The Nation Newspaper

Tag: security

  • Maritime security: NIMASA chief seeks agencies’ support

    Maritime security: NIMASA chief seeks agencies’ support

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has called stakeholders to redouble their efforts in ensuring adequate security for the maritime sector..

    Peterside, who made the call when he hosted the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai, at the agency’s head office in Lagos, decried the rise in piracy and called for strategic initiatives and synergy among stakeholders to arrest the trend.

    He said: “The operations report available to us is nothing to cheer about. While there is a drop in the number of vessels calling on our ports, there seem to be a comparative increase in piracy activities. This means that operationally, both NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy must step up our game in order to guarantee continuous prosperity of Nigeria’s economy.”

    While commending the Nigerian Navy for the considerable reduction of criminal activities in Nigeria’s territorial waters in the last three months, Peterside  challenged stakeholders to do more to eliminate the scourge.

    He acknowledged the existing partnership with the Nigerian Navy, which he said has been mutually beneficial, saying that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two agencies is being reviewed to make it more effective and beneficial to the entire maritime industry.

    “I am confident that the strategies being put in place by the Nigerian Navy, including the launch of the FALCON EYE and partnerships with relevant stakeholders will go a long way in addressing the security challenges in our waterways” he said, and pledged the Agency’s continuous collaboration with the Nigerian Navy in the task of promoting a friendly environment for maritime activities in Nigeria.

    Responding, Rear Admiral  Bobai said he was in NIMASA on a familiarisation visit after taking over the Western Naval Command. He called for greater cooperation between the two agencies for the interest of Nigeria.

    He assured of the Nany’s readiness to partner with NIMASA, saying: “Our doors are open for a sustained partnership with your agency. There should be no obstacles to our collaboration which should guarantee the unhindered movement of vessels doing legitimate business in Nigerian waters.”

  • Groups raise concern over security operatives’ brutality of Bayelsa residents

    Some civil society organisations in Bayelsa State recently raised the alarm over the increasing cases of brutality and extortion of residents by rampaging security operatives in the state.

    The groups consisting of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF) and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) expessed their concerns at a news conference in Yenagoa.

    The Chairman, BANGOF, Robinson Kuroghobogha, who read the statement of the groups, said that human rights violation in Bayelsa was on “a geometric increase”.

    Robinson said that men of the armed forces and other security agencies, particularly the police force, only have the mandate to provide security for citizens and not to harass and intimidate them.

    He cited the recent assaults on Tonye Yemoleigha, a reporter with Radio Bayelsa by an Air Force operative, and Philomena Briggs, a student, by five policemen, as some examples of police brutality in the state.

    He said: “It has come to the notice of the civil society that the rate of assault, harassment, intimidation and unlawful extortion of law-abiding citizens in Yenagoa by armed security personnel has been on the rise.

    “Several cases of brutality by armed (security) personnel have been reported to various institutions with no tangible response from them.

    “The case of Mr. Tonye Yemoleigha, a journalist with the Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation who was brutally assaulted by an Air Force personnel on the May 18 and that of Mrs. Philomena Briggs, a student, reportedly assaulted by five armed policemen are recent examples of the level of impunity of armed personnel in the state.”

    He said the brutality on residents by the security operatives was a violation of their fundamental human rights guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

    “The human rights community and indeed all law-abiding citizens of Bayelsa are seriously concerned with the excessive conduct of armed security personnel.

    “The protection of lives and property and ensuring the rights of law-abiding citizens are not violated are the primary functions of the police.

    “Therefore, policemen acting with impunity and violating the fundamental rights of law-abiding citizens is a deliberate call to chaos and anarchy and no sane society will approve of that.”

    He urged heads of security agencies to take appropriate steps to reduce to the barest minimum cases of officers’ misconduct and brutal assault on innocent citizen.

    Robinson demanded compensation from the security agencies to all victims of recent brutality that had been reported to them.

    He said: “The Human Rights Community and indeed all law abiding citizens of Bayelsa are seriously concerned with the excessive conduct of armed security personnel. The protection of lives and properties and ensuring the rights of law abiding citizens are not violated are the primary functions of the police.

    “Therefore, policeman acting with impunity and violating the fundamental rights of law abiding citizens is a deliberate call to chaos and anarchy and no sane society will approve of that.

    “Law abiding citizens are always proud and happy to support the security personnel who conduct themselves in professional manner and as part of the society. We have worked closely with the security agencies to promote peace in the state.

    “Therefore, we strongly urge that deterrent actions be taking to eliminate such unprofessional conduct among security personnel especially the police. The world is a global village. The recent uproar in United State of America because of the conduct of a few police officers should be a signpost to all security personnel who think they are above the law.

    “ln the light of the above, while we seek elaborate collaboration with all security agencies in the state to promote lasting peace and security, we call on heads of security institutions in the state to take appropriate steps to reduce to the barest minimum incidence of officers’ misconduct and brutal assaults of innocent law abiding citizens.

    “As law-abiding citizens, we will promote all legislation and lawful effort to ensure the success of the operations of security personnel, but we shall also not relent in bringing to justice officers who abuse the privilege accorded them as security personnel.

    “We shall work with the Human Right Commission, the Judiciary and other key partners to ensure the dignity of human lives in Bayelsa State”.

    Present at the conference were Chairman, CLO, Bayelsa State, Chief Nengi James, FIDA Chairman, Dise Ogbise-Erhisere, former Secretary, CLO and Coordinator, Environmental Right Action, Mr. Alagoa Morris, among others.

  • We are talking with militants – Buhari

    We are talking with militants – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is talking to Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law enforcement agencies to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president on Thursday.

    Buhari spoke at a farewell audience with Mr Michael Zinner, the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria at the State House, Abuja.

    He said his administration was studying the instruments of the amnesty programme inherited from the previous administration with a view to carrying out commitments made that were undelivered.

    “We understand their feelings. We are studying the instruments.

    “We have to secure the environment, otherwise investment will not come. We will do our best for the country,’’ he affirmed.

    He expressed appreciation to the government of Germany for its continuing support to Nigeria in the efforts to tackle insecurity and the ongoing rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced citizens in crisis areas in the North-Eastern parts of the country.

    The president also thanked Nigeria’s neighbours for their firm and unflinching support in the war against terror.

    The outgoing German Ambassador noted that bilateral relations between Nigeria and Germany “had improved very much in the last 12 months of this administration”.

    He expressed the readiness of Germany to assist Nigeria in the rehabilitation process in the North-East to help displaced persons return to their villages.

    He also expressed the eagerness of German businesses to invest in the country, now that “conditions for investment have been put in place”.

    Zinner reiterated the standing invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel to Buhari to visit Germany.

  • We didn’t share from Edo security vote, say police

    Edo State Commissioner of Police Mr Chris Ezike has debunked the claim by the factional People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, that the state command receives N5 million out of N500 million the state government got as security vote monthly.

    At a meeting with reporters at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Forum  in Benin City, Ize-Iyamu said an unnamed Commissioner of Police confided in him that the state command receives N5 million naira as security vote.

    Refuting the claim, Ezike, who spoke with reporters yesterday said the police is not partisan and would not stoop to the level portrayed by the candidate.

    He added that the police would not like to dabble into such a political matter.

  • Bello promises adequate security

    Bello promises adequate security

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has assured the people of security, promising that the government will not renege on its promises.

    Speaking after the Eid-el-Fitri prayers in Okene yesterday, Bello said security agents were fully mobilised to deal with any form of violence.

    Noting that the security situation had improved since he assumed duty, Bello said criminals will no longer have a hiding place in Kogi.

    Bello empathised with workers, whose salary had not been paid, saying the issue will soon be a thing of the past.

    The delay, he noted, was caused by the screening, which he said was aimed at eliminating ghosts from the government payroll.

    He urged the people to support his administration to develop the state.

  • Stakeholders call for drug security, self-sufficiency

    Operators in the health sector have gathered in Abuja to discuss how to access quality healthcare.

    They said access to quality healthcare is a major challenge in the country.

    The forum organised by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN), was attended by lawmakers, who were represented by the chairmen of some key committees of the Senate, policymakers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as other players in health policy, research, industry and manufacturing.

    The forum presented an opportunity for lawmakers and civil servants to exchange ideas with manufacturers to improve access to drugs.

    Senate Committee on Industry Chairman Senator Sam Egwu said the theme of the forum, “Medicines’ security and national self-sufficiency: maximising medicines’ production capacity in Nigeria” was apt.

    PMGMAN Chairman Mr Okey Akpa berated the lack of an appropriate policy to ensure national security on health.

    According to him, the country remains at risk of drug insecurity.

    He referred to lessons from the Ebola crisis which made it obligatory for the country to develop strategies to ensure it becomes self-sufficient in medicines.

    Besides, he said there was the need to develop a comprehensive and far-reaching medicines’ security policy which would ensure a robust engagement with medicine security issues.

    He said to intimate the legislature and various MDAs on barriers and limitations encountered in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

    He called on the legislature and other key stakeholders to facilitate enabling environments for maximising manufacturing capacity for medicines in Nigeria.

    The Senate Committee chairmen congratulated the PMG-MAN members for getting the World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing practice (GMP) certification, adding that their achievement placed Nigeria among the countries whose local drug industries manufacture at the highest international standards.

    This step, he said, had been identified as a major precursor for the attainment of self–sufficiency, reduction of medical tourism and commencement of substantial exportation of pharmaceutical products to other countries.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Health praised the Group for holding the forte in contributing to the nation’s access to  quality medicines. This was despite the unfavourable local and international environment that had impacted businesses in the industry.

    On self-sufficiency, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa agreed  that the issue was vital.

    He said ignoring self-sufficiency as regards medicines will be perilous to the country, adding that the issue was beyond healthcare as it impinged on national security.

  • Background check’ll solve security challenges, says expert

    Background check’ll solve security challenges, says expert

    Is the government interested in improving security in every community and nip crimes in the bud? Conducting a background checks on every person can help this cause, says Frank Oyorhigho, Managing Director of Primex Consulting and a background check expert.

    Oyorhigho said background check is a fast-growing profession, which could help the government, corporate organisations and private individuals to know the people they are engaging at any given time. This, he said, will reduce incidents of mistrust in corporate organisations and also bring down the crime rates.

    He said: “We are not maximising the benefit of this fast-growing profession. Conducting background check goes beyond employees’ verification being done by some operators. If the government can support background checking as an industry, it would help in solving security challenges facing many communities.

    “If the government asks all landlords to conduct background checks on their tenants, this would give each landlord to know the people living in his house. This means that armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminals would not find it easy to rent apartment and live in a community. Background check would also afford landlords to know the hidden behaviour of their tenants.”

    Oyorhigho said background checking is not the same as security profiling, noting that the essence of investigating people’s backgrounds was to make information available on their character, which, he said, would help in understanding people’s behaviour and attitude.

    He bemoaned lack of concise national data of the citizens, but said such is irrelevant to the task of a background check professional to give accurate information about any person. He pointed out that on-site verification method would be used to conduct the check on individuals and companies.

    On how long it would take to run the background check, Oyorhigho said it would be better that time be expended to conduct the checking than for people to live with trauma of not getting adequate information about individuals or companies they may want to engage for business. He said wellbeing and values should not be sacrificed for time, citing cases of kidnappings by housemaids, which he blamed on their masters for not conducting proper checks on those they hire as house helps.

  • Security detail opens fire on boss

    The Chairman of Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah, narrowly escaped being killed after a security detail attached to her convoy opened fire on her.

     The local government boss disclosed that the suspect, simply identified as David, has been arrested.

    Our correspondent gathered that the council boss, who attended a thanksgiving service last Sunday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, had hardly entered her car when the policeman in the front seat turned and shot at her.

    But speaking on the matter, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the story on Friday, dismissed the claim, saying “it was an accident discharge’.

     It will be recalled that the local government was recently recalled from suspension by the state legislature.

    Mrs. Chukwurah, who spoke from a private hospital bed in Asaba, said 22 pellets were recovered from the vehicle.

    “My orderly just opened the door for me to enter the vehicle, while the policeman sitting in the front seat turned and faced me with his gun.

    “The next thing I saw was fire all over me, as he shot at me consistently. I was lucky the bullet did not open my stomach. I was hit in other parts. It was God who saved my life,” she said.

     She said when the suspect later confessed that he heard strange voices to shoot her boss.

  • Academy admits students for security course

    Academy admits students for security course

    FOURTEEN students have been admitted by Risk Control Academy, a security institute, to be trained in security management. The Rector of the Ajah, Lagos-based academy, Mr Olufemi Ajayi, who spoke at the school’s second matriculation ceremony, promised to train experts that would use their skills to solve security challenges.

    Ajayi said: “We are determined to train and produce men and women who will be at the forefront of assets protection in Nigeria in the 21st century. The security personnel stationed at strategic assets in the country may not have had necessary security training to protect the assets. We want to train experts that would provide adequate security to protect our national assets.”

    He said the academy was in collaboration with security industry regulators and practitioners to raise standards of professionalism in the nation’s security architecture and to make security a preferred career choice.

    Ajayi said the academy would expand its reach and curriculum in partnership with international organisations to ensure that youths are trained to manage security in aviation, maritime and financial industry. He added that the students would be taught courses in entrepreneurship and business management.

    A fresher, Husein  Adekoya, admitted into the Department of Information Technology Networks and Electronic Security, said he had hoped to become security and safety professional, saying: “The academy is purposefully established for youths like me to explore our talent in security sectore. This is a dream come true for me.”

  • Monotechnic set to produce security graduates

    The Risk Control Academy in Lagos is set to produce top graduates in the field of managing security in the country.
    The Rector of the Academy, Mr Olufemi Ajayi made this pledge at the second matriculation ceremony of the institution recently.
    “We are determined to train and produce men and women who will be at the forefront of assets protection in Nigeria in the 21st century,” Ajayi stated.
    According to him, the  academy works with the security industry regulators to raise standards of professionalism and to make security a career choice.
    A matriculating student ,Adekoya Huseen  (ND2) of the department of Information Technology Networks and Electronic security, said the  academy was purposefully founded for the youths of Nigeria to realise their dreams.