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Tag: Bello Matawalle

  • Banditry and name-calling

    Banditry and name-calling

    Residents of the North are having a huge challenge dealing with banditry that has hobbled  that region of this country for more than a decade. But leaders of the region are not making tackling the challenge any easier with their seeming penchant for finger-pointing and mutual accusations of links with bandits. It is high time government at the centre thoroughly looked into these accusations and ascertain if there is any validity to them; and if there isn’t, call out phony accusers.

    A group, last week, plied a defence of Senator Shehu Buba against allegations of sponsoring banditry and kidnappings in Bauchi State. The Bauchi government had recently accused Buba of abetting banditry activities in the state and petitioned the Presidency about his alleged involvement in the menace. But the group named Coalition of Civil Societies Networks (CCSN) described allegations against the lawmaker, who represents Bauchi South in the red chamber and chairs the Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence, as baseless. At a press briefing in Abuja, CCSN spokesman Jabir Aminu said the allegations were not only false but calculated to detract from the political capital that Buba had acquired among Bauchi people. He alleged that enemies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker were jittery of his growing popularity ahead of the 2027 governorship elections in the state and were making efforts to undermine him.

    What you see in Bauchi is nothing compared with Zamfara State where Governor Dauda Lawal and his predecessor, now Defence Minister of State Bello Matawalle, have been trading accusations of complicity in banditry activities bedevilling the state. Lawal has repeatedly alleged that Matawalle had links with bandits with whom he negotiated when he was governor, and that he facilitated their criminal exploits. In a recent television interview, he dared Matawalle to resign his job as minister and face the allegations. He later said through an aide that he had reported the minister to President Bola Tnubu and National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.

    Read Also: Nigeria deploys satellite communications assets against terrorists, bandits – NigComSat boss

    But the minister denied the charge and counter-accused Lawal of being the patron saint of bandits posturing as fighting the menace they constitute. Also speaking on national television, he argued that he wasn’t the only governor during his time who negotiated with bandits. “The then governors of Niger and Sokoto States did the same. Why only me (being accused of links with bandits)? Because it is Zamfara,” he said as he challenged the present governor to swear on the Holy Quran as he already had done. “I challenged all the politicians, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal, to do the same. None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t take the oath, that means they are part of it,”  he added.

    There is need for the Presidency to probe these counter-claims and take follow-up measures as may be necessary.

  • ‘Matawalle turning tide against Banditry in North West’

    ‘Matawalle turning tide against Banditry in North West’

    The Northern Youth Forum (NYF) has praised progress made in the fight against banditry in the North West region, attributing the success to the leadership and dedication of Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

    According to the Forum, Matawalle’s recent visit to the region has brought instant results, likening his intervention to a fast-acting remedy that brings swift relief.

    In a statement by its President, Alhaji Bagudu Mohammed Kudu, the Forum commended President Tinubu for appointing Matawalle, saying his presence has energized the troops and brought a new sense of purpose to the operation.

    With bandits fleeing in disarray, the Northern Youth Forum expressed pride and gratitude towards the Minister and the security forces, urging the government to sustain the momentum.

    Kudu said: “The Northern Youth Forum is thrilled to witness the remarkable progress in the war against banditry in the North West region, courtesy of the unwavering dedication and strategic leadership of Minister Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence.

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    “As President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s trusted lieutenant, Matawalle has brought a new era of hope and relief to the long-suffering people of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, and other affected areas.

    “His recent visit to the North West has been a game-changer, yielding instant results that are a testament to his unflinching commitment to ending the scourge of banditry. 

    “Maganin Kunama, in Hausa, refers to a fast-acting remedy that brings instant relief from the painful sting of a scorpion. Matawalle’s intervention is akin to this potent medicine, bringing swift and tangible results to the region.

    “We have always believed in the capabilities of our Armed Forces, and their bravery and sacrifice will never be in doubt. However, what was lacking was the political will to tackle the bandits head-on.

    “President Tinubu’s decision to send Matawalle to the theatre of operation has filled this gap, and the results are evident for all to see. Matawalle’s visit has been a masterstroke, and we urge the government to sustain this momentum.

    “The Minister’s presence has energized the troops, and his strategic leadership has brought a new sense of purpose to the operation. As the bandits, led by the notorious Turji Bello, flee in disarray, we cannot help but feel a sense of pride and gratitude towards Matawalle and the entire security apparatus.

    “This is a victory for the people, and we must ensure that it is sustained.”

    The Forum called on stakeholders to support the government’s efforts and praised Matawalle for his courage and commitment to ending banditry. ” The people of the North West are forever grateful, and we look forward to a future free from the shackles of banditry,” Kudu stated.

  • Security needs 350m rounds of ammunition yearly, says minister

    Security needs 350m rounds of ammunition yearly, says minister

    The Nigerian Armed Forces, para-military and the police need 350  million rounds of ammunition yearly for effective operations, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle said yesterday.

    The minister spoke on the imperative of self-sufficiency in defence production during the signing of a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of weapon production plant in Abuja.

    The MoU was between the Ministry of Defence and two agencies  – the Defence Industries Corporations of Nigeria (DICON) and the National Agency for Science and Engineering (NASENI).

    The ceremony was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, service chiefs and heads of security agencies.

    Also yesterday,  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu explained why he signed the DICON Bill within six months, saying that he was driven by his vision of self-reliance in defence production.

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    The president shed light on his security priorities at the 60th anniversary of DICON and maiden African Defence Industries Conference in Abuja.

    He emphasised that the country has to achieve self-sufficiency in military hardwears.

    The theme of the conference was: DICON at 60: Future Frontiers in Africa’s Defence Technology.”

    President Tinubu,  who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,  Senator George Akume, said DICON has become “a cornerstone of Nigeria’s military-industrial complex, producing ammunition and equipment that support Nigeria’s military and security agencies.”

    Nigeria will export military capabilities, says minister

    Matawalle said if past administrations had made self-sufficiency their goal, Nigeria should by now would be exporting its military capabilities.

    He said: “We have been travelling all over the world, and we see how local manufacturers are developing their countries. Unfortunately, Nigeria, for 60 years, has failed to build the institutions. But that has changed and it will continue changing.

    “I make a promise to Mr. President that, before the expiration of his four years,  DICON will be exporting its military capabilities.

    “If today we are producing 60 or 70 percent of our military hardware and ammunition, it will reduce the amount of money the ministry or the military is spending every year on procurement of hardwares and ammunition.

    “The ammunition requirement of our military is about 200 million rounds per annum. Just military. Put together, other paramilitaries, the police, we are looking at about 350 million rounds of ammunition per annum”.

    The Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the partnership between NASENI and the Ministry of Defence underscored the nation’s commitment to harnessing scientific and engineering expertise in the service of national defence.

    He said: “NASENI has always been at the forefront of promoting innovation and technological advancement across various sectors in Nigeria, and with our track record of success in research and development, manufacturing, we are well positioned to contribute meaningfully to the establishment of the Military Industrial Complex.

    “Our goal is to create a robust ecosystem that does not only support the needs of the armed forces, but also foster growth of the local industries, thereby reducing our dependence on foreign imports”.

    Halilu said the Military Industrial Complex would serve as a hub for the development, production and maintenance of military equipment, ranging from small arms and advanced defence systems.

    He said: “By leveraging NASENI’s expertise in areas such as material science, robotics and advanced manufacturing, we ensure that our military is well equipped with the best tools to defend our nation.”

    ‘Ajaokuta steel critical to military hardware development ‘

    The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, said the Ajaokuta Steel Plant could provide a perfect platform for the Military Industrial Complex.

    He said: “It has the capacity to be able to withhold military barracks. There’s an engineering workshop in some of the production units there that can help to produce helmets, vests, rifles, bullets, and body parts for military tanks and the likes.”

    ‘Why I quickly signed DICON Bill

    President Tinubu said the new DICON law was enacted to equip the corporation with modern automated production lines and production systems.

    He said: “Today, DICON has the most significant market potential in Africa and it is repositioned to leverage the vast potential of the private sector to pursue innovations and technologies that will ramp up our indigenous defence productions.

    “I am happy to see the progress towards establishing our first unmanned aerial and land vehicle automated production lines. These lofty steps would indeed, bring us closer to the rest of the world, and no doubt, significantly impact our current efforts to defeat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.”

    Presideng Tinubu said the DICON Act 2023 is “providing a robust framework to drive our strategic objectives in defence manufacturing and technology and supporting the modernisation of our Armed Forces to address national and sub-regional security challenges.”

    He said the launch of the DICON Evolution Strategy and Road Map 2033, based on the DICON Act 2023, “would bridge performance gaps in our military industrial complex and reposition DICON as a global player, as envisaged by our founding fathers.”

    The president said the strategy aligned with two key priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration, which are “strengthening national security and accelerating economic diversification through industrialisation, digitalisation, manufacturing, and innovation.”

    Gen. Musa: Africa should collaborate on security

    The CDS said for African countries to effectively tackle insecurity,  they must work together and foster regional cooperation.

    Gen. Musa said: “As African nations continue to confront threats to peace and stability, it is essential that we work together to enhance our defence capabilities and foster regional cooperation.

    “As we reflect on the security challenges grappling our respective nations today, there is a growing imperative to fully develop our indigenous production capacities, and strengthen our military industrial complex.”

    The Director-General of DICON, Maj.-Gen. Aniedi Edet, said the rebranding of the corporation through the new DICON Act enable it to embrace new opportunities and enhance military capabilities, human capital development and cooperations.

    He said: “In the 21st century, our projects have become more diverse, encompassing not only military products but also ventures into civilian applications that leverage our technological capabilities.”

  • Zamfara governor shuts down school, suspends staff over desecration of Qur’an

    GOVERNOR Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State on Saturday went tough with the authorities Shattima Model Primary School, Gusau, over an allegation of  desecration of the Holy Qur’an in the school.

    He shut down the school and sent the staff on an indefinite suspension.

    A full investigation was immediately ordered into the situation.

    To conduct the probe is the Basic Education Commission, according to Yusuf Idris, the Director-General, Press Affairs to the governor.

    Read Also: Zamfara to probe radio, television stations

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), pages of the Holy Qur’an were discovered around 11am on Friday in the sewage of the school.

    The governor who is currently in the United States to woo investors, pledged that the government would fish out the perpetrators.

    He directed the immediate deployment of three additional security guards to all public primary schools in the state capital to beef up security.

    “Government will deal ruthlessly with anyone with a hand in this dastardly act, however highly placed,” he said and urged residents to be more vigilant.

    Matawalle said people should report suspicious movements in their areas to security agencies or Shariah commission officials for prompt intervention.