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By Emmanuel Daudu

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is committed to enhancing its Safety Management Systems across all its units with special focus on operational and engineering units.

According to Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force in a press release on 16 November 2023,
Chief of The Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar disclosed this while declaring open the year 2023 NAF Safety Review Board (SRB) meeting earlier today, 16 November 2023, at NAF Headquarters Abuja. Air Marshal Abubakar went on to note that safety management in the NAF is a major priority and core function in view of the technical and complex nature of assigned tasks and roles of the Service. According to him, “The NAF is fully committed to developing, implementing and reviewing policies to ensure that NAF operations and other activities are conducted in a safe environment.” He also stated that his resolve to, ‘Transform the NAF into an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the airpower demands of national security in all operational environment’ can best be achieved with safety as the bedrock.

Speaking further, the CAS reiterated his commitment to ensuring continuous improvement in safety standards through deliberate programmes aimed at enhancing flight safety as well as occupational and domestic safety in the NAF. He equally used the opportunity to appreciate the commitment of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration towards equipping the NAF with modern platforms in furtherance of efforts against terrorism, insurgency and other forms of criminality in various parts of the country. He then went on to state that some of the platforms acquired by the Federal Government have arrived the country and will soon boost the NAF’s combat capabilities as well as help in increasing its operational tempo hence the need for safety vigilance. According to him, “We are aware that increase in operational tempo will lead to increase in hazards associated with our operations in line with ICAO’s postulation that hazards are the by-products of production or operational activities.” He then called for a proactive management of safety in all units and commands and specifically directed operational units where newly acquire NAF aircraft would be domiciled to commence the process of aggressively identifying hazards associated with the arrival and operations of the new platforms and finding ways to manage the risks involved. The CAS, who is also the Chairman of the NAF Safety Review Board further emphasized the need for field Commanders to ensure that the safety trainings translate to the development of positive safety culture, improvement in safety practices as well as creation of awareness that safety is the responsibility of all personnel. “I expect us to redouble our commitment in this regard to ensure that as an organisation and as individuals, every NAF Unit and personnel have the responsibility to ensure that safety practices and standards are maintained in all activities,” he noted.

Earlier, the NAF Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Micheal Onyebashi noted that the SRB is designed to discuss and review issued related to safety policies and regulations as well as allocate resources for enhanced safety standards in the NAF. He also revealed that the Board is expected to provide appropriate directives and guidelines that would ensure the entrenchment of a positive safety culture in the NAF. With the receipt of new platforms into the inventory of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Onyebashi emphasized the need for enhanced safety standards in all operational units.

Highlights of the meeting were a paper presentation on Safety Management System and Human Factors by Air Vice Marshal Gabriel Odesola (Rtd), review of NAF Safety Outlook and briefs by various Air Officers Commanding, amongst others.

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni has said that the Ministry of Defence is willing and ready to deepen Defence cooperation with Bulgaria.

According to Henshaw Ogubike, mnipr
Director (Press & Public Relations), in a press release he signed on Thursday, Badaru disclosed this when he received the Ambassador of Bulgaria to Nigeria, Yanko Yordanov in Ship House, Abuja on Tuesday, 14th November 2023.

He said that considering the level of Bulgarian Defence Industry, the Ministry of Defence will cooperate with Bulgaria in areas of information and intelligence sharing, equipment production as well as military training.

Speaking on Military equipment, the Minister stated that Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) of Nigeria will partner with Bulgaria for effective technology transfer that will enable the Industry meet with international standard.

Accordingly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Bulgaria will be signed  to facilitate effective military cooperation between the two countries.

On the forth coming Military Exhibition slated for June 2024, the Minister promised to send a delegation from the Ministry to attend the exhibition. “Our attendance will provide us opportunity to learn how Bulgarian Government produce their Military hardware.

Yanko Yordanov, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria said Bulgaria and Nigeria have shared experiences and existing mutual military relationship that exceeded decades.

In furtherance to  strengthening the bilateral relations, the Ambassador said that the Military Exhibition would afford Nigeria the opportunity to gain more knowledge about Bulgarian Military equipment production.

….*Say Edu’s Focus On the National Assignment Unmatched*

Benue State Governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for fulfilling some of the promises made to the people of the state during his electioneering campaign.

Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair (ANIPR),
Special Adviser on Media & Publicity to Honourable Minister,
MHAPA, said, the governor spoke during a state dinner organized in honour of the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr Betta Edu and her team at the Banquet Hall, Government House Makurdi

The Minister was in Benue to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the Renewed Hope Shelter for poor and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as the distribution of food and non-food items to the IDPs in eight local government areas of the state.

According to Father Alia, President Tinubu has matched words with action by committing to ameliorating the suffering of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in the state, by addressing humanitarian challenges facing them.

He said the people of Benue state have started benefiting from the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, saying Benue people will never forget that the President made a promise and fulfilled the promise on record time.

The governor commended President Tinubu for appointing Dr Edu as Minister in charge of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, describing her as a perfect match for the job.

“Honourable Minister, please convey my appreciation on behalf of the government and people of Benue state to Mr President for fulfilling the Promise made to provide permanent homes for IDPs in Benue State and provide for their livelihood.

“We are happy as a people, and we appreciate Mr. President for this gesture. I also thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing a quintessentially young and vibrant Minister to take charge of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, she’s doing extremely well and we commend her and her team for a good job.

On his part, the first Class Traditional Ruler in Benue State, His Royal Highness, Chief Vincent  Awure,Tor Markudi III, was full of effusive praises for  President Tinubu for giving the people of the state a new lease of life.

The Monarch who spoke on behalf of Benue royal fathers said that before the coming of President Tinubu, several communities in the state, including Tatyo and Kyo in Markudi North local government area never knew a day would come when life would be brought back to the communities devastated by herders and bandits attacks.

Recounting the indignities his people have passed through, Tor Markudi lamented that they have lost many lives and livelihoods, a development that rendered over millions of households homeless, hence their present status as  IDPs.

The Monarch stressed that with life now brought back to the communities by the federal and Benue state governments, it is phenomenal, and they were willing to donate more land for developmental projects.

He, however, pleaded with the government for more security around the riverine communities.

“On behalf of my kingdom, we appreciate President Tinubu for this gesture and also thank the Honourable Minister, my daughter,  Dr Betta Edu, for her vision to address humanitarian challenges in  Nigeria

“I have been watching her and her passion for humanitarian response from a distance; she is simply unmatched”

Earlier, Dr. Edu commended Governor Alia,the traditional rulers and the people of Benue, for the warm reception and hospitality given to her and her team during her two-day working visit to the state.

The Minister assured that her Ministry will collaborate with the state government to provide livelihood for those who have lost their means of survival. While providing transit learning areas for children through the alternate school program

“We want to be able to provide durable solutions to those who have already been affected by this humanitarian crises.

“Beyond this, we have already picked some markets within Benue state where we will be carrying out the markets money scheme. This scheme is a soft loan, a zero-interest loan to market women.

“The market women will be registered right there in the markets and the loans provided for them there to support their businesses. We believe it will help the local economy to thrive.

“There are several other government interventions including the end hunger program, the Code Nigeria program, the YESSO 2.0 program for young people, several interventions that we would be bringing to Benue State.

“The essence is to see that we can first pull those who are in poverty out of poverty and prevent those who are at the borderline, just at the edge of it from falling into poverty.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced stakeholders consultation to develop National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategic Action Plan to strengthen efforts towards building disaster resilience in Nigeria.

Director General NEMA Mustapha Habib Ahmed who disclosed this in Abuja at the launch of the stakeholders consultative workshop said the risk reduction action plan will also aid implementation of the Sendai Framework 2015-2030 in Nigeria.

He said the “need for the development of this Plan arises from the outcome of the assessment conducted by Overseas Development Institute on behalf of the United Nations Development Program on the Sahel Resilience Program. The assessment was aimed at ascertaining the status of Disaster Risk Reduction in the evaluation of the implementation of Sendai Framework 2015-2030 in the seven West African Sahel countries of Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.

“Findings in the assessment report, indicate that in furtherance to the plans and frameworks so far produced by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), it is necessary to develop comprehensive document for Disaster Risk Management for Nigeria.

“This plan is also very critical in enabling Nigeria to align with and drive the targets of the Sendai Framework and the African Program of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction. Furthermore, the recent escalation and growing frequency and severity of disasters in form of banditry, boat mishaps, building collapse, urban and market fires coupled with hydro-meteorological hazards powered by climate change and climate variability have ignited the compelling desire to develop the Nigeria Disaster Risk Management Plan.”

In furtherance to the imperative for the plan, he said NEMA decided to partner the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through its the Sahel Resilience Project; titled “Strengthening Capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation for Resilience in the Sahel Region: Fostering Risk-informed Solutions for Sustainable Development’’.

He acknowledged the multi-partnership context of Sahel Resilience Project implementation led by the UNDP in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), ECOWAS, UN Women, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, AGHRYMET and other regional organizations as he expressed the appreciation of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to these International Organizations and the Government of Sweden that sponsored the project.

“The project will no doubt strengthen the resilience of Nigeria and the entire Sahel Region of West Africa”, he noted.

Speaking further, he said “today’s event becomes even more pertinent in consideration of the high level of vulnerability and fragility of the countries covered by the Sahel Resilience Project within Africa South of the Sahara. It is on record that the high level vulnerability of this countries is driven by fragile economy, environmental degradation, extreme weather conditions, low level of income and insecurity posed by terrorism and political volatility. There is no doubt that working together with multiple development actors under the Sahel Resilience Project will help the countries of the region to collectively improve their resilience in consideration of trans-boundary nature of disaster events. For us in Nigeria, the Sahel Resilience Project is expected to support the renewed hope agenda of the Federal Government especially in the areas of poverty eradication, food security and inclusivity.”

The DG NEMA also spoke about the ongoing evaluation of 2023 flood season by NEMA and efforts to address recurring boat mishap, building collapse, urban and market fires which have become dominant in Nigeria’s disaster risk profile.

He emphasized that management of disaster risks in contemporary time must be anchored on Preparedness, Mitigation, Risk Reduction and Adaptation. He added that “this can only be realized with the full deployment of a strategic action plan that clearly assigns roles and responsibilities to implementing Federal Government MDAs and other relevant stakeholders.”

He then, urged the stakeholders give their best as “we have been working together over the years, let us sustain the momentum to develop a comprehensive document for disaster risk management in Nigeria, that will go beyond 2030, the Sendai Framework regime.

In her remarks, the UNDP Sahel Resilience Project manager for Nigeria Dr Reshmi Theckethil said the UNDP is working with NEMA to develop the disaster risk reduction strategy document that aligns with the African Union Programme of Action and regional efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and response capabilities in West Africa and the Sahel region.

The Director General Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency Engr Clement Onyeaso Eze who was also at the opening of the workshop commended NEMA for living up to its coordination roles of disaster management in Nigeria.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from various stakeholders organizations that include NASRDA, Nigerian military, FRSC, FCT Emergency Management Agency, UN System, NIHSA, National Bureau of Statistics, National Orientation Agency, NIMET and other MDAs.

15th November 2024

In its effort to clear bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements from Kaduna forests, troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army acting on credible intelligence laid ambush on bandits arms and ammunition supplier at Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State along road Kwant – Kabai – Kubusu on 14 November 2023.

During the operation and the fire fight that ensued when contact was made, one bandit was neutralized while others fled in disarray with gun shot wounds due to troops overwhelming fire power. One AK 47 rifle, one magazine, veterinary medicine and clothing where recovered.

The General Officer Commanding 1 Division NA and Force Commander operation WHIRL PUNCH, Major General Valentine Okoro has again commended the troops for their resilience and implored the locals to continue availing the NA and other security agencies with timely and credible intelligence.

MUSA YAHAYA
Lieutenant Colonel
Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 1 Division Nigerian Army
15 November 2023

The Nigerian Army today 13 November 2023 flagged off the second Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSM) Convention at El’edua Multipurpose Hall Ibadan.

In his opening remarks the Chief of Administration (Army) Major General Jimmy Akpor welcomed the participants and urged them to pay close attention to well packaged lectures and also to ensure that takeaways in the convention is internalized in their various units.

Also, in declaring the Convention open, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja represented by the Commander Infantry Corps, Major General Olufemi Oluyede stated that the theme of the Convention captures one of the crucial elements of the Chief of Army Staff’s Command philosophy which is sound administration.

He further stated that one of the major preoccupations of the Chief of Army Staff is to improve operational effectiveness and efficiency of the Nigerian Army through effective motivation of troops. He reminded the Regimental Sergeant Majors of their roles as the link between the officers and the soldiers as well as in their sustaining discipline and regimentation in NA units, formations and establishments.

The First Lecture delivered by Brigadier General Adebayo Babalola on ‘Sound Administration as a Catalyst for Improved Operational Effectiveness of the Nigerian Army: The Role of the Regimental Sergeant Major’s’ adviced RSM’s must remain open minded and ensure that he or she uses emotional intelligence to ensure that greater attention to the feelings of subordinates are ensured.

The convention which has its theme as ” Leveraging Sound Administration for a Highly Motivated Force and Operational Efficiency in the Nigerian Army” is geared towards creating an environment for RSMs to solve emerging security challenges in the country.

Also in attendance were includes serving and retired Senior Officers, Members of Sister Security Agencies and RSMs from all the formations and units in the Nigerian Army.

The highlights of the event was the presentation of souvenir to the Representative of the Chief of Army Staff by the Chief of Administration and a group photograph to climax the event.