General
Saturday’s Polls Reflected The Will of the People—Voters Awareness Initiative
By Adedapo Adesanya
An accredited election observer organization for the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections, Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI), has congratulated and commended Nigerians for the peaceful and credible conduct of the elections, saying the polls reflected the will of the people and is a victory for democracy.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, March 2, 2023, jointly signed by its president, Mr Wale Ogunade, and its director of media and mobilization, Mr Nelson Ekujumi, the group said, “We are proud and delighted with the peaceful, credible and successful conduct of the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections in which the outcome reflected the will of the people and is a victory for democracy.”
The group stated that, “We deployed over 100 accredited election observers, monitored reports of other observer organizations as well as the media for situation reports in the conduct of the elections in 176,606 polling stations across the 36 states and the federal capital territory, Abuja and can confidently report that the electoral process was duly complied with by the electoral umpire at the polling stations and at the different stages of the collation of results in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, at variance with the campaign of lies, falsehood, misinformation, blackmail and calumny against the electoral umpire.”
VAI specifically commended INEC for its professionalism, objectivity, and dogged commitment to the provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduct of the elections, even in the face of unwarranted and unprovoked attacks, lies, falsehood, misinformation, a campaign of blackmail, and calumny.
According to VAI, “We are indeed proud and commend INEC for the professional and unbiased discharge of its responsibility in line with the provisions of the constitution and global best practices.”
The group commended the Nigerian electorate for coming out to vote on election day “even in the face of excruciating economic and social pains and agony and for remaining calm, peaceful, and committed to democracy in the face of provocations by anti-democratic elements who plotted unsuccessfully to truncate the announcement and declaration of results with spurious and unsubstantiated claims, fake news, letter and incitements of various kinds.”
The security agencies were commended and congratulated for their professionalism and unbiased conduct, which contributed in no small measure to the success and credibility of the election.
The local and international observers organizations were equally applauded for their unbiased observations and report of the elections, which has helped to deepen our democracy, and it is hoped that they will make their final report to the electoral umpire for improvements in observed areas of shortcoming going forward.
The media was not left out of commendations for its untiring and patriotic role in the objective and professional coverage and reportage of the election and the outcome in which due process was followed and reflected the will of the people as a victory for democracy.
The political party agents were commended for their civilized conduct, which contributed to the peaceful and credible conduct of the 2023 general elections.
It also congratulated the winner of the presidential election, Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on his victory.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its development partnership with Kano and Jigawa States, as part of its long-term commitment to development and reform in northern Nigeria.
The Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission Abuja, Ms Cynthia Rowe, recently completed high-level engagements with governors of both states as well as senior government officials and civil society leaders.
The discussions underscored the UK’s modern approach to development as a genuine partnership with Nigeria, which prioritises state-led ownership and sustainable development that delivers lasting impact through strengthening systems and partnerships grounded in investment, trade, climate financing, technical expertise and joint accountability.
According to a statement, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, via the British High Commission, said Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most significant development partners, adding that the engagements underlined the strength and ambition of the bilateral relationship reaffirmed during the recent UK-Nigeria State Visit.
In Kano, Ms Rowe met with Deputy Governor Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo and senior officials, including the newly confirmed Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the State Government. The visit recognised Kano’s progress on climate finance, health system reform and private sector investment supported through UK technical assistance.
In Jigawa, she met with Governor Umar Namadi and heads of key ministries, departments and agencies. The meeting celebrated more than 25 years of UK-Jigawa partnership, one of the most longstanding bilateral development relationships at the subnational level in Nigeria. Discussions covered the state’s continued progress on health systems reform, agriculture, and governance and the path forward under UK technical assistance.
Since 2022, PLANE has supported Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa to strengthen state-led education delivery systems, working through Ministries of Education, SUBEB and key agencies. Its RANA+ foundational learning packages have reached 1.4 million pupils across the three states, alongside wider system strengthening.
Speaking on this, Ms Rowe said, “For more than 25 years, we have worked side by side with state governments, including Jigawa and Kano states, their communities, and civil society to build stronger health systems, improve learning outcomes for millions of children, support farmers to grow their businesses, and help states attract the investment they need to thrive.
These visits have reinforced our confidence in what this partnership can achieve. We are working together to deliver lasting change, and deepening a relationship built on genuine mutual respect and shared ambition for Nigeria’s growth and development.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on data sharing to enhance economic productivity.
This was done at a meeting at CBN Head Office in Abuja, where the weather body led by its Director General, Mr Charles Anosike, on Wednesday, highlighted the importance of integrating weather and climate data into economic research, especially in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and transportation.
He noted that extreme weather events can reduce agricultural productivity and threaten food security.
He added that the collaboration aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises food security through major agricultural investment, including the cultivation of 10 million hectares of land and the distribution of mechanised equipment.
Mr Anosike cited a 2026 World Bank report that showed that extreme weather driven by climate change is significantly affecting global food security, with more than 87 million people facing hunger in East and Southern Africa and 52 million in West and Central Africa.
He also referenced the latest Berkeley Earth Report, which projects that 2026 is likely to be the fourth warmest year on record, a trend that continues to shape agricultural and energy market projections.
In his remarks, Mr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN, said the signing of the MoU marked an important step in strengthening the partnership between two key national institutions whose mandates intersect in data, research, and policy support.
He emphasised that, in an increasingly complex and dynamic economic environment, timely and reliable data remain essential for effective policy decisions.
According to him, the Economic Policy Directorate relies heavily on timely and credible statistical information from NiMet, saying that such data are critical for inflation monitoring, agricultural sector assessment, and broader economic policy advisory functions.
He described the initiative as both timely and important, adding that strong institutional partnerships are essential for strengthening evidence-based policymaking and improving the robustness of national data systems.
At the close of the event, Mr Anosike and Mr Sani Abdullahi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has launched a WhatsApp and live chat support platforms to provide faster and more accessible assistance to Nigerians and legal residents seeking help with National Identification Number (NIN) related enquiries.
According to NIMC, the new digital customer support channels were introduced as part of ongoing reforms and digital transformation initiatives under the leadership of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Abisoye Coker-Odusote.
The commission said members of the public can now access support services through the live chat feature on its official website and the official NIMC WhatsApp support line.
It explained that the initiative was designed to improve accessibility, responsiveness and overall service delivery for Nigerians seeking information and support on identity management services.
NIMC stated that the platforms would provide prompt responses to enquiries, real-time guidance and improved customer interaction from any location, thereby reducing the need for physical visits to its offices.
The agency added that the move aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to improve public sector efficiency and expand access to government services through technology-driven solutions.
“The initiative reflects the Commission’s commitment to service innovation, citizen-centred engagement, and efficient identity management service delivery in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu(GCFR), aimed at improving public sector efficiency and enhancing access to government services through technology-driven solutions.
“The newly introduced platforms are designed to provide prompt responses to enquiries, real-time guidance, and improved customer interaction from anywhere and at any time, reducing the need for physical visits while enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.
“Under the visionary leadership of Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC continues to implement strategic reforms and innovative digital solutions focused on expanding access, strengthening public trust, and improving service delivery for all Nigerians and legal residents,” the commission stated.
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