productive livestock industry.

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NAHCON fixes N7.5m, N7.8m fares for 2027 Hajj

Published

2 hours ago

August 15, 2026

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The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced fares ranging from N7,560,822 to N7,882,822 for Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2027 Hajj exercise.

The commission made the announcement on Friday in a public notice, stating that the fares were approved by the Federal Government and determined according to pilgrims’ departure zones.

Under the approved structure, intending pilgrims from the Maiduguri/Yola zone will pay N7,560,822, while those from other northern states will pay N7,672,822. Pilgrims from the southern states will pay N7,882,822.

NAHCON said the fares were determined based on consultations with the leadership of the Forum of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, service providers in Saudi Arabia, prevailing exchange rates and service costs.

The commission said the new fares were guided by the principles of transparency and cost efficiency, as well as the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.

“In line with the principle of transparency, cost-efficiency, and the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) announces the 2027 Hajj fares approved by the Federal Government,” the commission stated.

The 2027 fares are slightly higher than those paid for the 2026 Hajj exercise.

For the 2026 pilgrimage, intending pilgrims from the Maiduguri/Yola zone, comprising Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Taraba states, paid N7,579,209.96, while those from other northern states and the southern states paid N7,696,769.76 and N7,991,411.76, respectively.

NAHCON urged intending pilgrims who had already made an initial deposit of N5 million to pay the outstanding balance to complete their registration.

Those yet to make any payment but interested in performing the 2027 Hajj were advised to pay the approved fare through their respective State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Agencies or Commissions, or through approved Hajj Savings Scheme participating banks.

The commission also announced September 26, 2026, as the final deadline for the complete upload of intending pilgrims’ biometric data on the designated Nusuk-Masar digital platform.

According to NAHCON, the deadline is in compliance with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s policy and will not be extended.

“In strict compliance with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s policy, NAHCON has fixed September 26, 2026, as the final and absolute deadline for the complete upload of intending pilgrims’ biometric data on the designated Nusuk-Masar digital platform, while remittance of all 2027 Hajj fares by states must be completed by 2nd December 2026,” it stated.

The commission further directed states to complete the remittance of all 2027 Hajj fares by December 2, 2026, warning that failure to meet the deadlines could lead to the forfeiture of allocated Hajj slots.

“No extension will be granted beyond this deadline, as data synchronisation and seat allocations depend entirely on timely remittances,” NAHCON said.

“The Commission wishes to emphasise that failure to meet the set deadlines will result in forfeiture of the allocated Hajj slots,” it added.

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UK seizes $300m worth of cocaine at London gateway

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2 hours ago

August 15, 2026

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Authorities in the United Kingdom have yet again thwarted a plot by South America cartels to smuggle cocaine into the country with a three-tonne bust at London Gateway.

The National Crime Agency NCA, said that on August 6, officers intercepted a 2.9 tonne consignment of cocaine that was hidden in a load of bananas, among the largest seizures in recent months. The drugs, which are estimated to have a street value of $313 million, originated from the banana-producing, cocaine-trafficking regions of South America. Nine men were arrested as part of the investigation.

Although authorities did not reveal the identity of the vessel, they said that NCA intelligence led to the seizure at the London Gateway port that in recent months has been used as an entry point by South American drug cartels targeting the lucrative UK market. The drugs were removed and the container allowed to be collected.

“This is a very significant seizure which has deprived the organised crime group behind it of huge profits. That is money that cannot be ploughed back into further crime,” said Dave Phillips, NCA senior investigating officer.

The London Gateway port is implementing an ambitious plan to become Britain’s most important container port, and saw container throughput surge by 52 per cent last year to three million TEU from 1.9 million TEU recorded in 2024.

Drug cartels are taking advantage of the growth to use the facility for drug trafficking into the UK. In March, law enforcement officers seized around one tonne of cocaine hidden in a container originating from Panama with a street value of $107 million. In June last year, officers seized 2.4 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of $133 million at the port.

Government statistics show that the UK remains a lucrative market for cocaine smugglers, with people in England consuming 123,000 kilograms of cocaine annually, equating to a $13.2 billion market value.

“Class A drugs wreck lives, they are toxic and can devastate our communities,” said Phillips, adding that the NCA is determined to continue combating the threat of cocaine with domestic partners like the Border Force as well as international partners across source and transit countries.