Press zooms in on lockdown on movement across Nigeria on Saturday, others

APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The announcement that there will be a lockdown on movement tomorrow across the country for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly election dominates the headlines of Nigerian newspapers on Friday.
The Guardian reports that like it was during the first round of elections three weeks ago, there will be a lockdown on movement tomorrow across the country, for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly election.
Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, on Thursday ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation from 12midnight to 6:00p.m. on election day, with the exception of those on essential services such as, officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), electoral observers, press, ambulances responding to medical emergencies and firefighters.
The spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, who made the disclosure, said: “This directive excludes the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as no election is being conducted therein.
“Similarly, the IGP reiterates the ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
“State-established and owned security outfits/organisations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guards and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.”
Similarly, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has directed formation and unit commanders of the Nigerian Army to ensure that troops remain professional and apolitical during the election.
The army chief, who handed down the charge while addressing formation and unit commanders across the country, commended the troops for their overall performance in the provision of security during the last poll and admonished them to shun all forms of inducement, enticement or cajoling that could compromise the security of the elections, adding that a secure and safe atmosphere must be provided for the citizenry to exercise their civic responsibility of choosing their leaders.
He urged the commanders to intensify efforts at providing security support for the elections and be ready to respond promptly to any emergency situation, while prioritising the protection of key national infrastructure.
The newspaper says that inflation, fuel and Naira scarcity might push 24.8 million Nigerians into hunger between June and August, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has warned.
The Acute Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis, also known as Cadre Harmonise Fiche, carried out by the United Nations (UN) agency, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other partners, noted that 18,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be affected.
The report submitted that some 17.7 million people, including 14,000 IDPs in 26 states and FCT currently in food crisis, may have their situation worsened by May.
It projected that Adamawa State would have 5.2 million persons experiencing food insecurity during the period, out of which one million people, would be worse off.
In Borno State, 6.9 million persons are to face similar crisis, from which 1.9 million people would be in catastrophe. But in Yobe State, 4.8 million people are to be food insecure, with 1.2 million persons to be in direr conditions.
The report noted that food consumption level has remained inadequate. Other key drivers include prolonged petrol scarcity and associated hike in pump price.
FAO Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Fred Kafeero, during presentation of the CH result, yesterday, in Abuja, expressed anxiety over increased vulnerability during the lean season.
According to him, Nigeria needs to re-commit and use available resources to mitigate deterioration of food security. Consequently, FAO said it has continued to support government in implementation of CH processes through funding and technical support.
Permanent Secretary (PS), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, assured partners of government’s commitment to honour outcome and recommendations for improved service delivery.
Represented by Director, Department of Planning and Policy Coordination, Ibrahim Tanimu, the PS charged participants to contribute positively to national development.
The Punch reports that no fewer than 28.4 million Nigerians in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, including 18,000 Internally Displaced Persons, are projected to face severe crises between June and August this year due to the scarcity of fuel and naira, the latest report by Cadre Harmonise, stated.
In the March 2023 Cadre Harmonise analysis, which covered 26 states, and released in Abuja on Thursday, it was also stated that about 17.7 million people including 14,000 IDPs in 26 states and the FCT were in crisis or worse through May 2023.
Cadre Harmonise is a tool adopted by partners in the Food Security Sector, usually developed on request by the government as an early warning tool to prevent and manage food and nutrition crises.
The process is led by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Nigeria, through the National Programme for Food Security, working closely with other government ministries, departments and agencies.
The CH report is produced with technical and financial support from global, regional and national partners including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Food Programme, Save the Children, UNICEF, Mercy Corps, among others.
The CH report stated that the naira redesign was one of the key drivers of the crisis in Nigeria, adding that the withdrawal of the old naira notes from circulation created a serious bottleneck to households’ ability to access cash and food commodities.
“The prolonged scarcity of Petroleum Motor Spirit, commonly called petrol, and the associated hike in the pump price of the commodity across the states, led to an astronomical rise in transport fares and cost of food products in Nigerian markets.
The CH report is produced with technical and financial support from global, regional and national partners including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Food Programme, Save the Children, UNICEF, Mercy Corps, among others.
The newspaper says that manufacturers have revealed that the protracted scarcity of naira notes has led to a 25 per cent drop in sales of manufactured goods.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadir.
The statement, which urged the government to permanently resolve the lingering difficulties associated with the currency transition, noted that “this has resulted in a more than 25 per cent dip in sales of manufactured products.”
The president of the association, Otunba Francis Meshioye, during an interaction with journalists last month expressed worry that the scarcity of naira notes could lead to reduced sales of manufactured goods.
According to him, the current naira scarcity and the pressure the cash crunch has put on online transactions have negatively affected the free flow of goods.
He said, “I want to assume that this is a very short-term problem. It is general. Even if you want to do e-banking, there are some things you cannot do at the moment. We have problems. PoS is not working.
“There is no way the scarcity of something that is essential to the consumer will not affect the producer. We feel it because it hinders the proper flow of our goods to the end user. What effect is that going to have? It means we will pile stock and when we pile stock, it means cash is trapped. We pay high interest rates and they would not yield good returns and investments go to where returns come regularly.”
“This is a very big issue in the economy. If you put all these together, you will agree with me that we are really facing a critical time as manufacturers.”
GIK/APA