The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • What is a forest reserve?

    What is a forest reserve?

    By Ropo Sekoni

    A forest reserve refers to a forest that has been accorded a certain level of protection against unauthorized usage by individuals and groups of individuals. Such reserves are usually protected under the laws of the particular country where it is situated. In other words, activities such as hunting and grazing are strictly prohibited except by express permission from relevant traditional and or government bodies. (https://www.virtualkollage.com/2018/08/six-important-roles-forest-reserves-play-in-the-lives-of-citizens.html) 

    The definition of forest reserve above does not hold for many individuals and communities in Nigeria because of what is popularly known as the Nigerian Factor, defined as “the tendency of believing that anything-morally good or bad-can go in Nigeria, because the country is in a severe state of social malady.” (https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/the-effects-of-the-publish-or-perish-syndrome-on-research-and-innovation-in-nigerian-universities/67295).

    The ongoing controversy over the directives given by the governor of Ondo State regarding what constitutes a legal activity in Ondo State Forest Reserve illustrates graphically what many Nigerians would refer to as the Nigeria Factor. In the last few days, a matter that looks like a simple case of law and order in a democratic state has been turned into a culture war between Yoruba-Nigerians and Fulani-Nigerians. This should not be so after living together in one the same country since 1914.

    The new current crisis between Ondo governor and Fulani sociocultural groups and between the presidency and the government of Ondo State requires a summary to put the matter in context. On the 18th of January, the governor of Ondo State said: “Today, we have taken major steps at addressing the root cause of kidnapping, in particular, and other nefarious activities detailed and documented in security reports, the press, and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases in Ondo State. As the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the state. In light of the foregoing, the following orders are hereby issued. All Forest Reserves in the state are to be vacated by herdsmen within the next seven days with effect from today, Monday 18th, January 2021. Night grazing is banned with immediate effect because most farm destruction takes place at night. Movement of cattle within cities and highways is prohibited. Underage grazing of cattle is outlawed.”

    This announcement drew a reaction from the presidency: “The Presidency has been keenly monitoring events occurring in Ondo State and the ‘orders’ by the government of the state, ‘asking herders to vacate the forests in seven days.’

    What is clearly emerging, is a lack of consistency in messaging which in turn leads to various contradictions regarding accuracy and the intent behind the message. There is little to be said other than to call for restraint on both sides and urge the state government and the leadership of the Fulani communities to continue their dialogue for a good understanding that will bring to an urgent end, the nightmarish security challenges facing the state…The government of Ondo, and all the 35 others across the federation must draw clear lines between the criminals and the law- abiding citizens who must equally be saved from the infiltrators. Beyond law and order, the fight against crime is also a fight for human values which are fundamental to our country.”

    And the crisis began to fester ever since Shehu Garba’s response to Akeredolu’s directives. Why should this be so in a federal democracy?  Are trespassers in the reserve not interested in the option of getting registered, to separate themselves from criminals? Are non-registered indigenes of Ondo State allowed to reside in the forest reserves while non-registered Fulani herdsmen are asked to leave the forest reserve? These and many other questions too many for the space allocated to this article need to be asked before the outing of warlords on both sides.

    As expected, lawyers are expected to have views on this matter. And many have quickly intervened. Many strict constructionists and literalists have argued that the freedom of movement principle prevents the governor to regulate the use of state land. While others have taken a relativist or holistic view, warning that there are places the law of the land can prevent people from entering without sanctions. Other learned men have called for full investigation on whether herdsmen are living in a forest reserve and why this should be so, given the fact that forest reserves are spaces usually forbidden by law to be occupied by entities other than plants and wild animals, for the sake ensuring biodiversity that is inevitable to sustainability of human beings.

    Before the noise dies down, it is important to remember that for the past five years there have been allegations of killings, kidnapping, banditry, etc in many parts of the country. Specifically, many farmers and other professionals including monarchs in Ondo State have been reported killed by kidnappers. For example, the daughter of the leader of Afenifere, Mrs Funke Olakunri and, more recently, the monarch of Ifon were killed, not to mention many farmers that were also killed on their farms or as travelers along federal roads. The ultimatum from Ondo State government looks like a text with a subtext that is crucial for Nigerians on all sides of the raging argument to countenance: possible hidden politics of land use and management in Nigeria, despite a Land Use Act appropriate for managing Nigeria’s diversity for the sake of peace and harmony among culturally diverse federating units.

    Undoubtedly, the virality of the ultimatum to herdsmen living or operating in forest reserves in Ondo State seems to grow from the longstanding and unresolved problem of cattle grazing across the length and breadth of the country, regardless of the stress such conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, especially the nomadic type, often induce among sedentary farming communities. In addition, the controversy over whether the governor of a federating state has authority to ban people-indigenes and residents alike from living and even visiting a forest reserve, the survival of which depends on keeping the reserve pristine, is a matter that could have been taken to a Constitutional Court, had Nigeria been blessed with such a court, without losing too much time for the court to reach a verdict, that the current judicial system from a court of first hearing all the way to the Supreme Court would involve.

    But the political and cultural dimensions of land use and management in our multiethnic federation still requires full and proper discussion without resorting to name callings, such as have been in circulation since Governor Akeredolu used the authority vested in him to determine type of public access to forest reserves.

    Nigerians across geography and culture would be deceiving themselves if they pretend not to see the danger in any attempt to disrupt the lifestyle and culture of non-Fulani people through demographic changes that includes settling Fulani herdsmen in forest reserves designed to protect whatever is left of the region’s rainforest areas. Saving the biodiversity of each of Nigeria’s 36 federating states is imperative for all-Yoruba, Fulani, and others. And there is need for agreement between the central and subnational governments to be in tandem on the importance of protecting the country’s biodiversity. Forest reserves are less expensive ways of taming environmental damage including desertification.

    In addition, it is necessary for the federal government to agree that liberty comes with responsibility for every citizen. A government duly elected has the responsibility to protect the lives and property of the electorate, just as citizens and residents under the authority of such governments are constitutionally required to obey the laws of the state. No citizen is superior to the law of the state in which he or she resides, not even in the governor.

    Even if the people being asked to vacate the forest reserves in Ondo are not criminals, it is still crucial for states in the southern part of the country, as well as the federal government to have concern about the ratio of population to land availability all over southern Nigeria in relation to northern Nigeria. Currently, the 19 northern states occupy 78% of the land while carrying 53% of the population. The 17 southern states occupy 22% of the land while carrying 47% of the population. The zone under the worst demographic pressure, Southwest, has six states with 20% of the population on about 8% of the country’s land.

    A thorough investigation of the issues raised by Governor Akeredolu’s order about his state’s forest reserves deserve a more honest debate than it is getting, because most commentators are ignoring the subtexts of politics of land use and management in the country.

  • Zlatan Ibile: The new ad-lib star

    Zlatan Ibile: The new ad-lib star

    By Sampson Unamka

    Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael aka Zlatan Ibile needs no introduction in the Nigerian music space. The Ekiti state born singer, rapper, dancer, and songwriter has grown tremendously in his art over the years.

    The music star has found fame and fortune with the superb use of ad-libs which he describes as the aroma and seasoning in his songs.

    Zlatan has succeeded in playing a part by making numerous hits on songs such as Am I a Yahoo Boy by Naira Marley, what type of dance by Dj Kaywise, Cash App by Bella Shmurda, and Killin dem with Burna Boy.

    Zlatan’s collaboration with Burna Boy earned them several awards including Best Collaboration at the Headies 2019 and Song of the Year at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival among others.

    Although some of his ad-lib processes released videos online turn out to be very funny, his fans’ reactions to these videos are amazing.

    Born on December 19, 1994, Zlatan is also known for his popular slang such as kapaichumarimarichopaco, Ayi, Hasta la vista, Gbebody eh, Kurombe, and Alaye.

    Career

    Zlatan’s music career kicked off when he was 19 years after he contested and won the Airtel ‘One Mic Campus Tour’ music competition held in Abeokuta in the year 2014 while he studied at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.

    In a recent interview Zlatan recounted his life before fame, he said “Before fame things were hard, from doing bricklayer to cutting grass in someone’s foundation, working in a cold room and going to Game Center to gamble so I can see money to eat, the school I didn’t attend on time finally helped me.

    “When I finally gained admission, in like two months before my first-semester exam one competition came up back then that if you have any talent you should buy a sim card of N50 and you would win a car I didn’t believe it so I didn’t go, my friend, then but the sim card for me and brought it to me in the class and I filled and participated in the competition and won the car and I said to myself this thing I have not been taking seriously I have won a car with it so I said to myself I have to be serious with this hustle. I used the car to do cab business for three years and did not blow ” said Zlatan.

    He made his introduction into the Nigerian music space in 2017 with the release of his single titled My Body featuring Olamide Badoo. Zlatan further gained full recognition after he featured alongside Lil Kesh in the song Able God by Chinko Ekun. He released the hit song Osanle featuring Davido, he then assisted Burna Boy on his hit single Killin Dem and then his popularity increased when he was featured on Naira Marley’s hit single Am I Yahoo Boy before his own hit song Zanku which was accompanied by a dance routine of the same name, also known as ‘Leg work’.

    He released a 17 track album titled Zanku in 2019 and an Extended Play (EP) titled RoadToCDK in 2020 comprising of five tracks. In 2021 he has however dropped Lagos anthem and my life, both songs have also proved to be hit by the self-acclaimed ‘World President’

    Love life

    Zlatan showed off his son on Instagram for the first time on Children’s Day last year, the singer shared a picture of the toddler Toluwalase Shiloh Ainoghena Omoniyi who was given birth on the 29th of March 2020 which he had with his Baby Mama Davita Lamai from their love relationship which was discovered after he posted pictures on his Instagram. Davita is a graduate of the University of Kent and she resides in the United Kingdom.

  • Kwara APC: Uncertainty mounts as crisis deepens

    Kwara APC: Uncertainty mounts as crisis deepens

    As the leadership crisis in Kwara State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to fester, ‘Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, reports that stakeholders’ concerns are mounting

    Last week, news broke that the Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had sacked Hon. Bashir Omo­laja Bolarinwa as chairman of the party in Kwara State and replaced him with his erstwhile deputy, Alhaji Samari Abdullahi, as the acting chairman of the caretaker committee of the party. Expectedly, the party was thrown into confusion as the two warring factions within the party intensified efforts to ensure that their interests are protected.

    While the faction led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq went about insisting that Bolarinwa’s sack remains as Samari prepared to mount the saddle, the faction loyal to Ministers Lai Mohammed and Gbemi Saraki not only vowed to resist the sack, it mobilised its men to storm the national secretariat of the APC in protest against Bolarinwa’s sack. Soon, both factions had their men in Abuja either to support or protest the development which pundits described as the climax of an almost two years of rivalry between the two camps.

    Early this week, following days of verbal warfare between the two camps, the governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, who represents North Central in Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, announced that the issue will soon be resolved amicably. He spoke after a meeting held at the party’s Secretariat in Abuja. He explained that the Buni-led committee has directed that the zonal leadership of the party should resolve the matter. He promised to go about the resolution without fear or favour to either of the warring camps.

    “We looked at the issue surrounding APC in Kwara State and we had brief submission from some of the stakeholders and it was resolved that the matter should be taken back to the zone for the zone to look at the issues. I’ll report back to the National Caretaker Committee. So, I hope that by next week we should be able to resolve the matter at the zonal level and once that is done we can put our recommendation to the National caretaker committee for further action,” he explained.

    While it appears the national leadership may have ordered both parties to desist from taking any action regarding the APC chairmanship seat pending the resolution of the dispute, the gladiators remain unrelenting in their moves for and against Bolarinwa’s removal. Consequently, the party is enveloped by uncertainty. “We don’t know what is happening. What we hear is that both Bolarinwa and Samari have been told not to claim the chairmanship seat for now. But for how long will the party remain without clear leadership,” a party chieftain asked.

    A reliable party source told The Nation that the much talked about reconciliation to be anchored by the zonal leadership may not yield much result. According to him, the Bolarinwa faction of the party in the state doesn’t have much faith in the Governor Bello-led zonal leadership. “Don’t forget that it is the same zonal leadership that allegedly recommended his removal to the CECPC. The story out there is that Governor AbdulRazaq actually used his closeness to the Niger State Governor to get Bolarinwa sacked.

    “We went to Abuja with the hope that the CECPC will wade into the matter and ensure justice. But what did they do? They referred us back to the very person that facilitated the unjust sack in the first place. What manner of reconciliation are you expecting from such arrangement? Of a truth, the whole thing is just to buy some time,” he said. But Governor Bello, while promising to do justice in the matter, said, “Well for me we will try our best to see that we work out a way that will be acceptable to both parties if possible but then again whatever decision we take we will look at the party first.

    “You have to take some steps to protect the party on some issues as a result of a conflict, and sometimes it is difficult to have a resolution that is acceptable to all but once you do it in the spirit of fairness without any bias, and you are sure you took the right decision, there is nothing to worry about. Our primary interest is to ensure the survival and strength of the party in Kwara State. At the zonal level, without having to look at anyone or anyone’s face, we hope that we are able to find a solution that is acceptable to all.”

    Festering crisis

    Meanwhile, the gladiators are not relenting as the crisis continues to fester. Already, groups and caucuses within the party, in clear contraventions of the directive that nothing capable of escalating the crisis should be done, have started lining up behind the two claimants to the chairmanship seat. Similarly, The Nation gathered that several factional meetings are being held to discuss the development and fashion out way forward. For now, the APC in Kwara State is static as the lack of a pronounced leadership affects its operations.

    “At a time when all other chapters of the party nationwide are preparing to register new members and validate the membership of old ones, what is happening in Kwara APC is a total departure. The party is sharply divided and our leaders are singing discordant tunes. The current indications aren’t showing any sign that the crisis will soon be over, rather, what we see daily are signs that our party may be heading towards total disintegration if nothing is done to resolve this matter and reunite the gladiators, ‘Abdulrahman Raji told The Nation.

    Already, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu-Danladi, led 21 other lawmakers to endorse the removal of Bashir Bolarinwa as state chairman of the APC. In a letter addressed to the National Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the APC and Yobe State governor, Alhaji Mai Buni, they argued that Bolarinwa’s removal would instill discipline and restore sanity to the party in the state and added that the appointment of Samari Abdullahi as acting chairman was in the right direction.

    The letter read in part: “The bold step taken at suspending the ex-chairman over a plethora of misdeeds that had been allowed to linger unchecked will hopefully put an end to the embarrassment that we went through painfully. It has become imperative for us to write this letter to express our profound gratitude to you as the chairman and members of the caretaker committee for your proactive intervention on the simmering crisis on the Kwara State chapter of our party, APC.”

    Also, seven members of the National Assembly from the state declared their support for the governor’s camp and urged members of the party to accept the decision on Bolarinwa in good faith. The lawmakers, in their letter, titled, ‘Re: Support of appointment of Alhaji Abdullahi Samari Abubakar,’ said the removal of Bolarinwa was a “proactive intervention on the simmering crisis in the Kwara State chapter of our party. The action you have taken on this lingering matter is also supporting our President’s vision of a robust political system that enables smooth and proactive service delivery to our people.”

    Those who signed the letter are Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe (Kwara Central), Senator Lola Ashiru (Kwara South), Senator Umar Sadik (Kwara North), AbdulRaheem  Olatunji Olawuyi, Tijani Kolawole Ismail, Umar Bio and Abubakar Ahmed Ndaken. Speaking on the development, Senator Umar said contrary to insinuations in some quarters, Governor AbdulRazaq was not behind Bolarinwa’s removal. He said “No, I don’t think the governor is responsible. It is the party’s followers, citizens, elders, stakeholders. In fact, everyone in the state is worried that we have two leaders in a state. One is the governor who is the first citizen and is responsible for citizens in that state and our own party chairman who is equally a leader in that state,” he explained.

    But Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, a party leader in the state, accused the governor of orchestrating the removal of Bolarinwa so as to hijack the party’s structures. “We have resolved to reject the verdict of the National Caretaker Committee on the purported removal of Hon. Bashir Omo­laja Bolarinwa. It is worth nothing more than the value of the paper on which the letter given to Hon. Sanmari Abdulahi is written. It certainly shall not work in Kwara State, no matter who is behind it. Though when we told the secretary that the decision could sink the party in the state, he said they really do not care.

    “And he repeated during the conversation more than five times that he was acting under the instructions of the chairman, Buni. We shall prove to those that aborted the people’s rev­olution, foisting on our party the present situation since 2018, that Kwara is not an ap­pendage of any outside power conspiracy. They continue to compro­mise our noble cause with these unacceptable decisions and we shall henceforth prove to those that are not popular at home but rather rely on political manipulations from outside that the game is up,” he said.

    Also, a group of Kwara LGA APC Caretaker Chairmen during the week, opposed the position of Governor AbdulRazaq and decried the appointment of Samari as the new state caretaker chairman. Spokesperson for the Caretaker Chairmen, Abubakar Kannike, said “We take this opportunity to state that we will never recognise anyone as state caretaker chairman of APC in Kwara State except Bolarinwa. We recognise Samari in the capacity of deputy caretaker chairman for which he was sworn into office by the same Bolarinwa.

    “On this note, let us make it clear that the mandate given to us by the National Executive Council of the APC is clear. Thus, we will not tolerate any attempt to undermine or usurp our authorities anymore. The only body capable of effecting any change by the party’s constitution remains the party convention and as things stand, that body is yet to be constituted.”

    Growing fears

    As the crisis rages, concerns are mounting over what would become of the APC in the state if the situation persists. Senator Oyelola Ashiru, while urging warring chieftains to “shelve their swords” and allow peace to reign, bemoaned the potential damage the current festering crisis could do to the party, the government and its developmental agenda. He warned that when two elephants fight, it’s the grass that will bear the brunt, likening the party to the grass.

    Ashiru said,“When the fight is prolonged, the party may lose cohesion, unity, strength which might result in the loss of the support of a significant proportion of the populace. This situation foretells a double electoral gain for the opposition. The fundamental things that we have achieved as progressives in the current political dispensation include being able to reinvent ourselves, institutionalising democracy and installing good governance.”

    Similarly, party youths under the aegis of the Concerned APC Youth Stakeholders, said they may be forced to disrupt planned APC membership registration in the state. Speaking at a briefing held at the party secretariat, Abdulyaqub Ishowo, John Adegboye and Adam Abdullahi, representing Kwara Central, Kwara South and Kwara North respectively, said warring leaders of the party must think about the party and give peace a chance.

    “We wish to report to you that we’ve found ourselves in a situation where the soul of our collective struggle” which was proudly christened “O TO GE” is being sacrificed. This is being done in the most Machiavellian manner, on the Altar of politics of interest and desire to undemocratically grab more power by a handful few, in the minute minority but seemingly powerful individuals than the overwhelming convention. This action is clearly in contradiction of the constitution of our party which places supreme powers on the NEC of our party and thus made the reversal of any of its decisions impossible except by the convention of our great party i.e Section 13 subsection 3.

    “The section reads; “the decision of the National Executive Council is binding on all organs and all members of the party, except the National Convention.

    “This is why we want to know where the Buni led national caretaker committee, his governor friends and others derived their powers to override the resolution of NEC; if not that they feel impunity is the way to go. We hereby want to emphasise that we’ll not allow any membership registration to hold in Kwara State unless the needful is done, which is the return of the duly sworn-in caretaker Chairman, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa.”

    Also, Chief Rex Olawoye, a chieftain of the party in the state, want the national leadership of the party to reconcile factions in the state. The former chairman of Ifelodun Council and immediate past state Publicity Secretary of APC, said the crisis within the party, if left unresolved, can affect the party’s fortunes in the 2023 general election. He urged the governor to recognise deserving members of the party. “The governor has sufficient arsenal in his armoury to put the party together in Kwara. I am not talking about money alone, but recognition for all the members of the party.

    “I am seriously praying that we will not have a situation that will disunite the party in future. We laboured to put Governor AbdulRazak in power and we can’t afford to pull him down. That is where I stand. No matter the magnitude of the crisis, I still believe that it can be resolved amicably. I am of the view that only the national executive of the APC could resolve the cold war within the party in the state. We should note that the year 2023 is not too far from now,” the elderly politician stated.

  • ‘Most trafficked persons didn’t know they’re being taken into prostitution’

    ‘Most trafficked persons didn’t know they’re being taken into prostitution’

    Comrade Osita Osemene is founder/Executive Director, Patriotic Citizens Initiative, an organisation he registered in 2010 to create awareness on the horrors of irregular migration through the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean. Himself a returnee, he tells Gboyega Alaka how he also helps to resettle returnees, trains them and helps them access funds from the International Organisation for Migrants (IOM).

    Your organisation, Patriotic Citizens Initiative, is very active in the battle against human trafficking; tell us about it.

    Patriotic Citizens Initiative was born out of my own personal experience. I once embarked on such journey in 2004; it was when I returned that I started the organisation based on what I saw, especially how Nigerians were being treated on transit. I saw a lot of people stranded at different transit cities in Niger, Libya…. I saw how they were trading in people, the exploitation, torture; so when I eventually found my way back, I said I had to create serious awareness, because then, there were no information. People were totally unaware of what was going on. Some couldn’t get across because their money had been collected. Some had been sold; the ladies especially. What saved me was the fact that I didn’t leave as a nonentity. I was a graduate of Industrial Mathematics at the University of Benin, but I left due to the frustration of unemployment. I also got a visa but it was fake.

    When exactly did you establish this organisation?

    When I came back, I had to go into self-rehabilitation for one year between 2005/2006. I even wrote a book, ‘Chasing a mirage; my search for an oasis,’ to document my experience. Unofficially, we started in 2007 but got registered in 2010 by the Corporate Affairs Commission.

    Your organisation is lead consultant for International Organisation for Migration (IOM); you also work with them on return and re-integration of migrants and victims of trafficking. What does these entail?

    Most of these people who come back have gone through a lot and need to be supported. Fortunately, there is an international fund to support them under the EU programme. So we provide them basic training on how to utilise the funds that will be given to them to start up their life again. We also assist them by way of psychosocial support. The fund also covers those who may not have shelter and agree to have a place that they can stay, because it’s not everybody that returns that wants to go back home immediately. Even I had to go stay in Sokoto for like a year, rather than go home directly – because of the shame, stigmatisation and embarrassment. International funding has made provision to make them reintegrate quicker into the society. By my estimation, we have trained about 25,000 returnees. These are the roles we play in between as partner with IOM.

    Your organisation also creates awareness.

    Yes, we create a lot of sensitisation, a lot of awareness, media advocacy and community sensitisation…. We have offices in Lagos and Benin City. We target parents and youths because we found out that in most cases, parents contribute by way of pressure to these people embarking on these trips. We target parents at the level of churches and communities. We also go to schools because we believe that if children are informed about this evil trade in time and shown some of the danger, they will have it in their mind, and even if they eventually embark on such journey, it would not be because of ignorance. So we have been providing a lot of information, using handbills and different other media to reach the people.

    But it does seem like we are not employing the right channels, as it seems like most people are still ignorant.

    You are correct. But reaching out to a population of over 200million people requires a lot of resources. You are going to be providing a lot of flyers and employing the various mediums to reach out to people in terms of sensitisation. Compare this to the number of people/organisation in the field. How many journalists like you have taken it upon themselves to bring out some of these suffering and danger to the people? Do you know that until last December, some returnees still told me, ‘Sir, we didn’t know.’

    How about employing Radio/TV jingles?

    We have done that, but it’s not sustainable. If you do a radio jingle and it just lasts for two months, what happens to the other time of the year and those who missed it? Meanwhile the traffickers and smugglers are watching you and re-strategising. They work tirelessly. How many times do we work? If I don’t have funds, for instance, I will not work.

    How about working with the government ministries and agencies like NAPTIP?

    NAPTIP is facing the same challenge. They are working based on budget but how often do they put stuff like that in government budget? Has the government taken it as a responsibility? Is it a priority? If it is prioritised, it could be put in the budget and maybe on daily basis, there could be jingles. But for the traffickers and smugglers, this is what they feed on, this is where they get the money to buy their cars and pay for their children school fees; so they reinvent themselves on daily basis. Even the international donors, how often do they release money for prevention? How often does the Nigerian government release funds? That is our main challenge. So if we have a proper channel that provides funds continually, like you have in education, and we are able to coordinate this awareness without break, then it becomes a lifestyle. Then we can minimise it to the barest minimum.

    How about trusted organisations like yours making a proposal to international donors in this regard?

    We have made these recommendations but the challenge we face is that when some of these things are to be implemented, they don’t use the right people.  Some of us have been on ground even before the advent of funders, but a lot of new organisations are cropping up, and when they get hold of these funds, they will not appropriate it properly. If you hear the amount of money that has been invested in reintegration in Nigeria, you will marvel. We’re currently working on a project in Benin funded by ActionAid and the Catholic Church of Don Bosco; it’s a daily sensitisation and we have a team that goes out every day to do sensitisation at different level. We also have a jingle that plays on every FM in Benin. If it is repeatedly done on other stations, not just one or two stations, and in the local languages, then it can become more effective.

    How well are the state governments -Lagos and Edo, for instance, keying into it?

    I can say that Edo State has to a great extent keyed into this campaign. It’s on record that Edo State has the highest number of returnee migrants in Nigeria, followed by Delta State. Edo State has keyed in effectively and are trying to see areas where they can work to reduce it. But it is still not enough. However Lagos State has yet to key in. It is only the agencies like NAPTIP, National Commission for Refugees, International Organisation for Migration, and some of us in the civil society organisation based in Lagos that are really on top of the game. Recently they set up a task force on human trafficking; but we are waiting for it to be functional.

    To what would you blame this whole human trafficking thing?

    I would say leadership problem and loss of family values. We lost if all at the level of governance and the moment families began to see Europe as a means for better living. Before now, Europe was not popular, until people began to make it popular and people see it as a means of slave trade and trafficking and selling our girls/women into sex slavery. Families also began to accept it as a norm. There is the need to make our environment enabling, so that our people can kick against such offer. If the country is to an extent okay and people finish school and get a job, even if it is not up to their expectation; then families will begin to see that they can fend for themselves. Parents are easily giving out their children because most times, they cannot afford daily survival.

    You remind me of Eugenia, the 15-year-old girl in our feature, (https://staging.thenationonlineng.net/dark-torturous-tunnel-of-sex-slavery/, whose father knowingly or unknowingly sold out into sex slavery.

    That girl suffered. Do you know I almost locked up the father? Even while she was at our training, he kept pestering her for money to buy her research card. At a point, he was almost confusing her into using the money we were going to give her after the training to buy him a car.

    You recently raised the alarm about parents from Osun conniving with smugglers to traffic their children. Do you have facts to back it up?

    Yes, there is a case in which we are investigating the trafficker. She is proposing to take another batch in April, having just returned from taking some 30 to 40 girls to Libya. It was an uncle to the underage girl they were about to take out that reported the case to me. He was kicking against the father’s decision to send her on the trip, but he was adamant. They usually come with the line, ‘we just want to help her;’ but they are putting someone in danger. So he called me to see how we could arrest the situation. Already, I have some voice recording of the lady trafficker, I told the uncle to play along and sell them a dummy that I have like three girls to give them. That is the only way you can get them to come out.

    It’s a bit painful to see Nigerian girls being trafficked to prostitute in smaller countries like Senegal, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire; what happened to the Nigerian pride?

    This is a trade and it depends on demand. There are some people who specifically demand for Nigerian girls. These traffickers are marketers and if they have the specification, they supply. From what we know, most of them who ended up in those countries didn’t know they were going to end up in such countries.

    We don’t hear much about arrests and prosecution of these madams; is there a kind of conspiracy?

    The crime is so organised that you can term it a high profile. Most times, the people who are being arrested are not the end people. The truth is that NAPTIP is doing a lot of prosecution and they have jailed some persons, but unfortunately, it is on the increase. Because of the peculiarities of the trade, while you’re arresting the agents, the main set keep recruiting new staff. Unlike an armed robbery gang, which you can easily burst and end, the trafficking syndicate is more sophisticated because different people are involved at different stages. That is why I was recommending a proper coordination among the security agencies and stakeholders.

    Is it all the returnees that you give funds?

    Yes, all of them get funds although there are different categories. We have people with special cases like Eugenia.

  • Post-pandemic: Are Nigerians prepared for the future of work?

    Post-pandemic: Are Nigerians prepared for the future of work?

    COVID-19 has berthed the new normal and what is largely seen as disruption in the way of doing things whether in the social and family life and the workplace. This disruption has however been more pronounced in the workplace. Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf in this report raises posers about Nigeria’s preparedness in the emerging world of work in a fast changing world

    World over, people are confronted with the reality of the new normal and have since internalised the changes, no thanks to the ravaging coronavirus pandemic. In the view of experts, COVID-19 has brought an unexpected crisis that has affected businesses; however it has also brought about new ideas and new ways of getting jobs done just as it has led to changes in the world of work. For employers particularly, the pandemic has become a key component of their hiring decision among other things.

    Changing roles, emerging champions

    Wale Adio (not real name) before the pandemic was an Admin Clerk in a juice manufacturing company in Lagos. But as soon as the pandemic struck, he was among the first sets of staffers asked to proceed on compulsory leave by the management while the majority of other workers in the production arm of the company were not only asked to remain but got hefty perks as part of incentives for work.

    This foregoing anecdote becomes apposite in describing the changing world of work where technology-driven skills set would be the order of the day. Although Nigerians are generally described as laggards when it comes to adapting to change, investigation by our correspondent however revealed that many employers are proving bookmakers wrong about adjusting to the new normal.

    A case in point is an old generation bank which recently put up job vacancies and was on the lookout for candidates with skills sets with focus on technology learning among other prerequisites.

    Jobs for tomorrow

    In a recent report tagged: ‘The Jobs of Tomorrow’ by Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum and Head of the Forum’s Centre for The New Economy and Society, she said, some jobs will disappear and others will emerge as the world faces a dual disruption.

    The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report2020 comes at a crucial juncture for the world of work. The report, now in its third edition, maps the jobs and skills of the future, tracking the pace of change based on surveys of business leaders and human resource strategists from around the world. The report aims to shed light on the effect of pandemic-related disruptions placed in the broader context of longer-term technology trends.

    According to the report, there are five points to ponder as far as the emerging world of work is concerned.

    Specifically, the report says the workforce is automating faster than expected, displacing 85 million jobs in the next five years. “Automation, in tandem with the COVID-19 recession, is creating a “double-disruption” scenario for workers. Companies’ adoption of technology will transforms tasks, jobs, and skills by 2025. Some 43 percent of businesses surveyed indicate that they are set to reduce their workforce because of technology integration, 41 percent plan to expand their use of contractors for task-specialised work, and 34 percent plan to expand their workforce as a result of technology integration. Five years from now, employers will divide work between humans and machines roughly equally.”

    Besides, the report notes that the robot revolution will create 97 million new jobs. As the economy and job markets evolve, new roles will emerge across the care economy in technology fields such as artificial intelligence—AI and in content creation careers such as social media management and content writing. The emerging professions reflect the greater demand for green economy jobs; roles at the forefront of the data and AI economy; and new roles in engineering, cloud computing, and product development. The up-and-coming jobs highlight the continuing importance of human interaction in the new economy through roles in the care economy; in marketing, sales, and content production; and in roles that depend on the ability to work with different types of people from different backgrounds.

    Looking into the future, the report says, in 2025, analytical thinking, creativity, and flexibility will be among the most sought-after skills as employers will see critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving as growing in importance in the coming years, although these have consistently been cited in previous editions of the survey. Newly emerging this year are skills in self-management, such as active learning, resilience, stress tolerance, and flexibility. The data available through metrics partnerships with LinkedIn and Coursera allowed the researchers to track the types of specialised skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow.

    Still, the report says, the most competitive businesses will focus on upgrading their workers’ skills. “For workers set to remain in their roles over the next five years, nearly half will need retraining for their core skills. The survey also found that the public sector needs to provide stronger support for reskilling and upskilling of at-risk or displaced workers.”

    More experts’ views

    In a recent baseline study undertaken by Sabina Dewan and Ekkehard Ernst and shared on the International Monetary Fund website, tagged: ‘Rethinking the World of Work’, the duo noted matter-of-factly that the pandemic is accelerating a shift towards more informal and precarious work. With millions of jobs lost, robots on the rise, and white-collar workers toiling largely at home, COVID-19 appears to have ushered in a new normal in the global workplace. But many of these developments stem from failed policy responses to megatrends already in motion long before the pandemic struck.

    For at least two decades, shifting demographics and technological upheaval have been upending labour markets, exacerbating inequality, making jobs increasingly precarious, and deepening economic insecurity. The new normal, in other words, isn’t really new.

    A deadly virus has simply accelerated the pace of change, with devastating consequences—especially for developing economies, which are expected to lose at least $220 billion in income, according to the United Nations Development Programme.

    Reporting on the survey, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) found that 17 percent of previously employed people between the ages of 18 and 29 stopped working after the pandemic hit, and 42 percent reported a drop in income. In the absence of pathways to productive and high-quality employment, developing economies that pin their economic ambitions on a demographic advantage are setting themselves up for disappointment.

    The experts however note that there is something to cheer about for countries with surging youth’s population unlike advanced economies, including: Germany, Japan, and the United States—struggling with aging populations as well as some emerging market economies, including China.

    “But in a majority of developing economies, the youth population is swelling. Some of these countries, such as India, Indonesia, and Nigeria, will approach the peak of their demographic bulge during the next two decades, while smaller countries, such as Angola and Zambia, are in earlier stages of the demographic transition. A youth bulge presents an advantage only if economies can create productive jobs with rising wages.”

    Hope rising for Nigeria

    In the view of Dr. Timothy Olawale, Director-General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), with the pandemic, it has become clearer that organisations have to be more agile, flexible, dynamic and responsive to change.

    “The disruptions created by the pandemic will be with us for quite a long time, thus, forward looking organisations are already adjusting their processes and systems in order not to only reduce the impact of the fast-changing work environment but to also maximise the opportunities inherent in the disruption,” he deadpans.

    While nothing that no organisation globally can claim to be ready because change is constant and technological innovation will continue, the NECA boss was however quick to add that “Recent events have shown that Nigerian organisations are adjusting to the realities of a changing world of work, post-pandemic. Many have imbibed and instituted various forms of work schedules, invested in technology and automation and changed their processes to enable them function effectively in view of the changing workplace dynamics.”

    To remain competitive and sustainable and to participate in the emerging global market, post-pandemic, all organisation would have to adjust and keep pace with these fast-paced changes – and Nigerian businesses are not taking the back seat, he stressed.

    Expectations from employers

    In a research project titled, ‘The Future of Work’ by Sir Dr. Chinedu Odebeatu, he acknowledged that the emergence of theCovid-19 pandemic in the first quarter of the year 2020 has delivered a rude awakening to the whole world particularly the ‘work’ environment all over the world.

    While noting that the work environment of some first world countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, China and Japan may not have been too taken by surprise since they are not only responsible for innovating and fully embracing the internet and the world wide web, but many of them have since started exploring artificial intelligence to see how they can be used to replace human beings in workplaces, many work environments of third countries like Nigeria have consistently remained on the peripherals barely accessing the vast potentials and opportunities made available by the internet and the world wide web.

    Citing Upwork- Future of Work Report, Odebeatu, who also doubles as Business Development Manager, First Bank of Nigeria, Nnewi BDO, stressed that hiring managers are expecting 168% increase in the amount of work done by the flexible talent in 10 years. “Managers are aware that it isn’t just how many hours you sit in a chair, but how much you produce. There is no longer a need for most employees to work from an office or to work 9-5. Unilever is doing a great job of this where they are rolling out this concept of (what they call) “agile work” to their 175,000+ employees around the world. MTN along with many corporate organisations in Nigeria worked from home during the lockdown resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic,” he recalled.

    Another myth shattered by COVID-19, Odebeatu observed, is the demystification of leadership in the workplace.

    According to him, unlike what obtains in the past, these days, especially during the early days of the pandemic, “Any employee that is able to build a following with the content they share internally is capable of being a leader; something which was not possible before especially not at the scale that collaboration platforms allow today. Think of how many people have become leaders as a result of social platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Facebook, now employees can do the same inside of their companies. Think about the power of the influencer’s voice on social media platforms, like Facebook, YouTube or Twitter. Imagine having that same voice with millions of followership inside a company? The advantages are enormous.”

    Downsides of the future of work

    While noting that the future of work obviously provides numerous advantages for the world of work, especially for high skilled experts and the teeming young population in Africa and other developing world, and for curtailing the huge costs of running and maintaining overloaded and bloated public and private sector workforce, Odebeatu maintained that the future of work still has its challenges especially for participating workers in third world and developing countries for whom, efficient and stable infrastructure is largely elusive.

    Specifically, he said, “Basic public amenities and services like free internet supply, cost of technological tools and devices which are unaffordable due to high poverty levels, the challenge of international payments, perception of Africans, especially Nigerians as fraudulent, which deprives many of job prospects and finally, the lack of consistent power supply are lacking.”

    Such challenges, he noted, “Put freelancers at a disadvantage as they are unable to effectively compete, not being able to meet deadlines, or are forced to do so with alternative sources of power at exorbitant costs which affect the returns they earn from the jobs.”

    Also writing on the changing world of work, Arun Sundararajan, a professor at the Stern School of Business, New York University, and author of The Sharing Economy: The End of Employment and the Rise of Crowd-Based Capitalism, observed that, “The confluence of two digital forces will dramatically reshape tomorrow’s workplace, leading to a sharp reduction in the traditional employer-employee relationship. New platforms allow economic activity to be organised in ways that shift much of what was traditionally accomplished by full-time workers within an organisation to a crowd of individual entrepreneurs and on-demand workers. The result is an economy that increasingly relies on short-term freelance relationships rather than on full-time employment.”

    She however concludes by saying that the challenges facing today’s millennial workforce seem quite daunting. “If society plays its cards right, tomorrow may offer a better place.”

    ‘Nigeria not ready for the future of work…but’

    Thelma Ibeh is Head HR, Future Moves Recruitment Agency Limited, a full-fledged human resource firm with expertise and experience in human capital development and staffing. In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, she speaks on the future of work post pandemic. Excerpts:

    Do you think Nigeria is prepared for the future of work?

    Honestly this can be answered in two ways. Nigeria as a nation is not ready for the Future of work, however companies, SMEs etc., are making efforts to prepare but when there’s no leverage for these companies the preparation becomes impossible. It is no longer news that artificial intelligence is the driving force of the fourth industrial revolution. The global economic returns expected from this revolution is about $16 trillion and as it stands, no African country is among the top 10 countries with the highest level of benefit in this economic return, what does this mean for us?

    The demand for highly skilled workers has increased while the demand for workers with less education and lower skills has decreased. So it is natural to assume that the less skilled Nigerian force who have low literacy rates and are obviously in high numbers with great barriers to acquiring quality skills and education will suffer greatly, hence we have a long way to go.

    What are the realities most employers in Nigeria should look forward to?

    Employers across the country have been tasked with reworking their physical workplaces, rethinking their customer experience and ramping up their digital capabilities for a future that’s still in question marks.  According to Delloite, the driving forces of big data, the Internet of Things, and the growing number of Generation X individuals in leadership positions have led to the rise of exponential technologies and data-driven organisations”. Organisations that can capture the potential value unlocked by technology and data’s unprecedented availability are anticipated to outpace their peers.

    Remote work is something that has come to stay; employers must start embracing this and tweaking their models to accommodate this. However this has been frustrated by the circumstances beyond their control in a country like ours. Take for an example an employee is required to work from home, there’s no power: they seek an alternative which is a generator, looking at the cost of fuel, electricity tariff, internet services etc. It’s extremely expensive to have employees work remotely especially where 70% of businesses in Nigeria are SMEs who struggle to run and keep their businesses. The reality could be more hard times for businesses.

    What are employers’ expectations from old and new recruits?

    These days, employers look for skills beyond the ‘academic qualifications’ of candidates. Many of them believe that academic qualifications and experience are something that can easily be found but the right combination of characteristics that help a company make money or save money, are hard to find.

    Employers want people who can take initiative and people having the motivation to accomplish tasks on their own. Employees or candidates need to show that they are ready, able, and willing to get things done without being asked.

    Besides, employers want employees who have a positive attitude. Many employers believe that having a positive attitude is more important than the knowledge an employee brings to the table. If you’re a positive person, you are always looking for new ideas that yield higher productivity levels.

    Entrepreneurial spirit is becoming a key sought skill.  The essence of the entrepreneurial attitude is that you are able to anticipate change and formulate innovative responses to change that will result in success.

    Of course, nothing can stand in the way of someone who is results-oriented. Results-oriented individuals are focused on making things happen no matter the challenges or road blocks.  You must know how to meet deadlines, and deliver value to the organisation. This is just as having a desire for continual learning enables employees to increase the contribution they make to the company. And there are many more expectations but these few are key.

    What are the new set skills most sought for now and in the distant future?

    Last year, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and analytical reasoning led global list of the most in-demand hard skills, while these skills still top the chart. Of course, you also have to add a positive attitude, good communication, and teamwork skills are the top three most valued soft skills by employers in recent times. Empathy and emotional intelligence are two extremely useful talents too, enabling strong, productive relationships. Within a professional environment, these two attributes will determine the quality of your interactions with your colleagues, your supervisors and your clients: they are the direct reflection of your human qualities, which will be able to bring a real competitive advantage to the development of client relationships.

    Again, as new technologies are developed based on data and Artificial Intelligence, the ability to hypothesise and resolve complex problems has grown: this has already led many professionals to work with complex ecosystems where virtual and human aspects are combined.

    What would determine employability for new recruits?

    The national job growth, recessions, technological advances and automation is obviously affecting employment rates. Looking for a job when businesses are barely surviving makes it difficult to get one. For instance, the economic situation is poor and national unemployment rates are high, it may be easier for companies to retain their employees since other job opportunities are limited.

    Certain industries previously requiring people to work on factory lines may now be able to use computer-operated machines instead of employees. This may significantly decrease the amount of employees needed in a company’s workforce.

    What this means is that new recruits must have exceptional skills with proven results and a positive attitude to get an opportunity in a time like this.

    Do you see more people staying in their job or getting thrown into the job market?

    People who know what they are doing are actually being sought for, your throwing out is dependent on your value, for many 2020 and 2021 is looking really good. A lot has several offers waiting for them, when you don’t move fast, you get thrown out! So yes a lot are thrown into the job market or lack of innovation, value, resistance to change and not being trainable. In the last six months I have hired programmers, video editors, graphics designers, digital marketers, content creators, etc., than many other jobs which in most organisations has reduced the number of employees they need to do a particular job.  Also following the economic situation in Nigeria, by default, many will be thrown out as businesses are struggling to survive due to national issues beyond their control.

    What is your advice to prospective employees?

    Well I would say firstly be prepared for the market. It’s a place of uncertainty; passion may not pay your bills at this time. Don’t always follow your passion.  If you study people who end up loving their work and becoming experts, most of them did not follow a pre-existing passion. Learn any skill available to you; your passion will develop from the things you try out. Have as many passion as possible, LOL.

    Secondly, start anywhere! The worst that can happen to anyone is staying idle at this critical time when skills needed for work are rapidly increasing and even those working aren’t meeting up how much more someone who is doing nothing. Take that job no matter how small, you can only test your ability and showcase your skills when you are out there! Only then can someone see your work. Jump the train first and gradually many opportunities will be open to you.

  • Wizkid opens up on parenting, finding peace, and music

    Wizkid opens up on parenting, finding peace, and music

    By Gbenga Bada

    Nigerian music star, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun aka Wizkid has opened up being a parent, finding peace and the type of music he enjoys listening to.

    In a recent virtual chat with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, the music star opened up on varied issues that include the success of his latest album Made In Lagos, the resilience of music, and parenting.

    In the exclusive chat, Wizkid, who is currently holidaying with his three sons in the United States of America said he would not want his children to emulate him but rather be better human beings.

    “First of all, it’s a crazy generation we’re living in, and as time goes by as they are exposed to everything. So it is very, very important to let my kids understand life and understand themselves,” he began.

    “I wouldn’t want them to emulate me, be even better human beings. That is my own important role to be able to raise great, amazing human beings, man. But I mean from the soul, cause whenever I meet a great person, I’m happy. Like I feel I go out and like there’s a whole lot of us around. You feel me? So I would just want to always in the midst of everything, in the midst of the madness, in the midst of how fast the world is growing as I would just always want my kids to stay true to that. Just by me just staying true to who I am, so yeah,” he said.

    A relaxed Wizkid said he has just found himself even though he finds it difficult explaining the process.

    Read Also: Wizkid releases new album, MIL, by 11 pm

    “Man, I just found myself. I found my peace, man. I found myself. I found my peace in ways I can’t even put words to explain. I can’t explain it. As we are growing as older people… So when you’re young, it’s like you’re searching like, “Okay, who am I? What?” You’re inspired by a lot of people. So it’s like you’re trying to find yourself. But right now I feel like I’m in the best, I’m in my zone. I know exactly why I’m here. I just found my peace, man. I found my peace in ways I can’t explain.”

    The 30-year-old award-winning singer says he listens to every music he can lay his hands on because, for him, music is his life. “I listen to everything, man. You’d be shocked. I listen to everything, everything that comes out I’ll listen. I listen, man, everything, everything I listen to because… As I said, music is life and I stay, sleep, eat music, that’s in anything I do. So. Yeah. I listen to everything, man. I will get down so like… You think about it, anything you can imagine I listen to. And I listen to a lot of old music too, cause I’m old. So like I love, I love, I love all records.”

  • C/River govt demolishes hotel for ‘harbouring’ suspected kidnappers

    C/River govt demolishes hotel for ‘harbouring’ suspected kidnappers

    Agency Reporter

    The Cross River State owned security outfit, Operation Akpakwu, on Saturday demolished Save Side Hotel in Calabar for allegedly harbouring suspected kidnappers believed to have  been terrorising the state.

    Government claimed that most of the kidnap cases in the state were planned and coordinated from the hotel.

    Governor Ben Ayade’s Security Adviser (South), Mr. Henry Okokon, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) moments after the demolition that the Homeland Security Act stipulates that “anyone who aids, abets and harbours a criminal is also guilty of the crime.”

    He said residents of the area had been living in fear because of the harassment from suspected kidnappers who used to patronise the hotel for their illegal activities.

    “The demolition exercise is an ongoing process. It is part of the activities of Operation Akpakwu that was set up to fight criminality in the state, especially kidnapping,” Okokon said.

    Read Also: Ayade equips security outfit to combat crime

    He added: “The governor had warned landlords who are harbouring criminals to desist from doing so. Therefore anybody found to be harbouring, abetting or aiding crime, must definitely be held responsible.

    “This hotel is one of the buildings that have been harbouring criminals and the government has decided to bring it down.

    “This is a warning signal to all, and I think everybody should be aware of this. The general public should be aware that security is everyone’s business.

    “I want to state that all legal procedures were taken before this building was demolished.

    “The police have equally done their investigation. That is why we have the Army, Navy and Air Force personnel on ground.”

  • Boko Haram no longer has capacity to attack our assets — Chief of Air Staff

    Boko Haram no longer has capacity to attack our assets — Chief of Air Staff

    By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, has said that Boko Haram elements have been seriously decimated by the young officers and men of the Nigerian Air Forces Special Forces.

    The Air Chief, who stated this in Kaduna on Saturday, said Boko Haram and other criminal elements no longer have the capacity to attack the Air Force base like they did in Maiduguri in 2013.

    Speaking at the combined graduation ceremony of 676 officers and men of the Air Force from five special forces training at the Regiment Training Centre in Kaduna, Air Marshal Abubakar said, the Air Force can now boast of adequately trained men who are capable of protecting the Air Assets.

    While stressing the importance of Air Assets protections to national security, the Chief of Air Staff said, the Air Force can only protect Nigeria if its assets are adequately protected.

    Read Also: Boko Haram kills nine soldiers in Nasarawa

    According to him, “we are focusing on training of Special Forces elements because we cannot give what we don’t have. Today, our young officers and men are making it difficult for Boko Haram to operate freely because of the training they have received.

    “Our special forces are doing an excellent job and the best way to know is with the performance of the regiment personnel, deployed to the various conflict areas. Look at those protecting our bases.

    “Our base in Maiduguri was attacked in December 2013, but today nobody will try that because we have all the skills and what it takes to defend our bases. That is one clear indication that the quality of training is good,” he said.

    Earlier in his welcome address, The Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command, Air Vice- Marshal Idi Amin, said, a total number of 676 students were trained.

  • National Assembly postpones resumption

    National Assembly postpones resumption

    By Sanni Onogu and Tony Akowe, Abuja

    National Assembly on Saturday, postponed its resumption till Tuesday February 9, 2020.

    Both chambers of the National Assembly had on December 21st, 2020, adjourned plenary till January 26, 2021, to enable members observe the Christmas and New Year festivities.

    The Clerk to the National Assembly, Arc. Ojo Olatunde Amos, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

    He said that the deferment of resumption was to enable lawmakers who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), partake in the party’s membership registration and revalidation exercise scheduled to begin on Monday 25th January, 2020.

    Read Also: LCCI urges National Assembly to pass PIB

    The statement reads: “This is to inform all Distinguished Senators and Honourable members of the National Assembly that the resumption of plenary sessions earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 26th January, 2021 is hereby rescheduled for Tuesday 9th February, 2021.

    This postponement is to enable members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party participate in the registration and revalidation of its membership, scheduled to commence on Monday, 25th January, 2021.”

  • Girl dies as lover pushes her from 5-storey building during brawl

    Girl dies as lover pushes her from 5-storey building during brawl

    By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    A  23-year old girl lost her life on Saturday after she was allegedly pushed down from a 5-storey building by her boyfriend during a quarrel at No. 6 Orakwe close, Awada Obosi in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.

    The suspect, Nonso Eze, 37, reportedly pushed the deceased from the 5th floor of his house.

    The Nation gathered that the victim was quickly rushed to the hospital where she was confirmed dead by the doctor.

    Confirming the incident, Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed said the suspect has been arrested and the body of the deceased deposited at the hospital mortuary.

    He said a pair of female slippers, and unused condom, were recovered as exhibits.

    He said, “On 23/1/2021 at about 6:30am, there was a report at Awada Police Station that on the same day at about 3:a.m, a girl of about 23years old whose name and address is unknown, fell down from the 5th floor of a five storey building at N0.6 Orakwe close, Awada Obosi in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.

    Read Also: Mother, baby crushed as truck evades police van

    “Police operatives attached to Awada Division visited the scene, photographed the victim and rushed her to Bex hospital Onitsha for medical attention but she was certified dead on arrival by a medical doctor.

    Consequently, preliminary inquiry from the occupants of the compound revealed that the girl was allegedly pushed down from the room of one Nonso Eze ‘m’ aged 37years of same address who is occupying the 5th floor, following a quarrel.

    Suspect was subsequently arrested and search executed in his apartment where a pair of female slippers and unused condom was recovered as exhibits.”