NewsclickNG

Category: News

  • Extradition: EFCC submits Interpol, other documents on Diezani to AGF

    Extradition: EFCC submits Interpol, other documents on Diezani to AGF

    Documents for former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke’s extradition has been submitted to the Attorney-Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    Besides a comprehensive investigative  report on the ex-minister, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the document included a Red Alert watch-list by the International Police Organization (INTERPOL), and court judgments on the forfeiture of some prime assets by Mrs.  Alison-Madueke.

    According to a source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, the extradition process would soon begin.

    The source said: “ We are hastening up the process for the extradition of the ex-minister of Petroleum Resources from the United Kingdom. The EFCC has made the extradition a priority goal in 2019.

    “We have submitted documents to the AGF, including investigative report, court judgments on forfeiture of assets by Diezani and his assets, judicial decisions on some of his co-accused persons, and the INTERPOL alert on her.

    “She has finally forfeited some prized assets. The  assets lost to the Federal Government by the ex-Minister include a multi-storey building in Banana Island Foreshore Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos; a real estate comprising six flats in Ikoyi and an estate of 21 mixed housing in Yaba, Lagos.

    “Many properties allegedly linked with Diezani have also been placed under interim forfeiture by the anti-graft commission

    “ All is set for her extradition from the United Kingdom. It is left to the AGF, who is constitutionally empowered to see the extradition process through.”

    The source added: “ We have fulfilled the conditions precedent to bring her back home for trial.

    ”The extradition of the ex-minister is on our  priority list for the year. “

    “ This commission has also filed before the Apo Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory five charges  of conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving gratifications against Alison-Madueke and a co-defendant, Mr. Jide Omokore, who is a former Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Company.”

    Justice Valentine Ashi on December 3, 2018, granted leave to the EFCC to arraign the two defendants.

    “ On December 4, the court granted an ex parte application by the EFCC and  issued an arrest warrant against Alison-Madueke,  to enable the police and other security agencies to arrest her within 72 hours.”

  • 2019: We’ll protest if Buhari extends IGP’s tenure beyond Jan 15 – Opposition parties

    2019: We’ll protest if Buhari extends IGP’s tenure beyond Jan 15 – Opposition parties

    Opposition political parties in the country on Sunday have resolved to begin nationwide protests should President Muhammadu Buhari retains the incumbent Inspector Gemeral of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris beyond January 15 when he (Idris) would have attained 60 years in service and also the compulsory 35 years in service. 

    The parties, on the platform of the Coalition of United Political Parties, hinged their decision on the claim that the current IG, Ibrahim Idris, ceased to be a policeman since January 3 after 35 years in service.

    The coalition’s position was contained in a statement by its first national spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, in Abuja.

    Ugochinyere said the position of the IG was currently vacant since Idris was deemed to have retired having served for 35 years, adding the nation’s constitution did not make provision for a former police officer to be an IG.

    He claimed that by parading himself as the IG after January 3, Idris was committing a crime of impersonation, describing the act as a threat to national security.

    Ugochinyere said the protests would start once Idris was seen in police uniform around the force headquarters from January 15.

    He added that the protests would be held in front of the police command headquarters of every state and would continue till the right thing was done.

    The CUPP’s spokesperson called Buhari’s attention to the provision of Section 215(1)a of the 1999 Constitution which he said held that the President could only appoint a serving police officer as the IG.

    Ugochinyere said, “This means that with the reaching of the mandatory retirement age of 35 years of active service on January 3, 2019 and the mandatory retirement age of 60 years while in service by the IG (which comes up on January 15, 2019), the IG is constitutionally barred from being retained or reappointed as the IG as he is no longer a serving police officer.

    “His continued stay in office is illegal and an act of impersonation as there is no legal or documentary evidence to back up his stay as the IG.

    “We call on President Buhari to be courageous to announce the replacement and not bow to the pressure to cement illegality in the core of the nation’s security architecture due to his desperation to rig himself back to power knowing he has been rejected by the Nigerian people.

    “The uncertainty in the leadership of the police in such auspicious moment emboldens persons with sinister motives and demoralises senior officers of the force due to this abrupt and unlawful halt to their career progression.

    “The law is clear on who can be appointed as the Inspector-General of Police and who cannot be appointed as Inspector-General of Police and Mr Ibrahim Idris is now in the latter group.

    “It is flowing from this and to save our dear country from further drift from a government that lacks capacity to provide leadership to our country that the secretariat of CUPP hereby directs all coalition members in the 36 states to begin preparation for nationwide protests from January 15 if the retired IG is seen dressed in police uniform around the Force Headquarters.

    “The protests will be in front of the police command headquarters of every state and shall be continuous till the right thing is done.”

    He added, “During the protests, there shall be a declaration that since Mr Ibrahim Idris is no longer a police officer, he cannot be addressed as the IG and a call to him to steer clear of the Force Headquarters.

    “By January 15, Mr Ibrahim Idris would have attained both 35 years (January 3, 2019) in service and 60 years of age (January 15, 2019) and he would have been roundly unqualified to occupy the office of the Inspector-General of Police.

    “Finally, we call on President Buhari that he should realise now that he would be held personally responsible if there is a breakdown of law and order, loss of lives and property if he continues down this path of noxious plots to rig himself into power. A word is enough for the wise!”

    On its part, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, asked the President  to ensure that Idris proceed on retirement after his statutory age of 60 years on January 15, 2019.

    HURIWA on Sunday in a release by its National President, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said, “The IG, who ought to retire on reaching the statutory retirement age of 60 on January 15, must proceed on pre-retirement leave immediately.  We suspect that he has been positioned to use his operatives to manipulate the conduct of the February elections in favour of the authorities.”

    Meanwhile, the Presidency in a reaction said the IG still had a few more days for his tenure to expire.

    A Presidency source stated, “The IG has a few more days. He has a few days still.”

    When the source was reminded that Idris turned 35 years in service on January 3, the source asked, “Was it 3rd?”

    The IG will turn 60 years in service on January 15 by which time he would have met both retirement requirements on length of service and age.

    By the service rule, an officer is deemed to have completed service if he has spent 35 years in service or turns 60 “whichever comes first.”

  • Armed soldiers invade, seal up Daily Trust Abuja, Borno Offices

    Some armed soldiers numbering over twenty-four on Sunday evening invaded the head office of a Nigerian newspaper, Daily Trust Newspapers in Utako, Abuja arresting the two staff on sight.

    Earlier in the day, the military men had invaded the Maiduguri regional office of the paper

    The troops arrested the regional editor, Uthman Abubakar and a reporter, Ibrahim Sawab and shut the gate of the office.

    The arrest may not be unconnected to the lead story of Daily Trust on Sunday about the military operation in the North East.

    The paper had reported that the military plans to reclaim Baga and other communities taken over by Boko Haram some weeks ago.

    The military authorities had earlier claimed that no territory was being occupied by the insurgents.

    Daily Trust reported that the soldiers shut the gate of the Maiduguri regional office after arresting the two editorial staff on sight at the time of the raid.

    A witness also noted that the soldiers requested to see Daily Trust’s Political Editor, Hamza Idris, whose byline appeared on the story.

  • Strike: NANS denies receiving N150m bribe from Buhari, blasts ASUU

    Strike: NANS denies receiving N150m bribe from Buhari, blasts ASUU

    The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has distanced itself from the purported allegations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities claiming it received N150 million from the presidency.

    The students union body disclosed this in a statement signed by Mr Adeyemi Amoo, it’s National Public Relations Officer, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday.

    Amoo called on Nigerian students to discountenance the allegations by ASUU, saying that the association was ready to protect the interest of all the students.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a known person in character and style to virtually all Nigerians, would never dole out such amount of money for any reason, which would not be of any national benefits or developments.

    NAN reports that President Buhari on January 3, met with the leadership of NANS to resolve issues with ASUU.

    “Our attention has been drawn to the purported and sponsored allegation, that NANS had been bribed by President Muhammadu  Buhari with a whooping sum of N150million to protest against ASUU.

    “We commend the well-meaning, intellectual and genuine civil society groups for not falling for this blackmail, as we’ve been informed that they’ve also been lobbied by ASUU to join them in pushing this blackmail.

    “We are not surprised that this blackmail isn’t flying beyond the pseudo groups they’ve been able to arrange and mobilise with cash.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari, is a known person in character and style to virtually all Nigerians, even the oppositions know that Buhari will never give out such amount of money for any reason(s) that is not of national benefits or developments.”

    Amoo explained that NANS had earlier declared November 17, 2018 as a nationwide day of mass action tagged: “SAVE EDUCATION RALLY ” held simultaneously across the states of the federation, to protest the incessant strikes across universities, polytechnics and colleges of Education.

    He added that in October 2018, NANS national leadership, met with the Minister for Education, to fine-tune ways of finding a long-term solution to the regular strikes in the educational sector.

    “We demanded as the major stakeholders in the sector, to always have representatives at the meeting of ASUU with Federal Government, as this was targeted towards adding to the strength and voice of ASUU, so as to make government yield to their demands speedily.

    “The Federal Government on her own side sees the request of been an observer at the negotiation table with ASUU as a welcome development.

    “NANS was invited twice to the meeting of Federal Government with ASUU, ably represented by the NANS national president, Danielson Akpan, but was walked out twice by the ASUU leadership, insisting that such negotiations must not be done in the presence of younger ones.”

    The statement added, “NANS, therefore, uses this medium to inform Nigerian students and Nigerians at large, that its leadership will not, has not and will not for any reason sell the interest and integrity of our dear organisation.

    “Conclusively, we want to tell ASUU that NANS is not for sell, we have not and will not turn our struggles to a source of empowerment,” he said.

  • We robbed banks to fund our terror activities – Arrested Boko Haram commander

    We robbed banks to fund our terror activities – Arrested Boko Haram commander

    A suspected commander of Boko Haram terrorists, who was recently arrested in Lagos, Umar Abdulmalik, has disclosed his adventures in the crime world including being a terrorist and a bank robber.

    Abdulmalik confessed to have been involved in several bomb explosions in Kaduna and Kano states as well as Nyanya and Kuje bombings in Abuja.

    He said he partook in the 2012 Koton Karfe Prison break in Kogi State, where over 100 inmates were freed and asked to join his group to attack banks in Okene, Kogi State and Owo in Ondo State.

    The native of Okene, in an interview during the week, stated that the proceeds of the robberies were used to procure sophisticated explosives used for terrorism.

    Abdulmalik was tracked down penultimate Thursday in Lagos by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team. He was later paraded in Abuja along with seven other suspected members of his gang.

    The 39-year-old said an Islamic cleric, who he identified as Mallam Mustapha in Okene, initiated him into Boko Haram through radical teachings that frowned on western education and democratic system of government.

    He said, “I joined one of the Boko Haram cells in Okene headed by one Zeeidi and we carried out several bombings within Kaduna, Kano and Abuja.  Zeeidi was the person providing the bombs and my job then was to take them to our target locations.  After a while, the Department of State Services infiltrated our cell and started arresting members of our group. Mallam Mustapha was arrested and his mosque was demolished.

    “Zeedi also brought the idea that we should rob banks so that those of us who have not been arrested could have resources to continue with the struggle. He brought some guns and he suggested we should attack the Koton Karfe Prison so we could free our members who were detained there. The attack on the prison was successful and we freed a lot of our members.

    “We then attacked some banks in Okene and Owo and made away with large sums of money.  We used some of the money we got from those robberies to buy advanced explosives, including materials we could use in producing non-metallic bombs that could beat metal detectors. A lot of our members were arrested after those bank robberies and the attack on the prison.”

    Abdulmalik said he relocated to Abuja in 2014 and formed a new gang during which they attacked Banex Plaza, Nyanya and Kuje areas.

    He stated that the gang was busted with five members arrested while explosives were recovered from them.

    He said he fled to Kano and returned to Abuja two years after to form a new gang that specialised in armed robbery.

    It was gathered that the IRT operatives, led by DCP Abba Kyari, got intelligence that led to the arrest of Abdulmalik and his gang members during investigations into the gruesome killing of seven policemen and a civilian, who were attacked in July 2018 at a police post at Galadima Roundabout, Abuja.

    In November 2018, the detectives made a breakthrough when they arrested a member of the gang, Abdulmalik Lukman, aka Lampard, in Ondo State.

    He reportedly confessed to taking part in the killing of the policemen and named Abdulmalik as the gang leader.

    “Lukman took the IRT operatives to the gang’s hideout in Abuja and four of his gang members: Abubakar Sidi; Yusuf Abdulazeez aka, Fine Boy; Suleman Zakariya; and Haruna Lamid, were arrested. But, Abdulmalik escaped with a bullet wound. Four AK-47 rifles belonging to the deceased policemen, six magazines, 270 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and two police walkie-talkie radios were recovered from the suspects,” a police source said.

    The source added that Abdulmalik fled to Lagos to treat the bullet wound at his younger sister’s home, where he was arrested.

    Speaking further about his robbery exploits, Abdulmalik said, “We robbed a man at a checkpoint in Okene. We pretended to be policemen and collected N1.3m from the man. We then moved to Abuja where we started robbing supermarkets. We also robbed a shop along Second Gate on the Abuja-Kaduna Road. We became friends with a dismissed policeman called Apin Iron. We used to buy drugs from him. In one of our encounters he told us that he knew several rich people we could rob and that he would get his share of the loot.

    “He gave us information about a man, who we robbed of N5m. We gave Apin Iron N2.5m as his share because that was what he demanded.  He also gave us several other jobs before I had an accident and lost one of my eyes.”

  • New Minimum Wage: FG, Labour meeting inconclusive, to reconvene Monday

    Negotiation between the Federal Government and organized labour on the N30,000 minimum wage remained inconclusive at the end of another round of meeting last night in Abuja.

    Both sides are scheduled to reconvene on Monday to take a final decision on the grey areas.

    Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, told reporters at the end of a five -hour long meeting yesterday that substantial progress had been made in the discussion and that all that is left is a final resolution.

    Ngige said there was no deadlock as the two sides agreed on most of the issues tabled for discussion and only adjourned to allow for further consultations.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari wanted the issue thrashed out and he would not have set up the tripartite committee on the minimum wage if he was not interested in the matter in the first place.

    Also speaking,  NLC President,  Ayuba Wabba,  dismissed any idea that the meeting was deadlocked.

    His words: “The meeting decided to adjourn and reconvene on Monday for us to do further consultations before the issues are concluded. We have discussed all the issues and all the grey areas,  particularly how we can ensure that the issue is put behind us.

    “That is why we took such a long time, including having a timeout to consult.  But we have not been able to conclude and we have agreed to reconvene to tidy up the process.

    “The issue at stake is to make sure that the bill is transmitted and also other auxiliary issues that government says they are trying to put together. We also want to see how the money gets into the pocket of our workers because a lot of economic factors have affected the current wage.

    “But the major issue is that we have been able to have a meaningful social dialogue.  But the process is not conclusive and will reconvene on Monday.

    “Monday is not too far from now since today is Friday.”

    He said the outcome of Monday’s meeting would determine whether labour would proceed with its planned rallies on Tueday.

    Continuing, he said: “Part of the report that was submitted is all inclusive of the main report and draft bill.  But those processes which they need to ensure that a clean bill is transmitted to the National Assembly and what they now termed some physical issues are what we will tidy up on Monday. So, let us wait for that Monday.”

    The meeting started at about 12.50 pm with several breaks in between to allow for consultations with stakeholders including President Buhari.

    The labour leaders insisted on a definite date when the government will transmit the minimum wage bill to the National Assembly,  a decision the three ministers present could not take on their own.

    Addressing the meeting earlier, Ngige said the President was committed to giving Nigerian workers a new minimum wage.

    He said however that in addressing the issue,  the government wanted to ensure that the new minimum wage was sustainable.

    He said “I do realise that this is still part of the Christmas period and that people are still on holiday. You can see the two ministers in charge of government resources.  The Minister of Budget and National Planning and the Minister of Finance.  Mr.  President specifically asked them to be part of this meeting. We had to cut short our vacation because of the need for us to discuss.

    “You know that people can go to war when there is lack of information and in the process,  people can misconstrue and speculate. We called this meeting as a result of the communique issued by the Joint Labour Centres after your executive meeting in Lagos when you informed government that you are not happy with the implementation processes of the report of the tripartite committee.”

    President of the NLC,  Comrade Aruba Wabba said the organised labour has always wanted all issues of industrial relations resolved through dialogue,  adding that the issue on ground has nothing to do with money,  but the process leading to the final outcome.

    Wabba said “Clearly, we have always believed in social dialogue in resolving industrial relations issues.  From the beginning of the issue of this new national minimum wage which was legally due in 2016, labour has demonstrated enough patience and understanding and has followed all the processes to make sure that we are able to dispense with this issue.”

  • [Photos] Finally, Melaye submits self to police

    [Photos] Finally, Melaye submits self to police

    The senator representing Kogi west in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has surrendered to the police, more than a week after the security outfit laid siege to his Abuja home.

    The lawmaker is reportedly at the head office of the special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abuja, in the company of some lawmakers and his lawyers.

    Police had said Melaye was wanted for a case of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide committed on 19 July, 2018.

    Spokesman for the police Jimoh Moshood had alleged that Melaye and “his armed thugs” shot and wounded one Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, who was attached to 37 Mobile Force (PMF) on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State.

  • Gunmen kill Ekiti council accountant, abduct two senior officials

    There was pandemonium on Wednesday night at the Emure Local Government Area of Ekiti State as unknown gunmen shot dead the Accountant of the council, Mr Abayomi Ajayi.

    Two other employees of the council – the Coordinator of the state Primary Health Care Board, Dr Fashina, and the Administrative Officer, Pastor Onaade – were also kidnapped during the incident.

    The incident took place around 8pm along the Ikere-Ise Road, when the local government council officials were returning home from work.

    Sources could not agree on whether the three were in the same vehicle or not.

    A source in the council, who preferred anonymity, said, “I cannot really say how it happened, but the kidnappers have contacted the families of the two council officials.

    “They are demanding a ransom of N10m from each of the two families.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer for the Ekiti State Police Command, Mr Caleb Ikechukwu, told our correspondent on the telephone on Thursday that investigations had commenced into the matter.

  • Complete Lagos-Ibadan rail project in two weeks, Amaechi tells contractor

    The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday gave the contractor handling the Lagos-Ibadan rail project two weeks to complete the at Iju-Agbado axis.

    He gave the ultimatum during the monthly inspection of the project. The minister noted that work was slow because of the scarcity of the equipment needed.

    Amaechi said 30-passenger coaches and about 300 wagons would be used on the axis upon completion.

    He said: “The problem the contractor has now is the civil work between Agbado and Iju, which is critical to me because I don’t think passengers should go and board train from Agbado.

    “I believe that it is important that the closer we are to Lagos, the better for the rail. That is what we are battling now because I want them to use the same speed noticed in some sections in the construction of Agbado area to Iju.

    “They want us to flag off from Agbado, but I don’t want because I feel Iju will be more appropriate to flag off and they said they will be ready with that axis in two weeks. But I think we should get to Iju because it will not be wise to drive from Lagos to Agbado to board train.”

    On the unavailability of equipment, he said: “They argued that lack of equipment was responsible for the pace of work because the equipment are not on the shelf that can just be picked and paid for. What is causing the delay on the Agbado to Iju axis is equipment related.

    “The equipment have to be brought from overseas. We will have to wait for the processing and then ship it down and if we wait for those equipment, we might be finishing the job when the equipment would arrive.”

    On the arrival of coaches, Amaechi said: “We are expecting 30-passenger coaches mixed with locomotive wagons, 300 wagons and two sets of Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) made up of 10 coaches each and two motorcars, which will arrive in Lagos before the construction work is completed.”

    He said the major challenge at the Lagos seaport was not clearing but inefficient rail line.

    The minister dismissed the claim that his frequent visit to the construction site was due to external pressure

    He said: “The problem at the Lagos seaport is not clearing because goods are cleared in time. The problem is movement of those goods out of port.

    “I am not under pressure from anybody. Part of the solution to Lagos seaport is an efficient rail line. You can argue that the narrow gauge is there, but it is not efficient. The moment we fix this, those goods will be transferred to the rail and the logjam will disappear.

    “So the pressure is more economic than political or people-based. Once they finish Iju, I will push them to go to the seaport. Once that is done, there will be no more logjam and then businesses will grow, which will create more employment.”

    He said the Federal Government would continue test run on the Itakpe-Warri rail till May after which it would begin commercial activities.

  • 2019: Nigeria at a Crossroads – United States Government

    The United States Government has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure the conduct of a peaceful election to sustain the nation’s fragile democracy.

    The United States Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs Tibor P. Nagy Jr. made the plea before the U.S. House of Representatives, Sub-Committee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organisations.

    His submission shows that the United States believes the general elections put Nigeria at a crossroads.

    Read excerpts from his speech:

    Introduction

    The title of this hearing is “Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Elections.” The Department of State agrees with the view that Nigeria’s February 2019 national elections are a critical test. The conduct of the elections could have significant consequences for the democratic trajectory of Nigeria, West Africa, and the entire continent.

    The conduct of the 2015 Nigerian elections, although by no means perfect, was a step forward for Nigeria’s democracy. That contest resulted in Nigeria’s first-ever democratic transfer of power to a non-incumbent party, thereby increasing capacity and improving conduct of Nigerian democratic institutions and election bodies.

    Key Goals and Actions

    In advance of the 2019 elections, the U.S. government continues to support the Nigerian goal of free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections that reflect the will of the Nigerian people. Through diplomacy, robust public engagement including with Nigeria’s youth and civil society, and democracy and governance programs, we are helping the country to strengthen its democratic institutions and processes. The United States does not support any single candidate. We support a democratic process that is free, fair, transparent, peaceful, and reflects the will of the Nigerian people.

    The U.S. government has developed a comprehensive election strategy to plan and coordinate our efforts. We have three main objectives:

    Support a free and fair electoral process, including technical assistance to Nigeria’s election institutions, civil society, and political parties as well as U.S. government monitoring of the election around the country; Prevent and mitigate electoral violence, including conflict monitoring, peacebuilding programs, and peace messaging; Support civic and political engagement, including support to Nigerian civil society election observation and parallel vote tabulation, social media campaigns to engage youth including through our Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), “get out the vote” campaigns, voter education, and Nigerian efforts to counter disinformation.

    To advance our strategy, we have sustained high-level diplomatic engagement from Washington as well as robust and regular engagement by our Ambassador, Consul General, USAID Mission Director, and other officials based in Abuja and Lagos. Earlier this year, President Trump welcomed President Buhari to the White House and conveyed our expectations for a credible election. Two Secretaries of State, USAID Administrator Green, Deputy Secretary of State Sullivan, and many others have either traveled to Nigeria or met with senior Nigerian officials in the United States to underscore our commitment to free, fair, transparent, and peaceful Nigerian elections in the last twelve months.

    The State Department also hosted the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman in late October to observe U.S. preparation for mid-term elections and discuss challenges surrounding Nigeria’s elections. During this visit, INEC Chairman Yakubu observed early voting in Maryland, and met with Congressional staff, U.S. electoral civil society and legal experts, and U.S. government officials. The Chairman also met with USAID Administrator Green and Under Secretary for Political Affairs Hale.

    I recently returned from Nigeria as part of my first trip to the continent. It was great to be back in Nigeria where I served as Charge d ‘Affairs in 2016 and Deputy Chief of Mission from 1993-1995, and convey our expectations and concerns for the elections in person. I met with leadership from the two main political parties, INEC Chairman Yakubu, and civil society organisations, delivering public messages on the elections in a speech and in press engagements and private messages with key stakeholders.

    That is just a summary of our Washington-focused diplomatic engagement on these elections. Our Ambassador and the Mission in Nigeria are working to advance our goals every day. My colleague from USAID will tell you more about the USAID programs in support of our three objectives. And, I can assure you that the U.S. government will remain intensely focused on the Nigerian elections in the coming months.

    Expectations and Concerns

    I know many of you are watching the election closely. We share many of the areas of concern that you have voiced. We are monitoring and messaging – both publicly and privately – to mitigate a few key areas of risk that could jeopardise a free and fair process. For example: potential attacks on the legitimacy of INEC and the electoral process for political gain; intimidation and partisanship by security forces; heightened insecurity, terrorist attacks on elections institutions, or violence towards voters, observers, or electoral officials; an inability of large numbers of internally displaced persons or persons with disabilities to vote; voter suppression, the use of armed gangs for voter intimidation, and other drivers of electoral violence, including a lack of official condemnation of hate speech and disinformation; wide-spread vote buying that challenges the integrity of the electoral process.

    On November 18, the start of official campaigning, our Mission in Abuja released a statement with 25 like-minded missions to express our desire to see free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections, specifically naming many of these concerns. I can assure you we will be watching closely for instigators of violence or those attempting to undermine the democratic process.

    Many of you have expressed particular concern about violence around these elections. I can tell you from my impressions during my travels and my previous service in Nigeria that I fear there will be some violence around these elections, as has been the case with previous elections. I do not anticipate large-scale nation-wide conflict, but rather localised violence. We are already seeing increased tensions and polarisation as the election approaches. We assess that politicians are turning to narratives of identity politics in an attempt to improve their popularity, with potentially serious consequences for national unity. However, Nigeria’s political system and society have weathered such tensions before.

    But, let me underscore that the U.S. government takes the risk of any loss of human life extremely seriously. As I just mentioned, preventing electoral violence is one of our three main objectives for our diplomacy and programs. When I was in Nigeria, I asked officials from both major parties to sign pledges that their candidates would conduct peaceful campaigns, and both major candidates have now signed a peace pledge. In assessing potential “hot spots” for violence, we look at places that are historically volatile around elections such as Rivers and Borno states. We look at states that are currently tense, especially if state-level politics are contentious like those in Benue, Plateau, as well as those in high-stakes locations with large populations such as Kano. We regularly engage with civil society organizations working in these “hotspots” and support their peacebuilding efforts. USAID programs and our public diplomacy campaigns also support peace campaigns across the country, such as #VoteNotFight. Through our YALI Network Nigeria campaign, Nigerians have made over 10,000 pledges to boost voter participation, reject violence, and vote with integrity.

    Conclusion

    As I said in a speech in Nigeria, only the Nigerian people can determine lasting solutions and a path forward toward peace and stability. 2019 will be a significant year for Nigerian democracy – it has been 20 years since the country returned to democratic rule and this election’s youngest voters have never known a Nigeria without democracy. The upcoming elections provide Nigerians an opportunity to shape their country and solidify its place as a democratic leader in Africa.