This Day in History: June 12, 1993. Today, June 12, is exactly three decades since Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new President in the Third Republic of the country’s Democratic journey. That Presidential election was the first since the 1983 military coup that swept away the Second Republic politicians. June 12, 1993, is undoubtedly a watershed in Nigeria’s political history.

June 12, 1993, thirty years ago was a date with history, It was a day Nigerians came together regardless of tribe or religion – it was a time when many of our citizens and progressive minds coalesced to birth ‘A New Nigeria’ and sacrificed their comfort to dream actualization for both present and unborn generation. It was a stillborn baby of Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO). Hope ’93 was truncated by the headmasters of the vultures.

HOPE ’93, was the harbinger of a series of good tidings that was on the way coming before the reactionary forces scuttled the JOY of NIGERIANS. The message was very clear; eradication of POVERTY. He said in his campaign for HOPE: “No citizen of our dear nation Nigeria is permitted to go to bed on an empty stomach.” MKO, as he was fondly called, was a man of sharp intellect, witty and rare sagacity. He was the pillar of sport in Africa. For those who do not know, the phase was a time when arguably the freest and fairest election took place in our nation’s democratic process. Nonetheless, the euphoria was short-lived.

Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO), championed Hope ’93: farewell to poverty: how to make Nigeria a better place for all – it signposts the beginning of an era. Sadly the situation of our citizens is in a precarious state. No food, no light, and the other life-threatening issues confronting the nation as a result of the rodents and vultures in high places. Hope ’93 was truncated, in a similar way by which recently former President Olusegun Obasanjo tried albeit unsuccessfully to call for the cancellation of the presidential election results which was part of a grand orchestration to truncate the nation’s democracy.

Before I continue, permit me to share with us the characteristics of a vulture: physically and socially, the vulture is a clumsy creature, and its unusual features border on homeliness. Vultures are large birds that do not hunt for food. Instead, they feed on the remains of dead bodies. In Africa, vultures eat far more meat than all predators put together. Vultures are heavy birds, they have large, powerful feet that are strong enough to bear their weight when walking on the ground.

More relatively, In the words of Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe; a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as a central figure of modern African literature. In Chinua Achebe’s “Vultures,” a pair of grim birds nuzzling each other after devouring a rotting corpse becomes a metaphor for the uneasy fact that human beings are equally capable of love and evil. Just as vultures can feast on death and still cuddle, the poet observes, the man who runs a Nazi death camp might pick up chocolates for his beloved children on the way home; cruelty and tenderness can coexist in the same person.

Achebe had describe the birds themselves and paints a grim image of them, having already described them as harbingers, a word closely associated with the bringing of death; he describes them as having “bashed-in head” and “gross feathers” and later in the final line. He describes them as having “cold telescopic eyes” giving the birds an almost mechanical feel. It suggests they shouldn’t even really be classed as a bird. Whether that’s cause for hope or despair, the novelist can’t quite decide—but despair seems more likely.

Admittedly, our leadership recruitment process is faulty and needs serious reforms. It has produced more of the vulture’s attributes than selfless and patriotic leadership. Unfortunately, the mindsets of an average Nigerian are not different from the leaders we criticized for our state of despondency. Thus, making it extremely difficult for tangible progress unless we as well as the leadership at all levels change from our old ways and embrace a new approach to our national re-birth reorientation and values.

It is thus, imperative, that in solemnity and the spirit of healing, we come together regardless of the past to honor our heroes, particularly, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO), his late wife Kudirat, Alfred Rewane, Anthony Enahoro, Beko Ramsome-Kuti, Gani Fawehinmi, Frank Ovie Kokori, Ndubuisi Kanu. Living legends Wole Soyinka, Ayo Adebanjo, Ayo Opadokun, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Falana, Yele Sowore, and many more. On this day, our democracy day, if we are determined to honor our heroes by changing our ways, by rewriting the pages of my beautifully imperfect life – this would give succor to the less-privileged in the nation.

In conclusion, never again should we have a situation that is deceitful and making our beloved country and her citizens become an object of mockery and feeding on ignorance. Such as exemplified by the recent activities of some disgruntled elements pushing for change through unorthodox means. But I’d maintain that the only reason why such idiocy gains currency among young Nigerians (including otherwise discerning older people who support and encourage such nonsense because it aligns with their hateful sentiment) is beyond these guys. The mass gullibility speaks to deeper systemic issues.

Finally, I must place on record, the profound words of Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo GCFR; a Nigerian nationalist and statesman who played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement (1957-1960). Awo posited: “Peter, not Peter the Apostle, but Peter the hero of Hugh Walpole’s novel entitled “Fortitude” said: “It isn’t life that matters but the courage you bring to it.” this is an encouragement to us as well as motivation for patriotism.

CONGRATULATIONS NIGERIANS! HAPPY DEMOCRACY DAY!!

Richard Odusanya
Mind Restructuring Enthusiast

Today is exactly 30 years after the June 12, 1993 presidential election which were annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida military regime.

On June 18, six days after the election, my media colleague and brother, Kayode Komolafe, came to my house with a copy of the full election results being uploaded by the electoral commission.

Businessman and friend of Babangida, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, had won the election with 58 per cent. Then, on June 23, 1993, Babangida announced the annulment of the election, claiming there had been vote-buying. The annulment of an election generally perceived to be the freest and fairest in the country’s history, set off six years of bloody resistance against continued military misrule.

A narrative gives a lot of credit to politicians for that glorious resistance which led to civil rule on May 29, 1999. This does not reflect the complete history of that struggle. There were actually three eras of that war corresponding to the regimes of Babangida, Shonekan and Abacha, and the political class was virtually absent in the first two.

The civil movement whose expression vibrated in the voice of towering lawyer, Alao Aka-Bashorun, was convinced that the military was merely deceiving the populace with a bogus transition programme. After a layer of presidential hopefuls had been swept away by military fiat, Abiola and Bashir Tofa were allowed to contest the June 12 election.

While Abiola and his group thought they could persuade the military to de-annul the election, the civil movement which had started off in 1990 as the National Consultative Forum, NCF, transformed into a broad national coalition of anti-military forces which included student, youth, professional, market, community and civil society organisations. It was renamed the Campaign for Democracy, CD. Its transition leadership passed from Aka-Bashorun to the medical doctor, Beko Ransome-Kuti.

The CD began mobilising for mass protests across the country to force the military out. But it had two challenges. The first was how to contain the murderous military and minimise the inevitable casualties. The second was how to persuade the political class that did not want to confront the military, not to side the regime. To overcome the second challenge, CD leaders, including Beko, Olisa Agbakoba, Frederick Fasehun, Femi Falana and I held meetings with Abiola to get a commitment that even if he would not support the nationwide protests, he should at least not denounce us.

The protests were overwhelming across the country. In Lagos where we hoped to get some 50,000 protesters, the streets were clogged with millions of people. The Babangida regime panicked and ordered its Army Chief, General Sani Abacha, to take back the streets by force. Abacha led a long military convoy into Lagos which opened fire on all human beings in sight beginning with youths who were playing football in Apakun/Toyota, Oshodi. That July 6, 1993, the Nigeria Medical Association compiled a figure of 118 corpses brought to the general hospitals in Lagos. They had gunshot wounds with most shot in the back which indicated they were running away when shot.

Despite these huge losses and the arrest of many, including Beko and Gani Fawenmi, we continued the protests. Tragically on the day of the massacres, Abiola denounced us in a public statement. He said his mandate was given without bloodshed so he did not want to reclaim it with bloodshed. Two weeks later, we asked Nigerians to sit at home, and the nation’s streets were deserted.

The continued defiance by the populace, forced the Babangida regime to hand over to a military contraption called the Interim National Government, ING, headed by Ernest Shonekan.

Its primary purpose was to organise new elections supervised by the compromised military. But Abiola said the June 12 election was like a derailed train; so until it was cleared, no other train could use the tracks. He turned to the CD to stop the new election process. Beko, Fasehun and I met Abiola’s representative, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his office. It was decided that I coordinated the disruption of the ING’s voters registration and review exercise which was necessary for the planned election. We succeeded in doing so across the country and the tottering ING which was later declared illegal by the courts, just needed a push to collapse. But Abiola disagreed with our plans to employ the mass to force the ING out and install him. The alternative he went for was a military coup by alleged pro-June 12 Generals like Oladipo Diya, Chris Ali and Abacha. We disagreed with the coup and after he met new Head of State, Abacha with Diya and Tinubu as witnesses, we met and warned him to stop his support for the new regime, including his agreement to provide it credible politicians as ministers. But he told us that Abacha was a dwarf, and to greet a dwarf, one had to bend down to his level. It was after it became clear that Abacha and his gang were not going to de-annul the June 12 election and swear him in as President in accordance with their understanding, that the politicians joined the struggle to oust the military from power. It was in that process the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, coalesced. NADECO itself had origins in the meetings of the CD and old experienced politicians led by Chief Alfred Rewane with Chief Anthony Enahoro as Deputy. Others included Chiefs Ayo Adebanjo, Ajise and Cornelius Adebayo. After Rewane was murdered in his Ikeja GRA residence where we used to meet, Enahoro led an expanded group and we began meeting mainly in Abiola’s house with Alhaja Kudirat Abiola as hostess. Despite Abacha’s murder of Kudirat, and many like Enahoro, Dan Suleiman, Wole Soyinka and Tinubu forced into exile, the forces that would see the backs of the military had been born.

Let me on this day, pay tribute to two virtually unacknowledged heroes of the democratic struggles. Prince Ademola Adeniji- Adele who was crucial in keeping Abiola safe when the military dictatorship declared him wanted, better dead than alive; and who contributed funds to keep the streets alive for June 12. His undoing was that he later joined the Abacha transition programme. Then there was Chief Rasheed Abiodun Gbadamosi, economist, writer and an assumed apolitical industrialist who when the goons closed in on Abiola, and people were afraid to give him shelter, took the June 12 presidential election winner to his Victoria Island home. One night, when it appeared his home might be compromised, Gbadamosi got Abiola to climb the fence and shelter in the adjacent premises which he also owned.

My salute to these heroes and heroines and hundreds like Bagauda Kaltho who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.

The Department of State Services has confiscated the passport of the suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, The PUNCH reports.

The service, it was also learnt, may search Emefiele’s home and office this week.

Following his suspension on Friday as a result of the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector, the service arrested Emefiele in Lagos and flew him to Abuja in a private jet on Saturday.

The spokesperson for the service, Peter Afunanya, in a statement said Emefiele had been taken into custody and was under investigation.

However, a source in the DSS on Sunday said it was standard procedure for his travel document to be seized pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

The source added that the office and residence of the suspended apex bank governor would be searched.

The source said, “Of course, Emefiele’s travel document would be confiscated as part of the standard process pending the conclusion of our investigation. Also, as part of the investigation, his house and office would be searched for documents that can aid the ongoing investigation on his management of the CBN.”

Our correspondent had reported that other top directors of the CBN might also be invited or arrested for questioning over their roles in the administration of the apex bank.

It was learnt that the DSS might revisit the criminal charges it earlier filed against Emefiele which borders on terrorism financing and fraud.

The secret police similarly accused the suspended CBN box of mismanaging the CBN subsidiary, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and the Anchor Borrowers Programme.

The DSS spokesman, Afunanya, could not be reached for comment on Sunday as calls to his line indicated that he was unreachable.

He had yet to respond to a text message on the detention of Emefiele as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has said the DSS lacked constitutional power to investigate and prosecute Emefiele.

Falana in a message sent to one of our correspondents said Emefiele should be transferred to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who according to him, posses the legal right to prosecute Emefiele.

“A few months ago, the State Security Service levelled grave allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering, and other economic crimes against Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. At the material time, the attempt by the SSS to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Mr. Emefiele was frustrated by the erstwhile Buhari administration.

“However, following the suspension of Mr. Emefiele as the Governor of the CBN by President Bola Tinubu, the SSS quizzed him in Lagos and flew him to Abuja yesterday. According to media reports, the investigation of the suspect by the SSS has commenced. Even though the SSS which initially denied the arrest has since turned around to admit that Mr. Emefiele is in its custody.

“In the case of Dr. Bukola SarakI v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2018) 16 NWLR (pt. 1646) 433-434, the Supreme Court ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lacks the vires to investigate and prosecute the appellant for the breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. It was for that principal reason that Senator Saraki was freed by the apex court.

“In line with the principle of law enunciated by the apex court in Saraki’s case the SSS lacks the power to investigate and prosecute Mr. Emefiele in respect of allegations of money laundering and other economic crimes. Therefore, after investigating the alleged involvement of Emefiele in terrorism financing the SSS should transfer him to the EFCC for the purpose of investigating

Vice President Kashim Shettima has appealed to senators-elect to vote a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, as president of the incoming 10th Senate.

Shettima who spoke at a dinner organised Saturday night to rally support for Senators Akpabio and Jibrin Barau joint ticket said he was ready to kneel down for the senators-elect.

He said Akpabio’s Senate presidency would engender unity and stability in the country.

“I’m ready to kneel down and beg my colleagues for them to come on board for the sake of the nation’s stability,” Shettima said.

The event had in attendance over 50 senators-elect and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.

Shettima said, “Apart from the religious angle, Senator Akpabio is very competent and he has the capacity to lead the 10th National Assembly. At the same time, he is from a very important zone and also a man of Christian faith.

“So, in line with the constitution of our country and in conformity with the plurality of our union, the party and, indeed, the president, deemed it fit to support him.”

The vice president assured the senators-elect of his readiness to continue to work for the emergence of Akpabio as Senate president by talking to those who were yet to join their camp.

“I have been campaigning privately for Senators Akpabio and Barau and I will continue to do that till we deliver them on Tuesday. I will be leaving this dinner for another meeting with some senators who are yet to register their support,” he disclosed.

Akume said even before his appointment as the SGF, he was already drumming support for the Akpabio-Barau ticket, because the Tinubu-led administration needed all forms of support to kick-off on a very sound footing.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Honourable Nnolim Nnaji has denied asking for five percent equity in Nigeria Air.

This came even as he stated that the former minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, ‘is a drowning man struggling to grab anything on his way to survive the barrage of attacks he has been receiving since his controversial unveiling ceremony of the so called Nigeria Air.’

Nnaji’s reaction is coming against the backdrop of Sirika’s allegations, stating that he had asked him for a 5 percent equity in the project.

In a statement, Nnaji noted that the former Minister was not happy that he had demanded transparency and due process in all matters relating to aviation sector, especially Nigeria Air project.

He added that the House suspended further questions when the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) sued the Ministry and Nigeria Air to court and got injunction to stop it.

“Ordinarily l would not have bothered to reply to his allegations of my demand for 5 percent equity in Nigeria Air as he claimed during his interview on Arise Television but l believe l owe my constituents and indeed Nigerians a duty to put the records straight.

“It is on record that last year when the Minister announced Ethiopian Airlines as core investor in Nigeria Air, my committee which was also inundated with petitions from various stakeholders regarding that announcement invited the Minister and his team to furnish the committee with the details of the project.

“The committee requested for the evidence of the bid process that gave Ethiopian Airlines the award and, the full business case as prepared by the Nigerian Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, (ICRC) which was supposed to spell out the details of all the investors and their equity contributions.

“Sirika at that meeting said Full Business Case was still being worked out by the ICRC and promised to make it available to the committee as soon it was ready which he failed to do before Airline Operators of Nigeria, (AON) took the Ministry to court and got injunction restraining it from going ahead with the project.”, Nnaji said.

The lawmaker, who said all enquires were suspended to avoid court contempt, added that he crossed Sirika’s path again, when issued a statement against threats of mass resignations by key personnel of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) due to pressures from the Ministry to give waivers to Nigeria Air to enable it secure Air Operator’s Certificate, (AOC).

“Of course, we suspended our discussions and enquiries on the project the moment court got involved. Normally when a matter is before the court the parliament does not discuss it.

“However, on May 20th 2023, l received reports of threats of mass resignations by key personnel of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) due to pressures from the Ministry to give waivers to Nigeria Air to enable it secure Air Operator’s Certificate, (AOC) so that it could take Off before the exit of the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I quickly issued a statement warning the former Minister against subverting the authority of NCAA because of its severe consequences on the Nigeria’s air transport sector. It is also a common knowledge that the Nigerian institutional investors he mentioned as participants have all denied him.

“It is not strange that Sirika came up with these spurious allegations against my person because l remained consistent in demanding that he followed due process.

“He should not deviate from the subject matter. Let him tell Nigerians the truth about the contraption he sold to us as Nigeria Air. Nnolim Nnaji is not his problem.”, Nnaji added.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said it will be improper for a Northern Muslim to be elected Senate President.

During an interactive session with senators in Abuja, Shettima said he is ready to kneel down to beg the incoming senators to elect Godswill Akpabio (APC-Akwa-Ibom) and Sen. Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano) to lead the 10th Senate.

The Vice President said: “I’m ready to kneel down and beg my colleagues for the sake of the nation. This is for the survival of this nation.

“Here we are with a Muslim President and a Muslim Vice President in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious polity like ours.

“Number 1, 2; all of the same faith for God sake! Under the current dispensation, the worst, the most incompetent Southern Christian is better than the most puritanical Northern Muslim for the Presidency of the Senate.

“Equity, justice, and fairness demand that the number three citizen of this country should be Christian.

“What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. But most importantly, we should make deliberate efforts to take inclusivity in governance.

“This is a young nation where every community will like to have fair representation on the dinner table of their kinsmen.

“Politics is about perception, politics is about optics. I want to appeal to you; I want to appeal to your conscience. “The stability and inclusivity and togetherness of this nation supersede the depth of our pockets, stability of our pockets.

“We are talking about the sustainability of the nation. The nation is at a crossroad,” Shettima stated.

Also speaking, Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno) said the stability group has 73 persons who had signed for the Akpabio/Barau ticket.

Ndume said: “We are working very hard to support you in your course for the stability of this country.

“We have committed ourselves to your administration alongside President Bola Tinubu to ensure the stability of Nigeria.

“The last time we had a meeting with the lawmakers-elect across party lines, the president shook hands with each one of us and called us by our native names.

“This is one administration that will not only be people-oriented but close to the grassroots.

“So far, the decisions that are coming out are those that will strengthen Nigeria.

“We’ll see Nigeria change before our very eyes and we’re committed to being a part of that change. We assure you not just of our loyalty but the stability of the parliament.”

Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, said democracy in Nigeria remains in bondage and it will need the energy of all or everyone to rescue it.

The former Vice President, who stated this in his Democracy Day message to Nigerians, said the desire to make Nigeria’s democracy self-sustaining and independent of anti-democratic elements is the new frontier of participation by all democrats.

He further stated that what is celebrated today is a return to civil rule in Nigeria, adding that this year’s Democracy Day celebration was a “time for us to reflect as a people and a country on our journey to becoming a democratic society.”

He, however, added that it was important to appreciate the successes achieved in making democracy the norm of politics in Nigeria, considering the experience of Nigerians, who were around during the dark days of military dictatorships.

“But democracy without a corresponding commitment to the principles of fairness and fidelity to the rule of play by stakeholders in the processes of conducting elections still leaves the people prostrate to tendencies of dictatorship.

“For our democracy to be fully fledged, it must constantly evolve away from the current practice where the governing elite determines the outcome of elections.

“Many times, when I take stock of the activism that birthed the current democratic dispensation, I am even more convinced that a lot of work still lies ahead.

“Democracy and the process of democratization is a constant work in progress. While what we celebrate today is a return to civil rule in Nigeria, the desire to make our democracy self-sustaining and independent of anti-democratic elements is the new frontier of participation by all democrats,” he stated.

He added that as it requires collective energy and commitment to attain civil rule, it will require a concomitant commitment to advance the cause of democracy and our democratization process.

Atiku said the challenge ahead of the country and the future of its democracy will rely heavily on what Nigerians do or fail to do today.

“To achieve this noble goal, our commitment to the cause of democracy must be eternal. Folks on the other side, enemies of democracy, whom we are up against, are not resting. To defeat them, we must do more!

“As I congratulate Nigerians on this day, in celebration of return to civil rule, I also call our consciousness to the reality that democracy in Nigeria remains in bondage and it will need the energy of all of us to rescue it,” Atiku stated in the message.

The lifeless body of a female Nigerian Air Force personnel identified simply as George was found dangling from the roof of her apartment at the Sam Ethan Air Force Base, Nigerian Air Force Logistics Command in Lagos.

However, details of the circumstances surrounding the incident were still sketchy as at 9.25 pm, today, May 11, 2022.

The incident which occurred on Saturday, May 10, 2023, was said to have thrown other Air Force personnel into confusion after an attempt to resuscitate her failed.

Sources said after her body was brought down from the rope in her apartment at Block 75, flat 8, it was taken to the 661 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Ikeja, where she was certified dead.

Efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer, Logistics Command failed as he did not pick up his call when Vanguard called.

But the Director, of Nigerian Air Force, Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ayodele Famiyiwa, confirmed the incident.

He said “It is true. The body has been moved to our hospital morgue.

“The Base Commander has set up an enquiry to investigate the circumstances that led to it”.

The race for the speaker of the 10th House of Representatives is taking shape as two key frontrunners have stepped down for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Tajudeen Abbas.

Abbas was announced the preferred candidate of the APC weeks ago.

But his announcement was met with protest from some interested members of the APC, including Muktar Betara and Yusuf Gagdi.

But after a lot of horse trading and negotiation, both Betara and Gagdi have agreed to step down on Sunday for Abbas.

This would be seen as a key victory for Abbas as the combined numbers of members-elect the duo controlled during their campaign for the seat are said to be over 130 in the APC alone.

They also enjoy some support from the opposition parties who came together under the ‘Greater Majority’.

Announcing the decision on Sunday, Vice President Kashim Shettima said they stepped down “because what binds us together is superior to whatever that divides us.”

Also former Member of the House of Representatives and member-elect for the 10th House, Abdulmumin Jibrin said, “After weeks of discussions, persuasions, political dexterity of the new chief of staff, wise counsel of the vice president and most importantly intervention of Mr President, Hon Muktar Betara and Yusuf Gagdi stepped down from the speakership race and support Hon Tajudeen Abbas.”

Th Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) have mapped out strategies to reduce delays and fast track the time for passport collection. 

The Postmaster General of the Federation/CEO of NIPOST, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Sunday Adepoju made this known recently when he led his Management team on a working visit to the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Caroline Wura- Ola Adepoju, at the Service Command Headquarters, Sauka, Abuja.

The Postmaster General noted that the collaboration has become imperative following an integrated service delivery model by NIPOST that incorporated various government services and information which will be provided to citizens in a one-stop shop environment using several channels to meet different needs of the citizens at selected Post office locations Nationwide.

Under this arrangement, the NIS will utilise NIPOST infrastructure for Passport collection and adopting the postal network as an e- Fulfillment centre for enhancing the digital economy.

Adepoju added that the roles and responsibilities of the development are for a sustainable and integrated framework for the process of e- Passport, provide courier services and Address verification validation that will harmonize the various e- government initiatives in the agency, as well as consolidate NIPOST efforts to reaffirm productivity synergy with NIS.

In her response, The Ag. CG commended the NIPOST for the remarkable development of an Address Verification System as a major breakthrough for identity management, indicating that NIPOST AVS is a major initiative for forensic crime management.

She commended NIPOST also for developing a standardized Digital Postcode System which will aid the agency in issuing Nigerian Passports, adding that the service will strengthen the partnership and cultivate strategic methods to help fulfil the mandate to Nigerians.

According to her, the “collaboration will address the issues facing Nigerians while seeking to register for Passports, reduce the waiting period before biometric data capture, and make Passport processing seamless and faster thereby assuaging the pains Nigerians go through to obtain their passport”.

The Postmaster General and the Ag. CG also agreed to develop a framework for the working relationship going forward.