The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reacted
to the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by
Justice Okon Abang, directing the Commission to issue a Certificate
of Return to Rochas Okorocha as the Senator-elect for Imo West
Senatorial District.
The commission said it will not take immediate action as most of
its commissioners are away either in or heading to their States of
Supervision to coordinate activities relating to the review of the
2019 general elections.
In a statement by the commission’s spokesman, Festus Okoye, INEC
said in view of the foregoing development, it will not take
immediate decision on the court judgement.
“The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC, has been drawn to the judgement of the Federal High Court,
Abuja, presided over by the Hon. Justice Okon Abang, directing the
Commission to issue a Certificate of Return to Rochas Okorocha as
the Senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial District,” Mr Okoye
said.
“The Commission is also aware of and has been served with the
Order of a High Court of Imo State, presided over by Hon. Justice
Njemanze, directing the Commission not to issue a Certificate of
Return to any of the candidates that contested the Imo West
Senatorial District election. The Order from the High Court of Imo
State was issued on 23rdMay 2019 and the suit has been further
adjourned to 26th June 2019.
“The Commission is aware that the judgement delivered by the
Federal High Court, Abuja is the latest in time and determined the
rights of the parties in relation to the subject matter of the
Certificate of Return, in respect of the Imo West Senatorial
Election.
“The Commission is currently undertaking State level reviews of
the 2019 general elections and all the National Commissioners are
either in or heading to their States of Supervision to coordinate
activities relating to the said review.
“In view of the import and directives of the said judgement, the
Commission will meet as soon as practicable to do the needful.
“As a law-abiding institution, the Commission will continue to
obey judgements of all courts of competent jurisdiction.
“However, the Commission’s overriding consideration is the
safety of its ad-hoc staff, Electoral Officers and
Collation/Returning Officers and is worried that if electoral
impunity is allowed to flourish, any individual can harass,
intimidate and put the Commission’s officers under duress, procure
a favourable declaration and be rewarded with a Certificate of
Return.”
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Mrs. Ibokun
Odusote
Nigeria Tackles Plastic Wastes, Air
Pollution-Odusote
The Federal Government is currently midwifing the ‘National
Policies of Plastic Wastes Management and Air Pollution’, in view
of the devastating impact of plastic waste and contaminated air to
human health and the ecosystem.
This was disclosed by Mrs. Ibokun Odusote, Permanent Secretary
in the Federal Ministry of Environmet on the occasion of the “2019
World Environment Day” (WED), which her Ministry commemorated at
the National Press Centre, Radio House, in Abuja.
She further disclosed that the Federal Ministry Of Environment
is also aggressively pursuing the Low Sulphur Policy and
Ozone-Friendly Refrigeration Policy which, according to her, are
geared towards reversing the adverse effects of both land and air
pollution with the resultant effects on the population, the
ecosystem and the economy.
The Permanent Secretary explained that in line with the vision
of the present administration, the Ministry has over the years
worked assiduously to make Nigeria’s environment safe and conducive
for productivity.
She noted that the strategic policy-actions underscore the
interventions of the Ministry in the arears of pollution and waste
recycling projects in various states of federation.
“The ratification of the Kigali Amendment to phase down Hydro
fluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol on substances that
deplete the Ozone layer and ratification of Minimata Convention on
mercury in 2018, are major achievements the Federal Government (FG)
through the Ministry, has recorded on issues concerning air
pollution.
“Also, Mr. President has since signed and ratified the Paris
Club Agreement, while the clean-up exercise of Ogoni land has also
been flagged-off,” Mrs. Odusote said.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by Mr. Daniang
Peter, Director of Human Resources Management in the ministry,
noted that an estimated 7 million people worldwide die due directly
or indirectly to poor air quality.
She said: “It is estimated that 92% of the world population
breathe unclean air and this has cost the global economy a whooping
USD 3.5 trillion on yearly basis. Most worrisome is the issue of
ozone-layer depletion, that has over the years, gradually
exacerbated the ever increasing world temperature with the
resultant effects on agriculture, human health, and biodiversity in
general.”
Mrs. Odusote asserted that the theme for this year’s WED, which
is “Beat Air Pollution”, could have come at a better time than now,
especially in view of the threat posed by air pollution worldwide,
especially in cities of the world where industries keep growing,
releasing dangerous gasses and pollutants into the air with
effective and commensurate efforts at mitigating this negative
trend.
According to her, there is need to double efforts at community,
corporate and policy levels if the world would still be habitable
for a longer while, and be protected from ‘irredeemable’
degradation by air pollution.
In an address of welcome, Dr. Bolatito Obisesan, the Director
Planning Research and Statistics in the Ministry, explained that
the World Health Organization (WHO) had listed Onistsha, Aba,
Kaduna, and Umuahia, and Nigeria in general, as a country with
several worst polluted towns in Africa.
She said the biggest changes and effects Nigerians and all
humans can experience from air pollution are not real damage to the
environment, but also bad changes in the quality of life and severe
issues to human health.
“It is therefore very important for healthy and sustainable
living that the preventive measures and sustainable solutions are
enforced to ensure safe environment for the population to live,”
Dr. Obisesan advised. (END)
Saghir el Mohammed
Director Press
Federal Ministry of Environment