The Nation Newspaper

Tag: security

  • Abdulsalami seeks dialogue to end security challenges

    Abdulsalami seeks dialogue to end security challenges

    ex-Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has called for dialogue in resolving the nation’s security challenges created by the agitation of militant groups

    Gen. Abubakar spoke with reporters in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Saturday.

    He said there was no need for the threats arising from these agitators – Boko Haram, Niger Delta Avengers and Biafra.

    “All I can say is that there is no need for the insecurity in Nigeria.

    “I am appealing to Nigerians, irrespective of what their grievances are, to come to a roundtable and try to resolve these issues.

    “We have amicable ways of settling these issues because there must be peace before we can progress as a country,” he said.

    Gen. Abubakar admitted that the economy was passing through a difficult time, but urged Nigerians to be patient.

    He hoped the Federal Government would fix the economy.

    The former leader urged the private sector to complement the government’s effort in revamping the economy, just as some industrialists were doing in Nnewi.

    “Unfortunately, Nigeria is not an island; all over the world, there is economic recession and that is what is affecting us.

    “Let us join hands to save this economy; the private sector must come in to help us to resuscitate the economy, just as Nnewi has shown,” he said.

  • Osun monarchs urge sustained tight security

    Monarchs under the aegis of the Osun Divisional Conference of Obas have urged the government and law enforcement agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering with a view to sustain the state’s record of very low crime rate.

    They said recent cases of kidnaping of monarchs should be dealt with decisively by the police to put an end to it.

    The traditional rulers spoke in a communique signed by its secretary, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi, at the end of their meeting at the Palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.

    The monarchs urged the police to intensify efforts in securing the country.

    They lauded the effort of the Aregbesola-led administration in providing logistics and equipment to combat crime in the state .

    The obas urged the government not to relent in ensuring that crime rate that had been hitherto low did  not increase.

    The Aregbesola government had in 2012 and 2014 released 20 modern Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), over 100 patrol vans and bikes for the use of the police.

    “Conference appreciates the developmental efforts of Aregbesola . Obas call on the government and law enforcement agencies to  step up intelligence with a view to making the state inhabitable for criminals.

    “Intelligence gathering and community policing should be adopted to reduce crime in Osun and Nigeria as a whole,” the monarchs emphasised.

  • Lagos reinforces security in Ikorodu

    Lagos reinforces security in Ikorodu

    …Seals off Western Lodge Hotel on Isawo Road

    The Lagos State government has reassured the general public that the lives and property of well-meaning and peace-loving residents in the state remain its priority.

    In a statement released on Sunday by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the government advised that the general public should be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity in their immediate environment to the Police or any of the security services within the state.

    The statement urges “members of the public not to allow any building to be used to harbor criminals or serve as a base for criminal activities.”

    According to the statement, recent security investigations in the Ikorodu area of the state have revealed that the Western Lodge Hotel, located at 123, Isawo Road, Agric area of Ikorodu has been associated with illegal and criminal activities “and the Lagos State government has accordingly decided to seal up the hotel until further notice.”

    The statement added that “government will immediately reinforce the presence of security agents in and around Ikorodu axis” in order to further reassure residents of the determination of the government to safeguard lives and property in the area.

    The press release added that the Lagos State government warns that it will not hesitate to prosecute and confiscate any building found to have been used or is being used to aid criminal activities.

  • ‘How to achieve security, growth’

    A development expert, Dr Kwesi Aning, has called on African nations to allow state structures and institutions abide by rules and procedures to develop the continent.

    Aning made the call while delivering a lecture in honour of notable historian Prof. Akanmu Adebayo, at the University of Ibadan, yesterday.

    Aning is the director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Accra, Ghana.

    Organised by the Global-Africa Development Network, Aning spoke on the topic: “Negotiating the West African Conundrum: Developing Society through Human Security and Social Justice.”

    His paper analysed the interconnected concepts of huaman security and social justice as indicators in measuring development, with focus on Africa as a developing economy.

    The model of human security, he said, forms part of a larger process highlighting the obligation of governments to protect human freedom.

    “It reinforces existing development frameworks as human rights-based, and sustainable development approaches, by looking at the wide array of situations threatening the survival, livelihood and dignity of people. At the same time, it considers issues of development, rule of law and democracy as broader critical components of understanding human security and how these translate into socio-economic justice. However, for such development to translate into social equity and justice, state structures and institutions should abide by rules, procedures and principles as a prerequisite for societal transformation and development in Africa,” Aning concluded.

    Prof. Oludayo Adesina, who chaired the confrence’s Local Organising Committee, said the conference was in honour of a foremost African scholar, whose works reflected the increasingly important need to understand the African experience in its interlocking dimensions.

    Responding, Adebayo hailed the organisation for organising the conference in his honour.

    He thanked friends and associates for the encomiums poured on him, stressing that the pressure of work made him look like a hard person to some of his former students.

    At the event were the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale, judges, academics from foreign countries as well as friends and well wishers.

  • Buhari, Emmanuel meet in Aso Rock on security

    Buhari, Emmanuel meet in Aso Rock on security

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday was in a closed meeting with Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on security.

    The Niger Delta region, which Akwa Ibom is part, has witnessed increased militancy in the last few months.

    Addressing State House correspondents, Emmanuel said: “I’m still serving a state and the state is within the country and the President is the father of the country. I think it is part of my responsibility to let the President know how things are being done and how we are faring.

    “We discussed issues of security. Unfortunately, everything discussed under security is covered.”

    On whether or not he made a request to the President, he said: “Not really a request but a feedback. At times, a feedback could be effective than a request. This is because a feedback is necessary for further actions and the rest of things you want to do.

    “But I also want to use this platform to say we are running one project, which is project Nigeria. If we are running project Nigeria, all hands must be on deck to move the country to the level we expect and dream of.

    “I think this is the essence of the whole thing: to keep letting everybody know that at this point it is a time everybody must join hands to work for the country and see what we can do from the state to the local government level, to support the vision of making Nigeria reach where we want it to be.

    “Well, I don’t know whether you want me to redefine that word ‘restiveness’, but permit to also say you are still pushing me to discuss security, which we don’t discuss on camera. Spare me for today. But rather than call it restiveness, I will say everything we discussed is about the wellbeing of Nigerians. How can we make their situation better? I think that is the way I look at it.

    “Whether you look at it; from security, infrastructure, security or any other angle, that is the ultimate. At times, I move from ‘what do I set to achieve and how do I want to do it?’ I think that is the way I look at it. What have I set to achieve at the end of the day? It is the interest of everybody that we are working for.”

     

  • Notore denies security, economic saboteur label

    Notore denies security, economic saboteur label

    A fertiliser manufacturing company, Notore Chemical Industries Plc, yesterday denied its involvement in activities that could sabotage security and the economy.

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), last week, accused Notore of being a conduit for explosive materials, describing the firm as “unpatriotic”.

    But the company’s management said in a statement: “Notore has not been, is not, and has no intention whatsoever of engaging in any activity that is detrimental to Nigeria.

    “As a Nigerian company with predominantly Nigerian beneficial shareholders, Notore has always been committed and is focused on supporting initiatives of the Federal Government and championing the African Green Revolution with a focus on Nigeria.”

    The firm described itself as the premier producer of urea fertiliser in sub-Saharan Africa for over six years, saying its core goal remained the enhancement of food production and food security in Africa, particularly Nigeria.

    It said the urea fertiliser which it produces is harmless except when mixed with dangerous substances.

    The company said: “Urea fertiliser is crucial for the agricultural revolution in Nigeria and for the millions of farmers who rely on it to achieve food security and self-sustenance. Notore produces urea solely for agricultural purposes, and urea, on its own, is harmless.

    “It is only when people that are involved in nefarious activities further process urea by mixing it with harmful substances, such as nitric acid, that the combination can become dangerous. Notore does not produce, import, or in any way use nitric acid.

    “Furthermore, Notore has worked  and continues to work with government agencies to ensure that its products move strictly through its controlled distribution channels to be delivered directly to official distribution partners and then into the market.”

    The Onne-based fertiliser firm vowed to continue to support local economic growth rather than undermine it.

    It said through its private extension services and controlled distribution channels, which include over 2,500 village promoters, reached over three million farmers who have been impacted positively with increased yields.

    The company said it has improved farming practice, leading to increased yields and income, and has worked with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, some selected states, and International Fertiliser Development Center (IFDC) in designing and implementing the fertiliser voucher programme between 2009 and 2012, which improved the administration of the fertiliser subsidy programme by increasing the reach to target beneficiaries from 11 to 60 per cent.

    It said as part of its commitment to the country, about 75 per cent of its fertiliser production is focused on the loacal market, adding that it exports limited amounts of fertiliser during the dry season when there is essentially zero demand for fertilizser in Nigeria.

    “Notore has been a key partner in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme aimed at increasing the local production of key crops. During the recently completed pilot of the rice anchor borrowers’ programme in Kebbi State, Notore supplied all the urea fertiliser used in the programme.

    “Another example of Notore’s aggressive efforts to stimulate farming in Nigeria is its successful onion intervention in Kebbi State. In 2010, an unprecedented severe case of onion twister disease in Kebbi State, similar to the recent tomato crisis, crippled all farming activities involving onions. As of the time of Notore’s intervention in 2010, onions were in short supply with high demand, thereby raising the price to an all-time high of N40,000 per bag.”

  • Northern group hails Buhari on security

    Northern group hails Buhari on security

    A civil society organisation, Northern Youth Leaders Assembly has commended the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for its achievements in the fight against insecurity.

    The group, which made this in a communiqué issued at a meeting held in Makurdi, Benue State and attended by members drawn from the 19states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where they praised the president in his efforts to stabilise the security situation in the country.

    They, however, noted that the security breaches in the country have been misconstrued for political millage by enemies of the country, stating that some of those that Mr. President appointed as Security Chiefs have been demonised for the simple reason that they are from the north even though they have done well in addressing the nation’s security challenges.

    The statement by its Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee, Yakubu Danlami acknowledged that with the efforts by his administration, the nation has become relatively peaceful.

    “This is evident in the fact that Nigerians now sleep with their eyes all closed. We must not hide our joy but to commend the Nigerian Army in particular for their gallant and continuous support to ensure that our democracy is on a steady ride to the Promised Land”. It read in part.

    It, however, accused Political and public office holders of demonising the administration on account of what they stand for, making a note that the height of such demonisation is the rebirth of separatist movements and militant groups in the south of the country to harass the Buhari Presidency.

    “Some of those behind these aberrations have openly declared that they are doing it to express their ethnic discontent. This does not bode well for the country as the concept of our founding fathers was and still remain that of one Nigeria”. They added.

    The group has also warned against sectional attacks on actors who have played important roles in these achievements.

  • Why I will not use police security, by UPP candidate

    Why I will not use police security, by UPP candidate

    The governorship candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Adviser Shedrack Nowamagbe, has stated that he would not use men of the Nigeria police Force as part his security details because of corruption if elected as governor.

    Nowamagbe, a social critic and musician, said part of his reasons were that police demanded money to provide security at the flagging off campaign rally of his party.

    His words: “You write a letter to them and they will ask you to bring money before they send policemen to you.”

    He spoke in Benin City after he was presented with the party’s flag by National Chairman of the party, Chief Chekwas Okorie.

    Nowamagbe promised to work with lawmakers to legalize activities of vigilantes in the state with a view to providing adequate security in the state.

    He urged the people not to vote for the PDP or the APC because ‘they are same fellows’.

    Nowamagbe noted Governor Adams Oshiomhole performed under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria did nothing since the party changed its name to APC.

    He alleged that Governor Oshiomhole rigorous campaigns for Obaseki was to provide cover for $200m loan recently secured by the Edo State government.

    On why the people should not vote for the PDP, Nowamagbe said the party consists of the ‘same old cargoes who frustrated Lucky Igbinedion’.

    According to him, “I am going to crush them to recover any state money with them because I am allergic to corruption. I will not compromise on that.”

    “There will be good road network that will open up rural areas in the state. We will make Edo a good place not live as there will be stable electricity from solar power.”

    On his part, Chief Okorie said the APC has cancelled every promises made to Nigerians.

    Okorie said the state will witnessed development when the people vote in a UPP government.

    Meanwhile, candidate of the People For Democratic Change (PDC), Bishop Akhalamhe has earlier raised alarmed for money demanded by officials of Nigeria Police before security would be provided at campaign rallies.

    Bishop said the Nigeria Police Force failed to provide security at the party primaries because he refused to pay N200,000 that was demanded

    Responding, State Commissioner of Police, Chriz Ezike, said he has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to investigate the allegations.

    Ezike said political parties were not supposed to pay for police to provide security.

  • Corrosive effect of corruption on Nigeria’s security 

    Some three years or so ago, the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a conference on Nigeria’s foreign policy at the foyer of the ministry’s beautiful Abubakar Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja. I remember Professor Ibrahim Gambari, then Under-Secretary-General for one of the divisions in the UN Secretary-General’s office saying our soldiers participating in UN peace-keeping operations in Darfur were poorly kitted. He said their equipment was below what the UN expected and what Nigeria in the past conformed with. This was an important matter because the UN reimbursed Nigeria for all its expenses during peace-keeping operations. The then Minister of Defence who was previously chairman of the PDP, the then ruling party gave a lame excuse that party bigwigs who got the contracts might not have performed well. He then casually dismissed the observation as if it did not really matter. I sat down there shocked about the levity with which state affairs was being handled in Nigeria. This was at a time when as a country we were going about laying claim to a seat on the UN Security Council  to represent Africa, and secondly, our candidacy was also based on the fact that we had participated on several UN peace-keeping and peace-enforcement operations . There we were, losing one of the planks of our credentials for permanent membership of the UN Security Council because of the greed and unconcern by one of the key persons in government.

    This reminds me of what a Zimbabwean minister, an academic colleague, asked me in 1990 about why during military regimes, Nigeria always got its act together but that during civilian regimes, there was a decline in the quality and dedication to service of the political leaders. Of course as a democrat I had no answer and it would have been out of place for me to endorse or support his observation. Even if he was correct, the behaviour of our men in uniform going by recent revelations leaves much to be desired.

    How can one explain the top echelon of our army and air force embezzling billions of Naira and millions of dollars meant to purchase arms and ammunition for soldiers in war time? These people were not only undermining the security of the country, they were also sending officers and men to die during unequal engagement with enemy troops of the Boko haram. Some of them had the temerity of trying unwilling soldiers in court-martial for refusing to go to the front with guns that would not fire!  National security should be sacrosanct. All officers and men should know this and if they have forgotten then there is a need to teach it not only to our security forces but to all citizens. In other climes, these military looters would have been tried in military courts rather than in civilian courts followed by a horde of so-called Senior Advocates eager to share in the loot and laughing all the way to the banks at the country’s expense.

    What can the country do? What can poor Buhari do? How many of our fights can he be expected to fight especially in a country that has seen so much misrule that it is almost inoculated to bad news and official thievery and dereliction of duty?

    Recently, the new Inspector-General of Police accused his predecessor of going away with 24 cars and his deputy inspectors-general and assistant inspector-generals went away with eight cars each. The question to ask is why is so much spent on cars and little or nothing spent on investigating tools and gadgets. Is this not the police that always claim it has no vehicles when people being robbed call on them for assistance? Are there no auditors any more in the various ministries and departments of government?

    A friend of mine told me recently that we all know that our country has gone to the dogs. He said our emphasis is what to do to reverse the situation. One hopes we have not gone beyond redemption. My suggestion is that there is a need for moral rearmament on a national scale. Our places and leaders of various religions should be called by the president and enlisted in to this campaign to rebuild Nigeria. We should encourage people who have gone astray whether caught or not to come forward and give testimonies of where they went wrong and vomit what they have like gluttons consumed even when they did not need to eat. They should demonstrate penance and be ready for restitution. We need to teach Nigerians to demand their rights from leaders who are not performing. Stomach infrastructure alone will not do. Man shall not live by bread and butter alone! There is also a need to challenge our people to work hard and that hard and honest work will be rewarded. Our people must be told not to celebrate people whose sudden source of wealth is not known. A review of all national honours since 1960 should be undertaken so that those who had earned them illegitimately should be dishonoured. In fact the award of national honours should be suspended until this suggested review has been carried out to remove those who are unworthy from the pantheon of national heroes.

    There is also a need to embark on serious educational campaign to all adult citizens and children in schools through teaching of good citizenship so that everybody would know that they are stakeholders in a future Nigeria where honesty would pay. Whatever has been surrendered by looters and whatever assets had been seized and monetized should be put into a special account from where special projects that will empower the people would be funded. The N300 billion that politicians had claimed since 2007 for so-called constituency projects must be recovered to be used for community projects as determined by the people. From now on, budgeting must be done in such a way that the people must have input into the process so that people’s concern can be factored into governance.

    Of course there is no country that is free of corruption. The difference is that punishment is usually sure and swift. This should be the way forward in Nigeria. The law is no respecter of persons. May I say I particularly admire the state of Israel which in recent time has jailed respectively a President for rape and a Prime Minister for corruption and is currently investigating a  sitting Prime Minister. It is only when we know impunity will be punished that people will sit up. People always respond to the stimulus of pain and pleasure; when people know that what they have illegitimately acquired could be taken from them or their children when they pass on, then the primitive accumulation of wealth now prevailing in Nigeria would become history. We need to know that all earthly wealth will end here on this terrestrial plane and that we brought nothing to this world and when we go we will take nothing with us. All that we think is important and pride ourselves in acquiring is vanity and our efforts at the end of the day is futile. This is the message our mosques and churches should be preaching. What will it benefit a man if he has the whole world and loses his soul? What is important is not how much one has but what good name and reputation one has built. Our heroes as a people should not be the rich and the powerful but the solitary workman providing for the needs of his family from the sweat of his labour and being contented with whatever he has achieved by dint of his exertion and hard work. This is what all our religions teach us and if we are true to our faith this is what we should try and do.

  • Military plans new security measures for Niger Delta

    •Civilian JTF, ex-militants to join operations, says CDS

    The Federal Government and the military have planned new security measures to protect Niger Delta, following the outcome of the dialogue to end hostilities in the region.

    The government is said to be considering the integration of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and former militants in the new JTF, Operation Delta Safe (ODS), as well as establishing new brigades.

    The Minister of Defence, Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (retd), and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin spoke in Bayelsa State on the government’s plans to end hostility in the region when they toured ODS units.

    Dan-Ali said the government was planning to establish the local JTF, following the feat a similar outfit achieved in the war against Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast.

    Dan-Ali and Olonisakin were accompanied by ODS Commander Rear Admiral Joseph Okogie; component heads of ODS; Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command (CNC), Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba and the Air Force Commanding Mobility Command.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the state capital, the minister said the government was considering involving locals and other stakeholders in the region, including the governors, in the new security architecture to replicate the civilian JTF in the Northeast.

    He said: “I come here to see how we can improve their logistics. You may recall that during our last meeting with the Vice-President, where all the governors from Southsouth and Southeast attended. It was agreed that whatever security arrangement we would have must involve people within the general area.

    “I am here to enforce the decision whereby all the governors and the locals in the general area will be accommodated in the security architecture. We have such arrangement in the Northeast where we have local JTF and they were of tremendous assistance to our Armed Forces, especially when in intelligence gathering.

    “This is one of the cardinal arrangements, and that is why I said I should come and have a pure assessment of how we could imbibe them in this new security architecture of the new operation called Operation Delta Safe.”

    During a visit to Governor Seriake Dickson, who was represented by his deputy, John Jonah, the minister urged the state to help the Federal Government to identify some illegal websites used by some people to spread falsehood against the military.

    Dan-Ali said: “We are also of the opinion that you will help us in identifying some of the illegal websites that are used for rumour mongering and painting our Armed Forces in bad light; painting them in the activities that we thought should not be.

    “We are also of the opinion that it is necessary to get some of these Amnesty students, who have graduated, involved in the security architecture. They are being paid and we are thinking of the way they can be useful to us, instead of just paying them.

    “We are also of the opinion that we should be having constant rotation of our security personnel to give us better understanding of how some of them will not be engaged in illegal activities. This is because if they overstay, they also get accustomed and get involved in some illegal activities. We are also thinking of establishing special brigades.”

    The minister, who had closed meetings with component commanders of ODS at the Yenagoa headquarters of the outfit, said the unity of Nigeria was not negotiable.

    He urged all to key into government’s efforts to unite the country.

    Dan-Ali said: “I wish to add that keeping Nigeria is a task involving all of us. Right from the Civil War, our Armed Forces have been doing their best in keeping the nation united.

    “We are asking for your continuous support for what we could call the unification of the nation. We need to know that if Africa is united, it is stronger.”

    The minister said the Federal Government was in dialogue with stakeholders to end the economic sabotage in Niger Delta.

    Though he did not say who the government was talking with, Dan-Ali said the government would use force, in case dialogue fails.

    He said: “This is one of the cardinal points that brought us here – to look for peace. But we are also preparing, in case the peace and negotiations are not favourable. We are also, on our own side, making all the arrangement so that there will be peace in Niger Delta. We cannot rule out force.

    “We have started the dialogue. We remember that the negotiation started after our meeting with the Vice-President and Southsouth governors. This is one of the reasons I am here. I came to see what is available on the ground and the operational capability of the Armed Forces within the zone.”

    On plans to avoid collateral damage, in case the military decides to use force, Dan-Ali said: “We are not saying we are going to war. We are doing an internal security work; this is not a war.

    “So, you cannot be talking about collateral damage. We know our rules of engagement. We cannot use just force like that without any mandate. Collateral damage should not come in. As far as we are concerned, we are just trying to stop criminality in this general area.”