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We Must Rise And Stand Firm Against Those Who Threaten The Sovereign Integrity Of The Nigerian State -Arase

By Emmanuel Daudu

As Nigeria continues to battle organized crimes and other forms of criminalty, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, retired Inspector General of Police and Chairman of the Police Service Commission has called for renewed vigor and inclusiveness in the fight so as to achieve the required results.

Ikechukwu Ani
Head, Press and Public Relations, on Sunday, 28th October 2023 disclosed that
Dr. Arase noted that as a people we must rise and stand firm against those who threaten “the sovereign integrity of the Nigerian State” as according to him no security Agency can deliver on its mandate without the support of the people.

He spoke at the International Symposium on countering
organized crimes in Africa held in Abuja.

Dr. Arase who was represented by Bar. Brighten Saagwe, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the Commission declared that “our will, therefore must be strong because our faith lies in the indivisibility of Nigeria”

Dr. Arase said for the Security Agencies ” it has become not only a statutory mandate but a moral imperative to re-enact our old fighting force, re-strategise and redesign our tactics and promptly arrest and contain the growing insecurity challenge in our country”.

He said that on no account should “we shy away from whatever becomes necessary within the ambit of the law to provide the needed security for the citizens. He noted that terrorism or crime has no conscience and spares no one, whether rich, poor, educated or uneducated and therefore ” no matter what it takes, let us stand together and win this war against organized crime and terrorism “.

The PSC Chairman appealed that the supreme task for our generation ” is to give hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak and protection to the defenceless”.

He said organized crimes, no doubt, have negative effects on economic development of nation’s and the need to fight same need not to be over-emphasized “.

“Mankind must put an end to organised crime or organized crime will put an end to mankind” and on the ” keyboard of life, let us as a nation always keep a finger on the escape key to survive” he said.

He advised that in this war against organized crime, there should be more synergy between security agencies as well as prompt criminal intelligence-sharing. He also suggested that Government should adopt a mix of both kinetic and non-kinetic approach for effective and result oriented security management.

Dr. Arase promised that the Police Service Commission under his watch shall collaborate with other agencies of Government to fight organized crime in Nigeria.

The symposium with theme: Drug Crimes, Terrorism, Arms Trafficking, Marine Crimes, Environmental crime and auto theft was put together by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch and other partners.

Defence Ministry Develops Strategic Plan And Inaugurates Team To Drive FCSSIP 25

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Ministry of Defence has inaugurated Strategic Planning Team to drive the full realization of the digitalization of the Service and institutionalization of the Federal Civil Service Strategic Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP 25).

According to Henshaw Ogubike mnipr
Director (Press & Public Relations) in a press release he signed today, disclosed that while
Inaugurating the nine members committee drawn from the core departments of the Ministry on Thursday, 26th October 2023 at a retreat organized by the Ministry on the development of the Ministry of Defence Strategic Plan in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana mni said that Head of Service (HoS) Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has directed the Ministry to develope its Strategic Plan that will help in achieving the Ministry’s peculiar mandate.

Accordingly, the Strategic Plan and Ministerial objective would further be cascaded from departments to individual staff members to draw job description, strategic objectives, key performance indicators, key result areas as well as performances contract and appraisal and review for optimal performance.

Dr. Kana who was represented by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Suzan Ochida urged participants to contribute their best in developing the Strategic Plan for the Ministry.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry Mr Henshaw Ogubike mnipr, she said: “This retreat is therefore intended as a variable platform to harness contributions,trends, experiences, development that will culminate in the production of a policy document in line with world best practices that will stand the best of time in alliance with the vision, mission and mandate of Ministry of Defence.

In his opening remarks, the Director of Planning Research and Statistics, Olusa Dada, called on the participants to come out with sound discussions, contributions, innovative ideas that would galvanize the actualization of the Ministry Mandate in line with FCSSIP 25.

According to the Director, the Strategic Plan is a strategic innovation of the OHCSF aimed at breaking away from the old practices to a new paradigm of productive world- class Civil Service for accelerated national development.

The highlight of the retreat was goodwill messages given by various stakeholders and paper presentations geared towards a robust Strategic Plan for the Ministry.

In his goodwill message, the Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency called on holistic appraisal of the entire system pointing out that a sound strategic plan would be a good driver in achieving the mandate of the Ministry of Defence in the provision of security.

Represented by Real Admiral Julius Nwagu, he commended the Ministry saying that the retreat was timely as planning is germane to national development.

Also, the representative of OHCSF, Professor Ajayi Adeyemi, commended the Ministry for the inauguration and retreat.

The retreat, he said was timely as there is a paradigm shift to doing government business by productive world-class Civil Service.

He said: “The Defence sector strategic plan will effectively drive all the six Pillars of FCSSIP 25.

The retreat was well attended by Management and other Staff of the Ministry.

In one week troops neutralize 73 terrorists, arrests 182

By Emmanuel Daudu

Major General Edward Buba, Director Defence Media Operations has disclosed that the troops’ operations of the last one week, resulted in 73 neutralized terrorists with 182 of them arrested. “Troops also arrested 14 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 68 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied oil theft of the estimated sum of One billion ,two Hundred and Twelve Million Forty Six Thousand One Hundred and Forty Naira (N1, 212,046,140.00) only.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 119 assorted weapons and 1,537 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: one GPMG, 3 PKT guns, 39 AK47 rifles, 5 locally fabricated rifles, one locally made double barrel gun, one barreta pistols, 4 locally made pistols, 5 RPG bombs, 5 pu,p action gus, one short gun, one hand grenade, 2 dane guns, one AK47 rifle loaded with 14 rounds of 7.62mm special, one locally made pistol loaded with live cartridges.

He made known this known in a Press Release On Ongoing Military Operations By The Armed Forces Of Nigeria As At 26 October 2023.

According to him,
One of the top priorities of the armed forces is to secure the country and protect citizens from harm caused by these terrorist and extremist across the country. Accordingly, the military is actively working to achieve this mandate.

“It is worthy of mention that the armed forces is in the lead in the ongoing country insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in the country. Significantly, these operations have killed or captured several terrorist, extremist leaders, their facilitators, key associates and numerous of their foot soldiers.

“Relatedly, the ongoing surgical operations recently embarked upon have thrown these evil elements into a state of complete disarray due to the precision of the operations. The terrorist and extremist alike are now perplexed and suffocated with little or no hiding place. It is now a question of sooner than later, before it would be too late for most of them.

“During the week and in collaboration with our foreign partners. The military conducted a surgical operation targeted at the residence of an ISWAP terrorist commander in Niger State. Several arrest and discoveries were made as a result of the operation. However, being an ongoing operation not much can be revealed at this stage. Nevertheless, one thing is certain, the operation is just one of several others to flush out the terrorist. The message is clear to all. You are either on the side of Nigerians and the armed forces, or against us in the fight against terrorist and extremist.

“Others are: 586 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, a bag containing 287 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 389 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 141 rounds of 7.62mm special (belted) ammo, 12 rounds of 9mm ammo, 113 rounds of live cartridges, 25 empty magazine, 13 vehicles, 3 motorcycles, 10 mobile phones, 2 HH radio, one boafeng radio and the sum of N3,308,700.00 amongst other items.

“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 15 dugout pits, 45 boats, 87 storage tanks, 128 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, 4 outboard engine and 63 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 962,500 litres of stolen crude oil, 35,420 litres of illegally refined AGO, 38,450 litres of DPK and 45,000 litres of PMS.

“The ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations have prevented these evil elements from accomplishing their strategic objectives. The military will continue to degrade their ability to carry out small scale attacks which are intended to create panic in localities”, he added.

FG caution public on fake portal of N-Power Renewed Hope Job Creation

By Emmanuel Daudu

The attention of the National Programme Manager of N-Power, Renewed Hope Job Creation, Dr Akindele Egbuwalo has been drawn to the news-making round on social media that Renewed Hope Job Creation has opened a portal for registration of new beneficiaries.

According to a statement signed by
Jamaluddeen Kabir, National Communications Manager, NSIPA, in a press release on Thursday, said, the public is urged to strongly disregard such information as it does not originate from the N-Power, Renewed Hope Job Creation office.

The N-Power, Renewed Hope Job Creation Management unequivocally disavows this misleading news, which seems designed to deceive the public.

The Renewed Hope Job Creation will properly inform the public through the official portal of the scheme when enrollment of new beneficiaries will commenc

Dr. Raymond Edoh Congratulates Adewale Adeniyi over CG Customs appointment

By Emmanuel Daudu

The United Nations Habitat Ambassador to Nigeria and Life member, International Chartered World Learned Society, ICWLS, has congratulated the newly appointment Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi over his appointment.

The congratulatory letter to Adewale Adeniyi he signed and made available to the media on Sunday by his media aide, Emmanuel Daudu disclosed that the United Nations Habitat Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Raymond Edoh have described the Tinubu led administrative decision to have appointed Adewale Adeniyi as the CG Nigeria Customs Service is in line with the choice of the Nigerian Youth.

While expressing optimism on the capacity of the new CG Customs, Raymond Edoh assured Nigerians of overwhelming outcomes within the scope of his incumbent in a short period of time
“I am writing to express my heartfelt congratulations on your recent appointment as the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service . This is a well-deserved achievement that reflects your dedication, competence, and commitment to public service. Your new role carries immense responsibility, and I have no doubt that you will excel in serving our community, upholding the values of transparency, integrity, and progress.

“Your appointment comes at a critical time, as our society faces numerous challenges that require strong leadership and innovative solutions. I have full confidence that your expertise and vision will contribute significantly to the betterment of our country and its citizens. With your experience and qualifications, I believe you will make a positive impact on the lives of many and help shape a brighter future for our nation.

“As the CG Customs, you have been entrusted with the task of making important decisions that will shape policies, improve governance, and address the needs of our diverse population. I am confident that you will approach these responsibilities with the utmost dedication and wisdom, always putting the welfare of the people at the forefront.

“Your appointment also represents an opportunity for positive change. I encourage you to foster an open dialogue with the public, actively engage with various stakeholders especially the youths and embrace collaboration to ensure that the decisions you make are inclusive, fair, and representative of the collective voice of our society.

‘You have always demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, a deep understanding of the issues at hand, and a genuine desire to make a difference. These attributes will undoubtedly serve you well in your new role. I am excited to witness the positive impact you will have on our community and the progress we will achieve under your guidance.

“Once again, congratulations on your appointment as the CG Customs. Your dedication to public service is commendable, and I wish you every success in this significant endeavor. May your tenure be marked by accomplishments, growth, and the fulfillment of our nation’s aspirations”, the letter reads.

Earlier, he charged Nigerians especially the youths to be supportive to the new CG Customs pointing out that the Renewed Hope Agenda administration under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a new light which services as a light at the end of the tunnel that should be embraced in unity, love and passion for nationhood.

Police Recruitment: Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno Leads, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia, Imo Trails

By Emmanuel Daudu

Kaduna State is currently leading in the number of applications already received as at day 9 in the ongoing recruitment exercise for General Duty Constables into the Nigeria Police Force. 20,259 Kaduna State youths have already completed the online applications to lead the table while Anambra State leads from behind with only 541 applications.
According to a press statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani
Head, Press and Public Relations, Wednesday, October 25th 2023, disclosed that following Kaduna state at the top are Adamawa State with 18,933 applications ; Borno state with 18,305; Bauchi state, 16,554; Katsina state, 16,232 and Kano state, 15,888.

Next to Anambra State from the rear are; Ebonyi, 737; Abia, 966 and Imo 999. Bayelsa, has 1020; Enugu, 1036; Lagos, 1259; Delta, 1338 and Edo 1526.

Meanwhile 242, 391 males have already completed their applications while only 35,405 females have registered their presence.

The Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, retired Inspector General of Police has expressed concern in the continued disinterest of South East youths in pursuing a career in the Nigeria Police Force.

Dr. Arase noted that the South East, currently a hot bed for non state actors rebellion in the country should have been in the forefront to join the Nigeria Police Force and bring indigenous solution to the menace.

He called on the leadership of the zone to find a way of convincing its youths to embrace the opportunity of the ongoing recruitment has provided.

The PSC Chairman said it will be difficult for any body to listen to cries of marginalisation from leaders of the zone if they choose to remain indifferent to Government’s generous decision to offer employments to Nigerian youths into the Police Force.

He said they should maximise the remaining five weeks open for their youths to get into the train.

YESSO Seek Partnership with Presidential Amnesty Programme on Vocational Training and skill acquisition

By Emmanuel Daudu

Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations (YESSO) has explored areas of strategic partnership with the Presidential Amnesty Programme, particularly in the areas of vocational training and skills acquisition for youths of Niger Delta region.

According to Jamaluddeen Kabir,
National Communications Manager,
NSIPA, in a press release signed on 25/10/2023,
the National Programmes Manager of YESSO, Richard Romanus stated this when he led a delegation to visit the
Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, retired Major General Barry Ndiomu,Mni At his office in Abuja.

The visit according to the YESSO Programmes Manager was informed by the need to partner with relevant institutions to drive the YESSO 2.0 core mandate which is focused on youth Empowerment.

He hinted that YESSO 2.0 proposed to build vocational and skills acquisition hubs across the six geo political zones, hence the collaboration with the Presidential Amnesty Programme is important because of the peculiarities of the region to ensure the programme help in reducing tension caused by youth unemployment.

According to him, this is in line with the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu’s effort in supporting the President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda of empowering young people across the country and the fight against poverty in the Country.

Responding the Amnesty boss, retired Major General Barry Ndiomu, Mni congratulated Mr. Richard Romanus on his new appointment and describe YESSO programme as strategic partners in youth Empowerment.

Major General Ndiomu said henceforth they have to be deliberate efforts to fix the Niger Delta considering the importance of the region in the economy of Nigeria.

He said the Presidential Amnesty programme has six vocational training centres at different stages of completion across the Niger Delta region. According to him, serious attention would be given to oil and gas skills, agriculture, energy related vocational skills, maritime skills and many others.

While acknowledging the need for the partnership, Major General Ndiumu said that skill acquisition and job creation were necessary for the development of the region and would go a long way to ease unemployment-related tension.

FG WORKING ON SAFE RESETTLEMENT OF IDPs, OTHERS

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Minister of State for Defence, His Excellency, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle MON, has assured the Representative of the United Nations that the Federal Government is working out modalities to resettle returnees and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria to a safe and better living condition.

The Minister gave this assurance when the Representative of United Nations Mines Action Services paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday, 24th October 2023 in Ship House Abuja.

According to Henshaw Ogubike mnipr
Director (Press & Public Relations), Matawalle said that Federal Government would partner with UNMAS in working out a workable solution in reintegrating IDPs and farmers into society for better life. “We need to redesign action plan for the IDP returnees and farmers to go back to their farms,” he said.

According to him there was the need for Federal Government to provide essential technical support for the establishment of a national mine action centre in the North East and extend it to North West where incidence of insurgency has increased. “Such center will afford the IDPs the opportunity to return to their Communities and have access to quality education.”

The representative of the United Nations Mines Action Services to Nigeria, Edwin Faigmane, said that the UNMAS is to collaborate with the Nigerian Army to secure success for Mines Action Services Operations in Nigeria.

Furthermore, he stated that there was need to conduct Technical Surveys to identify hazardous areas that need to be safe before any other activities could take place.

Edwin commended the Minister for the audience and requested that they count on Government’s support in identifying areas of collaboration.

FG to launch road map agenda for Marine & Blue Economy Sector

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Federal Government has indicated that plans are in motion to launch a road map for the Marine and Blue Economy Sector, acknowledging that charting a policy agenda for the sector is critical to transforming the sector into the best in class, regionally and internationally.

According to Report by Gift Osima ( Chief Information Officer) & Desmond Adyo (Senior Information Officer, Signed by
Olujimi Oyetomi
D (Press & Public Relations), the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stated this as a panel discussant at the 29th session of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), with the main theme: “Pathways to Sustainable Economic Transformation and Inclusion” acknowledged the timeliness of the summit noting and as well assuring that outcome of innovative ideas, deliberations and proffered suggestions will be considered with focus on developing Nigeria into a hub of maritime trade and ancillary services in Africa.

“Tonight’s session is the latest in our consultation with industry stakeholders, the maritime and the Blue Economy sector. We understand the critical role the maritime sector plays in enabling business in an import dependant economy, such as ours, it is imperative that we move more quickly towards improving the navigability of our waters, engage the draught of our ports, achieve 24 hours cargo clearance, and ensure adequate connectivity of our ports to hinterlands with efficient road and rail networks”, Oyetola pointed out.

“Challenges of the maritime sector are well known and documented, slow pace of legislative reforms and weak sector governance to infrastructure deficits, inefficient Port management, poor road network, multimodal facilities, the dominance of foreign shipping companies, non – competitiveness of our ports compared to our West African neighbours, port inefficiency and congestion and other malpractises.”

Projecting the Ministry’s directive in the next four years, the Minister stated that it is imperative that the Ministry having identified these inhibitors, works towards improving the navigability of our waters, engage the draught of our ports, achieve 24 hours cargo clearance, and ensure adequate connectivity of our ports to hinterlands with efficient road and rail network creation.We seek t Introduce new business models that can ultimately develop our capabilities and ensure the continual dredging of our inland waterways.

Speaking further, the Marine and Blue Economy Minister disclosed his resolve to get presidential endorsement of the use of scanners in port operations in the country. According to him, all over the world, seaports have gone digital, and digitalization is mainly used to drive efficiency and remove human contacts that are usually very slow and breed corruption.

“For Nigerian ports to take up it’s natural position as a maritime hub for countries in West and Central Africa, there must be an enforcement of strict digitalization of all Port operations in the country and an immediate rehabilitation of the Nigerian ports to bring about an upgrade of ports facilities and improvement to make room for our ports to become revolutionised and comparable with others in the adviced maritime nations”, Oyetola said.

In addition, he assured of plans to facilitate the evolution of private sector led maritime development zones for the core location of ancillary services,: such services, which he said are top on the government’s agenda.

“We are walking to streamline the number of government agencies operating at the ports, through the full implementation of the national single window initiative,” he added.

COAS COMMISSIONS OFFICERS QUARTERS, OBSTACLE CROSSING COURSE AT 37 NDA DEMO BATTALION

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TA Lagbaja, has commissioned the Phase II of the 37 Nigerian Defence Academy Demonstration Battalion Officers Quarters, as well as the Obstacle Crossing Course of the Battalion.

The newly commissioned Officers Quarters consist of four blocks of five two bedroom flats for use of the Officers of the Batallion.

Lt Gen Lagbaja who recalled during the commissioning ceremony that he was also the Special Guest of Honour during the commissioning of the Phase I of the Battalion’s Officers Quarters earlier in the year, urged the officers of 37 NDA Demo Battalion to put to good use the facility and adequately maintain it. He went further to underscore the importance of good accommodation in boosting the morale of officers and men in any battalion.

In another vein, the COAS tasked the officers and men of 37 NDA Demo Battalion to always keep fit and stay battle ready by taking advantage of the newly commissioned Obstacle Crossing Course. He equally urged them to be proactive in the defence of the immediate perimeters of the Nigerian Defence Academy and its environs.

Highlights of the event include a demonstration of Obstacle Crossing by the men of the 37 NDA Demo Battalion, Signing of the Visitors’ Book by the COAS, presentation of souvenir to the COAS by the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy, Major General JO Ochai, a novelty Crossing of the Obstacle Course by Corps Members serving in NDA, and a group photograph.

Dignitaries present during the event include Principal Staff Officers from the Army Headquarters, the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy, Major General JO Ochai , Principal Staff Officers of the Academy among others.