NEWS
Lake Chad: Buhari Seeks Tighter Border Security to Consolidate Gains against Terrorists
President Muhammadu Buhari has again called for tighter border security in the Lake Chad region to consolidate the gains of security agencies against terrorist activities in the Sahel region of West Africa.
The president made the call in his opening address at the 16th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), held at the Conference Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Buhari, who is Chairman of the Summit of Heads of State and Government, said the threat by terrorists in the region had been relatively brought under control, while the influx of weapons posed fresh challenges.
He said: “It must however be stated that in spite of the successes recorded by the gallant troops of the MNJTF and the various ongoing national operations in the region, terrorist threats still lurk in the region.
“Regrettably, the situation in the Sahel and the raging war in Ukraine serve as major sources of weapons and fighters that bolster the ranks of the terrorists in the Lake Chad Region.
”A substantial proportion of the arms and ammunition procured to execute the war in Libya continues to find its way to the Lake Chad Region and other parts of the Sahel.
“Weapons being used for the war in Ukraine and Russia are equally beginning to filter into the region.
“This illegal movement of arms into the region has heightened the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which continues to threaten our collective peace and security in the region.
Buhari said that there was the urgent need for expedited collaborative actions by border control agencies and other security services to stop the circulation of all illegal weapons in the region.
The Nigerian leader said Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) deserved commendation for various operations that had brought measurable stability to the Lake Chad Basin.
“The threat of Boko Haram terrorism in the Lake Chad area no doubt brought to the fore, the imperative of enhanced collaboration among the defense forces of the region in the face of a common aggressor.
”I am pleased that through the Multinational Joint Task Force we responded to the challenge, proving beyond reasonable doubt that with the requisite commitment and determination, the region can solve its challenges in the best ways possible.
“The MNJTF has indeed become a model, breaking physical barriers, and affirming the workability of the common approach to conquer challenges in the area.
“Permit me, therefore, to pay tribute to the untiring efforts of the officers and men of the Multinational Joint Task Force and our various National Armed Forces who continue to make remarkable sacrifices in the fight against terrorism in the region.
”The efforts and memories of these gallant soldiers, some of whom have paid the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty for the survival and restoration of stability to the region, will never be forgotten,” he said.
Buhari further reiterated that during the period under review and with the support of Heads of State, efforts and funding were sustained for the MNJTF to ensure that it delivers on its mandate of ensuring a safe and secure environment in the region.
“You will recall that consequent on the deteriorating security situation in the region, the Extraordinary Summit of Dec. 15, 2018, held here in Abuja, directed the conduct of continuous operations to completely eradicate the scourge of Boko Haram terrorism from the region.
“I am glad to inform my dear brothers that in keeping with that decision, the MNJTF has since then, successfully conducted three major operations:
”Ops‘YANCIN TAFKI (I&II) and Ops Lake Sanity I, with, the fourth one, Ops Lake Sanity II, being planned.
”The next phase of the operation will take cognisance of lessons learned from previous exercises and effectively consolidate the gains attained by preceding Ops.
”I am glad to note that during the execution of Ops Lake Sanity I, regrouping terrorists in the Lake Chad Islands were effectively decimated,” the President added.
Buhari urged the leaders to complement the fight against terrorism with development.
Buhari said: “Although terrorist threats have been significantly decimated in the region, it is worthy of note that military actions alone cannot effectively win the war against terrorism.
”There is the overriding need to complement military operations with the provision of sustainable development projects that will ameliorate the living conditions of the affected people in the region.
“Government presence must be positively felt in the area to restore the confidence of citizens in the ability of the State to protect them and provide basic infrastructure for all.
“It is in view of the foregoing, that the implementation of the Regional Strategy for the Stabilisation, Recovery, and Resilience of the Boko Haram affected Areas of the region must gain further traction without any delay.
“I am glad to note the development, costing, and validation of the territorial action plans for the eight Boko Haram most affected territories of the region.”
According to him, these action plans were the basic building blocks for the implementation of the strategy for the developmental needs of the people of the area.
”While we commend these initiatives, we must immediately commence efforts at their operationalization.
“In this regard, I urge our partners to continue to support us as we redouble the ongoing efforts at developing the region, to win the hearts and minds of the citizens in the area,’’ he urged.
Buhari said the Lake Chad region was faced with a complex security situation that was highly dynamic, constantly changing, and increasingly influenced by the impact of climate change and other variables, including sadly, some external factors.
He added: “These factors have made it imperative for us to regularly review the development and counterterrorism strategies that are operational in the region.”
Buhari said the member-countries must continue together to proffer ingenious solutions to the challenges confronting them.
The president urged: “We must, through the commission, continue to make concerted efforts to provide the desired leadership, and ownership.
“We must also ensure that our experts and troops are adequately motivated and supported to achieve our objectives.
“We must strive to continue to view our region through the lens of equity, fairness, diversity, and inclusion.
“It is imperative that we all see ourselves reflected in the kind of leadership we provide for the region.
“We must continue to support and contribute to the success of the organization.”
Buhari called on the leaders to rise and face the challenges of the region headlong in order to deliver the bright future we envisage for our region.
The president said budgetary concerns remained a challenge for all member countries, considering the declining global inflows and increasing demands.
‘Buhari said: ”We must, however, never lose sight of the vision of the Founding Fathers of the commission.
”We must continue to strive and make collaborative efforts aimed at upholding the ideals for which the LCBC in its nearly 60 years of existence has continued to pursue.
“To our gallant troops in the field, ensuring the safety and stability of the region, we recommit ourselves to sustaining the ongoing counterterrorism efforts by providing you with the requisite needs to function optimally.”
The president assured that their welfare would continue to remain greater priority, and urged them to rededicate themselves ”as we take the final push towards eradicating terrorism from our Region.
Buhari said: ”Together, we shall restore and transform the Lake Chad Region to its former glory.
“As Chairman of the Summit of Heads of Government and State of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, I commend and thank you all for the vibrant solidarity, enhanced strong cooperation, and support we continue to share.
“I equally express sincere gratitude to our partners for the support they continue to offer us in our joint collaborative efforts to fight the challenges that have hampered the sustainable development of the region, particularly climate change and terrorism.
”Together, we have shown that with commitment and with the desired support, we can achieve success.’’
The president urged the leaders to remain committed to ensuring that the diversity in the region continued to be a source of strength and a positive cohesive force for the people of the Lake Chad Region.
Buhari said: “My dear brother-presidents, we must remain unrelenting in providing the needed political and material support for the LCBC/MNJTF in its efforts at delivering regional initiatives that will revamp Lake Chad and revitalise the socio-economic activities of the region.
”The fight against Boko Haram and other forms of criminality in the region must remain issues on the front burner of discourse in the region.
“I thank you all for your support to me as Chairman of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and call on you in the spirit of true African brotherhood, to extend the same support to my successor.
“I also wish to thank the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Head of Mission of the Multinational Joint Task Force, Amb. Mamman Nuhu, and his team for their efforts at delivering on the mandate of the Commission.”
He urged them to keep the lofty ideals of ensuring that the people of the region optimally benefit from the resources of the region.
The president welcomed the State of Libya to active participation in the activities of the commission.
“This is a positive step in the quest of our sister nation to rise beyond its current travails and to return to active engagements in the comity of nations.
”Together, we shall collectively pursue our shared objectives of joint development of the Lake Chad region,’’ he said.
On his stewardship as Chairman of the LCBC, Buhari said the meeting provided a platform to holistically review collective efforts at sustainable management of shared heritage, Lake Chad, and to reinvigorate efforts at ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Buhari added: ”It equally provided an opportunity to reflect on the journey so far since 2018 when my dear brothers bestowed on me, the task of steering this unique organization, an honour for which I am grateful.
“In the last four years, the commission and indeed the region witnessed several challenges. However, with your support, we rose to the task of addressing them.
“As my mandate as Chairman of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission comes to an end, I am proud of the great strides we continue to collectively make to ensure that we ultimately restore the Lake Chad Region to its once enviable state as a hub of economic development.
“Our sustained sacrifices at restoring peace and stability to the region and enabling the people in the area to return to their normal lives and activities are highly commendable.
“During the period under review, we intensified our efforts at ensuring that the drive to revitalize the Lake Chad through the Inter-Basin Water Transfer Project attracted regional and international attention.”
The president acknowledged the concerted efforts of the commission, in consonance with its partners, towards giving life to this laudable and all-important project.
According to him, progress had been made towards procuring the services of a world-class firm to conduct in-depth feasibility study on the improvement of the hydraulic capacities of the major tributaries of the Lake and to improve the retention capacity of the Lake itself.
”This is the first and most important step towards ensuring that the project is executed in conformity with international best practices and that the solutions we seek today are sustainable,”he said.
Buhari said it was heartwarming to note the various interventions that had been carried out through the commission to complement the developmental initiatives of various governments in the region.
The president noted that through the Regional Stabilization Strategy and its implementing components, the people of the region affected by the scourge of Boko Haram had continued to receive the support they needed towards ensuring that they effectively returned to their normal homes.
“You will recall that following the demise of our dear brother, H.E. Idriss Deby ITNO of Chad, in April 2021, I, under the umbrella of the Commission, convened an Extraordinary and enlarged Summit of Heads of State and Government of the region on 25thMay 2021 to review and consider the situation in Chad,”Buhari said.
He said, this was aimed at ensuring stability and a peaceful transition in that nation.
“With your support, and in execution of the decisions of the Extraordinary Summit, I have taken several measures including, appointing an accomplished diplomat, Amb. Baba Gana KINGIBE, in June 2021, as the Special Envoy of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to facilitate the transition in Chad.
“Through his efforts, I have remained actively informed of the situation in Chad.
“Accordingly, I wish to reiterate to the government and people of the Republic of Chad, our collective commitment to actively work with them to navigate the processes of the transition in that country to a successful conclusion,’’ Buhari stated.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the LCBC, Amb. Mammam Nuhu, said two reports of the 68th session of the Council of Ministers would be presented, and a report by the Special Envoy for Chadian transition.
Those in attendance of the Summit included Prof. Faustine Archange TOUADERA, President of the Central African Republic; Mohamed BAZOUM, President and Head of State of Niger Republic and Patrice TALLON, President of the Republic of Benin.
Others were; Mahamat Idriss Itno, President of the Transition Military Council of Chad, and Mohamed AL-Menfi, Chairman, Presidential Council of Libya. (NAN)
By David Torough, Abuja
Stakeholders have expressed concern over delay in the domestication of Disability Act in Benue state and called on government to expedite passage of the law in the state.
At the stakeholders’ consultative meeting to domesticate the disability law in the state held Tuesday in Makurdi in collaboration with Inclusive friends Association (IFA), Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative (HAPI) and JONAPWD, the Director General, Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, Dr Leonard Viashima, represented by the Technical Adviser on Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, John Akuse, however said governor Alia’s administration was willing to domesticate the law in the state.
In his address, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Disability Affairs, Bem Anshe, who doubles as the chairman of JONAPWD, stressed the need for the domestication of the law in Benue, saying it would facilitate the inclusion of people with disability in governance.
Anshe decried the non-passage of the law in the state, lamenting that Benue was the only state in the North Central yet to domesticate it.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of IFA, Grace Jerry, represented by the Programme Manager of IFA, Stephen Idoko, noted that despite the challenges, she was confident that the forum would achieve its objective if all worked together.
She noted that the presence of stakeholders in the meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment to making a lasting impact on the lives of persons with disabilities in the state.
On her part, Prof. Christy Anyogo from IFA expressed hope that Benue would soon join the league of states that have domesticated the disability law, saying governor Hyacinth Alia never looks back on whatever he wants to do.
The consultative forum was attended by stakeholders from the state ministry of Women Affairs, ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, traditional rulers, religious leaders, social investment programme agency, Albinism association of Nigeria, leprosy survivors and spinal cord injury.
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah has charged contractors and the site engineers handling construction of the 260 smart schools and 260 Type-2 Primary Health facilities in the 260 wards of the state on the delivery of world-class projects that would stand the test of time.
Governor Mbah enjoined them to deploy quality materials and build according to specifications, warning that any sharp practices would attract stiff sanctions and rejection by the government. He equally underscored the need for contractors to deliver their projects on schedule as stipulated in their terms of contract.The governor spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, during an inspection tour of ongoing projects in Ezeagu LGA on Wednesday.He said the purpose of the inspection by the project’s monitoring team, which also comprises the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Gerald Otiji; Commissioner for Education, Prof Nwabueze Mbah; Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Hon. Chris Robert Ozongwu; Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Dr. Gabriel Ajah; Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects Development and Implementation, Uche Nwatu, among others, was to ensure the quality and integrity of the projects, from start to finish.”We met with the contractors and their site engineers in all the sites we’ve visited. This is to ensure that there is no variation in the work specification, and that the quality of the materials they are using, starting from the foundation to completion, could guarantee the integrity and structural tests of these projects.”What His Excellency is setting out to achieve here is to make sure that we did not run the three risks that we know that are eminent in every construction, considering that a time will come in Enugu State when we will have almost five hundred live projects – smart schools, primary healthcare facilities – in all the 260 wards, in addition to the roads constructions that are going on across the board. So, we are building a very strong monitoring team that will address the quality aspect of it.”We are also taking into consideration the cost risk that comes when the time risk begins to happen, because, once we miss the timeline, the next is that we begin to discuss variation. So, this team here is to ensure that all risks are evaluated and compliance is strictly adhered to.”We are also working on engaging with the local stakeholders to ensure the security of the process here. So, that will help us address issues around theft of materials we brought to the site. But more importantly is that at the end of each project there will be sustainability and that these stakeholders will take ownership of these schools and other projects in their communities.”So, it is not just about monitoring, but also about building on all the key facets that will make sure that these projects achieve the objectives to have smart children and smart teachers coming out of our local governments and a smart workforce for the state,” Prof Onyia stated.That’s why we have accommodation for them and we are also going to ensure that Enugu generally has a smart workforce. That’s why we are here”.He allayed the fears over the culture of abandoned projects by various strata of the government, saying that the allocation of 33 per cent of the entire 2024 budget to education has guaranteed the start, completions, and handover of the smart school projects on schedule.On his part, Chairman of ENSUBEB, Dr. Ajah, said they were happy with the quality of work so far, adding that contractors were complying with specifications and corrections were immediately effected wherever there were gaps.Admonishing communities to take ownership of the projects, he urged them to see the facilities as their own by ensuring the security of the projects.”Security is everybody’s business. The people are happy. The government has never come to the people at ward level like this before now. So, I am calling on our people to protect these projects from vandals by taking charge and ownership of them”, he concluded.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Director-General, Benue State Education Quality Assurance Agency, BEQA, Dr. Terna Francis, on Thursday, said the administration of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is at the verge of reviving the state foreign exchange programme that was abandoned by previous administrations.
Dr. Terna, who said the foreign exchange program that had provided Benue citizens with opportunity to study abroad in the past, was abandoned due to the inability of the government to pay three million naira for those who secured foreign scholarships. The DG who disclosed while speaking with journalists in his office in Makurdi, said he had already sent a memo to the State government to reintroduce the program in order to add value to the educational system in the state.”We want to revive the foreign exchange program which was stopped because of just 3 million naira. I have already made a memo to the State government to reintroduce the program.We have some of these people who have benefited from this foreign exchange programme presently working with the state government. Some of them are in government house working while others are in other MDAs working and adding value to what we are doing”,Dr. Terna maintained. He however expressed dismay over the poor quality of education system in the State, saying there is a big mess in the quality of teaching and learning in schools across the State. “It was for this reason that the Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia established this agency with the mandate to document, control and check the quality of learning in the basic and post basic education sector.”We met a mess in the education sector and we are now doing a clean up exercise . Several schools in the State have structural defects. People convert their two (2)bedroom flats into school.”The teachers are just secondary school leavers. Someone who just finished SS3 is giving a teaching job to teach SS3 physics.”Just imagine, a proprietor chokes students in a poultry farm. This is unacceptable and we are going to close the school down. Education is just for profiteering without quality.”We have been doing our best to clean up the mess. The agency is a bureau directly answerable to the Governor. Quality Assurance that means the department of Quality assurance in the Ministry of Education is directly under the agency.”It is a systemic thing. 32,000 is the fee for WAEC. But before now, the students were paying over 50,000 or more as WAEC fees.”We have called for recertification and gathering of data about quality of teachers and paying of annual renewal fees. We sent out our evaluators to confirm the data schools give to us.”I have visited over 300 schools in the State. We have warned school proprietors and proprietresses to put things in place or have their schools sealed. We are not compromising on standard and quality no matter who is involved. We are not backing down. We have the political backing.”It will amaze you to know that 2016 was the last time the examination board conducted BECE without issuing certificates.”You can imagine that a school in Makurdi is using the British curriculum and operating a semester kind of education. The students are made to pay 550,000 as fees.”We have tried to reduce bureaucracy in the establishment of schools before now, which takes up to a year, but now, it takes just a few months to get a provisional approval to establish a school.
Disability Act: Stakeholders Worry Over Delayed Domestication in Benue
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja Stakeholders have expressed concern over delay in the domestication of Disability Act in Benue state and...
Enugu Embarks on Inspection of Smart Schools, Healthcare Projects Across State
ShareFrom Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah has charged contractors and the site engineers handling construction of...
Benue Govt Abandoned Foreign Exchange Programme Due to N3mn Bursary – DG BEQA
ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi The Director-General, Benue State Education Quality Assurance Agency, BEQA, Dr. Terna Francis, on Thursday, said the...
Tinubu Establishes National Education Data System
SharePresident Bola Tinubu has approved system-wide policies to comprehensively overhaul the education sector to improve learning and skill development, increase...
ADAS Programmes Set to Establish Digital Structure, Database for Farmers, Farmlands
ShareFrom Yagana Ali, Yola The Adamawa State Agribusiness Support Programme ADAS-P has concluded arrangements to establish standard & digital structure/database...
Absence of Diplomacy Responsible for Secessionist Agitations in Nigeria – INM
ShareFrom Marcel Duru, Owerri Igbo National Movement, a sociopolitical pressure group, has said that absence of diplomacy is responsible for...
N20m Bounty on Kidnappers: Wike Fulfills Promise to FCT Police Command
ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, expresses heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the...
Presidential Amnesty: Bank Accepts Responsibility for Stipends Delay
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa One of the Bank offering services to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has explained the reason...
Enugu State Justice Reform Team Commends Mbah, Calls for Enhance Justice System
ShareFrom Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu The Enugu State Justice Reform Team (ESJRT) has commended the administration of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah...
I Didn’t Abandon Mandate – LP Candidate
ShareFrom Marcel Duru, Owerri The Labour Party Candidate in the 2023 general elections for Mbaitoli-Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Uche...