TheNewsGuru

Tag: National Security

  • FG using SIM cards to address issues concerning national security – Pantami

    FG using SIM cards to address issues concerning national security – Pantami

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to tie the SIM cards of Nigerians with their NIN.

    This was contained in a statement released by Dr Femi Adeluyi, the Technical Assistant, Information Technology to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

    According to the statement, Pantami awaits the official invitation by the Senate concerning the role of communication devices in national security.

    He thanked the distinguished Senators for their concern and support towards improving national security.

    “The Honourable Minister has supported security agencies in their statutory duty of protecting lives and property and this is why his first action after his appointment was to issue a directive that no improperly registered subscriber identification module (SIM) be allowed to remain on our networks.

    “Based on the report submitted by the regulator (Nigerian Communications Commission) on the 26th of September 2019, there is currently no improperly registered SIM on our networks.

    “In the event of evidence to the contrary, the Honourable Minister will sanction any individual or institution found wanting.

    “Furthermore, Dr Pantami wrote to all security agencies on the 14th of October 2019 asking them to collaborate with the Ministry by contacting us whenever a crime has been aided and abetted through the use of telecommunication devices.

    “No request by security agencies for assistance in the identification of owners of SIMs used for crime has gone untreated.

    “The Honourable Minister also submitted a detailed memorandum to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Nigerian Security Challenges on the 12th of February 2020. It contained details on policies developed by the Ministry to enhance security.

    “In a similar vein, the Honourable Minister has directed the NCC to ensure that they put modalities in place to tie the National Identify Number (NIN) to SIMs, as well as see to it that no unregistered SIMs are sold.

    “He has also directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to significantly scale up the number of monthly NIN registrations.

    “Moreover, Dr Pantami recently presented a Draft National Policy on Digital Identity for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which took place on the 11th of November, 2020. The memo was approved and will support in the provision of Digital IDs for Nigerians, thus assisting in the implementation of the Policy to tie NINs to SIMs.

    “The Honourable Minister wishes to assure the Distinguished Senators and Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is committed to using technology to support the growth of our economy and the security of our nation. To this end, we look forward to collaborating with the Senate and security agencies in this regard,” the statement read.

  • Soyinka reacts to Buhari’s comment on ‘placing national security above rule of law’

    Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka on Thursday reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent rule of law comment.

    The Nobel laureate said the president’s comment shows his apparent disregard and willingness to violate the law for national security.

    Recall that President Buhari delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference last Sunday, claimed it was a settled law that national security should always trump the rule of law.

    He defended the detention of Nigerians even against judicial pronouncements.

    However, in a statement Thursday, Mr Soyinka mocked the president by saying Mr Buhari had obviously given a deep thought to his travails under a military dictatorship and concluded that his incarceration at that time was also in the ‘national interest.’

    Mr Buhari was imprisoned for years by the Ibrahim Babangida regime after his military dictatorship was overthrown in 1985.

    Since returning to power in 2015, Mr Buhari’s government has held some Nigerians for years without trial. High profile detainees have been denied freedom despite court orders.

    “Here we go again,” Soyinka said in the statement he titled ‘Buhari’s Pernicious Doctrine.’

    “At his first coming, it was ‘I intend to tamper with Freedom of the Press,’ and Buhari did proceed to suit action to the words, sending two journalists – Irabor and Thompson – to prison as a reward for their professional integrity.

    “Now, a vague, vaporous, but commodious concept dubbed “national interest” is being trotted out as alibi for flouting the decisions of the Nigerian judiciary. President Buhari has obviously given deep thought to his travails under a military dictatorship, and concluded that his incarceration was also in the ‘national interest.’”

    Buhari sparked outrage with his statement while addressing a gathering of lawyers when he said: “the rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest.”

    The president’s comments drew criticisms from the lawyers and Nigerians who condemned his statement in strong terms.

    In his statement on Thursday, Soyinka described the timing of the president’s speech as “perfect.”

    “We have cause to be thankful for the advance warning, since not all rulers actually make a declaration of intent, but simply proceed to degrade the authority of the law as part of the routine business of governance,” said Soyinka.

    “We have been there before. It should be of mere interest, not despondency, that this latest proclamation of dictatorial recidivism has also been made before an assembly of officers of the law, the Nigerian Bar Association. We expect a robust response from the NBA as part of its conclusions.”

    Soyinka noted that there is no shortcut to democracy and that the history of law, even where uncodified, is as old as humanity.

    “Numerous rulers have tried again and again to annul that institution,” he said.

    “Sometimes, they appear to succeed, but in the end, they pay heavy forfeit. So does society.

    “The rule of law, however, outlasts all subverters, however seemingly powerful. If the consequences for society in defence of the rule of law were not so costly, any new attempt would be merely banal and boring, hardly deserving of attention. We know, historically, where it will all end.”

  • National security: Onu calls for strengthening of science, technology

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has called for dialogue between policymakers and scientists as well as boosting federal support for science and technology to improve national security.

    Onu made the call on Thursday during a lecture he delivered at the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) II of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) in Abuja.

    The minister said a boost in support of science and technology will go a long way to aid national security.

    He explained that such effort would naturally enhance stability among various ethnic groups to maintain national pride.

    According to him, vision, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of the science and technology community is what the nation needs to overcome challenges arising from cultural diversity.

    “ This will promote national security and help in combating insurgency and other conflicts.

    “Reinforcement of the dialogue between policymakers and scientists as well as boosting federal support for science and technology is crucial to our national security and the prosperity of our nation.

    “The scientific and technological communities of our country need to play a big role in building the new Nigeria.

    “We know a new Nigeria is coming, a country of greater peace, stability, unity, prosperity, security and freedom for the good of all.

    We have to start working for it. We will never get tired until we achieve it, “ he said.

    Onu said variety and nature of cultural values depend on citizens’ actions which impact either positively or otherwise on national security.

    He said the linkage between culture, science and technology was strong and could create new jobs and wealth.

    The minister also stated that diversity in cultures could provide an opportunity of boosting national economy through promotion of tourism.

    He said Nigeria, with over 500 ethnic groups and varied values, had challenge of efficiently managing diversity to promote national security.

    Onu said the UN 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showed dynamics in cultural values that were generally and basically driven by science, engineering and technology.

    According to him, in order to domesticate attainment of these goals through science, engineering and innovation for sustainable national development and security, President Muhammadu Buhari approved Executive Order No.5 on Feb.2.

    He said the Executive Order No.5 would promote and strengthening of Nigerian content in all procurements that had science, engineering, technology and innovation components.

    “The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology serves as the national focal point for the implementation of the Order.

    “Indeed, Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of Federal Government has recognised science, engineering, technology and innovation as the instrument for diversifying economy as well as attainment of socio-economic development and national security,“ he said.

     

  • Rivers, Benue massacre: Buhari not handling national security as expected – Dickson

    Rivers, Benue massacre: Buhari not handling national security as expected – Dickson

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State on Wednesday accused the President Muhammadu led Federal Government of not handling national security issues as expected.

    The governor explained that the inability of President Muhamnadu Buhari to personally take charge of the nation’s security and engage “stakeholders” on national security has made some APC leaders to politicise security.

    The governor in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Agbo, on Wednesday, accused some APC chieftains of taking advantage of the dysfunctional federal structure to hijack the security architecture to torment innocent citizens for their selfish ends.

    The governor said the wind of insecurity blowing across the nation, and particularly the upsurge in herdsmen/farmers are not unconnected to the politicisation of security by the federal government.

    The governor warned that the country ceases to have a future if the federal government fails to urgently unite the people of Nigeria to avert the nationwide senseless killings, stressing that the country is more than ever before too divided and unstable under the APC- led federal government!

    He called on President Buhari to personally handle security matters as well as engage with state governors to know the specific challenges in the various states.

    Governor Dickson also called on the president to call his party leaders especially, those in Bayelsa State to order, saying they should desist from sponsoring insecurity in the sate.

    He said some APC leaders in the state were using the name of the president to compromise security by intimidating security agencies, stockpiling arms and ammunition, killing and ransacking communities at will.

    Dickson said he had formally reported the matter to the president and relevant authorities but said instead of bringing the perpetrators to book, the federal government not only shielded the criminals from prosecution but provided them with security.

    The Governor said: “These APC leaders exploit the fact that Mr President is not personally involved in the handling of national security to breach national peace and security. They know that he is not in charge of the critical issues of national security because he is not personally handling them the way he should.

    “So they take advantage of the President’s attitude and the dysfunctional Nigeria state to intimidate and blackmail security agencies for their selfish interest and in the process, endanger the safety of lives and property of Nigerians. These APC leaders use the name of the President to sponsor criminals to unleash savage violence on innocent citizens.

    “Their aim is to cause panic and force them to align with them. A case in point is in Bayelsa State where some APC leaders hide under the protection of the Federal Government to stockpile arms and ammunition to maim and kill innocent citizens just to instill fear in them.

    “I have personally reported this to Mr. President and to the best of my knowledge, there has not been any decisive action from him or the Federal Government. Instead of prosecuting these criminals, the Federal Government has beefed up security around them. The politicisation of national security must stop for there can be no country without security!”