News

INEC registers 120,458 new Edo, Ondo voters, extends exercise

Published

5 months ago

June 5, 2024

The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the Continuous Voter Registration exercise in Edo and Ondo states to June 9.

The commission had earlier set Wednesday, June 5, 2024, as the closing date for the registration exercise, which started on May 27, 2024.

During the period, the registration exercise recorded significant progress, with 120,458 new voters registered.

Earlier, the exercise suffered some hitches in Edo State, as flood, on Friday, May 25, ravaged the state headquarters of the electoral commission, leaving equipment and materials needed for the registration damaged.

INEC, not deterred by calls for postponement of the exercise, moved its logistics to Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area office located at 16, Custom Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City, where the exercise had continued unhindered.

Announcing the extension of the registration to June 9, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement he signed on Tuesday, said the commission also extended the registration period from 9 am to 5 pm.

The CVR aims to prepare for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo State on September 21, 2024, and in Ondo State on November 16, 2024.

Olumekun, in the statement, also announced the increase in the number of registration centres, to include all 36 local government offices in the two states, supplementing the existing 397 wards and the state offices in Benin City and Akure.

“The commission met today, Tuesday, 4th June, 2024. Among other matters, the meeting reviewed the ongoing CVR in Edo and Ondo states scheduled to end tomorrow, Wednesday, 5th June, 2024.

“However, following appeals by stakeholders, the commission has approved the extension of the exercise from Thursday, 6th to Sunday, 9th June 2024, to enable more eligible persons to register.

“Similarly, the duration of the exercise is extended from 9.00 am – 5.00 pm daily.

“Furthermore, the number of centres has been increased beyond the 397 wards and the two-state offices in Benin City and Akure to include all the 36 local government offices of the commission in the two states,” the statement read.

Olumekun said INEC was deploying additional registration machines to areas with challenging terrains or communal issues to facilitate the process.

“More machines will also be deployed to areas identified to have peculiar needs such as difficult terrain or communal issues.

“Like the ward registration centres, detailed information on the names and location, addresses of the LGA offices have also been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for the guidance of registrants in the two states,” Olumekun said.

Speaking on the 120,458 new voters, the electoral body said the figures were preliminary, adding that the final statistics would be released after the completion of the exercise and a data clean-up using the Automated Biometric Identification System.

“Meanwhile, the exercise is progressing well in the two states. As of yesterday, Monday, 3rd June 2024, eight days after the commencement of the CVR, a cumulative total of 120,458 new voters have registered.

“Of this figure, 55,861 (46.4 per cent) are male while 64,597 (53.6 per cent) are female. The majority of the registered voters (82,003 or 68.8 per cent) are youths (18 -34 years). In terms of occupation, 43,419 or 36.8 per cent) are students while 812 (0.67 per cent) are persons with disability.

“The public should please note that these are preliminary figures. The final figures will be published on a state basis and for all categories of registrants at the end of the exercise and after data clean-up using the Automated Biometric Identification System,” Olumekun said.

The commission urged all eligible voters to take advantage of the extension to register, transfer, or correct their personal information on their Permanent Voter Cards, adding that no further extensions would be granted.

“The commission once again appeals to eligible voters to seize the opportunity of the extension to register, transfer or correct personal information on their PVCs as provided by law. No further extension will be granted by the commission,” the statement read.

News

Tinubu Set To Host Indian Prime Minister, Modi Sunday In Abuja

Published

42 minutes ago

November 16, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

President Bola Tinubu will on Sunday host the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for a State Visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

His visit to Nigeria will be the first by an Indian prime minister since Dr Manmohan Singh’s state visit in 2007 when the two nations established a strategic partnership.

The presidential spokesman said both leaders would have further talks on strengthening Nigeria and India’s ties.

“Both leaders will exchange signed Memoranda of Understanding to enhance collaboration in critical sectors,” Onanuga said.

See the full statement below:

President Tinubu To Host Indian PM In Abuja

President Bola Tinubu will welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a State Visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive on Saturday.

His visit to Nigeria will be the first by an Indian prime minister since Dr Manmohan Singh’s state visit in 2007, when the two nations established a strategic partnership.

President Tinubu and Prime Minister Modi will seek to strengthen Nigeria’s and India’s ties further during their bilateral discussions.

Both leaders will exchange signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to enhance collaboration in critical sectors.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President,
Information & Strategy
November 16, 2024

News

At last, Marketers Agree to Crash Petrol Prices as Dangote Sells Fuel at Reduced Cost after Deal

Published

2 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said about 30,000 of its members will start lifting petrol from the Dangote Refinery The association’s president, Abubakar Maigandi, said that the refinery agreed to sell the product at N940 and N960, respectively He said the development means that petrol prices will crash at the pumps in the coming weeks following the new deal

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says over 30,000 of its members are ready to buy petrol in bulk from the Dangote Refinery. The association revealed that the petrol price from the mega refinery was about N940 per litre via ships and N990 via trucks.

IPMAN president Abubakar Maigandi disclosed in a television interview on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, that the petrol pump prices at its outlets will drop following the deal with the refinery. The association reached a deal with the $20 billion refinery on Monday, November 11, 2024, to purchase petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products directly. The agreement comes after months of negotiations following the exit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) as the sole off-taker of the refinery.

Petrol prices to crash by over N50 Maigandi explained that the Lekki-based facility had been obliged to let marketers buy petrol, diesel, and Kerosene to supply to their depots and retail outlets. The IPMAN boss updated Nigerians on the pricing, saying the refinery gave marketers two rates based on preferences. He said marketers can load at the gantry at N990 per litre or vial vessel transport at N940. Punch reports that the new price is lower than the N960 and N990 per litre on ships and trucks offered by the refinery last week.

The IPMAN helmsman disclosed that the partnership aims to ensure a consistent and affordable supply of petrol and other products nationwide. He stated further that petrol prices may crash by N50 or more, depending on the location.

PETROAN set up a meeting with Dangote Refinery According to Maigandi, the direct purchase of petrol from the refinery will end payments to intermediaries such as the NNPC and depot owners, saying that the cost will reflect on petrol prices in the coming weeks. The IPMAN president said the new arrangement will also end fuel scarcity as products will be available nationwide in all seasons.

Additionally, the management of the Dangote Refinery is set to meet with Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) officials to discuss petrol lifting. The group’s publicity secretary, Joseph Obele, said the refinery, through its president, Billy Harry, mailed seeking a business meeting.

Obele said Harry has inaugurated a team of seven persons to represent the association at the meeting. NNPC to now sell only Dangote petrol Legit.ng earlier reported that NNPC had announced that it stopped importing refined petroleum products. Mele Kyari, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, disclosed this while speaking at the Lagos’s Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists’ (NAPE) conference and said that the company now sources its fuel needs from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Kyari confirmed that NNPC has shifted away from importation and will source from local refiners, especially Dangote, according to BusinessDay reports.

Source: Legit

News

Police save abduct£d 14-month-old baby from nanny

Published

3 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have successfully rescued a 14-month-old baby, Grace Osamagbe, who was abducted by her nanny, Rejoice Chukwu, in April.

Commissioner of Police Umoru Ozigi told newsmen on Saturday in Benin, that the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit arrested Chukwu, 24, and her boyfriend, Destiny Uchechukwu, 28, in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom

According to Ozigi, the suspects abducted the child in Benin and collected a ransom of N160,000.

I lost my hands, girlfriend, dad’s landed properties survived depression; but I’m alive’0:00 / 0:00

“In spite of receiving the ransom, the suspects allegedly sold the baby for N500,000 to Doris Chiwendu in Owerri, Imo State.

“Following intense interrogation, police tracked down Chiwendu and another suspect, Jane Amaigbo, in Ubomiri, Imo State, and rescued the baby on November 9.”

The police commissioner explained that the suspects would soon be charged in court.