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2023: Yiaga Africa calls for strict adherence to Electoral Act, guidelines on collation of results Association set

to establish solid mineral plants in six geo-political zones

The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) on Thursday said the association would establish solid mineral plants in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

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The Acting President of the association, Alhaji Musa Muhammad, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Muhammad said that the association would start the establishment first in Kogi, adding that there were good number of mineral resources in the state.

He said that the effort was to show example of good leadership as well as support government to promote the development of the country.

He said that the establishment of the plants would also bring investors and create job opportunities to the youth.

According to him, the essence of establishing the plant in the zones is to attract more investment, thereby creating many opportunities to the people.

“The association wants to show good examples to our people as the effort will improve businesses and other opportunities in the zones.

“The establishment will bring great advantage to Nigerians and when its processed, the chain value will be achieved.

“Our aim is to be established in the six geo-political zones; the association is starting the move in Kogi state starting with solid minerals which are gold and processing plants,” he said.

Muhammad said that the association had gained recognition from the public because of its achievement.

He said that the MAN had integrated women into the industry, adding that before, “it was only men affairs”.

He said that the women had also formed their own associations to promote gender issues and other activities among them.

The miners boss said that only the registered members of the association were being carried along in the mining industry.

He called on those members that were not fully registered to do the right thing as such would help them have access to any form of assistant from the association.

Muhammad said that one of the objectives of the association was to develop the mines and make the mining sector more scientific for sustainable mining production.

He said that the aim was to ensure safety and efficiency in the mining industry. (NAN)

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Leading election observer

in

Nigeria, Yiaga Africa, has called for strict adherence to the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act and INEC regulations and guidelines on the collation of results.

“As provided in Section 64 of the Act, collation officers and returning officers are required to compare the number of accredited voters and election results recorded on the hardcopy result sheet and scanned images on the BVAS.”

Dr. Hussaini Abdu, Chair, Watching The Vote Working Group Yiaga Africa, stated this on Sunday in a preliminary statement in Abuja.

He said, Yiaga Africa calls on INEC and security to ensure proper security for citizens especially the polling officials and collation officials especially as results collation progresses and as INEC commences the announcement of results to ensure that no life is further lost in these elections.

“Yiaga Africa reminds all Nigerians that the process is not yet over. They should remain peaceful while waiting on INEC to announce the official results and refrain from any acts that could incite violence.

“Political leaders should urge their supporters in particular to calmly await the official results and take appropriate actions against any party members who engage in violence or incitement to violence.

“The Watching The Vote is “Driven by Data – For All Nigerians – Beholden to None!” Yiaga Africa continues to receive reports from its observers and monitor the process, including deploying observers to all State Collation Centres. Yiaga Africa will issue additional updates as appropriate and will convene a press conference following INEC’s announcement of the official results to release its own estimates. If the announced results reflect the ballots cast at polling units, then we will confirm the outcome. If the announced results have been manipulated and do not match the results posted at polling units, then Yiaga

Africa will expose this.”

Speaking further, he said Yiaga Africa calls on the commission to provide clear communication on locations where the election did not hold and ensure the process is concluded in those location before returns are made.

“INEC should be transparent and communicate the challenges faced during the deployment of the IReV.

“INEC should publicly make available all BVAS accreditation data by polling unit, including the number of voters accredited by finger vs facial recognition.

“Protect the transparency of the result collation process by ensuring accredited observers and party agents are granted access to the collation centres.”

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