COVER
Insecurity: Badaru Assumes Office, Gives Marching Orders to Service Chiefs
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru Abubakar, has directed the service chiefs to phase out terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, farmers-herders conflict, oil theft, secessionist agitation, cultism, and other emerging violent crimes in no distant time.
The Minister also pledged to ensure that the nation’s Armed Forces in collaboration with other security agencies, worked in sync to rid the country of security challenges, saying they owed this as a duty to the president and Nigerians.
The Minister of Defence, gave the charge at a brief ceremony marking his assumption of office together with the Minister of State, Alhaji Bello Mohammed Matawalle at the Ministry’s headquarters (Ship House) in Abuja on Tuesday.
“The president is a go-getter, an achiever, and a thinker. The president is a macro manager, and he would be on our necks to deliver on security and I will do the same. As time goes on, I will engage you as individuals and groups.
“As we all know, without security, there would be no investment, and without investment, there would be no economic growth. Even though our food security is threatened, farmers can not farm in their farms because of insecurity in the land. The president is ready to give us all the support to do this. From now on, I will ask the service chiefs to give me a timeline and requirements on how we will begin to solve this problem of insecurity” he stated.
The timelines and the targets, he said, will be passed to the President, adding, “he will be monitoring us, and he doesn’t have the patience to work with lazy people. So, all our jobs are at stake, we must therefore, deliver for the country. ”
The Minister said “we resolve and promise that within a year or so, we would have remarkable change in the security sector.”
The Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, said they will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to build a strong defence apparatus that can effectively counter emerging threats.
He noted that the armed forces must be modernized and strengthened through investments in advanced weaponry, intelligence gathering capabilities, surveillance systems, and cyber defence infrastructure.
“We will work closely with international partners to acquire cutting-edge technology and expertise that will enhance our defence capabilities. At the same time, we recognize that military might alone can not guarantee lasting security and stability.
“We must address the root causes of conflicts, promote social cohesion, and foster economic development. By investing in education, healthcare, job creation, and infrastructure development, we can create an environment where extremism finds no fertile ground to thrive. We will collaborate with relevant ministries and agencies to implement programs that address the socio-economic disparities that often fuel conflicts” he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa in his remarks said the armed forces were willing to support the ministers to succeed in their tour of duty.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana said that the president carefully selected the ministers to address the security challenges confronting the country.
Nigerian Army Reiterates Commitment to End Terrorism – COAS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Tuesday, reiterated the army’s determination to eliminate terrorism, insurgency and other forms of criminalities in Nigeria.
Lagbaja said this at the Opening Ceremony of the 24th Combat Service Support Training Week at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps (NAOC) in Lagos State
The ceremony has its theme as: “Sustainable Logistic Support System for the Nigerian Army Towards Achieving Constitutional Responsibilities Within A Joint Environment”.
Lagbaja represented by the Nigerian Army Engineers Corps Commander, Maj.-Gen. Philip Eromosele, said that the elimination of insurgency and criminalities would be achieved in collaboration with other sister services.
He said that logistics remained the pivot on which the four pillars of military operations revolved and was one of the major determinants of the successes of all military operations.
“Our nation is faced with a myrad of security challenges which include terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, farmers-herders clashes, separatism among others.
“This has resulted in the deployment of personnel in almost all the states of the federation, thus overstretching our manpower and the demand on the combat service corps for logistics support.
“However, we remain passionately determined to eliminate terrorism and all forms of criminalities in the country,” the COAS said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the army displayed some sophisticated equipment locally developed to combat insurgency and criminalities in the country.
Troops Foil IPOB-ESN Attack in Imo, Eliminate Terrorists in Zamfara
Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade, operating in 82 Division Nigerian Army, have foiled an attack by gunmen of Indigenous People of Biafra on its Forward Operating Base at Ukwuorji, along Owerril-Onitsha expressway in Imo.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu said the irredentist group attempted the attack on the troops on Aug. 20, but met their waterloo, when they came under the superior firepower of the vigilant troops.
He said the troops neutralised one of the gunmen, apprehended two while others fled.
According to him, items recovered at the scene of the shootout, include one vehicle, a mobile phone, machete, nine empty cases of expended 7.62 mm Special Ammunition and one empty case of expended 12.7mm Ammunition.
The Army spokesman also said a Boko Haram fighter and his wife surrendered to troops of 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison in Gwoza area of Borno following troops’ aggressive combat operations against insurgents in the North East.
He said the troops recovered one AK 47 Rifle and 10 Live rounds of 7.62 mm Special Ammunition from the surrendered terrorist.
In the North West, Nwachukwu said the troops of 1 Brigade Garrison operating under 8 Division, on Monday ambushed insurgents at Bobo village in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara
He explained that the troops, acting on actionable intelligence, ambushed the insurgents who were on a mission to attack the village.
Nwachukwu added that two terrorists were killed, and two AK 47 Rifles and four motorcycles were recovered.
“The Nigerian Army enjoins all law abiding citizens to support its operations to enhance security across the country,” he said. (NAN)
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Former Governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello yesterday honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A statement from Bello’s Media Office signed by Michael Ohiare said that the decision was made after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies.
The statement read, “The former governor, who has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had all the while only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.
“The case has been before a competent court and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing.
“It is important for the former governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
“The former governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development and support the fight against corruption in the country.
“It is on record that he was the first Governor of Kogi State to put in place an anti-corruption mechanism to check graft and ensure that the resources of the state work for the people of the state.
“He was accompanied to the EFCC Headquarters by high profile Nigerians.
“It is our hope that the commission will be as professional as necessary and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Details of his engagement with the operatives of the anti-graft agency will be disclosed later.”
However, EFCC denied that the former governor was in its custody.
The commission, in a statement by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said that Bello remained wanted with a subsisting warrant of arrest.
He said, “Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is incorrect.
“The commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
Bello was declared wanted after the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo helped the embattled former governor to escape arrest in April.
Ododo’s arrival with heavy security at the residence of the ex-governor in Wuse, Abuja prevented the EFCC men from effecting his arrest.
Ododo’s entourage drove out with Bello in the governor’s car.
Since then, it was said have holed up in the Kogi State Government House, Lokoja.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State yesterday handed over a truck of palliatives he recently confiscated in Makurdi to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) with a charge on them to conduct a thorough investigations bordering on alleged diversion.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had on Sept.
11 through the office of the representative of House of Representatives for Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Terséer Ugbor deployed two trucks of palliatives to his constituency for onward distribution to IDPs and vulnerable households.However, one of the trucks containing several materials worth millions of naira was confiscated by the state governor.
Our correspondent had earlier reported that the seized truck was conveying assorted relief materials meant for IDPs in the Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency was caught offloading its contents at a private residence around Kilometre 2 in Makurdi.
Further checks revealed that the palliatives, which were loaded from a NEMA warehouse in Jos found their way to a private residence under the directives of Ugbor.
The governor explained that he gave a standing order that the truck be impounded and moved to Government House Makurdi so as to know why goods released from NEMA for distribution to IDPs in Kwande and Ushongo could be offloaded at a private residence in Makurdi.
Alia who spoke at NEMA headquarters upon his return from the United Kingdom expressed displeasure over the discovery of some hidden facts regarding the matter.
He explained that preliminary investigations revealed that the goods were coming from NEMA and were meant to be sponsored by the state government and lifted by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
In a letter from NEMA headquarters addressed to the representative of the Kwande/Ushongo constituency, Ugbor, who lobbied for the materials, the agency specified that the state government should pay for the expenses of lifting the materials in Jos and that the materials be taken to the state by NEMA and handed over to SEMA.
Alia who discovered that some of the trucks conveying other materials such as mattresses were still missing, directed anti-graft agencies to liaise with a three-man committee from the state and conduct a thorough investigations to uncover more facts.
“It was also discovered that the materials were to be distributed directly to the affected persons by officials from the agency’s North Central Zonal Office in collaboration with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency team.
“I have directed that the Acting Executive Secretary of SEMA, James Iorpuu, officers of the EFCC, and a few others should monitor the situation and ensure that due process was followed and that the materials were distributed to the rightful people.
“I thank President Bola Tinubu for having Benue people at heart. I therefore use this opportunity to call on the National Assembly members to consider the conditions of vulnerable people in their states and ensure that they provide for their constituents whatever the federal government gives,” Alia stated.
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Tersoo Kula in a statement in Makurdi, said the Director General of NEMA through a phone call, thanked the governor for being vigilant and also promised to continue to collaborate with the state government to ensure the fair distribution of materials coming from the Federal Government.
Similarly, last month, the governor uncovered the diversion of relief materials for an IDPs camp in Makurdi by SEMA officials.
The diverted food items include: 55 bags of rice, 24 bags of garri, Indomie noodles, beans among others.
The Executive Secretary of SEMA was perplexed, wondering how the governor got wind of the development.
Three staff of the agency were arrested in connection with the incident.The IDPs said diversion of relief materials by staff of SEMA was a common happening.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reconstituted the board of directors of Keystone Bank.
In a statement by the bank on Wednesday, the move is part of the apex bank’s strategy to ensure sustained growth for the financial institution.
According to the statement, Ada Chukwudozie is the new board chairman alongside five other non-Executive Directors.
They are Abdul-Rahman Esene, Fola Akande, Akintola Ayodeji Olusoji, Obijiaku Samuel, and Senator Farouk Bello.
In addition, the CBN named two new Executive Directors, Ladi Oluwole and Abubakar Usman Bello.
Chukwudozie, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s corporate sector, brings nearly three decades of experience in business strategy, management, and administration.
Her expertise cuts across multiple industries, including De-Endy Industrial Company Limited, Dozzy Group, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and Vogue Afrique Magazine.
Esene, with over 43 years of experience in banking, investment management, and corporate finance, has held leadership roles in major institutions including Fidelity Bank, Afrinvest, and Global Arbitrage International Inc.
Akande boasts over 25 years of experience in legal, compliance, and risk management, having worked with global brands like Cadbury, Stanbic Chartered Bank, and Shell.
Olusoji has a distinguished 30-year career in accounting, finance, and business development, having served at institutions such as Sterling Bank, Access Bank, and Intercontinental Bank.
Samuel with more than 35 years of experience in banking and treasury operations has left a significant mark on Nigeria’s financial sector, previously working with Zenith Bank and Fidelity Bank.
Senator Bello, a seasoned banker with over 20 years of experience, has led initiatives across both the public and private sectors, including the National Assembly and Guaranty Trust Bank.
The two new Executive Directors bring their vast expertise to the table. Oluwole, the new Executive Director of Risk Management comes with over two decades of experience in credit and enterprise risk management, including previous roles at Bank of America.
Bello, Executive Director for the Northern Directorate has extensive experience managing corporate, retail, and public sector clients.
Speaking on the appointments, Keystone Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Hassan Imam expressed confidence in the new board members, adding that their wealth of experience would play a crucial role in the bank’s continued repositioning and growth.
“We are pleased to welcome the new chairman, non-executive directors, and executive directors to the board of Keystone Bank.
“We are confident that their extensive experience will be invaluable as we continue to reposition the bank to seize emerging economic opportunities while maintaining strong corporate governance and providing our customers with a secure and reliable banking experience,” Imam said.
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