TheNewsGuru

Tag: Security

  • Akpabio wants rapid action on Economic, Security Challenges as Senate reconvenes

    Akpabio wants rapid action on Economic, Security Challenges as Senate reconvenes

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called for immediate and rapid action to tackle Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions and rising insecurity.

    The resumption is coming at a critical moment as Nigerians continue to grapple with the effects of economic reforms and security challenges, with many looking to the Senate for leadership and solutions.

    Akpabio delivered a passionate welcome address to mark the end of the Senate’s two-month recess emphasizing the Senate’s responsibility in navigating the country through the difficult times.

    Akpabio acknowledged the growing hardship faced by Nigerians due to inflation, high living costs, and increasing security threats, particularly in different regions of the country.

    “The economic pressures are testing the very fabric of our society. We are deeply empathetic to the struggles our people are facing,” he said.
    The Senate President stressed that it was the duty of lawmakers to respond with compassion and urgency.

    While commending President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its strides in agriculture and infrastructure, Akpabio noted that the gains must not overshadow the immediate need to restore security and alleviate the economic burden on citizens.

    “The recent surge in insecurity is a clarion call for us to double our efforts to protect our communities,” he stated.

    He pledged the Senate’s support in terms of legislative measures that would provide long-term solutions.
    Akpabio also called for stronger collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government, noting that working together would ensure that the benefits of good governance reach all Nigerians.
    He urged lawmakers to prioritize the concerns of their constituents, stressing that the Senate was the “first glimmer of hope for the common man.”

    Akpabio encouraged lawmakers to maintain their commitment to transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of policies aimed at fostering economic stability and enhancing national security.

    Finally, he called on his colleagues to approach the new legislative session with renewed vigor and purpose, stating that their work would lay the foundation for a more prosperous and secure Nigeria.

    Also, Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu also urged President Tinubu to quickly intervene as the economic hardship in the country has reached a critical stage
    Kalu who represents Abia North stated this on Tuesday while fielding questions from news correspondents Of the Senate indicated that the economic suffering in the country has hit all Nigerians regardless of social status including himself, forcing them to take painful austerity measures in order to cope with the challenges.

    Orji Kalu who has just returned from a long vacation to join his colleagues to resume back to the Senate noted that urgent measures are needed to ease the pains of Nigerians.
    Kalu narrated what he is currently experiencing;
    “Hardship is true, people are suffering. We have hundreds of thousands of workers, we have about 10,000 workers in our group that we run.

    “We need to pay those salaries. If I fly at any time, buying fuel and maintaining the private plane takes almost $10,000, $20,000.
    “Even in my village, everywhere I go, companies, everybody, there is hardship, but I appeal to the federal government, the President to know how he can bring succor quickly to the people of Nigeria.

    “He has to do something not yesterday, but today. He must do something like yesterday because the condition of the Nigerian people is not too good. I believe that no president in the world elected by people would want his people to suffer.

    “I called our senior members in the group and said when I have to make my sacrifices it is not for the federal government, it is for the good of the company.
    “So I said fly no more, fly commercial and saved the money for restructuring our workers both in Nigeria and West Africa so that everybody must feed in this time of hardship.
    Kalu however commended some of the Policy measures undertaken by Tinubu to tackle the challenges.
    He said:
    “We feel that the reformation going on now has not happened in the last 60 years, no president dared to do what President Tinubu is doing now. It is about courage. The man is very courageous. Possibly if I’m president what he is doing now to reform the economy, I won’t do it, I might come slowly.

    ”I’m not in the economic team, I have not seen the President or anyone to ask but this is what (return of subsidy) the president has to sit with his economic team to discuss, but the decisions he has taken is what no president in the 60 years of the republic, no president has been able to take that decision.

    On last Saturday’s Edo State Gubernatorial election which the candidate of his Party All Progressives Congress emerged victorious the former Chief Whip said; “The national chairman, the national secretary, and members of the NWC, and including the senators, have worked so hard for Edo and I believe that whoever works hard for the election deserves to win.

    “The election is about numbers, when you have the numbers on the ground, you win. When you don’t have the numbers, you don’t win. INEC has declared the winner and they (Okpebholo) deserve the win, because it is the most organized party, in terms of togetherness, there is no political party.”

    Providing answers to the wild news which suggested that he died during his long vacation outside the country, Kalu debunked the rumors’ saying;
    “Listen, there was nothing wrong with me. I took permission from the senate president about seven days before the senate closed, I went for a little study in one of the universities that I paid for myself not that anyone paid for me. I went to do some courses for two months so I used the holiday period to do courses on democracy and the economy.

    “I did not die. I didn’t go for any medical check-up, but if people say I have died, we give thanks to God.”

  • Paris 2024: France to provide extra security for Israeli sportsmen

    Paris 2024: France to provide extra security for Israeli sportsmen

    French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that Israeli athletes would receive 24-hour protection during the Paris Olympics following comments from a lawmaker who said Israel’s delegation was not welcome and called for protests against their participation.

     

    The Games, starting on Friday, face significant security concerns amid heightened geopolitical tensions due to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Israel’s conflict with Hamas, which has severely impacted Gaza, has become a contentious issue among France’s left, with some critics accusing pro-Palestinian members of antisemitism.

     

    In a TV interview, Darmanin confirmed the round-the-clock protection for Israeli athletes, citing the importance of their safety 52 years after the Munich Olympics massacre, where 11 Israelis were killed by Palestinian militants.

     

    French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, speaking to European Union counterparts in Brussels, extended a welcome to the Israeli delegation and assured their security during the Olympic Games. He emphasized these points in an upcoming call with his Israeli counterpart.

     

    Meanwhile, Thomas Portes, a lawmaker from the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, was recorded at a pro-Gaza rally stating that Israeli Olympic athletes were not welcome in France and advocated for protests against their participation. The French government dismissed these remarks and reaffirmed its commitment to Israel’s participation in the Games.

  • Security: FAAN deploys armed special force to 5 airports

    Security: FAAN deploys armed special force to 5 airports

    The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, on Monday inaugurated 120 officers of the Aviation Security (AVSEC) Special Force that would bear arms.

    Kuku said this was part of her mission to beef up security across airports in the country.

    While inaugurating 30 of the personnel at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Kuku said  it was a constructive step to get Nigeria’s aviation security team kitted in line with  global standards.

    She said: “This is for them to help us in terms of securing our assets as well as the people within the aviation environment, specifically at the airports.

    “It is remarkable for us, we are happy that we spent a significant amount of time in terms of training them and identifying the sort of individuals that are part of this squad.

    “They are quite professional as you can see, and they will continue to engage as well as work closely with other security agencies.”

    Kuku allayed the fear of the security team using  excessive force in the course of its duty.

    She advised passengers and other airports users to go about their businesses in an orderly manner.

    According to her, the arms show that the team is an elite squad.

    “What is critical is that we want to make sure that we can deter people. We hope that we do not have to use force. In the event that they need to, they will coordinate with all of the other security agencies.

    “The focus is to make sure that they are helping us in terms of executing all of our desires, specifically around making sure that there are no illegal activities that go on.

    “We are starting with the five international airports, that is Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu. There is a similar exercise going on.

    “We do have about 120 people who have been trained. In Lagos, we have about 30 of them.

    “You can see them, they are gallant, they are well kitted, ready to protect, and are ready to serve,” she said.

    Kuku expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the support  FAAN received from  his office, the Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), and the national security adviser.

    “We did have some challenges starting off initially but with their support, we have been able to get this rolling.

    “We are also collaborating very closely with all of the security agencies across the airports.

    “I was with the chief of air staff last week in Abuja, and he is working very closely with us,” she said.

    On the next phase, the FAAN managing director said that campaigns against  corruption at airports needed coordination,  expressing hope that the inauguration was a step in the right direction.

  • Vandalism: FG tightens security on Third Mainland Bridge

    Vandalism: FG tightens security on Third Mainland Bridge

    The Federal Ministry of Works says it is working with the police to tighten security and stop vandalism on the Third Mainland Bridge to save the public infrastructure.

    The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, gave the assurance in an interview with NAN on Sunday in Lagos.

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the police command in Lagos State had on Friday arrested a suspected vandal removing LED road stud lights on the newly-renovated Third Mainland Bridge.

    According to the police, the suspect had already removed 10 of the lights before he was caught by policemen on patrol.

    Kesha said that the the ministry would not tolerate any vandalism on public infrastructure.

    She said that police trucks had been stationed on the bridge to allow officers to quickly respond to incidents and check vandalism.

    She said: “We have written to the commissioner of police to ensure more surveillance on the Third Mainland Bridge, and we have stationed police trucks on the bridge.

    “Police officers now patrol the bridge more frequently; this increased security measures have led to the arrest of a number of miscreants, who were vandalising public property.

    “We saw that the cat eye lights were vandalised, and the vandals were promptly arrested and taken to police custody.

    “More miscreants were also arrested for vandalism even on Monday. This shows a strong response from the authorities.

    “ Our eyes are on Third Mainland Bridge.”

    NAN reports that cat eye lights are small reflective markers on the road that help with visibility at night.

    Kesha also regretted vandalism on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    She said: “The newly-installed street lights on Kara Bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway suffered vandalism as soon as the cables were completed.

    “As a result, the street lights are now standing there but cannot be used because the cables are missing.

    “We are waiting for the contractors to re-do the wiring and energise it. Once the repairs are completed, we ask the Lagos State commissioner of police to increase patrol in the area to prevent further vandalism.’’

    She said that the Federal Government had replaced almost all manhole covers stolen by miscreants on federal roads in Lagos State.

    She said that, to prevent further theft, the ministry used Polyvinyl Chloride. (PVC) on the Third Mainland Bridge, replacing iron gratings on manholes with it.

    She said that PVC was cheaper than iron gratings but it reduced overall replacement costs.

    She added that PVC was potentially easier to identify and less attractive to thieves.

    The federal controller of works, who expressed worry at the rate of vandalism of public infrastructure, urged vandals to repent.

    She warned that anyone caught vandalising public property would be dealt with by the police.

    Kesha expressed the government’s determination to keep its projects on track in spite of setbacks.

    She said, “The setbacks have not, in any way, affected project implementation; the government is doing what it is supposed to do.

    “We  are increasing surveillance to protect our common investments, the bridges and lights.”

    She advised Nigerians to protect public property as if they were their private property.

    She added that Nigerians should report any vandalism or potential threats on public property to relevant authorities.

    Commenting, Mr Ayotunde Bally, the Chief Executive Officer of Dembally Ltd., a real estate development company, said that vandalism wasted resources.

    “As a construction professional, I know that building infrastructure requires significant investments and efforts. Vandalism undermines these efforts,” he said.

    He urged security agencies to do more to prevent vandalism.

    He advised governments to engage local communities and educate them on the importance of protecting public infrastructure.

    “There is need to work together to build a culture of ownership and responsibility for our national assets,” he said.

    Bally said that vandalism of public property showed lack of civic responsibility, disregard for the common good, and selfishness.

    He advised that law enforcement should be strengthened and more stringent penalties imposed on vandals.

    Mr Chikezie Obioma, a mechanical engineer, said that vandalism had significant effects on project implementation.

    He said that it could lead to delay in project implementation, as damaged infrastructure would need to be repaired or replaced, causing setbacks.

    He said that vandalism would result in additional costs for repairs, replacements and security measures.

    Obioma said, “Vandalism raises security concerns, requiring increased security measures to protect projects, adding to costs and logistical challenges.

    “Repeated vandalism incidents can erode public trust in government projects and undermine confidence in government’s ability to deliver essential services.

    “It can disrupt essential services such as power, water and transportation, negatively impacting citizens’ daily lives and the economy.

    “It can deter investors and hinder economic growth, as it creates an uncertain and unstable business environment.

    “It puts a strain on resources, diverting funds and personnel away from other important projects and priorities as well as undermine development efforts, hindering progress in critical sectors.”

    He urged Nigerians to regard public infrastructure as theirs and take pride in maintaining them.

  • Army reassure of security for Kogi residents

    Army reassure of security for Kogi residents

    The Nigerian Army has reassured of improved security for Kogi residents, especially with the rising cases of kidnapping in the State.

    Maj.-Gen. Obinna Onubogu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, said this when he addressed newsmen in his maiden operational visit to the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Chari-Maigumeri Barracks, Lokoja.

    Onubogu said that nothing would be spared to ensure peace in all areas of his responsibility including Kogi.

    “We have been able to significantly reduce most issues of kidnappings and communal clashes within Kogi.

    “Just recently, we had two incidents of kidnapped students at Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) and the communal clashes at Omola in Kogi East.

    “In those attacks, the troops of NA in collaboration with other security agencies were able to curb the incidence, and reassured the citizens of their safety.

    “So, when you talk of the successes, we have been able to rescue almost all the students that were kidnapped in the university, as well as conduct patrols and visit to other communal areas where there were clashes,” he said.

    Onubogu lauded Gov. Ahmed Ododo, for his prompt visit to the affected communities to reassure them of their safety as well as meeting with traditional rulers in the area to ensure peace.

    “So, by and large, our roles in aiding the civil authority within Kogi are being accomplished successfully,” he said.

    He said that his visit in the state was to motivate and reassure troops that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. -Gen. Taureed Lagbaja, was fully behind them in all their operations.

    He commended the Commander of 12 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Haruna Dasuki, for his commitments to safeguard lives and property in the state.

    “I can assure you that the security in Kogi will continue to get better every passing day,” Onubogu stated.

    He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to prioritise the welfare of officers and soldiers as well as putting in place adequate measures to take care of the families of fallen heroes.

    The GOC thanked the Kogi Government for providing facilities for the troops in their operational units.

    “The Kogi Government has been supportive and we are very grateful,” he added.

    The 12 Brigade Commander Brig.-Gen. Dasuki, led the GOC on a tour of facilities in the barracks and also to commission some projects.

    Highlight of the tour was the planting of trees by the GOC at the barracks.

    Some students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC), Osara, were kidnapped by suspected bandits on May 9.

  • Insecurity! Hunters, security operatives search forests for abducted varsity students in Kogi

    Insecurity! Hunters, security operatives search forests for abducted varsity students in Kogi

    The Kogi Government on Friday deployed security operatives and hundreds of local hunters into the bush on the trail of bandits that invaded and abducted university students Thursday night.

    The invaders had abducted an unspecified number of students of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC), Osara, Okene after storming the institution and trapping the students in their classes.

    Nine students were abducted in the invasion.

    Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the State Commissioner for Information, told newsmen in Lokoja that the combined effort is to rescue the abducted students.

    He said: “Hundreds of local hunters, who understand the terrain, as well as the conventional security agents, are currently combing the area to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students who were kidnapped from their classrooms.

    “So far, nine students have been reported missing and we hope to rescue them as soon as possible.

    “We wish to assure students, parents and the entire people of Kogi that the government is on top of the situation and all the abducted students will be rescued alive.

    “Gov Usman Ododo has also directed that security agents be positioned around all tertiary institutions in the State,” he said.

    The commissioner commended the local hunters and other security agents who rose stoutly to engage the kidnappers on the night of the invasion.

    According to him, their gallantry and dedication ensured that the kidnappers did not have a field day.

    Fanwo said that the state government would spare nothing toward ensuring that all the students abducted were safely rescued and reunited with their families.

    “We won’t submit to terror. We shall prevail by God’s grace,” he said.

    An eye witness account indicated that the bandits swooped on the university around 9.00 p.m. while the students were reading for their upcoming exams.

    The source said that the bandits came in through the bush, went into three lecture halls and began to shoot into the air to scare the students.

    The bandits thereafter started grabbing the students trapped inside the three halls.

    Recall the school was thrown into total confusion as fear-stricken students in other halls scurried to safety, scampering in various directions.

    Luckily, brave local security guards and the conventional security men at the gate engaged the bandits, though they were able to abduct some students.

    That effort did minimised the damage as the attackers didn’t go beyond the first three halls.

    The students were preparing for their first semester examination expected to commence on Monday, May 13, when the bandits struck.

  • State police ‘ll worsen security situation – Suswam

    State police ‘ll worsen security situation – Suswam

    Former Benue governor, Gabriel Suswam has kicked against the establishment of State Police, declaring that Nigeria would “go down” if governors had such powers.

    “I won’t support the idea of having a Police Force controlled by the governors. It is not good for Nigeria.

    “The Inspector-General of Police has said that Nigeria is not matured for State Police. I agree with him totally,” Suswam told NAN on Sunday in Abuja.

    He argued that the governors shall use the outfits to deal with political opponents.

    “I was a governor for eight years and know the power the governors wield. If you add state police to them, the security situation will get just worse,” he said.

    Suswam cited the governors’ attitude to local government elections to prove his claims that they were dictators.

    “Local Governments are placed under the states and governors conduct elections into the councils.

    “The ruling party always pick all the seats and won’t allow the opposition to pick even a councillorship seat.

    “To perfect such a dictatorship, they use the federal police. Imagine what will happen when they have a state police force under their armpits,” he argued.

    He recalled that the Native Police in the then Northern Nigeria was disbanded because of its arbitrariness and misuse of power.

    “The hardline attitude of the Native Police will be a child’s play when compared with what state governors could do with a police force totally under their control,” he said.

    He, however, agreed that some governors would use the state police positively, but that majority of them would misuse such force.

    “Clearly, the state police will breed crises and there will always be a clash between the state and federal police which may breed more insecurity and confusion,” he said.

    He expressed fears about where the states could recruit the state policemen from.

    “There is unemployment everywhere; there is criminality around. There are also thugs ready for any assignment.

    “The tendency is for governors to recruit these people and throw them at the society. When that happens, imagine what we shall all face,” he said.

    Suswam opted for community policing to help local settlements monitor the movement of people in, and around, their areas.

    “Communities can have teams that can monitor their areas and report the presence of strangers and suspicious movements.

    “Such teams could be empowered to use some force, when necessary, to apprehend suspicious persons and hand them over to the Police.

    “They should also have proper orientation to know their powers and appreciate their limits,” he said.

    Suswam urged the government to fund the Police Force properly and give them modern tools to fight crime in the society.

    He urged the National Assembly to look at the idea critically and place national interest above the desires of state governors.

    Suswam also commented on the worsening security situation in Benue and alleged that the local militias were collaborating with bandits to attack the rural dwellers.

    “If the local militias were not colluding with the bandits, there would have been peace now.

    “Generally, the security issue has been politicised. Our boys collude with those attacking us. That is the scary dimension to the crises,” he fumed.

  • UK spent £300m on security, stability in Africa in 2023 – Minister

    UK spent £300m on security, stability in Africa in 2023 – Minister

    The UK Government said it spent more than 300 million pounds sterling delivering programmes and peacekeeping in Africa in 2023 to strengthen security and ensure stability.

    The UK Minister of State, Cabinet Office, Baroness Lucy Neville-Rolfe, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday during her visit to Nigeria aimed at cementing UK-Nigeria partnership and demonstrating the UK’s commitment to the region’s security.

    This is contained in a statement by Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, British High Commission.

    According to the statement, the funding is from the UK Government’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF).

    It added that it benefited the people in Africa and the UK.

    The statement also quoted the minister as saying that the visit was to enable her to see. first-hand. the impact of the funding in Nigeria and how the two countries were tackling shared security challenges in West Africa, particularly the threat posed by cyber-attacks.

    “The United Kingdom and Nigeria are firm security and economic partners. I am proud that, through the CSSF, the UK has been able to play such a valuable role in bolstering Nigeria’s security.

    “Investment in Nigeria and the broader region has been instrumental in tackling some important challenges, from drug smuggling to cybercrime and human displacement.

    “These challenges are transnational, so by supporting our partners in Nigeria and West Africa we are also helping to safeguard people in the UK.

    “Closer collaboration is vital in ensuring we can respond to threats and to promote a free, open, peaceful and secure cyberspace, which is why the UK and Nigeria recently committed to working more closely together to tackle cybercrime,” the minister was quoted as saying in the statement.

    Neville-Rolfe further noted that as the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria’s stability and security were vital to the security of the wider region and the UK.

    She added that the UK was looking forward to strengthening the existing partnership between the two parties in order for them to continue to work together on shared challenges in the years ahead.

    Also speaking, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, said he was delighted that the UK/Nigeria partnership had continued to grow stronger, including on important issues of security and stability.

    The UK envoy said that the UK would remain a committed friend, working with the Nigerian Government to respond effectively to domestic and regional security challenges.

    “The UK’s Conflict, Security, and Stability Fund offers practical assistance that is making a real difference in Nigeria, from tackling human traffickers to supporting the resettlement of people fleeing violent groups in the northeast of the country. The UK is proud to stand with Nigeria as a close partner in these endeavours.

    “We look forward to developing our partnership further, working together to tackle mutual challenges including cyber threats, serious organised crime, and violent extremism,” Montgomery said.

    The minister’s visit comes days after the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership talks, where the two countries reached agreements on cybersecurity, defence cooperation, counter-terrorism, human rights and civil-military cooperation.

    As part of the investment, more than £15 million is said to have been spent on strengthening Nigeria’s security, which, as a result of the UK’s direct support, benefitted Nigerian and British nationals by detecting and seizing more than 3 tonnes of illegal drugs.

    In North-Eastern Nigeria, the UK’s funding is also said to have helped more than 500 people fleeing violent groups to re-settle into communities, in addition to supporting vocational training, religious counselling, psycho-social support, drug counselling and numeracy and literacy lessons.

    The UK and Nigeria’s cooperation on regional threats to stability also includes the contribution from the UK to UN efforts to stabilise communities in the Lake Chad Basin after over a decade of violence by extremist groups.

    No fewer than 11 million people across Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger are said to have been affected by the conflict, hence bolstering Nigeria’s and other West African countries’ resilience to cybercrime is a central aim of the UK’s spending in the region.

    The statement further said that in 2023, the UK also funded the Africa Joint Operations Against Cybercrime and strengthened the capability of African law enforcement agencies to fight cybercrime.

    The funding, it explained, enabled the 25-country Africa Cyber Surge II Operation, resulting in the arrest of 14 suspected cybercriminals and identified 20,674 suspicious cyber networks, linked to financial losses of more than $40 million.

    “The UK is also supporting capacity building for Nigerian judges and prosecutors across Nigerian states to support investigations involving digital evidence and to successfully prosecute and deter cyber offences.

    “During the recent UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership talks, the UK Deputy National Security Advisor and the Nigerian National Security Advisor signed a memorandum of understanding on cyber cooperation that commits the two nations to closer working to tackle mutual cyber threats.

    “Further support from the UK this year will integrate overseas and UK security and further tackle transnational challenges, such as smuggling, illicit finances and large-scale migration,” the statement said.

    The support will strengthen the UK’s ability to export world-leading expertise to international partners, such as Nigeria and other West African countries, it added.

    NAN

  • Delta CP, Abaniwonder assures of improved security

    Delta CP, Abaniwonder assures of improved security

    Mr Abaniwonder Olufemi, the Delta Commissioner of Police, has assured of providing adequate for lives and property in the state.

    Olufemi stated this during a familiarisation visit to the chairman and board members of Delta Security Trust Fund on Friday in Asaba.

    ”I pledge that we will give security our utmost best in the state.

    ”We will collaborate with all our sisters’ security agencies to give our best shots to ensure that Delta is safe,” he said.

    The commissioner reiterated the commitment of the command to collaborate with the board on security the state.
    “We would gladly work with you and we would gladly let you know our needs.”

    He said that the success of the Security Trust Fund started in Lagos, adding that the Federal Government noticed the successes and decided to replicate it at the federal level.

    ”The Police Trust Fund was set up to equip and retrain the Nigerian Police to better serve the people of Nigeria, ” he said.

    Olufeme said that the Trust Fund support should not just be limited to the police alone, saying it should be extended to other security agencies.

    “Security is not just one man’s business; security is a collective responsibility for all of us in the various security agencies and for the citizenry.

    ”Security encompasses all of us coming together to ensure we have a safer society where people, businesses can thrive.

    ”It is only in a safe environment that businesses can thrive and it is only in a safe environment development can come,” he said.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the board, Mr Daniel Mayuku, reiterated the readiness of the board to partner with the police for mutual benefits.

    ”Our duty is to support you with logistics and infrastructure that will enable you to perform your duty well in Delta so that the state would be safe for its citizens.

    ”Our duty is also to work hand in hand with you and from time to time, we will be disturbing you.

    ”We will also be coming around to get advice from you on one or two things.We as members of the board are all civilians and because we are civilians, we do not have 100 per cent details on what to do.

    ”I appeal that you open your doors to us when we come to consult you to enable us have details of what you do,” he said.

    The police commissioner presented a document conveying some of the needs of the command to the board chairman for consideration.

  • President Tinubu meets governors on food, security

    President Tinubu meets governors on food, security

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is meeting with state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting is attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

    The meeting, which is not unconnected with the food situation and security in the country, has more than 27 governors and the deputy governor of Bauchi in attendance.

    The Federal Government had started releasing tonnes of assorted grains to the market as part of efforts to make food available, affordable and accessible across the country.

    Similarly, measures has been taken to arrest the rising criminal activities through synergy among the armed forces and other paramilitary organisations.

    President Tinubu is expected to leave for the AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia immediately after the meeting with the governors.

    African leaders will meet in Addis Ababa for the annual summit to be used to tackle the many challenges facing the continent and decide on how best to bolster the AU’s intervention in its various crises.