Get Connected

       

Quick Links

 

Opinion Poll

Should Nigerians in Diaspora be allowed to vote?
 

Diaspora Of The Month

dom

Nigeria not ripe for Diaspora voting, says Senate

Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Andy Uba, yesterday said the hope of Nigerians abroad participating in elections in Nigeria would have to wait due to consular problems.


Uba told reporters after submitting the committee's sessional report to the Senate that there was the problem of data availability at the Nigerian embassies abroad.


He said embassies do not have complete records of Nigerians living in some foreign countries, describing the development as a major obstacle in reaching a conclusion on the matter.


Uba said: "Right now there are no records of Nigerians in the embassies. Most of them arrive there illegally and this is a problem. We are trying to ensure that we get all the records of Nigerians living abroad. It is then we can begin to consider it."


He also noted that the committee was investigating an allegation of a breach of the Federal Character principle at INEC, saying that his committee would ensure that the problem was corrected if found to be true.


On e-voting, the senator said that it was still under consideration and would be approved at the appropriate time.


Uba said that the committee would ensure the amendment of the Electoral Act to make future elections free, fair and acceptable.


He said the committee had informed INEC of the need to do continuous registration of voters and ensure that the lapses witnessed during the Edo election were corrected.


The Chairman of the Senator  Committee on Women Affairs and Youth Development, Mrs. Helen Esuene, said a Bill was under consideration to deal with issues of domestic violence and rape.


Senator Esuene said the law when enacted, would provide that cases of domestic violence and rape be heard in a closed court, allowing the counsel, the victims, witnesses and family members.


She said it was the only way people who would ordinary fear stigmatisation would come forward to make their cases known.


Esuene said: "A woman who was battered by her husband would naturally come out to complain that she was beaten by her husband, but a man beaten up by his wife, may not find it easy to come forward to do that.


"Victims of rape should also be protected. They will not like to speak out because of the stigma.


So, a closed court will encourage them to come forward and the problems would be dealt with."

 
Over 1m Nigerians live in London – Mayor of London
04/05/2013 | MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO
article thumbnail

Mayor of Brent, London, Micheal Adeyeye, has disclosed that the population of Nigerian immigrants in London has hit over 1 million people.

Meantime, Governor Babtunde Fashola of Lagos and Mayor of Lond [ ... ]


Mark on Nigerians in Diaspora
30/01/2013 | Abdulrahman Abdulrauf
article thumbnail

The untoward attitude of some host countries towards Nigerians resident abroad recently received the attention of the Senate. ABDULRAHMAN A. ABDULRAUF writes on the need to stem the tide of unnecessar [ ... ]


NASS Demand Justice over Ugboaja's death
29/01/2013 | Administrator
article thumbnail

Nigerian Killed in South African Police Custody
Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs Monday asked the South African government to investigate the killing of a Nigerian in  [ ... ]


Nigerian students, footballers Languished in Egyptian Prison
25/01/2013 | Administrator
article thumbnail

Facts have emerged that hundreds of Nigerian students and ootballers are languishing in various prisons in Egypt.

Ganiyu Ishola, raised the alarm during an interactive session with the House Committee  [ ... ]


Dabiri calls for Nigeria-India joint Diaspora Commission - BusinessDay
23/01/2013 | News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
article thumbnail

Rep Abike Dabiri-Erewa, (ACN-Lagos) has called for the establishment of a joint action committee on Diaspora between Nigeria and India to harness the potentials of the Diasporas in the two countries.

D [ ... ]


Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa Leads Delegation To India Diaspora Conference
08/01/2013 | Banjoko
article thumbnail

Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Rep Abike Dabiri-Erewa is to lead the Nigeria delegation to the 11th edition of India Diaspora day celebration holding in Kochi, In [ ... ]


Nigerian Sworn In As Councillor For Second Term Of Office In Belgium
08/01/2013 | Tonia Timothy
article thumbnail

The Nigerian-born Collins Nweke, was sworn in yesterday (02/01/2013) in the Ostend City Council of Belgium for a second term of office as Honourable Councillor.
With his re-election Hon. Nweke is  [ ... ]


Senate Rules Out Voting For Nigerians In Diaspora In 2015 Elections
25/12/2012 | Administrator
article thumbnail

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Sen. Andy Uba, in Abuja on Wednesday ruled out the much agitated voting of Nigerians in Diaspora.

He made this known at the opening of the In [ ... ]


Maku Tasks Nigerians In Diaspora On Partnership For National Development
25/12/2012 | News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
article thumbnail

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, on Friday in London called on Nigerians in Diaspora to partner with the government on national development initiatives.

Maku stated this on Friday in Lond [ ... ]


2015: PDP, CPC support diaspora voting
25/12/2012 | Leke Baiyewu
article thumbnail

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, and the Congress for Progressive Change have thrown their weight behind the proposal for Nigerians in the diaspora to vote during  [ ... ]


INEC seeks greater powers, Diaspora vote
04/12/2012 | Friday Olokor
article thumbnail

The Independent National Electoral Commission has asked the Federal Government for greater autonomy as well as allowing Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in future elections in the country.    [ ... ]


Nigerians in Diaspora Collect Signatures to Support Voting Right
26/09/2012 | Leadership
article thumbnail

Nigerians living abroad have began the collection of one million signatures for "Nigerian Diaspora Voting Rights Petition" to demand for the right to vote and to be voted for in future elections [ ... ]


Obama Declares Nigeria As World's Next Major Economic Giant
27/08/2012 | ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI
article thumbnail

The President of the United States of America, Senator Barrack Obama has declared Nigeria as the world's next economic success story, stressing that the discovery was one of the major reasons why  [ ... ]


$300,000 capital base: Ghana soft-pedals
28/07/2012 | John Alechenu
article thumbnail

There are strong indications that Ghanaian authorities have soft-pedalled on the demand that businesses outfits produce $300,000 as capital before operating in Ghana.
The member states drew th [ ... ]


Nigeria not ripe for Diaspora voting, says Senate
21/07/2012 | Sanni Onogu - Nation
article thumbnail

Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Andy Uba, yesterday said the hope of Nigerians abroad participating in elections in Nigeria would have to  [ ... ]


Nigeria: 6,000 Citizens in Foreign Jails Over Drug Offences
30/06/2012 | Vanguard
article thumbnail

Abuja — Director-General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Femi Ajayi, weekend, said over 6,000 Nigerians were serving various jail terms across the globe for drug related offen [ ... ]


Nigeria Threatens To Break Diplomatic Ties With Ghana
30/06/2012 | Peace FM Online
article thumbnail

The House of Representatives, weekend, called for the intervention of Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, parliament to prevent deportation of Nigerian businessmen from Ghana.  [ ... ]


Jonathan charges 93 new ambassadors to protect Nigeria’s interest
19/06/2012 | Administrator
article thumbnail

President Goodluck Jonathan has handed out letters of credence to the newly appointed 93 ambassadors, charging them to protect Nigeria’s interest.
The President who noted that the ambassado [ ... ]


Nigeria needs a diaspora commission, says Dabiri-Erewa
26/05/2012 | World Stage News
article thumbnail

Johannesburg, South Africa-- Nigeria has been advised to establish a Diaspora Commission that would deal with diaspora matters.   Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa,  [ ... ]


Senate backs death sentence for 16 Nigerians in Indonesia
19/05/2012 | Punch
article thumbnail

The Senate on Tuesday distanced itself from calls to intervene in the plight of 16 Nigerians facing death penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia, saying they must face the full brunt of the l [ ... ]