By Sumaila Ogbaje

President Muhammadu Buhari will on May 22, induct new warships, gunboats and helicopters for the Nigerian Navy.

The Chief of Policy of Plans, Navy, Rear Adm. Seidu Garba, said this on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the preparations for the Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) 2023.

Garba said the fleet review, scheduled to hold from May 19 to May 22 in Lagos, has the theme, ‘Fleet Readiness for National Prosperity’.

He said that the president would inaugurate two ships, NNS Kada and NNS Ibeno, a recently acquired NN helicopter, and the ceremonial sailing pass exercise, combat and aerial displays.

“Permit me to recall that during the 8-year administration of President Buhari, a total of 20 capital ships were procured for the NN.

“The ships comprise of offshore patrol vessels, landing ships transport, hydrographic survey vessels, seaward defence boats, helicopters, as well as over 300 inshore patrol vessels and assault crafts.

“The president also commissioned two locally built ships in 2016 and 2021, and laid the keel for two more, which will be ready by 2024.

“The NN deems it appropriate to honour the Commander-in-Chief for his support to the service.

“The PFR 2023 is therefore, organised in honour of President Buhari in recognition of his generous contribution to the service and the nation at large and to also mark the culmination of Mr President’s administration.”

Garba explained that PFR was a tradition of navies across the world, conducted to honour their sovereigns or heads of government.

He said it involved assemblage of ships and other maritime assets at a designated area for the purpose of demonstrating loyalty and allegiance to the state.

The review, according to him, also provides an avenue for the president to assess the navy’s preparedness to meet statutory obligations in maritime security, safety and defence.

“During a PFR, the president is invited to review the fleet in commemoration of a historical event, celebration of important anniversary or any other activity deemed necessary.”

“Some of the occasions to organise a fleet review include celebration of special landmarks of either the navy or country.”

He recalled that the NN had attended many Fleet reviews with the nation’s Flag Ship, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) ARADU.

These, he said, included the Bi-centenary of the battle of Trafalgar in UK in 2005 and the centenary of the Brazilian Navy in 2007.

“NNS THUNDER also sailed to Australia in 2013 to celebrate the centenary of the Australian Navy.

“More recently, the NN sent personnel to participate in the Bangladesh navy fleet review in December 2022,” he added.

Garba said that the last time PFR was conducted in Nigeria was in 2010 in honour of then President Goodluck Jonathan and to mark the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.

He said that other activities lined up include capability demonstration by NN Special Forces, Defence/Maritime Expo Exhibition, and combined naval parade and exercises.

According to him, the PFR will involve 16 NN warships, three NN helicopters and a mix of Nigerian Air Force aircrafts.

“The participating NN ships are NNS THUNDER, NNS CENTENARY, NNS IKENNE, NNS KADA, NNS LANA, NNS KANO, NNS NGURU, NNS IBENO, NNS ABA, NNS OJI, NNS ANDONI, NNS OSUN, NNS OSE, NNS EKULU, NNS GONGOLA and NNS SHIRORO.

“The participating NAF aircraft are one MI35 Helicopter, one Diamond-42, one ATR-42 MPA and three A29 Super Tucano.

“Some foreign warships from allied nations including Spain, Brazil and Ghana are also expected to participate in the exercise”.

Garba said that the tenure of President Buhari marked a period of profound transformation of the NN Fleet, making it the pride of the Gulf of Guinea and one of the most versatile naval fleets in Africa.

“It has therefore become expedient to organise the PFR-2023 in celebration of Mr President.

“For his commitment to strengthening the nation’s naval assets and capability to project her instruments of maritime power for national prosperity,” he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Maharazu Ahmed

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi and Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, have commended the leadership of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), for their contributions to effective policing in Nigeria.

They gave the commendation at the 39th Etim Inyang Lecture Anniversary and Award Ceremony with the theme, “Enhancing the Ideals of Community Policing in Nigeria” on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister, who was represented by Mrs Jaachinma Agu, said the establishment of PCRC by leadership of the Nigeria Police Force in 1984 had continued to yield its desired result.

He said it was evident in the fostering of partnership between the police and the community with a view to enhance efficient and effective policing through active partnership with members of the communities and critical stakeholders across Nigeria.

Dingyadi said the 39th anniversary lecture organised to honour the founder of PCRC, retired Inspector-General of Police, Etim Inyang, was a means of appreciating police contributions to safety of lives and property, good governance and improved living standard in Nigeria.

“This event is therefore highly commendable and reassures everyone here present including serving officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, that their commitment and contributions towards tackling crimes and criminalities will not go unrewarded,” he said.

The minister, who is one of the awardees, said his nomination reaffirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s germane desire to reclaim policing primacy through police reforms, capacity building, enhanced welfare and equipping to improve internal security arrangements in Nigeria.

He said the award was a great impetus to consolidate on rendering services towards deepening economic development, through formulation and implementation of sustainable policies and programs that had in the last three years, promoted safety of lives and property across Nigeria.

He said the ministry had recently organised Town Hall Meetings with PCRC stakeholders and the NPF in four Geo- political zones to enhance the unity and working relationship between NPF and PCRC.

According to him, the recommendations from the meetings are being implemented to ensure a smooth working relationship between the NPF and the PCRC to achieve maximum reduction in crimes and criminality in our nation.

On his part, the Chairman of PSC, Arase represented by Mr Olumide Sodeinde, said that PCRC had become a veritable means of ensuring effective community policing in Nigeria.

He said that even though PCRC was established in 1984, the concept of community policing did not materialise in Nigeria until the early 2000s when insecurity and increase in crime rates became major issues to contend with.

According to him, the foremost community police in Nigeria was the vigilante group which is still relevant in today’s community, a group of people taking off the mantle to ensure that the growing crime rates and insecurity in their community is highly controlled.

“The vigilante’s main goals is to ensure the protection of lives and property, crime control and promotion of community policing in Nigeria.

“The need for community policing in Nigeria came as a result of an evidence based study which showed that the use of traditional policing methods and core law enforcement approaches alone are insufficient in dealing with crime and social disorder in the society.

“That is more reason why we need to seriously support the PCRC,” he said.

The National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan, said the committee now operate from its permanent site with the support of the ministry and the I-G.

Olaniyan said that PCRC had grown in leaps and bound in its 39 years of existence, saying the committee was poised to do more in delivering on its mandate.

He pledged to continue to work with the police force to be able to achieve effective policing in the country.

He said the event was organised to recognised those who had meritoriously served the nation with passion and commitment. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, on Tuesday met to validate a new policy for the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants are to review the Draft Critical National Assets and Infrastructure National Protection Policy and Strategy (CNAI-NPPS 2023).

The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, said the meeting was to ensure the full implementation of all aspects of the National Security Strategy.

Monguno was represented by the Principal General Staff Officer, ONSA, Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Ndalolo.

He said the document was being presented to relevant stakeholders to enable them make observations and inputs to facilitate seamless implementation of the document when approved.

“As we know, the survival and security of every nation and the quality of life of its citizens largely depend on the functionality of its critical national assets and infrastructure.

“Any attack on these assets and infrastructure will have adverse effect on national security.

“Contemporary concerns for the security of national infrastructures became more prominent in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States.

“Since that gruesome attack, the United States and many other countries have taken necessary steps to identify critical national assets and infrastructure with the aim of designing appropriate policies and strategies to secure them.”

He added that the UN Security Council Resolution 2341 placed premium on countries to prioritize the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.

Monguno said Nigeria had since 2009 suffered immense loss of lives and properties due to activities of terrorists and other criminal elements across the country.

He said the document had identified and sectorised Nigeria’s critical national assets and infrastructure domain into 17 sectors, as well as prioritised their protection into three broad areas.

The areas according to him are Lifeline, Life support and Life enhancing sector groups.

He said that the document being validated explained in detail how to achieve the prioritised protection of the critical national assets and infrastructure.

The NSA said this was necessary as various criminal and terror groups in Nigeria sometimes attack assets such as schools, mosques, churches, hospitals, bridges, power towers and telecommunication masts.

He added that clashes between farmers and herders as well as inter-ethnic group conflicts also pose major threats to the country’s assets and infrastructure, as well as food security.

Monguno however said that the deployment of kinetic and non-kinetic methods by the government had considerably succeeded in protecting and safeguarding national assets and infrastructure.

“Nonetheless, there is the need to develop and continuously review measures to address dynamic threats to our infrastructure.

“Let me reassure you that ONSA remains committed to partnering with all relevant stakeholders in achieving lasting peace and security in our country,’’ Monguno said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, senior level officers from relevant MDAs and security experts, among others, were part of the validation meeting. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Kelechi Ogunleye

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has urged security stakeholders to safeguard Nigeria’s critical asset and infrastructure.

Aregbesola made the call during the Critical National Asset and Infrastructure (CNAI) and the National Protection Policy and Strategy (NPPS) 2023 Validation workshop in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, protecting the country’s assets will ensure development of the nation.

He said that because CNAI was diverse, stakeholders needed to brainstorm on the policies guiding it alongside how CNAI affected the duties of security agencies.

The minister said there was need to checkmate the roles security agencies and stakeholders played in securing CNAI.

He further said that it was imperative to know how security agencies planned to implement the strategies guiding CNAI protection.

“ We expect a fantastic outcome so, your contributions in this workshop must come out of your experience in areas we believe are critical to the well being and security of Nigerians.

“Whether with this government or the incoming administration, the Federation Executive Council will find out if this document has gone through critical evaluation and contribution before approval,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr Ahmed Audi, the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) reiterated that the corps was the statutory lead agency in the protection of CNAI.

“ Today’s gathering is aimed at completing the multi-stakeholder engagement process for CNAI-NPPS 2023.

“This document being presented for validation is in full compliance with the dictates of the aforementioned Security Council Resolution.

“We are taking bold steps to reform the legal and policy approaches for the protection of CNAI in alignment with national developmental aspirations, global trends and good practices,” he said.

Audi said that the document was an additional boost which could not have come at a better time considering Nigeria’s emerging security threats.

“ We will strive to bridge this gap and threats to CNAI that takes us two steps backwards when we take one step forward.” he said.

The NSCDC boss further said that the agency would continue to effectively synergise with the Military, Police, sister agencies and other relevant critical stakeholders to adequately safeguard Nigeria’s heritage.

He urged participants to constructively criticise information in the document while productively inputting to collectively tackle insecurity.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as operatives of different security organisations attended the workshop. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Sadiya Hamza

By Oladapo Udom

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, says  the Nigerian Navy (NN) has redoubled its effort to reduce high insurance premium for ships in Nigeria-controlled waters.

Awwal said this on Monday while he was inaugurating several projects that cut across the naval commands in Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the projects inaugurated included a girls hostel at the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Ojo, and blocks of 16 by two bedrooms for senior rates.

Others are 24 by one Under Training Rating’s Accommodation and renovated diving wing at the Under Water Warfare School (UWWS) among other projects.

The CNS recalled that sustained and aggressive patrols within the maritime domain significantly reduced piracy and other maritime crimes in 2022.

“This culminated in delisting Nigeria from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) list of piracy prone countries in March 2022.

“This further led to lifting of War Risk Premium tag on Nigeria that reduced high insurance premium for ships in Nigerian-controlled waters to about 960 dollars as against 5,000 per dollars shipment,” he said.

Awwal, however, said there were speculations that some Gulf of Guinea countries were again considered to be tagged with the War Risk Premium, due to recent developments within the region.

“It is on this development that efforts must be doubled round the clock, to maintain positive postures toward sustained intelligence driven patrols to rid our maritime space of insecurity,” he said.

The CNS reiterated that the Nigerian Navy, as the nations maritime sentinel, would not stop to ensure the domain is safer for sustainable development of the nation’s Blue Economy.

“Furthermore, the successful arraignment and conviction of Motor Tanker, HEROIC IDUN and her crew arrested last August, is an indication of the navy’s resolve to rid the nation of maritime crime.

“The crew was sentenced after a plea bargain to pay N5 million as penalty for the charge and 15 dollars million as restitution to the country.

“It is to be noted that the vessel and crew will not be released until the penalty and restitution are paid as well as public apologies made in the print and electronic media in Nigeria and Llyod’s list,” Awwal said.

He said that the projects inaugurated were initiated to consolidate on the comprehensive transformation plan,  articulated to guide the Nigerian Navy towards effective discharge of its constitutional mandate.

“These infrastructural developments are in addition to already commissioned as well as ongoing projects like the reconstruction of the Base Flat Officers Accommodation in Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT.

“Also, a 250 metres runway at Naval Air Base, Ojo, with in-built lights and non-directional beacons, to aid training and operations in restricted visibility.

“The Nigerian Navy is cognisant of the significance of essential infrastructure and facilities within bases and barracks as they hasten necessary comfort and essential ambience to bolster security, productivity and efficiency,” Awwal said.

The CNS said that it was in this regard that the Naval Headquarters had continued to prioritise infrastructural development in the hierarchy of its preferences.

“Certainly, commissioning these structures will further ameliorate deficiencies experienced at the respective units and bases.

“I urge occupants of these structures and facilities to inculcate deliberate positive maintenance culture, so that these legacy projects will serve future generations of personnel.

“We must all be encouraged by this and many other achievements of the Nigerian Navy, regardless of unguarded comments and utterances from unpatriotic individuals,” he said.

Awwal added that preparations for the 2023 Presidential Fleet Review in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tremendous support for the Nigerian Navy towards actualisation of its mandate.

“All hands must be on deck to ensure a befitting Presidential Fleet reviewed as the administration draws the curtain,” the CNS said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Olawunmi Ashafa

By Thompson Yamput
The Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Mr Onogwu Muhammed, says no fewer 134 kidnapped victims have been rescued in Kogi by a vigilance group.

He said this in a statement in Lokoja on Monday, noting that the rescued victims were abducted in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State.

Mohammed said that the victims were rescued during a rescue operations launched by the Kogi vigilance group in forests located in the state and some parts of Nasarawa State.

“The vigilance group had stormed the hideouts of kidnappers in the Odullo forest of Kogi and Sardauna in Nasarawa State and rescued 134 victims who were abducted from Abaji, Kuje, and Kwali in FCT, as well as Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa.

“The vigilance group, comprising 92 members who participated in the operation at the Odullo forest and Sardauna in Nasarawa State, returned and were gladly received by Chairman of the area, Mr Dauda Aliyu,” he said.

He also said that Aliyu, who received the rescued victims, commended the vigilantes for their bravery and achievement.

He said that the chairman commended the Yahaya Bello’s administration’s support to security operatives in the state, adding that the victims had been properly reunited with their families.

“The council boss appreciated Bello for supporting the vigilantes that he said had continued to help immensely in the fight against insecurity in the state”, the statement said.

The statement also said that the Security Adviser to the state governor, retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, also praised the vigilance group and other security agencies in the state for their efforts in fighting crimes in the state and beyond.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=====
Kayode Olaitan

By Ige Adekunle

The Idiroko Unit Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists to desist from using faded number plates to avoid prosecution.

Mr Akinwunmi Olaluwoye, the Idiroko Unit Commander of FRSC, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ota, Ogun, noted that some criminals used faded number plates to commit crimes, hence the warning.

“We are, therefore, warning those who are fond of using faded number plates to desist from such act to prevent them from being apprehended by the FRSC,” he said.

The unit commander said the command had started arresting those found wanting, following a directive from the headquarters in Abuja.

He said those arrested by FRSC, especially motorcycle riders, were forced to buy new number plates before they were released.

Olaluwoye said motorists around Idiroko axis were fond of using foreign number plates due to its closeness to the border, while some used faded number plates.

Olaluwoye advised motorists to adhere to traffic rules and regulations to reduce road crashes and ensure sanity on highways. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hajara Leman/Salif Atojoko

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Economic Monitoring Alliance, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has described the recently inaugurated secured communication network for the Armed Forces code-named ‘GIWA 2 Project’ as a boost to Nigeria’s security and economy.

The GIWA 2 Project is designed to provide secure means of communications, real time instant reporting as well as information exchange between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies.

It is expected to bring about enhanced collaboration between intelligence and entire security community.

The group gave the commendation in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Bola Adegoke, on Sunday in Abuja.

Adegoke said the group joined President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPCL) Limited Communication team to commend the Armed forces of Nigeria under the leadership of Gen. Lucky Irabor for such innovation.

According to him, an improved and secured communication system will enhance ongoing operations of the military and other security agencies, thereby making it safer for economic activities to thrive.

He attributed the strength of the military in advanced countries to secured communication network.

“We commend the GIWA 2 Project as it is one of the several initiatives of the Gen. Irabor led armed forces aimed at deepening collaboration in tackling the security challenges in the country.

“Our study show that the effectiveness seen in the military and security agencies of the advanced countries have secured communication network as one of the factors responsible.

“We salute the CDS and his team for this noble objective which will enhance security for our farmers and give a boost to other economic activities,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed