Agency Reports

By Sani Idris

Partners for Legislative Agenda of Nigeria (PLAN), has called on the Senate to speedily pass the bill for National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) Establishment Act 2022 (SB1084), saying that it would enhance Nigeria's economy.

The the National Coordinator of PLAN, Malam khalifa Adamu Bello, made the call in a statement issued to pressmen on Wednesday in Kaduna.

He said that the research institute which the bill seeks to establish, would provide a globally competitive and environmentally friendly research, development and innovation in the processing and conversion of indigenous raw materials into valuable chemicals and petrochemical products.

He noted that it would be for the development of chemical, biochemical and man-made fibre technologies for industrial applications in Nigeria.

According to him, if the Senate passes the NARICT bill, it would place Nigeria at par with countries like Singapore and others in the production of chemicals and petrochemical products which are essential to lives and living.

Bello further stressed the importance of the research institute towards enhancement of Nigeria's economic activities.

"The importance of NARICT bill if passed cannot be over emphasized, especially in the use and development of our local content; employment, conversion of agricultural mineral and other raw materials into useful chemicals, processing of commercial grade chemicals to laboratory grades.

"It will also enhance derivation of secondary chemicals from petrochemicals, coal, solid minerals and other materials, the production of functional polymers and engineering plastics, characterization and utilization, processing of natural and man-made fibres.

"It will further enhance establishment and operating of chemical testing laboratories for industrial application/ production and development of chemical catalysis, chemical process, design, modelling and simulating, pilot plant fabrication and design of chemical analytical instruments and quality control, among others,"he said.

The Coodinator lauded the leadership of the National Assembly led by Sen. Ahmad Lawan and the entire 9th assembly for being a pro- people's assembly.

"Posterity will judge the entire members of the 9th assembly fairly and wonderfully well for the interest of the nation and its masses they have at heart, this is because of the attention and commitment they give to such human and developmental bills since their inception,"he said.

The Coodinator also commended Sen. Umar, Sadiq Suleiman, representing Kwara North senatorial zone, for sponsoring the bill, which intends to develop the nation and place Nigeria amongst the top advanced countries in chemical research, technology and management.

"While we congratulate the Senator for the bill's successful passage of the first reading, we equally call on other Senators to emulate him in putting up bills meant to develop the citizenry,".

The Coodinator therefore urged Sen. Umar Sadiq Suleiman, to further write his name in history by seeing to the logical passage and assent to the NARICT bill.

He said PLAN, being an organisation whose agenda is to ensure the thriving of Nigerians democracy, it's dividends being felt by the masses, and the development of Nigeria via positive legislation by the legislative arm of government.

He said therefore that wish as matter national interest and development, they wished to support the bill before the National Assembly which seeks to establish the NARICT establishment bill 2022 (SB. 1084)

News Local

INEC needs 100,000 vehicles, 4,200 boats for 2023 elections

BAYO WAHAB

December 21, 2022 6:34 AM

INEC assures Nigerians of the timely arrival of materials and personnel on election day.

INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. [Punch]

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said that the commission would need over 100,000 vehicles and about 4,200 boats to convey materials and personnel to various polling units across the country for the 2023 general elections.

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Yakubu said this on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, while assuring Nigerians of the timely arrival of materials and personnel on election day, during the signing of the revised Memorandum of Understanding between INEC and road transport and marine workers’ unions in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria in Abuja.

He explained that the revised MoU was designed to facilitate the successful deployment of personnel and materials on election day.

Explaining the logistics required for the election, Yakubu said; “The 2023 general election will involve the nationwide deployment of over 1 million personnel and massive quantities of materials twice within two weeks from our state offices to 774 local government areas, 8,809 electoral wards, and 176,846 polling units across the length and breadth of our country.

“It will require over 100,000 vehicles and about 4,200 boats that will be accompanied by naval gunboats. This is a huge undertaking that must be accomplished in the next 66 days and we are resolute in doing so to give Nigerians a pleasant voting experience.

“Let me assure Nigerians that we are determined that all polling units nationwide will open at 8.30 am on Saturday, 25th February 2023 for the presidential and national assembly elections and on Saturday, 11th March 2023 for the governorship and state house of assembly elections.

“To ensure that personnel and materials will be at the polling units on election day awaiting the arrival of voters rather than the other way round, INEC requires large numbers of vehicles, including motorcycles, tricycles, boats, and canoes in the riverine areas which cannot be met from its internal resources.”

The INEC boss added that the movement of all vehicles and boats would be electronically tracked to ensure that personnel and materials are not hijacked or diverted, The Punch reports.

“The security agencies shall not only be available to escort all vehicles and boats to locations, but they will also ensure the safety and protection of all election personnel and materials. As usual, we shall track the movement of all vehicles and boats electronically and in real-time to ensure that election personnel and materials are not hijacked or diverted,” Yakubu said.

In their reactions, the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Tajudeen Baruwa; the President, of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman and the President-General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Adeyanju Adewale assured INEC that they would maintain neutrality throughout the election period.

They also registered their commitment to work with the electoral body to ensure materials and personnel arrive at various polling units early.