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Author: Day Break

Underage Married Girls won’t Vote, Says Senator Gaya
According to Gaya, the ongoing amendment to the Electoral Act No 6 of 2010 would not confer voting right on underage married girls, referred to as child-wives.
The Senate committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected a suggestion that underage married girls should have the right to vote.
According to Gaya, the ongoing amendment to the Electoral Act No 6 of 2010 would not confer voting right on underage married girls, referred to as child-wives.
He said the issue raised a lot of dust when it was presented in a memorandum submitted to a technical committee set up on the reforms.
He said someone had made the suggestion that underage married girls should be allowed to vote and this was dismissed with justifiable reasons.
“One of the people who came to the public hearing submitted the memorandum, and argued that the word underage was not his, but that any woman or man that is married should be considered as an adult.
“That was his reason. Our own resolve is that if a woman is at the age of 16 and she gets married, she should not be allowed to vote.
“Generally, there was a lot of noise about it. It was in a memorandum submitted by a group of people and they have their rights as Nigerians.
“But when we came to the committee, we discussed a lot on that and at the end of the day, we felt we could not go along with that suggestion and it was dropped,’’ he said.
Gaya said there was another suggestion not to hold elections on Saturdays as some faithful observe the day as their holy day.
He added that the same argument would be made if elections were fixed for Fridays or Sundays.
“If we move elections to Fridays, some people will say it is their worship day; if we move it to Sundays, some other people will say it is also their worship day.
“So, that suggestion was also thrown out,’’ Gaya said.
February 2, 2021
US election a lesson for Nigeria -Senator
Sen. Kabiru Gaya says Nigeria must learn from the U.S. election by putting in place structures to ensure free, fair, and credible 2023 general elections.
Gaya, also Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission said this while speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria forum in Abuja.
He said that the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters will strive towards presenting an Electoral Bill that will ensure free, fair and credible elections in the country.
“I believe we have learnt a lot from the U.S and we have to put in place some kind of laws to prevent such from happening in Nigeria,” he said.
Gaya advised the U.S government to stay firm to prevent demonstrators from heating up the polity.
He said the controversies that followed the election were uncalled for, considering the fact that the U.S was a leading democratic nation in the world.
“It was embarrassing that the U.S. went through such crisis like a third world country,” he said.
Gaya said that while monitoring campaigns between former President Donald Trump and Joe Bidden ahead of the election, he had predicted that Bidden would win but that there would be a crisis afterward.‌
He said that whenever there were political demonstrations in third world countries, the U.S would be the first to make a criticism.
February 2, 2021
Covid-19 has killed 405 Nigerians in two months, Task Force
Nigeria’s Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 has reported that the second wave of the pandemic has killed 405 people in two months, with 21 fatalities — the highest in a day — being recorded on February 1, 2021.
The task force also said that 75 health workers were infected last week, just as the country lost as many as 45 doctors since the first index case in February 2020.
The chairman of PTF and secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, said the fatality rate is 34 per cent higher. He revealed that that Covid-19-related deaths increased from 1,173 as at last November 29, 2020 to 1,578 on January 31, 2021.
During a sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Covid-19 vaccine with leaders of the Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN) and scholars in Abuja, Mustafa said: “Nigeria, like the rest of the world, is now experiencing a more virulent second wave, which has increased the number of Covid-19 related deaths.’’
Vaccines bring hope
He added that thought the number of infections has grown tremendously, the arrival of vaccines has given hope to humanity.
“I wish to make it abundantly clear that nobody is safe around the world until everyone is vaccinated,” Mustapha said.
The Director-General of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, also reported that there has been increasing transmission of the virus.
“We are working very hard to get access to the vaccines because if we don’t, the virus keeps circulating, mutating and potentially getting better adapted to the environment and its ability to transmit.
“We are gradually experiencing an increase in the number of deaths. These are tragic circumstances. Everything we are doing in the response is really about preventing severe cases and death. This is what we are most worried about,” Dr Ihekweazu said.
50 million to be vaccinated
He said that 57 million doses of vaccines from various makers are expected in the country in batches, beginning from February with the hope of vaccinating 50 million Nigerians this year.
Nigeria has a population of over 200 million people.
The government is taking tougher measures to stop the spread of the pandemic, including the plan to suspend flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and The Netherlands as well as enforcing compulsory wearing of face masks.
In Abuja, the country’s capital city, mobile courts have swung into action, shutting facilities that have violated prevention measures.
The court on February 1, 2021, shutdown the popular Wuse Market, UTC and the Murg shopping plazas in the metropolis and convicted about 100 people who were arrested by the enforcement team for not wearing face masks in public places.
The court presided over by Magistrate Idayat Akanni, fined the violators N2,000 (about Sh500) each, with an option of two weeks community service.
February 2, 2021
Nigerian Government extends NIN-SIM linkage deadline to April 6
The ongoing National Identification Number and Subscriber Identity Module integration exercise has been extended by eight weeks, the Federal Government announced on Tuesday morning.
It said the new deadline was now April 6, 2021.
Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Ikechukwu Adinde, who disclosed this in a WhatsApp message to our correspondent, said the extension was conveyed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.
Pantami conveyed the message during the meeting of the Ministerial Taskforce on NIN-SIM registration which held on the 1st of February, 2021.
February 2, 2021
Kogi State Building Nigeria’s Biggest Reference Hospital (photos)
Health; Gov. Yahaya Bello Currently Building One of Nigeria’s Biggest Hospitals in Kogi State
Late last year, the Executive Governor of Kogi State began the construction of one of Nigeria’s biggest state owned Hospital.
The Ultra-modern reference hospital is designed to meet international standards with the state of art health facilities.
The five-story hospital under construction is located in Okene Local government and work is expected to finish completely in few months time.
The bill for the construction of this multibillion naira Hospital was passed just 5months ago, and today, the Reference Hospital, Okene is becoming a reality.
The action packed Governor of Kogi state has mentioned the need for better healthcare delivery, stating that the coming of the hospital will mark a total end to medical tourism in Kogi state and Nigeria.
Recall Yahaya Bello had several times advised the Federal Government to prioritize healthcare funds in building international standard Hospitals capable of treating deadly diseases in the country instead of the priority given Covid-19 that is by far less deadly with a 99.8% recovery rate.
The evolution of the Y-shaped hospital will mark the start of Nigeria’s all-round best healthcare facility according to the state Commissioner for Health.
February 2, 2021
Suspected Serial Killer Shot Dead In Gun Duel With Ogun Police
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have killed a suspected cultist, Owolabi Oludipe, aka Somori.

Oludipe was shot dead on Sunday while he and his gang allegedly engaged policemen from the Odogbolu division in a gun battle.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this on Monday.
Oyeyemi said the suspect, who had been on the wanted list of the command, was sighted at the Ita-Ado area of Odogbolu, where he and his fellow Aiye cult members were planning another attack.
He added that a call was made to the Odogbolu Divisional Police Officer, who mobilised his men and moved to the scene.
The PPRO said, “On seeing the policemen, the gang engaged them in a shootout, consequent upon which their leader, Somori, was shot and injured, while others escaped into a bush with their weapons.

“The shot suspect was quickly taken to a hospital, but died while receiving treatment. The deceased had been on the wanted list of the command in connection with the killings of Runsewe Segun, a civil defence officer who was murdered in cold blood on November 4, 2020, and one Sunday Kayode Adegbuyi, who was killed on February 16, 2020.

“He was also responsible for the killing of a rival Eiye cult leader, Shoyombo Sanyaolu Fakoya, on November 11, 2020, during a supremacy battle between the two groups.
“He confessed to all the killings on the hospital bed before he gave up the ghost. Recovered from him were assorted charms, which he wore on his body; two live cartridges and a mobile phone.”
February 2, 2021
Demolition Of Billboards Commences In Uyo Metropolis (photos)
In furtherance to the state government’s review of guidelines on Outdoor Advertising, the state Ministry of Environment has commenced the demolition of bill boards in the state.
Flagging off the exercise at Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Monday, 1st February, 2021,the Commissioner for Environment, Sir. Charles Udoh said the exercise is aimed at beautifying the state and checkmating quackery on Outdoor Advertising.
Sir. Udoh said that three weeks ago government reviewed guidelines on out door advertising which has necessitated the demolition of substandard bill boards which he noted constitutes a nuisance to the environment and pose threats to life and property.
The Environment Boss said the exercise which commences from Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat roundabout will be a continuous exercise until completion.
The Commissioner noted that in spite of numerous bill boards in the state, only 13 Advertising Outfits are qualified to operate, adding that unqualified bill boards owners will not be permitted to operate except they comply with set standard and rules.
He restated that every bill board should have identification tag, with the name of the company, phone number and registration number for easy identification.
The Commissioner who affirmed the state government’s commitment in regulating the advertising industry, called for proper registration from practitioners.
February 2, 2021
Nigerian wealthtech Cowrywise raises $3m pre-Series
The investment was led by Quona Capital, with participation from the Tsadik Foundation, Gumroad CEO Sahil Lavingia, and a syndicate of local Nigerian angel investors in the diaspora.
The digital wealth management and financial planning solutions platform aims to digitise investment management for Africans and enable access to savings and investment products securely.
The start-up prides itself on helping the underserved such as Africa’s middle-class individuals and millennials to better manage their wealth.
Cowrywise was co-founded by Ahmed Razaq CEO and Edward Popoola chief technology officer (CTO). The pair came up with the idea to found the fintech in 2017, after noticing that existing investment management firms only focused on catering to the top 1%, leaving millions of Nigerians neglected.
While banking services have been able to make more progress on this front for other customers, the quality of their resources has drastically changed, doing very little to support those who continue to go underserved when it comes to investment products.
Together, they aimed to democratise Nigerians’ access to savings and investment products to both the growing middle class and millennial populations.
“Wealth management had been strange to many Nigerians because the existing players were not built for the mass market,” Ahmed tells TechCrunch. “That has always been a problem we felt required a solution.”
For this reason, both founders dedicated the company’s mission to leveraging the telecom industry’s reach in order to extend its investment products to its large consumer base.
“Our mutual fund partners clearly recognise the value of being part of an inclusive digital platform that allows retail investors to invest regardless of faith or financial status,” Ahmed says.
“Razaq, Edward, and the Cowrywise team are providing everyday Nigerians with easy access to powerful and flexible wealth-generating tools that have typically been reserved for people who are already wealthy,” partner, Johan Bosini, tells TechCrunch. “In a market of 200 million people, we think this will be very impactful for individuals to have more control over their financial future.”
The hope for Cowrywise is to increase its number of subscribers, expand its product offerings, support more fund managers in Nigeria and further build out its investment management infrastructure.
The company previously raised more than $500,000 through a combination of equity financing and grants.
Similar Nigerian financial planning firms include Prospa, which set out to build a platform for African entrepreneurs in May 2019, and KiaKia, a lending investment mobile app.
February 2, 2021
FG Establishes Mineral Processing Cluster
The Nigerian Economy Impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic is being given Boost With Different Artisanal and Small Scale Mineral Processing Clusters in All the Six Geo-Political Zones of the Country.
Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah who Revealed this During the Handing Over of Titled Documents of Land Donated by the Cross River State Government for the South-South Zone of the Cluster says the Initiative is driven by the Federal Government.
February 2, 2021
Ban on illegal use of siren, unauthorised tinted glass cars in Adamawa – Police
The Police Command in Adamawa has banned unauthorised use of sirens, tinted glass and covered number plates in the state.
The ban is contained in a statement issued by DSP Suleiman Nguroje, the spokesman of the command, on Tuesday.
Nguroje said that those acts could mislead security personnel as well as create fear in the minds of peace-loving people of the state.
He said that the command was working with sister security agencies to put in place a robust crime prevention strategies such as visibility policing, foot and vehicular patrols.
Nguroje also said that the command had embarked on stop and search, the constant raid on suspected criminal hideouts, traffic decongestions and rapid response among others.
“The Adamawa State Police Command wishes to assure all that 2021 would be peaceful as adequate security measures had been put in place,’’ he stated.
He called on the people to join hands with the police in keeping the state safe and to report any suspicious person or group to the nearest police station.
February 2, 2021