Connect with us

EDITORIAL

The killings in Plateau

Published

on

Share

Plateau State, which had enjoyed relative peace for quite some time had a breach of it  when a group of armed men attacked Kunben village in Kombun District of Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state last week, killing no fewer than 12 persons .

 Mangu LGA had  been grappling with security challenges since the last quarter of 2019, recording the death of a district head in the area.

Police spokesman, Mathias Tyopev  who  confirmed the recent  incident  explained that the attack which took place last  Wednesday night also left some villagers with various degrees of injury .He said the injured  were receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Mangu.

The attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons and numbering about 20, invaded neighbouring Pankshin Council Area and rustled several cows. They were resisted by the youths in the area who reportedly killed a  number of the rustlers.

The command’s spokesperson added that the police have deployed security personnel in the area to forestall any breakdown of law and order, while investigation into the attack was ongoing. In his reaction the state governor, Barrister  Simon Lalong, condemned the attack describing it as barbaric and unacceptable.

The governor had to cancel a planned tour of road project sites in some parts of the state to visit the affected village to commiserate with the people, in the company of his deputy and security chiefs in the state. He used the visit to preach peach to his people, as he urged them not to retaliate but should  leave the security agencies to handle the situation. Governor Lalong also assured the residents of the village that the security agencies were working hard to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice.

The governor said: “We have toiled to ensure that peace returns to Plateau State and we will not allow anyone to frustrate our efforts. We are determined to deal decisively and firmly with anybody found culpable in attacking or inciting people to attack one another.” President Muhammadu Buhari equally condemned in strong terms the killings in Plateau State, and directed the security personnel to take appropriate action to fish out those behind the attack.

We condemn the recent attack in Plateau which came  few days into the  new year when all hands should be on deck to maintain peace which the area had  enjoyed relatively for some time. We wish to advise the Federal Government to reconsider its recent plan to withdraw the military from some its operations especially in troubled regions like the  North West and North Central,  The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, had at the end of a security council meeting, presided over by the President, Muhammadu Buhari , recently where he , told State House correspondents that the planned withdrawal in the first quarter of the year was to allow the military to focus on its primary duty of defending the nation against external aggression and to respond to new security challenges. One of the new challenges is  the growing threat  posed by the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, now working in collaboration with Boko Haram insurgents.ISWAP had on Christmas Day executed  eleven  hostages, 10 of whom were Christians, to avenge the death of their leaders, Abu bakr al-Baghdadi and Abul-Hasan Al-Muhajir, in Iraq and Syria, respectively, during a US military operation.  President Buhari condemned the action of the terrorists and described them as agents of darkness.

While we commiserate with the government and people of Plateau over the recent killings in Mangu, we urge the security agencies to take appropriate action to arrest the criminals behind the recent killings in Mangu, while at the time stay  action over the withdrawal of troops, especially from affected areas in  the Northern part of the country including Plateau state.

EDITORIAL

Urgent Need to Tackle Insecurity and Looming Hunger Crisis

Published

on

Share

Critical stakeholders in the agriculture sector have persistently warned that the relentless wave of attacks against farmers in Nigeria by cattle pastoralists, bandits and kidnappers could further contribute to the nation’s economic woes. Already, there is unprecedented shortfall in food supplies.

This unfortunate trend threatens to push Nigeria deeper into a devastating hunger crisis.
Increasing attacks on farmers across parts of the country have led to displacement of farmers, market disruptions and loss of livelihoods.
In particular, food basket states like Benue, Niger, Kaduna, Borno, Plateau, Kogi and farming communities are being relegated and dehumanised to camps as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), thereby worsening the food crisis in the country.
Bandits, kidnappers and other dare-devil armed groups have been killing farmers in their hundreds while others are kidnapped and made to buy their lives with millions of naira, thus forcing many farmers to abandon their farms.To worsen the situation, there are devastating floods in many parts of the country which have claimed dozens of lives and have washed away thousands of hectares of cultivated farmlands. This has exacerbated the plight of farmers. The climate change crisis is more likely to push many more people into hunger because of the flooding and unpredictable rainfall pattern, far more severe than in previous years will further compound the food crisis.Last year, the UN estimated that more than 25 million people in Nigeria could face food insecurity this year, a 47 percent increase from the 17 million people who were already at risk of going hungry – mainly due to the ongoing insecurity, protracted conflicts, and the projected rise in food prices.In addition, an estimated 2million children under the age of five in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe are likely to be pushed into acute malnutrition while about 700,000 will face life threatening starvation.Also, in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Nigeria ranked 109th out of the 125 countries with food shortage with a score of 28.3 in the 2023 Global Hunger Index. Thus, Nigeria has a level of hunger that is serious.Already, the food crisis, insecurity and corruption have reached an alarming rate which triggered a 10-day protest across the country last month.DAILY ASSET is of the view that for the Tinubu administration to get Nigeria out of the woods, it must redouble efforts to tame the rising spate of insecurity in the country.That the nation’s armed forces must urgently embrace technology and involve new strategies to restore security for the displaced farming communities to resume full farming activities.Additionally, the federal and state governments should explore the possibility of tackling unemployment, poverty and inequality.Also, the porous borders have to be strengthened to prevent the influx of undesirable elements through increased surveillance by security agencies.The complex challenges facing Nigeria can only be tamed through the implementation of workable strategies, commitment and cooperation among all stakeholders.

Continue Reading

EDITORIAL

Oloyede: Accolades to Unconventional Public Servant

Published

on

Share

Akin to an eagle-eyed combat pilot on a reconnaissance mission – making his flight preparations, loading the right ammunition and aiming at his target without missing, so was Prof. Is’haq Olarewaju Oloyede, when he arrived the headquarters of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), upon his appointment in 2016.

In the first few months of his assumption of office, activities pervaded to the lowest ebb at the JAMB headquarters.

Like a fighter pilot on a rescue mission, Oloyede embarked on a discreet but holistic audit of the board. He was simply planning how to navigate his flight in order to hit his target, without missing.

While in the closet planning, there was a shift in the timetable date of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE) for that year and tongues went wagging, mostly from staffers of the board that the newly appointed Professor of Islamic Studies and “controversial” former Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, was totally confused and clueless about the demands of the office and the direction to take the examination body.

After the audit, Oloyede gathered enough information and momentum. He then released his mission and vision for the examination body, chief of which was to reposition the board technologically to eliminate all forms of examination malpractices and timely release of results to candidates – three days of sitting for the examination.

Those pronouncements were followed with wide ranging reforms, including unraveling of mind blowing malfeasance of corruption involving several workers of the board. For instance, a staff of the board in Benue State was involved in massive fraud of stealing millions of naira from the sale of examination scratch cards which she claimed was swallowed by “a snake” from the office save.

In Nasarawa State, the staff of the board who was also caught in fraudulent financial malfeasance claimed his car was burnt along Abuja-Lafia road with all the examination scratch cards that were meant for sale to prospective candidates in the state.

 In Kogi State, the staff of the board with itchy fingers claimed he had borrowed money to the state civil servants who were being owed several months of salaries. The ugly stories of massive stealing of the board’s funds reverberated in many states including the headquarters where the former helmsman, Prof. Dibu Ojorinde is currently standing trial for allegedly stealing hundreds of millions of naira.

With those monumental financial malfeasances, candidates were hitherto ripped off of their hard earned money as the examination body was shrouded in fraudulent and chaotic scheming. Consequently, floods of complaints poured in from several quarters on pre-registration and post examination irregularities.

But Oloyede’s surgical knife had cleaned the process and restored sanity after one year in office. By the second year, the examination body had saved over N8 billion and remitted same to the Federal Government, a remarkable departure from about N300 million the examination body was hitherto remitting per year to the government.

Thus, in 2018, the Muhammadu Buhari administration had to review downward the cost of registration of the UTME to N4,500 per candidate from the over N7,000 hitherto charged.

Elated by these remarkable achievements, President Bola Tinubu applauded Prof. Oloyede’s innovative ideas and financial prudence at a recent public engagement organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). .

“One person I always respect is Prof Is’haq Oloyede. Over the years, JAMB never made up to $1m for the Federal Government.

“However, when Prof Oloyede assumed office, JAMB made over N50bn for the Federal Government in one year.”

Another landmark achievement is the initiative in providing Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) the opportunity to register for the 2024/2025 UTME at no cost. This will ensure equal educational opportunities for all, irrespective of physical abilities,

Additionally, the board has acquired some basic tools required by PWDs, like braille machines, personal computers with enlarged features, et al, for persons with special needs.

At a time of verbal rhetoric about fighting corruption by most public servants who are short on practical implementation, at a time revenue generating departments and agencies carry out opaque operations with no tangible results, JAMB, under the captainship of Oloyede, unarguably stands as a referral government agency for transparency.

DAILY ASSET, while commending the management and staff of JAMB, for their commitment to hard work, is pleased to extend warm accolades to a nonconformist and unconventional public servant with passion for accountability and service to humanity.

Continue Reading

EDITORIAL

End Kidnapping and Banditry Now!

Published

on

Share

The alarm bells are ringing with irritating intensity.  There is no place for safety as non state actors are wreaking havoc here and there through violent kidnappings, banditry, terrorism and other forms of criminality across the country. 

The worsening spread of kidnappings and banditry is raging like a wild  fire, which the media had termed, “an epidemic.

” Many precious human lives and property are being lost on a daily basis.
So far, President Bola Tinubu has yet to get a cure.

Although Tinubu inherited the insecurity from the Buhari administration, no new idea has been put on the table to reverse the ugly situation. 

All we hear week in week out from the seat of power and the National Assembly is a pedestrian and lame talk of “we are on top of the situation” and routine invitation of the security chiefs to “come and brief us” of what they are doing to bring the situation to an end.

What is worrisome to some security analysts is the escalation of violent activities by non state actors after every circle of the general elections and the failure of the succeeding government to deal decisively with the situation. 

Judging from the performance of Tinubu as governor in Lagos State, when he tamed the “area boys,” Nigerians had expected that he would replicate same as President to  tackle non state actors who are daily unleashing violence and harm on helpless citizens by way of senseless killings, kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, et al, to usher in a peaceful Nigeria. .

Moreover, Tinubu assumed office at a time the security agencies had acquired (and have continued to take delivery of) military hard wares to combat worsening insecurity without significant success is rather unfortunate. I

It smacks of a joke when the security agencies flaunt those hard wares meant to fight insecurity in towns to harass innocent citizens in what they describe as the “show of force” when in reality non state actors continue to run riot to inflict pernicious injuries on unfortunate citizens in different parts of the country.

DAILY ASSET is of the view that a more coordinated and holistic approach be adopted to end the epidemic by strengthening these processes: 

First, deployment of robust technology and increased funding. The president should order the National Communications Commission (NCC), and all telecommunications companies to partner security agencies in providing accurate information where calls originate. 

This will enable security operatives to clearly identify the point of originating call for swift response. And where any network provider fails to provide a timely and accurate information to security agencies to track such calls, appropriate sanctions should be immediately applied against it even if it means the revocation of the operating license.

Additionally, drones should be acquired for early warning and monitoring of illegal movement of vehicles and persons, particularly in the forests.

Second, there should be strong and mutual inter agency cooperation on information sharing. The President should direct the Central Bank of Nigeria, all money deposit banks, Bureau de Change operators and National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to reintroduce the cash light policy.

These agencies should synergize to ensure no huge amount in cash is withdrawn over the counter from any money deposit bank. Similarly, the movement of large funds should be tracked and a red flag raised where such funds are suspected of being moved for the funding of illegal activities.

Third. The autonomy of the Local Government Administration should be restored. The chairmen of local councils – as a tier of government closer to the people – must be empowered to deal with security issues. In particular, Divisional Police Stations in rural areas should be beefed up with adequate personnel and equipment, especially patrol vehicles for rapid responses during emergencies. 

We believe that if the above measures are holistically implemented and followed with a clinical reform of the administration of criminal justice for the speedy trial of suspected kidnappers, bandits and terrorists, those violent criminal actions from non state actors will soon be a thing of the past.

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS6 hours ago

Super Eagles Striker Boniface Involved in Car Crash

ShareBayer Leverkusen and Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface was involved in a car crash on Sunday, a day after the...

NEWS6 hours ago

Police Smash IPOB/ESN Terrorists’ Camp, Detain 29 Suspects in Imo

Share The Imo Police Command says it has dismantled a camp allegedlyoperated by the Indigenous People of Biafra and its...

POLITICS6 hours ago

‘Join Politics to Decide Your Fate’ – Otti Tells Youths

Share Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has urged Nigerian youths to join politics to decide their fate and make a...

POLITICS6 hours ago

Ondo 2024: Ganduje Meets APC Leaders, Drums Support for Aiyedatiwa

Share The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje, has appealed to leaders of the party...

POLITICS6 hours ago

Annkio Briggs slams Niger Delta Govs, Senators for Abandoning Economic Summit

ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Annkio Briggs, an Environmentalist and Human Rights Activist has taken a swipe at the Niger Delta...

NEWS6 hours ago

Bogoro LG Loses Secretary, Dodo in Ghastly Road Crash

ShareFrom: Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi The Secretary of Bogoro local government area of Bauchi State, Mr. Simon Ayuba Dodo has died...

POLITICS7 hours ago

ARH Chairperson, Olokode-Ayelabola Hails Tinubu on Planned Cabinet Reshuffle

ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja Chairperson and Convener of Asiwaju Renewed Hope (ARH’23), Kemi Olokode-Ayelabola has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu...

POLITICS7 hours ago

Masked Men Disrupt Labour Party Meeting in Abia

ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja About twenty masked men suspected to be policemen from the Abia State Police Command at the...

NEWS7 hours ago

Alia Approves Recruitment of 253 Youths for Benue Digital Agency

ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has said that his administration has concluded an arrangement to recruit...

NEWS7 hours ago

Enugu, Vienna Gov’ts Move to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation

ShareFrom Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu The Governments of Enugu State, Nigeria and Vienna, Austria, have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation for...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc