Author: The Nation

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has developed a new technology, Integrated Electronic Arrest Reporting System (I-EARS), for the collation of security data.

Its Commandant General (C-G), Mr. Ahmed Audi, stated this in a statement by the corps’ spokesman, Mr. Olusola Odumosu, yesterday in Abuja.

Audi said the I-EARS was to make compilation of information on all forms of crime, for planning and orchestration of strategic action for security operations by the corps.

Meanwhile, the C-G has also ordered the 15 Zonal Commanders of NSCDC across the country to beef up security in states under their jurisdiction.

He also directed them to deploy improved tactics to maintain security before, during and after the Eid-el-fitr celebration.

According to Audi, the directive became necessary following threats of attack by miscreants and bandits in different parts of the country, which must be forestalled to guarantee a hitch-free celebration.

He said: “There is need to deploy different scientific approach to combat insecurity at this time, hence the resolve for tactical deployment of conventional and specialised personnel, with appropriate operational equipment to strategic locations.’’

He listed some of those locations as Eid praying grounds, recreational centres, motor parks, shopping malls, markets and other critical national assets, adding that surveillance personnel would be deployed for covert duties.

The CG, who noted that the present security situation in the country was worrisome, expressed optimism that the challenges threatening the fabric of the nation’s collective existence would soon be over.

“The peace and stability of a country leads to its economic growth and development, therefore, it is the responsibility of every citizen to see Nigeria as a collective project that must not be allowed to fail.’’

 

 

 

By Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

Court of Appeal, Abuja Division has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Youth Party (YP) as one of the lawfully registered political parties in the country.

The decision of the appellate court was an affirmation of an earlier ruling by a Federal High Court, Abuja, which reversed the deregistering of YP, done by INEC in 2020.

The party had approached the Federal High Court seeking an order restraining the electoral body from deregistering it. But while the matter was still pending in court, INEC went ahead to deregister YP alongside 74 other parties at the time.

Consequently, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court ruled that the electoral body acted outside the law by going ahead to deregister YP while the matter was still pending.

The Supreme Court had in 2020 ruled that INEC had the powers to deregister non-performing political parties.

But one of the leaders of YP, Chief Ogala Osoka, in a chat with reporters after the judgment, said the YP did not fall in the category of the parties that were deregistered by INEC.

Osoka called on the electoral body to respect the ruling of the Court of Appeal.

In a reaction, INEC Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity Festus Okoye said the commission would approach the Supreme Court concerning the ruling of the Appeal Court in the case of YP.

By John Ofikhenua, Abuja

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) is entering into partnerships with law enforcement agencies to enforce compliance and sanctions in the extractive sectors.

Its Executive Secretary, Orji Ogbonnaya-Orji, said the agency would be signing MoUs with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.

The NEITI boss, who stated this at the NEITI headquarters in Abuja, stressed that compliance had been a challenge to extractive industries transparency initiative.

He said: “One of the challenges we have in implementing the EITI is compliance and enforcement. You are aware that reports are published in Nigeria and is usually a challenge to implement.

“This is because agencies just don’t think to do so. If there are no sanctions or incentives; sanctions for refusing to implement, incentives for doing well, everybody moves on and that is the bane of our society.”

Ogbonnaya-Orji added: “That is why we said that we will have to align with those who have very powerful machineries to enforce sanctions. So, in the next couple of days, we will be signing a draft MoU between us and the EFCC and it is being reviewed by the two organisations.

“The draft with the ICPC is being reviewed by the two organisations and the draft with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit is also being reviewed.”

He said all parties had given themselves this month of May to sign the MoUs.

Ogbonnaya-Orji stated that each of these agencies had been encouraged to establish professional extractive industry desks equipped with staff with requisite training in that area.

“In the EFCC, we have geologists, geoscientists and people who have worked in the oil and gas industry. If they don’t have, they will engage and when our reports are released, we share with them,” he stated.

 

 

 

The Shepherd Superintendent of the Household of God Church Oregun, Lagos, Rev. Chris Okotie, has urged Nigerians not to run away from their fatherland owing to the current security situation.

In a statement issued to the media yesterday, Rev. Okotie said Nigerians should stand up to the challenges posed by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals rather than abandoning the country to the aggressors.

Rev. Okotie spoke in reaction to comments on social media, in which some prominent citizens were urging Nigerians to be prepared to escape from the country in view of the deteriorating security situation of the country.

Quoting scriptures to support his admonitions, he said: “David faced Goliath. Some trust in chariots and horses as veritable escapist instrumentality. But we will remember the name of the Lord. The hireling runs but the true shepherd repels the canine monstrosity of the old fox. No uncircumcised Philistine will annex the inheritance of the saints in light in Nigeria.

“They lurk in our forests in covert stratagem. They parade our streets, by ways and high ways in subtle disguise. Yet Jehovah has discovered their witty inventions. His indignation will consume them in holy jealously. Fear not beloved of the Lord for there is a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees.”

“The armies of heaven are marshaled forth on our behalf. Remember, the taunting of Ishmael will not cause Isaac to lose the inheritance. So, stand your ground. Having done all, Stand!

“Our God is Jehovah Sabaoth, the mighty God Almighty. Of whom shall we be afraid? Jesus Christ, Jehovah-Victor is the Ark of God and leads his army. Arise! Arise! soldiers of the cross. Time to take the battle to the gate!

 

 

 

 

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has assured the citizens that the country’s “extremely bright economic future” cannot be aborted despite the current challenges facing it.

He spoke yesterday during a facility tour of SecureID’s premises, a smart card manufacturing company, which is based in Lagos.

A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, yesterday, said SecureID is the first of such companies in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the three such cutting-edge facilities on the continent, with top prime global certifications.

According to the statement, while inspecting the facility, Osinbajo had said: “The economic future of our nation is extremely bright. Yes, we have challenges today and they may look daunting. But let me assure you that these issues will be resolved. The march of this nation to its manifest destiny as Africa’s leading economic power will not be aborted. We are more than able to overcome.”

He said the Buhari Administration in “following the recommendation of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, has determined that manufacturing will be our main focus in bringing about dynamic growth, jobs and exports”.

“This will mean retooling our business environment for greater competitiveness, especially with the takeoff of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.

“We are rethinking our tax regimes, sorting out external and internal trade issues, getting our regulatory authorities; SON, NAFDAC, and even Customs, to see their roles more as business facilitators rather than policemen or revenue generators. Our environment must be friendly for local businesses first, foreign investments will follow enthusiastically,” Osinbajo said.

Commenting on the efforts of the administration to position the country as a leading economic beacon on the continent, the VP also stated that the Buhari administration was ramping up efforts in improving the country’s infrastructure and digital space.

“Aside from the work we are doing with other infrastructure such as rail, roads and power, we are committed to a plan of democratising broad band connectivity. Our programme, which we have reiterated in our Economic Sustainability Plan, is broadband connectivity for all by 2023.

“The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy launched the National Broadband Plan which is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25mbps in urban areas and 10mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population at affordable prices by the target date. Broadband connectivity is as important as electricity in the digital age. Unlike electricity, we do not have to make several mistakes before getting it right,” the VP said.

Hailing the efforts of the founder and Managing Director of SecureID, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe, Prof. Osinbajo described SecureID facility as a place of history, innovation and creativity.

Mrs. Akinkugbe highlighted the significance of the Vice President’s visit, noting that he had come to see some of the much-touted potential being realised. She added that SecureID was a good entrepreneurial story of an abiding faith in God and the nation, proving the viability of investing and staying in the course.

She commended the Federal Government for establishing institutions and agencies to support and encouraged start-ups, MSMEs and other enterprises that had offered assistance to the company.

In his remarks, a representative of the Bank of Industry said he was excited to partner with SecureID, being a pioneer of world-class status in the industry, as well as making world class products, while generating foreign exchange earnings and creating jobs.

Others who spoke at the event were the Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Corps Boboye Oyeyemi; and Deputy Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Mr. Gbenga Osoba.

Accompanying the Vice President were the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Ade Ipaye; Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada; representative of the Governor of Lagos State, His Lordship, the Anglican Bishop of Lagos State, Bishop Humphrey Olumakaiye and other government functionaries.