Social Reporters News Service, published by IOE Publishers - CAC/BN/3400383

  By Isaac Eranga As part of effort towards making the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria peaceful, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP)- Nigeria has launched a Virtual Situation Room.  On 25 February 2023, Nigeria will hold presidential and federal parliamentary elections, followed by gubernatorial and state legislative elections on 11 March 2023.  Speaking, the national coordinator of WANEP - Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Bridget Osakwe said there are some reasons for optimism that the upcoming polls will be an improvement on the 2019 elections. According to the Eastern Nigeria Red Cap Chief, "it is true that pockets of violence and several irregularities marred the elections, many observers believe that these problems had not been widespread enough to seriously undermine the outcome of the 2019 elections.  "However, a look at Nigeria’s political history, reveals that the country has witnessed series of electoral violence even after the return to civilian rule in 1999 tha

By Isaac Eranga Ms Priscilla Usiobaifo, ED- BHI Akoko-Edo: BraveHeart Initiative for Youth and Women (BHI) has commended the Edo judiciary over the conviction of a 55-year-old man - Frederick Agbozuadu who deceitfully lured and severally violated an 8-year-old girl at Egbigere community in Akoko-Edo LGA of Edo State, Nigeria. This commendation was contains in a press statement signed by the Executive Director of BHI- Ms Priscilla Usiobaifo. According to the statement, "the verdict was given on 9th February 2023 by Nosa Musoe - Chief Magistrate (Special Grade) of the Magistrate Court, Igarra, Akoko-Edo LGA, Edo State. After been found guilty on a single count charge of defilement as applicable in the Criminal Code Law of Edo State, Frederick was sentenced to five years imprisonment without an option of fine. "This is a well-deserved victory for the girl-child in Akoko-Edo LGA especially considering the intrigues of this particular case. The incident was investigated by the Edo

The Edo State Chairman of the  Nigeria Union  Of Journalists, Comerade Festus Alenkhe  has appealed to youth and other aggrieved persons over the scarcity of New naira notes to remain calm and refrain from the destruction of Public property especially Bank and government  facilities .  In a statement made available to the Press,  the chairman of the NUJ, Edo state council  , said when things normalise  that Nigerians will still revert to the use of the various critical facilities now under destruction .  The statement named some facilities now under attack  to include Banks, Automated Machines (ATM), Point of Sales Shops (POS), street lights in Benin city and other government properties .  In the statement , Comrade Festus Alenkhe called for calm and advised that, the people should patiently preserve and exercise their franchise by voting for the candidate of their choice during the general  election coming up soon.  The statement called for restrain as it suspect the politicisation of

The Partners for Peace (P4P) in the Niger-Delta, Edo State chapter yesterday condemned the wanton destruction of banking facilities and POS spots across major roads of Benin by protesters as a result of the nonavailability of the new naira notes. Speaking to newsmen in Benin City, the Edo State Coordinator of P4P - Engr. Eugene Okoeguale, said the destruction of banking facilities and POS spots have ripple effect on the populace, especially those at the grassroots. He called on all those aggrieved as a result of the scarcity of the new naira notes to embrace peace, saying without peace, there will be no development. "I want to condole with the families of those  that lost their lives in yesterday's protest, I was really unfortunate.  "Now that banking facilities have been destroyed, where can the people go to get money to cater for life's necessities. Though the deed has been done, it should not escalate more than that", he said. P4P is dedicated to promoting pea

•••Says protests systematic, targets PDP-controlled states Edo State Government on Wednesday fingered the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as being behind the riots that broke out early on Wednesday morning in Benin City, the state capital, during which three people were killed and a number of banks and other infrastructures destroyed, as the protesters expressed their anger over the scarcity of the new naira notes occasioned by the redesigning of the 1,000, 500 and 200 denominations of the nation’s currency. The state government, which described the riots as “systematic and targeted at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled states”, called on security agencies to “invite Oshiomhole, interrogate him and arrest him to account for his movements within Beni city in the last couple of days”. Addressing a press conference after the Military stepped in to arrest the situation, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Ori

News Blogger: Isaac Eranga Findings show that 48 million people practice open defecation (OD) and that only 17% of Nigeria's population have access to basic - hygiene services, while 23% practice open defecation, access to basic water supply services is 67% of which 13% are safely managed services. Funding in the Water and Sanitation sector is insufficient with the current investment gap estimated at 1.9 trillion naira ($5.3 billion) according to National WASH Action plan. As a result of the aforementioned, the Network for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) in collaboration with other stakeholders have developed WASH Charter of Demand which is geared towards engaging political parties and incoming political office holders on commitment to prioritize support for WASH financing when elected. This charter according to NEWSAN focuses on financing, transparency, equality, human right to WASH, inclusiveness and climate change. According to the charter which was made available to Social Report

Nigeria  Inspector General of Police , lGP Usman Alkali Baba has directed men of the International IP Crime Investigators -National Cybercrime Central Bureau , Abuja to immediately commence investigation into a case of Cyberbullying , internet stalking , false information , Defamation and threat to life brought against one Canada based  Racheal Eboni Osazee Iyonmana by a legal firm in Benin city.   The legal firm who acted for  Becky Igiebor reported that the Said Eboni has engaged in uncontrolled and continuous cyber stalking where she displayed different pictures of Becky Igiebor and her family members   on the Facebook and other social media platforms with demaging and   defamatory statements .  The law firm described the act as an international crime that needs the immediate intervention and investigation  of the Nigeria Police at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.  The Inspector General Of Police , IGP Usman Alkali Baba upon a receipt of the petition by the law firm ordered the Nati

----- facility to house SUBEB, TVET Board, others By Our Reporter The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki will, tomorrow, Friday, February 3, 2023, perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the development of an Education Hub in the state.  The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at the premises of the Ministry of Education, Iyaro, Benin City, Edo State. The hub will house the Ministry of Education and its parastatals - the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB); the State Secondary Education Board (SSEB); the Board of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (BTVET); and the Library Board. The Education Hub will also host facilities like the Directorate of Quality Assurance; the Directorate of Higher Education; the Basic school (Primary and Junior Secondary); Conference Centre; the Primary Health Centre (PHC); Sporting faculty for pupils; amongst others. The epoch-making event is an additional milestone achievement of the Governor Obaseki-led administration as the deve

 By Isaac Eranga Women March for Peaceful Elections: Head of Programmes, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Nigeria), Patience Ikpeh-Oaulo (middle in white) leading a cross section of women during a Peaceful March calling for a violence free elections at the Lagos State Government House on Thursday. Lagos: Women on Thursday urged the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide-Sanwo-Olu and political leaders across the country to ensure elections in their domains are devoid of violence and activities that might disrupt the peaceful conduct of 2023 polls.  The women, who marched from the Lagos State Television House (LTV8) to the residence of the Iyaloja of Lagos State, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo before presenting their demands to the state Governor at the State House, called on Nigerians not to disrupt the electioneering activities in any part of the country, as this might lead to retaliatory measures that could lead to violence.  Head of Programme at the West Africa Network for Peacebuildin