Month: September 2023

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu says the forthcoming Chief of Army Staff Conference will evaluate the conduct of all ongoing operations in the country.

Nwachukwu said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja that it would also appraise trainings and other activities of the army.

Nwachukwu said the second and third COAS conference slated to hold from Sept. 11 to Sept. 15. would also enable the Army to make projections for the fourth quarter.

He particularly said it would serve as an avenue to appraise ongoing counter-terrorism counter-insurgency operations in the North East and North West, as well as other operational engagements nationwide.

Nwachukwu said the participants would have the privilege of gaining insight into the Command Philosophy of the COAS, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, and his agenda for the Nigerian army.

According to him, participants would equally be sensitised on the critical drivers of the COAS’ command philosophy, for effective implementation.

“The conference would as well feature presentation of briefs on training, operations, administration, logistics and other Nigerian Army activities, as captured in its 2023 Forecast of Events.

“During the conference, far-reaching decisions that would give impetus to the objectives of the service will be taken into consideration.

“Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, corps, formations, operations commanders, commandants of army schools, and tri-service institutions, as well as select officers holding key appointments are expected to participate in the conference,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Army has pledged to escalate partnership with the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) and Defence Space Administration (DSA) to enhance its operations.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja made the pledge when he met separately with the Director-General of DRDB, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Ndagi and the Chief of DSA, AVM Abdullahi Shinkafi on Thursday in Abuja.

Lagbaja, in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, particularly said that the partnership with DSA would ensure that the Army maintains formidable presence in the cyber space.

The COAS appreciated the DSA’s space and cyber support to the army and other services, saying that space and cyber domains were significant in modern warfare.

According to him, it is paramount for the army to develop the requisite competencies to defend itself against any cyber threat and attack.

He therefore assured the DSA of continuous collaboration, adding that DSA products would be extended to all formations and units to enhance the conduct of land operations.

The COAS also acknowledged the enormous work being done by the defence bureau in coordinating research and development efforts of the Nigerian military.

He said the army would tap the research outcomes of the bureau in countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), to save the lives of personnel and civilians, as well as military equipments.

Lagbaja said that enhancing operational efficiency of troops was crucial to meeting the constitutional responsibilities of the army of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

He said that the partnership would provide the requisite platforms for the army to leverage cutting-edge technologies, strategies and practices to enhance its operations.

In his remarks, Ndagi said the visit was aimed at strengthening the collaboration between the bureau and the army.

He said that the mandate of the bureau was to coordinate research and development activities of the armed forces, with emphasis on developing indigenous technological capacity for the military.

On his part, AVM Shinkafi commended the army for its support to the DSA in the areas of infrastructure and cyber warfare.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has advised the Chairmen of the six Area Councils in FCT to constitute a Surveillance Committee in their respective councils to curb insecurity.

Wike gave the advice while responding to the challenges outlined by the councils’ chairmen during a familiarisation meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, the surveillance committee will help in checking insecurity and activities of illegal mining in communities, which creates an avenue for insecurity.

Earlier, the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr Danladi Chiya, outlined inadequate funds, sanitation, public transportation, land allocation and insecurity, particularly kidnappings as the major challenges affecting the area councils.

Chiya disclosed that 19 persons were kidnaped in Bwari Area Council today (Thursday) and urged the minister to come to their aid.

On land allocation, the chairman said that peoples’ backyard, graveyard, including churches were being allocated to individuals.

The Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Mr John Gabaya, urged Wike to carry the council chairmen along in land allocation and development to enable them to monitor the allocated land development process.

His counterpart, Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Mr Abdullahi Sabo, also lamented the menace of illegal miners in the area councils, stressing that they were constituting a security threat.

Sabo said that a landslide in one of the mining sites took the lives of about 30 persons, adding that when invested, it was discovered that the miners do not have a mining licence.

Responding to the issues, Wike said he would call for an emergency security meeting with the Director, Department State Services and Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, to look at the issue.

He called for the cooperation and support of the council chairmen, saying that “we cannot achieve anything without the support of the area council chairmen, it is not possible.

“We must collaborate and work together for the interest of our people,” he said.

On shortage of funds, the minister advised the chairmen of prudent use of available resources while assuring them that they would get whatever was due to them under his watch.

He also called for a working synergy with the area councils to improve sanitation in the city.

On land allocation, the minister explained that land allocation by law, was under the purview of the FCT Administration.

He, however, agreed with the council chairmen to carry them along so that they would put an eye on the development process.

“Involve the area council when given out land for development so that they will check mate what is going on.

“We are not everywhere, how many times do we go out? By the time you know people have developed, then you will go and demolish, and it will cause problems.

“But if we carry them along then they become our eyes in those areas. That is how it is supposed to be. I can assure you I will change all these things,” he said.

On illegal mining, Wike assured the chairmen that he would discuss, with the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr Dele Alake to eliminate illegal mining in the FCT.

Earlier, Minister of Stare, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, and the Permanent Secretary in the FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola expressed the willingness of the Administration to continue to partner with the councils’ chairmen for inclusive development of the capital territory.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has advocated for a proper implementation of tax justice to enable higher income earners in the country pay higher taxes than low income earners.

Mr Eustace James, NLC Focal Person on Tax Justice, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.

“Those who occupy public offices, those who erect mighty buildings with public funds and yet they don’t pay taxes should be made to pay taxes accordingly, ” he said.

James was speaking at the Fiscal Accountability for Inequality Reduction (FAIR4ALL) Project Media Colloquium and Exhibition organised by Oxfam Nigeria supported by Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He decried the system where low income earners and the vulnerable in the society pay higher and double taxes while those occupying high public offices do not pay taxes.

“Tax justice is about bringing equity and justice to tax payment, about people paying based on what they earn.

“It is about eliminating extortion and exploitation of the poor as well as taxing on the basis of pure justice, ” he said.

James, who identified tax justice as key to decent work, added that tax is the most sustainable means of public finance.

“So, tax is an obligation of every citizen but what has been the issue in Nigeria is that the poor pay more than the rich.

“When you talk about tax net expansion, it is not about taxing the poor more, it is about taxing the rich who are not paying tax in order to contribute to the tax basket, ” James said.

He explained that the poor are those that are exploited and extorted in the name of multiple taxations while the rich keep invading and avoiding taxes.

According to him, tax justice campaign has brought tax payment into the limelight to address inequality and injustice.

“We, in NLC has no option than to key into this campaign and to also be the champion of tax justice and good governance, ” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Lagos Chapel, on Friday announced plans to address drug abuse during its forthcoming Press Week commencing on Monday, Sept. 25.

The 2023 edition of the week which will run from Sept. 25 through Friday, Sept. 29, will have the theme: “Drug Abuse and Nigerian Youths; Effects and the Way Forward”.

The Chairperson, Press Week Organising Committee, Mrs Vivian Ihechu, said several educative and interesting programmes are lined up for the second edition of the week.

According to Ihechu, some of the activities to spice the week-long event include road walkout, medical outreach, games, competitions, visit to an orphanage and old people’s home among others.

She said that highpoints of the NUJ NAN Lagos Chapel Press Week would be a Cultural Day and Lecture/Symposium series.

She explained that the cultural day will hold on Tuesday Sept. 26, while the lecture/symposium will take place on Thursday Sept. 28, at the NAN Multipurpose Media Centre, National Theatre Annex, Iganmu Lagos.

NAN reports that retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), would be the lead speaker at the event alongside other distinguished Nigerians.

The Lecture/Symposium is part of agenda-setting role of the media towards addressing the prevalence of drug abuse among the youths for national restoration.

The lecture/symposium will touch on topical issues and proffer solutions.

Also, security agencies, secondary school students, community leaders and transporters are expected to be in attendance.

The week-long event will climax with a media rendezvous at the NAN Media Centre on Friday, Sept. 29.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has said that the state’s 2024 budget will be fully implemented under a transparent supervision.

Otu stated this on Friday in Calabar while declaring open a one-day stakeholders’ budget consultative forum.

Otu, represented by his Deputy, Peter Odey, said when the budget is finally passed; his administration will ensure that its implementation ratio is transparent for everyone to see.

“We will ensure that this budget is implemented to the very letter.

“If we do not implement appropriately, then we stand the risk not to create the right opportunity to reduce poverty and hunger, or improved healthcare in the state.

“We are on a track to having a right budget in 2024, a budget that will build Cross River, improve infrastructure, education, healthcare, the standard of living and the transport sectors.

“We cannot create wealth as a government if we do not budget adequately, we cannot even employ because we would not know the number of people to employ,” Otu said.

In his keynote address, State Commissioner for Finance, Mike Odere, argued that since resources are scarce, government must ensure proper allocation and utilisation.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Atim Ekpenyong, Odere said top government functionaries need to ensure that projects succeed on time through better management of both human and material resources.

He said that effective resource utilisation maintains productivity as it prevents staff from underperforming and being overburdened by workload.

According to him, it reduces risks of oversights as well as management of projects with better visibility, among others.

Similarly, Mr Cyril Omini, Chairman, State Assembly House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, stressed the need to put in place a budget that aligns with the needs of the people.

“Budgetary process affects each and every one of us, our well-being, personal goals and aspirations.

“Therefore, we must all take active part in the budgetary process and work towards a budget that is focused on making a difference in the lives of our people,” Omini said.

He further enjoined stakeholders to look beyond individual’s interests while working towards a common goal for the good of the state and citizenry.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria