Flowerbud News

Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

  • IReV not election result collation system, INEC clarifies

    IReV not election result collation system, INEC clarifies

    By Emmanuel Oloniruha

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its results viewing portal is to enhance election transparency and not a result collation or transmission system.

    The INEC Director of ICT, Paul Omokore, gave the clarification in his presentation titled: “The role of BVAS, IReV for Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo Governorship elections” at a two-day capacity workshop for journalists on Monday in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

    Omokore advised journalists and members of the public not to confuse uploading of PU results to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) with electronic transmission of results.

    He said that INEC Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is only used to upload pictures of PUs results on form EC8A to IReV, which does not translate to electronic transmission of results.

    “Form EC8A is the result that we collated at the PUs. We use BVAS to snap this form and upload the same thing to the IReV portal for public viewing.

    “This is not a collecting system. It does not tally a system. What it does is to snap the EC8A which is the result at the polling unit and upload the same to the public view. That is all.

    “I know that 70 per cent of the populace think that the others have collected the figures. No.

    “All what it does is snapping the EC8A that the presiding officers have collected all the scores of the parties, signed and stamped and then sends this same picture to the IReV for public viewing. That is all. So it is not a collecting system,” he said.

    Omokore said that from inception of elections in Nigeria, results were transmitted manually, from the PUs to the collation centres.

    He said that technology deployment had proven to be an effective tool in achieving free, fair and credible elections.

    He said that while challenges were eminent, INEC had put in extra efforts to ensure that they were mitigated.

    “The role of BVAS is to ensure one-person-one-vote.

    “The role of the IReV Portal is to improve the openness and credibility of our elections,” he said.

    Ezenwa Nwagwu, who is also the Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform, in his lecture titled: “Ethical Dilemma in Election Reporting: Navigating Bias, Balance and Promoting Transparency” urged journalists to uphold accuracy reporting.

    He said that the core issues in election reporting are Independence, unbiased and accuracy report by the media.

    “Accurate and transparent report is the only cure for fake news, which is the responsibility of the media,” Nwagu said.

    He advised the media to always investigate reasons behind some news being presented to the media by people with biased minds on electoral process and balance it with what the provision of the laws.

    NAN

  • Nigeria’s inflation rate hits 26.72% in September– NBS

    Nigeria’s inflation rate hits 26.72% in September– NBS

    By Okeoghene Akubuike

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria’s headline inflation rate increased to 26.72 per cent in September 2023.

    The NBS disclosed this in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report for September, released in Abuja on Monday.

    According to the report, the figure, which is 0.92 per cent points higher compared to the 25.80 per cent recorded in August 2023.

    It said on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate in September was 5.94 per cent higher than the rate recorded in September 2022 at 20.77 per cent.

    The report said the increase in the headline index for September 2023 was attributed to the increase in some items in the basket of goods and services at the divisional level.

    It said these increases were observed in food and non-alcoholic beverages at 13.84 per cent and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel at 4.47 per cent.

    Others were clothing and footwear at 2.04 per cent; transport at 1.74 per cent; furnishings, household equipment and maintenance at 1.34 per cent, education at 1.05 per cent, and health at 0.80 per cent.

    “Miscellaneous goods and services at 0.44 per cent; restaurant and hotels at 0.32 per cent; alcoholic beverage, tobacco and kola at 0.29 per cent; recreation and culture at 0.18 per cent, and communication at 0.18 per cent.”

    In addition, the report said, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in September 2023 was 2.10 per cent, which was 1.08 per cent lower than the rate recorded in August 2023 at 3.18 per cent.

    “This means that in September 2023, the average price level decreased by 1.08 per cent compared to August 2023.”

    It said the percentage change in the average CPI for the 12 months ending September 2023 over the average of the CPI for the previous corresponding 12-month period was 22.90 per cent.

    “This indicates a 5.47 per cent increase compared to 17.43 per cent recorded in September 2022.”

    The report said the food inflation rate in September increased to 30.64 per cent on a year-on-year basis, which was 7.30 per cent higher compared to the rate recorded in September 2022 at 23.34 per cent.

    “The rise in food inflation is caused by increases in prices of oil and fats, bread and cereals, fish, potatoes, yams and other tubers, fruits, meat, vegetable, milk, cheese and eggs. ”

    It said on a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in September was 2.45 per cent, which was a 1.41 per cent drop compared to the rate recorded in August 2023 at 3.87 per cent.

    “The decline in food inflation on a month-on-month basis was caused by a decrease in the average prices of bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, bread, and fruits and fish. ”

    The report said the “All items less farm produce’’ or core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce and petroleum motor spirit stood at 21.84 per cent in September on a year-on-year basis.

    “This increased by 4.35 per cent compared to 17. 49per cent recorded in September 2022.’’

    “The exclusion of the PMS is due to the deregulation of the commodity by removal of subsidy.”

    It said the highest increases were recorded in prices of passenger transport by air and road, medical services, maintenance, and repair of personal transport equipment, etc.

    The NBS said on a month-on-month basis, the core inflation rate was 2.22 per cent in September 2023.

    “This indicates a 0.05 per cent rise compared to what was recorded in August 2023 at 2.18 per cent.”

    “The average 12-month annual inflation rate was 19.55 per cent for the 12 months ending September 2023, this was 4.48 per cent points higher than the 15.07 per cent recorded in September 2022.”

    The report said on a year-on-year basis in September, the urban inflation rate was 28.68 per cent, which was 7.43 per cent higher compared to the 21.25 per cent recorded in September 2022.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the urban inflation rate was 2.24 per cent in September representing a 1.05 per cent decline compared to August 2023 at 3.29 per cent.’’

    The report said on a year-on-year basis in September, the rural inflation rate was 24.94 per cent, which was 4.62 per cent higher compared to the 20.32 per cent recorded in September 2022.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the rural inflation rate was 1.96 per cent, which decreased by 1.12 per cent compared to August 2023 at 3.08 per cent.’’

    On states’ profile analysis, the report showed in September, all items inflation rate on a year-on-year basis was highest in Kogi at 32.95 per cent, followed by Rivers at 30.63 per cent, and Lagos at 30.04 per cent.

    It, however, said the slowest rise in headline inflation on a year-on-year basis was recorded in Borno at 21.05 per cent, followed by Jigawa at 22.39 per cent, and Benue at 23.22 per cent.

    The report, however, said in September 2023, all items inflation rate on a month-on-month basis was highest in Taraba at 3.39 per cent, Bauchi at 3.38 per cent, and Niger at 3.28 per cent.

    “Borno at 0.71 per cent, followed by Ekiti at 1.05 per cent and Benue at 1.13 per cent recorded the slowest rise in month-on-month inflation.”

    The report said on a year-on-year basis, food inflation was highest in Kogi at 39.37 per cent, followed by Rivers at 35.95 per cent and Lagos at 35.66 per cent.

    “Jigawa at 23.41 per cent, followed by Borno at 25.29 per cent and Sokoto at 25.38 per cent recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis.’’

    The report, however, said on a month-on-month basis, food inflation was highest in Akwa Ibom at 4.23 per cent, followed by Niger at 4.19 per cent and Ebonyi at 3.74 per cent.

    “With Cross River at 0.31 per cent, followed by Borno at 0.62 per cent and Bayelsa at 0.73per cent recorded the slowest rise on month-on-month food inflation.’’

    NAN

  • Israel requests $10bn in emergency assistance from U.S. – Reports

    Israel requests $10bn in emergency assistance from U.S. – Reports

    By Flowerbud News

    Oct. 17, 2023

    Israel has asked the United States for $10 billion in emergency aid amid the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the New York Times newspaper reported.

    The White House is reportedly preparing an assistance package for Israel, which also contains aid to Ukraine, funding to reinforce the U.S.-Mexico border, and aid to Taiwan, the newspaper said late on Monday night.

    On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington was considering Israel’s requests for additional military aid to conduct its operation in the Gaza Strip.

    On Tuesday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that U.S. President Joe Biden during his visit to Israel scheduled for Oct. 18 would get an update from Israeli officials about their strategy against Hamas in Gaza, including the pace of their military operations.

    Last week, a U.S. official told Sputnik that Washington had not made a decision on whether it would tie in assistance for Ukraine and Taiwan in a supplemental funding request it was preparing to submit to Congress seeking additional aid for Israel.

    U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said the U.S. military would need additional support from Congress to be able to provide security assistance to Ukraine and Israel simultaneously.

    On Oct. 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip.

    The conflict has left thousands of people dead and injured on both sides.

    Sputnik/NAN

  • Netanyahu meets relatives of hostages taken by Hamas

    Netanyahu meets relatives of hostages taken by Hamas

    By Flowerbud News

    Oct. 15, 2023

    Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met for the first time with representatives of the relatives of the hostages taken last wekend by the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

    There were no details about the meeting at first.

    On Oct. 7, Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, massacred Israeli civilians in border towns and at a music festival.

    The militant organisation also abducted more than 150 Israelis.

    The relatives of the hostages have been criticising Israel’s government, accusing the leadership of abandoning the prisoners.

    At a protest by the families on Saturday, several people demanded Netanyahu’s resignation.

    Some relatives also accused him of not contacting them.

    According to Israeli media, he spoke privately with several affected families.

    Even before the devastating terror attacks, Netanyahu and his right-wing religious government were criticised for putting Israel’s security at risk for a planned, highly controversial judicial reform.

    dpa/NAN

  • Nigerian Army task journalists on national interest in news reportage

    Nigerian Army task journalists on national interest in news reportage

    By Ibrahim G. Ahmad

    The  Commander 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Sani Ahmed, has called on journalists to put national interest above others in their news reportage.
    The call was made in a statement by the Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations Headquarters 1 Brigade, Yahayya Ibrahim, and made available to newsmen in Gusau on Saturday.
    The commander made the appeal during a courtesy visit by the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zamfara State Council, at the Brigade Headquarters in Gusau.
    Ahmed commended the working journalists in Zamfara for their contributions towards timely dissemination of information on the operational activities of the troops.
    He appreciated the journalists for their synergy and support to the brigade which had aided the operational successes by the troops so far.
    He urged them to continue to partner with the troops in ensuring that peace and normalcy returned to the state.
    He said the union and its members had a vital role to play in the fight against terrorism and all forms of criminality in the state and the country as a whole.
    He added that the intensified security operations had led to the bumper harvest of farm produce and vowed to continue conducting harvest and farm patrol until farmers harvested their produce.
    The NUJ Chairman, Ibrahim Maizare, commended the efforts of  Nigerian Army in all the successful operations conducted which had yielded positively, especially in this year’s farming season.
    Maizare promised to continue to partner and collaborate with Nigerian Army and all other security agencies to achieve the return of normalcy in Zamfara and Nigeria in general.
    NAN
  • Sparking high tension cables electrocute 8 persons in Jos, killing 6

    Sparking high tension cables electrocute 8 persons in Jos, killing 6

    By Polycarp Auta

    A faulty power line of the Jos Electricity Distribution Plc. (JED) electrocuted eight persons at Kabong community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau on Saturday, killing six of them.

    The faulty line emitted sparks and electrocuted the victims in the various homes at about 3 a.m., just as it razed houses and shops in the community.

    Mr Istifanu John, Sole Administrator of the Jos North Local Government Council, who visited the scene, described it as very unfortunate.

    He said the accident inflicted other losses on the state and called on the JED to fix all faults that might have triggered the nightmare.

    “This is pathetic because it is an avoidable situation.

    “Those that lost their lives didn’t go anywhere to look for trouble; they died in their homes.

    “As government, we are pained by this development.

    “We call on JED to ensure that all faulty power sources are fixed to avoid this monumental loss in the future,’’ he said.

    John condoled with the bereaved families and called on residents to be wary about they use of electric appliances.

    In his remarks, spokesman of the traders association in the community, Mr Solomon Odidi, said seven shops were razed.

    Odidi blamed the incident on erratic power, supplied by the JED only at night.

    He commended the Plateau Fire Service for its timely response, which he said minimised the number of casualties and staved further damages.

    Odidi appealed to government to support the bereaved families and those whose properties were destroyed in the accident.

    NAN

  • Corruption not an African issue- Adesina

    Corruption not an African issue- Adesina

    By Lucy Ogalue

    The African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr Akinwuni Adesina, says corruption is not an African issue.
    Adesina said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.
    According to him, what is important is to continue to improve transparency, accountability and the use of public resources.
    “The global financial crisis that brought the world down in 2008, that was not in Africa. We have no Wall Street. That collapse came from greed, from corruption, from fraud.
    “You have people cooking the books that are in the financial industry in Europe, not in Africa.  Corruption is not an African issue.
    “The issue is that is not to say that there’s none. What you have to do is to continue to improve transparency, accountability and the use of public resources.”
    According to Adesin, he discovered during his first visit to Eritrea that the country has zero per cent corruption record.
    “During my first visit to Eritrea, I was talking to UN Development Programme staff. You know what they told me? That, in Eritrea, corruption is zero per cent.
    “Why do we not talk about that? That’s the kind of thing that we want to do. For us as a development bank, we take good governance very seriously.
    “As far as I am concerned, people’s resources do not belong in other people’s pockets. Governments must be accountable to their people,” he said.
    According to the AfDB boss, there has to be transparency on how resources are acquired and used. That’s why we have a governance programme.
    He said:“when you get money from us, we also support you technically. You are accounting for those resources.
    “I don’t want to minimise that Africa has a significant amount of illicit capital flows; it does  anything between 80 billion and 100 billlion dollars a year.
    “ But guess what? Those that are doing that are the multinational companies. And so what we have got to do is bring a searchlight to that.”
     On how Africa could improve its position in the global value chain, Adesina expressed sadness about the continent’s constant position at the bottom of the value chain.
    According to him, the fastest way to poverty is through exporting raw materials, but the highway to wealth is through global value chains.
    He said this could be achieved by adding value to everything you have, from oil to gas to minerals to metals and food. We must add value.
    “The issue is, we have to invest right; we have to make sure the governance environment is right; we have to make sure the incentives are right.
    “Africa must take a position that it is no longer going to be at the bottom but at the top,” he said.
    Commenting on the Bank’s support to food security in Africa, the AfDB boss said, “I don’t think that you can have development with pride unless you can feed yourself.
    According to Adesina,  the 81 shareholders of the AfDB provided it with an increase in the bank’s capital at the end of 2019, from 93 billion to 208 billion dollars.
    The AfDB boss said the figure was the highest capital increase in the bank’s history.
    He said the increase, however, allowed the bank to do an emergency support facility of 10 billion dollars in COVID crisis response for Africa.
    Adesina said the bank inaugurated a 1.5 billion dollars emergency food-production facility to mitigate the global geopolitical crisis leading to a food crisis in Africa.
     On the need to restructure the international financial systems,  Adesina said, “what is very important for us is the issue of the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).
     “Africa needs to have a lot more resources for financing climate, but what is actually out there is not enough.
    “We have on the table right now the special drawing rights of the IMF. But when they were issued, 650 billion dollars were issued, Africa got 33 billion dollars.”
    “Its 4.5 per cent, its not good. You have small countries in Europe that got more and that is not fair and not inclusive.”
    According to him,  African Heads of State are asking for 100 billion dollars to be re-channelled from the countries that got it and don’t use it, or need it.
    “We might think of maybe just adjusting it a little bit. And calling it Supporting Development Revitalisation. That’s also SDRs,” he said.
    NAN
  • Kano Govt weds 3,600 couples in a colourful ceremony

    Kano Govt weds 3,600 couples in a colourful ceremony

    By Aminu Garko

    The Kano State Government on Friday  conducted a mass wedding of 3,600 men and women across the 44 local government areas of the state.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the wedding Fatihah was conducted at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Bayero, on Friday.
    The beneficiaries, who were mainly young girls and boys, widows, divorcees and spinsters, came from across the 44 local government areas of the state.
    The ceremony was attended by Gov. Abba Yusuf; Leader of Kwankwasiyya, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, government officials and religious leaders.
    The Emir of Kano was represented by Alhaji Yusuf Nabahani, the Madakin Kano.
    Yusuf expressed belief that the matrimonial extravaganza is a testament to the state’s dedication to promoting cultural traditions and social cohesion, while providing couples with a memorable and cost-effective way to formalise their unions.
    He announced that the festivities would continue on Saturday with “walima” (traditional feast) at the Government House to further enhance the significance and joy of this collective union.
    The governor explained that the mass wedding initiative would not only strengthen the bonds between couples but also underscore the commitment of the state government to support its citizens and celebrate the institution of marriage.
    “The event reflects the deep rooted values and unity of the people in Kano State and highlights government’s dedication to preserving traditions while ensuring a bright future for its people,” he said.
    Malam Musa Isyaku, a farmer from Tudun Wada Dankadai Local Government Area, lauded the political commitment demonstrated by Yusuf for making the event reality.
    “I have being planning this wedding for the last three years, but keep postponing it due to lack of fund,” he said.
    Alhaji Abdulkadir Gezewa, whose three daughters and two boys, were among the beneficiaries, commanded the governor for the release of funds for the purchase of furniture and other necessary items needed for the conduct of the exercise.
    “We will continue to pray for the success of Governor Yusuf’s administration for identifying with the rural dwellers,” he said.
    NAN
  • Inclusion: Tinubu approves Women Affairs Secretariat for FCTA – Wike

    Inclusion: Tinubu approves Women Affairs Secretariat for FCTA – Wike

    By Philip Yatai

    Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Women Affairs Secretariat to address women issues in the FCT Administration.

    Wike, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday, said that the move was part of Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance that carried everyone along.

    He said that currently, FCTA had secretariats addressing most development issues but has no specific secretariat that addresses women issues.

    According to him, women are critical to the development process of the country, stressing the need for a conscious step towards addressing their issues.

    Wike said, “In the world that we are in today, how can you talk about good governance and development without including women?

    “I say look, you must create a secretariat that would take care of women like what we have in other states as commissioner of women affairs.

    “So, there must be that in FCT to give them that inclusivity.

    “As I am talking to You My President has approved that we have a Mandate Secretary for women.”

    The minister said that the Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs would likely be inaugurated on Monday .

    NAN