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DEFENCE

24 Countries Attend NDC Course – former Commandant

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The former Commandant, National Defence College (NDC), Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, says 24 countries will participate in the College’s Course 32 in 2024.

Bashir said already 20 countries are participating in Course 31, and four other countries have indicated interest to be part of course 32.

Bashir made this known in Abuja on Friday during the Pulling Out Parade to mark his retirement from active service.

He said the college had recorded milestone in the last 17 months he served as commandant, especially in the areas of curriculum development, infrastructure and welfare.

The outgoing commandant said the efforts had led to expansion of infrastructure, to boost academic activities.

He added that the college had also tremendously overhauled its information and technology facilities to enhance research.

“It is also noteworthy that the efforts made during my tour of duty have enhanced the status and reputation of the college.

“To buttress this point in the past 17 months, the college recorded a total of 52 visits, which comprised 18 from members of the diplomatic corps and international military institutions, while 34 visits were from strategic ministries, departments and agencies.

“Suffice it to state that all the visits were geared towards different possible collaborations with the college to enhance security and development.

“While some of these visits have yielded immediate gains, the outcome of some are yet to come to fruition. The visits have further proved the status of the college internationally.

“Pertinently, we have 21 international participants from 20 different countries undergoing course 31 and for the next course 32, we are expecting participants from four additional countries,” he said.

The former commandant said that NDC had in the last 17 months made efforts to achieve stable power supply, through the installation of an independent power plant.

Bashir added that the College had also embarked on tremendous infrastructural development in terms of accommodation and construction of a Secondary School among others.

“In terms of curricula, we have made cautious efforts to introduce changes to make it more responsive to current and emerging security and developmental challenges.

“In this light, we have embedded the Masters programme in the 11 months duration of the Higher Strategic Course even though the participants will still have to have their convocations at either the Nigerian Defence Academy or University of Ibadan.

“Going forward, we have initiated steps to transform the college into a full-fledged university where the masters programme will be completely domiciled in the college.

“In addition, the College initiated a joint capstone exercise between the National Defence College and the Services War Colleges in order to enhance the interface between the strategic and operational levels of warfare in the field.

“The maiden exercise will be conducted next month.”

He added that the college had introduced short courses like the Policy Implementation and Analysis course and the Strategic Analysis course which had participants from the Armed Forces of Nigeria and strategic ministries, departments and agencies.

“This is in line with our believe in the whole of society approach, which is considered to be a more holistic approach and which is gaining currency globally.

“I must also mention that the Center for Strategic Research and Studies has been repositioned for better service delivery, considering its status as a think tank for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and indeed the country.

“In this regard, the center has organised many international conferences, seminars and roundtables and the outputs have been forwarded to appropriate superior authorities for further necessary action,” he said.

Bashir attributed the successes to the support of staff and the governing board and urged them to extend the same support and cooperation to his successor, Rear Adm. Olumuyiwa Olotu.

He urged the participants of course 31, who had endured the rigours of the course, to remain focused for the remaining period to be able to apply all they learnt to their services, organisations and countries. (NAN) 

DEFENCE

FG Introduces New Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform

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The Ministry of Interior has  announced the launch of a new Online Citizenship and Business Management Platform.

This is contained in a statement by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani on Friday in Abuja.

Ajani said that the new digital platform was designed to streamline the application and processing of citizenship and business-related services, ensuring faster turnaround time and improved user experience.

The platform is aimed at managing citizenship applications, processing business permits, and administering regulations related to businesses and foreign workers.

The permanent secretary explained further that the initiative was part of the ministry’s ongoing reforms aimed at promoting transparency, enhancing operational efficiency thereby significantly improving service delivery to the public.

“Members of the public, corporate entities, and other stakeholders are hereby expected to access the platform through the following official channels: Ministry of Interior’s website: https://interior.gov.ng.

Direct portal access: https://candb.interior.gov.ng, candb-support@interior.gov.ng for support or inquiries.

“The ministry remains committed to establishing a more efficient, transparent, and secure framework for citizenship administration, while continuously enhancing service delivery through digital transformation.(NAN)

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DEFENCE

Road Construction: Gov Mbah Meets UN Road Safety standards- FRSC

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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says the ongoing road reconstructions in Enugu State by the Gov Peter Mbah led administration, meet the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals on road safety.

The Sector Commander of FRSC Enugu State Command, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, made the observation on Wednesday in Enugu during a press briefing for the commemoration of the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week in the state.

The theme for the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week is: ‘Make Walking Safe, Make Cycling Safe’, and it runs from May 12 to May 18, 2025.

Agbakoba noted that with the spacious walkways and putting other necessary road furniture such as well-designed bus stops and lighting, the Gov.

Mbah led administration had achieved one of the major goals of the UN.

According to him, with new road design with spacious walkways and other furniture made compulsory in all roads, Gov. Mbah has prioritised the safety and security of pedestrians walking in all major roads within the state.

Agbakoba noted that during the event, the FRSC stakeholders and the Command awareness would be focusing on education that dealt with safety of vulnerable road users, who were those walking and cycling within roads in cities and communities.

He explained that the event was meant to reinforce collective responsibilities in making road safer for everybody as
established in 2007 by the UN General Assembly as efforts would spotlight the need to prioritise non-motorised transportation safety.

“As a Corps, we have continued to generate strategies to meet these glaring challenges. We have intensified our public enlightenment campaigns both in the state and nationwide.

“The establishment and sustenance of road safety clubs in schools to catch-them-young and ensured walkways, Zebra Crossing and cycling lanes are incorporated into new and existing road projects.

“FRSC is also monitoring drivers’ behaviour in high-risk routes, enforce speed limits and also ensure well-structured safety education for children and youths to imbibe positive road culture and habits,” he said.

He urged road safety stakeholders in the state to sustain the call for action meant to build a road environment and culture where pedestrians and cyclists were protected and where no life was lost needlessly on the roads.

“As a lead agency in road safety administration and traffic management, FRSC will continue to drive interventions to save lives, but we cannot do this on our own; we needed everyone’s support and cooperation,” he added.

The week long event included: a press briefing, sensitisation rally and distribution of fliers, strategic visit to selected schools for safety education and Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association (ROSOWA) visit to fleet operators.

Others are: commemorative juma’at prayer on Friday, ROSOWA visitation to orphanage homes and commemorative church service on Sunday among others. (NAN)

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DEFENCE

Fatal Road Accident Claims Lives Of 4 Pedestrians in Port Harcourt

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 At least four individuals lost their lives, and two others sustained life-threatening injuries in a fatal road accident that occurred along G.U Ake Road in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The spokesperson for the Police Command in Rivers, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, revealed this development in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Iringe-Koko attributed the collision, which occurred at about 11:42 p.

m.
on the day, to excessive speeding, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

“The driver of a Toyota Camry, with registration number ABJ 10 EM, lost control and struck six pedestrians.

“Tragically, four of the pedestrians died at the scene, while two others sustained injuries and were immediately taken to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) for medical attention,” she explained.

She further stated that the vehicle had another occupant, identified as Benson Michael, aged 36.

According to the police spokesperson, the driver was promptly arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation.

“The accidented vehicle has been recovered and taken to the police station.

“The case will be transferred to the State Traffic Department for further investigation,” she noted.

She added that the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) mortuary.

Iringe-Koko extended condolences to the families of the victims and assured them that justice would be served. (NAN)

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