By Meletus EZE
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Niger, Alhaji Danjuma Sallah, has urged media practitioners to educate Nigerians on the electoral processes to minimise void votes and other hitches in next year’s general elections.
“The media has a very important role to play toward the success of the 2019 general elections.
“From what we have seen in recent elections, there are too many votes that are rendered invalid because of voters’ poor handling of the ballot paper.
“There are also other hitches like vote buying, sale of Permanent Voter’s Cards and ballot box snatching. The media must educate Nigerians on the need to avoid these vices so that we can have a smooth electoral system,” Sallh said in Minna on Tuesday.
Sallau was speaking at the bi-weekly press briefing in the state capital.
He challenged media managers to mobilise eligible Nigerians to participate in the electoral processes so as to determine who should govern over them.
The commissioner said that the state government had executed various projects in the areas of roads construction, water supply, health care delivery, and quality education.
“We have tried to be work very quietly over time, but we are currently working out strategies to enlighten the people on our modest achievements and our challenges,” he said.
He said that government had also provided tractors and farming implements at subsidized rates, and urged residents of the state to pay more attention to farming so as to boost food security.
Sallah promised that government would provide unhindered access to information on its activities, plans and policies as stipulated in the freedom of information act, and urged newsmen to feel free to make inquiries “anytime”.
