2015 election brightens Nigeria`s image ― FCT minister

THE credibility of the 2015 general election has enhanced the image of Nigeria to the outside world and therefore should be improved upon, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said.

He stated this while receiving the Presidential Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform led by its Chairman, Senator Ken Nnamani in his office in Abuja, on Thursday.

Malam Bello remarked that the election was largely made credible, because of the use of biometrics and card readers by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The minister, therefore, urged the committee to look into strengthening the use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) in all subsequent elections with a view to sustaining the achievements.

He reiterated that the use of card reader in elections in Nigeria was a revolution that should be sustained, as it would go a long way in reducing the number of litigations after elections.

Malam Bello emphasized that Nigeria was ripe and Nigerians were now well educated and enlightened in the use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) in elections considering how the populace make use of mobile telephone in addition to internet data mostly for new media (social media).

In a statement by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the minister, Muhammad Hazat Sule, a copy of which was made available to the Tribune Online in Abuja, the minister assured that the FCT administration would support the committee in doing its work to ensure that the subsequent electoral processes were fair and credible, and seen to be so.

The minister then appreciated the contributions of Senator Nnamani to the country when he was the Senate President; saying that history would remember him for the role he played to ensure that democracy was sustained.

Earlier, the Chairman committee, Senator Nnamani commended the Mlminister for the effort of his administration in completing abandoned projects across the 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory.

He said that the committee was in the FCT administration to pay the administration a visit as its members were in Abuja to hold a National Public Hearing to collate more information from the residents before turning out an all-inclusive report to the government and bringing up relevant Bills for enactment by the National Assembly.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye and other top officials of the FCT administration joined the minister in receiving the team.