The Nation Newspaper

Tag: security

  • Democracy, security and politics: how far have things changed?

    First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out-
    Because I was not a Communist.
    Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-
    Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
    Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-
    Because I was not a Jew.
    Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.-Martin Niemoller

    Whatever took place in Ado-Ekiti last Wednesday, a day after the display of positive power by  movers and shakers of All Progressives Congress and current governance of the country, it will be important for the growth of democracy for citizens to know what exactly took place: why and to what effect. So far, the conflicting claims include that Fayose did not get police permission to lead a rally on that day and Fayose’s supporters claimed that permission was secured to use the pavilion.  The police said that its men tried to prevent a clash between Fayose’s party and Fayemi’s party. But Fayose’s supporters claimed that the police dispersed his men and women with teargas, making Fayose to sustain an injury that took him to the hospital. It is never an easy task to get to the root of most things about partisan politics in our society, but this is what a commission of inquiry can do.

    Citizens who were excited in 2015 when transition from one civilian government to another went without violations of human rights must be alarmed by the regression now in vogue in Ado-Ekiti.  In 2015, this column joined many others in celebrating the advent of electoral democracy that the country had not experienced for a very long time since June 12, 1993 presidential elections. For the event of last Wednesday in Ekiti not to bring back sad memories about the practice of partisan politics in the country, there is need for the federal government to investigate police officers who used teargas when the deputy inspector did not “tell them to do so.” Such intervention from security can give the impression of partiality on the part of the police.

    Not many citizens between the age of 15 and 45 may know that repression of opposition parties has been part of the culture of electioneering in the country from the beginning of its electoral history. In 1959, it was hard and impossible in many parts of Northern Region for members of the Action Group to campaign freely.  In 1964 and 65 in Western Region, forces of Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) harassed members of the Action group before, during, and after regional and federal elections. Candidates were incriminated by government agents. Some candidates were charged for stealing goats and put in prison to prevent them from taking part in campaigns. Similarly, in 1979 and 1983, many journalists from Western Region were intimidated and harassed out of many parts of the North before election days by security forces in support of National Party of Nigeria. It was overcoming such moments of darkness that inspired democrats to resist annulment of Abiola’s election. It was also the free atmosphere for citizens to choose their rulers that made many Nigerians to celebrat in 2015 when the election that brought President Buhari into power was without intimidation and repression of members of opposition parties. Overzealous security agents must be prevented from taking the country back to the dark age of our electoral politics.

    What could have been the reason to turn Ekiti which enjoyed the peace and excitement of a festival on Tuesday during the campaign of APC into a space of weeping by PDP members barely 24 hours later?  It is only the security forces deployed to Ekiti that can tell the nation why the sudden descent into such primitive and barbaric acts at a time that citizens believe that politicians have accepted to work in compliance with the rule of law. Fayose may not be the most civil politician, but he is not in the wrong to want to campaign for his candidate on Wednesday for an election that is to hold on Saturday. If he had tried to campaign on Friday, he would have been at fault, but certainly not on Wednesday. Why would he be denied the right to hold a rally in support of his own candidate 24 hours after the opposing party had its own dance toward power in the same state?  So civil was APC’s campaign on Tuesday that some of the leaders of the party even tried to campaign for Fayose. Why would the police get so enthusiastic about preventing a breakdown of law and order that it would destroy the gains of several years in the country’s political culture? Why would people deployed to keep peace be the source of crisis?

    The space given to our police for errors seems to be too large. Fayose could have been killed by a stampede and that could throw Ekiti into chaos or anarchy. Does our country need such a problem at a time that the country is virtually at war with itself – Boko Haram, herdsmen’s killings, killing by cattle rustlers, etc?  Security agents ought to be reminded of the proverb, ‘Discretion is a greater part of valour.’ It is noteworthy that a relatively senior police officer has finally acknowledged that something was wrong in the handling of PDP’s proposed rally by the police. But it is premature for the Deputy Inspector to promise to avoid a repeat of a violation that has not been fully acknowledged. Thus, the latest response from Deputy Inspector Habilal Joshak: “What I said was that those massing for the rally should be asked to leave because it is not good going by the mood of the state now to hold rally or street procession. I didn’t say they should use force. This is an election and electioneering is a civil matter anywhere across the globe, so police as security agents can’t use force on the people. But I want to assure the good people of Ekiti State that such mistake will never repeat itself,” is certainly more civil than what is usual with the Nigeria Police Force. However, this statement is not enough to put this unprovoked attack on democracy behind us. The attack on Fayose and his supporters, and by extension, on tolerance of opposition that democracy requires deserves a more robust acknowledgement that the police had been out of order in its overreaction in Ekiti last Wednesday.

    There are many matters arising from the sudden use of police power in Ekiti.  One such matter is the claim that it is only a central police force that can be depended on not to abuse police power. With a state police in Ekiti State, the chances are high that many of the police in such a homogenous state may be relations or neighbours. Would such people have acted with such venom as was displayed last Wednesday? Given the readiness of Fayemi’s opponents before the primary to solidarise with him immediately after the primary, there is no doubt that Ekiti people are politically mature people. Why would the police ignite an unnecessary crisis a few days to the election? Couldn’t the police have imagined that such intolerance of Fayose and his party supporters could have tarnished the candidacy of Fayemi? They ought to have given this scenario a thought if they were prepared to use discretion. Police attack on Fayose and PDP members when they acted within their rights can lead to post-election hostility among such a closely-knit state as Ekiti. Many of us from other states were thrilled when Fayose came out to support the nomination of Fayemi for ministerial appointment in 2016, calling him a worthy son of Ekiti.

    What kind of federalism leaves state governors without a security system loyal to him or her as the symbol of the state, as the federal police is expected to be loyal to the president? The deficit in the country’s federal democracy has been underlined by the poor political literacy of the police in Ekiti.  Could any state governor in the United States, Canada, or Belgium have been disrespected the way Fayose was, regardless of Fayose’s love of histrionics or theatrics?

    The civilised international community which praised Nigeria in 2015 for peaceful conduct before and during the elections is being made by the excesses of the police on Wednesday to see the experience of 2015 as a fluke. A way out of this embarrassing situation is for the police to apologise for what Deputy Inspector Joshak has acknowledged as a mistake or be probed to determine why such mistake was made.

  • Economy, security, others…three years after

    Three days ago, the Presidency released a factsheet on what the Muhamamdu Buhari-led administration has done in the last three years. OLUKOREDE YISHAU chronicles the things that have not remained the same since President Buhari mounted the saddle.

     

    It was a period many Nigerians will not forget in a hurry. And not a few are still feeling the hangover. But the statistics are looking good. A fact sheet released at the weekend by the Presidency to mark the third year of the Muhammadu Buhari administration shows that better days lay ahead.

    Just before the hardship set in, dynamites were thrown. Grenades caused chaos. Gunshots rented the air. The scenes were in the Niger Delta. The victims were not human-beings but oil facilities – strategic ones for that matter. And the effects on oil production and export were not only huge and scary. They were costly. The economy bled and needed oxygen to be on the path of recovery.

    Settling down to business, President Muhammadu Buhari and his team put up their thinking cap. The grievances of those blowing up the pipelines must be addressed. His deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of Law, went from one creek to the other, preaching peace.

    He visited oil-producing communities, listened to the people and spelt out the Federal Government’s commitment as captured in the ‘New Vision for the Niger Delta’. In the vision are answers to the 16-point Demand Agenda submitted to President Buhari by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). This vision has berthed the Nigerian Maritime University in Delta State, approval has been granted for the establishment of Modular Refineries in the nine Niger Delta states and work has resumed on abandoned projects in the oil-rich region, including the East-West Road.

    The engagements with the Niger Delta and the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) helped to raise oil revenues and ultimately in growing the external reserves, the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). The engagement with OPEC involved rallying the organisation and Non-OPEC members to discuss stabilisation of the global oil market in Doha and in Algiers. This led to an exemption from the OPEC production freeze and rise in oil prices.

    These steps, according to the government, helped to kick out recession of 2016/2017 and there is a 1.95 per cent growth in the first quarter of this year; inflation has fallen for the fifteenth consecutive month from 18.7 percent in January last year to 12.5 percent as of April; and external reserves has climbed to $47.5 billion, the highest in five years, which also double the size as of October 2016.

    The exports in 2017 were 59.47 per cent higher than 2016; agriculture exports grew 180.7 per cent above the value in the previous year; raw material exports grew 154.2 per cent above the value of 2016; solid minerals exports for last year grew 565 per cent above the value the previous year; and last year saw exports of manufactured goods growing by 26.8 per cent above the value the previous year.

    Other cheering news included: “The first quarter of 2018 saw the fourth consecutive quarterly increase in capital importation since Q2 2017. The total value of capital imported in the quarter stood at $6.3 billion, which is a year-on-year increase of 594.03 per cent and a 17.11 per cent growth over the figure reported in the previous quarter.

    “The new FX Window introduced by the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) in April 2017 now sees an average of $1 billion in weekly turnover, and has attracted about $25 billion in inflows in its first year (and a total turnover of $47.14 billion) – signaling rising investor confidence in Nigeria.

    “Nigeria’s Stock Market ended 2017 as one of the best performing in the world, with returns in excess of 40 per cent.

    “Five million new taxpayers added to the Tax Base since 2016, as part of efforts to diversify the government revenues.

    “Tax Revenue increased to N1.17 trillion in Q1 2018, a 51 per cent increase on the Q1 2017 figure. N2.7 Trillion spent on Infrastructure in 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, an unprecedented allocation in Nigeria’s recent history.

    “Fourteen moribund Blending Plants revitalised so far under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI); with a total capacity of 2.3 million metric tonnes (MT) of NPK fertilizer.

    “The contribution of solid minerals’ to the Federation Account rose five-fold from N700 million in 2015 to N3.5 billion in 2017.”

    To align monetary, fiscal and trade policies, the administration in April last year created a new forex window for investors and exporters, which has helped stabilise the market. The window has attracted more than $45 billion in its first year of operation.

    The fact sheet noted: “The Buhari administration has implemented a new debt management strategy which targets a ratio of 60 per cent to 40 per cent between domestic and external debt. The other objectives of the strategy are to moderate growth in debt service costs, free up space in the domestic market so that the private sector can have increased access to loans, and, to shore up external reserves.

    “The Renminbi-Naira Swap Agreement between the Peoples Bank of China and the CBN.”

    In the area of bond issuance in the international capital market, the Federal Government last year successfully issued $4.5 billion Eurobonds, $4 billion of this was for the part financing of the deficits in the 2017 budget ($1.5 billion) and 2018 ($2.5 billion).

    The Eurobonds were highly oversubscribed, and the country was able to issue a tenor of 30 years, the first time in its history.

    A Diaspora bond to the tune of $300 million with a tenor of five-years was also issued for the first time to part–finance last year’s budget.

    The N100 billion Sukuk issued to finance 25 road projects across the country, N10.69 billion debut Green Bond to fight climate change and the N8.126 billion raised from 11,366 retail investors through the Savings Bond since it was launched in March 2017 are key achievements of the administration in its drive to reflate the economy.

    Many states, struggling with payment of salaries, have received more than N1.9 trillion from the Federal Government to meet their salary and pension obligations. This assistance has come in the form of budget support facility (N606.55 billion), Paris Club refunds, infrastructure loans and loan restructuring for facilities with commercial banks.

    External reserves have doubled since October 2016, from $24 billion to $48 billion, while the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has seen the injection of $1.15 billion under the Buhari administration (the first government inflows since the original $1 billion which the fund kicked off with in 2012).

     

    Unlocking the potentials

     

    The administration leveraged on its goodwill to attract multi-billion investments and loans from China and Morocco. Buhari’s April 2016 visit to China unlocked billions of dollars in infrastructure funding and construction has progressed on the 150km/hour rail line between Lagos and Ibadan.

    The National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERGP), launched in April last year to chart a course for the economy over the next four years.

    According to the government, the NERGP is to restore economic growth, invest in Nigerians, and to build a globally competitive economy by giving priority to agriculture, power, macro-economy, energy efficiency, transportation infrastructure and driving industrialisation through Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

    The administration is supporting MSMEs with $1.3 billion from the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN). The money was provided by the World Bank, German Development Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Agence Française de Development.

    The Bank of Industry (BoI) has disbursed more than N160 billion in loans since 2016. It has also established a N5 billion Fund for artisanal miners, as part of the Federal Ministry of Mines & Solid Minerals Development’s Programme to boost activities in the mining sector.

    A power reform led to the launch of the N701 billion Payment Assurance Programme to guarantee payments to generating companies and gas suppliers. This programme, known as the Power Sector Recovery Programme, was endorsed by the World Bank.

     

    The Anchor Borrowers Programme

     

    The Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) of the CBN has raised local production of grains. It has produced a model agricultural collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi states. The country’s rice imports fell from 580,000 MT in 2015 to 58,000MT last year. The programme has seen the disbursement of N82 billion to 350,000 farmers of rice, wheat, maize, cotton, cassava, poultry, soy beans and groundnut. It has aided the farmers to cultivate about 400,000 hectares of land. Rice yields have doubled from two to three tonnes per hectare.

    According to the fact sheet, “between 2016 and 2018, eight new rice mills have come on stream. More than a billion dollar of private sector investments in the production of rice, wheat, sugar, poultry, animal feed, fertilisers, etc, since 2015.

    “Nigeria’s milled rice production has increased by about 60 percent, from 2.5 million MT in 2015, to 4 million MT in 2017.

    “The Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (which involves a partnership with the Government of Morocco, for the supply of phosphate), has resulted in the revitalisation of 14 blending plants across the country, with a total installed capacity in excess of 2 million MT.

    The benefits include annual savings of $200 million in foreign exchange, and ¦ 60 billion annually in budgetary provisions for Fertiliser subsidies.”

    “The scheme has also made it possible for farmers to purchase fertiliser at prices up to 30 per cent cheaper than previously available.”

     

    Ease of Doing Business

    Reform Programme

     

    The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council implemented its 60 National Action Plan between February and April. The plan has given willing investors the platform to search for company names on the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Such investors can upload their registration documents directly to the CAC website without hiring lawyers to prepare registration documents. A single form has been created for company incorporation to save time and reduce cost. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) e-payment solution has been integrated with the CAC portal to facilitate e-stamping. The country now has a simplified Visa on Arrival (VoA) Process.

    To also ease business, a joint physical examination of cargo has been directed to ensure one-point contact between importers and officials. The CBN, Customs and commercial banks have been compelled to process Net Export Proceeds forms within 72 hours and pre-Shipment Inspection Agencies (PIAs) must issue Certificate of Clean Inspection (CCI) within three days.

    The number of documents required for imports has been reduced from 14 to eight. The ones for exports have come down from 10 to seven. Now, terminal operators are mandated to finish container’s examination in 12 hours.

    Pro Osinbajo, as Acting President, sealed the National Action Plan by signing three Executive Orders to improve efficiency in the business environment and promote local procurement by government agencies. Since 2017, three Executive Orders, Executive Order on Improving Efficiency in the Business Environment, Executive Order on Promoting Local Procurement by Government Agencies and the Executive Order on planning and execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts and science, engineering and technology have been issued. The Senate also passed the Companies and Allied Matters (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill 2018 last month to give legal backing to some of the reforms already launched and being implemented.

    The Presidency said: “The new law allows the use of electronic signatures for company registration documents; provides for the submission of applications for reservation of names through electronic means; allows for a new form of legal entity known as Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), and makes it possible for a single person to form a private company in Nigeria; among other reforms.

    The success of the Ease of Doing Business Reform Programme resulted in Nigeria moving up 24 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings in 2017, and earning a slot on the List of 10 Most Improved Economies.”

     

    Infrastructural development

     

    The administration is revitalising the country’s 3,500 kilometre network of Narrow-Gauge railway. A consortium, led by General Electric (GE) and comprising Transnet of South Africa, APM Terminals of the Netherlands and Sinohydro Consortium of China, is working on the Lagos-Kano Railway Narrow-Gauge Line.

    The reconstruction of the Abuja Airport runway was done within the scheduled six-week period (March to April 2017).

    Last month, the government launched the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), under the management of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). The PIDF has a seed funding of $1.3 billion. (NSIA) in March invested $10 million to establish a world-class Cancer Treatment Center at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and $5 million each in the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia to establish modern diagnostic centres. These centers are billed for completion this year.

    The Abuja Light Rail system has been completed and will go into operation this year. The first line will connect the city centre with the airport, with a link to the Abuja-Kaduna Railway Line.

    Other projects done by the administration, according to the document, are the following Water Supply Projects and Dam/Irrigation Projects have been completed by the Buhari administration; Central Ogbia Regional Water project in Bayelsa, Sabke/Dutsi/Mashi Water Supply project in Katsina, Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply project, Kashimbila Dam, Taraba State, Ogwashi-Uku Dam, Delta State, Shagari Dam Irrigation Project, Sokoto State and the rehabilitation of Ojirami Dam Water Supply Project, Edo State.

    On ecological projects, the document shows that more than 70 projects were awarded and completed across the six geopolitical zones. Some of the 25 road projects being funded by the N100 billion Sukuk Bond are: the construction of Oju/Loko–Oweto bridge over River Benue to link Loko (Nasarawa State) and Oweto (Benue State) along route F2384, dualisation of Abuja–Abaji–Lokoja Road Section I, dualisation of Suleja–Minna Road in Niger State Phase, dualisation of Abuja–Abaji–Lokoja Road, rehabilitation of Enugu–Port Harcourt dual-carriage, rehabilitation of Enugu–Port Harcourt dual-carriage, dualisation of Yenegwe Road Junction–Kolo–Otuoke–Bayelsa Palm in Bayelsa and others.

     

    Social Investment Programme

     

    The Social Investment Programme (SIP) has over nine million beneficiaries drawing from its N140 billion purse. The 200,000 N-Power beneficiaries draw N30, 000 stipends monthly. Another batch of 300, 000 are being processed.

    Significantly, no less than 3,162,451 people in 26, 924 cooperative societies have been registered for the Government Enterprise and Empowerment (GEEP) Scheme. N15.183 billion interest-free loans have been issued across the country to 300,000 market women, traders, artisans and farmers. 349,000 new bank accounts/wallets for beneficiaries and intending beneficiaries have been opened to promote banking inclusion.

    In November last year, the GEEP was chosen as the pilot programme for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Policy Innovation Unit in Nigeria.

    The administration is catering for 8.2 million primary school pupils through its Homegrown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) in 45,394 public primary schools across 24 states. The benefiting states are: Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo in the Southeast; Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta in the Southsouth); Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Ogun in the Southwest); Benue, Niger and Plateau in Northcentral; Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, and Zamfara (North West); Bauchi, Taraba, Borno, Gombe and Jigawa in the Northeast). Over 87,261 cooks have been engaged under the scheme.

    “The Health aspect of the programme has seen over three million pupils dewormed in six states. The deworming programme is a bi-annual programme aimed at eradicating and reducing the burden of worms,” the Presidency said.

    Through its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, 297,973 beneficiaries now get N5, 000 monthly stipend nationwide.

     

    Cleansing budgeting

    process/BVN/Efficiency Unit

     

    Aside the activities of the anti-graft agencies, the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) is to strengthen controls over government finances through a continuous internal audit of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Through the initiative, more than 50,000 ghost workers have been identified and N198 billion was saved in 2016.

    The anti-corruption war has generated budget reforms, which made the President to direct all government agencies to prepare their budgets in line with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). A budget template was developed for this purpose.

    For the first time, this year’s budget was collated, using a web-based application developed by the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF). MDAs were compelled to upload their proposals on a portal.

    The Bank Verification Number (BVN) has also saved the government a lot of money. All payments are done only into accounts with verifiable BVN. This helped to detect the 50,000 ghost workers using the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform.

    The creation of Efficiency Unit (EU) has promoted efficient use of government resources. It has resulted in saving N15 billion that would have gone into travel, sitting allowances and souvenirs.

     

    TSA/Open Government

    Partnership and whistleblowing

     

    On August 7, 2015, the President compelled the MDAs to close their accounts with commercial banks and transfer their balances to the CBN on or before September 15 of that year. By this action, he gave life to a policy launched in 2012 but left unimplemented. This has resulted in the consolidation of over 20,000 bank accounts. An average of N4.7 billion is saved monthly in banking charges. The era of some MDAs having idle cash in banks and still borrowed exorbitantly from banks is gone for good.

    The government has not relented in shutting corruption doors once discovered. One of such led to its signing on to the Open Government Partnership (OGP). In 2016, President Buhari was at the International Anti-Corruption Summit organised by the United Kingdom (UK) Government, where he pledged that Nigeria would join the international transparency, accountability and citizen engagement initiative.

    He fulfilled the promise in 2016 when the country became the 70th country to join the OGP. This has led to an OGP National Steering Committee (NSC), which has developed a National Action Plan (2017–2019) to mainstream transparency in the management of public resources. The plan was submitted at the OGP Global Summit in Paris, France, in December 2016.

    The anti-corruption drive brought about the Whistleblowing Policy, which within its first two months of operation, yielded over $160 million and over N8 billion in recoveries of stolen government funds. The figures have since grown. N13.8 billion was recovered from tax evaders. In May, the government paid N439.2 million to 14 whistleblowers who gave specific tips on tax evasion. There have also been N7.8 billion, $378 million and £27, 800 in recoveries from public officials targeted by whistleblowers.

    The National Economic Council (NEC), under the Osinbajo chairmanship, carried out an audit of key federal revenue generating agencies and discovered that N526 billion and $21 billion was underpaid to the Federation Account between 2010 and 2015. The audit to cover the period until June 2017 is ongoing.

    The PICA said it uncovered 54,000 fraudulent payroll entries thus saving N200 billion.

     

    A more transparent NNPC

     

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was indicted by the independent global reports for being opaque. One of the first steps the administration took was to reconstruct the corporation’s opaque accounting structure. This led to the closure of more than 40 accounts. Now, NNPC publishes its financial reports monthly and the operational deficits have been reduced by not less than 50 per cent. NNPC outstanding annual audits from 2011 to 2014 have been conducted.

    The administration has also resolved the shadowy oil swap deals that had cost the country billions of dollars and left it at the mercy of a few rich Nigerians. The government has also introduced third party financing to eliminate direct funding of cash calls.

    It has eliminated the Offshore Processing Agreement (OPA) through the introduction of the Direct Sales and Direct Purchase (DSDP) scheme with reputable off-shore refineries. This has yielded annual savings of $1 billion.

    The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) put together by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, has now been passed into law by the Senate, after 17 years of failed efforts.

    In 2016, the Federal Government exited the Cash Call arrangement with Joint Ventures (JVs) with International Oil Companies (IOCs), which put pressure on government’s finances. The failure to fully fund them resulted in more than N6 billion arrears as at December 2015. The reforms have led to the negotiation of the debt arrears owed the IOCs from $6.8 billion to $5.1 billion and a long-term repayment plan has been agreed on.

     

    International hugs and kisses

     

    The international community has warmed up to the Buhari administration in the last three months. The President has enlisted the support of multilateral institutions, such as the World Bank and IMF, security agencies, Western countries and other friendly nations to source, locate and repatriate stolen assets. He has met key world leaders, including President Donald Trump. The United States (U.S.) government is supplying 12 Super Tucano Aircraft to Nigeria.

    At one of his international engagements, specifically the London summit on anti-corruption, Buhari announced that Nigeria would begin the full implementation of the principles of the OPEN contracting data standards.

    It was in furtherance of the President’s trips to the Middle-East, where he sensitised the governments on the need to repatriate stolen assets and repatriate the suspects for trial at home. In January last year, Nigeria and UAE signed Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters.

    The Federal Government and the Swiss Government in March last year signed a Letter of Intent on the Restitution of Illegally-Acquired Assets forfeited in Switzerland. Under the agreement, the Swiss government has repatriated $322 million in Abacha Loot. The cash is being warehoused in a Special Account in the CBN and it will be deployed towards the SIP.

     

    Insurgency lost its steam

     

    Although there are still pockets of attacks, but gone were the days when insurgents reigned supreme. One of the first things Buhari changed was the military structure, which led to the relocation of the Nigerian Military Command Centre to Maiduguri in May 2015. The results are glaring: Over 13,000 persons have been rescued by the troops, including 106 of the Chibok schoolgirls 105 of the Dapchi Girls abducted in February. Since December 2015, all territories previously under the Boko Haram control have been regained; by June 2015, Nigeria provided $21 million to the Task Force; and in June 2015, the United States (U.S.) announced a $5 million support for the fight against terrorism in the sub-region.

    The seriousness with which the administration has pursued the anti-terror war has also led to the U.S. government further announcing an additional $40 million for humanitarian assistance in the sub-region. It is in the process of selling war planes to the country.

    Boko Haram’s operational and spiritual headquarters, “Camp Zero”, in Sambisa Forest, has been captured. The army has arrested Usman Mohammed, (a.k.a. Khalid Al Barnawi), leader of the Ansaru Terrorist group and one of the most wanted terrorists in the world, on whose head the U.S. placed a $6 million bounty.

    Also arrested and being prosecuted is Amodu Omale Salifu, leader of an ISIS affiliate group active in Northcentral.

    As the campaigns for the next general elections gather steam, Nigerians will sure be looking for more actions.

     

  • Fair deal, but …

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in his May 29 Democracy Day broadcast, rolled out an impressive list of achievements. The President  reeled out his score card, based on his government’s three pillars: security, corruption and the economy.

    In general terms, he was true in what he claimed his government had done. But whether that score card has met the general high expectation of the change mantra, that propelled the president and his All Progressives Congress (APC) to power, is another matter.

    Still, given the rather tenuous juncture at which the administration took over in 2015, it should be fairly proud of its achievements, forged in the most difficult and testy of times.

    The president was, therefore, right on the money in his opening assertions, in the second of his 37-paragraph speech, when he said, inter alia: “The commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day is … a salute to the resilience and determination of Nigerians …”  Indeed, it has been tough for everyone, the governors and the governed — a crucible Nigeria had not experienced for a long time.

    That is why, to every claim the president has made, there is probably a counter-claim, earnest or cynical. But that would appear a function of a polity that agrees it has glaring problems, but fiercely disagrees on how to solve them. Also, there is hardly any agreement on how to tackle spin-offs from a problem being solved. That is, because the society reeks with mutual distrust — ethnic, religious, communal.

    Take the security question. On Boko Haram, the most critical security blight the administration inherited, the president said — and it is true — that his government has done much better than the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency.

    Enthused the president: “Before this administration came into being three years ago, Boko Haram held large areas of land spanning several local governments in the North East.  Today,” he added, “the capacity of the insurgents has been degraded, leading to the re-establishment of authority of government and the release of captives”.

    True — and those right in those troubled spots — returning emirs that fled their courts; and locals that sought refuge in the bush and in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps — would probably appreciate that remarkable transition, much more than those commenting, hundreds of miles from the North East vortex.

    Yet, despite that progress, the Dapchi school girls’ capture — all 104 of them — re-echoed the shameful abduction of the 276 Chibok girls, of the Jonathan era. Though the Buhari Presidency moved fast to negotiate the release of the Dapchi girls, save the sole Leah Sharibu, still in captivity for insisting on her Christian faith, that Chibok could repeat itself in Dapchi put a dent on the administration’s anti-terror score card. Still, it is also fair to say that Buhari has negotiated part-release of the Chibok girls — what Jonathan could not do. But that the rest are still in captivity gores not a few.

    Even then, as the government was lifting the Boko Haram siege, another pestilence of killers were descending upon the land, this time mainly in the Middle Belt. In the first quarter of 2018, the killings were so brazen, particularly in Benue and Taraba, as to rubbish whatever records the administration had chalked up on security.

    The crisis is not helped by the simplistic blaming of every killing on “herdsmen”; and the explosive allegations that the killings were “ethnic cleansing”. Later investigations, however, would reveal a more complicated problem, spanning farmers-herdsmen tension, politically motivated killings allegedly by cult groups, and even ancient feuds revived by crippling poverty, among sundry anomie.

    But whatever the scope or source of these killings, the Buhari administration cannot claim to have made  a dent on security without eliminating the bloodletting  and making every corner of Nigeria safe. It should also be wary of declaring success on the war against terror. Until the last terrorist, suicide-bombing soft targets, is curtailed, the war on terror cannot be won.

    On corruption, the Buhari government, of truth, has much to crow about.  Aside from big name convictions, the anti-sleaze war has not only been on the front burner, there is increasing consciousness that maybe a Nigerian government is at last ready to punish corruption. Indeed, only on May 30, the long-drawn trial of the Revd. Jolly Nyame, Taraba two-term governor from 1999-2007, ended in a 14-year gaol term, without any option of fine. That is an encouraging feat.

    The president was also right on the strict implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), ironically an initiative of the Jonathan Presidency, which didn’t have the will to walk its policy talk. Aside from saving a large quantum of cash  — the president put the figure at N200 billion — from pilferers, implementing TSA is attacking corruption from the preventive side. That is far cheaper than chasing stolen funds. But the most obvious gains from the anti-sleaze war would appear generally doing more with less, when compared to the boom period of the Jonathan administration.

    Still, there are abiding worries, in some quarters, that the corruption war is one-sided, and driven by political affiliations, rather than strict merit. But another view point has also countered that the opposition was crying wolf, just to corral sympathy.  Whatever it is, President Buhari must ensure the corruption war is fair to all.

    From corruption to the economy, the adminstration’s third pillar. Again, from the recession that dawned with its entry into office, the economy would appear at last on the mend. The president, quoting the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said the economy grew by 1.95 per cent, in first quarter 2018, against the deficit -0.91 growth in first quarter 2017, even if back then, the economy was inching its way out of recession.

    Foreign reserve has also grown to US$ 47.5 billion in May 2018 from US$ 29.6 billion in May 2015, when the administration took over. Of course, there is the huge investment in agriculture, symbolised by rice and yam, two popular staples, that drive the government’s policy sing-song that Nigeria must grow what they eat and eat what they grow. The president said the aggressive cultivation of rice has reduced rice importation by 90 per cent, within three years. Also, all over the country there is clear evidence of fixing roads, and building rail — the result of 30 per cent of the budget on capital expenditure, a rarity, many would say, since 1999.

    At best, however, what the administration has done is priming the economy for its eventual rebound. For it to achieve real success, it must continue on the right path of fiscal discipline and an even increased spending on infrastructure, not to talk of finally delivering on the power sector, which generation is now put at 7, 000 mw. Then, and only then, would its exertions translate to direct citizens’ joy and less hunger in the land.

    But aside from these three pillars, the Buhari Presidency should be more sensitive to appointments, to conform to Nigeria’s diversity. The president has always argued that his cabinet has met the national spread, as demanded by the Constitution — which is true. But others have countered that his security appointments are skewed to the North, thus eliciting some form of alienation from those parts of the country that feel left out. The president would therefore do well to be more sensitive on this score and balance the appointments.

     

     

  • Making Cyber Security practitioners available in Nigeria

    The threat posed to individuals and organisations by cyber adversaries is real even in a developing economy like Nigeria.

     

    Two months ago, Crowdstrike, a global leader in cyber threat intelligence and security incident response, released intelligence report on how Nigerian cybercriminals have evolved their tactics to sophisticated business email compromise (BEC) scams that result in malware infection, account hijacking and impersonation among other outcomes. Similarly, Palo Alto’s Unit 42 threat intelligence team, which has been studying the Nigerian cybercriminal gangs for at least 4 years, released an intelligence report in April 2018 about how sophisticated and effective these criminals have become.

    This group of threat actors have been code-named SILVERTERRIER by Palo Alto and a YouTube video describing how capable and formidable these cyber adversaries have become is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kZEGUIAi1o

     

    Given these facts, an army of “good guys” trained to defend enterprise networks need to emerge fast while organisations whose critical business processes are run by information systems – which can be compromised by cybercriminals – must be ready to absorb them. The bad guys continue to grow in number because they find that path rewarding. However, there’s potentially a greater reward for good guys and organisations that focus on thwarting these miscreants.

     

    To this end, Digiss, an company dedicated to thwarting cyber adversaries through carefully developed cyber security capabilities in people, process and technology has developed a solution that produces good guys and make them available to needy organisations.

     

    The Digiss Model

    Using its Train-Mentor-Place (TMP) model, Digiss:

    Develops tomorrow’s cyber security practitioners through well-thought-out training programs that have clear learning objectives and a good balance of content and context;

    Works with students who show a lot of promise and desire to further prepare them for life as cyber security practitioners;

    Leverages its relationship with employers of cyber security talents to move successful students to the front of the interview queue. Well-trained and highly informed students will be capable of demonstrating the level of competence required by any organisation seeking cyber security talents

     

    This course, Cyber Security for Aspiring Practitioners (CSAP), was developed by seasoned cyber security professionals who hire, train and mentor enterprise defenders regularly. “Our primary goal is not to get the student certified but to provide employers with passionate, motivated and energetic cyber security practitioners who are capable of adding value from their very first day on the job”, said Mobolaji Moyosore, Founder and CEO. “There are so many courses and training programs on the market designed to get students certified within weeks or even days. This is not what we’re about. Rather than teach students to memorize concepts and pass any certification exam, this course teaches students to grasp concepts and retain knowledge through threaded discussions, activity-based learning, and practical hands-on sessions”, he continued.

     

    Digiss has also created a platform for organisations who seek business-focused cyber security analysts. Hiring managers or members of the human resources department of any of these organisations can sign up to participate in the cyber talent hunters’ network (CTHN) program by completing a short intake form available here: https://www.digissllc.com/cyber-talent-hunters-network/

     

    The course can be completed in self-paced (online only) or blended (online + onsite) mode within a 4-week (or up to 12 weeks) period by highly motivated students. There is also an associated exam currently conducted at the company’s Ikoyi office (Mulliner Towers, 39 Alfred Rewane) typically at the end of a 3-day onsite part of the class. Successful students will be awarded the Digiss Certified Cyber Security Associate (DCCSA) certification, which is currently going through accreditation with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Students with high passing grades will be presented to organisations that participate in our cyber talent hunters’ program for interview, internship and/or employment while other students will continued to be mentored until they become gainfully employed.

     

    Enrollment for the next onsite part of its blended training program closes on June 14, 2018 but those wanting to follow a self-paced program can enroll anytime and join the class on June 30, 2018 to partake in the exam.

     

    For more information about Digiss LLC and its services, visit www.digissllc.com.

  • Again, Obasanjo laments pervasive insecurity in Nigeria

    Former President Olusegun Obadanjo has again  decried the pervasive insecurity across the country, saying he does “not know  of any Nigerian living or dead today who could boast of being adequately secured.”
    Obasanjo recalled that he met on grounds, challenges of insecurity in the country, but said his administration took proactive measures such as carrying out a lot of reforms in the military and signing into law Acts that formally established the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC).
    The arrow head of the formation of the Coalition of Nigeria Movement (CNM) that recently fused into African Democratic Congress(ADC) to wrest power from President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) said he would support an amendment of the NSCDC  Act, if there is any lacuna, to accommodate private security professionals to help curb sundry security threats in the country.
    Obasanjo who spoke at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Saturday during the ASIS International 2018 leadership retreat with the theme: Building Capacity for Professional Growth, however said such private security professionals should be effectively monitored, supervised and controlled by the NSCDC.
     ASIS International 2018 is a global body of professional private security providers while the Lagos chapter of it designated as ASIS 206, organised the retreat.
    The ex – President identified corruption, bad economy, nepotism, and poor leadership as some of  the drivers of the current security threats in the country.
    He also identified four cardinal things that should be in place if the nation expects to witness reduction or cessation of the wave of security threats posed by the insurgents, violent herdsmen,  kidnappers among others.
    According to him, good governance, good  leadership, development and reclaiming of Nigeria’s  core values which emphasized honest means of livelihood, would drastically, if not totally, eliminate all of the security threats plaguing the country.
    Obasanjo noted that a good leader must have experience both in good and bad sides of life that would help him to strategize on how to handle any threat.
    The Chairman of ASIS 206 Lagos Chapter, Oluwaseyi Adetayo said that the NSCDC  law if reviewed, would guarantee professionalism of private security practice in the country as well as  boost the economy in the areas of employment opportunities and securing assets.
     “ASIS International has been providing the platform for networking, education, information on new technology and training for all security professionals all over the world on an as annual basis in the United States,” Adetayo said.
    He explained that the theme of the retreat “Building Capacity for Professional Growth” was arrived at in order to attend to one of the major gaps in our industry, which is leadership.
    “As many of us have grown to strategic leadership level in our various businesses, it is only important that we back professional and technical knowledge with required leadership skills,” he state.

  • Birnin Gwari killings: Buhari okays new security measures

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a new Battalion of the Nigerian Army, and a new Police Area Command, in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as part of measures to scale up the security response to the banditry affecting the area.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, strongly condemned the latest massacre of innocent Nigerians in the area.

    He said “I am deeply outraged by this unwarranted, unprovoked and reckless destruction of lives by bandits who belong to the lowest level of civilization. I feel the pains and devastation of the families of the victims, and this administration will do everything possible to ensure we defeat these enemies of humanity.”

    “The new Army Battalion and the Police Area Command are the latest in a series of law enforcement measures to ensure more effective protection of lives and property, in and around Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and Nasarawa States.

    “Last week the Nigerian Air Force took delivery of two new helicopter gunships, for deployment to parts of the country affected by banditry.” he said

    A Quick Response Wing, he said, has also been established by the Nigerian Air Force in Taraba State, while a Joint Military Intervention Force is fully on ground in Benue.

    President Buhari also assured that security remains a priority for his government and his administration will not tolerate the persistent killing of innocent people in order to set Nigerians against one another.

    According to the President, “these persistent killings are not spontaneous; there are subterranean forces with a sinister agenda to instigate war in the country for selfish purposes.

    “Although unconventional war is particularly complicated, our security forces are making rigorous efforts to better understand these enemies with a view to decisively checkmating their evil attacks.”

    President Buhari extended his condolences to the families of the victims, the government and the people of Kaduna State over this unfortunate tragedy, assuring that his government will never abandon them to their fate.

    Read Also:Emir to Buhari: Killings targeted at embarrassing your govt

     

  • Unity school heads discuss security

    Principals of Federal Unity Colleges in the Southwest zone have discussed machinery to put in place to protect their institutions in the face of growing security challenges in the country.

    Speaking at the opening of the statutory meeting of principals of Unity schools in the zone hosted by the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos last Thursday, Chairperson of zone, Dr Agnes Owolabi, said the principals were concerned about how to secure their institutions against external aggression.

    “This meeting is usually convened every three months (termly) and it is rotational.

    “It has in no small way helped in the repositioning of these colleges as well as improved human capacity development.

    “This meeting too, as usual, will also afford us the opportunity to deliberate on common issues, rub minds and chart a way forward against challenges facing our colleges.

    “As you are aware, security of our various schools has been a topical issue that we cannot ignore even though we seem to enjoy relative peace.

    “So that is why we want to put heads together to see how we can put effective machinery in place to ensure that security in our colleges  is not compromised in any form,” she said.

    She said the principals must ensure that they remained on top of security issues in their colleges  to respect and protect the sanctity of human life

    Owolabi said many of the principals had attended one workshop or the other aimed at equipping them with skills necessary to function as chief executive officers in the various colleges.

    “This knowledge is what we want to share among ourselves for the betterment of our sister colleges. Our children must feel safe studying in any environment if our quest for accelerated growth and national development is to be realised,” she said.

    A total of 18 principals of Unity schools across the Southwest region participated in the meeting.

    The host principal, Dr Olufunmilayo Essien also, said  despite efforts by the Federal Ministry of Education to improve infrastructure in Unity schools, her college was still faced with the issue of leaking roofs.

    Essien lamented that the leaking roofs were making effective teaching and learning difficult for both the students and the teachers each time it rained.

    She added that other major challenges faced by the college was that of inadequate staff in some key subjects, poor drainage system erratic power supply and exorbitant electricity bills, as well as inadequate number of security personnel.

    Despite these challenges, Essien said teaching and learning were accorded top priority in the college as many activities were put in place to ensure that academic excellence was maintained.

    The principal, however, lauded the robust relationship between the college management, the old students and the parent forum, adding that they had been a blessing to her administration.

     

     

  • FG spent N2.67bn to enhance security in UNIMAID – VC

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Professor Abubakar Njodi, said yesterday that the federal government has committed N2.67 billion to enhance security in and around the university.

    Njodi spoke at the university’s 23 combined convocation in Maiduguri.

    He describeded the federal government’s gesture as a clear demonstration of  firm commitment to its responsibility of protection of lives and property of members of the university community.

    He said it would spur the university community into “greater services and sacrifices to the nation.”

    Njodi lamented that insurgency had crippled the political, social and economic spheres of governance in the country.

    He observed that its impact was enormous with devastating psychological implications in Borno.

    He reiterated the commitment of the university to continue its normal academic activities in spite of the attacks on the institution.

    He assured government of the university’s  total commitment to promoting national development through quality manpower training and insightful research,” said Njodi.

    On fuel exploration in the Lake Chad region, Njodi said in spite of the abduction of three and killing of six lecturers, the university would not relent to offer its services whenever the need arises.

    He said: “the university would not be discouraged by what happened.

    “We are ready to mobilize to the site to continue with the assignment anytime security agencies fortify the environment for smooth exploration activities.

    “We consider the oil exploration in the Chad Basin area as an important national assignment and we are committed to its actualization, God willing,” he said.

     

  • Reps summon Buhari over security situation 

    …pass vote of no confidence on Services Chiefs

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari is to appear at plenary before members of the House of Representatives to answer questions over security situation in the country.

    Though the date is yet to be fixed, President Buhari is expected to be confronted with the question of sacking his military and security chiefs having being accused of failure over the country’s security of lives and property.

    The lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence on the Service Chiefs.

    The House will also suspend legislative sittings for three days in solidarity with victims of the killings around the country.

    Furthermore, the House has asked that killer herdsmen are declares as terrorists, while all cattle rearers must undergo security profiling.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Mark Gbilah (APC, Benue), who said the Federal government failed in its primary responsibility of welfare and security of lives and property to the people of his State.

    Citing the killing of two clergymen and others on Tuesday, Gbilah said killing of people in their homes at night has not stopped despite numerous appeals to the Federal government for intervention.

    According to him, army personnel deployed from the 72 Army battalion in Makurdi to quell the incessant murder in Gwer East, Gwer West and several other Local Govermemt Areas (LGAs) by armed herdsmen took the law into their hands in a blatant display of brigandage and criminality and attacked Naka town in retaliation for the alleged murder of one of their colleagues.

    He said Benue state government has repeatedly raised alarm to security agencies about the alleged location of the attackers near Adaka in Makurdi LGA and Gbaji Gwer West LGA from where recent attacks were launched against neighboring communities.

    He regretted that security agencies curiously do not employ a proactive strategy to preemptively attack the locations or carry out continuous surveillance of identified flash points.

    Another lawmaker from Benue, Dickson Tarkighin (APC) said the people of Benue have lost faith in Nigeria while adding that the killers were from Nasarawa and other neighbouring states.

    Edward Pwajok (APC, Plateau) said the security chiefs should be summoned to face the lawmakers and be interrogated in the full glare of the world.

    Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) said the President has breached the constitution by failing in his primary responsibility to the nation and that the House should not be afraid to activate the relevant provision for such breaches.

    Kehinde Agboola (PDP, Ekiti) said: “It is like the leadership of this country is confused, if the President cannot resign, he should sack the Service Chiefs”.

    On his part, Deputy Minority Leader, Chukwuka Onyeama urged his colleagues to be decisive in their decision and call the President to order.

    Sunday karimi (PDP, Kogi) said Nigerians are disappointed in the President, “Buhari is not the Buhari of 1985. Nigerians gave him a strong mandate.

    “He has changed, he has failed to move the nation forward, Section 143 should be invoked,” he said.

    Aliyu Magaji (APC, Jigawa) said though he belonged to the ruling party but President Buhari has not shown enough capacity to convince Nigerians that he is capable of tackling the many challenges facing the country.

    “Enough  is enough, this beyond sentiment, the Service chief must go, if there is no Nigeria, we cannot be here,” he said.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    Read Also: Reps mull impeachment proceeding against Buhari over $496m military equipment spending

     

  • Relieved: Police recover 57 illegal arms in Kwara

    The Police Command in Kwara on Thursday said it had recovered 57 illegal weapons across the state.

    The Spokesman of the command, Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, disclosed this at a public lecture on security sensitization campaign against political thuggery, kidnapping and drug addiction.

    Our reporter reports that the programme was organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state.

    Okasanmi, who spoke on security of lives and property of the residents, disclosed that the weapons were recovered during the  command’s month-long operations.

    “As the 2019 elections draw nearer, the command will intensify more on the recovery of illegal arms to allow trouble-free election to hold in the state,’’ he said.

    Okasanmi, said police alone could not provide security  and that other stakeholders  needed to cooperate and support the force.

    An official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Ango Mohammed-Tukur, lamented how some youths indulged in drug abuse.

    Mohammed-Tukur said that a number of them were in the habit of using Tramadol, Hemp and codeine.

    The official, therefore, solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders in the state to get rid of drug addiction.

    The Ohoro of Shao in Moro Local Government Area, Oba Bamidele Adegbite, advised security agencies to be on top of their responsibilities.

    The NOA state Director, Mr Segun Adeyemi, called for the support of all stakeholders to make the society free of social vices.

    NAN