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Kwara gets World Bank funding to boost primary healthcare

Health

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January 22, 2023

Kwara State, North Central Nigeria has secured a World Bank funding to support infrastructure upgrade in at least one primary healthcare facility in each of the 193 wards of the state.

This is another breakthrough of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s constant payment of counterpart funds for different healthcare services. The Governor will formally launch the programme on Monday 23rd January, where cheques will be presented to the benefitting PHCs across the state.

The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Health Care Development Agency, Dr Nusirat Elelu said in a statement that the N887,800,000 support comes under the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project, for which the government has paid a counterpart fund.

“In the pursuance of Universal Health coverage for the people of kwara and repositioning the Primary HealthCare system to be able to meet the demands of all and sundry, the Kwara State Government along with 13 other states have secured a facility to strengthen Primary Health Care centres across the state.”

According to the statement, this support is coming through the World Bank assisted- IMPACT project through a Decentralised Facility Financing (DFF), with an initial disbursement of Investment fund to one Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in each of the 193 geopolitical wards in Kwara State.

This initial investment fund the statement added is meant to support the PHCs to achieve an ideal level 2 Primary HealthCare centre, that has the capacity to provide the basic minimum package of health services.

She explained further that the utilisation of these funds will be governed by a work plan developed by the health facility staff in conjunction with the Ward Development Committee, to be approved by the Kwara State Primary HealthCare Development Agency.

Elelu disclosed that this plan will take care of basic needs in the health centre, such as infrastructural upgrades, equipment, drugs, consumables, clean water sources and security, based on identified needs.

“Furthermore, through the DFF mechanism, operational funds will subsequently be transferred quarterly to these 193 PHCs to meet the day-to-day running of the benefitting health centres. The quarterly operational fund will be jointly administered by both the Ward Development Committee Chairmen and the Officer in charge of the PHCs to foster transparency and accountability.”

She announced that oversight will also be jointly provided by the National Primary HealthCare Development Agency, State Primary HealthCare Development Agency, LGA Health Authority and the World Bank.

Elelu stated that prior to the receipt of this support from the World Bank, the State Governor, expressed interest in getting the support for Primary HealthCare Centres in the State and paid the required counterpart fund for the state to be eligible. With this support, she said health centres will improve in infrastructure and quality-of-service delivery.

The fund the Executive Secretary added will go a long way in reducing under five and maternal morbidity and mortality in the state and help to rapidly improve coverage of key maternal and child health interventions and welcomed the people of kwara to a new era of improved Primary Health Care services.

Cameroonian journalist dies after abduction

Africa

Hauwa Mustapha

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January 22, 2023

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The mutilated body of a prominent Cameroonian journalist was found on Sunday near the capital Yaounde five days after he was abducted by unidentified assailants, the press union and a colleague said.

Media advocates described Martinez Zogo’s disappearance and death as a further sign of the perils of reporting in the African country.

Zogo, the director of private radio station Amplitude FM, was kidnapped on 17^th January by unknown assailants after trying to enter a police station to escape his attackers, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said.

Zogo had recently been talking on air about a case of alleged embezzlement involving a media outlet with government connections, RSF said.

“Cameroonian media has just lost one of its members, a victim of hatred and barbarism,” Cameroon’s journalists’ trade union said in a statement. “Where is the freedom of the press, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression in Cameroon when working in the media now entails a mortal risk?”

His colleague, Charlie Amie Tchouemou, editor-in-chief of Amplitude FM, confirmed Zogo’s death and his abduction.

The police and the government did not respond to calls for comment.

The incident is the latest in a string of attacks against journalists in Cameroon, which has a vibrant press and which is ruled by President Paul Biya, who has a decades-long record of repressing opposition.

Cameroon is one of many countries across the continent, from Burkina Faso to Ethiopia to Equatorial Guinea, where journalists complain that media freedoms are under threat from authoritarian governments.

“Although Cameroon has one of the richest media landscapes in Africa, it is one of the continent’s most dangerous countries for journalists, who operate in a hostile and precarious environment,” RSF says in its Cameroon country profile.

Radio France Internationale reporter Ahmed Abba was arrested in July 2015 and imprisoned for two years on terrorism charges that rights groups denounced as a sham.

Outspoken reporter Paul Chouta, who worked for private news website Cameroon Web, was beaten and stabbed by unknown attackers in 2019.

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Kano Governor Unveils State Anthem

Nigeria

Aisha John-Mark

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January 22, 2023

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The Kano State Governor in North-West Nigeria, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Sunday, unveiled the state’s anthem in an effort to inculcate patriotism maximally into the citizens of the state.

This is contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abba Anwar.

He said his administration would do everything possible to continue to preserve the history, culture and business excellence of the state, for the overall development of the country.

At the unveiling ceremony which took place at Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, Ganduje commended his wife, Prof Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje for her ingenuity in kick-starting the process that resulted in the development of the state anthem.

“I am glad to say that, what Her Excellency, my dear wife thought of, in developing the state anthem, has come to fruition. She did well and she deserves our commendation.

“We are here in order to show love for our state, our culture, our costumes, our history and to appreciate our state in general.

“Ours is to promote love, a deep sense of responsibility and to also show the greatness of our dear state. As our national Anthem is bringing us together for the service and unity of our motherland, so also this state Anthem will follow the same pattern at the state level,” said Ganduje.

He said for the state anthem to gain more ground, the executive is taking it to the state House of Assembly for legislation.

The statement added that the anthem showcases how the state excels in commerce, traditional leadership, scholarship, agriculture and hospitality, which stem from rich culture and history.

Ogun State Government Declares Work-free Days for PVCs Collection

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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January 22, 2023

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The Ogun State Government, South-west Nigeria, has declared Tuesday, 24th January and Wednesday, 25th January, 2023 as work-free days to enable workers in the public service to collect their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs).

This was contained in a statement issued by Kunle Somorin, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

“Following the extension of the Permanent Voters’ Cards collection till Sunday, January 29, 2023, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Dapo Abiodun has graciously approved two days – Tuesday, 24th and Wednesday, 25th January as work-free days to enable public servants to collect their PVCs from their respective local governments,” the statement read in part.

Governor Abiodun also enjoined all executive members of public markets and private establishments in the state to allow flexibility in their schedules for residents to use the opportunity to visit the Independent National Electoral Commission’s offices or collection centres where they registered to collect their PVCs.

“Voting is a civic responsibility, and all eligible citizens must be allowed to exercise their rights to choose who governs them,” said the governor.

Edited by Amaka E. Nliam

PVCs Collection: “INEC Will Not Extend Deadline” – Kwara State’s REC

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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January 22, 2023

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The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara state, North-Central Nigeria, Malam Attahiru Madami, has reaffirmed that the electoral body will not extend the collection date of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) beyond the current deadline, January 29.

Madami made this known on Saturday while speaking with VON correspondent, Tunde Akanbi, on the commission’s preparations for the upcoming general elections.

Malam Attahiru Madami, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara state.

This is coming on the heels of calls from several quarters for the extension of the deadline for the collection of the PVCs.

Speaking further, he noted that the reason for the INEC’s inability to extend the date further is for the electoral body to have enough time to execute other exercises in the build-up to the elections.

“INEC is not going to extend the collection of PVCs because we’re going to be involved in other critical areas of the election, where we need to print out the number of voters in each polling units.

“And we need to give this to the political parties before the election so that we will get the statistics of everyone that has registered at each polling unit, and then they’ll strategize on how to campaign before the election on the 25th of February,” he noted.

He recalled that the collection of PVCs was recently extended by seven days. Instead of ending on January 22, 2023, it was extended to continue until January 29, 2023.

Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS)

Madami expressed confidence in the accuracy of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and the critical role the new technology is going to play in the coming and subsequent elections, making reference to the recent off-season elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states.

“We have tested out BVAS in Anambra election: the BVAS was 92%.

“In Ekiti state election, the BVAS was 96%. In Osun state election, it was scored 98%. But you know we’re dealing with electronics; we don’t want to take chances.

“In our meeting with the leadership of INEC we were told that we need to test the BVAS before the main election so that we’ll be able to address any challenge before the election.

“We were told by the national body that we should go to our respective states and we should pick two local government areas in each senatorial zone in the country in order to do what we call a mock accreditation; it will be done in the presence of the Press, the security agencies and the political parties.

“In Kwara state, the commission picked Asa and Ilorin West for central. It picked Ekiti and Irepodun in the South. And in the North it picked Pategi and Moro,” he explained.

Madami assured that the new technology will make the upcoming election the best in the history of the country, as it will make rigging almost impossible:

“2023 election will be the best election Nigeria ever had because BVAS has taken rigging to the mud; it will be reduced to the minimum.”

He also noted that a fully charged BVAS machine can last up to 48 hours, dismissing the possibility of power outage becoming a stumbling block to the election, which hopefully would not last beyond a day.

“The BVAS is an upgrade to the card reader. The card reader is only used to check the fingerprints.

“Now the BVAS doesn’t only check the fingerprints, it also checks the facials too.

“If one fails both the fingerprints and facial recognition test, the electoral law permits the INEC to allow you to try it three times and after the three trials and the person couldn’t be identified as the owner of the card, then he or she would not be allowed to vote,” he further explained.

The Signing of the Electoral Act

While expressing his delight at the introduction of the BVAS, Madami lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Electoral Act.

“The Electoral Act has brought sanity and electoral integrity into the Nigerian political system.

“The chances of over-voting occurring is near zero.

“There is no way that we can have a scenario of over-voting because before anyone can be allowed to vote, he/she would have been accredited electronically.

“And even if that happens, according to the INEC rule which I’m going to apply strictly, I will cancel the result of that polling unit,” he added.

Edited by Amaka E. Nliam

African laboratories train rats to detect tuberculosis

Africa

Hauwa Mustapha

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January 22, 2023

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In laboratories in Tanzania and Nairobi, rats have been trained to sniff out tuberculosis.

Already known for finding land mines, the rodents could now transform the way the disease is detected.

The African giant pouched rats work with scientists at the APOPO Project, a Belgian non-profit organisation in Tanzania, because they can detect the smell of the deadly disease.

A study conducted by APOPO in 2016 compared the accuracy of the rats to that of standard methods used in laboratories such as smear microscopy, bacteria culture tests and Genexpert a rapid test for tuberculosis.

Joseph Soka, programme manager for TB at APOPO, said: “The sensitivity of these rats is as high as compared to microscopes and as compared to other tests, their sensitivity is independent of HIV status. That is, they can easily identify tuberculosis in people living with HIV, keeping in mind that these people living with HIV, it is very difficult to be diagnosed by the standard test, including Genexpert in microscopes.”

APOPO is already known for training rats to find landmines but training them to detect TB was new territory when they adopted the programme back in 2008.

Now the animals work in 21 medical centres in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam as they are thought to be faster at detecting the illness than standard methods.

Many developing countries heavily rely on old TB detection techniques that entail the use of microscopes to examine the sputum of potentially infected patients.

Dhaval Shah, veterinary pathologist at Pathologists Lancet Kenya, said rats can speed up the process.

“So, the conventional laboratory techniques can take anywhere from two hours to even 14 days per sample, depending on what technique you use,” he said. “While the rats will be able to complete testing of fifty samples within two hours and this would be ideal in far places or remote places like Mozambique or places in Mozambique which are rural.”

According to the WHO, TB claimed the lives of 1.6 million people in 2021 including 187 000 people with HIV.

The disease is the 13^th leading cause of death globally and the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19.

The WHO estimates that in 2018, 162,000 people (551 cases per 100,000 people) contracted tuberculosis in Mozambique.

The figures highlight the need for a speedy, reliable and affordable technique to detect the TB causing bacteria.

It is hoped that the use of rats might do away with the need for time-consuming microscope testing.

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Eddie Nketiah’s Double Sends Arsenal Five Points Clear

Sports

Chidi Uduma Nwoke

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January 22, 2023

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Two goals by striker Eddie Nketiah saw Arsenal claim a 3-2 victory against Manchester United in a highly entertaining contest as the Premier League leaders went five (5) points clear on the table, at the Emirates Stadium in London, England.

Arsenal, who came into the game two (2) points ahead of Manchester City, started with a familiar front-three of Nketiah, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. The visitors featured new signing Wout Weghorst in attack, supported by the in-form Marcus Rashford and Antony on the flanks.

United forward Rashford opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a lovely strike from outside the box, silencing the fans at the Emirates Stadium.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford celebrates goal against Arsenal with teamates

It was Rashford’s ninth goal of the season in the Premier League.

Moments later, Arsenal equalised through Nketiah as his header beat Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, scoring his fourth Premier League goal of the season.

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah (14) scores header against Manchester United.

The first half was filled with goalmouth action from end to end, but the scores remained 1-1 by halftime.

Read more: Osimhen Fires Napoli 12 Points Clear in Serie A

In the 53rd minute, the Gunners went ahead courtesy of a brilliant long-range effort from Saka, after the Arsenal winger went past his marker to create enough space for the shot.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka scores brilliant goal against Manchester United.

Manchester United then showed some steel to find its way back into the encounter. World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez took advantage of an error from Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, floating a header into the net over the Arsenal defence to score his first goal for United.

However, the Gunners continued to press as they didn’t seem to be satisfied with a 2-2 draw. New signing Leandro Trossard came on for Martinelli and moments later, Arsenal had a chance.

A pass from Trossard found Oleksandr Zinchenko in the box and his drilled pass into the danger area fell to Martin Odegaard, whose mishit shot was guided into the net by Nketiah, sending the Arsenal fans at the Emirates Stadium into a frenzy.

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah (14) scores late goal against Manchester United during Premier League match, at the Emirates Stadium in London, England.

The match finished 3-2 in favour of Arsenal, with the Gunners restoring a five (5) point lead ahead of second-place Manchester City. Arsenal also have a game-in-hand as they have played a game less than rivals Manchester City.

For United, they remain fourth on the table, eleven (11) points behind leaders Arsenal.

Eddie Nketiah’s last-minute winner sends Arsenal five points clear at the top 🔥#ARSMUN pic.twitter.com/70Cq0Edave

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 22, 2023

Next up for Premier League leaders Arsenal is an FA Cup fourth-round game against rivals Manchester City on Friday. Arsenal’s next Premier League match is against Everton on February 4th.

Manchester United will face Nottingham Forest next in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg tie on Wednesday, before playing Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday. They will then play Forest again in the second leg of the Carabao Cup and then meet Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Premier League results

Leeds United 0 – 0 Brentford

Manchester City 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Arsenal 3 – 2 Manchester United.

Re-election: Oyo State Governor Promises Traditional Council Upward Allocation Review

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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January 22, 2023

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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has assured members of the traditional institution in the state of an upward review of their constitutional allocation.

Consequently, they may soon be getting ten per cent of the net allocations of the state’s local government areas.

The constitutional allocation, which was pegged at five per cent, had been a source of complaint from traditional rulers around the country for years. And Makinde had indicated that he would find out if the changes could be made by an Executive Order so he could start the payment of the 10 per cent before the end of his first tenure in office.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, the Governor Seyi Makinde 2023 Campaign Council indicated that the governor made the disclosure in Egbeda local government area, Ibadan, while addressing traditional rulers in the council.

The governor, while addressing party faithful and residents of the local government area who converged on the Airport Junction, Ibadan, also said his government would expand the Olodo Bridge like it did with the General Gas Flyover, Akobo and equally promised to fix the road from Erunmu to Egbeda Junction, as part of his rural development programmes, if he is re-elected as governor.

Makinde, who appreciated the residents for their support and acknowledgement of his achievements, promised more developments, in his second tenure, if re-elected as governor.

“I believe you are enjoying Omituntun 1.0. The massive infrastructure we are building in Egbeda, are you seeing them?

“Our interventions on the Ibadan Airport, are you seeing them?

“What about the scrapping of N3,000 education levy and the distribution of textbooks and exercise books to our students?

“What about the creation of Amotekun, which has helped the security of our state?

“But everything you have seen so far are nothing compared to what you will witness under Omituntun 2.0.

“Just ensure that you vote for me and other PDP candidates in the National and State Assembly elections.

“You have done it before, you can do it again,” Makinde declared.

Speaking with traditional rulers on the issue of allocation, the governor noted that although it may not be enough, his administration had never defaulted in payment of salaries to the traditional rulers on the 25th of every month.

“On the issue of whether it is gross or net, one thing I can promise is that we will look at it and see if we can even pay up to 10 per cent. And we will do it and pay it before the end of this tenure.

“If it requires implementing it through Executive Order, I will do it immediately, but if not, I will work with the House of Assembly to carry that out.

“All I am saying in essence is instead of 5 per cent for our traditional rulers, I will make it 10 per cent under Omituntun 2.0,” the governor promised.

“Tinubu is Capable of Leading Nigeria” – Emir of Dutse

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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January 22, 2023

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The Emir of Dutse in Jigawa state, His Royal Highness Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Sanusi, has said the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has the capacity to rule the country and has demonstrated this in his past record of service as Lagos state governor and other political activities.

Speaking at the weekend when Asíwájú Tinubu visited him in Dutse on the sidelines of the party’s campaign rally in Jigawa state, Emir Sanusi said the APC candidate helped to bring the North and South together to form a strong political party.

“I’m a keen follower of you and your political activities. You are one person I believe have the capacity and competence to rule the country.

“Nigeria had been polarised before. You were able to bring the North and South together under this administration.

“I attended your inauguration as the Jagaban of Borgu by the late Emir of Borgu. He was my friend. He was constantly talking about you and your good deeds.

“You also went to America to study just like me. And like you, I also did several menial jobs to survive.

“I’m also an accountant like you. I have also read some of your books. I particularly like the one titled ‘Financialism’.

“The only thing I lack, unlike you, is the will to play politics.

“Although I normally receive visitors in the palace and not in my residence, but in deference to the state Governor Badaru Abubakar and as a mark of respect to Tinubu, I decided to receive you in my residence,” said the Emir.

Emir Sanusi who is also the chairman of the Council of Emirs and Chiefs in the state pointed out the good relationship with Governor Badaru that traditional rulers in the state enjoy.

The Emir, however, reminded the APC candidate that Jigawa had no water, urging him to work with the state to end the water problem, among other things, if elected president.

Asíwájú Tinubu said he decided to pay a courtesy call on the Emir as “a leader and father” to seek his support for the presidency.

He assured the traditional ruler and others present that he would work hard to solve the nation’s pressing problems.

“I will not sell or share the nation’s patrimony like a piece of cake.

“I have come to serve, and I will serve the country,” Tinubu promised.

Governor Badaru thanked the Emir for receiving Asíwájú Tinubu and his entourage, describing the royal father as a father and mentor.

PR/ Amaka E. Nliam

Elections: FCT Minister Pledges Support for INEC

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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January 22, 2023

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The Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, has pledged the support of the FCT Administration to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful conduct of the 2023 elections in the nation’s capital.

The Minister made the pledge when a delegation from the FCT Independent National Electoral Commission led by the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alh. Yahaya Bello, paid a courtesy visit to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Represented by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, Mallam Bello said that the FCT Administration and the FCT INEC have enjoyed a worthwhile working relationship and thanked the REC for the public acknowledgement of the support the FCT Administration had rendered to the commission.

(Left) The FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alh. Yahaya Bello; Representing the FCT Minister is the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola (Right).

He thanked the commission for the preparations made so far for the conduct of the elections and said the FCT had also made efforts at sensitizing members of the public to the collection of their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

“I want to believe that the FCT is among the states with a very low number of uncollected PVCs, but we still believe that much can be done.

“We want a situation where hundreds of PVCs will be collected so that nobody would say, it is because I did not get my PVC, that’s why I did not vote.

“That is why we empowered the Special Assistant to the Hon. Minister to start ward-to-ward sensitization in the FCT to engage the people so that everybody can collect their PVCs and get ready for the election.

“…And INEC’s readiness for the election lends credence to the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to bequeath to Nigeria a very credible and transparent election.

“We want to thank you for all the arrangements that have been put in place and more importantly thank FCT INEC under your watch for giving great support to the National INEC to ensure that the conduct of election in the FCT is done with precision,” said the FCT Minister’s representative.

Speaking earlier, the FCT REC, Alh. Yahaya Bello, said that the INEC delegation was at the FCTA to acquaint the FCT Minister with the level of preparedness of the FCT INEC for the 2023 elections and also to thank the Minister for the support granted to the commission so far.

“One of the reasons we are here is to express our appreciation and gratitude to the Honourable Minister and the Ministry, especially when we conducted our continuous voters’ registration exercise.

“We had received all the cooperation that we needed from the Honourable Minister and the Ministry in the conduct of the exercise, in terms of venue and everything,” said Bello.

He was particularly appreciative of the Minister’s approval for the use of the Old Parade Ground for the continuing voters’ registration exercise.

“The Minister and the Ministry graciously, not only availed us the use of the Old Parade Ground but, shouldered the responsibility of maintaining law and order and security during the days that we used it to conduct continuing voters’ registration exercise.

“In fact, without that gesture, so many other people would not have been in a position to have participated in the programme and collect their PVCs,” he noted.

He assured the FCT Minister of the INEC’s preparedness to successfully hold the election, saying the underperformance of the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine during the FCT Area Council elections had led to improvements being made on the equipment.

“The non-performance of the BVAS as we expected has resulted in a lot of improvement of the machinery itself, which was very amply demonstrated when we conducted other separate elections after the FCT’s.

“We went to Ondo. We went to Ekiti. We went to Anambra state, and we went to Osun state.

“I will say that I was opportuned to have gone to these three states as a supporting REC and I witnessed the performance of the BVAS as against what transpired during the FCT elections and I want to assure you that this time around- the presidential elections- the BVAS will perform very well in the FCT,” he added.

Also present at the courtesy visit were the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Mallam Bashir Mai Bornu; the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed; Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Minister, Amb. Abu Muhammed; Director of Security Services, FCTA, Mr. Adamu Gwary; FCT INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr. Godwin Wada Edibo; and other senior officials of the FCTA and INEC.

Edited by Amaka E. Nliam

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