Day: July 3, 2023

One of the greatest challenges the administration of President Bola Tinubu faces is in the area of insecurity.

And the burden of tackling Tinubu’s inherited security challenge is not made lighter by Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution – Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.

Section 14 (1) (b) states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

Unfortunately, the task of providing security for the citizenry by the new administration is both complex and enormous.

This is against the background of the decade-long insurgency in the Northeast, kidnapping for ransom and other security concerns in various parts of the country.

Although some level of sanity has been restored in the Northeast, security experts say it is not yet Uhuru.

In the Southeast the secturity situation does not help matters because it has been compromised by Biafra Republic agitators, even as alleged politically motivated attacks remain on the increase.

This is why the recent appointment of new security chiefs was greeted with cautious enthusiasm by a large section of Nigerians.

On June 19, the president announced Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the new National Security Adviser (NSA) and Maj.-Gen. C.G Musa Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

He also appointed Maj.-Gen. T. A Lagbaja as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), while Rear Admiral E.A. Ogalla now serves as the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).

AVM H.B Abubakar was appointed Chief of Air Staff (CAS) and Mr Kayode Egbetokun replaced Usman Baba as Acting Inspector-General of Police. Maj.-Gen. EPA Undiandeye was also appointed as the new Chief of Defense Intelligence.

During his inauguration Tinubu had hinted at reforming Nigeria’s security doctrine and its architecture.

He also promised to “defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten its peace and stability.

The new Chief of Defence Staff, Musa, is already talking tough.

“Nobody should doubt our determination to bring peace to Nigeria. Anybody, especially the criminals, bandits, terrorists, anyone who thinks otherwise, should be ready to face the music,” Musa said at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja as he officially took over from Lucky Irabor,

The acting police chief, Egbetokun is also spitting fire.

“But if I have to tell you anything, I will tell you that right now I feel like a tiger inside of me ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria.

“And, some other time, I fell like a lion in me ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria. That’s my feeling right now”. Egbetokun said on assumption of office.

Although his language may sound hyperbolic, it is, nonetheless, reflection of his desire to perform in office.

Some security experts say the speed with which the president appointed new security helmsmen is indicative of his desire to breathe fresh impetus into Nigeria’s security system.

Mr Usman Mohammed, a security consultant, said positive body language early in the life of an administration has a ripple effect on performance and outcome.

“Remember that the last time service chiefs were quickly replaced was in 1999 during Obasanjo’s administration. We were just coming from military rule, so he wanted to purge the military hierarchy.

“Subsequent administrations took their time before replacing service chiefs but President Tinubu has proved to be an exception,” he said.

Under the new security chiefs, stakeholders say Nigerians want to see the return of age-old best practices, ethical rebirth and reorientation of security personnel in the discharge of their duties.

Ribadu, the new NSA, during his assumption of office promised that insecurity would be subdued by the administration of Tinubu.

“We will stabilise this country, we will secure our country, and we will make Nigeria peaceful because we believe the time has come for this country to enjoy peace, restore order, and uphold the rule of law just like any other country in the world,” he said.

Experts say one way to improve national security is by upping the ante of intelligence gathering.

“In today’s world, intelligence is a key instrument in political domination and warfare.

“In tandem with the importance attached to intelligence, various gadgets, devices and tools have been invented to cope with the various security challenges of the modern world.

“Intelligence is now a highly technical field where only the best of the security agencies operates. Covert gathering of information for use in neutralizing perceived threats is now highly scientific.

“Nations are secure only to the extent that they are on top of possible threats through the gathering of reliable, non-intrusive intelligence,” said Jaiye Akinyemi, a security consultant, said.

Experts also identify synergy and collaboration as crucial to whatever the new security chiefs intend to achieve under Tinubu.

In 2021, immediate-past IG-P, Usman Baba, said unhealthy inter-agency rivalry had been a major issue that limits the capacity to effectively achieve internal security.

Former NSA retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno acknowledged the same and made it one of his cardinal objectives to ensure that the security and intelligence community work together.

As the first NSA with no military background since 1999, Ribadu faces the unique challenge of coordinating national security and making the various security and intelligence agencies work together.

He has to deliver on it.

There is also a need to train and re-train personnel in the Police, State Security Service, Military Intelligence and the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, as well as other paramilitary organisations, including the Civil Defence Corps.

Stakeholders counsel that a proactive, well-equipped, and well-trained security personnel is a desideratum for accomplishing the task ahead.

There also has to be respect for the rule of law and citizens’ rights in the discharge of duties.

It is gratifying that the new police boss issued a directive ordering all police convoys to henceforth, as a matter of compulsion, obey all traffic regulations.

“Let me end this speech by reminding you that those who keep the peace must be the epitome of peace.

“Those whose duty is to enforce the laws of the land must respect and obey the laws of the land.

“Without obeying the laws, the Police lack the moral high ground to interrogate and bring lawbreakers to book,” Egbetokun said at a meeting with Mobile Police Squadron and Commanders at the Force headquarters, Abuja.

From previous experience, many Nigerians have received this statement with a pinch of salt to mean a mere symbolic gesture common when a new security boss takes charge.

The new security chiefs are therefore expected to walk the talk.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The absence of a witness on Monday, stalled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from opening its case in the petition filed by the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi and his party.

LP and Obi are challeging the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting at the Court of Appeal in Abuja had, last week adjourned till Monday for the electoral body, which is the first respondent in the petition to open its defence of the Feb. 25 presidential election, which it conducted.

When the petition was called, lead counsel to the INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, told the court that the first defendant has three days to defend the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election.

He informed the court that the electoral body has three witnesses to present in its case and regretted that the witness slated to give evidence on Monday was not in court and asked for an adjournment until Tuesday for INEC to open its case.

Other respondents are Vice President Kashim Shettima and the APC.

He asked for an adjournment for INEC to open its case in the joint petition by Obi and his party against Tinubu’s election.

The request for adjournment was not opposed by the petitioners and President Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC.

Consequently, the five-member panel of Justices of the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned further proceedings in the petition until Tuesday.

The petitioners’ counsel Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, expressed sadness, however, did not object to INEC ‘s application for adjournment.

Other respondents counsel, Wole Olanipakun, SAN for Tinubu and Shettima and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for APC also did not object.

The five-member panel presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned until tomorrow for the INEC to open their case.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Vice Chancellor, Salem University Lokoja, Prof. Alewo Johnson-Akubo, has urged the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to urgently checkmate candidates’ manipulation of results.

The vice chancellor, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Monday, said that suppressing such would save the education standard from dwindling.

Recall that JAMB, in a statement on Sunday said it had withdrawn the result of a candidate of the just-released Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result over alleged manipulation of her scores.

The board had claimed that one Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme, inflated her result and announced that she scored 362 in the 2023 UTME.

She was awarded a three N3 million naira scholarship by Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman, Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing company and was about to be honoured by the Anambra Government before she was exposed.

According to Johnson-Akubo, this development is not good for the image of JAMB and Nigeria as a nation.

He said that the board should rise to the occasion and nip the evil in the bud before it affected the educational standard.

“Certainly, this is a cankerworm that must not be allowed to dwindle our educational standard nor give Nigeria a bad image before the international community.

“It also means that our universities should equally ensure they do thorough investigation into the status of all candidates admitted for programmes to deprive such manipulators from having their ways.

“For us in Salem University Lokoja, JAMB discovery is a blessing to us; more so that we just ended our 2022/2023 academic session with a thanksgiving on Sunday, and has commenced admission into programmes for the 2023/2024 session,’’ he said.

Johnson-Akubo, however, said that beginning from July 3, applications into the university’s fully accredited programmes such as Law, Accounting, Mass Communication, Geology and Computer Science would be welcome.”

He advised interested candidates to inculcate the fear of God and truthfulness as they applied for any of the institution’s programmes to avoid issues with the management.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A major general, identified as Esaïe Ngambou, sent the firm warning while on the pulpit Sunday, July 3, 2023, in a local Church, in Yaounde.

“I read with keen attention the communique of the Minister of Territorial Administration and I want you to inform him that where a General has written his name, he, the Minister has nothing to do there. Talk less of calling me, a lawless individual,” he warned.

In a correspondence dated June 8, 2023, Minister Paul Atanja Nji cautioned the dissidents of the Evangelical Church of Cameroon, to be careful in their attempts to create a new Church.

The Minister said the law recognizes only the Evangelical Church of Cameroon, EEC, and not the Decentralised Evangelical Church of Cameroon, whose founders were seeking authorization to operate. “A General appointed before him and maybe he will leave before him. I have been General all my life. You are here to protect us, we do not want war in this country…I wanted to let you know that I am not happy with the treatment. I have never been treated like this before…I will see him soon,”

The Minister’s response to the request for authorization also stated that such demands are only granted by President Paul Biya.

He also reminded the applicants that the EEC had resolved its internal conflict in December 2021 and elected a unified leader, hence, the DEEC is dead upon arrival.

The Major General concluded by adding that, Paul Atanga Nji might leave office before him because a General remains, one for life.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The use of the Video Assistant Refereeing system, VAR, in the North West Regional League has sparked a lot of talks both offline and online.

On Sunday July 2, 2023, officials and organizers of the North West Regional League used the VAR during the semifinal matches at the Bamenda university field in Bambili. During the second match between Bafmeng United and Tubah United, the central referee consulted the VAR twice before taking his decisions.

While many have applauded the initiative as a good start, others have questioned this new decision taken by the North West chapter of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, and members of the organizing committee of the league.

The Video Assistant Referee protocol (principle 1) states that “the use of video assistant referees is only permitted where the match/competition organiser has fulfilled all the Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP) requirements as set out in FIFA’s IAAP documents, and has received written permission from FIFA”.

However, according to FECAFOOT North West president, Mbigha Felix, VAR was brought in to make the work of the referees more transparent.

“We brought this system of the VAR because we really wanted the referees to focus so that everybody should see. We paid for it very dearly and I think it has come to satisfy the population,” Mbigha Felix explained.

Mbigha went ahead to add that FECAFOOT President, Samuel Eto’o was informed of the development and is impressed with the results.

“The national President was so impressed about what we are doing in the region and he has promised to see that we improve on it.”

Many have called on the officials to step up during the next matches. Others have said the initiative must continue until the end of the tournament so that other teams do not to feel discriminated against

Source: Cameroon News Agency