The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General LEO Irabor on Thursday, 30th March, 2023 expressed his confidence in the combat readiness and operational posture of OPHK especially in the ongoing Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Operations in the North East region of Nigeria.
The CDS who was at the NE Theatre on an operational visit was visibly impressed by the steady successes recorded by own troops in the Theatre. Additionally, the Defence Chief was briefed on the Operational activities of the Theatre by the Theatre Commander, Maj Gen IS Ali as well as intelligence brief by the Theatre Intelligence Coordinator, Brig Gen OM Azuikpe.
Speaking during the visit, Gen Irabor commended the efforts of the Theatre Commander and the entire officers and men of OPHK in restoring adequate peace and normalcy to the NE.
While assuring them of his continuous support and provision of requisite platforms needed for their operations, he charged them to remain resolute and committed in neutralizing the marauding terrorist elements of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province.
Before departure, the CDS and his team visited recuperating troops undergoing treatment at 7 Div Medical Services and Hospital where he encouraged and empathized with troops and assured them of a guaranteed and improved welfare scheme designed for them and their families.
Other highpoints of the visit include his interaction with Soldiers and Airmen of OPHK, presentation of souvenirs, signing of visitors book and group photograph.
The Executive Director, of ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, ERCA, Dr. Simeon Koffi has declared the review of its communication plan in Dakar Senegal open on Tuesday at the Fleur De Lys hotel.
While speaking, Dr. Koffi disclosed that the conference is a 3-day working group meeting (29-31 March, 2023) aimed at reviewing the ERCA’s communication plan drafted by a consultant.
Speaking further, Dr. Koffi pointed out that the review is only aimed at increasing the visibility of ERCA’s programs and activities, and as such critical work needs to be done on the draft by the communication experts which were harnessed from different countries.
Dr. Koffi, while appreciating the President of the ECOWAS Commission’s President Dr. Omar Allieu Touray, and the hierarchy of the Commission for the opportunity to serve in such a capacity assured the experts of a conducive environment to enable them to bring out the best in them for a successful ERCA’s communication activities review.
The communication experts which are Nehemie M’Boke, Executive Director of the Ivorian-based Communication Trader BTP, Technology Agro-business, Emmanuel Daudu, Chief Executive Officer of ZENITH Global Media Services & Consultancy, and ECOWAS Radio News Director Raymond Kolubah Zarbay in their sundry speeches assured the Executive Director of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, Dr. Simeon Koffi of an amazing outcome pointing out that by the time they are done with the document, ERCA would be the most visible agency of ECOWAS.
Earlier, giving a brief background of ERCA, the Executive Director, ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, ERCA, Dr. Simeon Koffi has this to say, “in 2008, ECOWAS adopted a Regional Competition Policy and in the same vein, the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) was established to implement the policy. The objective of this regional initiative was to support and promote open competition within the ECOWAS region, including the protection of consumers’ economic interests, through the implementation of Community Competition Rules.
“The awareness, information, and advocacy activities carried out during the second half of 2021 in eleven (11) Member States revealed a low level of knowledge of the regional competition mechanism and the ERCA among the majority of national stakeholders. Having started its activities in 2019, the relative operational infancy of the ERCA could partly explain the low awareness of its existence and activities. In order to strengthen dialogue and information sharing between all stakeholders, and to raise awareness of this mechanism for promoting competition within ECOWAS, the ERCA has decided to strengthen its communication activities.
“Thus, the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA), with the support of a regional expert designed a Communication Action Plan, which is intended to be proactive, for improving knowledge of the regional competition framework and visibility of its actions in the ECOWAS Region.
“This plan should include information and awareness-raising activities that would significantly improve knowledge of ECOWAS and ERCA’s competition policy among all private and public economic actors operating in the regional market as well as among consumers.
“In 2014, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government designated the Republic of Gambia as the headquarters of the ERCA. The official launch of the ERCA took place in May 2019, following a meeting of the Technical Committee of Trade and Competition Experts in Banjul, The Gambia.
“The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority was therefore established to implement the regional competition rules adopted by the ECOWAS Authority in 2008. These rules essentially promote, maintain and encourage competition while improving the economic efficiency of regional production, trade, and business.
“ECOWAS is a regional economic space of 15 West African Member states, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
“The ERCA is headed by an Executive Director, assisted by two Directors and the staff necessary for its proper functioning. It has the following divisions; Mergers and acquisitions, Analysis of competition and economic research, Law, investigation, compliance and enforcement, Communications and advocacy, Administration and human resources, and Finance.
“The ERCA’s Consultative Competition Committee (CCC) is a thirty (30) member committee composed of two (2) competition experts from each Member state appointed for a four (4) year term. The CCC acts as an advisory body to the ERCA in the area of competition and consumer protection. In particular, the CCC: Reviews and makes recommendations on all draft policies, guidelines, directives, instruments, rules, and regulations submitted to it by the ERCA; Makes recommendations requesting the ERCA to undertake studies or research relevant to the formulation of competition and consumer protection policies; and Evaluates reports on the status of implementation of competition and consumer protection principles and policies in the region submitted to it by the ERCA, intending to make the necessary recommendations. The CCC is assisted by a Bureau elected from among its members, consisting of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson, and three (3) Rapporteurs”, he added.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has charged troops of the Nigerian Army to always put in their best and contribute to the success of the force in all its campaigns. General Faruk gave the charge during a one day seminar organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation held at the Headquarters 2 Division Nigerian Army, Ibadan.
The COAS represented by the Commander Infantry Corps, Major General Christopher Musa challenged the troops to always ask themselves if they have contributed meaningfully to the success and progress of the force, if not they should check themselves and did the needful. He enjoined Senior Non Commissioned Officers in the various formations and units to constantly check, advice and imbibe in their subordinates the right ethos in conformity with the Nigerian Army customs, ethics and traditions.
In his remarks, the Chief of Transportation and Innovation Army, represented by the Director of Transformation Major General Adewole Adekeye while urging the participants to transmit what they have learnt during the seminar to their subordinates, also described a soldier as a warrior based on his training and doctrine. He opined that the seminar has served as a reminder to troops on the purpose of their recruitment/Commission into the Nigerian Army and in defending the territorial integrity of the country.
Delivering a lecture titled “Enhancing Warrior Ethos in the Nigerian Army for Improved Combat Effectiveness”, the Director of Transformation, Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation Major General Adewole Adekeye pointed out some constituents of warrior ethos and inherent gaps in the Nigerian Army methodology to include; doctrinal process, inadequacy of the Nigerian Army creed and lack of the Nigerian Army warrior ethos statement, training methodology and content, weak or lack of unit cohesion and leadership gaps amongst others. He however proffered the way forward amongst which are: warrior ethos content in all soldiers need to be constantly/consistently measured, NA should be concerned about how to monitor both the formative and normative precepts of the warriors code, recognising heroes and the continuous enhancement of the welfare of officers/soldiers.
In another paper titled “Warrior Ethos as a Critical Enabler for Combat Efficiency in the Nigerian Army”, Brigadier General JA Lawoyin(Rtd) called for the revamping of the Nigerian Army recruitment process and remodeling of its training both at the entry point and at unit levels. He suggested an emplacement of a credible reward system which must uphold merit and eschew mediocrity, have zero tolerance for misfits,eye service and bootlickers, as well as celebrating past and present heroes.
The seminar was attended by the former GOC 2 Division Nigerian Army Major General OF Azinta, officers and soldiers drawn from 2 Division Area of Responsibility.
In Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo, Johaness Makouvia, winner of the Best African Promoter of Peace and Social Cohesion 2022, is expected to share his experience on the same panel as Catherine Samba Panza, former Head of State of CAR, Fatouma Jallow Tambajang, former Vice President of Gambia, Mamadou Ismaela Konate, former Minister of Justice of Mali; Sidi Ali Ould Bagna, Vice President of the CNJ of Mali with as Moderator, Salah Eddine Gakou, News anchor, TV5 Monde, France.
This during the BILYF 2023 which will take place from 30 to 31 March under the high patronage of President Dénis SASSOU NGUESSO, President of the Republic of Congo Indeed, very committed for many years in the research and promotion of peace in the world through his International Organization NGO MJPP, the actions and commitment of the young Togolese, Johaness Makouvia, echo internationally and have earned several trophies and international titles.
This is precisely what justifies his choice to lead a panel alongside these committees of the world. Thus, during this meeting, the president of the MJPP will share his experience in promoting peace throughout the world with more than 500 young people from the continent. The objective of this Great meeting is to create the conditions for the emergence of a strong youth and associative fabric, which will draw the necessary resources for its development away from deviance and extremism to which a youth “abandoned” and victim of media aggression and ideological harm.
This meeting will be a great moment of exchange and sharing on topics such as the development of Africa, the International Ambassador of Peace.
The President Founder and PCA, of the NGO MJPP, Coordinator of Africa of the International Police Chaplain, Johaness MAKOUVIA, one of the Special Guests is expected to attend this Great International Meeting Of Youth For A Strong And United Africa from 30 to 31 March 2023, on the theme: Tackling the challenges of development of Africa, in the Republic of Congo Brazzaville.
Note that this Forum of Brazzaville, aims to bring together the youth of the continent around an inclusive platform to address more effectively the challenges of youth development in Africa. The participants will discuss strategies to improve the condition of young people, encourage youth involvement in governance, entrepreneurship, leadership especially female in politics.
The presence of all these young leaders at this Forum is to encourage and encourage the commitment of youth to action.
Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Professor Muhammad Bello Abubakar has called for a working relationship and active collaboration between his Agency and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the areas of training and cyber security.
He made the call in Abuja on Monday, March 27, 2023 while on a courtesy visit to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa at the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission.
Abubakar said his Agency was desirous of exploring possibilities of collaboration with the EFCC in the areas of cyber security, storage of data and personnel training.
“We give training, particularly Information Communication Technology, ICT, training, which I believe organizations like the EFCC would want to explore to train their personnel to keep them abreast of the current cyber security challenges”, he said.
He congratulated the EFCC on the successes and achievements recorded since the Chairman assumed the leadership of the Commission.
“I will start by congratulating the Chairman on the achievements and the successes he has recorded since his appointment as the Executive Chairman of the Commission.
“It was truly a very wise decision for the government to have a pioneer cadet of the Commission as the head of the EFCC”
Responding, Bawa said the EFCC could not have recorded the referenced successes without leveraging technology in its day to day activities, ranging from case file management system, human resources management to the creation of a corruption reporting application, Eagle Eye App, among others.
“There is no way we can do this kind of job here without leveraging ICT… One of the things that we have done is developing software that could in the long run make us paperless,” he said.
He called for what he described as the creation of an e-governance structure that would ensure that most ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, of government are integrated electronically.
The Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor CFR has expressed sadness over the sudden death of the former Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Donaldson Oladipo Diya (rtd). Gen Diya who was also the fifth Chief of Defence Staff died on Sunday, March 26, 2023.
According to the Acting Director Defence Information, General Tukur Gusau, Brigadier in a press release signed on Monday, 27 March 2023, General Irabor, on behalf of himself and members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria join millions of Nigerians and other well-wishers to mourn the former Chief General Staff. The CDS extends his deepest condolences to the family of the late General Diya and the good people of Ogun State.
Gen Irabor describes Late Gen Diya as a complete gentleman and a thoroughbred General and Elder Statesman who has made positive impacts on the Armed Forces of Nigeria he served meritoriously for 33 years and the Nation in general. He prayed to Almighty God to grant him eternal rest in His bosom.
Meanwhile, a condolence register is opened at Defence Headquarters for the general public to register their condolence over the sad exit of the Late General.
The new Lagos Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, ACE 11 Michael Wetkas, has urged officers in the Command to always demonstrate professionalism and diligence in the discharge of their duties.
Wetkas, who took over from ACE 11 Ahmed Ghali, who has been deployed to the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the EFCC, gave the charge on Monday, March 27, 2023 during his inaugural meeting with the staff of the Command.
While hammering on discipline, he said: “You are a human being and you have been asked to judge fellow human beings like you; therefore, you must be seen as angels and not mere mortals.
“It is a very difficult and demanding task that requires the fear of God and discipline.
“You cannot abandon case files and be doing other things; you must ensure that case files are treated without unnecessary delay.”
Wetkas, who also warned the staff against involvement in any act of corruption, further said: “How can you fight corruption and be corrupt yourself? If you are doing that, we will not condone it. We are here to tell people to do the right things, so you should not be found doing the same thing.”
The new Lagos Zonal Commander also sought the cooperation of the staff and assured them of his utmost support, saying, “You will take the lead, while I follow from behind. I will watch from behind and watch every one of you. There is no Commander without a troop, and you are the troop.”
Speaking further, he enjoined the staff to always use “the proper channels to express a complaint”” rather than engaging in rumours.
Until his new posting, Wetkas was Head of Operations, EFCC Headquarters.
In a similar development, the new Ag. Commander of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Commission, ACE II Rufa’u Halima Mustafa has vowed to raise the bar set by her predecessors in achieving the mandate of the Commission. She stated this on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 while taking over from ACE II, Kanu Idagu who has been redeployed to the Benin Zonal Command.
In the Spirit of the holy month of Ramadhan, KDF personnel stationed at Matha Adon led by Maj Ahmed Juma have distributed clean water to Ijara GSU Camp, NPS Station, and assorted foodstuff to the local mosque and residents of Ijara.
Following the prolonged shortage of rainfall, the region is currently experiencing a shortage of clean drinking water and food scarcity. The KDF intervention was applauded by the local administration and elders, who said that KDF troops had stood with them during the dry season. “I thank the Multi-agency troops for their support to the locals and ensuring the security of this area is guaranteed.” Stated Mr. Mohamed Ali, the area chief.
He further expressed gratitude to the KDF troops for the continuous interventions to assist families in the area.
While overseeing the food and water distribution exercise, Maj Juma thanked the locals for supporting the KDF team through information sharing as it is vital in defeating all forms of terror.
“Collaboration is critical in problem-solving, an approach that requires military, Police, and the community working together, proactively, to identify underlying problems that can be addressed to reduce insecurity at its roots.” Stated Maj Juma, who further called on well wishers to stretch their hands and alleviate human suffering, especially at this time when a lot of people go through tough economic times.
During the distribution, exercise beneficiaries received a variety of foodstuffs, including maize, wheat flour, rice, sugar, dried vegetables, milk, salt, eggs, and cooking oil. The locals thanked the KDF team for their generosity during the onset of the holy month of Ramadhan and promised to continue supporting the LAPPSET Project and other government-initiated programs that are meant to bring economic development in the region.
Present during the exercise were regional peace coordinator (Rtd chief) Muhammad Mahmoud, community leader Mohammed Dagane, and OCS IJARA, who thanked the troops for their warm gesture.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, CFR, on Monday 27th March 2023, met with Strategic Police Managers of the Nigeria Police Force comprising Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and other Tactical Commanders at the Goodluck Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to evaluate Police performance during the 2023 General elections, highlight lessons and strengths, and dissect complex dynamics for subsequent optimal performance.
According to CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, mnipr, mipra, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the IGP seized the opportunity to commend the Senior Police Officers and Commanders and other ranks for their resilience, sacrifices, and professionalism which ensured the containment of the pockets of election security breaches across the country during the electioneering process and enhanced the overall credibility of the elections in line with the police reform initiatives of President Muhammadu Buhari. He equally assured of effective collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expeditiously and transparently prosecute the 781 electoral offenders apprehended from a total of 489 major electoral infractions across the nation, as all Commands were tasked with submitting casefiles centrally at the Electoral Offences Desk, Office of the IGP, Force Headquarters, Abuja, for coordinated processing to INEC Legal Section.
The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, charged the Strategic Police Managers to readjust strategies and operations towards ensuring a stable post-election security order and refocus policing attention on routine law enforcement duties. He similarly, and firmly, admonished all political actors and their supporters to submit to democratic norms, peaceful means, and legal procedures in advancing their interests as the Police and other security agencies shall not tolerate the resort to incitement or any act designed to threaten our national security.
No fewer than 35 officers of the Marine Command and Seaports Operations of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have undergone diverse trainings organised by the United Kingdom Home Office International Operations, HOIO, in recent weeks. Of the number, five are currently undergoing a two-week Maritime Patrol and Tactical Coxswain training by the UKs Central Maritime Training Unit based in Southampton.
According to a press release signed by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, on Saturday 25th March 2023, disclosed that the trainings, according to the HOIO, are to enhance the border control capabilities of the NDLEA by providing specialised training, mentoring and advanced drug detection equipment. Key areas covered so far include: boat handling, weapons handling, riverine operations, boarding and vessel search, among many others. Some of the trainings have been facilitated by the British Military, Nigerian Navy and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) under the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP).
The ongoing two-week training of five NDLEA marine officers including their first female coxswain will enable them to plan maritime deployments, pursue, stop and board vessels on the high seas.
While thanking the UK government for its continued support and commitment in helping the NDLEA to enhance its capacity and capabilities to tackle drug trafficking, Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged the officers to remain steadfast in their professional calling and ensure they bring to bear the essence of the training on their formations and colleagues. He assured them that he will continue to prioritise training and retraining for all officers, men and women of the Agency.
Kris Hawksfield, the Home Office International Operations Regional Manager for West Africa in his remark during his visit to the team undergoing training in Southampton stated that HOIO was immensely proud and honoured to work with and support the work of NDLEA.
He added that the UK remains committed to strengthening the mutually beneficial work of the Agency to interdict, seize and destroy illicit substances and drugs which would otherwise harm Nigeria and the UK.
Africa Security Investigation News 