2011 POLLS: KATSINA, A'IBOM, 10 OTHERS ARE FLASH POINTS -SURVEY

Ahead of Saturday's polls, 12 states have been identified as flash points that require more public consciousness and awareness against untoward attitudes during elections.

They are Katsina and Kano States in the North-west; Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom States in South-south; Oyo and Ogun States in South-west; Nasarawa and Benue States in North-central; Borno and Gombe in the North-east and Ebonyi and Anambra in the South-east. According to Media and Information Committee on Emergency Management (MICEM), the states were declared danger zones for the election following their findings.

To this effect, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has directed its officers in the technical, search and rescue departments not to go on leave during the period of elections. Director of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, gave the directive yesterday while receiving in audience, members of MICEM, which comprises spokespersons of response agencies in Nigeria.

While calling on emergency spokespersons to co-operate with the press in providing timely, accurate and truthful information at all times to minimise the rate of speculations, he advised them to be on the be alert as regards their responsibilities. Sani-Sidi urged the electorate not to allow themselves to be used to disrupt the electoral processes assuring that the country would soon have dedicated hotlines that could be accessible to the public in reaching response agencies during emergencies.

He said the agency enjoyed massive support and co-operation of other agencies in all its activities and called on members of MICEM to extend similar goodwill towards adequate information dissemination.

Earlier, the chairman of MICEM, who is also the Director of Defence Information, Colonel Mohammed Yerima, commended NEMA for the success of its evacuation of Nigerians from Egypt and Libya and for the prompt response to the distressed and displaced victims of natural disasters and communal clashes.