NEWS
Regional Stability Tops Lake Chad Governors’ Resolutions in Maiduguri
Regional stability, peace and sustainable development on Friday topped the resolutions adopted at the concluded 5th edition of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum (LCBGF) meeting in Maiduguri.
The resolutions were adopted in a communique signed by Brig.-Gen. Mahamadou Lamme, the Chairman, Draft Communique Committee, and the Governor of Diffa Province in the Republic of Niger in Maiduguri.
The week-long LCBGF’s meeting which had 1,000 delegates in attendance brought together governors from the Republics of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.
“The LCB Governors’ Forum recognised and commended the substantial achievements made under the Regional Strategy for Stabilisation, Recovery, and Resilience of the Areas-affected by Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin Region (RS SRR) which have significantly contributed to stabilisation, peace, and sustainable development in the Lake Chad Basin region.
“In the light of the significant progress made in the implementation of the RS SRR, the LCB Governors’ Forum commended the governments of the Lake Chad Basin countries, regional institutions, and international partners for their unwavering commitment to stabilisation, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.
“The Forum welcomed the efforts of the LCBC and its partners in facilitating the technical validation of the adjusted RS SRR in 2024 and encourages the LCBC Council of Ministers and the AU Peace and Security Council to endorse the revised strategy.
“The Forum also reaffirmed the commitment to strengthen partnerships with the private sector, international financial institutions, and regional development banks to mobilise financing for the RS SRR.
“The LCBC Governors also commended the Governors of the eight most affected territories of the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) in Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria for their steadfast political leadership, unwavering commitment, and strong support for the effective implementation of the RS SRR in their respective territories.
“The forum also acknowledged the substantial progress achieved in advancing stabilisation, peace, and sustainable development across the LCB region since the inaugural meeting of the Forum in May 2018 in Maiduguri, Nigeria.
“The forum commends the significant contributions and achievements of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the troop-contributing countries of the LCBC—Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Benin—in combating non-state armed groups, notably Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“These efforts have greatly reduced the threat posed by these terrorist groups, enhanced civilian protection, and compelled many members of these groups to surrender.
“The forum further emphasised its commitment to redouble efforts and further strengthen the MNJTF and other efforts to completely eliminate the continued threat posed by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other terrorist groups in the region,” the communique stated.
It recognised the AU’s unwavering commitment to the MNJTF, as reflected in the communiqué of the 97th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council, and commended the role of national and sub-national governments, regional and sub-regional institutions, and partners in addressing the challenges posed by exits from areas controlled by terrorist groups.
The communique commended the technical validation of the Community-Based Reconciliation and Reintegration Policy (CBRR) and encouraged its endorsement at the next LCBC Council of Ministers meeting.
It, however, called on the member states to implement the policy effectively.
The communique also endorsed the recommendation of the 5th Steering Committee of the LCBC to develop a Regional Policy on Transitional Justice for the Lake Chad Basin region.
It underscored the critical need for the rehabilitation and reintegration of former associates of Boko Haram and ISWAP who have left these groups, while calling on LCB states, institutions, and partners to provide the necessary human and material resources to address this challenge effectively.
The communique also acknowledged the progress made in addressing the humanitarian situation in the region, but noted with concern that the effects of by climate change, illiteracy, youth unemployment, severe economic challenges, and frequent natural disasters still persist in the region.
It stressed the disproportionate impact of the security crisis on vulnerable populations, particularly women, children, and reaffirmed the need to protect and assist all affected civilians in compliance with humanitarian principles and international law.
It noted with concern the suspension of donor support for Niger’s National Window of the Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF), which could negatively impact progress across the region, and called for a concerted effort to urgently address this challenge.
The communique welcomed the establishment of the Special Multi-Partner Delivery Fund (SMDF) and the Nexus Funding Facility (NFF) as vital mechanisms to support and coordinate stabilisation, recovery, and resilience initiatives across the region.
It also reaffirmed the forum’s commitment to advancing stabilisation, recovery, and resilience in the region while in this regard, the Forum committed itself to ensure member states strengthen strategic support to, and operational capacity of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and invest in transborder security.
The communique resolved to ensure member states effectively occupy the Lake Chad Islands as a means of strengthening transboundary security, with a focus on securing and controlling the waterways as well as ensure that remnant of all Non-State Armed Groups are completely neutralised in all the member states.
It pledged to intensify efforts to combat illicit trade of arms, and illicit drug trafficking and drug abuse, especially among youth and scale up climate resilient initiatives and environmental protection efforts to support the rehabilitation of the Lake Chad Basin ecosystems and biodiversity.
The communique committed itself to strengthen collaboration with traditional rulers, especially in facilitating reconciliation and reintegration processes as well as strengthen women and youth engagement in stabilisation, recovery, and resilience initiatives, ensuring their needs and priorities are effectively addressed.
It also agreed to enhance the role of civil society and traditional authorities in designing, implementing, and monitoring regional stabilisation, recovery, and resilience efforts as well work with the LCBC on advocacy and fundraising with partners and donors towards continuation of stabilisation activities in Niger.
The communique promised to facilitate the establishment of “Free trade Zones” in the Lake Chad region, as a means of promoting cross-border trade and economic connectivity while Identifying and investing in the construction and rehabilitation of cross-border roads as a means of promoting transboundary trade and strengthening security.
It announced its readiness to update and facilitate the implementation of the Territorial Action Plans (TAPs) to align with the adjusted RS SRR and strengthen resource mobilisation efforts through the Special Multi-Partner Delivery Fund (SMDF) and the Nexus Funding Facility (NFF), and other regional funding initiatives to drive impactful and sustained progress.
The communique also thanked President Bola Tinubu, the host, Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and the people of Nigeria for their hospitality.
It expressed appreciation to the Governor of Hadjer-Lamis, Ildjima Abdraman of the Republic of Chad for her leadership and commitment in steering the forum between 2023 and 2024.
The communique commended the acceptance of the Chairmanship of the LCBGF by its new Chairman, Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe. (NAN)
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fully transitioning to Computer-Based Test (CBT) examinations for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and other exam bodies by 2026.
Dr Alausa made this known while monitoring the conduct of WAEC’s CBT examinations in Abuja on Wednesday.
He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s capacity to modernise its examination system and reduce widespread malpractice through digital innovation.
Commending WAEC’s initiative, the minister described the shift from traditional pen-and-paper exams to CBT as a historic and crucial step toward fairness and educational integrity.
“We are working very hard to eliminate fraud in our exam system, and WAEC is taking the lead,” he said.
Highlighting the advantages of CBT, Alausa noted that the system simplified the exam process while significantly curbing cheating.
“We now have clear evidence that when exams are done using technology, the level of fraud is minimised to almost zero,” he stated.
He further lauded WAEC’s internal safeguards, explaining that the CBT system was operated via a secured Local Area Network (LAN), making it “literally impossible” to hack.
According to the minister, by Nov. 2025, all WAEC multiple-choice exams will be conducted using CBT.
He added that essay questions and NECO examinations would follow suit by 2026.
On infrastructure and logistics, particularly in remote areas, Alausa acknowledged the challenges but assured that scalable solutions are in progress.
“Are we going to be ready to provide every single needed infrastructure by November? Absolutely not.
“But as we move into the future, we will be ready. We have to challenge ourselves as government,” he said.
He also addressed concerns over the logistics of conducting multiple exams.
“In WAEC, the average student takes about eight to nine papers.
“They do it over several days. Those are the logistics we, as administrators, have to work through, and we already are,” he explained.
The ongoing WAEC exams, which began on April 24, are scheduled to conclude on June 20, 2025.
A total of 1,973,253 candidates from 23,554 schools are participating. Of this number, 979,228 candidates are male, accounting for 49.63 per cent, while 994,025 candidates are female, making up 50.37 per cent.(NAN)
A Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), JB Daudu (SAN),has advocated for a higher minimum entry requirement for the Nigerian Police Force, suggesting a university degree or its equivalent.Daudu, who is the Coordinator of the Rule of Law Development Foundation made the call at the 13th Webinar series organized by the foundation on Tuesday in Abuja.
Report says that the webinar had the theme `Overview and Mid-Term Report of The Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (May2023-May 2025)’. He suggests that a more educated workforce would be better equipped to handle the challenges of policing, potentially leading to improved performance and effectiveness“This will ensure that all entry level officers receive a mandatory course in the recognition and enforcement of fundamental human rights that have been enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).“It will also ensure that they receive sufficient training in the handling of firearms to curb the wave of accidental discharge of firearms and all other cases of abuse of firearms that our citizens now suffer from’’.“As far as many Nigerians are concerned, the police force is not only moribund, but a large percentage of its personnel are branded as corrupt.“Most Nigerians don’t report crimes in which they are victims because of the fear that they may, in the course of pursuing their rights, be branded as the criminals, or be exploited for financial gain.“The federal government must commence the rebranding of the Nigerian Police Force’’.He equally called for improvement in their remuneration package, the provision of institutional support such as insurance cover, mandatory housing program, promotions as and when due, affordable health services, and educational support.The Learned Silk stressed the need to rewrite the disciplinary protocols of all security agencies and ensure that these rules are subjected to ordinary laws of the land through trials in our criminal courts.“Offences by errant policemen amounting not only to civil disciplinary issues but are also criminal in nature, must attract punishments that fit the offence.“Such offences as reckless misuse of firearms and police power leading to death or serious bodily harm of, and on, innocent victims must be appropriately punished rather than a mere slap on the wrist”.He added that serious and immediate thought must be given to the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force.“20 years ago, I championed the advocacy of an autonomous and independent state police completely severed from the umbilical cord of the federal police that is the Nigeria Police Force.“I cannot in good conscience state today that I can still support the creation of a blanket State Police left in the hands of the Governor of a State.“The reason for this shift in position is that the political maturity, and I say this with the utmost respect and humility, of our new set of leaders at the state level is not such as was in existence 25 years ago’’.He noted that creating state police at this point in time is to encourage flashpoints in different parts of the country some of which may escalate into ‘civil wars’.“I shudder to think of what would have happened if certain states which were recently plunged into political crisis had recourse to their police units during the political crisis that recently plagued their states.“For now and until the political actors improve in their political maturity, the alternative would be and should be ‘community police’.“I propose most respectfully a measure where every ward in a local government would have an office of the community police that will monitor and ensure the reportage of all crimes.“This should include the movement of all suspicious characters who may likely pose a threat to the peace and harmony of the community”.He added that where the threat is beyond the capability of the community, and escalates to the remaining wards and the Local government Headquarters, the State Police Command should step in.He said that all the funds being used to buy rice and other palliatives could be used to fund and equip security-watch offices in these locations as described above.“This means therefore that the local government council of every LGA must be made to be the centre point of the maintenance of law and order and the promotion of security in Nigeria.“Note that there is still the corruption factor and strict or severe punishment must be meted on local community police officers who corruptly abuse their power”. (NAN)
The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of CSP Baba Ali, a Divisional Police Officer in Kano State. Report says that the Police Command in Kano confirmed the killing on Monday, along with the burning of the Rano police station.
The DPO was reportedly killed by angry youths in Rano town, Rano Local Government Area, sparking widespread condemnation and concern across the country. In a statement issued on Tuesday in Kaduna, NYCN National President, Isah Abubakar, expressed sorrow and described the incident as a grave national loss. “CSP Baba Ali served with dedication and integrity. His commitment to peace and security must be recognised and remembered,” Abubakar stated. Abubakar urged the Federal Government to launch an impartial investigation, calling for cooperation among relevant agencies to reveal the circumstances of the officer’s death. He emphasised that the investigation must be transparent, keeping the victim’s family and the public informed at every stage. The NYCN president also demanded justice not only for CSP Baba Ali but for all Nigerians striving for safety and security. He called on the government to adopt measures that strengthen security forces and ensure better protection for officers on duty. “The death of CSP Baba Ali underscores the urgent need for united efforts against violence. Government must act decisively to prevent similar tragedies,” he added. (NAN)
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