Month: July 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 Nigerian Army on Monday enlightened secondary school students in Ogun on the importance of civil-military relations.

The Commanding Officer of 35 Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Muhammed Aminu, gave the lecture at Agunbiade Victory High School, Abeokuta, Ogun, in commemoration of the 2023 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of NADCEL 2023 is “Sound Administration as a Panacea for Effective Military Operations”.

Aminu, represented by Maj. OS Quadri, Brigade Education Officer, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, noted that the essence of the programme was to continually build the relationship between the military and the civilian.

The brigadier general explained that there was need for both parties to cohabit in a peaceful environment, saying it could only be achieved by understanding each other.

He added that the programme was brought to the school so that the students at there level could understand what the military was set out to do and the prospects in being a military officer.

“Over time, since the transition of military to civillian, there has been a lot of misunderstanding, misinformation and disaffection as a result of long military rule which the country has gone through.

“Since that transition both from the civil end and military end, efforts are being made to ensure that we collaborate and understand each other better.

“There is no way the military can function well without the civil authority and the civil populace and there is no way the civil populace too can exist, we are all coexisting.

“That is why the programme is been brought here so that the students at there level can understand what the military is about, what we do and the prospect they have in joining the military,” he said.

“We want them to know that the military is not a secret organisation, we are open and see how they can fit in to what we do,” he said.

Aminu urged the students to join the Nigerian Army and enjoy the prospect, respect and the dignity in the job, adding that the military was constitutionally established for the protection of the citizens of the country.

In her remarks, Mrs Christiana Odewole, the Principal, Agunbiade Victory High School, described the programme as an eye opener, educative and informative to the students.

She appreciated the Nigerian Army for chosen the school among other schools to benefit from the wisdom and knowledge of the military.

He noted that the Nigerian Army remained an instrument of national unity, integration, development and would continue to enhance its civil-military relations.

One of the students, Bolaji Abdul, expressed delight and willingness to join the military in future.

He commended the Nigerian Army for the lecture and finding the school worthy to be chosen for there 2023 celebration.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria