Emanuella Ben-Opara, Head of the Department of Voter Education and Publicity for Imo State INEC, conveyed this message during discussions with journalists in Owerri regarding the state’s election preparations.

Ben-Opara emphasized that the Commission received assurances from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), clarifying that the NURTW is not part of the ongoing labour union protest.

She highlighted the presence of NURTW-hired vehicles on-site, dedicated to facilitating the smooth transportation of personnel and materials to all polling units.

Providing further insights, the Imo State Head of the Department of Voter Education and Publicity revealed that all Registration Area Centers have been activated for the timely deployment of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials on Friday night.

In addressing security concerns, Ben-Opara disclosed that security agencies have identified potential flashpoints and assured residents that there is no need for apprehension.

She reiterated the commitment of security agencies to maintain a conducive environment throughout the entire electoral process.

The protest took a violent turn as miscreants targeted the demonstrators, damaging vehicles, and causing injuries to NLC members.

As of now, the whereabouts of the NLC President remain unknown, as he was taken away by heavily armed security personnel.

This incident comes after the NLC announced its plans to commence protests in Imo State from November 1st, 2023.

The protests were organized in response to alleged violations and abuses of workers’ rights and privileges by the state government.

Comrade Ajaero expressed deep concern over the consistent and severe violations of workers’ rights and privileges in Imo State, despite repeated efforts to engage in constructive dialogues and reach amicable agreements with the government.

The NLC President emphasized that the protests became necessary because the state government had failed to implement previous agreements, repeatedly reneging on commitments, including the accord reached on January 9th, 2021, between the government and organized labor.

One of the pressing issues raised is the prolonged non-payment of salaries, with some workers enduring up to 20 months of unpaid wages under the false label of ‘ghost workers.’

Additionally, approximately 11,000 diligent individuals have been unfairly classified as ghost workers, with their salaries diverted, despite their dedicated service to the state.

The detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero underscores the challenges faced by labor activists in their quest to protect the rights and privileges of workers.

The situation remains fluid, with concerns growing about the safety and well-being of the NLC President and the escalating tensions in Imo State.

In the wee hours of Monday, it was reported that an unidentified gunman attacked the office, setting fire to and damaging a portion of the INEC building while throwing fire bombs at it.

The Owerri attack was however repelled as three of the perpetrators, including their commander, were gunned down.

In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Monday, he described the attack as yet another systematic attack targeted at the Commission’s assets

Okoye also noted that the incident happened on the day of the Permanent Voters Cards collection by registered voters ahead of the 2023 general election.

This is third attack on the Commission’s facilities in Imo State in less than two weeks following the earlier attacks on its facilities in Orlu Local Government Area on Thursday December 1, 2022 and Oru West LGA office on Sunday, December 4, 2022.

The statement read, “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State, Professor Sylvia Agu, has reported that our State Headquarters office in Owerri was attacked by unknown gunmen. The incident occurred at about 3.00am today, Monday, December 12, 2022.

“The attack affected part of the building occupied by the Election and Party Monitoring Department and one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pickup van) was burnt.

“The response of the security and emergency service provider (the Fire Service) curtailed further damage to the building and other assets of the Commission. No critical election material was destroyed. There were also no casualty involving staff of the Commission.

“This is the third attack on the Commission’s facilities in Imo State in less than two weeks.

“Our Imo State Headquarters is located in the centre of the Owerri, the state capital, between a court and the state secretariat.

“This is therefore yet another systematic attack targeted at the Commission’s assets across the country, more so, on the day that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards commenced nationwide ahead of the 2023 general election.”

This means that a total of N1.31tn was borrowed within a period of about seven years by the states.

The nine states are Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Abia, Ondo, Imo, Bayelsa and Lagos.

The oil-producing states received the sum of N6.4tn in federal allocation and 13 per cent derivation fund.

The Federal Government disbursed a total of N1.98tn as a share of the 13 per cent derivation fund to oil-producing states, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National budget, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed on Thursday, at the sixth edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard.

She stated that the amount was paid in seven years despite some of the funds preceding the current administration.

She said, “One of the key functions of the Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning is in support of states. The President understands very clearly that this economy wouldn’t have been growing consecutively or wouldn’t have been able to pull ourselves out of recession twice.

“We wouldn’t have been able to grow consistently without enabling the states to grow because it is a federation.

“Mr. President has been very uniquely generous in his support to states. I can say no president has provided the level of support provided to the states of the Federation.

“He understands that the federating units need to work together as one to achieve the targets that he has set for the country. So, everybody goes to support sub-national governments.

“In seven years, we have disbursed N1.98 trillion in funds to oil-producing states.”

The 13 per cent derivation fund has been a controversial issue after comments by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, alleging that the oil-producing states had refused to disclose their own shares paid by the Federal Government from 1999 to all the Niger Delta States.

Ahmed further said that the government had supported states of the federation N5.03tn and an additional $3.4bn since 2015.

She said, “With respect to sub-national governments, the ministry goes over and above its statutory role to provide financial support to States:

“A total of N5.03tn plus an additional $3.4bn has been released to states by the Federal Government over the life of this administration.

“Each of these payments has distinct repayment terms with some given as grants and others as loans with favourable repayment terms, including a long amortisation period.

“The support covers the 13 per cent Derivation refund to oil-producing states, refunds for construction of federal roads, ecological support, support from the Development of Natural Resources Fund, Paris Club refunds, support from the Stabilisation Fund, COVID intervention amongst others.”

Reeling out the details, Ahmed said N445bn was given as salary bailout to states except Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Jigawa, Lagos and Yobe in September 2015, while N340bn was disbursed to states except Lagos and Osun as excess crude loan. Also, N610bn was allocated to all states, except Lagos, as a budget support facility.

Other support included: $2.67tn as an outright Paris Club refund; N750m disbursed in 2021 as an SFTAS reward; and N600bn paid as withdrawal from payment of subsidy in April 2022.

Speaking further, the minister revealed that the non-oil sector had continued to maintain high-level performance in terms of revenue generated, adding that it was currently the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

She said that the sector contributed N1.71trn out of the total revenue of N4.19trn, an outturn of 100.7 per cent compared to the budget projection.

“Today, I call your attention to the very high performance of the non-oil sector of our economy. As of September 2022, the Federal Government’s share of oil revenues to fund the budget was N535.5bn representing 32.6 per cent performance), while non-oil tax revenues totalled N1.71tn an outturn of 100.7 per cent compared to the budget projection.

“The non-oil revenue share of funding the Federal Government has improved. We have been able to move from contributing 35 per cent to the federal budget to contributing 73 per cent to the financing of the federal budget.”

The roads to be commissioned is the first phase of 56km Orlu-Okigwe road and the Orlu -Owerri road.

Upon his arrival, the governor Uzodinma and other stakeholders received the president at the tarmac.

He was welcomed at the airport by a crowd comprising men in red caps and white outfits.

Women in traditional outfits are currently dancing around the venue from one point to the other.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the President is scheduled to meet separately with them on Monday afternoon.

President Buhari is expected to receive a briefing on the latest developments in Imo State, the power sector, and the state of the economy.

The statement recalled that the President while condemning the spate of violence in Imo State in the aftermath of the destruction of buildings and assets of the Police and the home of Prof. George Obiozor, President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, pledged to review the security situation in southeast Nigeria.

President Buhari has also voiced his concern over the frequent power outages, apologising to Nigerians and assuring a quick relief to the situation.

Recall that InsideOjodu had earlier reported that suspected gunmen on Monday morning attacked the Owerri Correctional Prison in the Imo State capital and freed over 1500 inmates.

But the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, in a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba stated that the attacked was carried out by IPOB and ESN.

Adamu condemned the alleged act by the security arm of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra. IPOB, however, has since denied being behind the attacks.

The IGP, however has ordered the immediate deployment of additional units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and other Police Tactical Squads to Imo State to strengthen security and prevent further attacks on security formations or any other critical national infrastructure in the State.

The statement read:  “Preliminary investigations have revealed that the attackers, who came in their numbers with sophisticated weapons such as General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs), AK49 rifles, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), are members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN).

“The attempt by the attackers to gain access to the Police armoury at the Headquarters was totally and appropriately resisted by Police operatives on duty who repelled the attackers and prevented them from breaking-in and looting the armoury.

“The armoury is thus intact! Similarly, the police suffered no human casualty, apart from a police Constable who sustained a minor bullet wound on his shoulder.”

The IGP also directed the Commissioner of Police in the state and a new Special Investigation Team “to carry out holistic investigations into the incident with a view to fishing-out the perpetrators and bringing them to justice”.

“The IGP, who described the deliberate and criminal attack on security operatives as an attack on the soul of our nation, has enjoined leaders in Imo State, the South-East and other parts of the country to speak out against the unfolding violence and criminality.

“The IGP calls on citizens to avail the Police and other security agencies with useful information that can assist in identifying and arresting the criminals.

“He vowed that the perpetrators will be brought to book, noting that the Force is doing all within its powers to curb the activities of unscrupulous elements hell-bent on threatening the unity, safety, security and socio-economic wellbeing of Nigerians,” the statement added.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Friday, announced a restriction of movement from 6 am to 6 pm in Somolu, Kosofe, Epe, Ikorodu and Ibeju-Lekki LGAs in the state.

Adejobi, in a tweet, said, “Lagos-East senatorial election, no movement between 6 am and 6 pm of Saturday, December 5, 2020. Comply please.”

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, on Friday in a statement by Adejobi titled ‘Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe Constituency II bye-elections: Police declare restriction order, sue for peaceful conduct’, added that the restriction was in place to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

The statement read in part, “The command has deployed a reasonable number of police personnel and other security agents to cover and provide security at the 1,928 polling units in the areas. The Commissioner of Police reiterated that there would not be both vehicular and pedestrian movements in and out of the affected local government areas during the elections except those on election duties, essential services and accredited domestic and foreign election observers. The police boss, however, warned the electorate and political gladiators to play the game according to the rules and provisions of the Electoral Acts, 2010. He also warned that no police aides or security agents would be allowed to escort their principals or any Very Important Personalities to the polling units.”

Similarly, the Plateau State Government announced the restriction of movement in six LGAs ahead of the Plateau-South senatorial bye-election today.

INEC also said it had deployed 36,223 staff members for the poll in 11 states today.