Eighteen political parties in Ondo State have recently demonstrated their commitment to a peaceful and transparent democratic process by signing a peace accord ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial election.

The agreement, which includes a pledge to accept election results if deemed free and fair, marks a significant step toward fostering a violence-free election.

This accord represents a shared responsibility among political actors to ensure that the electoral process is upheld without any disruptions, thereby providing a sense of stability and trust in Ondo’s democratic institutions.General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who chairs the National Peace Committee (NPC), played a pivotal role in encouraging these parties to come together for the cause of peace.

Speaking at the signing event, Abubakar emphasized the crucial role political parties play in upholding democratic principles.

He implored all candidates to reject practices that compromise election integrity, such as vote-buying and intimidation, and urged them to respect the will of the people as expressed through their votes. Abubakar’s message reinforced the NPC’s ongoing mission to promote peace and stability in Nigeria’s electoral processes, highlighting the importance of maintaining a peaceful political climate.

In support of these efforts, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), delivered a goodwill message that reiterated the importance of peaceful elections in Nigeria. Yakubu reported that Ondo State has not experienced any security incidents in the lead-up to the election, a development he attributed to collective vigilance and a strong sense of civic duty among all stakeholders. He assured the public and participating political parties that INEC has made substantial improvements in electoral logistics to facilitate a smooth voting process.

Professor Yakubu also encouraged parties to honor the peace accord they had signed, as a way of sustaining this positive environment throughout the election.

The Nigeria Police Force has also reinforced its commitment to a safe election. Represented by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Sylvester Abiodun, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced the deployment of over 36,000 police officers across the state’s 18 local government areas.

These officers will be further supported by other security personnel, bringing the total number of security agents to 43,157. This extensive deployment underscores the seriousness with which the Nigeria Police Force regards the need for a secure election environment, capable of preventing any disruptions or violence on election day.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa praised the efforts of the National Peace Committee, stating that the peace accord serves as a testament to the collective resolve to protect democracy in Nigeria.

Governor Aiyedatiwa assured citizens and political actors of his own administration’s dedication to upholding democratic norms, advocating for a peaceful election.

He also called on all parties and supporters to prioritize the peace accord, emphasizing that a peaceful environment is essential for reflecting the true voice of the people.

The peace accord signed by Ondo’s political parties is a crucial milestone in the broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and reduce election violence. It serves as a reminder of the power of collaboration and unity in achieving shared goals, promoting transparency, and ensuring that elections reflect the will of the people without fear of conflict or intimidation. With these commitments, Ondo State stands poised to set an example for peaceful elections across Nigeria.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has clarified that trying minors in the court is not against the law.

Justice Fagbemi said this while speaking on Thursday night in Abuja, at the commissioning of Law Corridor’s new office complex and the presentation of a book on the modern Nigerian legal system.

Fagbemi said contrary to the public’s claim that arraigning and trying minors is against the law, it is, however, not unconstitutional, as long as they have committed crime.

“Let me seize this opportunity to clarify something. There is a misconception that, because these are children and minors (the arraigned #EndBadGovernance protesters), various theories have surfaced,” he said.

“No law in this country says a minor cannot be tried, and I have also heard suggestions that they should go to a family court.

“The study of the law and the Constitution leaves you no other conclusion than that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction in matters bordering on treason and related issues, so whatever the situation, the president has closed the chapter by his decision to have these young men released.”

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday charged the 119 suspects in the August 1 protests in Kano and Kaduna States to use the opportunity given them by his presidential pardon to become responsible citizens of Nigeria.

Vice President Kashim Shettima passed the charge to the pardoned suspects, just as he advised them to desist from acts that lead to violence and destruction of public and private property.

He said the federal government is finding solutions to challenges confronting the nation.

Vice President Shettima spoke during the formal handover of 112 suspects, 73 from Kano and 39 from Kaduna States, to their respective governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Seven of the pardoned suspects had earlier been granted bail, and three were released to their parents, making a total of 119.

Stephen Abuwatseya, an e-hailing driver, has issued an apology to Alex Ikwechegh, the House of Representatives member representing Aba North/South in Abia State, who allegedly assaulted him following a dispute over a package delivery.

In a video statement shared with the media on Thursday, Abuwatseya expressed remorse for instigating the altercation and appealed to Nigerians for their understanding.

He also encouraged the public to put the incident behind them and move forward.

He stated, “Good day, Nigerians. My name is Stephen Abuwatseya. I had a misunderstanding with Rt. Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh a few days ago. I actually want to apologize to him for whatever I must have said or done to provoke him to that level of anger.

“I want to tell Nigerians that it’s not time for us to start dividing ourselves based on religion, tribes, or regions. We should actually come together, see how we can unite this nation, and move it forward.

“Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive and forget, as it’s even contained in our Lord’s Prayer, that ‘Lord, please forgive us, as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ For there is no justice without forgiveness. Thank you very much.”

The driver also thanked his family and well-wishers for their support over the issue, “I want to use this medium to thank my family members, my parents, my brothers, my uncles and everybody that stood by me. I want to thank all of you. I love you all. Thank you. God bless Nigeria.”

Residents of Araromi in Ikorodu Local Government Area, Lagos State, may soon experience some relief as Babajimi Benson, a member of the House of Representatives, has begun efforts to repair their community road.

During the road rehabilitation launch on Thursday, a PUNCH Metro reporter observed that the Araromi-Adamo road had been ignored by previous administrations since 1996.

Benson, who represents the Ikorodu Federal Constituency for the All Progressives Congress, aims to finish the 1.3-kilometer road project within three months.

Represented by Muyideen Sanwo-Ola, the Executive Assistant on Parks to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Benson encouraged residents to allow the contractors to finish the project as scheduled.

“I urge you to support this project, which will be completed within three months. Let’s remind our youths not to engage in any activity that may hinder the contractors from finishing the work,” the lawmaker pleaded.

Several residents shared their happiness and gratitude with our correspondent, applauding the representative for stepping in to alleviate the daily challenges community members encounter while using the road.

A resident, Ademoriti Maruf, said, “This road has been a major challenge for us. I grew up in this area, and since 1996, after the then military administrator of Lagos State, Buba Marwa, inaugurated it, the Araromi-Adamo Road has been abandoned.

“We have been pleading with the political class to come to our aid but received no response until Jimi Benson decided to help us. We thank God that after 28 years, the rehabilitation is finally starting today.

“We thank our Member of the House of Representatives for bringing this rehabilitation project to our community. This is the first benefit we’ve received from the political class since 1999.”

Chief Qazeem Oyeniran of Olufuja-Mojoda Araromi commended Benson and voiced optimism that the project’s completion would bring a fresh start for the community members.

“The community has gone through a lot. We have suffered, especially during the rainy period. One hour after any downpour, people will be stuck in their houses.

“Floods will enter people’s houses, destroy property, and collapse apartments. There were times when floodwaters nearly carried people away. A lot of residents would stand alert if it’s raining at night,” Oyeniran stated.

Also speaking, the Baale of Upenyanwa, Chief Nurudeen Shiriki, said, “We are truly excited about this rehabilitation. Once completed, it will bring much-needed relief to the community, which becomes nearly impassable even after a small rain.

“At times, due to the rain, residents are hesitant to return home, with some even abandoning their vehicles. They might not come back for weeks simply because of the poor condition of our community road.”

The PUNCH

The Nigerian Naira saw a notable appreciation against the U.S. dollar at the official foreign exchange market, marking a significant improvement in its value.

According to data from the FMDQ Exchange, Nigeria’s leading securities exchange platform, the Naira gained N42.15 on Thursday, trading at N1,639.50 per dollar.

This development marks a 2.5 percent gain compared to the previous trading day on Wednesday, when the currency had exchanged at N1,681.65 to the dollar.

This improvement reflects a positive shift for the Naira, which has faced persistent challenges in recent times due to fluctuations in the foreign exchange market and pressures from both local and global economic conditions.

The strengthened value against the dollar comes amid government efforts and Central Bank policies aimed at stabilizing the currency and controlling inflation.

A key part of these efforts involves encouraging a transparent and efficient foreign exchange system that aligns with investor needs and promotes confidence in the local currency.

In addition to the appreciation in exchange rate, the daily trading turnover also saw a noticeable increase on Thursday.

The trading volume rose to $244.96 million, a considerable jump from the $196.78 million recorded on Wednesday.

This uptick in trading volume at the FMDQ Exchange signals growing activity and interest within the Investors’ and Exporters’ (I&E) window, where the Naira fluctuated between N1,700.00 and N1,635.00 against the dollar during the trading day.

The I&E window remains a vital part of Nigeria’s foreign exchange market, offering a platform where market-driven exchange rates are determined through supply and demand dynamics.

By providing a more transparent and flexible exchange rate system, the I&E window aims to balance foreign exchange availability with the needs of foreign investors and exporters.

Market analysts see the Naira’s appreciation as a sign that these mechanisms are helping to reduce the gap between the official and parallel market rates, although challenges remain due to high demand for foreign currency in the country.

Nigeria’s foreign exchange market has been under pressure for some time, with the Naira experiencing multiple devaluations as the economy grapples with external debt and limited dollar reserves.

Key economic factors, including fluctuations in global oil prices and foreign investment flows, heavily influence the exchange rate.

The government and Central Bank have implemented various measures to curb volatility, including forex market reforms and a commitment to unify the exchange rate.

Experts suggest that the recent gain might also be tied to increased dollar inflows, possibly from diaspora remittances and foreign direct investments, which support the Naira by increasing foreign exchange supply.

Additionally, the stronger Naira could provide temporary relief to importers and businesses heavily dependent on foreign currency, as well as offer some buffer against inflationary pressures that impact everyday consumers.

However, currency analysts caution that while the Naira’s appreciation is a positive signal, maintaining this momentum will require sustained forex inflows and ongoing policy adjustments to address structural issues within the economy.

They emphasize the importance of continued reforms to foster an environment where the Naira’s value reflects underlying economic fundamentals.

The appreciation of the Naira at the official market offers a glimpse of hope for Nigeria’s economy, which continues to navigate the complexities of global currency dynamics and local economic demands.

It underscores the importance of stability in foreign exchange management and reflects the potential for improvement as Nigeria pursues policies aimed at strengthening its currency, stabilizing prices, and fostering investor confidence.

The Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has requested comprehensive data on internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria and neighbouring countries who have lost their homes due to natural disasters.

Kalu made this request on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and IDPs, Tijani Ahmed, in Abuja.

In a statement released on Thursday, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, noted that Kalu attributed some of these displacements to natural disasters like flooding and erosion.

“We are charging your commission to give us the total report on the plight of Nigerians currently all across the country.

“So, let the commission have an intervention fund dedicated to doing the proper needs analysis so that as we do the budget, we look into it. This is part of the oversight function. So, get us a report on that.

“Your mandate includes refugees and the IDPs. You can’t be internally displaced only through war or crisis. You can be internally displaced through climate-induced displacement and that’s what we are experiencing now.

“The climate is at war with us. So, the issue of mitigation and adaptation is something that, as a government, we must take seriously but in doing that, agencies like you which manage the consequences of these climate impacts need to be aware that it’s beyond what we are seeing currently.

“We heard of what happened in Maiduguri. I mentioned it even before the African Union. Beyond Maiduguri, a lot more is happening around the country,” Kalu said.

The statement also highlighted the importance of raising the annual budget allocation for the commission to support it in fulfilling its responsibilities.

“How prepared are you? I checked your budget last year and was wondering if a budget of N1.6bn or thereabout will be able to handle that across the country.

“And I have not heard your agency bring it to the fore, both in the parliament and also to Nigerians, maybe through a documentary to show us the volume of the needs analysis, showcasing the plight of Nigerians.

“There are so many people suffering due to climate change. The parliament needs to hear from you on the total national needs analysis of internally displaced persons. And the impact of climate-induced displacement. We need to get a document on that.

“We are giving you two weeks to bring the report because we want it to guide us as we make our budget.

“Also a copy of that will be sent to the Budget Office of the Federation so they will understand the enormous nature of your mandate,” he added.

Ahmed conveyed his appreciation to the Deputy Speaker and committed to submitting the report to the parliament by the deadline, while also requesting additional funding from the commission.

“We thank you for giving us this audience today and I have listened carefully. We will ensure that these individuals who are our own are returned.

“We will put the reports together, both the refugees and displaced persons, to show the parliament and for you to also see the plight of the commission in the area of funding,” he said.