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Tag: militancy

  • How monarchs’ intervention ended militancy, uprising, by Osinbajo

    TRADITIONAL rulers’ intervention in the wake of bombing of oil installations by the Niger Delta militants and the secessionist uprising in the Southeast brought relative peace to the two regions, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday.

    He spoke in Abuja while opening the 10th National Development Summit of Nigerian Traditional Rulers.

    According to him, the monarchs played crucial roles at the point that the country was threatened by the Niger Delta militants and the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Osinbajo challenged traditional rulers to take greater responsibility in resolving conflicts, saying dialogue and engagements were as important as law enforcement in tackling disputes.

    He said traditional rulers were better placed “to champion this vision of continuing dialogue and engagement because of the respect you command from the widest possible range of stakeholders and parties”.

    Osinbajo said: “Dialogue and engagement are just as important as law enforcement, especially in situations triggered by misunderstandings and disagreements between people and communities who have existed peacefully side-by-side for centuries.”

    The vice president also said even though the law enforcement agencies were critical elements in deterring criminality and ensuring that perpetrators were brought to justice, overlooking the place of non-coercive conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms would do a great disservice to the people.

    It was in recognition of this critical role of traditional rulers, he said, that informed government’s approach to dealing with Nigeria’s most pressing security issues in the Niger Delta and in the Middle Belt.

    He said government has been engaging traditional rulers in the flashpoint regions, counting on the influence they wield to chart a new and collective course of understanding, instead of the default approach of resorting to violence as a way of dealing with grievances.

    The vice president said: “As custodians of our rich history, we also believe that you have a duty to remind us of the things we have got right in the past, but from which, for some reason or another, we have departed from, to our detriment…

    “May I, therefore, most respectfully ask that you take this as a call to you, as royal fathers, as traditional rulers, as elder statesmen, to commit yourselves to deepening your partnership with government, to achieve our shared goal of laying the foundation of peace and security that will guarantee true greatness for Nigeria.”

    But, the traditional rulers at the summit expressed fears that the foundation of Nigeria as established by the founding fathers had been visibly deficient and threatened.

    They said the only way the country could be made great was when the leaders and different ethnic nationalities resolve to build a nation on a foundation of equity, justice, fairness, labour and high moral standards.

    Chairman of Governing Council of the National Development Summit of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso Abe called for more roles for traditional rulers by the government.

    The monarch said it was disheartening that the constitutional review embarked upon by the National Assembly had remained inclusive for over a decade, while resolutions at the recent national conference have not been considered for adoption in the interest of national survival and progress.

    Dr. Abe, who is the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom of Delta State, said the country needs a good leader that will create jobs and build bridges.

    He added that as a result of the security challenges in the country, most traditional rulers were unable to attend the summit that started with over 400 members when it was inaugurated by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua 10 years ago.

    He added that the country was born with incredible potentials and not meant to crawl or stagnate.

  • Speaker seeks divine help against crimes

    Speaker seeks divine help against crimes

    The  Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, is seeking divine intervention to tackle kidnapping, militancy, killing, oil bunkering and other crimes in his constituency.

    The Nation learnt that Benson, who represents Southern Ijaw 4, was worried by these vices  and had hired clerics to heal his constituency.

    He was said to have contacted Rev. Uma Ukpai to lead other clerics to his local government for a three-day crusade to discourage people from crimes.

    Benson, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Aotendeike Boloigha, said the crusade was organised to improve his community.

    The Speaker, who addressed heads of clans, paramount rulers and chairmen of community development committees (CDC), said it was unacceptable for a community, hitherto known for peace and good neighbourliness, to assume a negative identity.

    He said: “Travelling to our once very peaceful environment is now done with the presence of heavily armed military men. Traditional and social functions are not left out.”

    The Chairman of Central Planning Committee and General Overseer, Doxa Family Church, Rev. T. Y. Emmanuel, said the programme was timely, adding that it is time for the people to come together.

    He urged every family to participate, saying the Bishop of Ogbia Diocese of Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. James Aye-Oruwori is among those expected at the crusade.

    King Timi-Ododo, paramount ruler of Ikebiri I community, who spoke for the monarchs, described the Speaker as a leader who identifies with the people.

    Pastor Job Molo, the CDC chairman of Azuzuama community, on behalf of his counterparts from other communities, said they would mobilise people to the crusade.

  • Minister, Dickson trade words on militancy

    Minister, Dickson trade words on militancy

    Minister of State for Agriculture Heineken Lokpobiri has said Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson lied against him over sponsorship of militancy and other criminal activities.

    He denied sponsoring a warlord, Oyawerikumor Peregbabofa, aka Karaowei, who was arrested and killed by security agencies for beheading a senior intelligence security officer and killing five soldiers.

    Speaking at a transparency briefing, Dickson accused the minister of buying arms and ammunition for the slain Karaowei and sponsoring criminal activities.

    He said Lokpobiri had done nothing positive with his position and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call him to order.

    Dickson alleged: “The Minister of State, Senator Lokpobiri, is the one who armed and equipped Kareowei who  killed soldiers and subjected innocent communities to hardship.

    “The guns he used to kill and other ammunition were supplied by Senator Lokpobri. I have evidence that on  January 2, Kareowei and his cohorts  were in Ekeremor, celebrating with Lokpobiri, and that is the person appointed as a minster of state”.

    But Lokpobiri said he never had any relationship with the late militant leader.

    He said he was not at his hometown, Ekeremor, at the time Dickson accused him of meeting the warlord.

    The minister said: “I was with my kith and kin at Ekeremor from December 31 to January 2 to celebrate the New Year. A football match, wrestling contest and lots of fanfare characterised the celebration. I was, however, bade goodbye by family, relations, friends and well- wishers and left in the morning of January 2.

    “The allegation of Governor Dickson is not only false, but also wicked and most ungodly. The same militant even came to threaten me on  New Year’s Eve. He fired shots into the air before leaving.

    “I narrated the incident  to one of our respected security officers on my way to Abuja for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa on January 3.

    “The accusation of purchase of arms and equipment for the militant is a figment of the imagination of  Governor Dickson. I have nothing to do with the militant.

    “On my contribution to nation building, as minister of state, Agriculture and Rural Development, my constituency is the entire country. There is no denying the fact that my colleague and I have worked hard to reposition the sector to the admiration of Nigerians.

    “Agriculture was reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBC) as the highest contributor to GDP last year. The allegation by Governor Dickson that he has not seen anything I have done in my village is, therefore, petty and preposterous.

    “The theatrics of Governor Dickson is a dance of the absurd on the misfortunes of the people of Ndoro community in particular and Bayelsa State at large.

    “Common sense in good governance dictates that the proper thing to do is to attend to the needs of the displaced persons and do the needful to help them return to their community and rebuild their lives. This is what people of good will do and I expect him to do as a governor.

    “Let it be known that the shameful campaign of calumny against me is not an account of stewardship that should be the focus of a transparency briefing.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Report: militancy, political uncertainty pose risks for businesses in 2018

    Investor sentiment across West Africa may experience uplift in the new year, following Nigeria’s exit from recession this year.

    Still, political uncertainty ahead of Nigeria’s 2019 presidential elections and on-going security concerns are among the key risks for businesses  in the region, Control Risks, a specialist global risk consultancy, has said in its yearly political and security risk forecast titled: ‘RiskMap.’

    According to Control Risks’ Senior Partner for West Africa,  Tom Griffin, this year has been tough  for businesses. He however, said that with Nigeria exiting recession, and foreign exchange shortages easing, “We see a strong improvement in investor sentiment emerging.”

    Griffin said another major engine of growth will be Cote d’Ivoire, where economic expansion is projected at around seven per cent next year.

    He said there would be only a handful of elections in the region next year, meaning continuity would largely prevail with policy decisions having the biggest impact on the business environment.

    In Nigeria however, though presidential elections are next slated for 2019, campaigning has already started.The uncertainty that generates, as well as the need for cash that an election brings, mean that political instability and regulators whose actions will be difficult to predict remain among our top risks for businesses in the year ahead,” Griffin said.

    Control Risks in the forecast accessed by The Nation identified terrorism and militancy, irregular regulators and political instability, among others, as key risks facing businesses in West Africa next year. Specifically, it said business assets and personnel in West Africa will remain vulnerable to attacks by transnational or domestic militant groups.

    The report said al-Qaeda and its affiliates would continue to threaten operators in the Sahel, while the oil and gas industry in Nigeria’s Niger Delta would remain exposed to attacks by domestic militant groups. “Failure to resolve the underlying political and socio-economic grievances at the root of these movements will see the threat persist in 2018,” it warned.

    Control Risks added that as countries in the region, notably commodity-dependent economies, face growing fiscal pressures, operators are likely to see regulatory bodies increasingly act as revenue-generating bodies, strengthening local content provisions, introducing stricter fiscal terms, reviewing contracts or erratically imposing fines in companies in the hope of boosting state finances.

    Noting that this would give rise to commercial disputes, legal challenges, and the need for businesses to engage with government stakeholders, the report added that protracted political and socio-economic grievances will continue to fuel popular discontent and a desire for regime change in parts of the region.

    It pointed out, for instance, that Cameroonian President Paul Biya’s re-election bid amid a continued crisis in the Anglophone regions would exacerbate tensions, while Togolese would continue to protest   the end of the 50-year-old Gnassingbé dynasty.

    “Protests will pose security threats to businesses, while regime changes would prompt major institutional changes and complicate engagements for operators,” it warned.

    Continuing, Control Risks said new sectors would throw up new risks in the coming year. It said from Senegal’s offshore potential to the country’s embryonic mining sector, some countries would be foraying into previously-undeveloped sectors in 2018. It, however, advised that prospective investors need to monitor closely how the government’s ability to oversee these sectors evolves and what the associated risks around these projects become.

    On operational risks, the report said many of the major risks  businesses face in West Africa were  impediments to operations. It listed some of them to include shortages of or difficulties in sourcing fuel, foreign currency, equipment and skilled labour.

    The report further noted that infrastructure deficits that persist in the majority of the region, such as in electricity and transport, would continue to mean higher costs, higher demands on management resources and a tougher capital-raising environment, as well as greater uncertainty for businesses than in other regions.

    According to Control Risks, many countries in Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon among them, face the prospect of what could become a sovereign debt crisis, a decade after they followed Ghana’s lead in entering the international bond market. “The problem is driven by high levels of external debt, persistent uncertainty over the recovery of commodity prices to fund repayments, and borrowing to fund recurrent expenditure,” it said.

    While pointing out that countries dependent on oil revenues are particularly vulnerable to ballooning debt in 2018, the report said in Nigeria and Ghana, plans to borrow to finance long-term infrastructure will not generate sufficient revenues in the coming year to finance debt repayments.

    “Amid rising inflation and muted oil prices, Nigeria’s debt servicing payments – which in 2016 doubled to 66 per cent of total revenues – are likely to rise further, placing extreme strain on an already stretched budget.

    “With the government of President Muhammadu Buhari well over halfway through its term, yet to fulfil many of the promises that brought it to power and already entering campaign mode, businesses in Nigeria will remain acutely sensitive to political and operational instability in 2018,” the report added.

  • Oil: Ambode vows to prevent militancy, unrest in Lagos

    Oil: Ambode vows to prevent militancy, unrest in Lagos

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has inaugurated a 45-member committee on Oil Producing Areas Community Relations in Badagry.

    Ambode said the committee would work at preventing environmental degradation, communal disputes and face-off between investors and host communities of oil producing areas often experienced in other parts of the country.

    The governor spoke yesterday while inaugurating Olusola Thomas Court House in Badagry, a new six-room court complex named after a former Chief Judge of the State

    On May 3, 2016, Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited, a wholly owned indigenous firm and operator of the OML 113, announced the commencement of crude oil production on Aje field located offshore Lagos.

    This confirmed Lagos’ status as one of Nigeria’s oil-producing states.

    Ambode said: “Lagos, being the home of Nigeria’s most critical commercial activities and now an oil producing state, cannot afford to have any community unrests or disruption of the peace.

    “It is imperative that our oil producing companies and their host communities enjoy a very warm and mutually beneficial relationship.”

    The governor noted that although oil was the major source of Nigeria’s revenue and despite the huge benefits from its discovery, its exploration had brought some negative effects in the oil producing communities, subsequently affecting the whole nation.

    “The exploration activities have been found to create serious environmental challenges affecting health, social and economic activities, sustainable development and ecological balance due to land degradation and air pollution among others.

    “These activities among others have led to agitations from communities and youth groups, leading to disruption of exploration activities, pipeline vandalisation and in extreme cases kidnapping and violence,” he said.

    This, Ambode noted, has made it difficult to conduct the business of oil production smoothly and ensure that the relationships between the oil companies and their host communities remain cordial at all times.

    He added: “This has also affected negotiations for compensations for land acquisition, damages and spills”.

    The governor observed that Lagos, being the home of Nigeria’s most critical commercial activities and an oil producing state, cannot afford to have any community unrests or disruption of peace.

    “It is imperative that our oil producing companies and their host communities enjoy a very warm and mutually beneficial relationship.

    The committee comprises representatives of the state and local government, the host communities, women and youth, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

    According to the governor, the committee would, among other things, “interface between the host communities and the oil companies in Badagry, as well as coordinate a seamless implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions planned for the Badagry oil producing areas by oil producing companies in Badagry.

    He said: “Our government is committed to creating a conducive environment for all to thrive especially in our budding oil industry. We will always work to protect our people and ensure their improved welfare while at the same time providing an investor-friendly environment.

    “On our part, we will take proactive measures to prevent oil spillage and where it happens, quickly move to clean it up according to globally accepted standards. We will also ensure the safety and security of our communities and operators at all times.

    Alluding to the fact that the Badagry area was fast becoming a major hub for oil activities in Nigeria, the Governor expressed optimism that the upcoming Badagry Deep Sea Port will provide logistic support for the oil and gas industry and further support the expansion of the economy of this axis thereby making it more viable and liveable.

    On the Olusola Thomas Court House, Ambode said it was “another strong representation of his commitment to the rule of law and social justice, as well as a testimony of the determination to ensure that distance or geographical location is not a barrier to citizens’ access to justice.”

    He recalled that prior to the construction of the facility, the entire town of Badagry including residents from the Benin Republic border all the way to Okokomaiko were served by only two courts, one for Magistrate and other for High Court, which were grossly inadequate.

    The governor said the need to construct more court rooms in the axis was also made imperative by the fact that the Badagry axis was fast evolving as a major economic hub in this state with vast potentials especially in tourism and commerce.

    “The ongoing transformation of Badagry through infrastructural renewal and development are meant to open up this part for investors who will take advantage of the multi-million oil exploration activity and Deep Sea Port Project, among others,” he said.

    “The court has been equipped with modern facilities for the comfort of not only judges and magistrates but also everyone including lawyers and members of the public.”

    The governor also highlighted its security features to include CCTV surveillance cameras and monitors within the various courtrooms and the entire vicinity of this complex.

    “There is a well-equipped Library, exhibit room and conference room facilities for the continued training and retraining of justice personnel assigned to this complex. This facility is also equipped with administrative offices that will service the six courtrooms and also accommodate the Office of Public Defender (OPD) which will continue to provide legal services and advice to the vulnerable.”

    Besides, Governor Ambode assured that the bad state of roads leading to Badagry would soon be a thing of the past.

  • Militancy: Niger Delta leaders call for calm

    Some leaders from the Niger Delta have appealed to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), which has threatened to resume violent agitation in the oil-rich region, to sheathe its sword.

    The group, popularly referred to as ‘the Avengers’ had at the weekend called off its unilateral ceasefire, warning oil companies of imminent bloody attacks on their facilities and personnel in the region and citing federal government’s failure to devote serious attention to issues affecting their homeland.

    But reacting to the development during a chat in Warri yesterday, the spokesman of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri Southwest Council area of Delta State, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, while calling on the group to calm down and suspend plans of attack, faulted the federal government for not living up to its promises to the region.

    According to him, the federal government had failed to fulfil any of the promises that led to the suspension of the hostilities, more than one year after meeting with leaders of the region under the aegis of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).

    “We admonish the avengers to sheathe their swords. Whatever is making them angry is justifiable. Oil is the blood of the nation. Destroying oil and gas facilities will do us no good.

    “It’s one year and two days since PANDEF tendered the 16-point agenda to the president after pleading with the Avengers. So why won’t they be angry? Perhaps the threats from the Avengers will wake the government up. They should remember that the Avengers are not laptop criminals, but real agitators.

    “On the Maritime University, nothing seems to be happening. The N2 billion, which is even small has not been released. The Delta State government should also do something. The peace we’ve been enjoying is that of the graveyard because the FG is not doing anything to ease the problem. The EPZ project is on hold.”

    Also, national Coordinator of the Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress, (PNDPC) Chief Mike Loyibo, has urged all the agitators to give peace a chance even though he admitted the fact their reasons to return to the trenches are quite genuine given  government’s slow pace response to the agreement reached on November 1, 2016 in Abuja.

    While stating that bombing is not an option to the peaceful resolution of the problem in the region, Loyibo, noted that the earlier the militants realised that no one has the monopoly of violence the better for the region as the constant threat to destruction of the nation’s critical assets would do no one, no good.

    According to him, “I agree that the government had been very slow in responding to the demands of the people in the region, but then, we have seen reasonable show of commitment on the part of the government in the taking off of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, and others. So we can still give them more time to do more.

    “Our brother and son Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was in power for six years, if we had put so pressure on him then like we are doing with the present government perhaps we would have seen the region transformed to Dubai by now but no, we allowed him have his way throughout the period he was in office and did nothing for the region and now we are crying neglect and marginalisation.”

    Responding to the issue of warning by the Avengers to some groups and individuals described as political jobbers in the struggle, Loyibo, noted that it was one of the reasons why his group, the PNDPC had to break away from the PANDEF when it was discovered that its leadership had started playing politics with the struggle.

     

  • Militancy: Niger Delta Leaders call for calm

    Militancy: Niger Delta Leaders call for calm

    Reactions have started trailing the threat by dreaded militant group; the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to resume violent agitation in the oil-rich region, with some elders and opinion leaders of the region calling on the group to sheathe its sward.

    The group, popularly referred to as ‘the Avengers’ had on Friday called off its unilateral ceasefire, warning oil companies of imminent bloody attacks on their facilities and personnel in the Niger Delta and citing federal government’s failure to devote serious attention to issues affecting their homeland.

    But reacting to the development during a chat in Warri Saturday the spokesman of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri Southwest council area of Delta state, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, while calling on the group to calm down and suspend plans of attack, faulted the federal government for not living up to its promises to the region.

    According to him, the federal government had failed to fulfill any of the promises that led to the suspension of the hostilities, more than one year after meeting with leaders of the region under the aegis of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).

    “We admonish the avengers to sheathe their swords. Whatever is making them angry is justifiable. Oil is the blood of the nation. Destroying oil and gas facilities will do us no good.

    “It’s one year and two days since PANDEF tendered the 16-point agenda to the president after pleading with the avengers. So why won’t they be angry? Perhaps the threats from the avengers will wake the FG up. They should remember that the avengers are not laptop criminals, but real agitators.

    “On the Maritime University, nothing seems to be happening. The N2 billion, which is even small, has not been released. The Delta state government should also do something. The peace we’ve been enjoying is that of the graveyard because the FG is not doing anything to ease the problem. The EPZ project is on hold.

    “All developments are directed to the north. Can you imagine the president telling the world bank to focus development in the north. Over 80% employment is directed to the north. Does the FG really have the intention to develop the Niger Delta? It’s our land, if we burst pipe line, it devastates the land”, he said.

  • Ex-NDA commandant urges students to shun militancy

    EX-Commandant of National Defence College of Nigeria (NDA) in Abuja Rear Admiral Thomas Lokoson (retd) yesterday urged students from Niger Delta University (NDU) to shun militancy, pipeline vandalism and vices.

    He said they could mar their future and endanger the Niger Delta environment.

    Lokoson spoke in Yenagoa when he received an award  from Niger Delta University Development Students’ Working Committee of the Students’ Union Government.

    It was in recognition of his contributions to develop the institution.

    Lokoson, in April 2014, donated 800 volumes of multi-disciplinary books to NDU, and instituted an award of N20,000 for best graduating students in political science and marine engineering.

    The ex-commander, who has 13 students benefiting from his scholarship scheme, donated N100 million to NDU, medical equipment and consumables  from Canada to NDU in 2015.

    He told the students that militancy and bunkering led to insecurity and pollution of Niger Delta environment.

    Lokoson said such destroyed livelihood and hampered development.

  • We’ll eliminate kidnapping, militancy in one year, says IGP

    We’ll eliminate kidnapping, militancy in one year, says IGP

    Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris yesterday vowed that kidnapping and similar crimes would be eliminated within a year with the necessary support and cooperation from Nigerians.

    He spoke during a working visit to The Nation’s corporate headquarters in Lagos to solicit the support of the media organization and boost existing relationship between the police and the company.

    Idris said police officers have been strengthened and their morale boosted to combat crimes.

    He spoke of plan to send  100 marine policemen to the Navy  for special training on counter kidnapping and  militancy.

     ‘‘We have strengthened our officers and boosted their morale in combating crimes,” he said.

    The IGP hailed Nigerians for assisting the police in combatting crimes,citing the recent arrest of suspected kidnap kingpin,Evans Onwanmadike.

    His words: “Evans terrorized people in this country for many years but now we have the notorious kidnapper in our custody.

    “The police deserve some credit from the public. Give me up to a year, I assure  you that Nigerians would see a different police working to ensure their safety in every nook and cranny of this country.

    ‘‘When this kidnapping crime was unbearable on Kaduna-Abuja highway, I went to the National Assembly and I told the lawmakers to give me a week. Within five days, our men arrested 58 suspects, who confessed to the crimes.

    “More of the suspects were arrested and paraded on Thursday, bringing the total to 77. All we want from the public is support. The police require support and encouragement, because we are human beings too.’’

    The police chief stressed the need for the country to begin to focus on the causes of crime.

    He said: “We cannot blame the police for the causes of crime. As I speak to you now, I can confirm that we have over a thousand suspects in detention for kidnapping and ritual killings. Then, we should ask why we still have these crimes when we have dozens of suspects? I think we should focus on the causes of crimes and its symptoms, not the agents of reaction.

    “We have plans to develop the marine police. We are going to dominate the riverine areas.

    “When I became the IGP, the first state I visited was Delta State, precisely Tompolo’s hometown. I discovered that our presence on the creeks was minimal. I believe we can succeed in dominating the creeks if we have certain things put in place.

    “We need to train more marine police officers with modern techniques and gadgets. We need to buy more patrol gunboats and we are making progress in this respect. Already, we got offer to train about 100 policemen in marine security and a promise of 10 gunboats.

    “By the time we get this done, we are going to start deployment from Lagos because of the rate of crime in riverine communities.

    “We have been making efforts to secure these riverine communities from militants. This progress is achieved due to the activities of the marine police. We are training the marine police to perform better. We are liaising with the Navy in the training of our marine officers. We are going to train more officers in continuous succession.”

    Asked why neither Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu nor the President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) Shettima Yerima was arrested for inflammatory comments, Idris said the National Security Council (NSC) weighed the aggregation of interests after weighing the benefits and disadvantages of certain action.

    •From left: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni; Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations, Joshak Habila; General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr. Soji Omotunde; the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; Executive Director Vintage Press Ltd, Mr Ade Odunewu; Chairman Editorial Board, Mr Sam Omotseye and Mr E.D. Gwana during the IGP’s courtesy visit to The Nation newspaper’s corporate headquaters in Lagos yesterday..

    He said: “We have the National Security Council in place chaired by the Acting President. We have been meeting and analyzing each of these threat messages from separatist groups. We have to analyse the pros and cons. As you are aware, the police are on top of the situation.

    “As an organisation, what we take as paramount is the maintenance of law and order. There was a time we ordered the arrest of the leaders of groups making threat messages. Then, leaders of various ethnic nationalities came to the villa for a meeting with the Acting President.

    “The agreements reached at the meeting made the police to relax on the arrest order. We believe there are certain situations needed to be managed very carefully, so that you don’t bring up tension. We believe the security and safety of Nigerians is paramount. We are assuring Nigerians that there is no person or group of persons that can deny them their rights to free movement in any part of the country.”

    The Executive Director,  Finance and Administration, Vintage Press Limited, Publishers of The Nation, Mr. Ade Odunewu said the  IGP’s visit  showed the respect he has for the media.

    He said: “In showing our support for  the police to carry out their constitutional duties, we will partner you to enlighten the public on your activities. We have been doing this and we will continue to do it.”

    On the  IGP’s team were Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations, Joshak Habila, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone II, Musa Ibrahim, Commissioners of Lagos (CPs) Fatai Oowseni, Ahmed Iliyasu, David Folawiyo, Shola David, Warren Bassey and Celestine Ogbuenyi, among others.

  • Militancy: DHQ hands over training centre to Navy

    Militancy: DHQ hands over training centre to Navy

    To enhance specialised skills of the Armed Forces and other security services, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has handed over the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre (JMSTC) to the Nigerian Navy (NN).

    This move was as a result of the threats to the maritime domain especially the creeks, back waters posed by militants in the Niger Delta and the riverine communities of Lagos and Ogun states.

    Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin while handing over the centre to the NN said it would ensure a more efficient management of maritime assets and capabilities in line with similar institutions such as the United States Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS).

    Represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Mohammed, Gen. Olonisakin expressed hope that the JMSTC would become a centre for excellence in maritime security for the West African sub-region.

    He said: “The idea of establishing JMSTC was mooted in the wake of thr increase in sophistication and types of crimes in our maritime domain. It was conceptualised by the DHQ and the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) and the centre was established in 2009 with the mandate of enhancing the human capacity of personnel of the Armed Forces in littoral and riverine operations.

    “It is a unique training institution in the sense that it is the only centre of its kind in Nigeria where security personnel are trained to acquire specialised skills in order to operate in the maritime domain.”

    The CDS said though the centre has done well in the past eight years, a recent assessment conducted by the DHQ showed that for better utilisation, it should be administered and controlled by the NN, which has expertise in maritime matters.

    He said: “It is therefore expected that the NN would ensure the vision of training personnel from other services and security agencies continue woth the same tempo.

    “I strongly believe that the centre would be better repositioned to effectively carryout its duties in line with the objectives of establishing it.

    “The centre was handed over to NN because it is better positioned to control and bring necessary assets within its purview to take it to the next level.

    “Every asset in the centre has been handed over fully to the navy. We expect the navy to review what they have seen on ground. If there are observations and other things they think need to be done to upgrade the centre, they will forward to DHQ for necessary actions.”

    In his remark, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo said security forces would continue to receive quality training in waterman ship, boars handling, weapon handling and underwater warfare to enable them address challenges in the nation’s wsterways and the creeks.

    Vice Admiral Ibas said plans were on to ensure that access to the training was expanded to accommodate other agencies and services that haven’t had the opportunity.

    He assured the CDS and other stakeholders that the concept would not change, adding that the NN would improve the quality of training to enhance manpower to address contemporary issues.”

    Earlier, the Commandant, JMSTC, Captain Alexander Bingel said over 3,000 military personnel and officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been trained since the establishment of the centre.

    At the event were the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed, Chief Staff Officer (CSO), Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia, Commander, NNS WEY, Commodore Mohammed Nagenu, Commander, 465 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Hospital, Air Commodore Benjamin Okunola, and representatives of the British and United States military.