The Nation Newspaper

Tag: officers

  • Customs to sanction officers involved in promotion exams malpractice

    Customs to sanction officers involved in promotion exams malpractice

    • Those behind infraction using ethnic, religious sentiments, says CG

    The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has said those who compromised the 2024 promotion examination will be punished.

    He said competence and not connection would determine promotions in the service under his watch.

    Adeniyi spoke during the decoration of newly appointed/promoted officers at the NCS headquarters at Maitama in Abuja.

    The NCS boss recalled that the 2024 promotion was purely on merit, using applied question to test the officers about the NCS.

    He recalled that during the examination, the management realised that the integrity of the exercise was compromised and had to cancel aspects with anomalies.

    Adeniyi insisted that the service would not allow the breach to go unpenalised.

    According to him, the culprits are using religious and ethnic sentiments to blackmail the service.

    The Customs boss said he would not allow the blackmail to deter the management’s decision to punish them in the days ahead.

    He said: “There have been attempts to compromise the integrity of the process. We had as a management to evaluate some of the parts of the exams. We cancelled some because we felt there were some anomalies.

    “We will not allow those discrepancies to slide by. As a management, we will still meet and we will be emphatic to tell those elements that the service will not condone such practices.

    “I understand that they are going all over town, bringing in some elements – religious and ethnic – to this. What is most important is that we are going to be guided by our conscience that nothing but merit will decide who gets promoted. “And any deviation from this, either because they want to compromise our process or they want to cheat during the examinations, or they want to bring in things that are alien to the rules and regulations guiding the examinations, we are not going to tolerate them and we are going to bring them to book.

    “So, those who have committed those examination malpractices, we are letting you know that the service would not condone such, and we are letting you know that your act must have and will surely have consequences in the days ahead.”

    Restating the focus of the NCS, Adeniyi said it was directed towards applied knowledge.

    Read Also: Banks raise N2.2trn from capital market in 2024

    The NCS boss explained that the promotion of officers would be solely on knowledge, adding: “It is not just enough for you to know that these are the elements of the rules of origin, you must be able to apply them. And this is the direction in which the service is going now.

    “It will be knowledge-driven, and your promotion and elevation will be based on what you know and not who you know. It is very important that we bear this in mind.”

    He said there were some officers who passed the examination that were omitted during the compilation of the results.

    But Adeniyi stressed that “there is no supplementary promotion exercise”.

    He said the affected officers would be the first on the next promotion list.

    The NCS boss told the decorated officers that their elevation was a call to higher and strategic service delivery.

    Adeniyi said they would be involved in policy making and implementation.

  • Less 25 percent of officers have access to accommodation – IGP

    Less 25 percent of officers have access to accommodation – IGP

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olukayode Egbetokun on Monday stated that less than 25% of police personnel have access to adequate barracks accommodations.

    Egbetokun, who expressed sadness over the incident, said 90% of existing barracks are falling into severe disrepair. 

    The police boss said this while clarifying the reconstruction of Falomo Police Barracks.

    A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: “The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) wishes to address recent misinformation and sensationalism in the media concerning the reconstruction of the Falomo Police Barracks, Lagos State. The barracks, previously in disrepair, will undergo a complete redesign and reconstruction to provide modern, habitable accommodations that reflect the dignity our officers deserve.

    “This project was initiated under the leadership of former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and private sector partners through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The current IGP, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, NPM, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to improving officers’ housing by convening the first Nigeria Police Force Housing Summit on April 23-24, 2024. This summit brought together stakeholders to chart a sustainable path toward improved police welfare.

    Read Also: Step-up efforts to fight breast cancer, Pate urges wives of military officers

    “A nationwide assessment revealed that less than 25% of police personnel have access to adequate barracks accommodations, with 90% of existing barracks falling into severe disrepair. Many of these structures are dangerously unsafe, posing a clear risk to occupants. The urgent reconstruction of these facilities, including Falomo Barracks, is not only necessary but aligned with international best practices to ensure the safety and well-being of our officers.

    “The IGP, through the NPF Property Development and Construction Company, has leveraged PPP arrangements to rebuild existing barracks and provide affordable housing for officers. PPP models, which integrate private sector investment into public infrastructure, have been successfully adopted across various sectors in Nigeria, such as rail projects and university hostels, and globally in police housing initiatives”.

    He said several countries around the world have successfully employed PPPs to provide modern housing for police personnel, with global examples of PPPs in Police Infrastructure including: United Kingdom: PPPs have been utilized to develop and manage police estates and accommodations.

    “Australia: The New South Wales Police Force has partnered with private developers for residential facilities.

    “United States: Cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago have adopted PPP models for police housing. Canada: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has engaged private developers for police accommodations.

    “South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco: These countries have implemented PPPs to address the housing needs of their police forces. India and Singapore: State governments and police forces have collaborated with private developers to upgrade infrastructure and residential facilities.

    “Algeria and Ethiopia: These nations are actively pursuing PPP models to build thousands of housing units for police and military personnel”, he added.

    The IGP said the growing adoption of PPPs reflects a global trend toward sustainable infrastructure development and enhanced police welfare.

    He said: “Contrary to recent reports, no officers were forcefully evicted from the Falomo Barracks. Occupants were given adequate notice, provided relocation assistance, and compensated with N2,000,000 each to secure alternative accommodation. Furthermore, they will receive monthly rent allowances in line with provisions for officers not residing in the barracks. Upon completion of the new facility, these officers will be allotted housing units, ensuring a seamless transition back to improved living conditions.

    “We urge the public to dismiss false narratives regarding this reconstruction and recognize the broader objective of enhancing police welfare. The NPF remains committed to the well-being of its personnel, understanding that dignified living conditions are essential to effective service delivery.

    “The rebuilding of Falomo Barracks reflects our unwavering resolve to provide safe, decent housing for officers, a vision that aligns with global standards and safeguards the future of those who serve. We appeal to the public to support these reforms, which aim to enhance the quality of life for our officers and strengthen the foundation of public service in Nigeria”.

  • Customs ‘committed to officers’ welfare’

    Customs ‘committed to officers’ welfare’

    The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has said “we are committed to the welfare of our men and officers, because this will boost their morale to perform well and increase productivity in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

    Speaking yesterday in Ibadan while launching ‘Coop Pacesetter Estate’ for NCS officers, he said many of the officers worked for about 30 to 35 years without having a decent home of their own.

    He said they were allocated quarters and had to vacate the places after their retirement.

    He said NCS was committed to ensuring an enhanced welfare package for its officers and men, adding that the struggle to secure house had weighed on the officers and men, often impacting on their ability to fully focus on their duties.

    Read Also: Fubara, Wike strike deal

    Adeniyi said: “The Service is solving this problem of accommodation by providing staff quarters across the commands. While staff quarters offer temporary relief, the uncertainty of retirement looms large as quartered staff will need to vacate upon completion of service.

    “Recognising this challenge and in a bid to ensure sustainable housing solution, we have partnered with Cooperative Mortgage Bank (CMB) to build 5,000 units of houses across the country. This will provide a foundation of stability for our officers, allowing them to invest in their families and future, and ultimately serve our nation even more effectively.

    “The housing scheme features various types of houses, including two-bedroom terrace bungalows and three-bedroom terrace duplexes in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Asaba, Masaka, lbadan, Port-Harcourt and Abuja.”

  • Police warn officers against misuse of weapons in Oyo

    •155 officers decorated with new ranks •’Operation Puff Adder’ inaugurated

    OYO State Police Command yesterday gave a stern warning against the misuse of firearms or weapons by its men and officers.

    It said stiffer penalty awaits any police officer found to have misused such weapons on the citizens they were hired to protect.

    The command also gave a marching order to the officers to flush out criminally-minded individuals professionally.

    Police Commissioner Shina Olukolu gave the warming yesterday at the inauguration of “Operation Puff Adder” at the Eleyele, Ibadan Police Headquarters, in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.

    The Police Commissioner said the IG had directed that every state replicate the inauguration of “Operation Puff Adder”  to ensure that criminal elements are flushed out of the society.

    Olukolu said Nigerians were looking on to the police to effectively deal with crimes, adding that the ideas about how they should go about it varies.

    Notwithstanding, the Police Commissioner said officers must discharge their responsibility with utmost care and professionalism.

    “Therefore, the police force as a professional body must continually restrategise and ensure more result-oriented tactics employed or emplaced to combat crime. Today, there appear to be unwelcome high profile crimes such as kidnapping, assassination, armed robbery, farmer and herder’s clash, cattle rustling and other related crimes. These crimes are giving the Police High Command a great concern.

    “However, in these trying times coupled with insufficient logistics, the Force is resilient in curbing these crimes, restoring peace and providing adequate protection for the lives and properties of the good people of Oyo State and Nigeria,” he said.

    After the inauguration of the operation, he decorated 155 police officers, who were promoted to the next rank.

    The exited officers, who filed out one after the other to get decorated with their new ranks, were also counselled to exhibit professionalism in the course of their duties.

    The Police Commissioner reminded them that to whom much was given, much was expected.

     

     

  • IG to officers: escorts VIPs on polls’ days, be arrested

    •Falana restates need for election offences tribunal

    ANY police personnel caught in company of politicians or other categories of Very Important Personalities (VIPs) on election days will be prosecuted, Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has warned.

    He said an Election Monitoring Investigative Team has been set up for the purpose of apprehending and prosecuting anyone found breaching electoral laws during and after the exercise.

    This came as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, canvassed for the creation of Electoral Offences Tribunal, if the country is truly desirous of addressing electoral malpractices and conducting free, fair and credible elections.

    Election Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) in conjunction with HEDA Resource Centre and others, said 4,000 observers will be deployed to every local government areas.

    Speaking at a public presentation of partnership by Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), HEDA Resource Centre and other partners for the coverage of the February and March general elections, the acting IG also said any police officer and security personnel attached to election centres, from polling booths to the collations centre that are not wearing identification tags should be immediately reported to the relevant security agencies.

    He said arrangements have been completed to secure the country even as the Police are keen to prove its non-partisanship having put in place and ready to implement the security strategies for a credible election to prove its unbiased stance.

    On what would happen to the policemen attached to the VIPs, Adamu said: ” I said it before and let me repeat it here, on election day, nobody will move with police personnel and we have told our personnel that if we see them moving with any VIP, whether in uniform or mufti, they will be arrested.”

    He said the police are determined to ensure maximum security for the electorates as well as electoral officials and their materials, urging local and foreign observers, as well as political parties to adhere strictly to the election guidelines as rolled out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Read also: Abiodun is next Ogun governor, says Osinbajo

    Falana, who chaired the event, regretted that lip service has always been paid to addressing electoral malpractices by successive governments.

    He said Electoral Offences Tribunal would provide an enduring solution to the recurring challenge.

    He said Nigeria has laws that can adequately address the electoral challenges, but the courts created loopholes for politicians to latch on since 1999, which was why no one has been prosecuted  despite the many cases of monetary inducements being witnessed across the nation.

    Saying that rather than concentrate on apprehending vote buyers and sellers on election days, attention should be focused on pre-election breaches like excessive campaign funds;  monies spent on decampees; monies spent on the media to make phony demographics that create psychological warfare on voters; monies spent on religious leaders like the over N5b allegedly spent in 2015; monies spent in hiring crowd at political rallies; monies spent on thugs hired to disrupt rallies; and monies given to electoral officers to manipulate figures.

    He regretted that beneficiaries of inducement of voters were completely insulated from indictment.

    He said: “If you want to challenge violation of Electoral Law, we are to go beyond those that’ll be arrested on the day of the  election. Cooperation of the police and other security agencies is needed and it will be easy to arrest, but what to do with the suspects after is another thing.

    “Police will charge the offenders to court, but we are all aware that all over the country, those cases are usually withdrawn by Attorney Generals (AG) of the states of the ruling parties.”

    “Yes, there are Election Tribunals, but they won’t bother with electoral offences committed, it was not until the Second Republic that the tribunal recommends trial of offenders.

    “Since then, it has always been difficult to prove that beneficiaries of inducements did give the directives that voters be induced. The laws are there but the court says once you can’t establish the nexus of inducements with the political parties, there’s nothing we can do about that.”

  • Army redeploys senior officers, commanders

    The Army has appointed new commanders and redeployed some senior officers to man various commands across the country.

    Among those redeployed is Maj.-Gen. M. Mohammed from 1 Division, Kaduna, to the Army headquarters in Abuja.

    A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, said those affected are mostly senior officers of the ranks of Colonel to Major-Generals.

    Gen Usman said: “The Nigerian Army yesterday Saturday February 2, 2019, released the postings and appointments of some of its senior officers. Those affected by this include Maj.-Gen. A.A. Tarfa, who has been posted from Headquarters of Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, to Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership Peacekeeping Centre, as Commandant; Major-General M. Mohammed, from 1 Division Nigerian Army, to Headquarters, Nigerian Army Signals Corps and appointed Corps Commander; while Major-General CT Olukoju, the erstwhile Signal Corps Commander, has been appointed Director-General of the newly created Nigerian Army Simulation Centre (NASIMC) with Headquarters in Abuja.

    “Major-General U.S. Yakubu has been posted to Headquarters of Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Corps Commander; Major-General C.U. Agulanna, has been posted to Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), as Senior Research Fellow, while Major-General F. Yahaya, the Military Secretary (Army), has been posted to 1 Division Nigerian Army and appointed General Officer Commanding; Major-General A.R. Bakare has been posted to Headquarters, Nigerian Army Finance Corps (NAFC) and appointed Chief of Army Accounts and Budget.”

  • Anwar-ul Islam alumni elect officers

    A former Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, has been re-elected President-General of the Anwar-ul Islam College, Agege Old Students Association (ACAOSA).

    Pedro of the 77/78 set was re-elected for another five-year term at ACAOSA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the school premises.

    Others elected are Omolola Satar (84 set – first Vice President); Gafar Sanusi  (79/80 set – second Vice President); Tijani Kamoru Olayiwola (77/78 set– General Secretary); Abdulazeem Olajide (91/92 – Assistant General Secretary); Owolabi Taiwo (74/75 – Financial Secretary); Jayeoba Oluseyi Sunday (95/96- Treasurer); and Saolabiu Segun Shosanya (79/80-Social Secretary).

    Aromashodu Taofeek Olayinka (79/80 set) is the Publicity Secretary; Ogunbowale Adebowale (84set), Internal Auditor and Eleha Ganiyu (77/78 set), Welfare Officer. Raheem Idowu Bashir (72/76set) is Chief Whip; Ayo Oshile Martins (91/92set), Legal Officer and Kolawole Rasheed Kareem (74/75set) Ex officio 1; and Adeyanju Soullyman (59/63set) Ex officio.

    The event was attended by representatives of old students in the USA and UK who had earlier voted in the Diaspora for the various contestants, and those in Nigeria including B.A.M. Fashanu, SAN, Dr. Olugbenga Ojo of the Lagos State University Law faculty and S. I. Lawal, a lawyer.

    Former General Manager of Niger Insurance, Mr Dipo Oyetayo; former Tax Adviser of Statoil; Alhaji Olalekan Refell; as well as Wasiu Bawallah-Chief of Staff to the ex-Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

    In his address, the President-General acknowledged the remarkable contributions of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and some old students including the Chief Executive Officer of Caverton, Alhaji Muinu Makanjuola, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Lagos State, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the College in August and September.

  • Lagos CP to officers: respect rights

    Lagos Commissioner of Police Mr Edgar Imohimi has urged officers to respect human rights.

    He spoke when 210 officers graduated from a training on “Advanced human rights and community policing standards”.

    It was organised by the Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON) for officers from the rank of Inspectors to Deputy Superintendent  of Police drawn from 120 divisions.

    Imohinmi, represented by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ronke Okunade, reminded the officers that the people they are policing have fundamental rights that must be enforced.

    “This is why we considered the training you have just undergone as very important because it is through this way that you would know the laws bordering on human rights and why you must respect  the rights of every member of the public,” she said.

    CRIVIFON founder Mrs Gloria Egbuji praised the officers for keeping the country safe, urging them to to do more despite challenges.

    Egbuji, who noted that many policemen were unaware that they had been insured, urged the authorities to create a platform for them to update their insurance information.

    She advised policemen to focus on crime prevention and not dabble into civil matters.

    An Assistant Superintendent of Police Okon Victor, urged the participants to share the knowledge they acquired.

    “Now that you have been trained, I expect you to go back and start doing things the right way as dictated by the law. Now is the time for you to effect a change in the environment where you operate,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the class,  the governor, Superintendent Ajoke Akande, thanked the Police authorities and CRIVIFON for exposing them to human rights issues and promised that they would not let the authority down.

    “When next you see us, you would be proud of us as gallant officers,” she assured.

    Among the topics discussed were: Human rights laws, Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Community policing, Child rights laws.

  • Lagos Ekitiparapo gets new officers

    Ekitiparapo Lagos (EPL), a socio-cultural organisation of Ekiti sons and daughters resident in Lagos State, held its bi-monthly general meeting at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, on Sunday, April 8 where new executive members were elected.

    The incumbent President, Oloye Esan Ogunleye, and the Chairman, Electoral Committee and past President, Asiwaju Kola Akomolede, charged the elected officials to sustain the ideals of the association.

    The elected executive members are: President – Mr Dare Ojo; Vice President 1- Mrs Iyabo Obasa; Vice President 2 – Barr. Dele Ojogbede; General Secretary – Mrs Banke Akinlaja; Assistant Secretary – Mr. Arowolo Adewale; Financial Secretary – Mr. Babakayode Oyewole; Treasurer – Mr. Jacob Ajobiewe; Assistant Treasurer – Mr. Adeoba Morenikeji; Publicity Secretary – Mr. Akintunde Babalola; Social Secretary – Mr. Jimoh Ogunjobi; and Legal Adviser – Mr. Isaac Bamilosin.

    Chief Esan Ogunleye, being the immediate past president, becomes the Patron in line with Ekitiparapo’s Constitution.

  • Fadama gets new officers

    Members of the Fadama Federated Community Association, Lagos State on Thursday elected new officers to run the association.

    At the end of an election held at the Farm Service Centre in Oko Oba, Mr Dare Ogunbanjo was elected as the new president of the association.

    Others elected are:  Vice President 1, Yussu Najim; Treasurer, Folasade Fakayejo; Social Sceretary, Ibarahim Onabanjo, Public Relations Officer(PRO), Benjamen Olasore and General Scertary, O.Ojeyemi, among others.

    Speaking earlier, the State Project Coordinator of Fadama, Mr Jonathan Obayemi said the project has changed the lives of farmers in the state in the last one decade of its existence.

    He said the community association is a major stakeholder in the success of the project in the state , urging the members to eschew indiscipline in the their conduct as beneficiaries of the project.

    He stated that his agency would continue to partner with and support farmers in a bid to enhance their lives and increase food production in the state.