The Nation Newspaper

Tag: security

  • Security gadgets for FCT schools

    Mindful of the abduction of over 200 girls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents on April 15, the bomb blast at EMAB Plaza, Abuja and threats by the Boko Haram sect to attack major places in Abuja, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed has held a schools’ security conference to avoid a reoccurrence.

    He said schools in the FCT would be equipped with modern security gadgets before they resume for next session in September. He said the move was aimed at protecting the lives of children and to avert the Chibok experience.

    The new security measures to be introduced in schools will include provision of perimeter fencing, housing for teachers, community policing, school guards, alarm system and deployment of communication equipment. This, he said, is in order to take pre-emptive measures to prevent the insurgents from cashing in on any security lapses to attack any school.

    Emphasis, he added, will also be laid on school alert and early warning systems, attitudinal change, awareness of basic security tips, safety and evacuation drills as well as the erection of both institutional and physical firewalls that obstruct unwelcome guests.

    The minister said the battle against Boko Haram which has declared war on the country’s educational system is a battle of the heart, the mind and soul of the country.

    Senator Mohammed, who was represented by the Secretary, FCT Education

    Secretariat, Mallam Kabir Usman, said: “The FCT Administration considers this conference as part of its ongoing concerns to evolve a foolproof security framework for schools in the territory and the FCT as a whole.

    “The need to pay special attention to protection of lives of our school children gave rise to the launch of the ‘Safe Schools Initiative’ at the recently-concluded World Economic Forum held in Abuja.

    “The measures include provision of perimeter fences, housing for teachers, community policing, school guards, alarm systems and deployment of communication equipment. Even though, the target of this undertaking is the safeguard of school children in states under emergency rule, we in the FCT consider it necessary to take pre-emptive measures to avoid tempting the insurgents by any vulnerability.

    “It is noteworthy that our commitments to school safety and overall emergency preparedness have proved effective in dealing with emergencies. A recent hijack of a school bus in Nyanya was quickly dealt with within a couple of hours. This, for us, was cheery news, even as it sent signals about the effectiveness of the machinery FCT Administration has put in place to ensure the security of lives and property in the territory.

    “It could be recalled that one of the earliest initiatives of this administration at its inception was the procurement of 114 security vehicles fitted with communication and security gadgets to holistically confront criminals and threats of insurgency in the FCT. These vehicles were donated to all the security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Military in the FCT, among others.

    “It is lamentable that education, which is the bedrock of national development, has been singled out by insurgents for constant attacks and raids, often leaving arson, deaths and destruction on their tracks. Our hearts are with the parents and relatives of the Chibok school girls, as our security operatives work round the clock to salvage them and bring them home alive.

    “Without any iota of doubt therefore, the battle against those who have declared war on our educational system is a battle of the heart, the mind and the soul of our country. It is consequently a fight that we cannot afford to lose and the Federal Government has all the means to win it.

    “In your deliberations today, I recommend that emphasis should be laid on school alert and early warning systems, attitudinal change, awareness of basic security tips, safety and evacuation drills, as well as the erection of both institutional and physical firewalls that obstruct unwelcome guests.”

    On its part, the National Association of Private School Proprietors (NAPSP) has

    pledged its support to government in carrying out what it described as important and urgent step to avert crisis.

    The group said: “Since the issue of schools being the target of Boko Haram and especially the abduction of the Chibok girls, children, adult, parents and teachers are now living in fear. It is unfortunate that we have come to this point in our life where our hearts are bleeding profusely.

    “We want to thank this administration for always being sensitive to issues. We support the sensitisation of individuals on security matters. For us in private schools, it is an ongoing thing and it has to be with the support of government, security agencies, parents and the general public.

    “We promise that we will continue to do our best to work with the administration to ensure that things do not go wrong. For the schools that were closed down, we have looked at the list and most of them are not our members. We promise that we will continue to let our members know the necessity of doing the right thing for these children.

    “There is madness and insecurity everywhere. Our children are being used not only to perpetrate crime but also to kill themselves and destroy their souls.

    “Ebola has set in amid all these. We want to plead that this administration should also work on the health issue, especially on sensitisation of schools on Ebola virus. We also promise to work with government to achieve the desired aim. Peace has deserted us and this is a time for reflection, repentance, co-operation, gathering of resources and time for concrete action.

    We must seek peace with ourselves and most especially with God. This is the time for us all to fight the tragedy that has bedeviled us.”

    Royal fathers also joined the call for more security measures.

    The Nyee of Gariki, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Usman Ngakupe advised parents to look after their wards, even as he urged teachers to take their job seriously.

  • Tight security as Nasarawa varsity holds entrance test

    The Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK) throbbed with activities when thousands of applicants thronged the institution to write the 2014/2015 post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The exercise, held on Thursday and Friday amid tight security, began at 8am with the screening of candidates at the various designated faculties. On the first day, the test was held for candidates who chose Arts, Social Science, Law and Education courses. Those, who applied for Administration, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Agricultural disciplines wrote their test the next day.

    Aminu Zubairu Kana, one of the supervisors, said of the 1,500 applicants that chose the Faculty of Arts, more than 500 applied to study Mass Communication, while the remaining candidates went for other disciplines in the Arts faculty such as English, Linguistics, Religious Studies, Theatre and Cultural Studies, Arabic, History and French.

    He said departments of Theatre and Cultural Studies and English also had large numbers of applicants.

    Responding to questions, the Senior Administrative Officer at the Faculty of Arts, Khalid Haruna, said: “The post-UTME is one of the best ever held in the university; we had a hitch-free exercise, unlike in the previous years where candidates who registered and sat for the examination came to the venues without the required documents.

    “There were also sufficient supervisors during the examination. On this note, the commendation for this success goes to the Dean of Arts and both academic and non-academic staff.”

    Security was beefed up while the exercise was being held.

    Umar Ahmad, an applicant, who wanted to study Geography, praised the management for a “well-organised” exercise despite the large number of applicants that came to the campus. “There were no cases of examination malpractice,” he said.

  • Traders seek tight security at Gosa Market

    Traders at Gosa Market have appealed to the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration to provide more security at the market to prevent Boko Haram insurgents from destroying it.

    Some traders told our correspondent that as a result of threats of Boko Haram attacks, the market doesn’t witness huge crowd of customers as it used to.

    The market, located outside the city centre along the Airport Road attracts many sellers and buyers within and outside Abuja opens on Fridays. Due to the influx of people, security operatives especially, the police are always present in order to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

    The insecurity situation in the country orchestrated by the Boko Haram Islamist sect is currently hindering activities at the market. People who visit the market on Fridays do so out of fear.

    A Garri seller Mrs. Abigail Simon told our correspondent that fear people carry out transactions in the market in fear, even as she urged security operatives not to rest on their oars. She said security in the market is gradually dwindling.

    Mrs. Simon, who has been selling Garri at the market for over three years said: “Since I have been selling garri here, the crowd that comes to this market every Friday is unprecedented. Before the bombings in Abuja, people move freely in and out of the market without fear. But now the situation is changing.

    “People are no longer coming to the market as before. Though security operatives are doing their best, people need to be re-assured that Boko Haram do not destroy the market. I do not know where to go to. This is the place I make money for the upkeep of my family.

    “I am a widow and a mother of three. I always pray every Friday when coming to Gosa Market. I know God will not allow Boko Haram’s wish to prevail.”

    Another seller, John Okwe, who sells secondhand clothes told our correspondent that business was on the upbeat before the current security situation, adding that many people, especially his customers, do not come to the market again due to bomb scare in Abuja.

    Okwe said: “I do not blame them. Who wants to die? But all I am begging is for government to further secure our markets within FCT, especially Gosa Market. We the sellers are begging for more security.”

    Ibrahim Umar, who always visits the market every Friday to buy things, expressed his fear that steps need to be taken to avoid crisis at Gosa Market.

    His words: “I cannot do without coming to the market every Friday. I always shop here because goods are cheaper and affordable here. I am used to coming to this market and I cannot afford to stop coming here. Government should intensify action towards securing this place. The market is where most less-privileged people come to buy goods because things are cheaper here.”

    The traditional head of Gosa community in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr. Wakili Istifanus also urged watertight security measures for the market.

    He called on the chairman of the area council, Micah Jiba, to provide the management of Gosa Market with the necessary apparatus to enable traders to carry out their business activities without fear.

    One hopes that other markets in the FCT will receive genuine security attention to avert calamity.

    Many markets, malls and stores where people shop dot the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Among the major markets are Wuse, Garki; Utako and Garki markets. Others are the Dei Dei Building Material Market, Gudu Market and Maitama Fruit Market.

    Of these, Wuse Market is the most famous and is located in Zone 5 of Wuse District. It is a general market where one can buy almost everything; ranging from food stuffs, fresh vegetables, meat, clothes, electronics, furniture, phones, rugs and carpets, among others.

    Prices of goods in Wuse Market are relatively high compared to what obtained in other markets like Utako and Garki. The prices are cheaper when compared to prices in malls and stores. One good thing about the market is that it is organised and clean.

    One sore feature of the market is traffic jam that motorists experience while driving into or out of the market, especially in the evenings.

    Another market for general goods is the Garki Market located in Garki District of Abuja. It also has variety of items from food stuffs to clothes but it is not as famous as the Wuse Market. Food stuff is cheaper in Garki Market compared to what obtains in Wuse Market.

    Utako Market is another general market located in Utako District of Abuja.

    Garki International Market is a modern market located in Garki 2 District of Abuja.

    Dei Dei Building Material Market is another market where specialised wares are sold. The main feature of this market as the name implies, is building materials. It is located in Dei Dei District at the outskirts of Abuja.

     

  • Chibok girls: Expert advocates security education

    AN educationist, Alhaji Jamiu Idris, has called on the Federal Government to integrate national and personal security into the curriculum of Civic Education.

    Jamiu, who once served as the Secretary of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos wing, said this while reacting to the abduction of the Chibok girls by the Boko Haram sect.

    He said: “It is over 100 days that these children have been seized by Boko Haram and I want to suggest that the fight against terrorism should be taken to classrooms where every pupil will be taught how to identify and guard against the incursion of any kind of insurgency.”

    Condemning the serial bomb attacks by the sect, which have claimed many lives and property  in the north, Idris said security should be built around the students by regularly updating the education curriculum with new information about security and the antics of Boko Haram and other terrorists.

    “If Boko Haram members could stroll to a school and seize more than 200 girls in a jiffy, then the Federal Government must do more than just deploying soldiers or anti-bomb squad in the country. Government must provide employment for teeming jobless youths while also sensitising the students against terrorism,” he said.

    Idris, now secretary, NUT, Ekiti State wing, explained that though the teachers had no expertise to fight terrorism, they could help the government enlighten the society and schools about personal and national security.

    “Most of the Boko Haram members are youths who have no jobs. Some of them are students who do not have the right education. Everybody has a role to play in this. We should not politicise the fight against Boko Haram. It is a national problem that all of us must fight. I know that Lagos is doing a lot of sensitisation among the pupils and we are doing the same in Ekiti State. This must go round the country to save the life of our children,” Idris said.

    He called on teachers and pupils to always raise the alarm whenever they notice any strange movement around their schools and quickly report to appropriate authorities to take action.

    “While we are waiting for the peaceful release of the Chibok girls, I think it is a proper thing to do if the government can vigorously take the campaign to schools,” he added.

     

  • ‘Malls, allied businesses must engage security outfits’

    ‘Malls, allied businesses must engage security outfits’

    Dr. Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr., a lawyer, speaks on the porous security in the country and the need for operators of malls to engage professional security outfits and other issues.

    How often do you visit our malls?

    I visit shopping malls in Nigeria only when I take my family out to see movies and or shop for groceries and family needs. The Shoprite Chain in Ikeja, Surulere and Lekki are places  I visit occasionally with my Kids.

    How do you do your shopping?

    Most of my needssuch as clothing and allied needs are provided by my clothiers and close salesmen,  so I really don’t visit malls for them.

    With the Boko Haram terrorist attack in major places where one can find crowd, what advice would you give to operators of malls to prevent such incident?

    Considering the preponderance and tense threat of possible terror attacks by the Haramists I advise mall owners and owners of allied businesses to engage professional security outfits, install Close Circuit Television (CCTVs), get bomb and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detectors and diffusers as well as proper surveillance of their facilities.

    What advice do you have for shoppers this period?

    Shoppers must always heed warnings from security agencies and or shop owners because diligence and care are priceless organisms of safety

  • Traders seek security

    SECURITY challenges have necessitated a call for more safety measures at  Gwagwalada market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The  Gwagwalada Main Market Traders’ Association called on the firm handling the development of the market to fence it and mount gates at strategic places to secure it.

    In a chat with reporters, the chairman of the association, Nura Rimi said the continued threat to life and property in market places in the country has prompted the association to make the call for the security of traders.

    “The market is not fenced. With the security situation in the country, we need gates at strategic positions. The situation in the market is not secured enough because everywhere is open. We are calling on the company developing the market to put in place facilities that will ensure protection of lives and properties,” he said.

    He also pleaded with the company to begin proper electrification of the market to avoid fire outbreak in the market.

    Rimi argued that since the first batch of the market has been completed, it was time the company brought in transformers that can supply electricity to the market.

    “The present executive of the market was elected 40 days ago. We have encountered so many challenges. There are two batches in the level of construction of the market.

    “As the company has completed the first batch, we are pleading with the contractor handling the project to install transformers to supply electricity to the market. The traders are just connecting the light illegally and we are scared of what might happen,” he said.

  • Yobe, Borno celebrate Sallah amid tight security

    Yobe, Borno celebrate Sallah amid tight security

    Despite the apprehension of a possible attack by Boko Haram in Borno and Yobe states, the Ed-el-Fitri celebration was successfully held yesterday in both states.

    But there was a restriction of vehicles and commercial tricycles to the praying grounds to ensure that insurgents did not use them to perpetrate evils.

    Worshippers trekked to the praying grounds from far and near.

    In Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Governor Kashim Shettima was among thousands of worshippers who converged on the popular Ramat Square for the two raka’at prayers to mark the end of the Ramadan fast.

    The governor was accompanied by members of the State Executive Council (Exco) and other dignitaries.

    After the prayers, Shettima felicitated with the Muslim ummah for marking a hitch-free Sallah.

    But the governor regretted that insurgency had paralysed most activities in the state, leading to the restriction of movement during the festive period.

    He prayed for God’s intervention.

    Shettima sympathised with the internally displaced people (IDPs), noting that they had “become slaves in their country”.

    The governor hailed security agencies for working to end senseless killings in the land.

    He praised the residents for their loyalty, commitment, assistance to security agencies and constituted authority since the Boko Haram insurgency broke out.

    In Yobe State, Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu and top government functionaries prayed at the town’s mosque and Islamic centre.

    Chief Imam Hudu Mohammed led the prayers.

    The cleric urged Muslims to use the lessons of Ramadan to live peacefully with one another.

    He also advised them not to relent in prayers for peace to be restored in the state and the country.

    Mohammed urged Muslims to always show love and forgiveness, among other attributes, which would ensure peaceful coexistence among the diverse people of the world.

    Our reporter, who monitored the celebration in the two states, said there was heavy surveillance among security operatives to avoid any security breach.

  • Price hike inimical to food security, says consultant

    INCREASED food prices will have negative impact on food security, an expert, Prof Abel  Ogunwale has  said.

    Speaking with The Nation, Ogunwale, a consultant to the  World Bank, said the  prices  of   commodities, especially those  grown  in the North, were experiencing spikes and could remain higher if there were no increase in local production following insecurity.

    He said markets are sensitive to price fluctuations and there are  impacts on household income and food consumption across the country.

    He  explained  that  acute price hike adds to inflationary pressures and  that poor consumers could spend even higher share of their limited income on food.

    In most  cases,  households of employees in urban areas are most affected by price increases.

    The main income source of paid employees, service sector and industrial livelihood groups is non-agricultural wage, which accounts for over 80 per cent of income.

    Apart from paid employees, he   noted  more low-income households are also affected in both rural and urban areas.

    When floods are taken into account, low-income groups and agricultural income-dependent livelihoods are worst hit, with the highest increase of under-nourishment among sharecroppers.

    However, Ogunwale  said  increasing purchasing power was essential to the undernourished to obtain access to food.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ibadan, has raised the alarm over the rising food prices, blaming the loss of 40 per cent of the nation’s total food production on farmers’ lack of storage facility.

    At the institute’s monthly seminar series held in Ibadan, Head, Productive Sector Group, Economic Policy Research Department (NISER), Dr. Timothy Oni, who delivered a paper titled: ‘Reducing food crop losses through post-harvest management in Nigeria’, said availability and accessibility of most food crops in Nigeria was being threatened, leading to an astronomical rise in food prices. He warned that if not quickly checked by the Federal Government, increase in population and dwindling land resources could lead to adverse impact on food security and economic development.

    He said: “It is necessary to reduce food crop losses in order to combat hunger, raise income and create employment along food supply chain and thus tame poverty in Nigeria.

    “Post-harvest losses due to inefficient harvesting, processing and storage techniques ranged between 20 and 40 per cent of the total food production in Nigeria. Rural areas typically have poor transportation, poor water supply, poor source of energy and poor marketing facilities. All these, coupled with predominance of poor farm implements and rudimentary post-harvest technology, worsen the problem of post-harvest food losses.”

    Oni added that despite the Federal Government’s effort in addressing some issues responsible for the loss, post-harvest food losses were still substantial while food imports bills have been rising in order to meet the shortfall in food availability.

  • Hotels to submit guests’ list to security agencies

    In his determination to ensure that life and property are better secured in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed has directed all hotels in the Capital City to forward the list of their guests to the FCT Directorate of State Security Services (SSS) and the FCT Police Command on a daily basis.

    The hotels are equally required to install their individual security cameras within their vicinity and ensure thorough check of all vehicles entering the hotels and within their surroundings.

    According to a statement issued by Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of FCT, Nosike Ogbuenyi, the minister also directed all residents and associations in various parts of the territory to embark on “operation-know-your-neighbour” campaign. The measure is to ensure that all criminally-minded elements are detected easily within the FCT.

    The security department of the FCTA is to liaise with the various security agencies in the FCT on modalities for implementing the ministerial directive.

    The minister directed all traditional rulers in the FCT to, as a matter of necessity, start conducting periodic meetings with various communities within their domains to take stock of strange faces living with them, as well as report all new comers within 48 hours to the local Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and State Security Service (SSS) office. This is in furtherance of “operation-know-your-neighbour” campaign.

    He enjoined all residents to be vigilant and cautious of strange objects or movements of persons and vehicles around them, as well as stationary vehicles. They should report same to the nearest security agencies.

    The minister further directed that all trailers/lorry operators bringing goods to the city shall no longer be allowed to offload their contents at night.

  • Hausa community tackles security challenges

    The Hausa community in Agege, a popular Lagos suburb, has conducted a census  to ascertain its population.

    The Sarkin Hausawa, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, said, the exercise was aimed at ensuring that insurgents are not living there, adding that his domain, which is predominantly inhabited by northerners, is safe.

    The Boko Haram sect, a fortnight ago, claimed responsibility for the explosion at a fuel depot in Apapa and threatened to attack some unidentified parts of the state too.

    However, the community leader said there was no cause for alarm, adding that adequate security measures had been taken to prevent such an occurence in his domain.

    “We have just concluded headcount of our people in Agege”, he said.

    Speaking after a prayer for peace in Nigeria, Muhammed said: “We know ourself here in Agege. Nobody comes here and claimed to be Hausa that we would not know his root. You don’t just come and settle here simple because you are a Northerner, no, you must have an established link with an existing resident, which we must know well.”

    The prayer, which was organised by the Abnaul Faidha Islamic Society of Nigeria, took place at the Agege Central Mosque yesterday.

    Chairman of the society, and the Majidadin of Agege, Alhaji Alli Abubakar, said the organisation’s tenets include the propagation of the real teaching of Islamic religion and urged all Muslims to embrace the concept.

    He added that the purpose of the prayer was also to sensitise youths in Agege and its environs of the need to embrace peace.

    The Chairma, Agege Local Government, Alhaji Jibrin Muhammed, said: “We have gone a step further to ensure that we have our people’s identities. We have been working together for peace and how it will continue to endure; even after my administration, peace will never elude Agege.”