APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The announcement by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday, that 781 persons were arrested during the Presidential and Governorship elections across the country dominates the headlines of Nigerian newspapers on Tuesday.
The Guardian reports that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday, said 781 persons were arrested during the Presidential and Governorship elections across the country.
The IGP disclosed this during a meeting with Commissioners of Police from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as Assistant Inspectors General of Police in charge of Zonal Commands.
According to the IGP, the exact figure of those arrested currently is 781.
While 203 persons were arrested during the presidential election, 578 others were apprehended during the Governorship and State Assembly polls.
Over 700 were arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), for violation of electoral laws during the 2023 general elections.
Giving details of how the 781, persons were arrested, the IGP said: “Feedbacks so far received across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT indicates that a total of 489 major electoral infractions leading to the arrest of a total of 781, offenders were recorded nationally, both during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections, while not less than 66 firearms of various descriptions were recovered from electoral adversaries.
The newspaper says that the former Prime Minister of Britain, Boris Johnson, yesterday, said that Nigerians should have the right to choose their leaders saying that development can only thrive in a democracy.
He also charged Nigerian politicians to ensure that millions of Nigerians realise their potential, identifying education and equal rights as part of the major conditions for unleashing potentials of citizens.
Johnson spoke in Lagos as a keynote speaker at the 16th session of the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe yearly lecture series, with the theme: “Rehumanising Human Experience: A Synopsis of Anyiam-Osigwe’s Treatises.”
He noted that while millions of Nigerians are yet to reach their full potential, it behoves politicians to create conducive environment in which people can unleash their potential, “because not only that it is morally right, it is surely right if we care about human development and to give everyone the chance to express their potential.”
The British parliamentarian said citizens would unleash their potentials if they were treated equally before the law, noting that equality before the law made Britain what it is today.
He said: “First and most importantly, you got to have equality under the law because that is the foundation of freedom. Whoever you are, rich or poor, you will receive the same scrutiny, same protection in Britain.
“The next great freedom is the right to choose those who govern you and the right to remove them from office. It is called democracy,” he added.
He called for an open society where diversity can be tolerated, explaining that such made London a hub of talents.
Johnson, who made a case for a stronger mutually beneficial relationship between Nigeria and Britain, said it would further help both countries to unleash their potentials.
He said: “Now is the time. When the world is so uncertain, when some nations are disentangling, now is the time for Britain and Nigeria, two great democracies to work together. Nigeria can be a renewable superpower and still be a producer of oil and gas. We could be much more together.”
Other areas for continued collaborations, according to him, include free trade, free speech and free elections.
The Punch reports that banks’ credits to the government rose by N3.77tn in the first two months of 2023.
Figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria revealed that the total government credit which ended December 2022 at N24.66tn rose to N28.43tn as of the end of February 2023.
The CBN disclosed in its ‘Money and credit statistics’ report that the credit rose from N14.9tn as of the end of January 2022 to N26.65tn in the corresponding period of 2023.
According to statements released by the CBN, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee, Aliyu Sanusi, said at the January meeting that tightening of the rates was needed to moderate the effects of election-related spending and the liquidity associated with the proposed government borrowing in 2023.
He also said that the key drivers of the NDA was net claims on government which grew by 78.15 per cent (y-t-d) in December 2022, which in turn was driven by FGN’s borrowing from the central bank (93.21 per cent), commercial banks (44.26 per cent) and non-interest banks (79.13 per cent).
“This suggests that monetary and fiscal factors have continued to play an important role in the current inflationary processes,” he said.
The newspaper says that Diamond Aircraft, an aircraft manufacturer, has announced that it is looking for a local partner who can help it to obtain a licence to produce aircraft in Nigeria.
According to the firm, this is as it sets out to establish a presence in the country. The Chairman, Diamond aircraft, Bin Chen, disclosed this when his team met the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, recently.
“We are looking for a partner who can help us bring our aircraft to the Nigerian market and ensure that they meet the highest standards of excellence.
“We believe that there is a great opportunity here and we are eager to explore it.” The firm stated that it is ready to invest in the African market and believes in the potential for growth.
The firm added, “We are excited to explore the potential of the African market and to meet with local partners who can help us establish a strong presence in Nigeria.
“We believe that Nigeria has great potential for growth, and we are eager to be a part of that growth.”
Commenting on the firm’s expansion plans, Sirika, stated that this would boost the aviation industry in the country.
He said, “You are in the centre of Africa and since you are producing for Africa, you cannot go to the coast to produce, so, Nigeria is your best location.
“We also have a very flexible civil aviation requirement. So, the government of Nigeria is welcoming you with open arms to come and set up.
“There is also a lot of charter business in Nigeria and a chartered aircraft is between $9000 to $12,000 per hour. So, there is a huge market in Nigeria. So, if you are in Africa and you are not in Nigeria, then you are not in Africa.”
He also said it aligns with the new Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility that had just been established through partnerships in the country.
GIK/APA