The Nation Newspaper

Tag: security

  • Security agents hold show of force in Abia

    A combined team of security agents in Abia State yesterday went round the major streets of the capital, Umuahia, and the commercial city of Aba in a joint show of force (JSF) exercise ahead of today’s elections.

    The security agents drove round in a convoy to show their readiness to deal with any threat to peace.

    The Aba exercise took off from the Area Command of the police.

    Addressing the personnel at the end of the patrol,  Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Aba Area Command, Peter Okpara, thanked the personnel for comporting themselves well while the operation lasted.

    He said: “Tomorrow (today) is the D-Day. The security agencies are on ground to discharge their duties, according to the constitution. You must protect INEC officials, election materials, voters, foreign observers and yourselves.

    “You shouldn’t be biased; there’s no friendship in election. Do your work the way it should be done. No brother, no party affiliation, no religion, no tribe.

    “Comport yourselves. From 12midnight, all of us must be on.

    “You must be careful because the world is watching us. If this election goes well, others will take the glory. But when it goes bad, they will blame us and that is why we must be professional. We will not fail. Be at your duty post as early as possible, for without your presence, no INEC staff will work until you come.”

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also busy distributing non-sensitive materials, including card readers to the various local government areas.

    The spokesman for the INEC in the state, Mr. Oyetunji Bamidele, said the commission was fully prepared for the polls.

    He said: “We are fully prepared. We started distributing non-sensitive materials on Wednesday.

    “Our security arrangement is superb. It is being coordinated by the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election and Security. We have put adequate measures to ensure that everything goes according to plans.

    “We are urging Abians to ensure that they go about to perform their franchise. The police are equal to the task. We have about 1.9million voters in Abia State. We are urging them to come out and ensure that they exercise their franchise.”

  • Atiku promises Katsina people’s jobs, security

    PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubabar has promised the people of Katsina State that he will create more jobs, security of lives and property, if elected President.

    Speaking at the party’s presidential campaign rally yesterday, Atiku said he would not lie to the people the way the All Progressives Congress (APC) did during the 2015 electioneering campaign.

    He said: “Now, let me promise you all, everyone knows any promise I make, I fulfill them. My first promise is that I will return peace to Katsina by God’s grace. Secondly, our youths that are jobless, by God’s grace, they will get jobs. Once we create jobs, is that not the end of hunger?

    “Let me remind you all; be careful with the APC. Since about three and half years, they came to lie to you all. They said they will create wealth and improve the economy. Have they created wealth? Is the economy better now? They said they will solve the security challenges, have solved insecurity?”

    Atiku urged the youth population to actively participate in the upcoming elections, saying he and others in the PDP were there to mentor them.

    “What I want to tell you all is that, this election is for the youths. As for us, we will only show you the way, we are done with ours. Once you vote, be patient for them to count and announce the results. Don’t let them cheat you, the vote is yours not for anyone else.”

    The PDP candidate restated his admonishment to the military, police and other security agencies to ensure peace during the polls and not to allow themselves to be used to manipulate election results.

    PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, who also addressed the rally, urged the people to vote for PDP to chase away joblessness, insecurity and hunger from the land.

    According to him, Atiku remained the only candidate that has the capacity and competence to get the country working again, adding that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed the country.

    Secondus said: “You know the APC government, they are confused. They are worried and they are adopting all sorts of measures to make sure that they rig this election. But you know APC, their plan is to destabilise this nation.

    “Their plan is to kill and to harm. This was the statement that came out from Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, that there will be body bags.

    “But let me remind him and other APC leaders that in 2015, the same el-Rufai and other leaders of APC travelled several times to the United States, to United Kingdom and brought in consultants and international observers that came and witnessed that election.”

    The party chair described Atiku as a symbol of unity and urged the people to vote for him and other PDP candidates in the general elections.

  • Pragmatism, security and politics

    Our president gave a no holds barred interview on security and the irrelevance of state of origin in the appointment of service chiefs this week that showed his huge experience as a former military general but is very likely to create serious political controversy on constitutionalism. The president bluntly stated that loyalty not state of origin is the crucial issue in the appointment of service chiefs and he said this despite the fact 14  out  of the nation’s 17  security chiefs appointed by him are headed by Northerners. He admitted there is a quota system  in the constitution  but he said – ‘if you are a field operative you have to be   very careful especially in the military  where  I served for 20  years. ‘That  on the surface may  sound illegal  by the strictures of the Nigerian  constitution  but  that is what  is called  political  pragmatism or reality.  Which  simply means that security   in stark   terms  transcends quota  system and state  of  origin for  the   naughty  reason  that life  has no duplicate  and second chance  is a rarity in the volatile world   of  state  security  and political stability.  Legal  purists  may  be scratching their head in dismay or disbelief on the issue but  that is what we have to ponder  over to day.

    We  do  this analysis today  with a form  of comparative politics on issues from Nigeria’s presidential  campaign, the shut  down  of government in the US   over  the building of a wall  across  the border with Mexico  and the election of a law  and order candidate in Brazil  who  has just  been sworn  into  office   and who  valued security more  than human rights and won on that platform.

    In  Nigeria, the de facto Chairman  of the APC Presidential Reelection  Campaign Jagaba Bolaji  Ahmed Tinubu reportedly said that the 2019 presidential election boiled down to the character  of the two presidential  candidates   which  he said is quite  different. With  Buhari, he said if you left him in a room with a naira you  will  find your  naira intact on your return. According to Jagaban,’ with  Atiku, things are  more nuanced. This shows he has no vision for the nation   except the naked pursuit of power  for the naked  use  of that power.’  Which  simply  means that Atiku is not  honest  and should not  be trusted  with power.  This too  vintage  is political  pragmatism  stemming from politics    and    electioneering.  But  it   has its    important   implication  which  is that a crooked  person should  not  be trusted with power   and should not  be voted  for in any political  competition for power as in our 2019 presidential  election.  Of  course  I expect  the   PDP  to  counter this shrewd observation of the Jagaba but that  will  be difficult in   this   Nigeria  where  their  candidate is a veteran politician and a former Vice President for two  terms under a President   who   has,  on    available   records  in   published  works,  tarnished   the  PDP  presidential   candidate’s    reputation and  credibility  as his  Vice  President before  endorsing him  for the 2019 presidential  election.

    What  Jagaba  has done to  the PDP  candidate  and his credibility  is similar  to what  Donald  Trump  has done to CNN and other  anti-Trump  media like New  York Times by  calling them  fake news.   The  CNN   has been  involved  in a fight  to finish  with the American  president on that characterization and I expect   the  PDP  to  be looking   for similar  ammunition to  respond  to  the atomic  bomb  that the Jagaba  has detonated  on the character of their presidential  candidate.

    In   the  US, the American  President  Donald  Trump   has turned an  election promise  to protect America’s  border with Mexico over drugs  and crime into  a security  emergency  issue. He  unusually  addressed  the American  people  on  TV  to  say that the new  majority  the Democrats have in the Mid Term  elections in November 2018  is trying  to frustrate his effort to  protect America’s  borders  as promised  since the new Speaker  Nancy   Pelosi  bluntly said   he cannot build the wall.  But  Trump  is more pragmatic than Pelosi  on the issue in that he is ready to make a deal or a barter on priorities  with  the Democrats  to  build the wall. His threat  to use emergency  powers  cannot be taken lightly  especially when he turns the issue into  a security  matter  to protect Americas  borders   and  American lives,   which  is part of his oath  of  office   and   responsibility as the  President of the US.  So  in refusing  to open  government without funding for his wall  and turning the issue into an emergency security  situation,  Trump  may  be turning nasty  but he is still  a good example of credibility   and   pragmatism  in terms of fulfilling election  promises. It  is up to the Democrats to  make the best of a bad  situation and make a deal or face a credibility  crisis that they  do  not really know what they  want.  Again  the challenge  is in trying to match  pragmatism   with  election  promises  and  mandates   and   with  some  icing   of  flexibility and reality. In  my view  the ball is in the court  of the Democrats in opening up  the government  closed in seeming blackmail  by the US President Trump  for now.

    We  end up with Brazil, the world’s fourth  largest  democracy  which in October 2018  elected   a Trump like president in Jair Bolsonaro who  is against most things that liberal  governments like that of the Obama presidency promoted and championed like gay  rights and sexual equality. Bolsonaro won against  all  odds   while    the most  popular socialist  president in Brazil’s  history   Lula da Silva  was in jail   for corruption and could not  even contest  the  presidential election because of his jail term  and his surrogate   was well  beaten   by  new comer  and controversial  Bolsonaro. This was in a Brazil  that   the jailed   Lula  at the height of  his popularity brought both  the Olympics Games  and the  FIFA  World  Cup   given  the well  known  love of  Brazilians for  good  football  and samba.  But  Brazilians took  to the streets at  both events to protest against  both the looting of Brazilian sports administrators  and politicians and the  end  product was the jailing of Lula and the impeachment of his successor. So  in the end it is not only leaders  like Buhari   on  quota  system  and  security, or  Tinubu on integrity and  election  or Trump  on border  walls  and security, who  can  be pragmatic   on crucial   issues within the rule of  law.  Electorates  too  can  be quite  pragmatic  like they  did  in Brazil  where  they  picked  a president,   Jair    Bolsonaro, sworn in recently who  longed  and  campaigned for the law  and order of military rule to contain corruption  and violence  rampant  in Brazil’s  tortured  democracy  and  won   the election  against   all odds.  Once again  long  live,  the Federal  Republic  of Nigeria.

  • On the Trans Forcados Pipeline security contract

    SIR: The battle for the soul of Nigeria is perpetually a contest between good and evil, light and darkness. But, as a renowned 18th century philosopher and politician, Edmund Burke, once said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” The truth is – nations that have succeeded against retrogressive forces largely because some good men and women did something positive in different spheres.

    The latest rumble, by economic saboteurs, to reinvent failure of surveillance and security on the Trans Forcados Pipeline (TFP), a critical national asset, could be appropriately situated in this context in which the forces of good are compelled to respond in obligatory defence of national interest.  The interest that the individual stakeholder promotes and projects determines the side it belongs: whether it is progressive or retrogressive.

    For decades, the Nigerian oil industry has been perpetually made a jungle of monumental rip-offs. Transparency and accountability have been sacrificed for opaqueness, conspiracy and corruption. It will not be out of place to conclude that there are “oil demons” in Nigeria, because only such a term could qualify the battle to keep TFP in a state of criminal abuse. Such a rigid and open resistance to doing what is right and just in the oil industry is demonic and scandalous.

    The raging battle to keep TFP in a state of jeopardy is entirely worrisome. There is absolutely no sense in sustaining a failed contract that had persistently made the NNPC to pay for inefficiency while the corporation and the nation bleed through the pipes. How do we, as a country, explain and account for a loss of 11 million barrels of crude oil (equivalent to $800m) in 2018, just because of the inefficiency of a surveillance firm? Shall we continue to pay for and reinvent the failure of a “hapless contractor that has presided over the abject surveillance and security of the TFP?” Certainly, the NNPC has taken an audacious and patriotic position on the TFP in the overall interest of the country and it should not be deterred or worried about the heavily-induced distractions both locally and internationally.

    If Shoreline Natural Resources Limited cannot dispense with the services of Eraskorp, which has become an unmitigated disaster in the face of its recurring dismal performances, then it should not blame the NNPC for electing to give the TFP contract to another indigenous firm with a proven track record in surveillance and security of pipelines. It is important that value for service and the need to adopt international best practices must no longer be compromised in the oil sector, and especially by the NNPC.

    If we are really desirable of cleansing the Augean Stables and putting an end to oil banditry (illegal bunkering), we must be prepared to stand up to those who want to keep us in the jungle where there is no value for anything. There is nothing bad in making a mistake or discovering that certain arrangement is no longer serving the interest of the people and the nation, and thus working patriotically to correct it. However, what is unacceptable is to sustain inefficiency and reinforce failure.

    It is inimical to national security and economic stability to allow the inefficiency what was happening under Eraskorp Nigeria Limited as security service providers to continue. While the firm and their collaborators could elect to continue with their pathetic and malicious falsehoods for all they care, at the domestic and international levels, the truth remains that no serious nation can sustain or tolerate this heist in the oil sector. Affliction should not be allowed to arise the second.

     

    • Femi Ayelabowo,

    Ibadan.

  • ‘Distribution, security, others are power sector’s challenges’

    The nation’s recurring  power supply challenge is  largely attributed to defects in the distribution chain, security and community issues, among others, the Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), Chiedu Ugbo, has said.

    Ugbo told The Nation that despite the targeted increase in generation, if there is no efficient distribution to the end users, the challenge will not abate.

    He acknowledged that there has been huge improvement in gas supply to the thermal power plants, resulting in adequate power  generation despite some challenges.

    He said the most nagging point is  power distribution. “Power distribution companies should be able to take more than what the transmission gives out. This is to allow reduction of redundancies at the various levels and reduce losses while transmitting power from one location to another.

    “The farther you travel with power, the more the quality and efficiency of the power is reduced. Another problem with the distribution network has been poor town and urban planning which has made it difficult to regulate power distribution and downstream activities, thus overloading the grid.

    “Some challenges that the NIPP has had to grapple with include security and community issues; right-of-way challenges for distribution equipment and transmission lines; port clearing coordination hitches and contractor performance-related problems. Even though the three tiers of government own the NIPP, equipment imported for the power projects are often delayed or seized at the ports by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) because of non-payment of import tariffs, thereby stalling the execution of some power projects. Sadly, some of the equipment at the ports were auctioned by the port authorities after demurrage charges had accrued on them. It took the intervention of an alarmed Senate to recover some of the equipment sold off under questionable circumstances.”

    Ugbo said to fast-track the attainment of stable electricity for Nigerians, the Federal Government should seriously consider waving duties on equipment for power projects. It needs to seriously educate contractors on their patriotic duty to deliver, and on time. There is need for a special para-military unit to ruthlessly tackle the activities of vandals, and address the kidnap of the employees of the contractors.

    “Host communities also need to be educated on the recurring problem of right-of-way for the routes for the 330kv and 132kv transmission lines of the NIPP. Once when NDPHC diverted the transmission line to the Ihovonbor station in Edo State at a considerable cost because of the presence of a shrine, a new shrine emerged overnight on the new route and the villagers went on demanding a huge amount to relocate it. These things can be best handled with proper enlightenment of the responsibilities of civic duties.

    ‘’Also, operatives of para-military agencies, especially men of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), should be adequately motivated and mobilised to protect power installations from vandals across the country. An asset protection mechanism for the safety of power generation/distribution equipment like pipelines and plants must be established with technologically advanced means applied.

    “All three-tier arms of the government, parastatals, the ministries of defence, trade and of oil and gas, the privately-owned generating and distribution companies and indeed all Nigerians must join hands in true patriotism in confronting this multi-faceted problem and  wipe out this embarrassing situation of inadequate electricity supply.

    ‘’Many Nigerians have made a living for decades from national dysfunction. Many have engaged and still do in pipeline bunkering. They have in the past fought against national pipelines protection. Those that make livings importing electric generators will never want to see the country enjoying uninterrupted power supply. And because these folks have made a lot of money from their activities and are powerful, more like armed militants, they need be handled delicately to minimise collateral damage.”

  • Why we must get politics, security right, by Obasanjo

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo said Nigeria and other African countries must get their politics right for the continent to grow rapidly and meet up with the West.

    He also advocated for security of lives, jobs and citizens’ well-being.

    Obasanjo spoke at the Believers’ Loveworld Convocation Arena in Lagos during the 2018 Watch night service with Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

    The ex-president, in his address, gave five Ps, which he termed as pillars of growth for Africa.  They are: politics, population, protection, prosperity and partnership.

    In his words: “We must get politics right. Democracy is not only in election, it is popular participation, and satisfying the needs of the people.

    “Our protection/security should be in all ramifications. There is nowhere in Africa that security is the way it should be, and this is not good for us.  We must ensure security of not only lives, but even the jobs people do.”

    On population management, Obasanjo noted: “Our population is growing fast. At Independence, Nigeria had 45 million people. Today, the nation has about 200 million people. We must manage our population, and this can be done by education. The empowerment of people is very important.”

    The former president advised Africans and, especially Nigerians, to stop talking about poverty.

    “When you tell people that Africa is poor, they tell you that they have heard enough of that.  But Africa is not poor, we made ourselves poor. We must stop talking about poverty.”

    President of the Believers Loveworld (popularly called Christ Embassy) Pastor Chris Oyakhilome declared the year 2019 as the year of light, admonishing his congregation to overcome evil with good in the course of the year.

  • Anambra deploys helicopters, APC’s for security

    …mounts CCTVs in major cities

    Anambra State government yesterday told the residents not to panic when they see ubiquitous Helicopters and Armoured Personnel Carriers APCs hovering around, saying it is part of measures to boost peace and security.

    Also, the government has concluded plans to install Advanced Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) in the three major cities of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi to secure the state adequately.

    These according to the state Governor were to make Anambra remain the safest and most peaceful state in Nigeria which will help realise the vision to make it the foremost investment destination in the country.

    In a statement yesterday in Awka, signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba and made available to reporters, said it was increasing its air surveillance during the Christmas and New Year period.

    He said the helicopters would sometimes fly at low altitudes, this was to enable the pilots and other security agents flying with them to have a bird’s eye view of the security situation in every place.

    Furthermore, he said they would monitor the movement of individuals and even cattle, they would also monitor vehicular traffic and provide reports constantly to appropriate agencies for prompt action.

    According to the statement, “the state government, therefore, urges the people of Anambra State and individuals and groups passing through the state not to panic or be afraid. The ubiquitous presence of helicopters is for their benefit.

    “The helicopters are the latest in a series of far-reaching measures which the Willie Obiano administration has adopted to make the Christmas and New Year celebrations most rewarding for our people, as they travel in their millions from all parts of the world to their homeland, often accompanied by friends and well-wishers.”

    “The installation will be in conjunction with the Boston Innovation Centre in Massachusetts, United States.

    “The agreement for the supply of the special CCTVs and the subsequent installation was signed between the Boston Innovation Centre and the Anambra State government when Governor Obiano visited the United States last October to see for himself how our state could benefit more from advanced research and innovation, for which Massachusetts is world famous.

    “As we join the rest of Christendom to mark the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ and to observe the beginning of a new year, Ndi Anambra should not panic at the unusual presence of helicopters, APCs, security vans and cars as well as state of the art CCTV cameras because they are being deployed for their benefit,” the government said.

  • 2019: INEC chair Yakubu raises concern over security

    With just two months to the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified security as a major challenge.

    The concern was raised as the commission said that all the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for those who recently registered have been processed for collection at the INEC’s offices across the 774 local government area secretariats.

    The commission is still working on the applications for replacement and transfer.

    INEC chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu also noted that the conduct of some security personnel, who have the responsibility of securing the environment has become a major issue.

    Yakubu, who spoke yesterday in Abuja at the Police/stakeholders’ security summit, organised by the Police, however, said that the commission will engage with the security agencies, particularly the police, in defining new parameters for the deployment of security personnel in the electoral process.

    He also urged the security agencies to maintain professionalism and neutrality.

    He said: “As with all elections, security is going to be a major issue in the 2019 general elections. Security agencies have a responsibility to secure the environment for elections. In doing so, there is the overriding responsibility for professionalism and neutrality.

    “The rules of engagement must be clear to all. Learning from the cumulative experience of the off-season elections conducted into 195 constituencies since the 2015 general elections, the conduct of some security personnel has become a major issue of discussion. We are deeply concerned.”

    The INEC boss also noted that it has become imperative to review  the template for the elections so as to reassure Nigerians and international community of the commission’s preparedness to conduct free, fair and transparent elections.

    Prof. Yakubu said: “Consequently, it is imperative to review the template for the 2019 general elections in order to reassure Nigerians and the international community of our commitment to credible elections and to protect the sanctity of the electoral process.

    “INEC will engage with the security agencies, particularly the police, in defining new parameters for the deployment of security agencies in the electoral process.

    “As I said at a recent workshop on election security, organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), INEC shall fully apply the provision of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which places in the commission the sole responsibility for requesting the deployment of security personnel necessary for elections.

    “ The responsibility for assigning them is also to be determined by the commission. INEC will remain responsible for the conduct of elections. The security agencies will continue to secure the environment in a manner that voters, observers and the media shall not feel intimidated or harassed.

    “The process of conducting election shall remain the responsibility of INEC. We will continue to emphasise this point in our interaction with the security agencies both in a forum such as this as well as the meetings of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCESS).”

    He noted that the commission shall continue to work with the security agencies for the arrest and prosecution of violators of the electoral Act. A collaboration which, according to him, has led to the prosecution of 42 electoral offenders.

    “Working together with the police, we have successfully prosecuted 42 electoral offenders following violent disruption of the Minjibir State Constituency bye-election in Kano in 2016. Similarly, a number of other prosecutions are ongoing in Rivers State, and most recently in Osun State where the police has forwarded nine  case, files to the commission, out of which three  cases involving vote buying and illegal possession of PVCs, are being prosecuted. INEC believes that the best deterrence to violations of the law during elections is swift prosecution. We will continue to work with the security agencies in this regard.”

    Speaking on INEC’s preparation for the 2019 polls, Yakubu said that the commission has already implemented six out of the 14 activities as outlined in the timetable and schedule of activities.

    He said: ”I wish to assure you that INEC has gone far with our preparations. We have already implemented six  of the 14 activities strictly on schedule as outlined in the timetable and schedule of activities for the general election which was release almost a year ago (on 9th January, this year),” he said.

    “There is intense interest nationally and around the world in the 2019 general elections. In just a matter of weeks, some international observers will begin the deployment of their long-term observation missions for the election.”

    On PVCs, he said the commission has successfully completed the printing for new registrants. He said: “ I am glad to report that all PVCs for fresh registrants have been printed and delivered to the states and the FCT for collection in our local government area offices for now. The commission plans to devolve the collection to at least the Ward level soon. We will keep citizens informed of the process.

    He, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders including traditional rulers and religious leaders, socio-cultural associations, civil society organisations and the media to similarly mobilise the new registrants to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    However, the 1,178,793 requests for replacement of damaged, defaced or lost PVCs as well as the 769,917 requests for intra and inter-state transfers are being processed.

    The PVCs he said, will be delivered to the states by the end of this week.

  • ‘Increased soil contamination affecting food safety, security’

    Urgent action is needed to address soil pollution and contain the multiple threats it poses to global food safety and food security, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has said.

    In a statement, FAO said thousands of chemicals, which are commercially produced on a large scale, plastic and electronic waste and non-treated waste water can all become a source of soil pollution, paving the way for the pollutants to enter the food chain with serious consequences for the health and well-being of people and planet.

    “About 33 per cent of all soils are degraded – and soils continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate,” said Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo at the World Soil Day Ceremony at FAO’s Rome headquarters.

    “Soil acts as a filter for contaminants. But when its buffering capacity is exceeded, contaminants can enter the environment and the food chain. This undermines food security by making crops risky and unsafe for consumption.”

    “Human activities are the main source of soil pollution. It is in our hands to adopt sustainable soil management practices,” she added.

    She called “for greater political support and significantly increased investment towards healthy soils.” Maintaining healthy soils helps ensure safe and nutritious foods and is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Zero Hunger.

    This year’s World Soil Day theme is: “Be the solution to soil pollution”, and FAO offers a number of recommendations on how to reduce the soil contamination at the state, industrial and consumer level.”

    For example, growing cities are producing mounds of garbage that end up in landfills and enter the soil, up to 80 per cent of which could be recycled.

    As technological progress accelerates, electronic waste is considered as a new emerging threat to soils. Fifty million tons of e-waste are generated every year, making it one of the world’s fastest growing pollution problems affecting our soils. FAO encourages people to donate or recycle old devices rather than throwing them away.

    While agrochemicals can help meet the world’s growing demand for food, they leave a legacy of soil pollution and degraded agro ecosystems. Nearly 60 per cent of the top agricultural soils in 11 European countries contain residues of multiple persistent pesticides. FAO urges governments to promote the responsible and sustainable management of agrochemicals.

    One third of the plastic produced globally ends up in our soils with plastic particles then entering the food chain and the environment. Stronger environmental policies and regulations are needed to prevent the use of excessive packaging and chemicals by industry. However, each and every person can also contribute to solving the problem by simply carrying a reusable bottle and grocery bag, and buying products with reduced or recycled packaging.

     

  • NSCDC beefs up security in Ondo

    Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has begun an intensive surveillance and patrol across the state to guarantee safety of lives and properties during the forthcoming Yuletide.

    Speaking to reporters in Akure, the state capital, its commandant, Pedro Awili Ideba said his Command was ready to curb cases of kidnapping, terrorism and robbery across the state.

    Pedro, who had served in six states of the federation as Commandant since 2016, promised to introduce “Communication Needs Alert (CNA)” in religious organisations and other major establishments.

    The commandant said the equipment would be used by his men to checkmate criminality in the state, while victims would be able to alert security operatives whenever there is threat to peace in their neighbourhoods.

    He stated that the synergy among security agents, including the Army, police and Department of State Service (DSS) was very cordial, stressing that they hold meetings monthly to strategise.

    Pedro said within the few months of his assumption of office in the state, he had opened a unit Headquarters at Iju, in Akure North Local Government in order to reduce criminal tendencies in the area.

    Besides, he said there was restructuring of both personnel and the entire workforce, upgrading of tractors and establishment of a Commandant’s Lodge for the first time.

    He also recalled his achievements in Akwa Ibom State, where he constructed one of the best Officers’ Mess and overhauling of the state command.

    On training, Pedro said officers were trained in counter terrorism and the use of firearms, like it was done in all states he had served as Commandant, including Imo, Kwara, Abia and Rivers states.

    The commandant said the cases of vandalisation of oil pipelines were curbed through his anti-vandalism efforts in those states he had served as Commandant, while the amount of fund he had saved for the nation could not be quantified.

    He, however, praised state governors who had made it possible for him to make remarkable achievements possible in their respective states with other top security officers.