By George Odok
The Naval War College Nigeria has graduated 25 officers of the Command Level Officers’ Course 4 after a three weeks intensive training in Calabar.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony in Calabar, Commandant of the College, Rear Adm. Adeseye Ayobanjo, said that the course was designed to prepare select officers for command responsibility.

Ayobanjo explained that the course was aimed at enhancing effectiveness in command, leadership and management by focusing on self-awareness, ethics, communication skills, team work and command climate.

“I must state that this graduation ceremony in honour of Command Level Officers’ Course 4 participants mark yet another milestone in the annals of the College.

“It seems just like yesterday when you assembled here for the course, and today, after three weeks of vigorous training, extensive lectures from seasoned expert and resource persons from within and outside the military, you are graduating successfully.

“We have 25 graduating senior officers ready to go back to the field to contribute positively towards the achievement of the Nigerian Navy overall responsibility.

“Let me use this opportunity to state that the conceptualisation, planning and execution of this course are well in tandem with the vision of the Chief of the Naval staff, Rear Adm. AZ Gambo

“The vision is to leverage on all factors of national location, technology, training, team work and synergy to re-energize the Nigerian Navy and enhance her as a well-motivated and ready Naval force in the discharge of her constitutional mandates and other assigned tasks in fulfillment of national security objectives,” he said.

He explained that the Chief of the Naval Staff therefore envisions that the Nigerian Navy core values of team work, integrity and professionalism finds a more effective reference and meaning in a well-trained and motivated workforce.

He urged the graduands to see themselves as a privileged integral part of the renewed vigour towards attainment of the set goals.

He noted that the Nigerian Navy has been undergoing some transformation occasioned by contemporary threats in the maritime domain, changing operational concept, fleet renewal, advancement in technology as well as effects of globalisation and human development.

The Commandant, who congratulated the graduands for their successful training, cautioned them not to forget the basis of the knowledge based approach to leadership that they were taught in the College.

In his remarks, Rear Adm. Perry Onwuzulike, Fleet Commander, Eastern Fleet of the Nigerian Navy, congratulated the Commandant of the College and the graduands for their training and graduation.

Onwuzulike, who was the special guest of honour at the event, said that the College has carved a niche for itself as a centre of excellence.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of certificates to the 25 graduands.

By Philomina Attah

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has graduated 446 officers from the Immigration Training School, Kano.

Spokesperson of the service, Mr Sunday James, said in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday in Abuja that the officers went through the 45th Superintendent Basic Course.

He said the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, while congratulating the graduands, urged them to  remain guided by the trainings they had received and the agency’s rules of engagement, in their official conducts.

According to him, the minister further assures them that the ministry will continue  to  ensure  that genuine needs of all the Services  under its purview, are attended to for enhanced service delivery.

He said the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, in his remark, reminded the graduating officers of coming into an IT-Driven Service that placed high premium on digitisation, systems automation and professionalism.

According to him, Babandede states that the foundation of the Technology Building located at the service headquarters in Abuja, was laid in December 2018, adding that the “building is standing and awaiting commissioning.

“With the completion of the building, every activity and operation in NIS will be fully automated.

”Therefore, you need to reinvent yourselves and upgrade your skills to be relevant in the NIS of today”.(NAN)

By Peter Uwumarogie

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Gombe State Command, has warned against underage driving in the state.

Mr Ibrahim Hassan, the Public Relations Officer of FRSC in the state gave the warning on Saturday while sensitising motorists in Zambuk Community, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of the state.

Hassan said that FRSC personnel were in the community as part of the command’s mandate to enlighten motorists on safety of lives and safe road-use.

“We are here in line with the directive by our Sector Commander, Ishaku Ibrahim to ensure that we create more awareness to increase more knowledge of road safety rules among motorists.”

He said that the command had noticed that some children below the age of driving now ride motorcycles, tricycles and even taxis, saying “it is an offence.’’

“Enforcement has been tightened in that regard, hence, the sensitisation to let residents know that such was an offence.’’

According to him, the corps has prioritised enlightenment so that whenever anyone is booked, he or she will not say they are unaware of their offence.

“The accepted age for driving remains 18 and that is the age we can license anyone to drive, so anyone below that age should not drive on our roads for any reason.”

Hassan also cautioned motorists in the community to desist from speeding and overloading, adding that urgency while driving should be avoided in the interest of safety.

“As motorists, hurrying while driving always has consequences. Many have gotten themselves killed or injured because of the urge to get to their destinations on time.

“If you want to get to your destination on time, please leave home early and maintain the normal speed limit, its as simple as that,’’ Hassan appealed.

He also warned motorists against driving under the influence of drugs, stressing “If you take drugs, you are no longer the one driving because your ability to take good driving decision to ensure safety is gone.’’

Hassan, who commended the community for efforts to ensure safety, pledged his command’s commitment to continue to enlighten motorists and passengers on the need to be cautious when driving.

On his part, Mr Mamman Bako, an Assistant Route Commander, FRSC appealed for more collaborations from the community to ensure “our roads do not become death traps for motorists.’’

Malam Baba Garba, the Secretary, Zambuk Motorcycle Riders Association commended FRSC for the enlightenment, while pledging to disseminate the message to other members as a way of preventing dangerous driving.

Alhaji Ibrahim Adamu, the District Head of Zambuk while commending FRSC, tasked motorists to always adhere to road safety rules to avoid accidents and loss of lives on the roads.

Adamu called for similar sensitisation to be carried out across the state as motorists often ply different communities to ensure that everyone was carried along. (NAN)

By Christian Ogbonna

Suspected hoodlums on Thursday attacked the Police Divisional Headquarters in Isu, Onicha Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State, and burnt the left wing of the Station.

DSP Loveth Odah, Spokesperson of Ebonyi Police Command, in a press statement in Abakaliki, said, four patrol vehicles were also burnt.

“On Thursday at about 0325hrs, hoodlums, suspected to be members of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), attacked Onicha Divisional Police Headquarters, Isu, in Onicha LGA of Ebonyi State.

“One policeman sustained machete cut injuries during the attack and he is responding to treatment in the hospital,” the statement stated. (NAN)

By Monday Ijeh
The Federal Government on Thursday approved the extension of the tenure of Mr Mohammed Adamu as the Inspector General of Police (I-G) by three months.

Mr Osaigbovo Ehisienmen, the Press Secretary to the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi confirmed the approval in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said the extension was to give room for proper selection process of a successor.

Adamu, the 20th indigenous I-G was appointed on Jan. 15, 2019 by President Muhammad Buhari.

He joined the service of the Nigeria Police on February 1, 1986 and was due for retirement on Feb.1, having attained the mandatory 35 years in service.

By Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of the immediate past Service Chiefs to the Senate as non-career Ambassadors-Designate.

Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

The presidential aide said already the president had communicated this development in a letter to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.

The president said: “In accordance with section 171 (1), (2) (c) & sub-section (4) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the under-listed five (5) names of nominees as Non-Career Ambassadors-Designate.”

The nominees are: retired Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, retired Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, retired Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and retired AVM Mohammed Usman.

The president urged the Senate to give expeditious consideration to the nominations.

By Deborah Coker

The Police Command in Edo on Wednesday said that it had arrested five kidnap suspects in Ahon community bushes on the Benin/Lagos Road.

CP Philip Ogbadu, Commissioner of Police in the state, made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to Mr George Edem, Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the corps command headquarters, in Benin.

Ogbadu said that the arrest followed a bush combing after the command received a distress call from the area.

He stressed the need for collaboration and support among sister security agencies to make their job in the state easier.

He said that the duties of security agencies were inter woven hence the need for interaction in the course of carrying out their responsibilities.

“We are here to serve the people of Edo, so there is need for joint service for the good of the people.

“I have tried to make impact and a difference in the last 21 days after assuming office as the CP in the state.

“After the #EndSARS the morale of people became low but, we need to inject life into it,” he said.

The CP also harped on the need for security chiefs to talk to their personel to avoid friction and clashes while carrying out their duties.

“We are brothers, so let us not clash. We will encourage our personel as much as possible,” Ogbadu said.

Responding, Edem said that the NSCDC command in the state has the capacity to fight crimes.

He said that the corps would work with the police command to ensure a more secured Edo.

Edem said that the job of security agencies was a timeless job, and gave assurance that the corps would interface on a daily basis with the police command in resolving issues among personel and other security challenges. (NAN)

By Christian Ogbonna

Three police officers with the Ebonyi Police Command were killed on Wednesday in a road accident at the Isieke Junction on Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Aliyu, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with some journalists, said that 10 other police officers sustained injuries.

“Yes, I am in the hospital now, we lost three officers while 10 others are under intensive care in the hospital,“ he said.

According to Garba, the accident happened while the officers were returning from a “peace-keeping-mission” after a communal crisis in Ezza-Effium, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a leadership tussle among members of the National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) in the two communities degenerated into a communal crisis. (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Executive Council has approved about N2billion for the procurement of surveillance equipment for some airports and inland waterways in the country.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

He said N1.2 billion of the amount was approved for the purchase of surveillance equipment for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

He said: “The Minister sought for council’s approval, which was granted for a contract for the design, supply and installation of a long-range thermal camera surveillance system at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.

“The total sum of the contract is N1,278,594,250. And this is in order to upgrade and provide security and safety for the Nigerian Airports Authority especially to avoid incidents on the airside and runway.”

The Minister further revealed that the council also approved N783.5 million for the procurement of two hydrographic survey boats for National Inland Waterways Authority.

“The Minister of transportation sought and got council’s approval for the award of contract for the procurement of two hydrographic survey boats for National Inland Waterways Authority. In the sum of N753,521,275 inclusive of 7.5% VAT,” he said.

The Minister, who spoke on behalf of his Transportation counterpart, said the contract has a completion period of six months.

Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo , who also spoke on the outcome of the meeting, said the Council approved N35.4 billion for the building of power stations at Calabar and Kano offices of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority.

He said: “My Ministry presented a memo for the award of contract for building power stations on behalf of Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority in processing zones in Calabar and Kano.

“The authority received proposals from various companies and after all the evaluations were done, they awarded the contract to one of the companies in the sum of N35,411,119,169.47.

“The terms are that the company will finance 75 per cent, which is in the sum of N26,558,339,337.10, while the Export Processing Zones Authority will pay 25 per cent, which translates to N8,852,779,792.37.

“For the 75 per cent of the contractor’s portion, Council approved a pay-back period of ten years.

“The plant will be completed after 11 months and it would be operated by the contractor for five years and during that five years, they will build local capacity so that after five years, the local capacity that had been built will take over the running of the plant.”

According to Adebayo, government’s intention of the upgrade of the two zones is to create zones with world-class standards.

“The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is desirous of making Nigeria a manufacturing hub, especially now that we have signed on to the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

“So, by putting 24-hour power in the two processing zones, it will make it more attractive to foreign investors to come and set up their manufacturing concerns here in Nigeria,” he said.

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, also told the correspondents that the council approved the concessioning of the Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria, Ikot-Abasi, in Akwa Ibom.

He said: “Essentially, we sought Council’s approval for the Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria, that is in Ikot-Abasi.

“The BPE has concessioned that company and the company sought to be categorised as a power producer and as a strategic company, which Council approved so that we can start the production of aluminium in Nigeria.” (NAN)