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State policing, only solution to escalating insecurity, terrorism —Gov Wike

Nigeria, according to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, will not be able to end the country’s insecurity without establishing state police forces at the various federating units.

He also stated that the battle against terrorism could not be fought without intelligence.

Wike, a presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made these remarks on Thursday in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, while meeting with delegates to the party’s National Convention, which is set for the end of the month.

These were contained in a statement released on Thursday by Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

The River state governor stated that he strongly believed in restructuring and that state police was the answer to the country’s insecurity problems.

Wike claimed that Nigerians were aware of his views on restructuring and state police, stressing that every country that observes true federalism understands the need of policing and information collection in dealing with insecurity.

He said, “Nigerians know my views, as I believe in restructuring and state Police. Let nobody deceive you, we cannot stop insecurity in this country without state police.

“In all the countries that practice true federalism, the Federal Government has its own police, the state has its own police. Local councils have theirs too. Go to those countries, the police know who is living where and that is how we can bring down insecurity. If you like, go to America and buy 50 Tucano jets, it won’t work. Who are you bombing? Intelligence is key. You must have intelligence.”

Political observers have repeatedly advised that decentralising policing would help solve the prevailing problems of low morale, corruption and under-policing by profoundly raising the number of police officers and emplacing grassroots security systems in the country.

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Army confirms arrest of two soldiers over alleged cable theft at Dangote Refinery

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of two soldiers for their alleged involvement in the theft of armoured cables at Dangote Refinery in Lagos State.

The soldiers identified as CPL Innocent Joseph and L/CPL Jacob Gani, were arrested last Sunday after they were allegedly caught moving out of the facility with 897 armoured cables cut to size.

Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who made this known in a statement on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, described the incident as “totally unacceptable and highly regrettable”

Nwachukwu said that the suspects are currently under custody and will be

“The Nigerian Army (NA) is deeply concerned about the alleged involvement of two of its personnel in a reported case of theft at the Dangote Refinery in Lagos,” the statement read.

“This act of criminality, which was prevented by the proactive intervention of vigilant troops and private security operatives on duty at the refinery, is totally unacceptable and highly regrettable. It does not, therefore, represent the ethics and values of the NA.

“The two suspects have been identified and are currently under custody.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the two suspects were hired by a civilian contractor simply identified as Mr Smart, who claimed he wanted to recover some armoured cables he had left behind on the refinery’s premises.

“Unknown to the soldiers, the said contractor, sensing trouble as they approached the security post, excused himself from the vehicle and bolted, leaving them behind.

“Further investigations are ongoing to fully ascertain the depth of culpability of the apprehended soldiers.

“Additionally, the stolen cables have been recovered and are in safe custody.

“The NA is working closely with the management of the Dangote Refinery to ensure a thorough investigation into this unfortunate incident.

“The NA wishes to reassure the general public that appropriate disciplinary measures would be meted out to the culprits, as no act of criminality will be condoned amongst its personnel.

“The NA remains steadfast in ensuring that the key values of discipline and integrity are adequately entrenched amongst its personnel. We shall also continue to cultivate and promote dedication and a culture of accountability and ethical behaviours within our ranks.”

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Tinubu hosts Yoruba elders, reiterates commitment to restructuring Nigeria

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has, again, reiterated his commitment to restructuring Nigeria in a manner that every citizen will experience good governance.

The president restated this while playing host to some Yoruba elders, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, as disclosed by Comrade Jare Ajayi, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, shortly after the visit.

The delegation was led by Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, OFR, the Afenifere Leader who is also Asiwaju Yoruba on the entourage of Pa Fasoranti were leaders from all Yoruba speaking states of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos including Kwara and Kogi States.

President Tinubu, while responding to the address presented by Oba Olu Falae on behalf of Chief Fasorant, said he was highly impressed by the visit as it made him emotional.

He had earlier described the coming of Afenifere to him in Abuja as ‘a defining moment’.

On the specific issues raised by the Afenifere Leader, the President said, “I have listened to your advocacy (on restructuring etc). What you believe in is what I believe in constitutional democracy has been reflected since we took over.”

He stated that there is a pressing need to lay a solid foundation for an enduring project like Restructuring.

Specifically, President Tinubu declared that the economy of the country needs to be re-tuned, revamped and re-engineered.

“When the economy is properly on a firm footing, steps will be taken on restructuring so that it would be on a solid foundation.

“As I said in Akure, our approach to it would be as if a baby is learning how to walk. If the baby is rushed, it will fall. Because we don’t want to fall, because we don’t want to fall and because we are not going to fail, we want to do it and do it right.”

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Zulum approves N1.3b scholarship for 997 nursing, midwifery students, disburses N201m bursary allowance to 2,010 students

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has approved N1.3 billion scholarship for 997 nursing and midwifery students who are indigenes of the state.

The scholarship programme received about 1,080 nominations, 40 from each of the 27 local government areas of the state. However, after an entrance examination, 997 passed and qualified to benefit from the scholarship.

The governor launched the scholarship programme on Wednesday at the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Maiduguri.

Zulum noted that with the scholarship, the beneficiaries would, on graduation, bridge the workforce demands in the state’s healthcare service delivery due to the increasing population growth.

He said: “The government has allocated a total of ₦1,305,189,000 for scholarships, with a breakdown of ₦124,149,000 earmarked for tuition fees.

“The remaining ₦1,181,040,000 will be disbursed as a monthly stipend of ₦30,000 to each beneficiary throughout their studies.”

Governor Zulum further stated that his administration was constructing two colleges of nursing, one in the northern part of the state and the other one in the southern part.

The governor assured that the two colleges would be completed and opened for academic activities this year.

Highlighting the government’s efforts, the Commissioner for Education, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, disclosed that from May 29, 2019 to date, Zulum’s administration had approved over N6 billion for scholarship with N2.7 billion of that amount approved from May 29, 2023 to date.

Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has awarded N201 million bursary allowance to 2,010 students of the Maiduguri College of Nursing who had not benefited from the scholarship.

The governor directed that each of the 2,010 nursing and midwifery students be credited with the bursary allowance of N100,000.

Zulum also commissioned a lecture theatre complex and a 3,000 people-capacity multipurpose hall for the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Maiduguri.

The governor also announced automatic employment for the 997 beneficiaries and other nursing students who had excelled academically, on completion of their studies.

The Nursing Council of Nigeria (NCN) has commended Borno State Governor.Babagana Umara Zulum for his commitment to improving nursing practice in Borno, noting that the scholarship awarded by the governor on Wednesday was the first of its kind and so far the largest in Nigeria.

The Registrar of the Council, Dr Farouk Umar Abubakar, who was represented by the Director of Standard and Accreditation, Alhassan Ndagi, gave the commendation while delivering a goodwill message at the flag-off of the N1.3 billion scholarship for nursing and midwifery students in Maiduguri.

The register applauded the performance of the nursing students from Borno, stating that every year at the national examinations, students from Borno score more than 90 percent.