INEC

His words, “The Commission shares your (NURTW’s) concern about the fuel situation in the country and its impact on transportation on Election Day.

“The truth is that our arrangements may be negatively affected by the non-availability of products.

“For this reason, the Commission will this (yesterday’s ) afternoon meet with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to look into ways to ameliorate the situation.

“I wish to assure Nigerians that we will continue to engage every national institution for the success of the 2023 General Election”, he said.

Yesterday’s meeting of INEC with the NURTW, the Chairman explained, sought to achieve two objectives.

The first objective, according to him, is to put finishing touches to the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Commission and the Union about two months ago on 20th December 2022 and secondly, to conclude on the modalities for the certification of vehicles by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the light of the emphasis we place on the safety of election personnel and materials.

In his words, “The issue of logistics has been a perennial problem in election administration in Nigeria.That is why for three electoral cycles now, INEC has collaborated with the road

Farouk Adamu Aliyu for championing this wonderful project, saying:

‘‘I believe it will also significantly contribute to our objectives of economic diversification, food security and job creation.’’

‘‘We hope to see more such private sector led large agricultural projects especially with the enabling environment provided by both the State and the Federal Government.’’

On the 2023 General Elections, the President restated his call on Nigerians to remain peaceful.

‘‘Despite some of the challenges that continued to test the process of our democracy, I strongly believe, we have witnessed in the last seven years, entrenchment of the true principles and ideals of democratic governance in the Nigerian Polity. This has been one of the hallmarks of this Administration.

‘‘I must emphasize that tolerance and understanding are vital to the conduct of free elections.’’

Earlier, at the palace of Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maje, President Buhari promised to look into the requests of the State Government on the availability of fertilizers and other farm inputs to boost local agricultural production.

The President said Nigeria and Morocco had an existing agreement on fertilizer production, which will complement the existing 44 blending plants in the country.

The Governor of Jigawa State told the President that the State would remain grateful to the Federal Government for several completed and ongoing projects in the transport, education, health, social investments, agriculture and security sectors.

‘‘Since your administration, we have never seen it better in the life of Jigawa State,’’ he said during the banquet in honour of the President.

‘‘We cannot thank you enough for food security, especially the Anchor Borrowers Programme. Today we see farming in Jigawa as a business and some farmers in the State are among the richest in Nigeria,’’ he added.

Governor Badaru also lauded the President for his intervention to the States of the Federation for the payment of salaries, provision of infrastructure and during the COVID-19 pandemic, running into trillions of naira.

He said from the Paris Club Refund to States alone, Jigawa State received a total of N43 billion.

‘‘With your intervention we were able to do all the projects we promised the people. All these monies kept us in government and I can beat my chest and say that I have adequately delivered and done well for the people.

‘‘Whatever we do in Jigawa State we owe it to your magnanimity and your support and this support is across all the States and party lines,’’ he said.

arrangements, Yakubu says

transport unions to address the problem.

“For the 2023 General Election, the Commission has included the Marine Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) for efficient maritime transportation.

“The time has come to stop all excuses and provide effective logistics to ensure hitch-free logistics on Election Day. Nigerians should not wait for the arrival of personnel and materials at the polling units. Rather, we should be there waiting for the arrival of voters. We believe that this is achievable.

“Recent elections have shown that working in partnership with the unions and other stakeholders, we can achieve the objective.

“This is a patriotic duty and we should make the necessary sacrifice in the national intertest.The Commission is aware that this is an enormous task. “Election is the largest deployment a nation periodically undertakes and mobilisation of vehicles for election is a large and complex exercise.

“However, this comes only once in four years. What is critical here is forward planning. We have presented to the Union the number and specifications of the vehicles required for the election. “We have also indicated to you the locations where the vehicles are needed. Happily, your members are spread across the country.

“Therefore, vehicles conveying personnel and materials will not travel long distances. In fact, all movements should be within a State and preferably within Local Government Areas.

“There should be no inter-State movement. I should also remind you that our MoU covers both forward and reverse logistics.

“This means that there is an obligation to return the personnel and materials to designated locations after the election.

“We are working with the security agencies to ensure the safety of your members and their vehicles during the election. Just like our election duty personnel, their safety is paramount.

“That is why in the most recent elections conducted by the Commission, the leadership of your Union at State level attended several meetings with our officials and the security agencies.

“We also ensured that your Union was represented in our Situation Room to coordinate the deployment of vehicles and the security of drivers.

“We will ensure that a similar arrangement is made nationwide for the general election.

“I cannot conclude my remarks without reminding you of your obligation to neutrality. The work of INEC requires non-partisanship. Working in partnership with the Commission, you will be required to subscribe to the Oath of Neutrality and to demonstrate your nonpartisanship in the work you do on Election Day”, he said.

Nigeria’s public debt stock increased from N42.84 trillion (103.31 billion dollars) in the second quarter of 2022 to N44.06 trillion (101.91 billion dollars) in the third quarter of 2022.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said this on Tuesday in its Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt

Buhari commission’s multi-million ALU farm in Jigawa

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commissioned a multimillion farm of Malam ALU Agro Allied company in Jigawa state.

During the commissioning, Mr president unveiled the tallest National flag pole in Nigeria and the first fertilizer plant in the state situated in the farm.

Speaking shortly after touring the farm, president Muhammadu Buhari commended the chairman of the farm Alhaji Farouk Adamu Aliyu, urging others to copy from him.

President Buhari who was impressed with the technology used in the farm said, it is part of his administration’s achievement of diversifying the economy through modern agricultural system.