Category: Politics

The Nasarawa State Government has issued a stern warning to the management of the abattoir in the Akwanga Local Government Area of the state, threatening to shut it down if the facility’s poor sanitation conditions are not improved within a space of one month.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Margaret Elayo, gave the warning on Saturday while briefing journalists shortly after the September sanitation exercise in Akwanga.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hussaini Babayayi, noted that the abattoir’s unhygienic practices pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of residents.

She explained that the team from the ministry had inspected the facility during the monthly sanitation exercise and discovered the poor state of the abattoir.

Elayo, therefore, emphasised the need for strict adherence to sanitation laws, assuring that the ministry would closely monitor the abattoir’s activities from now to the end of October to ensure cleanliness and compliance with the sanitation guidelines of the state.

She added, “Most of our brothers and sisters staying here in Akwanga are getting their meat from this abattoir, but the place is not hygienic. It could affect our people’s health.

“The government would do something immediately to ensure the safety of our citizens in Akwanga because the place is not proper for slaughtering animals.

“However, if we do not see any changes from the managers of the abattoir, and nothing changes between now and next month, I assure you that the abattoir will be shut down.”

On the September sanitation exercise, the commissioner expressed dissatisfaction with the level of compliance by the residents of Akwanga and appealed for more cooperation to keep the state clean.

She further lamented that many commercial motorcyclists and vehicle owners continued their usual activities during the sanitation hours, warning that stricter measures would be taken against them in subsequent months if they failed to comply.

Responding, the Deputy Chairman of Akwanga LGA, Basau Ibrahim-Shaibu, admitted that the level of compliance was poor in the towns because the local government had shifted its attention to the rural communities.

On the state of the abattoir, the Deputy Chairman said that the state government had already begun the construction of a modern abattoir on the outskirts of Akwanga.

He, however, promised that the local government would take immediate action to ensure that the abattoir is kept clean, adding that strict adherence to the state’s sanitation laws to guard against the spread of diseases would henceforth be observed.

It can be recalled that on August 30, PUNCH Online reported that the Nasarawa State Government warned that it would shut down the Lafia Modern Abattoir following the facility’s poor sanitary conditions. Elayo expressed disappointment over the unhygienic state of the abattoir and cautioned that the government would no longer tolerate such practices.

The immediate past Accountant General of the Federation, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein, has decried the under-representation of women in the country’s political space, saying that efforts must be intensified to address this imbalance.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Media Consultant to the former Accountant General, Temitope Oyekan and made available to journalists, Dr Madein described Nigerian women as very brilliant, resourceful, resilient, courageous and possessing all the required capacity to provide adequate leadership for the betterment of the country.

She remarked while speaking at the Ogun East Conference for Women, held at the Akarigbo Palace Hall in Sagamu.

This year’s conference, themed “Women in Leadership: Building Capacity, Enhancing Participation and Securing Tomorrow,” brought together leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and grassroots advocates in a vibrant exchange of ideas, celebrating women’s achievements and charting pathways for greater inclusion in governance and economic development.

Madein lamented that despite making up over 62% of the population, less than 35% of Nigerian women are in politics, which is against the United Nations’ recommendation of 35% affirmative action.

She added that “Despite this gap, I must sincerely praise Nigerian women for making remarkable progress in other areas such as academics, education, career development, the public sector, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“I equally salute the few that are in politics, and they are not just there, they are equally making us, the women folk, proud, but it can get a lot better if more women are given a voice in our politics, given women’s roles in nation building.

“Women are resilient, courageous, and capable of transforming society through leadership, innovation, and service. We certainly need more women to step into politics and leadership positions at all levels to build a more prosperous nation”.

Madein commended the political handlers in the state for supporting a female to be the Deputy Governor while also ensuring women’s representation at both the state and national assemblies, calling, however, for even greater inclusion to move the state forward.

She expressed joy in being part of the gathering, describing it as a celebration of the resilience and determination of Ogun East women from the Remo and Ijebu communities.

Madein paid glowing tribute to trailblazers from the state, such as Ambassador Falilat Ogunkoya and also noted her own journey as the first female Accountant General of the Federation, both serving as examples of Ogun women who have broken barriers.

On September 17, 2025, PUNCH Online reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission had reiterated its commitment to inclusive democracy, with a strong emphasis on increasing women’s participation in politics and party leadership.

This declaration was made by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during an advocacy visit by the Women’s Collective Forum at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Yakubu stressed that INEC operates as an equal-opportunities institution. He noted that more than half of the commission’s departmental leadership is held by women.

“Today, 12 out of 22 Departments and Directorates of the Commission are headed by women. This means that 55 percent of the Directors at the Headquarters here in Abuja are women.”

“Across the States of the Federation, many of our substantive Administrative Secretaries, who are also Directors, are women,” he said.

Highlighting the institutional framework supporting gender inclusion, Yakubu revealed that INEC has a dedicated Department of Gender and Inclusivity and a gender policy that is regularly updated.