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Atiku Backs Decision By UK, US To Place Visa Ban On Election Riggers

Published

6 years ago

January 26, 2019

Eniola Olayemi

Barely three weeks to the general elections in Nigeria, have the governments of the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK) warned politicians against acts of violence or interference in the democratic process. The two governments threatened to impose sanctions, including visa restrictions, access to funds and prosecution under international law on politicians who run afoul of the rules guiding the election. Nigerians will be going to the polls on February 16, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and on March 2, for the governorship and State House of Assembly election. The presidential election has evolved into a two-horse race between the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The election campaigns have been characterised by incidents of violence, mudslinging and mutual suspicion. There have also been accusations and counter-accusations of plots to manipulate the electoral process. In a joint statement made available to media organisations yesterday, the U.S. observed that the conduct of the upcoming elections in Nigeria was important not only for Nigeria, but for the African continent. According to the statement, the U.S. welcomes the signing of the Peace Accord by the presidential candidates and enjoins them to remain committed to a peaceful electoral process.

“The United States government does not support any specific candidate or party in Nigeria’s upcoming elections. The United States supports the Nigerian democratic process itself. We support a genuinely free, fair, transparent, and peaceful electoral process. “We, and other democratic nations, will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the elections. We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election- related violence or undermining the democratic process. Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on family members,” the statement read. Similarly, the British High Commission in Abu-ja reaffirmed its strong support for free, fair and peaceful elections in Nigeria and assured that her international partners would remain committed to supporting Nigeria’s democracy.

“We do not support any party or individual and believe that the Nigerian people should be able to choose their leaders in an environment free from hate speech and insecurity. “We continue to provide significant support to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and to Nigerian civil society to help them deliver credible elections.

We also regularly engage with actors across the political spectrum to encourage them to respect electoral rules and maintain an atmosphere of peace and calm. “We will be deploying an extensive observation mission for the forthcoming elections, including coordinating with the EU’s Election Observation Mission.

Our monitors will, in particular, be looking out for any attempts to encourage or use violence to influence the elections, including on social media. “We would like to remind all Nigerians that where the UK is aware of such attempts, this may have consequences for individuals. These could include their eligibility to travel to the UK, their ability to access UK-based funds or lead to prosecution under international law.

“The UK is a friend and partner of Nigeria. We hope our continued support will play a role in helping Nigeria take a further step towards consolidating the progress made since democracy returned in 1999,” the statement read. It could be recalled that the international community had, last November, urged the political parties in Nigeria to ensure transparent campaigns and avoid hate speech and violence. They also urged all voters, particularly women, youths and people living with disabilities to exercise their democratic right by voting in the forthcoming elections.

The message was endorsed by the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union Delegation to Nigeria. Other countries that appended their signatures to the document were France, Germany, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.They said that even though the choice of who wins the elections was the responsibility of the Nigerian people, the international community would be interested in the process leading to free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections and will follow the campaigns and election process closely. “At the beginning of the 2019 electoral campaign, we would like to reiterate our strong commitment to support democracy in Nigeria.

We encourage Nigeria and its people to consolidate and deepen democracy, building on the standards set in 2015. “We urge all involved – political and non-political actors – to refrain from using hate speech and take a firm stance against violence. The 2015 Peace Accords played an important role in that regard and we welcome new efforts towards that end,” they said.

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NASENI Celebrates Halilu’s Recognition as a Young Global Leader by This Day Newspaper

Published

1 day ago

January 29, 2025

august24admin

NASENI Celebrates Halilu’s Recognition as a Young Global Leader by This Day Newspaper

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has celebrated its Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, for being honoured with the Young Global Leader Award by ThisDay Newspaper during its grand 30th-anniversary celebration held on January 27, 2025, in Lagos.

The EVC/CEO of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu receiving ThisDay Newspapers Young Global Leader award from the former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba at the 2025 ThisDay Awards held in Lagos recently.

The award recognizes Khalil Halilu’s transformative leadership, visionary contributions to Nigeria’s technology and manufacturing sectors, and his commitment to sustainable development through innovation.

Since assuming leadership at NASENI, Halilu has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives that have solidified the agency’s position as a critical driver of Nigeria’s industrial revolution. Halilu’s leadership has led to 35 market-ready products for use by Nigerians and closed deals on 44 projects with Agency’s partners, ready for launching or commissioning.

Speaking on the award, Halilu expressed gratitude to ThisDay Newspaper for the recognition, dedicating the accolade to the entire NASENI team. “This award is a testament to the collective efforts of the NASENI family in advancing innovation and ensuring Nigeria remains at the forefront of technology and engineering infrastructure. It inspires us to work even harder toward creating solutions that empower industries and communities,” he said.

The Young Global Leader Award reflects Halilu’s visionary leadership, under which NASENI has implemented numerous landmark projects, including the development of sustainable green technologies, the establishment of world-class manufacturing facilities, and strategic collaborations with local and international partners to boost Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

ThisDay Newspaper, celebrating three decades of excellence in journalism, selected Halilu alongside other exceptional leaders for their exemplary contributions to societal development and innovation. The award ceremony, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos brought together luminaries from across Nigeria’s public and private sectors to celebrate excellence and leadership.

NASENI, under Khalil Halilu’s leadership, reaffirms its commitment to fostering innovation, industrialization, and sustainable growth in Nigeria. This recognition serves as a further motivation for the Agency to continue breaking new grounds in science, engineering, and technology for national development.

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NIMC unveils new National ID card: What You Need to Know

Published

2 days ago

January 29, 2025

august24admin

NIMC unveils new National ID card: What You Need to Know

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

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NIGERIA: UN HIGH-LEVEL MISSION VISITS BAMA, BORNO STATE, AHEAD OF FIFTH LAKE CHAD BASIN GOVERNORS FORUM

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2025

august24admin

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, the SRSG for the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), Mr. Abdou Abarry, and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed M. Fall, visited Bama a day before the kick-off of the fifth Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum for Regional Cooperation on Stabilization, Peacebuilding, and Sustainable Development in Maiduguri.

The high-level officials highlighted the steady progress made in Bama. This includes joint Government, UN and partners efforts to provide internally displaced persons (IDPs) with humanitarian assistance and livelihood support and initiatives enhancing social cohesion and reintegration through social and economic activities. They also noted the challenges that remain including violence, the threat posed by the climate crisis, and inadequate basic services.

The officials visited a centre equipping young girls and boys with livelihood skills run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and a UNICEF-run social cohesion project at the Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) camp. In addition, they visited a nutrition centre supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) where malnourished children are receiving treatment. The officials also spoke with women and adolescent girls at a UNHCR/GISCOR Safe Space and met with representatives of humanitarian agencies in Bama. They also paid a courtesy call on the Shehu of Bama Dr. Umar Kyari Umar El-kanemi.

“I returned to Bama today, eight years since my last visit – which was a few months after it was liberated from the insurgency. A lot has changed since then, with marked improvement in the lives of people affected by the crisis. While there is still work to be done to address insecurity and its impact on civilians, I thank the Borno State authorities, donors, UN agencies and partners for their commitment and dedication through this journey that has made Bama what it is today. I also call for sustained support to address the remaining challenges,” said the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall.

Bama town remains vulnerable to attacks by non-state armed groups due to its proximity to the Sambisa Forest. This has made it difficult for communities to carry out livelihood activities, including farming, fishing and firewood collection. This has increased their dependence on humanitarian assistance.

Bama illustrates the situation of many communities across the Lake Chad Basin impacted by 16 years of conflict in the region.