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Lack of Synergy among Defence Ministry, Security Agencies Troubles NASS

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By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Defence has expressed sadness over the lack of synergy between the Ministry of Defence and the Services, assuring they would work closely with the Executive with a view to solving the issue.

The Chairman of the Joint Committee and President of the 9th Senate, Ahmed Lawan raised the observation in his response to the Minister’s presentation of the Ministry’s budget yesterday at the National Assembly, Abuja.

Lawan told the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar that in his speech he said what he was defending was the 2024 appropriation proposal as it relates to the Ministry’s headquarters.

 “Honestly, I’m not happy with that. You are the Minister of Defence, not Minister of the headquarters and at the press of a button you are supposed to see the budget of the Ministry of Defence, including everyone, not the Ministry’s headquarters. This to me is a message for the Ministry.

“You are supposed to supervise the work of the entire Ministry of Defence ecosystem, for everyone, all the services, all the other agencies. They are supposed to be under your power.

Lawan was of the view that “this is part of our problem in the defence of our country because it doesn’t make sense to me that the minister will be restricted to defending the budget of only the ministry’s headquarters. That should be the Permanent Secretary’s work. The minister is supposed to be in the grip of everything.

“I think there is a need for us to work together with the executive to see how we can address this kind of situation because it is simply not going to work. The Ministry of Defence is the Ministry of Defence. Another thing that didn’t impress Lawan was the request by the minister for upward review of the ministry’s budget.

The former Senate President said, “Honourable Minister, this budget proposal was done two, three weeks ago. It’s supposed to be your business then to know that the prices of diesel and other things are already up and I’m sure they have not increased in the last two weeks. You might have been constrained by this envelop”.

Earlier in his defence of the 2023 budget performance and presentation of the 2024 proposal, the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar assured the National Assembly that the Ministry will deliver on its core mandate.

“The Ministry is totally committed to actualizing its core mandate and I believe the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members will assist to achieve this mandate”, he said.

He also appealed to the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to review upwards the ministry’s overhead cost in view of the current economic situation which hinders the Ministry to function effectively.

“You are aware of the inflation trend and the cost of diesel, petrol and the operation cost. The overhead is very low and we ask you to increase the overhead, especially the overhead of the Brigade of Guards, they consume a lot of fuel and it is very important and I appeal that you look into that”,he stated.

After pouring his mind, Lawan then assured the minister that they will try their best to address the provision of resources “for the defence of our country because that no one in the country will say no to and no one will say it is frivolous, but we will insist on value for money”.

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FCTA Orders Demolition of over 10 Illegal Duplexes Built on Abuja Green Areas

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The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has given its Development Control Department 48 hours to demolish more than 10 duplexes built on a green area.

The Coordinator of the Council, Chief Felix Obuah, gave the directive on Thursday during a joint inspection tour targeting illegal developments across the city.

Obuah explained that the developer of the properties had ignored multiple stop-work orders and warnings issued by the Department of Development Control.

He said that the structures, built without authorisation or allocation, clearly violated the Abuja Master Plan in Wumba District, near Apo in Abuja.

“When we invited the developer to provide legal documents for the activities he’s carrying out, we discovered there was no paper, no approval, no allocation,” Obuah said.

“So all these properties that you are seeing here are going down. Come back here in the next 48 hours, you’d see everything down.”

He said the FCT Administration would not tolerate any illegal development, especially on areas designated for environmental preservation.

Director of Development Control, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, confirmed that no approval was granted for the construction.

“We had marked the structures at various stages, but the developer ignored our directives,” Galadima said.

“The only language that some developers seem to understand is the bulldozer.”

He noted that the affected structures included both roofed and unroofed buildings, and that demolition would proceed as ordered.

Director of Parks and Recreation, Mr Chidemelu Echee, condemned the destruction of green spaces, saying that Abuja’s urban design integrated natural ecosystems to ensure sustainable living.

“This is a disaster waiting to happen,” Echee said.

“People are randomly destroying the natural ecosystem without authorisation, which worsens the global warming crisis.”

According to the Director of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Mr Osilama Braimah, warned that removing green spaces leads to environmental degradation, including increased urban heat and flooding.

“When concrete covers everything, it prevents water percolation, affects groundwater recharge, and worsens flooding,” Braimah explained.

“We must preserve green areas to protect both people and the environment.” (NAN)

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Police Deploy Tactical Teams to Maintain Peace in Ondo Community

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The Police Command in Ondo says tactical teams have been deployed to maintain public peace and deter any attempt to exploit the situation in Ijare community of Ifedore Local Government Area of the state. The police, on Wednesday, arrested a self-acclaimed traditional ruler, Adekolajo Aladeseyi and four others Report also said that Aladeseyi, who named himself the Olujare of Ijare, was arraigned before an Ondo High Court sitting in Akure on Thursday and remanded in police custody pending a ruling on bail application.

DSP Olushola Ayanlade, the command’s spokesperson, in a statement on Thursday in Akure, said the police acted on the directive of the state government, hence, the decisive steps to address the unlawful installation of Aladeseyi.
Ayanlade explained that Aladeseyi was installed without recourse to the Chieftaincy Law and Edict, or the requisite consent of the Local Government and the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs. He said the self-acclaimed traditional ruler unlawfully assumed a traditional title, causing unrest and creating serious security concern within the community. The spokesperson explained that Aladeseyi and his collaborators were invited to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) by the command on May 7 at about 15:30 hours, and informed of the directive for their arrest and prosecution. According to him, the suspects were arraigned before High Court 3 in Akure and have since been remanded in police custody pending further legal action. “To maintain public peace and deter any attempt to exploit the situation, tactical teams were promptly deployed to Ijare . The area remains calm and is under close surveillance by security personnel. “The command wishes to reiterates its unwavering commitment to the enforcement of all laws, especially those we are constitutionally empowered to uphold, including extant laws governing traditional institutions and public order. “Any individual or group found acting outside the bounds of these laws will be dealt with accordingly. “We urge the residents of Ijare and the wider public to remain law-abiding and support ongoing efforts to preserve peace and stability in our communities. “The security gains and successes made so far in Ondo State will be sustained and protected with firmness and professionalism,” he said. (NAN)

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Choosing the First American Pope

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Cardinal Robert Prevost has become the 1st American popeThe Cardinals gathered in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel have elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope, who took the name Pope Leo XIV.The chimney atop the Sistine Chapel released a plume of white smoke on Thursday, signalling that the 133 cardinals working inside had reached a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope for the Catholic Church.

A senior cardinal deacon, stood on the balcony on the facade of St.
Peter’s Basilica, overlooking St. Peter’s Square and declared in Latin: “Nuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus papam” – “I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope”.American Cardinal Robert Prevost was announced as the choice to replace Pope Francis.
Bells at St. Peter’s Basilica rang and crowds cheered as the white smoke billowed from the chimney.The new leader of the Catholic Church was chosen amid the third round of conclave voting.Cardinal Robert Prevost selected the name Leo XIV as his name for pope, a senior cardinal deacon announced.John, the most popular name selected among cardinals, has been used 23 times. Gregory has been used 16 times, and Benedict has been chosen 16 times.The only name that is not allowed to be used is Peter, which is an unwritten rule in the Catholic Church, paying respect to the first pope, Saint Peter.American Cardinal Robert Prevost stands on the balcony on the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, is an American who has spent much of his career as a missionary in Peru.Made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, he has given few media interviews and rarely speaks in public.Originally from Chicago, he has attracted interest from his peers because of his quiet style and support for Francis’ 12-year papacy, especially his commitment to social justice issues.Prevost served as a bishop in Chiclayo, in northwestern Peru, from 2015 to 2023.Francis brought him to Rome that year to head the Vatican office in charge of choosing which priests should serve as Catholic bishops across the globe, meaning he has had a hand in selecting many of the world’s bishops.Prevost said during a 2023 Vatican press conference: “Our work is to enlarge the tent and to let everyone know they are welcome inside the Church.” (NAN)

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