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  • Governors, NSA join forces to battle insecurity, food crisis

    Governors, NSA join forces to battle insecurity, food crisis

    • Panel raised on police reform

    • PDP governors okay state police

    Governors and National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu yesterday resolved to join forces to tackle insecurity and the lingering food crisis.

    They agreed to beef up security nationwide.

    During his meeting with the governors, the NSA hinted about plans by the Federal Government to raise a committee on police reform.

    Also yesterday, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors supported state police, saying the security challenges have made its establishment more compelling.

    Despite the Federal Government’s commitment and efforts by security agencies to tackle insecurity, Nigeria has continued to grapple with terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and killings.

    Also, the rising cost of food has sparked protests in some states, including Niger and Kano, where placard-carrying protesters appealed to President Bola Tinubu to find a lasting solution.

    Ribadu, who held a virtual meeting with the governors, briefed them about steps taken by the Federal Government to combat the security challenge.

    Read Also: How Herbert Wigwe helped in building RCCG City of David, by Iluyomade

    The session also focused on how the states can collaborate with President Tinubu to check the food crisis.

    Sources said the NSA’s session with the governors was held online to save cost and enable the stakeholders to immediately activate an ‘Action Plan’ in each state.

    A source said Ribadu spent quality time reviewing the security status of each state, how emerging problems were being addressed and what should be done by governors.

    According to the source, the NSA pleaded with the governors to buy into the nation’s security architecture.

    Although Ribadu observed that about two states had been slacking, he called for understanding.

    The source said: “It was purely a briefing on how the present administration has improved on the security situation in the country and what it is doing to address some emerging challenges.

    “He assured the governors that everything was being done to provide adequate and water-tight security nationwide.

    “He said the President and his security chiefs have been working round the clock to make the country safe.

    “One of the key points was the unfolding of a plan to set up a committee to reform the Nigeria Police Force(NPF) to be able to manage the nation’s internal security well.”

    A governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “The meeting also bordered on food security and how to assuage it.

    “We agreed that the food challenge has a nexus with security problems.

    “We agreed on how to make food available in all the states to curb the recourse to protest as witnessed in some states.

    “So, the online session came up with suggestions to the food crisis and what each governor should put in place to avert hunger in the land.”

    Another governor said: “The meeting provided useful insights into how the Federal Government has been addressing the security problems in some states.

    “We were able to know the dark spots and how to complement all security agencies in our states.”

  • Reps to IGP, NSA: caution political parties against violent utterances

    Reps to IGP, NSA: caution political parties against violent utterances

    The House of Representatives on Thursday, November 2, asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to caution all political parties and their candidates participating in the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa state against any act of violence during the elections.

    Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Marie Enenimiete Ebikake (PDP, Bayelsa), the House asked the security NSA and IGP to extract an undertaking from all candidates in the election and their parties to guarantee peace in Twon Brass and Bayelsa State and a violent-free election.

    The House also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to invest in integrity in the conduct of the November elections.

    Read Also; Appeal Court upholds Kano NNPP Reps member Jibrin’s election

    Ebikake had expressed concern about inciting statements by some party candidates during their campaigns with specific instructions (captured on video), for supporters to kill or drown, at sea, anyone who ‘misbehaves’ on the 11th of November 2023.

    According to her, the utterances were not mere political campaign statements, but a call to violence and disorderly conduct capable of disrupting law and order in Twon Brass and in Bayelsa State as a whole.

    She warned that if immediate measures are not taken to rein in political candidates and their inflammatory rhetoric, these statements, as seen in past cases, might be misconstrued as directives by zealous political followers, potentially leading to chaos and violence aimed at disrupting the peaceful conduct of the elections.

    She added that this could jeopardize lives, property, and the substantial socio-political and economic progress achieved in the local government area and the state in terms of peace, stability, and development.

  • How we intend to tackle insecurity – NSA

    How we intend to tackle insecurity – NSA

    The Federal government has reiterated its resolve to tackle the security challenges with vigour and the buy-in of Nigerians.

    The National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said the government will birth a new security apparatus where inter-agency collaboration will take the centre stage.

    Ribadu, while presenting a lead paper on Crafting a Strategic Blueprint for Security and Prosperity at the 2023 conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja, also assured the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will be better equipped with trained workforce.

    According to him, the government will take tough decisions on security because it has seen l the most significant threat to Nigeria’s socio economic well being is from terrorist groups and other non-state actors operating in various parts of the country.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, Obasa meet Lagos GAC over rejection of 17 commissioner-nominees

    The NSA however stressed that in relation to the approach to security, the national security structure needs to operate as a system rather than a collection of separate components.

    “This is aimed at establishing a unified effort among government agencies to maximise all available resources in a collective effort.

    “More so today’s security challenges have increased the demand for interagency collaboration in order to deliver kinetic and non kinetic efforts needed to address these challenges”, he noted.

    Citing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve on tackling insecurity, he said: “We must focus on one tune, coordinate, share information, share intelligence and work harder.

    “This administration will spare nothing in ensuring smooth synergy between all within all ministries departments and agencies to foster a whole of government approach to the nation’s security intervention”.

  • Nigeria still losing 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily – NSA

    Nigeria still losing 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily – NSA

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, says the country is still losing 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily to local and international thieves despite efforts to end the menace.

    Ribadu confirmed this when he led a presidential delegation to inspect oil and gas facilities at Owaza in Abia and Odogwa in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers on Saturday.

    He said the activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals had impacted negatively on the nation’s economy and were partly responsible for the rising cost of living in the country.

    “It’s unfortunate that few individuals would steal our common resources, and in the process cause unbelievable loss to both the nation, communities and the people.

    “Nigeria has the capacity to produce 2 million barrels of crude daily, but we are currently producing less than 1.6 million barrels due to theft and vandalism of pipelines.

    “So, we are talking about 400,000 barrels of crude oil going to waste with few criminals and economic saboteurs not even getting much out of it,” he said.

    Ribadu said the operators of artisanal refineries collect a small quantity of crude oil when they broke the pipelines while larger volumes of oil were spilled on the environment.

    Read Also: NSA probes another vessel held with stolen crude

    “The value of 400,000 barrels of oil today is about 4 million dollars, and every day, we lose this amount because of this irresponsible behaviour.

    “If you multiply 4 million dollars by 365 days (one year), you will see that it is a lot of money running into billions of dollars.

    “Currently, the country is in desperate need of money as the Naira is continuously losing its value because we earn less money.

    “If we earn more money, it will not only help strengthen our currency but reflect in everything, including cost of living in the country,” he added.

    The NSA said that the President Bola Tinubu administration was concerned about the development and was already taking actionable steps to address the matter.

    He said huge investments made by the government in building infrastructures for the common good of all were being destroyed by few individuals, and in the process, destroying the environment.

    Ribadu called for a united front to tackle oil theft and end decades of attacks on the nation’s oil and gas infrastructures.

    “We are working hard with the security forces and those employed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to secure our facilities and end this madness called oil theft,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on the presidential delegation with the NSA were the Minister of Defence, Baduru Abubakar, and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa.

    Others included the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri.

    The Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources, Ekperipe Ekpo, and senior management officials of the NNPCL as well as other top security personnel were part of the team.

    (NAN)

  • Nuclear materials mustn’t get to hands of terrorists -NSA

    National Security Advisor (NSA) Major General Mohammed Monguno (rtd), on Tuesday, warned that uranium or nuclear materials must not get into the hands of terrorists in the country.

    Represented by the Director, Policy and Strategy (ONSA), Aminu Lawal at the workshop of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), Nuclear terrorism is one of the greatest threats to international security and preventing nuclear terrorism and would require collective national efforts.

    He addressed an audience of stakeholders such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema, represented by Mr, Ezenwa Chkwuemeka Nwabiala; Deputy Director, Office of WMD Terrorism, Department of State, United States, Mr. Ethan Glick, senior Counsellor, Russian Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Bakery Shoposhnikov; Chief of the Capacity Building Unit, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism-Centre, Mr. Ulrik Ahnfeldt-Mollerup; Acting Director General Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), Dr. Yau Idris and others in a workshop in Abuja.

    The theme of the workshop was “Valiant Eagle: Response Coordination and Legal Frameworks Workshop.”

    He said that “if terrorists are using improvised explosives devises to cause this mayhem, you can imagine if an atom of uranium or anything nuclear comes into their hands. The devastation will be terrible.”

    According to him, Nigeria, for decades has been involved in peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology.

    He noted that the peaceful use of nuclear energy is subject to strict international safety, security and safeguards regime to which Nigeria must conform.

    The NSA reaffirmed the country’s “commitment to the global fight against the threat of nuclear terrorism and other forms of terrorism in all their manifestations and our support to multilateral efforts to advance a common approach and commitment to nuclear security at the highest level.”

    Read Also: NSA vows to ensure safety of nuclear materials

    He said that Nigeria accords high priority to all global efforts towards ending the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, including nuclear weapons, and is very much aware of the prevailing international anxiety over nuclear security and proliferation of nuclear weapons.

    Monguno said that in order to demonstrate Nigeria commitment to nuclear security, the country played a major role in the negotiations leading to the coming into force of the African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty) in August 2009.

    He buttressed the point by stating that Nigeria is committed to global nuclear security regime, it was the only African State that participated in the April 2010 Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in Washington DC. USA.

    Speaking, Ahnfeldt-Mollerup noted that the possibility of terrorists gaining access to nuclear and radiological materials is a significant threat to humanity and international peace and security.

    According to him, the possibility of such materials falling into the hands of non-State actors or terrorists groups is certainly very real.

    He recalled that in 2016, it was reported that ISIL had been monitoring

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  • Rigging allegation: NSA replies Wike

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has dismissed the allegation by the governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyelsom Wike, that there were plans by the ONSA to rig the forthcoming general elections by shutting down the nation’s internet system.

    The NSA, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno(rtd), in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, said there was no iota of truth in the allegation.

    He advised Nigerians to disregard the allegation entirely.

    The statement reads :”The attention of the Office of the National Security Adviser has been drawn to the allegation making the rounds in the media that the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to work with internet service providers to shut down internet access during the forthcoming elections to facilitate rigging of the 2019 elections.

    “The office wishes to advise the general public to disregard the allegation which is disinformation.

    “This office wishes to state that the internet and associated communications infrastructure are major components of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) which the ONSA is mandated to ensure its security.

    Read also: Court seizes N1.04b traced to ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan

    “Accordingly, the office, in collaboration with relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government, makes continuous efforts to protect them and improve service delivery to Nigerians.

    “Furthermore, every single national security platform in the country rides on the same internet to function. Therefore ‘shutting down’ the internet is akin to shutting down national development and security.

    “The Office of the National Security Adviser remains committed to protecting the rights of the public to access Information and Communication Technology facilities.  The office also remains non-partisan and committed to ensuring that Nigerians freely exercise their civic rights.”

  • Presidency uncovers plans to scuttle elections, says NSA

    THE Presidency yesterday said it had, through intelligence reports, uncovered plot by some elements within the polity to cause widespread violence during and after the forthcoming general elections.

    National Security Adviser Maj.-Gen. Babagana Mongouno (retd) sounded the alert at an emergency meeting with the Nigerian Governors Forum in Abuja yesterday.

    The meeting, which had 21 state governors in attendance, was also attended by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu and the Director General of Department of State Services Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

    Monguno said government is concerned that some individuals, who were not sure of their fate in the coming elections, were plotting widespread crises aimed at scuttling the conduct of the polls.

    According to him, the present administration is taking proactive steps and measures to ensure a peaceful, free, fair and credible election, stressing that government has, therefore, banned the use of private security and vigilante groups across the country during the election.

    He expressed concerns that the strategy being employed by people, who did not mean well for the country is to instigate crises that could snowball  into endless crises for the present administration and the citizenry.

    The NSA urged the governors to partner with security agencies to ensure that the conduct of the elections is peaceful and credible all over the country.

    He assured that the security agencies would not only remain neutral, but maintain high level of professionalism and vigilance during elections.

    However,  Zamfara State governor and the NGF Chairman, Abdullaziz Yari said the Forum and President Buhari  are on the same page that the coming election is not a do or die affair, asserting the Forum would partner with security agencies across the country to deliver a credible election.

    “We are prepared to partner with security agencies to ensure that the process is credible and that the elections are acknowledge as free and fair by both local and international observers,” Yari said.

    Yari, who was flanked by his colleagues while presenting a two-page communique issued by the forum at the end of the meeting, said the governors hailed the NSA Office for organising the meeting.

    He, however, expressed concern over the spate of kidnapping and arms proliferation in the country.

    He said: “Members of the governors’ forum are committed to collaborate with security agencies to ensure that the forthcoming elections are free, fair and conducted in an environment conducive for peaceful elections.

    “Governors are, however, concern about the proliferation of arms and ammunition and the spate of kidnapping across the country.

    “The forum recommends stronger collaboration and intelligence sharing among security agencies in the country to ensure that all lives and property are protected, regardless of individual or group affiliations.

    “Lastly, we seek stronger synergy between governors as the chief security officers of their respective states and the heads of security agencies to strengthen preemptive measures of curbing election violence and other anti-social vices.”

  • My role in movement of $5m to Fayose, by Obanikoro

    A former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro on Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos the role he played in transferring $5million to former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

    He testified in Fayose’s trial before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Fayose and Abiodun Agbele, who is facing a different charge, with taking possession of N1, 219, 000, 000 on June 17, 2014 to fund the former governor’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

    The commission said Fayose “reasonably ought to have known” that the money “formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

    EFCC said Fayose, on the same day, received cash payment of $5million from Obanikoro without going through a financial institution, the sum having exceeded the amount authorised by law.

    The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes Sections 1, 15 (2) (d and 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4)..

    Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Obanikoro, the fifth prosecution witness, said the money was paid to Fayose’s account from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in June 2014.

    According to the former minister, in June 2014 ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election, he received a call from Fayose asking if there was any “message” from the then National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    Obanikoro said the NSA eventually confirmed to him that he had a “message” for the accused.

    The witness said Dasuki told him the money would be received in an account opened to manage Boko Haram insurgency under his watch as Minister of State for Defence.

    “The NSA told me that Fayose will call me as to how he will receive the money.

    “A total equivalent of $5million from the NSA imprest account was given to Fayose by the order of NSA,” Obanikoro said.

    The witness said Fayose introduced Biodun Agbele to him, explaining he would be the one to receive the money for him, which was done at the Akure Airport “because it was physical cash.”

    “I had earlier wanted to transfer the dollars so that the naira equivalent can be withdrawn in Ado Ekiti, which was the reason why I initially called Diamond Bank Managing Director but he replied that the bank did not have such capacity in Ado Ekiti for that huge amount of money,” Obanikoro said.

    The former minister said his late aide was in the meeting where Fayose acknowledged receipt of total naira equivalent of $5million at Spotless Hotel owned by Fayose.

    Jacobs then showed the witness Exhibit E to confirm if it was the account to which the funds were transferred and the witness replied: “Yes”.

    Obanikoro told the court that on June 13, 2014, and June 16, 2014, funds were posted into the account, adding that the funds were from the NSA’s imprest account.

    He said that he asked Fayose how he wanted the money sent and the former governor told him that some it should be paid in naira and others in dollars.

    According to the witness, the money was eventually brought in a bullion van to the private wing of the Ikeja Airport where Agbele, sent by Fayose, was on standby.

    He testified that after confirmation from the accused, the money was taken to Ado-Ekiti, following which he went to meet Fayose.

    Obanikoro said the transactions occurred “about three days to the election”.

    On the source of the money, the witness said: “The NSA is the only person that can ascertain the source of the money; it is from the imprest account of the NSA.”

    Obanikoro said that the account from which the money was transferred from was used for security purposes.

    Four witnesses had earlier testified last November 19. A banker Danmola Otuyena told the court that about three aircraft were used to fly N1.2billion from Lagos to Ekiti State for delivery to Fayose.

    Otuyena, who headed his bank’s Cash in Transit Services Unit when the transaction occurred, said he accompanied the bullion van that took the cash to airport.

    Zonal Heads, Southwest 1 and 2 of a new generation bank Lawrance Akande and Abiodun Oshodi, and the Head of Financial Operations of another new generation bank Olaitan Fajuyitan also testified.

    Akande testified that he was informed that money would be brought from the Akure airport to be paid into the accounts of Spotless Nigeria Limited (Fayose’s company and co-accused) and De Privateer Limited.

    Read Also: Fatima Obanikoro: Never give up on your dreams

    He said Fayose’s associate Abiodun Agbele called him in June 2014 saying he had a lodgment of N1.2billion to make.

    He said he also got a call from Fayose to that effect.

    Akande said he asked Oshodi to follow the transaction, adding that they had solicited for deposits from Fayose.

    “I had no reason to regard the funds as proceeds of crime. I didn’t observe any anomalies in the operation of the accounts,” he said under cross examination.

    Oshodi testified that he organised a bullion van that took the money from Akure airport to the bank for lodgment.

    “Biodun Agbele came with a security escort, including police and soldiers, and we went to the Akure airport with the branch manager and the bullion van.

    “We moved the bullion van close to the plane and then evacuated the cash. The former minister was there also.

    “Agbele supplied the accounts where the money would be lodged – De Privateer, Spotless and the personal account of Fayose,” he said.

    Justice Olatoregun adjourned until February 4, 5 and 6 for Obanikoro’s cross-examination.

  • NSA hails Aruna for lifting African Title

    Unmissable Incentives, organisers of the Nigerian Sports Award (NSA), have congratulated Nigeria’s table tennis’ star, Aruna Quadri, for winning  the men’s singles at the just concluded 2018 ITTF Tennis African Senior Championship held in Mauritius.

    Quadri, who had earlier won the singles at the ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open in Lagos, continued his winning streak by beating Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh to win the title.

    Unmissable Incentives, Executive Director Kayode Idowu commended Quadri for his consistency. He noted that the feat achieved by  the table-tennis sensation bore testimony to the recognition accorded him by the Nigerian Sports Award having been a recipient every year for the last three years.

    In a related development, the organisers also hailed the performance of the Super Eagles of Nigeria after beating Seychelles 3-0 in an African Nations Cup Qualifier played on the home soil of its host. Idowu who lauded the team for their performance against Seychelles and urged them to remain focused by ensuring that they secure the maximum points needed to guarantee qualification for the 2019 Nations Cup.

    “NSA commends Aruna Quadri for showing the stuff that he is made of by winning a major trophy at the 2018 ITTF African Senior Championship. He has done well for Nigeria. We are happy that he has remained a shining light in Nigerian Sports, winning laurels. Equally, we are delighted at the performance of the Super Eagles of Nigeria against Seychelles. It is good news that they are soaring. We want them to continue on that path by making the country and football lovers happy. We can only hope that they continue to achieve good results in other subsequent matches,” Idowu said.

    Meanwhile, Nominations are still open for the 2018 edition of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Award as entry from the general public for the various award categories starts continues till October 7, 2018. There are 21 categories of the award open for nominations this year including; Racket Sports Person of the Year (Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis, Badminton, Squash), Team Sports Person of the Year, Coach of the Year, Combat Sports Personality of the Year (Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Boxing), Wrestler of the Year, Discovery of the Year, Footballer of the Year (Women), Footballer of the Year (Men), Athletics Star of the Year, School Sports Award, Sports Administrator of the Year,  Sports Governor of the Year and Para Sports Person of the Year.

  • Senate urges NSA to submit funding request

    THE Senate yesterday held over two hour meeting with the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Monguno, over mounting insecurity.

    The closed-door meeting was part of the security briefing the upper chamber held with security chiefs last week.

    After the meeting, Senate President Bukola Saraki said Monguno answered questions bothering on security, insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, coordination of the security agencies and the killings in the country.

    Saraki said: “Thereafter, we directed that he submits a funding request similar to other heads of security agencies that had come before us and to submit consideration where relevant amendments to existing laws involving security agencies’ need for consideration.”