Month: June 2024

The Armed Forces of Nigeria on Friday, announced the deployment of 197 personnel for the peace keeping mission in the Gambia.

The Chief of Operations Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Boniface Sinjen made the announcement in Jaji, Kaduna State, at the graduation of troops of Nigerian Company 9 Economic Community of West African States Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 197 troops began Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) on May 4, at Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) Jaji Kaduna State.

According to him, the PDT is in line with the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff , Lt -Gen Taoreed Lagbaja and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in deploying quality peacekeepers in support of international peace and security.

He said that the training had equipped them with the necessary tactical skills and knowledge required for peace support operations.

‘It has prepared you for the protection of civilians and the accomplishment of assigned tasks u
nder the ECOMIG mandate.

‘You have learned the importance of teamwork, leadership and cultural sensitivity as well as other factors that would ensure your success in the mission area.

‘You have been trained in the latest techniques and procedures for maintaining peace and stability in a complex environment and instilled with the values of discipline, respect for human rights and compassion for the people you are going out there to protect.

‘Your mission comes at a critical time, as The Gambia faces a period of uncertainty and instability, ‘he said.

Cross section of troops deployed for peacekeeping mission in Gambia on Friday at Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre Jaji Kaduna state

According to him, the country’s political crisis has affected the lives of many innocent civilians and their presence will sustain the existing peace and stability to the region.

‘Your role is crucial in maintaining peace, protecting lives and promoting sustainable development.’

Sinjen charge
d the troops to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and respect for human rights.

He advised them to adhere strictly to the ECOWAS’ mandate, which guides your mission and ensure that your actions align with the principles of peace, stability and human rights.

‘Remember that your conduct will not only reflect on yourselves but also on your country, the ECOWAS region and the international community.

‘Additionally, your training has exposed you to the culture and religious diversity of The Gambia.

‘You are, therefore, expected to approach all interactions with sensibility and respect. Be mindful of the local customs, traditions and socio-political dynamics of the mission area.

‘You must remain vigilant in the face of potential security threats and avoid any actions that may be perceived as insensitive,’ he said.

He said that as peacekeepers in a sovereign nation, they must adhere strictly to the UN principles and guidelines for peacekeeping operations.

‘Respect the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of The Gambia and avoid any actions that may be perceived as interference in the country’s internal affairs.’

He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria had zero-tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse in line with United Nations’ policies.

‘Therefore, any form of sexual exploitation and abuse will be met with severe consequences.

‘As ambassadors of the armed Forces of Nigeria and our great nation, you must uphold the esteemed values and enviable image of this country, ‘Sinjen said.

Earlier, the Commandant of MLAILPKC, Maj-Gen. Ademola Adedoja, said the six weeks training had been intense, comprehensive, and was conducted in line with the Standard UN Core Pre-Deployment Training Modules.

Adedoja said the PDT was to equip the earmarked unit with the requisite skills and knowledge to function effectively and efficiently in their deployment to the Gambia.

He said as part of their training, the troops were taken through crosscutting issues like Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Conflict Relat
ed Sexual Violence, Conduct and Discipline as well as Protection of Civilians amongst others.

‘This graduation is a testament to the capacity and capability of the MLAILPKC as a United Nations accredited Centre to conduct quality training of prospective peacekeepers for deployment to multidimensional Peace Support Operations in fulfillment of her mandate.

‘The Centre has within the last six weeks been able to train, retrain and refresh the troops on requisite knowledge and expertise to succeed in a Peace Support Operation environment.

‘ It is my fervent belief that these men are better informed and equipped to perform their roles in the Gambia, ‘Adedoja said.

He said the graduation ceremony once more showed the commitment of Nigeria and the Nigerian Armed Forces to global peace and security.

In attendance at the ceremony include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security, Matthew Alao,

Troops deployed for peacekeeping mission in Gambia on Friday at Martin
Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre Jaji Kaduna state

In a related development earlier the UNDP Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security, Mr Mathew Alao, said good leadership and national cohesion were critical for fostering stability, progress, and prosperity within our great nation.

Alao stated this at the graduation ceremony of the Leadership and National Cohesion Course 1 (LNC), at Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peace Keeping Centre (MLAILPKC) in Jaji.

Alao said the graduation was a significant step towards the advancement of peace, security, and unity within our beloved nation, Nigeria and ECOWAS sub-region.

‘Leadership starts with us as parents that bring little children to this world. Leadership starts from grassroots.

‘Unfortunately, we have lost it. Nigeria today is very individualistic. It’s all about I and my family. And this is leading us to nowhere. This is why this course is very critical at this moment.

‘If nothing is done to address the leadership de
ficit from the family unit, from the community unit and community level, we are not going anywhere. Money cannot save our society,’ he said.

He commended the participants of the training for dedication to the programme.

‘Over the past two weeks, you have dedicated yourselves to an intensive programme that not only on leadership skills but also fosters an understanding of the essential tenets of national cohesion.

‘Your presence here signifies a commitment to making Nigeria a better, more unified country, ‘he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has identified lack of core value and over-ambition of young military officers who do not want to wait for their turn as the major causes of coups d’état in Africa.

The UNDP Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security, Matthew Alao, said this in an interview with newsmen after the graduation ceremony of the Leadership and National Cohesion Course at Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.

Alao said that though the military cannot be divorced from the society where it situates, but over-ambition by young military officers, eroding core societal values, religious beliefs, and lack of education are the key reasons for more coups in West African countries and Africa at large.

Alao who noted that the fundamental problem the world is facing today is the lack of core values, said this resulted to persistent coups and counter-coups staged in Africa by military officers.

‘Our core values are fast breaking down. You will
see agitation and expectation on so many issues that may not be reality.

‘Most people don’t go to school. Some do go to school but do not have employable skills. This contributes to what is happening.

‘And, because the military cannot be divorced from the society where it situates, they also feel part of that agitation. When that cry is going on, it speculates and overshadows the event. I think that is one of the reasons for coups.

‘Then, may be over-ambition by the young officers, they don’t want to wait for their turn. The idea of young people wanting to be there is another cause of coups.

‘Young people need to learn, because if young people don’t learn, we will continue to somersault. After all, this country was ruled by 27-year-old officer at a time.

At a point they delivered, but they didn’t deliver well. If the military of those days had the necessary experience and requisite vision, when Nigeria was still in the morning, they would have planned our future and laid the foundation and we wouldn’t b
e where we are today.

‘We wouldn’t be clamoring for roads, infrastructure, and all that.

Suppose the people that found this country, like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, were able to do something up to the late 80s, Nigeria would have been better than this. The situation we are now is dangerous.

‘In those days, Ibadan was flourishing, Kaduna was a hub, Lagos was a factory ground, but within a blink of an eye under the Structural Adjustment Program, everything collapsed.’

The UNDP Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security, Matthew Alao during an interview with newsmen in Jaji, Kaduna State on Friday

He expressed concern that this leadership deficit was taking a toll on the country and should be addressed right from the family unit to the community level.

Alao described Nigeria today as very individualistic, saying, ‘We have lost it. Now it’s all about I and my family. And this is leading us nowhere. This is why this course is very critical at this moment.’

‘Leadership starts with us as parent that brings little
children to this world. Leadership starts from grassroots.

‘Unfortunately, we have lost it. Nigeria today is very individualistic. It’s all about I and my family. And this is leading us to nowhere. This is why this course is very critical at this moment.

‘If nothing is done to address the leadership deficit from the family unit, from the community unit and community level, we are not going anywhere. Money cannot save our society.’

‘As an individual, how much do we need, how much can we use to take care of ourselves in a day? And how much are we earning?

‘And how much of resources committed to us are we diverting that is causing the crises today? That communal relationship

and values been thought to us while growing up has left us and that is why we are stuck today.

‘Everybody is looking for downfall of our leadership. We don’t build up by looking for downfall of our leaders,’ he said.

He said the leadership course, which happened to be the brainchild of the past Commandant of the Peacekeeping Centre, M
ajor General Obinna Onubogu was born due to the spate of coups happening in West Africa.

‘They felt that providing leadership training to the middle-level military and civilians is an antidote to it.

‘They felt that because that quality training, that orientation on subordination is weakening in the military and political space of West Africa.

‘They felt that UNDP, with the funding made available by the government of Japan, is sponsoring it,’ Alao added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede and Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Christopher Wray, when he led a team of the Bureau’s top officials on a visit to the EFCC Chairman in Abuja

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have strengthened their partnership towards tackling the old and emerging crimes that are of mutual interests to Nigeria and the United States. .

FBI’s Director, Christopher Wray, said this on Friday when he led a team of the Bureau’s top officials on a visit to the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two agencies have strengthened their partnership on a renewed strategic alliance against crimes.

Wray, in his remarks, expressed delight at the bond that had existed over the years between the EFCC and FBI and called for upscaling in the face of common crime threats that confront Nigeria
and the U.S.

‘Thank you for your hospitality and in particular, for the partnership that exists between the FBI and the EFCC across a wide range of threats that we face together.

‘We have had a relationship over the years and this is a reflection of how stronger than ever we are looking forward to taking our partnership to higher and higher levels in tackling threats that affect the people of Nigeria and the people of the United States.

‘We have had close partnerships in shared values and focus and I want to say thank you for the wonderful partnership,’ he said.

Responding, Olukoyede appreciated the FBI for being the EFCC’s personnel and institutional capacity building benefactor over the years and expressed optimism that the collaboration between the two agencies would be taken a notch higher.

‘We value the partnership between the EFCC and FBI. Over the years, this partnership has existed and it is for mutual benefits.

‘We have to acknowledge that we have benefitted from your manpower and capacity deve
lopment programmes, which have added value to the capacity of our operatives and our Academy.

‘We also want to thank you for the technical support that you have provided over the years for the EFCC and by extension, Nigeria,’ he said.

Olukoyede requested that the collaboration and strategic partnership between two agencies should be strengthened in mutual interest of Nigeria and the US, especially as criminality has become borderless.

‘Some of the crimes we fight are borderless crimes, so it is extremely important for law enforcement agencies across the world to come together to collaborate.

‘Law enforcement agencies must collaborate more. Our activities must be borderless so that we will be able to challenge the activities of the bad guys,’ he said.

He assured Wray and his team of the Commission’s commitment to collaboration with the American agency.

Olukoyede noted that achieving the shift in paradigm in the operations of the commission called for new dynamism and mechanisms in the tools of the anti-c
orruption fight.

‘The major thrust is to use the instrument of prevention to tackle corruption in the country.

‘The EFCC has done well over the years in the areas of investigation and prosecution, but upon my assumption of office, I decided to look at the sources and causes of these problems.

‘We will not just enforce but also look at prevention, since it is also within our mandate. So, we decided to set up a new department, called Fraud Risk Assessment and Control,’ he said.

He expressed optimism that contract and procurement fraud would soon be a thing of the past.

According to him, the commission is going to ensure e-procurement in the entire nation so that it would be easy to track the execution of projects.

‘That is one of the key innovations we have brought into our activities and we are really going to follow it through.’

Other officials on the FBI delegation include: Charles Smith Jnr, Sydney Schaur, Joshua James Moldt, William Michael Miller, Vanessa M. Tibbits, William B. Stevens, Leigha Rams
on, Sofie Admire Sosenzweig and Dr. Jim Oscar.(NAN) www nannews.ng

Source: News Agency of Nigeria