“People are dying, Buhari” - HOR
It has been 8 years since terrorists kidnapped 276 female students from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno (find current updates here). Since then, terrorists have abducted over 1500 schoolchildren.
Amnesty International reported this on Thursday, stating that the government has failed to protect Nigerian children. Meanwhile, as the 2023 elections draw nearer and Buhari’s tenure in office steadily comes to a close, the Republic Journal published an essay, ‘The President Who Belonged to Himself’ highlighting the legacy he leaves behind in his stead.
In this edition:
The Presidency has more candidates
INEC says some voter registrations are invalid
“People are dying, Buhari” - HOR
More terrorism stories
Strikes and more strikes
Speaking of Presidency…
Osinbajo and Amaechi in 2023
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has declared his intention to run for president in the 2023 elections. Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi also wants the job.
Describing Buhari as ‘’a true Nigerian patriot’’, he speaks of his experiences and why he has decided to contest:
"In these 7 years, while on the train of duty and service, I traversed every part of our country, meeting Nigerians of every cadre, class, tribe and walks of life, both young and old; I MET YOU."
“I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC.’’
Amaechi is also running as an APC candidate, so are Ex-Lagos governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, current Rivers governor Nyesome Wike, and a few others. But it still boils down to the primary elections: which of these ‘men for the job’ will actually run as APC’s forefront candidate.
Also noteworthy is that if Amaechi fails to win this election, he will find himself out of political office for the first time in 23 years, as he will also need to resign from all official positions before the primaries— According to the Electoral Act.
Voting woes
INEC says 45% of new voter registrations in 2021 are invalid
Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, said while the number of new registrants is impressive, the commission discovered invalid registrations during their “data clean-up” exercise.
The INEC chairman said the leading causes of the invalid were multiple registrations— many were people who had PVCs re-applying— and incomplete data registrations.
He said the invalids are people who registered between June and December 2021.
”As we have repeatedly explained, if you had at any time in the past registered to vote, you do not have to reregister. If you have registered in the past, you should not get involved in the CVR again unless you have had problems with your PVC or fingerprint recognition during accreditation in any previous election. In that case, all you need to do is to revalidate your registration by visiting a designated registration centre to recapture your fingerprints and picture”.
If you’re concerned that your PVC might be invalid, please visit your nearest registration centre.
Shooters disrupt voters’ cards collection in Imo state INEC office
INEC says they’re shutting down the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise (CVR) in Ihitte Uboma temporally, due to a violent gun-related attack on the premises on Thursday,
INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye's signed statement confirmed that an INEC staff was shot dead at the scene,
Two members of the INEC staff have also been reported missing.
Assassinations and Abductions
Reps Advice Buhari to Sack Defense Minister Over Insecurity
The members of the House of Representatives expressed their dissatisfaction over the rising issues of insecurity in the country, particularly in the Northern states- Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, among others.
The consensus was reached after a week-long marathon of meetings with Nigeria’s security team.
Finally, the lawmakers called for Buhari to sack the National Security Officer, Major General Babagana Moguno, and the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi.
According to the National Security Tracker, at least 2968 people have been killed and 1,484 abducted between January and March 2022.
Killings in Plateau State
Armed men attacked Kanam local government area in Plateau State on Sunday. Reposts indicate that the attackers set homes on fire and murdered at least 142 villagers.
Reports from The Cable also show over 3000 displaced.
Witnesses attest that security forces did not intervene in the attacks leaving free reign to the attackers to kill and harm for about 24 hours.
The attacks reached Kuawa, Gyambawu, Dungur, Hyaram, Yelwa, Dadda, Wanka, Shuwaka, Gwammadaji and Dadin Kowa.
Arise News reported even more killings in Plateau state, with 106 bodies in a mass burial and 70 others injured. Read more here.
Shooters attack Taraba Mosque.
On Monday night, shooters attacked a mosque in Sardauna local government area, Taraba State, during prayers leaving the district head dead.
The Cable reports that the attacks happened at 7:30 pm during prayers.
Taraba police spokesperson also disclosed that as the attackers shot directly at and killed the district head, so it seems the ambush was explicitly targeting him.
Families give FG 72 hours to rescue abducted train passengers
Families of the kidnapped passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna railway train attack have given a 72-hour ultimatum to the FG to rescue the victims.
This development came as a response to a viral video where the victims were begging for the FG to help them.
Speaking on behalf of the family members, Abdulfatai Jimoh confirmed that they are yet to know the current status of the passengers since they went missing on March 28.
He also called out the government for not contacting the families of the abducted to keep them updated on their rescue efforts.
Terrorists abduct 5 female students in Zamfara College
Terrorist suspects abducted 5 students from the College of Health Science and Technology in Zamfara State early Wednesday morning.
Mohammed Shehu confirmed the incident to The Cable. He said 1 of the students managed to escape, so the kidnappers have 4 students.
He also said the police has commenced a search for the students.
Money Matters
The United Nations Allocates $15 million to Address Food Insecurity in Nigeria.
The United Nations (UN) has allocated $15 million (of the $100 million reserved for Africa and the Middle East) to soften the effects of the Russian-Ukrainian war on food insecurity in the continent.
The donation comes from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), announced on Thursday to fund relief projects in Africa and Yemen.
The fund is a collection of contributions from over 130 member states of the UN and observers and private individuals.
Foreign airlines in Nigeria to sell tickets in dollars
Some foreign airlines have announced that they will begin the sale of airplane tickets in USD starting from April 19, 2022.
Commentary: First the limit on Naira cards, now this. Naira is really in the muddiest muds🥲)
APG confirmed that it fluctuations in foreign exchange are responsible for the new development.
They also assured consumers that it would most likely be temporary, and everything will go back to normal once the forex situation improves.
More University Strikes
FG begs ASUU
The Federal Government is again pleading with lecturers to call off their strike and resume teaching in the affected universities.
The appeal was made by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, on Thursday while interacting with journalists.
According to the minister, the FG has met all the demands in the December 2020 agreement taking 92 billion Naira from the 2021 national budget.
He also maintained that any renegotiations would follow the International Labour Organisation principle of ability to pay.
NASU and SSANU join the strike
While the FG pleads with lecturers to resume classes, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) also declare indefinite strikes.
Both agencies announced this under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) through spokesperson, Prince Adeyemi at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
Unions members previously did a two-week warning strike that was supposed to end on April 10, but has now been extended indefinitely because the FG ignored them.
Other News
NCC warns against a fake website offering to unbar sims without NIN registration - The Cable
For the first time in 16 years, Nigeria is scheduled to hold a national census (count the population) in 2023. A national census is meant to be conducted every 10 years but was kept on hold due to the persistent insecurity issues- Channels
The managing director of Lekki Concession Company (LCC) Limited announced that the company has decided to pause resuming the toll gate collection because they have decided to “consider the concerns of stakeholders” as a “responsible organisation”- Guardian NG, Legit.ng
Oil production drops to 1.24m BPD in March - The Cable
Adamawa records 54 cholera deaths - The Punch
The UK is matching female Ukrainian refugees with single men - The Guardian
FEC approves N1.4 billion for the power sector - The Guardian
Over 1 million printed voters cards will be released after Easter - The Cable
Buhari pardons APC chieftains jailed for multi-billion naira loot - The People’s Gazette