News
#NigeriaElections2023: INEC To Cancel Elections In Parts Of Kogi Over Violence
The Independent National Electoral Commission has threatened to cancel election results of crisis-ridden areas during the presidential and National Assembly elections in Kogi State.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Hale Longpet, sounded the warning while reacting to the crises that erupted in some Local Government Areas while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lokoja.
The PUNCH reports that there were reports of interference of thugs in some polling units in Anyigba and Dekina in the Kogi East and Mopa in the Kogi West as well as parts of Kogi Central, where voting materials were allegedly carted away by the thugs.
READ ALSO: #NigeriaElections2023: Thugs Burn Ballot Boxes, Voting Materials In Benin
Reacting to the issues, the REC said, “You know the electoral Law says that where there are disruptions to the process, the result will be cancelled, the very particular units’ results will be cancelled. The issues initially were only in the Kogi East and Central but I can’t tell exactly where and where in the state have been affected until the results are brought by the electoral officers.
“We understood that because of the violence, those affected areas couldn’t conclude election there. I’m shocked that people can go to that level and disrupt something that everybody should have enjoyed.”
Speaking further, the commissioner who decried the loss of lives also praised the peaceful conduct of the elections in some areas.
“Election is a peaceful and willful thing that people are offered to freely participate. Again, If people are given assurance that everyone will enjoy a pleasant experience, why then should we have thugs invading the whole town or the local government, disrupting the conduct of the elections?” he asked.
READ ALSO: NigeriaElection2033: Two People Killed In Rivers Polling Unit
Mr Longpet added, “This is very sad and shocking when you look at the loss of lives involved.”
He explained that: “Election is not war so If you were standing in for election to provide services for your people, you don’t need to engage in these destructive activities.”
According to him: “People who have the interest to bring good things to their communities do go out to positively engage and vote or exercise their franchise and they should not be stopped or denied the opportunity.”
News
NiMet Predicts Three-day Rain, Thunderstorms From Monday
News
JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.
READ ALSO:Ladoja Coronation Date As 44th Olubadan Revealed
The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.
Details later…
News
JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.
These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.
The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.
The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.
READ ALSO:FG Introduces Chinese Language Into School Curriculum
By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.
The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.
“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”
Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.
“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.
READ ALSO:FG Gives Mining Firms Deadline For Community Agreements
“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.
He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.
“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”
In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.
He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.
READ ALSO:FG Gazettes New Tax Reform Laws
He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.
Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.
According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.
This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.
News5 days agoAir Peace Announces Recruitment For 1,000 Fresh Graduates [SEE How To APPLY]
- Politics5 days ago
FULL TEXT: Tinubu Ends State Of Emergency In Rivers State
- Politics5 days ago
BREAKING: Tinubu Ends State Of Emergency In Rivers
- Metro4 days ago
JUST IN: 6 More Deaths Confirmed In Afriland Towers Fire
- Metro5 days ago
Edo Agency Rescues 27-year-old Uwoghiren Poisoned In Burkina Faso
- News5 days ago
NAFDAC Warns Of Fake Artemetrin DS, Antibiotic Ciprofit 500 In Circulation
- News4 days ago
Court Restrains EDSIEC, Edo Govt From Conducting LG By-elections
- Politics4 days ago
PHOTO: Rivers Residents Throng Govt House To Welcome Fubara
- Politics4 days ago
JUST IN: Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-month Suspension
Metro5 days agoPolice Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers In Delta, Recover AK-47 Rifle The Delta
