Africa Security Investigation News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

By Emmanuel Daudu

Just barely a week into the six weeks duration for applications for recruitment into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force, 288, 266 Nigerian youths have already completed their online applications to be considered for recruitment.

According to Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations on Tuesday, October 24th 2023, in a press release said, As at 7pm on Monday, October 23rd 2023, the Recruitment portal http://www.apply.police recruitment.gov.ng had received 288, 266 applications.

The portal which opened on Sunday, 15th October 2023 will be closed on the 26th of November 2023 to satisfy the Federal Character Commission requirement of six weeks duration for eligible candidates to apply for any Government Agency vacancies.

Out of the 288,266 applications already received, 217,105 applications met the basic requirements for further consideration in the subsequent stages of the recruitment process.

A total number of 217,300 Nigerian youths have so far applied for the General Duty posts while 70,676 applied for specialists posts. 69,426  applications have so far been rejected for its inability to meet the requirements for further consideration out of which 46,868 were rejected for over age.

51,213 General duty applications were rejected while 18,213 Specialists applications were also rejected.

The online application  requirements include; i Applicants shall be of Nigerian origin and birth and must possess the National Identification Number, NIN; ii.Applicants must possess a minimum of 5 credits in not more than 2 sittings in WAEC/NECO or its equivalent  with credit passes in English  and Mathematics; iii. Applicants must be aged between 18 -25 years; ….vii. Applicants must have a valid email address  and phone number and SSCE statements of results or certificates  relating to examinations  taken before 2015 will not be accepted.

The application is without any monetary implications whatsoever and applicants are advised to take note.

Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, retired Inspector General of Police commended the Nigerian youths for showing greater interest in pursuing a career in the Nigeria Police Force and assured that the Commission will ensure that the ongoing recruitment exercise is transparent and merit driven.

He called on the youths to continue to visit the recruitment portal to apply for consideration for recruitment.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved the establishment of a humanitarian and poverty alleviation trust fund as part of the administration’s efforts to cushion the economic hardship on vulnerable Nigerians.

President Bola Tinubu, who presided over the weekly FEC meeting, conveyed the approval to the cabinet members in attendance at the State House,Abuja.

Minister of humanitarian affairs and Povertyalleviation, Dr Betta Edu , who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, said the fund is expected to garner up to $5 billion annually from Government, Donors, Private sector, Philanthropic individuals and other innovative forms of resource mobilization.

According to Edu, there would be a governing board that would supervise the implementation of the fund.

The minister said the governing board “will involve key stakeholders that are relevant to the process”.

“This is a flexible form of financing that is supposed to help Nigeria adequately respond to humanitarian crises, emergencies and internal displacement challenges as well as adequately address the issue of poverty in Nigeria,” she added.

“This of course is a victory for the poor and indeed, would bring help and succor which the Renewed Hope Agenda stands for.”

She said the council also approved the ratification of the African Charter protocol on the protection of the rights of older persons in Nigeria.

“We have signed up to the African charter and this has made us one of the countries within Africa that has approved that older people be protected and should not be discriminated against at any level,” Edu said.

“this gives older Persons a lot of protection and the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is interested in their welfare and protecting their rights.”

In September, Edu, while speaking on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States announced the setting up of the trust fund.

These 4are some of the implementations of some of the resolutions President and his Delegation reached at UNGA78

Edu said 30 percent of the funding is expected to come from the federal government while the balance of 70 percent is expected from donor agencies, Private sector, other Nations Development partners etc.

According to the minister, the fund would have several governing cadres with a structure that would show accountability and transparency, while reducing bureaucracy in putting up an adequate response to humanitarian challenges in any part of the country.

Known for its diverse natural resources, including fertile agricultural land, forests, water bodies, abundant mineral deposits, and scenic landscapes is Niger State, located in the North Central region of Nigeria.

Like many regions across the globe, Niger state is grappling with challenges related to environmental degradation, including deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution which have all been exacerbated by climate change, leading to unpredictable weather patterns, increased desertification, and threats to agricultural productivity in the face of challenging financing circumstances.

With the growing need for sustainable solutions, the government of Niger State, under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, will host the first ever subnational, Green Economy Summit, with the unveiling of the Niger State Green Economy Blueprint to guide developmental choice of actions in the state.

The main objectives of the Summit are to serve as a platform to attract local and international investors interested in green assets trading, green technologies, renewable energy projects, and sustainable financing initiatives.

Recognizing the potential of green technologies and sustainable development, Niger State government aims to leverage its carbon assets and embrace eco-friendly initiatives to boost economic growth.

Consequently, the summit will focus on exploring green business opportunities, renewable energy projects, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism as means to drive economic diversification and job creation.

It will also align with the global commitment to reducing carbon emissions, transitioning to a low-carbon economy, and promoting sustainable development, in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It is also meant to provide opportunity to showcase innovative green technologies and best practices from around the world. This will foster technology transfer and knowledge sharing to enable Niger State adopt and implement sustainable greenhouse solutions effectively.

The gathering will place emphasis on the role of local communities in sustainable development thereby empowering communities with the necessary knowledge and resources to engage in eco-friendly practices and benefit from green initiatives.

Featuring workshops, panel discussions, and presentations, the summit shall increase public awareness and knowledge about green technologies, sustainable practices, and environmental issues.

In view of these, the Summit will attract experts and participants from around the world that will facilitate the exchange of ideas, best practices, and technologies. This will allow Niger State to learn from successful green initiatives implemented elsewhere and adapt them to its own context.

The Niger State Green Economic Summit, with the theme “Sustainable Future: Harnessing Green Assets and Innovation for Niger State’s Prosperity,” will have in attendance the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ministers, heads of relevant agencies, state governors, representatives of multilateral and bilateral international organisations, development partners and development finance institutions. 

Others include captains of industry, local and international experts on the theme and sub-themes, members of the academia, community leaders, youth and women group representatives, civil society organisations.

The two-day hybrid event will take place on the 24 and 25 October, 2023 in Minna, the Niger State capital. The date will coincide with the United Nations Day as well as the climate advocacy group, 350.org’s International Day of Advocacy for Climate Action, held on the 24 October annually.

The choice of the date is to underscore the resolve to partake in achieving collective global goals through responsible local action, especially as Nigeria prepares to participate in the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 28) in Dubai, UAE, between November 30th and December 12th, 2023.

Five hundred (500) participants shall be drawn from a broad spectrum of backgrounds, this will ensure harvesting of innovative ideas that will enable the state  make good use of its arable land in aggregating cash crops and low-hanging fruit in addressing environmental challenges, harnessing carbon assets, and fostering green economic development.

The maiden subnational summit will position Niger State as a leading example of sustainable growth and responsible environmental stewardship in Nigeria and beyond which others can take a leaf from.

Aliyu Umar Aliyu is the Chairman, Communication subcommittee, Niger State Green Economy Summit Initiative

The Federal Ministry of Transportation/Marine and Blue Economy has marked the 2023 Civil Service Week Ministerial Recognition Awards celebration to honour deserving officers who have exhibited excellence in the discharge of their duties.

According to a press release signed on Tuesday by
Olujimi Oyetomi,
Director Press & PR, disclosed that the  celebration is an annual event aimed at encouraging effective discharge of work, diligence, and commitment to service delivery in respect of Government policies for the transportation and marine sectors.

At the 2023 edition which was held at the Auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, who championed this year’s event, called on staff of the Ministry to exhibit punctuality and commitment, diligence and honesty in the service of their nation.  “You should serve with honesty and truth and give your best in ensuring that good service delivery is maintained.”

Dr. Ajani further stressed that the award should not only bring joy to the awardees but encourage others who were not so rewarded this time to see it as challenge to strive to be so honoured, next time.  “Therefore, you must all be ready to work and discharge your duties efficiently.”
In her welcome remark, the Director of Human Resource Management, Ms Tetshoma Dafeta revealed that as part of Federal Civil Service Strategic Implementation Plan 2021 – 2025 (FCSSIP25) which seeks to reward dedicated Civil Servants, the Ministry did set up a committee to select the staff who met the necessary requirement for this year’s award and they were the ones being awarded.  

                                                                                                       
Speaking further, the Director urged other staff of the ministry to work hard so that by next year, they will be the ones to get the award. 
While making his presentation as an invited Resource Person, the Acting Director of Media and Public Relations, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Engr. Emanuel Onokpono stated that Nigerians are conversant with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), but with the new law signed by the Former President, Muhammadu Buhari on 19th May, 2022, mandated that all Government staff should enrol in the new NHIA.

According to him, the NHIA, is not meant for only civil servants but to all Nigerians, adding “that the law is legal, well documented, signed and gazetted.”
Dr. Ali Mohammed Ibrahim, a fellow of the Institute of Safety Advocate, another invited Resource Person urged the staff to be safety conscious whether in their “work place, home, hospitals or anywhere you are, safety should be the first to come to your mind.”

Contributions by Sanni Hussaini (Senior Information Officer) & Regina Osuagwu (Principal Executive Officer, Information)