Africa Security Investigation News

Building resilience in communities is essential strategy in tackling floods and other disasters within Nigeria. This was the position of Director General National Emergency Management Agency Mustapha Ahmed Habib at a recent media parley with media practitioners in Lagos, where he also said it was in line with Global Standards on Disaster risk reduction.

Resilience is the ability of a community to withstand and recover from natural disasters and other crises. When communities are resilient, they are better equipped to cope with disasters and minimize their impact.

There are many ways to build resilience in communities. One approach is to invest in infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters, such as flood barriers, reinforced buildings, and drainage systems. This can be expensive, but it can save lives and prevent damage in the long run.

Another approach is to educate the community about disaster preparedness. This includes teaching people how to evacuate safely, how to stockpile emergency supplies, and how to communicate with each other during a crisis. This can be done through community events, social media, and other outreach efforts.

Community involvement is also critical in building resilience. When people work together to prepare for disasters, they are more likely to be successful. This can include organizing community meetings, creating emergency response teams, and developing communication networks.

Indeed, building resilience in communities is essential to tackling flood and other disasters. It requires investment in infrastructure, education, community involvement, and addressing the root causes of natural disasters. By working together, we can create communities that are better equipped to cope with disasters and minimize their impact.

Local authorities play a crucial role in flood prevention, mitigation, and management. They are responsible for ensuring that communities are prepared for floods, and that they have the resources and knowledge necessary to respond effectively to a flood event.

One of the primary roles of local authorities is to identify areas that are at risk of flooding. This can be done through mapping and modeling, which can help predict flood patterns and the potential impact on communities. The National Emergency Management Agency has released the 2023 climate Related disaster Preparedness and Mitigation strategies which states and local Government authorities are expected to implement to mitigate the impact of floods in identified risk areas.

With the high risk areas identified, local authorities can take steps to mitigate the risk of flooding, such as building flood barriers, improving drainage systems, and regulating development in flood-prone areas. Local authorities are also responsible for developing emergency response plans in the event of a flood. This includes coordinating with Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies and other stakeholders by putting in place emergency services, evacuating residents, and providing shelter and support to those affected by the flood. They must also work to ensure that essential services, such as hospitals and utilities, are able to continue operating during a flood event.

In addition to these roles, local authorities being the closest Government to the people are responsible for educating the public about flood risks and how to prepare for them. This can include providing information about evacuation routes, emergency supplies, and flood insurance. They must also work to engage with the community and encourage participation in flood prevention and response efforts.

Local authorities play a critical role in post-flood recovery efforts. They must work in collaboration with Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies to assess the damage caused by the flood, provide support to affected residents, and coordinate with government agencies and non-governmental organizations to ensure that recovery efforts are effective and efficient.

The significant roles of community participation were also highlighted when the Director General NEMA Mustapha Habib Ahmed made a presentation to Nigerian Governors during the meeting of the Nigerian Governors Forum in Abuja. He referenced the country’s triple response structure for disaster and emergency management and said; “as we know disasters are local and to enhance our disaster management capabilities, it is imperative that State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) are fully operationalized and Local Management Committees (LMCs) are activated. These bodies will play a crucial role in ensuring effective disaster response at the state and local levels.”

Furthermore, he specifically pointed to the fact that ecological funds are shared among the three tiers of Government for the purpose of triple response, noting that since the national government has been living up to its responsibilities, the sub-national and local government should also make apply the funds received for this purpose to address disaster-related situations in their areas.

It is important to also address the root causes of natural disasters. Climate change is a major contributor to the frequency and severity of floods and other disasters. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in renewable energy, we can help mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce the risk of natural disasters.

There is no doubt that local authorities play vital roles in flood prevention, mitigation, and management. They must work together with federal and state authorities to identify areas at risk of flooding, develop emergency response plans, educate the public, and coordinate recovery efforts. By working together with the community, emergency services, and other stakeholders, local authorities can help reduce the impact of floods on communities and ensure that they are prepared to respond effectively to a flood event

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Police Service Commission has approved the dismissal of three senior Police Officers over cases of serious misconduct.

According to Ikechukwu Ani, Head, of Press and Public Relations, in a press release, he signed on Friday, 21st July 2023,
the Commission also approved  the reduction in the ranks of five others found wanting in the conduct of their  official duties.

The decisions were some of the highlights of the Commission’s 21st  Plenary Meeting which came to an end on Thursday, July 20th 2023 at the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja and chaired by Commission Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, retired Inspector General of Police.

The dismissed Police Officers  were two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
One Chief Superintendent of Police, (CSP) one Superintendent (SP), one Deputy Superintendent (DSP) and two Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) were reduced in ranks for misconduct.
Fourteen Officers got the punishment of severe reprimand, six, reprimand and seven others, letters of warning.

The Commission also reinstated six dismissed Officers who got favourable court judgements or a review of their cases.

The Comission had earlier on Wednesday, July 18th approved the appointment of two Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Mathew Akinyosola who retired on July 1 this year and Slyverster Abiodun  Alabi whose tenure started on the same July 1 2023 and now representing the South West in the Police Management Team.
The Commission  had also approved  the promotion of the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP  Olumuyiwa Oladunmoye Adejobi to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police.

The Commission approved the promotion of 14,052 Inspectors of Police who attended the last Departmental Selection Board promotion interview to the next rank of Assistant Superintendents of Police (Unconfirmed).
Some of the new ASP 1, are Fransica Njoku, Ebonyi State Command, Benjamin Justina, Rivers State Command, Nnamdi Nwoba, Abia State Command, Joseph  Arinze, Zonal CID, Zone 9 Headquarters Umuahia, Mohammed Lawal  and Adamu Hassan.
ASP Edo Stephen Ameh of FCT Command and ASP Abubakar  Musa also of FCT Command were two of the 9,016 unconfirmed ASPs that were confirmed by the Plenary.

Commission Chairman said the Commission will continue to hold Police Officers accountable for their conducts/misconduct  and will ensure that pending disciplinary matters will receive the Commission’s urgent attention at all times so that Officers are not unduly stagnated.
He pledged to continue to give inspiring leadership that will attract commensurate commitment and dedication to duty by the Officers.

Within the framework of the Organized Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWAR-T) project, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), has organized a seminar of two days in Abidjan including a capacity building workshop on July 19 and a workshop on options for the sustainability of the West African Organized Crime Research Network (WARNOC) on July 20, 2023.

The objectives of the meetings are on one hand to strengthen the capacities of WARNOC members on the intersection between crime, conflicts, and instability, and on the other hand to further explore options to sustain and ensure the full functioning of the network and its operation beyond the OCWAR-T project.

Representing GIZ, Ms Abigail Gyimah, recalled that civil society and non-state actors are at the center of formal and localized responses to organized criminal activities in West Africa.

She further added that the establishment of WARNOC under the OCWAR-T project is a part and parcel of a regional strategy to work with non-governmental organizations and civil society to ensure an efficient and multi-pronged response to organized crime in the region.

Dr. Ndubuisi Christian Ani, Senior Researcher, and Project Coordinator at ISS, indicated that WARNOC members add significant value to national and regional solutions by promoting analysis and responses to organized crime in West Africa.

During these two days of seminars, recommendations, and strategies were made by the participants in order to ensure the continuity and sustainability of this network and it’s activities.

WARNOC remains a growing network with vast opportunities to contribute to organised crime responses in West Africa.

Recalling that WARNOC was established under the OCWAR-T project which is a programme of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), co-financed by the European Union and the government of the Federal Republic from Germany and coordinated by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar has disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is expecting 51 additional platforms to boost counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations in the country. The CAS stated this while addressing officers and men during his maiden operational tour of NAF units in Makurdi, Benue State.

According to Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, in a press release signed on 21 July 2023,
the CAS noted that acquisition of additional platforms would bolster training, air power employment and projection. The platforms being expected, according to the CAS, include 2 Agusta 109 Trekker Multi-role helicopters, 2 Beechcraft King Air 360, 3 Diamond DA-62 surveillance aircraft and 6 T-129 ATAK helicopters. Other pending acquisitions include 2 CASA -295 medium airlift/surveillance aircraft, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters and 24 M-346 attack aircraft. All these acquisitions, according to the CAS, demonstrates the Federal Government’s deep commitment to equipping the NAF for the safe conduct of training and agile airpower employment to meet the Nation’s security challenges.

Speaking further, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar stated that the NAF would continue to enhance cooperation and  jointness as part of a whole-of-nation approach to quickly resolving the security challenges bedeviling the country. “While the NAF augments its airpower measures and approaches, it will also continue to promote seamless interoperability of equipment and joint force employment by the various services.” He therefore enjoined the personnel to cooperate with other services and security agencies to meet the high expectations of Nigerians on the Armed Forces as well as restore peace and security and ensure a safe and prosperous Nation. Air Vice Marshal Abubakar went on to note that though the successes so far recorded were largely due to the renewed cooperation and jointness between the Services and other security agencies, it must be enhanced and sustained.

The CAS also assured the personnel of his commitment to proactively address maintenance and logistics support for all NAF fleet to ensure it surpasses the current average serviceability of over 78 per cent.  On training, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar stated that overseas and local training will henceforth be deliberate and targeted to address deficiencies in needed skills and capabilities, just as selection for such courses will be purely merit-based to ensure that only the most qualified are selected to give the NAF value for money.

On welfare, the CAS noted that under his watch, problems of poor electricity and water supply as well as dilapidated accommodation and road infrastructure on all NAF Bases would be given the utmost priority they deserve to ensure personnel and their families live comfortably. While assuring them of prompt payment of all entitlements, he also promised to look into the issue of uniforms and other accoutrements. The CAS also called on the need for the personnel to remain disciplined, diligent and responsible in their conduct in and out of uniforms.

The Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army (NA) Brigadier General Everest Ifeanyi Okoro has warned criminals in Cross River State to desist from their misguided ways or meet their waterloo at the hands of the gallant and highly motivated troops of 13 Brigade NA.

The Brigade Commander gave the stern warning during a stakeholders meeting held at the Primary School Akwa Ikot Eyo Edem, Akpabuyo LGA of Cross Rivers State on Tuesday 18 July 2023.

Brigadier General Okoro stated emphatically that criminals who were not ready to turn a new leaf would be decisively dealt and given what they deserved. He asserted that troops had been given express directives to deal ruthlessly with criminals in line with extant Rules of Engagement and Standard Operating Procedures during Internal Security operations.

He thereafter assured residents of the community of the NA’s readiness to safeguard the lives and properties of citizens, appreciating them for their unwavering support to the Brigade in the discharge of its responsibilities Furthermore, the Brigade Commander solicited for the community’s support and cooperation in the provision of timely and actionable information in tackling crimes and criminalities in the State, assuring that the Brigade would scale up its patrols, check points and roadblocks amongst other kinetic and non-kinetic measures.

Brigadier General Okoro equally harped on the importance of inter-agency collaboration and synergy in the conduct of effective kinetic and non-kinetic operations within the joint operating environment, lauding other security agencies for their support and cooperation in fostering peace and tranquility in Cross-Rivers State.

While giving the vote of thanks, the Paramount ruler of Akpabuyo His Royal Majesty Etinyin Maurice EE Nyan appreciated the Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army for coming to visit and listening to their problems. He further appreciated the Commander for his support in most areas around Akpabuyo LGA for the relative peace and provision of security. He stated that the Commander has given the community hope.

Present at the meeting was the Clan Head Edem Odo Clan / Paramount ruler of Akpabuyo, Village Heads of different Clans, President of the Youth Council, family heads, women leader, and residents of the community, amongst others.