DEFENCE
Commandant Hopeful Buhari Will Assent to Peace Corps Bill
The National Commandant ,Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Prof. Dicksin Akoh, says he is hopeful that President Muhammadu Buhari will assent to the Peace Corps Bill before the end of his administration.
Akoh, in an interview with the press, said the benefits associated with assenting to the bill were enormous
”My appeal is to the president assent to the bill as his parting gift to Nigerian youths because the bill when signed into law would play vital roles in empowering youths and promote security.
“We will be seen as a model in our quest for national creativity, peace and youth development.
“Our role will not only be very complimentary, but also very unique in the sense that we are mindful of our mandate and we are not going to deviate from our core mandate .
“It is going to brighten the hope of Nigerian youths by creating a reservoir where apart from the officials we will train youths as volunteers.”
He said that youths would be empowered to engage in neighbourhood watch to source information and educate members of the communities on the safety and security measures peculiar to their neighbourhood
“When that approach is followed, you will find out that indirectly we must have helped in reducing insecurity in the land .
“I want to use this medium to renew my appeal to the president to ascent to the Nigeria peace Corp bill. ”
Akoh said that the corps would work as a complimentary agency to security agencies therefore there would not be duplications.
NAN reports that the National Assembly has forwarded to President Buhari for assent , the harmonised version of the bill on Nigerian Peace Corps.
This was after passage by both the Senate and the House of Representatives .
Transmission of the bill for Presidential assent by the Clerk to the National Assembly ( CNA), Sani Tambuwal was done through a letter written to that effect .
The letter was dated April 12 and directly addressed to President Buhari.
Three copies of the authenticated copies of the bills were forwarded to the President for assent , one of which is expected to be retained by him and the other two sent back to the National Assembly for further action .
In line with provisions of the 1999 Constitution, President Buhari is expected to assent to the bill on or before May 11 when 30 days window given for such important action must have been exploited.
The bill, if assented to, the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria that had been operating on template of volunteerism over the years, will now be Federal Government owned and funded Agency in the name of Nigeria Peace Corps.
On April 12, 2022, the bill passed third reading after Sadiq Umar, chairman of the senate committee on interior, presented a report.
The bill is being sponsored by Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno north.
While presenting the report on the floor of the senate on Tuesday, Umar said his committee received “hundreds of memoranda” from stakeholders who are supporting the passage of the legislation.
he senator said the bill, if passed and assented to by the president, would help tackle rising unemployment in the country.
After presenting his report, the senate went into the “committee of the whole” where they considered and passed 40 sections of the bill.
Repport says that in 2018, President Buhari rejected the bill, citing security concerns and financial burden of funding the organisation.
But Ndume reintroduced the bill in 2019, arguing that the concerns raised by Buhari had been addressed in the new bill.
The bill passed first reading not long after the ninth national assembly led by Senate President Ahmad Lawan was inaugurated. (NAN)
DEFENCE
Police Intensify Security in Cross River Ahead of Easter Festival
The Cross River Police command says it has beefed up security across the State preparatory to the celebration of Easter festival.
Mr. Gyogon Grimah, the Commissioner of Police, made this known in Calabar on Monday.
According to him, the tactical teams of the Police as well as other regular formations have been deployed at strategic positions within the state to secure the lives and property of the residents during the festival.
This is contained in a statement signed by the command spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo and made available to newsmen in Calabar on Monday.
The CP who felicitated with the people of the state and Christian faithful, directed for close surveillance activities, foot/vehicular patrols, and visibility policing across, to forestall security breaches during the period.
He said the Police Area Commanders, Divisional Police Oficers (DPOs) and Tactical Commanders were directed to ensure safety and security of the general public before, during and after the event.
“The Police Command will not fold its hand and watch any group or individuals under whatever guise to obstruct or cause breakdown of law and order.”
“I urge all public spirited individuals to volunteer useful and genuine information to the Police and support the Police and other security agencies to ensure peaceful coexistence in the state and the nation as a whole,” he appealed,” he said
He enjoins citizens residing in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear or panic.(NAN)
DEFENCE
Air Force Knocks out Terrorists’ Enclaves Near Lake Chad
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Component of the military special task force, “Operation Hadin Kai’’, has continued to decimate terrorists and their hideouts at Tumbuns near Lake Chad.
NAF’s Director, Public Relations and Information, AVM Edward Gabkwet, stated on Monday in Abuja that intelligence report received made airstrikes on a location Northwest of Arina Woje in Tumbuns on Sunday imperative.
He explained that the report indicated the presence of terrorists’ hideouts at the location.
He added that the report also confirmed an activation of terrorists’ activities around clusters of structures concealed under trees near the location.
“A post-strike Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralised and their hideouts set ablaze, thereby degrading their capabilities to attack surface forces.
“These strikes have also degraded the capabilities of terrorist elements operating in the region to attack innocent civilians residing near Arina Woje in Borno,’’ Gabkwet stated. (NAN)
DEFENCE
Army’ll Continue to Build Capacity to Surmount Security Threats -GOC
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigeria, Maj.-Gen Mayirenso Saraso, says the Nigerian Army will continue to build the capacity of its Officers and men to enable them surmount the emerging security threats.
The GOC stated this at a three-day capacity building for 1 Division Operations Planning Cadre 2024 for Officers on Monday in Kaduna.
Saraso said the avenue was to bring together the participants of the ranks of Captains to Colonels in the divsion’s Area of Responsibility to build cohesion and synergize with sister security agencies.
“The training is organized to refresh us on the various aspects of operations planning process in order to enhance our
skills and improve capacity in single and joint service operations planning process,” he said.
The GOC said this was in line with the Chief of
Army Staff’s command philosophy.
It is: ‘ To Transform the Nigerian Army into a Well-trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force Towards Achieving our Constitutional Responsibilities within a Joint Environment’.
Saraso said, “As we are all witnessing, warfare is becoming increasingly complex due to changes in the nature of threats and
advancement in technology.
“In view of this, armies world over
are continually engaged in training and capacity building to enable them surmount emerging security challenges.”
According to the GOC, the Nigerian Army equally recognizes these changes and therefore, seeks to develop capacity through realistic training that will enhance its
operations.
He explained that the division’s experiences in Birnin Gwari,Falgore, Kagara and other forests, among others, had helped it to draw useful lessons and identify gaps in the conduct of its operations.
The GOC said the 1 Division Operations Planning Cadre for this year was expected to explore ways of building on existing efforts by it to meet its operational needs in the areas of Warfare Operations Planning.
“Others are military decision making process, intelligence preparation of the battle space and logistics in operational planning amongst others, “he said.
Saraso urged the participants to have an open mind in order to derive maximum benefits from the cadre.
The GOC appreciated the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja for providing the resources for the cadre, his exemplary and inspiring leadership, support motivation to the division..(NAN)