News

End Of PVC Registration: Nigerians Threaten Mass Action

Several registration centers were flooded by anxious Nigerians on Sunday to beat the deadline which was issued by the electoral body on June 25.

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2022

Seyi Babalola

As the deadline for the Continuous Voters Registration, CVR elapsed yesterday, Nigerians who were unable to get captured have appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to extend the exercise.

Several registration centers were flooded by anxious Nigerians on Sunday to beat the deadline which was issued by the electoral body on June 25.

Recall that INEC had extended the exercise from June 30 to July 31 2022, to enable eligible Nigerians to apply for the Permanent Voter’s Card ahead of the 2023 general elections.

However, despite the extension of the service to churches and other places in a bid to aid the registration, many Nigerians are yet to get registered.

When Journalists visited some centers in Abuja on Sunday, intending voters were raging in anger, alleging that there are plots to disenfranchise some Nigerians.

One of the angered PVC applicants, Mr Ojo K.T, who spoke with our correspondent in Kubwa CVR centre, said he had been trying to register since Monday.

He said, “I think they just don’t want us to vote. Look at the people that are going to be denied the opportunity to participate in the election. What is wrong in this country?

“If you look around, you will notice that most of us here that have been here since 3am this morning are youths. They are afraid of the revolution that is coming and that is why they are deliberately pushing us away”.

According to him, the only language the President Mummadu Buhari’s government understands is protest, saying “we must hit the street to demand the extension of the exercise. It is our right to vote and nobody should violate that right”.

In Bwari INEC office, only two computers were seen despite the crowd thronging the center since the exercise commenced.

Also speaking, President General of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, Goodluck Ibem lamented how several Southeast residents were unable to register during the exercise.

He said, “The 2022 voters’ registration exercise looks like a calculated attempt by some politicians to deny the people of Southeast the opportunity of registering for their voter’s card”.

According to him, the Southeast was deliberately deprived of adequate equipment for the exercise, alleging that the situation is different in parts of the North.

“In the North, we are very aware that the INEC provided sufficient and adequate registration materials for the exercise”, he added.

Similarly, an activist, Adetunji Abiola told our correspondent that the failure of the electoral body to extend the registration exercise may cause mass protest across the country.

He said, “Now that Nigerian youths want to fully participate in elections for the first time, we have been denied the opportunity to do that. I can tell you that over a million Nigerian youths are going to be disenfranchised if we don’t act on time.

“We give this government at least a week to reopen the INEC portal for more registration or they may force us to the street so that the international community can come to our aid”.

However, the INEC National Commissioner, Voter Education and Publicity, Barr. Festus Okoye had in a chat with journalists in Awka, Anambra State capital on Saturday, ruled out the possibility of extending the exercise.

News

Tinubu unveils 2024 Christian pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Seyi Babalola

President Bola Tinubu has officially flagged off the 2024 main Christian pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan.

This was contained in a statement by the Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Relations of Christian pilgrimage, Celestine Toruka, and published on the Commission’s official X handle on Monday.

The president, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, urged pilgrims to view their journey as an opportunity to strengthen their faith in God.

He noted that the theme of the 2024 pilgrimage, “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration,” aligns with the vision and agenda of his administration.

The president called on the intending pilgrims to pray for the progress of Nigeria, Lagos State, and their families.

Tinubu warned the pilgrims against absconding while in the Holy Land, stressing that there is no better place than home.

Business

Reduction in fuel pump price to reflect at filling stations within the week – PETROAN

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Seyi Babalola

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has urged Nigerians to expect a reduction in the pump price of the product within the week.

It should be recalled that last week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, and the Dangote Refinery reduced the ex-depot price of petrol to N899 per litre in Lagos.

PETROAN President, Billy Gilly-Harry, spoke on when the price change will take effect while appearing on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily.

“But I believe from today when members start loading from both NNPC and Dangote at this new price reduction, it will reflect in the market.

“But also I’ll give kudos to some of our members, some of the leaders in PETROAN, you know, that have done so well, especially in Abuja, for even reducing their prices to below N1,000 before even this announcement.

“So, we don’t encourage our members to try to sell products at a loss because our focus is to serve Nigerians. And the only way we can serve Nigerians is when we have the resources to be able to do that.

“The resources can only be there if we’re making marginal profit enough to pay for the cost of money and make sure that we continue to do business. So, never mind, you’ll see the translation of this reduction of prices in the retail outlets hopefully within the week,” he said.

According to him, the inability of members to sell in line with the new ex-depot price is due to some of them having old stocks that were bought at higher prices.

The PETROAN boss commended Dangote Refinery and NNPCL for the reduction in the price of the commodity.

News

FG declares wed, Thur, Jan 1, 2025 as public holidays

Published

10 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Seyi Babalola

Federal Government has declared Wednesday, December 25, 2024, Thursday December 26, 2024, and Wednesday January 1, 2025 as public holidays to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year respectively.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government extended warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.

In a statement, Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to
foster harmony and strengthen bonds across families and communities.

The minister also called on Nigerians to remain committed to the peace, unity and progress of the nation for national development.

“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” Tunji-Ojo, said.

He assured citizens of the Federal Government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.

While wishing Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous 2025, the minister expressed his confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s Administration ushering in the new year, a better and prosperous economy that will be the envy of the world.