General News
D. Day as 56m Nigerians Choose between GEJ and GMB
No fewer than 56 million Nigerians will file out today to elect the next president in an election believed to be the keenest in the history of the country, according to Punch newspapers.
The figure represents 81.9 per cent of the total number of 70,383,427 voters that registered for the election.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and the opposition All Progressives Congress candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) are once again asking for Nigerians’ votes in this year’s general elections to enable them to lead the country.
The two political gladiators contested in the 2011 general elections won by Jonathan. But this year’s election has generated much tension across the country following the near equal strength of the two major presidential candidates in the poll.
According to Punch, the Independent National Electoral Commission had in February shifted the general elections as a result of insecurity in the North-East and poor distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had said that the commission was empowered by Section 26 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) to shift national elections due to some factors.
He explained that the postponement followed reports by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) and other service chiefs that their agencies would not be able to guarantee security of the commission’s personnel in some parts of the country. Jega had denied that INEC was forced to shift the polls, adding that the electoral body took the best decision under the prevailing circumstances.
“Nobody has forced us to take this decision; it is a very weighty decision, but under the present circumstances, we have taken the best decision and we stand by it,” he had said.
The postponement of the elections was said to have given security agencies the opportunity to reduce the insecurity posed by the Boko Haram terrorist group in the three North-Eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe as well as to allow the electoral body to improve in its distribution of the PVCs.
INEC, in its bid to ensure credible conduct of the elections, introduced a lot of innovations, including the PVCs and the smart card readers to prevent rigging.
The electoral body also increased existing polling units by 30,000. By this addition, the total number of polling units across the country’s 774 local government areas is now 150,000 from the initial 119,973.
The creation of the additional units was contained in an INEC bulletin signed by the Director in charge of the commission’s secretariat, Ishiaku Gali.
Gali had said the decision to create the additional polling units was taken at the commission’s meeting on August 12, 2014 so as to decongest polling units across the country.
As Nigerians elect the new president today, however, the electoral body has put the current total number of registered voters at 70,383,427 of which Lagos State with 5,426,391 has the highest number of registered voters. Nigeria’s commercial capital is followed by Kano with the second highest number of registered voters of 4,751,818.
Meanwhile, INEC has warned the electorate to shun activities that could trigger off breakdown of law and order as they vote for the candidates of their choice.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti, Mr. Sam Olumekun, and Head, Voter Education in Kwara State, Mr. Jacob Iyanda, asked the electorate to remain orderly while casting their ballots.
Olumekun, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH through the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Taiwo Gbadegesin, said, “Voters are to be orderly and follow the instructions of electoral officers. They are not supposed to accept bribe because that is against the ethics of the election.”
Also, Iyanda warned voters or politicians against canvassing for votes during accreditation.
He said, “Voters are expected to come to the polling units with their PVCs. Secondly, they should follow the instructions of INEC officials because they are going to move from one point to the other in the process of accreditation.
“Voters should not canvass for vote, they should not wear any clothe or cap that has symbol of any political party. No symbol of a political party should be found on them. Voters should cast their votes and if they know they want to stay back to watch the proceedings, they should stay quietly and stay out of trouble.
“It is also wrong for them to accept bribe from party agents to cast their votes.
“Voters should make sure that once they finish accreditation between 8am and 1pm, by the time the real voting is supposed to come up by 1.30pm, everybody is supposed to be at the polling units. Once the voters are called to queue up and counted, then it will be difficult to start looking for someone who is not around. So before 1.30 pm, all voters must have converged on the polling units.”
The Deputy Director in charge of Voter Education in Osun State, Rev. Canon Stephen Ojewande, warned politicians and their parties against making provocative comments that could create bad blood among voters.
Urging voters to conduct themselves at the polling units while exercising their civic responsibility peacefully, Ojewande assured them of adequate security.
He also warned that anyone caught canvassing for votes on the election day would be dealt with according to the provision of the law.
Ojewande said, “We want voters to go to their polling units with their PVCs. Accreditation will be done and after this, voting will start. Nobody should canvass for votes during accreditation or voting time.”
Head of Voters Education Department in Oyo State, Mr. Ayodele Folami, said voters were expected to arrive at the polling units by 8am for accreditation.
He said, “We have electoral guidelines guiding the conduct of our staff, ad-hoc members and voters. It is standard rule and having gone through more than a decade of democratic process, we expect voters to have acquainted themselves with the rules. They are expected to be at the polling units by 8am and cooperate with our staff while verifying their PVCs.
“They are also expected to be law-abiding and respect the next voter who could be loyal to a rival party. Normally, political discussion is not allowed around the polling units because it could lead to violence.”
Folami added, “At no time on the day of the election will candidates or their supporters be allowed to campaign. All campaigns stop before the day. Campaign on such day is against electoral guidelines. Any politician who does so on the days of the elections will face the law and could jeopardise his chances or that of his candidate. It is also a crime to take bribe from party agents to cast vote for their candidate on election day.”
In Plateau, the police said that they had taken measures, along with all relevant authorities and stakeholders to forestall breakdown of law and order during the polls.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Emmanuel Abuh, said that the police are also in touch with heads of various institutions, including universities, asking them to sensitise members of their communities against being used by unscrupulous politicians or taking the law into their hands.
He said, “Just as we have been briefing various stakeholders on the preparations for the elections, the police are working round the clock. No segment of the society will be left or neglected. Every precautionary measure has been taken to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.
He added, “As you can see, all the security agencies in the state carried out a show of force round the streets of Jos and its environs. This is to show you that we are serious about the election.”
Assistant Registrar, Information and Publication, University of Jos, Mr. Aaron Abdullahi, said that the institution did not envisage any problem during the polls as students are currently on break till April 16.
Abdullahi said, “The students are currently on break until April 16, but we have adequate security cover on campus right now. UNIJOS security staff members are currently on one-week intensive training from Monday, March 23 to 27. The resource persons are drawn from the police, DSS, military and other security experts.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Commission said the body had deployed 20,000 personnel and 413 patrol vehicles along designated routes for today’s elections.
Corps Marshal, FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, said this was to ensure sanity on the nation’s highways during the polls.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson for the commission, Mr. Imoh Etuk, and made available to Saturday PUNCH in Abuja on Thursday.
It said the commission had drawn a roadmap toward effective patrolling of designated routes on the highways to ensure best road safety practices among road users during the exercise.
It said the 24 Emergency Ambulance Response Centres at the various routes across the country would also complement efforts of the commission.
The routes are: FCT, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Niger, Kogi, Ondo, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kwara states where the centres were located.
He said, “Motorists are hereby enjoined to ensure proper planning and management of trips through maintenance of their vehicles and compliance with traffic rules and regulations.
“ Road users are strictly warned to desist from all road vices such as overloading, speed limit violation, non-use of seat belt, route violation (driving against traffic), making/receiving calls while driving and night trips.
“Details of the objectives of this special exercise include the removal of obstructions from the highways; traffic control/decongestion and public enlightenment campaigns.
“Road users are strictly advised to desist from night trips and ensure that vehicles which ply the highways conform with safety standard,” the corps marshal added.
He listed functional head/tail lights, wipers, tyres, fire extinguisher, caution sign and non-defective windscreen as some of the basic conditions to be met by all motorists.
Oyeyemi urged motorists to call the FRSC Toll Free Emergency Numbers: 122 and 070022553772 to report any traffic crash or any other traffic-related challenges, for prompt response.
Avon Medical, a subsidiary of Heirs Holdings has officially launched an ultramodern hospital facility in Surulere, Lagos.
L-R: Emmanuel Nnorom – Group CEO, Heirs Holdings; Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser on Health to the Lagos State Governor; Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Group Chairman, Heirs Holdings; Dr. Awele Elumelu, Chairperson, Avon Medical Practice; H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor, Lagos State; Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, CMD, LUTH & Representative of the Minister for Health; Dr. Akinbiyi Oke, CEO, Avon Medical; Professor Emmanuel Akinola Abayomi, Honorable Commissioner for Health, Lagos State; Chidi Okpala, Group Executive Director, Heirs Holdings; at the launch of the Avon Medical ultramodern facility in Lagos on April 14, 2025.
At the historic event, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor, Lagos state, who inaugurated the 50-bed, fully equipped facility, said that Avon Medical has put its name in the sand of time in this industry.
The opening ceremony was attended by top government officials, healthcare professionals, and industry stakeholders.
Also present at the event were Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate represented by the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo.
The new hospital features comprehensive diagnostic services, obstetrics and gynecology (O&G), pediatrics, and neonatal care, and is designed to serve the growing healthcare needs of Lagos residents.
Speaking at the commissioning, Governor Sanwo-Olu praised Avon Medical for its long-standing commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu said: “This is more than just a hospital. It’s a bold statement of what private sector collaboration can do in transforming our healthcare landscape. For one facility to offer full diagnostics, O&G, pediatric, and neonatal care, it shows the level of intentional investment and vision behind Avon Medical.”
The Governor further commended Dr. Awele Elumelu, Chairperson, Avon Medical and co-founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, for her dedication to building sustainable healthcare institutions.
He said: “Dr. Awele Elumelu chose not to be comfortable in her success, but instead to invest in something meaningful something that impacts lives directly.”
“The health sector requires long-term commitment rather than short-term returns. Healthcare is not a sector where profits come quickly. It takes vision, compassion, and a strong sense of purpose.”
“We are building the largest pediatric hospital and the largest mental health facility in Sub-Saharan Africa. Health is wealth, and we’re backing that statement with action and funding. 8–10% of Lagos State’s annual budget is allocated to the health sector.”
Also speaking, Dr. Elumelu, AVON Medical Chairperson said they from the beginning resolved to focus on the problems which include overburdened public hospitals, lack of modern equipment, medical professionals being stretched to their limits, too many people frustrated as they simply couldn’t get medical help in time.
“We could not look away, so we decided to do something about it,” she said.
“That single decision to step in gave birth to Avon Medical and our health insurance company, Avon HMO.
“The first, to provide excellent healthcare services, and the other to ensure that people could actually afford them.
“That combination was deliberate. It was our way of ensuring we were not only building facilities, but we were also creating access to them.”
She said the initiative them from the humble beginnings of operating just a work-site clinic at a single location had grown into a 50-bed hospital network, including a Dialysis Centre, and several worksite clinics.
She said why the decision they took then matter could be seen from the staggering facts about our healthcare system on the Africa continent which has over 20% of the global disease burden yet has access to only 1% of healthcare resources; approximately 48% of Africans lack access to the quality healthcare they need; Only about 3% of global health workers serve our continent; In Nigeria alone, the gap in the number of available and qualified doctors, beds, and equipment reflects a system under pressure; The African healthcare system is the hardest hit by the migration crisis.
She said the challenges were not just mere numbers, but real people, real stories, real lives.
“And far too often, they represent women and children. Which is why this facility matters,” she said.
With the medical facility, she said more women will now receive the maternal care they need to safely bring life into the world.
“It means more children will get timely diagnoses, life-saving treatments, and a better shot at long, healthier lives,” she said.
“ It means more families will have access to quality and affordable healthcare services that they deserve.
“This is what we are building: a healthcare system that leaves no one behind.”
Describing the project as a reflection of “our philosophy—Africapitalism, she said, “The belief that the private sector has a major role to play in our continent’s development.
“The belief that we have a responsibility, not just to generate profit but most importantly, to create a lasting impact, to do well and do good.”
She also made it clear that to solve problems, to improve lives that will transform Africa would not end with the new project.
“ This achievement is not the end. It is only a springboard. Our vision has always been bold: to create a network of health solutions that are not only accessible and affordable, but also world-class,” she said.
Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) has warned of an imminent shutdown of power generation plants due to unpaid invoices totalling over ₦4 trillion.
This debt comprises ₦2 trillion for 2024 and ₦1.9 trillion in legacy debts, severely impacting the companies’ ability to meet financial obligations.
According to a statement signed by Col. Sani Bello (Rtd), chairman Board of Trustee Power Generation Companies, on Monday said despite generating electricity consumed on the national grid, power generation companies haven’t received corresponding payments, leading to a liquidity crisis.
This crisis he said has reduced their ability to perform obligations, threatening the entire electricity value chain.
To address this crisis, the APGC has demanded immediate implementation of payment plans to settle all outstanding GenCos invoices.
The association also called for a reprioritization of payments under the waterfall arrangement, giving full priority to 100% payment of GenCos’ invoices as at when due. This would enable them to sustainably generate power and meet critical needs.
The APGC said A clear financing plan is also necessary to backstop exposures in NERC’s Supplementary Order to the MYTO and DRO 2024
This plan would provide stability and predictability for the power sector, allowing GenCos to plan and invest for the future.
Furthermore, the Association is seeking payment security guarantees backed by World Bank/AFDB to guarantee full payment to GenCos.
This would enable them to meet critical needs, improve generation, and implement growth and expansion plans.
General News
NITDA Calls for Comments, Inputs on the Draft Technical Standards For Digital Public Infrastructure
The National Information Technology Development Agency wishes to announce the release of the draft Technical Standards for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for public consultation and is actively soliciting public comments and inputs on this pivotal document.
This landmark step underscores the government’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, secure, and interoperable digital ecosystem that will drive economic growth, enhance public service delivery, and empower citizens across the nation.
The Public may recall that on the 4th of March 2025, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, released the Digital Public Infrastructure Framework. The DPI framework presents a platform for reforming public service delivery, utilising a whole-of-government approach, which includes the opportunity for the private sector to build and deliver cross-cutting services that will enhance citizens’ well-being and access to services.
The Framework also establishes the Nigerian Digital Public Infrastructure Centre (Ng-DPIC) as the program implementation office to coordinate the national effort to educate, support research and deliver appropriate knowledge management for developing Nigeria’s DPI. The aim is to engage meaningfully in developing a robust DPI-driven architecture that benefits society.
In furtherance of the above, this draft Technical Standards for DPI provides a structured approach for developing and deploying Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
They define the essential technical requirements and proven techniques to ensure interoperability, security, and efficiency across digital services. By establishing clear guides, these standards support the seamless integration of DPI components, fostering a secure, scalable, and resilient digital ecosystem in Nigeria.
Furthermore, it outlines the structure for integrating sectorial DPIs, including but not limited to digital identity systems, payment platforms, and data exchange frameworks. It aims to establish clear guidelines for interoperability, data protection, cybersecurity, and the participation of both public and private sector stakeholders in building digital public goods (DPGs), utilising these critical digital foundations.
Extensive research, international best practices, and consultations with various stakeholders have guided the development of this draft technical standards. It reflects the government’s vision to leverage the power of digital technologies to achieve its national development objectives and improve the lives of all Nigerians.
Key objectives of the draft Digital Public Infrastructure Regulation include:
Enhance Interoperability: Ensure seamless communication across platforms, agencies, and services
Ensure Data Security and Privacy: Protect sensitive information while complying with local and international regulations
Promote Accessibility and Usability: Create inclusive systems that are easy to navigate and cater to all citizens, including marginalised groups.
Define Performance Benchmarks: Establish metrics to ensure systems are reliable, scalable, and efficient.
Foster Governance and Compliance: Provide clear accountability, transparency, and regulatory alignment rules
Encourage Innovation: Facilitate the adoption of open-source technologies while adhering to proper usage guidelines.
Standardise Testing Practices: Ensure consistent validation of systems to meet defined technical and user requirements.
The Federal Government recognises the crucial role of public input in shaping effective and impactful regulations. Therefore, it invites all stakeholders, including citizens, businesses, civil society organisations, academia, and international partners, to review the draft regulation and provide valuable feedback.
The draft Technical Standards for Digital Public Infrastructure Regulation is available for review on the website of [Insert]. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their comments and suggestions in writing regulations@nitda.gov.ng by May 8, 2025.
Following the public consultation period, the Agency will carefully consider all feedback received before finalising and implementing the Digital Public Infrastructure Regulation.
This initiative represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey. The Federal Government believes that a well-defined and effectively implemented DPI framework will be instrumental in unlocking the full potential of the digital economy and achieving sustainable and inclusive development for all Nigerians.
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