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Elections: IFA Urges INEC to Decongest Polling Unit to Accommodate PWDs
The Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make voting venues accessible to persons with disabilities PWDs and provide more assistive devices for them during elections.
The Executive Director of the Organization, Grace Jerry, made the call on Wednesday at a media on post-elections report presentation.
She urged INEC to ensure that overpopulated polling units (PUs) are decongested for ease of implementing priority voting for PWDs in subsequent elections.
She said that this would promote better inclusion and ensure that PWDs continue to participate in the nation’s political system.
“INEC should ensure timely and effective deployment of PWDs assistive devices such as; the Braille ballot guide, For EC30E PWD, and magnifying glasses for all national and state elections.
“INEC should strengthen the training of regular and ad hoc staff to effectively administer assistive Election Day materials and accommodations for voters with disabilities,” she said.
She, however, expressed satisfaction with the increased participation of PWDs in the just concluded February elections.
Jerry noted that beyond participating as electorates, PWDs were also seen serving as party agents.
She further urged INEC to collaborate with other government agencies to ensure the provision of ramps and handrails outside and inside the polling units so that PWDs can cast their vote without any barriers.
“INEC should ensure timely and effective deployment of PWDs assistive materials such as Braille ballot guide, For EC30E PWD, and magnifying glass for all national and state elections.
“INEC should strengthen the training of regular and ad hoc staff to effectively administer assistive Election Day materials and accommodations for voters with disabilities,” she said.
She had earlier said during the pre-election observation report briefing that the IFA/Access Nigeria would deploy 250 PWDs election observers to complement assistive devices provided by INEC, to foster inclusivity and independent participation of PWDs at the polls.
Wants More Local Refineries Like Dangote, Others in Nigeria
The Conscience of the Nation, a socio-economic pressure group, has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for their efforts and policies resulting in reduction in fuel prices.
According to Comrade Gideon Unazi, the group’s head, this development has brought relief to Nigerians, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
Unazi said with the price reduction, Nigerians can now afford to transport food, goods, and services at a lower cost.
This slash, he said, has also led to a decrease in the cost of food and other essential commodities, making it easier for Nigerians to observe the holy month of Ramadan without financial burden.
Unazi further said NUPRC’s strategic and transparent approach and reforms at the upstream level have ultimately led to the reduction in fuel prices.
He added that the Commission had shown a commitment to the willing-seller, willing-buyer option, which aligns with international best practices and supports the upstream sector’s optimal functioning without resorting to price-fixing.
Unazi further said the Commission has demonstrated its commitment to regulating the industry, fostering growth, and avoiding arbitrary actions that could hinder investments.
He added: “In January, the NUPRC outlined a five-point agenda aimed at increasing oil production in 2025.
“Key initiatives include boosting production by one million barrels, enhancing transparency and accuracy in hydrocarbon measurement, digitalizing upstream regulatory activities, optimizing unit costs per barrel, and conducting licensing bid rounds to revitalize non-performing assets.
‘The Commission has also developed a template to identify the needs of participants within the value chain, fostering collaboration and operational optimization.
“Furthermore, significant regulatory actions have been put in place to enforce compliance with the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO), ensuring a consistent supply of crude oil to domestic refiners.”
The group also urged the government to continue to support the establishment of more local refineries, which will not only reduce our reliance on imported fuel but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Unazi stated: “The importance of having more local refineries like Dangote cannot be overstated. With the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria is poised to emerge as one of the largest crude oil refining hub by 2025.
“The refinery’s capacity to produce Euro-V quality gasoline and diesel, in addition to jet fuel and polypropylene, is expected to eliminate Nigeria’s petroleum import requirement, thereby bolstering the country’s current-account position and foreign-exchange reserves.
“The establishment of more local refineries will not only reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth.”
A 14-year-old girl, Elizabeth Peter, from Korokpa in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, has drowned in the Chanchaga River while fetching water.
Miss Peter was an SSS1 student of Saint Andrew Academy, Tunga Minna. Witnesses said she was at the river with her siblings when she was swept away while fetching water.
Her aunt, Abigail Idoko, said the teenager was at the river for the first time on Saturday. She had gone there with her siblings because the family could not find water vendors to buy from.
She said it took about two hours to recover her body from a deep pit in the river.
When our correspondent visited her bereaved family at Korokpa, her mother was in shock. Her father, Mr Peter, a soldier, was said to be in Zamfara State on official duty.
Korokpa, like many communities in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, has long struggled with access to clean water. Residents rely on water vendors, boreholes, or natural sources like the Chanchaga River to meet their daily needs.
However, with limited availability and rising water costs from vendors, many families resort to fetching water directly from the river despite the danger.
The Chanchaga River, a major water source for nearby communities, is notorious for drowning incidents. Deep pits within the river make it hazardous, especially for children and inexperienced swimmers.
Residents say fatalities occur almost every year, yet there has been little intervention to provide safer alternative water sources.
Miss Peter’s tragic death highlights the ongoing water crisis and the risks that residents, especially children, face in their daily struggle for access to clean water.
An ally of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has confirmed the defection move of the former governor of Kaduna State amid a viral social media letter.
In a letter making the rounds on social media, El-Rufai purportedly announced his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a party which he is a founding member.
Parts of the letter entitled: “Onwards to the future”, reads: “As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC will align up to the time I choose to retire from politics.
“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party. On my part, I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party. Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish. Today, the 10th of March 2025, I have submitted a letter resigning my membership of the APC to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately. Subsequent to this, I had concluded consultations with my mentors, colleagues and loyalists alike about the future, and have decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and adopt it as the platform for our future political engagements and activities.”
Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesperson of El-Rufai, did not respond to multiple messages seeking his reaction to the letter.
But sources in El-Rufai’s camp confirmed that all arrangements have been made for the former governor to submit his resignation letter to the APC at his ward in Kaduna.
An ally, who served as a commissioner under El-Rufai’s administration told Daily Trust that El-Rufai would be leaving the APC for the SDP today.
“Yes, we are all aware that he (El-Rufai) will tender his resignation from APC today, Monday, 10th March 2025, and join SDP. That is all we have been waiting for,” the source said.
The source further stated that El-Rufai’s supporters were not surprised by the leaked letter, as they were already aware of the development.
He said having worked closely with the former governor, he could vouch for the authenticity of the letter, which is yet to be posted on any of the social media platforms of El-Rufai, an avid social media user.