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FG, UNHCR take birth registration to IDP camps, targets 25m by 2025

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The Federal government in partnership with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has began birth registration in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The exercise which began on Monday in Abuja and being carried out by the National Population Commission (NPC) has so far registered no fewer than 970 births in two IDP camps in the FCT, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN also reports that the exercise which moved on Tuesday to an IDP camp in Kuchingoro and billed for Wednesday in another camp in Durumi, had children as young as three days and older than 15 years being registered.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday at the Durumi Camp, Mr Temidayo Matthew, Director Civil registration and vital statistics, NPC, said the exercise was part of efforts to end statelessness.

He said that the focus for the commission was to ensure that all children were registered adding that the target was to reach 25 million children by 2025.

“This exercise is very important to the government and to the populace. For a while now we have been having the problem of statelessness and we need to address this problem.

“The immediate antidote to solving this problem is getting children registered at birth.

“Any child that is registered at birth and given a certificate, that certificate gives that child an identity and nationality.

“Whether is it an IDP camp, a refugee camp or a remote area, in as much as a child is born in Nigeria it is our responsibility to register that child.

“We are not even stopping at this, we are trying to raise a compendium of IDP Camps, not just in Abuja; where ever they are, we must get those children captured.

He said that although the commission’s intervention in IDPs and remote communities was majorly in the North East, efforts were in top gear to reach other such camps and communities.

He pointed out that the major challenges of registration were religious, cultural and traditional.

On the cultural challenge, he explained that in most parts of Nigeria, a child was not named at birth but from eight days to over 40 days after, decrying that many times parents, especially in rural areas, did not return to register such children.

He said that in many of the rural areas, there were neither access roads nor health facilities making it even more difficult for the commission’s staff members to reach the population.

He commended the efforts of the population commission and the UNHCR that gave information about the existence of such camps at the heart of the FCT.

“We have just developed a roadmap; by year 2025 we are going to get 25 million children registered and that will be just 80 per cent of the unregistered children.

“The subsequent year, we intend clearing the 20 per cent remaining.

“I am happy to let you know that the commission has started the process of automating and digitising our registration processes.

“This will make it easier,” he said.

The UNHCR’s Chief of Mission, John McKissick, commended Nigeria for taking the lead at ensuring an end to statelessness in Africa.

He said that it was gladdening that on the 60th anniversary of the 1961 Convention on reduction of statelessness, Nigeria was making giant strands at registering births that were unregistered.

He commended the nation for waiving the requirement that registrations be done within 60 days of birth, adding that the initiative would greatly advance UNHCR’s 10-year plan to reduce statelessness by 2024.

“I think this is a great initiative, that on the 60th anniversary of the 1961 convention on reduction of statelessness, we are here in Abuja registering children that are at risk of statelessness.

“I want to congratulate Nigeria for signing those two conventions: the 1954 Convention on the status of homeless persons and the 1961 Convention on the reduction of statelessness.

“It is so important that Nigeria has signed and is a leader in Africa in terms of signing conventions dealing with human rights and statelessness.

“Getting rid of statelessness is a human right of all Nigerians, so I congratulate Nigeria.

“The one thing I will call on the country to do is to also domesticate the legislation so that what they have signed onto in the convention is also national law,” he said.

He said that many of the children who were now being registered, had parents who were unregistered, explaining that the team had to interview the parents in order to register them.

A high point of the event was the identification of Mrs Liyatu Ayuba, a Traditional Birth Attendant, who claimed to have delivered over 185 babies at the Durumi camp in the last five years.

Mrs Ayuba, who is also the Woman Leader at the camp, told NAN that when she arrived the camp she met women who were in danger – not getting antenatal care or even safe child bearing.

She said that in her five years of rendering assistance at the camp, at no cost, she had neither lost any baby nor mother adding that in spite of their nonchalance, she ensured that pregnant women went for ante natal care.

“So far, I have delivered 185 children in this camp and a few settlements around this camp. This camp alone we delivered 108, but others around us came here to get delivered.

“Since I started, no mother or baby has died in this IDP Camp. God has been answering my prayers and that is what makes me happy,” she said. (NAN)

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Biodun Oyebanji Has Justified Workers’ Confidence — HoS

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Ahead of the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, the Head of Service, Folakemi Olomojobi, has urged members of the state workforce, particularly staff of the Association of Secondary School Union, to ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in readiness for the poll.

 

 

Dr. Olomojobi gave the charge during an engagement session between Biodun Oyebanji and various labour unions and workers’ associations in the state ahead of the gubernatorial election.

 

She stressed the importance of active participation in the democratic process, noting that the possession of PVCs would enable workers to reciprocate what she described as the governor’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants and teachers across the state.

 

 

According to her, the June 20 election presents an opportunity for workers to support the continuity of the Oyebanji administration, which she said has prioritised the wellbeing of the workforce through prompt payment of salaries, pension reforms, regular engagement with labour leaders and improved working conditions.

 

 

The Head of Service maintained that Governor Oyebanji had justified the confidence reposed in him by workers through several policies and programmes aimed at improving the living standards of civil servants and retirees.

 

 

She noted that under the current administration, teachers and other public servants have enjoyed relative industrial harmony, adding that the governor’s open-door policy and responsiveness to workers’ concerns have strengthened trust between government and labour unions.

 

 

Dr. Olomojobi therefore encouraged workers not to be complacent but to mobilise support for the governor by participating fully in the electoral process.

 

 

She added that the state workforce remains a critical stakeholder in sustaining the developmental strides being recorded in Ekiti State, urging eligible voters to see the election as a civic responsibility and an opportunity to shape the future of the state.

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Bamisile Promises More Development Projects for Ekiti South Constituency II

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The member representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives, Honourable Oluwafemi Bamisile, has expressed gratitude to his constituents, particularly members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for giving him the mandate to seek a third term in the National Assembly through the party’s primary election.

‎Bamisile, who emerged victorious in the recently conducted APC House of Representatives primary, described the support from party delegates and constituents as a demonstration of confidence in his leadership and representation over the years.

‎Addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, attributed the success at the poll to the steadfast commitment to progressive politics and democratic participation.

‎He assured the people that he would continue to justify the confidence reposed in him by providing quality representation and attracting more development projects to the constituency.

‎The federal lawmaker also pledged to combine his academic background with legislative duties in order to deepen policy formulation and lawmaking at the National Assembly.

‎According to him, intellectual capacity and sound education remain vital tools for effective governance and impactful representation.

‎Bamisile, who holds a doctorate degree in peace and security, said his experience in both academics and politics would further position him to contribute meaningfully to national discourse and legislative reforms.

‎He stressed the need for lawmakers to focus on research-based legislation capable of addressing the country’s socio-economic and security challenges.

‎The APC chieftain also raised concerns over the growing security threats affecting communities around his constituency, noting that Ekiti South Federal Constituency II shares boundaries with parts of Kogi State and Ondo State where criminal activities have become rampant in recent times.

‎He said tackling insecurity in border communities would remain one of his major priorities if re-elected for another term.

‎Bamisile pledged to work closely with security agencies, traditional rulers and relevant stakeholders to strengthen local security architecture and ensure the protection of lives and property.

‎The lawmaker further commended the APC for adopting the direct primary mode, describing it as the most credible and democratic process for selecting candidates.

‎According to him, direct primaries give ordinary party members the opportunity to participate actively in the electoral process and enhance internal democracy within political parties.

‎He maintained that the system would promote fairness, transparency and wider participation in Nigeria’s democratic process if properly implemented across the country.

‎Bamisile reaffirmed his commitment to the ideals of the APC and promised to continue championing policies that would improve the welfare of his constituents and Nigerians at large.

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NASS Primaries: Bamidele, Fasuyi, Adaramodu Emerge APC Senatorial Candidates

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The All Progressive Congress (APC) has concluded its senatorial primary elections in Ekiti State, with Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Cyril Fasuyi and Senator Yemi Adaramodu emerging candidates for Ekiti Central, Ekiti North and Ekiti South Senatorial Districts respectively.

 

Announcing the results in Ado Ekiti on Monday night, the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee and Chief Returning Officer, Asipa Wasiu Adedoyin, declared Senetor Opeyemi Bamidele winner of the Ekiti Central Senatorial District primary election having contested alone and polled 29,586 votes.

For Ekiti North Senatorial District, the committee declared incumbent Senator Cyril Fasuyi winner after polling 14,179 votes to defeat a former Member of the Senate, Senator Ayo Arise, who scored 4,868 votes and Engr Bamisaye Oladipupo who polled 3,694 in the keenly contested exercise

 

Similarly, in Ekiti South Senatorial District primary, Senator Yemi Adaramodu secured 12,200 votes to emerge winner, defeating a former National Assembly member, Senator Biodun Olujimi, who polled 7,420 votes and Hon Bamidele Faparusi who polled 5,502 votes.

 

Adedoyin commended party members for the peaceful conduct of the exercise across the three senatorial districts, describing the process as transparent and in line with the guidelines of the party.

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