General
BVAS Will Promote Transparency During 2023 Polls – INEC
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS), the issue of identity theft and other electoral frauds would be difficult to perpetuate during the 2023 general election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Gombe State, Mr Umar Ibrahim, stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting on the preparations for the next month’s exercise held in Gombe on Wednesday.
Mr Ibrahim said the credibility of the 2023 general elections remained a top priority for the commission, hence the introduction of improved technology in recent electoral polls to enhance the processes.
According to him, with BVAS, only voters will determine who wins elections in the country.
“I assure the good people of Gombe State that the days of identity theft during elections are over, and only voters can determine the winner of elections in this country.
“There is no doubt the deployment of technology has greatly improved the conduct of elections in this country over the years.
“During the 2023 general elections, the commission will be deploying the BVAS for accreditation of voters and transmission of results,” said Mr Ibrahim.
The REC said Gombe State had received the full complement of BVAS required for the conduct of the 2023 general elections in the state.
Mr Ibrahim assured residents of Gombe State that the commission was ready to conduct credible elections in the state, adding that 10 out of the 14 outlined activities had been carried out.
He appealed to all stakeholders to play their roles towards ensuring the smooth conduct of the 2023 elections.
“The conduct of credible elections is not the responsibility of INEC alone; free, fair, credible, peaceful, all-inclusive and accountable elections are a product of concerted efforts by all stakeholders.
“I urge you to join us in discouraging PVC selling/buying and vote selling/buying in the strongest terms as it stands against democratic norms and principles,” he said.
Speaking further on BVAS, Mr Bitson Simon, Head of Department, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Voter Registry, Gombe State office, INEC, said the BVAS device had been described as a “game changer” in recent elections.
Mr Simon said the device was introduced by INEC as a solution to the inadequacies of the card readers, which were used in previous elections.
He said with BVAS, frauds being perpetuated on election day in previous elections would no longer be possible, adding, “election by proxy will not be possible with BVAS.”
According to him, BVAS will be used to accredit voters, transmit accredited data to the INEC server and transmit election results into the INEC review portal.
Mr Simon said the BVAS machine would improve the transparency of the 2023 elections.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says the prevailing insecurity in parts of the country is negatively affecting its operations and revenue generation.
The Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs and Zonal Coordinator, Zone B, Mrs Nsikak Umoh, disclosed this in Minna while inspecting the Niger/Kogi Area Command Headquarters and engaging with vehicle importers on the operational challenges confronting the command.
Mrs Umoh said insecurity was not peculiar to the Niger/Kogi Area Command, but affected several Customs formations across the North-West, including Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara states.
“The security challenge is not peculiar to only Niger/Kogi Area Command. The whole of North-West comprising Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara States, which are all under my command, are facing the same security challenge,” she said.
According to her, the security situation had exposed customs personnel to increasing threats, with some officers killed or injured in the course of performing their duties, adding that the development had forced some commands to scale down their operations or adopt more cautious approaches, thereby affecting revenue collection.
Mrs Umoh explained that the service was encouraging its officers to adopt intelligence-led operations to minimise risks while ensuring that legitimate Customs duties continued.
“But we are trying our best to encourage them to use an intelligence-based operating system to do their job, and that is why in most of the commands, we have a reduction in revenue collections,” she added.
The ACG also expressed concern over the impact of insecurity on the physical and psychological wellbeing of Customs personnel, noting that some officers had developed health complications, including hypertension, due to fear and stress associated with their duties.
Despite the security challenges, Umoh said the Niger/Kogi Area Command had continued to perform strongly in revenue generation, disclosing that the command had surpassed its monthly revenue target of N17 million, generating more than N200 million as of August 12.
She commended the officers and stakeholders in the command for sustaining revenue collection despite the difficult operating environment.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered more than N115 billion in statutory levies owed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by defaulting oil companies between 2021 and 2023.
The recovery comprises N76.883 billion and $81.076 million, according to an EFCC representative, Mr Francis Oka-Phillips Usani, who disclosed the figures before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts on Wednesday.
Mr Usani spoke while the committee was investigating the 2021–2023 Oil and Gas Sector Audit Report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
He said the EFCC investigated 43 oil companies over outstanding three per cent statutory levies payable to the NDDC.
According to him, 24 of the companies operating in the Niger Delta were found to have outstanding liabilities of N76,883,705,907.17 and $81,076,655, while the remaining 19 companies were cleared of any outstanding liability.
“At the commencement of the investigation, EFCC invited 43 oil companies, out of which 24 operating within the Niger Delta were found to have outstanding liabilities in the sums of N76,883,705,907.17 and $81,076,655.00, while the remaining 19 other oil companies were given a clean bill of health,” Mr Usani said.
The agent explained that following the investigation and pressure mounted by the commission, some of the affected companies paid their outstanding liabilities directly to the NDDC.
He said the direct payments amounted to N6.709 billion and $16.994 million.
Mr Usani further disclosed that of the funds recovered by the EFCC on behalf of the NDDC, N73.373 billion and $67.070 million had so far been released to the commission, noting that the balance of N3.510 billion and $14.005 million remained in the EFCC’s recovery account.
He, however, stated that the commission was also mindful of other possible outstanding statutory obligations and taxes payable to the federal government.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, has stressed the need for Nigeria to prioritise its domestic energy needs before fulfilling international obligations, as the federal government intensifies efforts to strengthen energy security and promote greater transparency in the petroleum market.
Mr Lokpobiri stated this in his goodwill message at the West Africa Refined Fuel Market Conference 2026, themed Funding West Africa Infrastructure and Distribution to Create a Transparent Market for Regional Price Benchmarks.
The minister said the country’s energy security strategy must begin with fulfilling its obligations to Nigerians, stressing that the ongoing deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector had created a framework for greater participation and accountability among industry stakeholders.
According to him, energy security starts with fulfilling “our domestic obligations before extending to international obligations.”
He said the conference provided an opportunity not only to discuss sustainable pricing mechanisms but also to showcase investment opportunities and competitive advantages in Nigeria’s and Africa’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors.
Mr Lokpobiri said the federal government remained committed to creating a conducive environment for investment in the petroleum industry, particularly as Nigeria seeks to increase refining capacity and improve fuel distribution.
“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria continues to implement measures and initiatives designed to unlock the full potential of the petroleum sector,” he said.
He identified increased refining capacity, efficient distribution infrastructure, transparent pricing and stronger regional integration as critical to building a competitive West African refined-fuel market.
The minister said improved infrastructure and market transparency would also help establish reliable regional price benchmarks and strengthen confidence among investors and other industry participants.
He added that Nigeria, as a major player in the global energy market, had an important role to play in developing an integrated West African petroleum market and positioning the continent to compete more effectively in global energy trade.
The conference brought together stakeholders in the petroleum industry to examine financing, infrastructure, distribution and pricing mechanisms for the refined-fuel market across West Africa.
