DEFENCE
Navy Flags off two Operations to Further Secure Gulf of Guinea

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla flagged off “Exercise Crocodile Lift’’ and “Ex-Grand African Nemo 2023’’ on Monday in Lagos to improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Ogalla flagged off the combined sea exercises aboard Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KADA at NNS BEECROFT, Apapa, Lagos State.
Five Nigerian Navy Ships, NNS KADA, NNS ABA, NNS UDU, NNS KANO and the Deep Blue Lagos would take part in the exercises.
Ogalla said the exercises were initiated by the French Navy in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other strategic partners.
“Several security breaches in the Gulf of Guinea pose serious challenges to Nigeria’s national well-being.
“Most criminal activities in the maritime domain are targeted at the economic lifeline of Nigeria through crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other nefarious acts.
“These exercises involving the deployment of naval assets at sea and ashore in multifaceted scenarios have been merged because of overlapping timelines of both,’’ he said.
He added that a comprehensive approach involving national and international collaboration was required to mitigate the impact of myriad maritime threats confronting countries in the Gulf of Guinea.
“The sustenance of combined exercises to ensure security at the Gulf of Guinea has remained a great priority for the Nigerian Navy.
“Undeniably, `Exercises Crocodile Lift’ and `Ex-Grand African Nemo’ which have both become annual events are some of the well-thought out international exercises involving the Nigerian Navy.
“These exercises have enhanced effective collaboration against maritime insecurity, crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, piracy, sea robbery, hostage taking as well as illegal unreported and unregulated fishing,’’ he said.
Ogalla expressed optimism that the exercises would add impetus to his vision of a highly motivated professional navy capable of shaping security outcomes within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
“Additionally, the exercises will further demonstrate Nigerian Navy’s commitment to the objectives of the Yaoundé Protocol in ensuring maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea,’’ he said.
Twenty-five West and Central African countries, ECOWAS, and the Economic Community of Central African States signed the Yaounde Protrocol in Cameroon in June 2013.
In the protocol, they pledged their cooperation to curb illicit activities in the Gulf of Guinea which had been subjected to the highest rates of piracy in any region of the world.
The 16 coastal countries situated along the Gulf of Guinea are Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo and Guinea.
Others are Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Nigeria, Ghana, São Tomé and Principe, Togo and Sierra Leone. (NAN)
DEFENCE
FG Introduces New Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform

The Ministry of Interior has announced the launch of a new Online Citizenship and Business Management Platform.
This is contained in a statement by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani on Friday in Abuja.
Ajani said that the new digital platform was designed to streamline the application and processing of citizenship and business-related services, ensuring faster turnaround time and improved user experience.
The platform is aimed at managing citizenship applications, processing business permits, and administering regulations related to businesses and foreign workers.
The permanent secretary explained further that the initiative was part of the ministry’s ongoing reforms aimed at promoting transparency, enhancing operational efficiency thereby significantly improving service delivery to the public.
“Members of the public, corporate entities, and other stakeholders are hereby expected to access the platform through the following official channels: Ministry of Interior’s website: https://interior.gov.ng.
Direct portal access: https://candb.interior.gov.ng, candb-support@interior.gov.ng for support or inquiries.
“The ministry remains committed to establishing a more efficient, transparent, and secure framework for citizenship administration, while continuously enhancing service delivery through digital transformation.(NAN)
DEFENCE
Road Construction: Gov Mbah Meets UN Road Safety standards- FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says the ongoing road reconstructions in Enugu State by the Gov Peter Mbah led administration, meet the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals on road safety.
The Sector Commander of FRSC Enugu State Command, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, made the observation on Wednesday in Enugu during a press briefing for the commemoration of the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week in the state.
The theme for the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week is: ‘Make Walking Safe, Make Cycling Safe’, and it runs from May 12 to May 18, 2025.
Agbakoba noted that with the spacious walkways and putting other necessary road furniture such as well-designed bus stops and lighting, the Gov.
Mbah led administration had achieved one of the major goals of the UN.According to him, with new road design with spacious walkways and other furniture made compulsory in all roads, Gov. Mbah has prioritised the safety and security of pedestrians walking in all major roads within the state.
Agbakoba noted that during the event, the FRSC stakeholders and the Command awareness would be focusing on education that dealt with safety of vulnerable road users, who were those walking and cycling within roads in cities and communities.
He explained that the event was meant to reinforce collective responsibilities in making road safer for everybody as
established in 2007 by the UN General Assembly as efforts would spotlight the need to prioritise non-motorised transportation safety.
“As a Corps, we have continued to generate strategies to meet these glaring challenges. We have intensified our public enlightenment campaigns both in the state and nationwide.
“The establishment and sustenance of road safety clubs in schools to catch-them-young and ensured walkways, Zebra Crossing and cycling lanes are incorporated into new and existing road projects.
“FRSC is also monitoring drivers’ behaviour in high-risk routes, enforce speed limits and also ensure well-structured safety education for children and youths to imbibe positive road culture and habits,” he said.
He urged road safety stakeholders in the state to sustain the call for action meant to build a road environment and culture where pedestrians and cyclists were protected and where no life was lost needlessly on the roads.
“As a lead agency in road safety administration and traffic management, FRSC will continue to drive interventions to save lives, but we cannot do this on our own; we needed everyone’s support and cooperation,” he added.
The week long event included: a press briefing, sensitisation rally and distribution of fliers, strategic visit to selected schools for safety education and Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association (ROSOWA) visit to fleet operators.
Others are: commemorative juma’at prayer on Friday, ROSOWA visitation to orphanage homes and commemorative church service on Sunday among others. (NAN)
DEFENCE
Fatal Road Accident Claims Lives Of 4 Pedestrians in Port Harcourt

At least four individuals lost their lives, and two others sustained life-threatening injuries in a fatal road accident that occurred along G.U Ake Road in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
The spokesperson for the Police Command in Rivers, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, revealed this development in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Iringe-Koko attributed the collision, which occurred at about 11:42 p.
m. on the day, to excessive speeding, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.“The driver of a Toyota Camry, with registration number ABJ 10 EM, lost control and struck six pedestrians.
“Tragically, four of the pedestrians died at the scene, while two others sustained injuries and were immediately taken to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) for medical attention,” she explained.
She further stated that the vehicle had another occupant, identified as Benson Michael, aged 36.
According to the police spokesperson, the driver was promptly arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation.
“The accidented vehicle has been recovered and taken to the police station.
“The case will be transferred to the State Traffic Department for further investigation,” she noted.
She added that the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) mortuary.
Iringe-Koko extended condolences to the families of the victims and assured them that justice would be served. (NAN)