NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Features

Promises, expectations as Ondo elects new governor

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A News Analysis by Emmanuel Oloniruha, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

As Ondo State prepares for the governorship election on Saturday, November 16, the atmosphere is charged with both anticipation and concern.

With 18 political parties competing for the coveted position, the stakes are high, and expectations from citizens, political parties, and the electoral body are palpable.

There are 2,053,061 registered voters in Ondo, but only 1,757,205 (85.6 per cent) who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be eligible to participate.

The election will take place across 3,933 polling units in the state’s 18 local government areas.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 111 domestic and international organisations will deploy 3,554 observers to monitor the election.

Additionally, over 100 media organisations, deploying about 700 personnel, including 129 female journalists, will cover the election, marking the largest media presence for any off-cycle governorship election in Nigeria.

As Ondo voters eagerly prepare to cast their ballots, democracy advocates hope that the election will set a new precedent for future Nigerian elections, one rooted in integrity and respect for democratic principles.

Key players such as INEC, security agencies, and political parties have expressed their readiness and commitment to ensuring a successful and credible election.

To enhance transparency, INEC has announced the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter verification and real-time result uploads to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo, stated that “a total of 4,002 BVAS devices will be used for the election, with 812 devices held in reserve.

“These devices are fully charged, configured, and ready for deployment, and all non-sensitive materials have been sorted and dispatched for distribution to polling units.

Babalola further revealed that “the Registration Area Centers (RACs) are prepared to accommodate INEC’s ad-hoc staff, with provisions made for their comfort during pre-election preparations”.

Training has been completed for Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), Presiding Officers (POs), and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs).

In addition, several meetings have been held with transport unions to ensure the smooth movement of personnel and election materials.

INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, speaking at a stakeholders meeting on November 7 in Akure, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting a credible and transparent election.

Yakubu noted that “a successful mock accreditation had been carried out across 12 polling units in six LGAs, demonstrating the system’s reliability”.

He also emphasised that accreditation tags with QR codes would be provided to all accredited journalists, observer groups, and party agents to ensure only authorised representatives are allowed at polling units and collation centres.

Yakubu assured stakeholders that logistics and result management would see significant improvement, particularly with the deployment of election materials and personnel.

“Voters in Ondo should expect a marked improvement in election-day logistics,” he said.

Regarding security, over 36,000 police officers, along with personnel from other security agencies, will be deployed across the state on election day, totaling approximately 43,157 officers.

The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at a recent election security meeting stated that the government is committed to ensuring peaceful elections.

He also warned that “any attempt to disrupt the election would be met with the full force of the law”.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, also reaffirmed the neutrality and professionalism of security agencies.

“Security will be watertight around polling stations and public areas,” he said, urging all stakeholders to avoid violence and refrain from using thugs.

Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), Chairman of the National Peace Accord Committee, appealed to all political stakeholders to refrain from violent acts and to accept the election results if deemed free, fair, and credible.

He also urged party leaders and candidates to accept the outcome of the elections, provided it is deemed free, fair, and credible, and to seek legitimate, peaceful means to address any concerns that may arise afterward.

“While I commend INEC for the work done so far, I call on them to continue living up to their responsibilities by ensuring that eligible voters exercise their franchise peacefully and that the remaining electoral processes remain credible, free, and fair,” he said.

Abubakar also urged the police to remain vigilant in preventing any threats of violence and maintaining peace in the state.

He advised voters to turn out in large numbers to vote for their preferred candidates and to refrain from selling their votes, saying that political actors must put an end to the practice of vote trading.

“As citizens, you must also respect that only INEC has the constitutional authority to announce the results,” Abubakar said.

Similarly, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) warned against vote-buying and urged political parties and candidates to prioritise the interests of Ondo citizens.

IPAC Chairman Yusuf Dantalle emphasised that “leadership should be selfless service to the people, and if that is the case, no responsible leader will want to force himself or herself on the people”.

The Centre for Democracy and Development’s briefing paper, ‘A Tale of Two Deputies – Reviewing the Political Terrain of the 2024 Ondo Governorship Election’, reveals key factors that could influence the election.

They include; the candidates, evaluations of the incumbent governments, party structures, voter apathy, insecurity, and information disorder.

The report notes that while many of these factors are common in recent Nigerian elections, they take on a new significance in this context, potentially swaying the outcome.

It emphasises that the election’s credibility depends on the capacity of the election management body to ensure a free and fair process.

The report says to maintain legitimacy, concerns about the election must be addressed by the authorities, ensuring the next administration starts with the trust needed to fulfill its mandate.

All in all, many believe that by fostering mutual respect among political actors and encouraging active civic participation, Ondo state has the opportunity to set the stage for a more robust democratic process in Nigeria. (NAN)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Defence/Security , Features

Building Police capacity for better policing through International Alert

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By Angela Atabo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Effective policing is crucial for maintaining law and order, ensuring public safety and promoting social stability.

However, before this can be achieved, it is important for the capacity of the police personnel who are the drivers of law and order to be built through effective training.

In a significant move to achieve this, International Alert, Non-Governmental Organisation supporting peace building and conflict prevention, organised a two-day Training Needs Assessment Workshop for Police Cadets in Kano.

Dr Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, Country Director, International Alert, said the training aimed at enhancing officers’ learning needs related to the Police Act 2020, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and Gender Awareness/Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV).

Nyulaku-Bemshima said the training which covered personnel from the 19 police colleges and functions and the police academy, Kano,is being executed under the UK-funded integrated security project known as the “Nigeria Reform Initiative”.

He said that training is a very good entry point for increasing understanding and ensuring that police officers are well-versed in the intricacies of the law, enabling them to carry out their duties efficiently and responsibly.

“If you want to increase learning and understanding around the Police Act, the trainers of police operatives from the police training institutions are actually the key people that you should focus on.

“We are teaching and learning with them new communication tools, training methodologies for translating very heavy information like the Police Act 2020 into very simple ways those trainees will understand and be able to apply at the end of their training.

“We will be expanding these trainings across board as the project goes on, because everything most of the police officers deployed to different parts of the country and to different divisions learn and do starts from the training institutions.

“We would outline a manual on the key elements that would go into a training manual that they could use in the different training institutions”, she said.

Nyulaku-Bemshima said that the simplified manuals when developed, would be produced and shared across board, the quarterly check would be initiated to know how well the manuals are working.

“Training is at the heart of operational effectiveness of the police.

“So we hope that key outcomes from this will be a better understanding of the Police Act 2020, as well as its application in their day-to-day lives towards enhancing public safety and security in Nigeria.”

CP Rashid Afegbua, Commissioner of Police, Training, Force Headquarters Abuja, the Police Act 2020 and the ACJA are crucial laws that regulate the police therefore, trainings are pivotal if the force is to really get it right.

“Working with International Alerts, as regards simplifying these documents, for us to have it handy, it is going to be very important and useful to us, especially for our training institutions.

“By the end of the day, when we have done all these, we will have the officers go back and cascade whatever they have learnt to the colleges”, he said.

Afegbua said the police is working on attitudinal change to increase believe in the phrase “the police is your friend” by adopting some changes so that the public would appreciate the force more.

Prof. Olu Ogunsakin, Director-General, National Institute of Police Studies Abuja, speaking on “Detailed Examination of Key Provisions for Policing” said the basic tenet of policing was about developing trust and confidence.

“What we are trying to do now is to introduce a level of competence that will assist them to be able to provide the necessary service to all Nigerians.

“Apart from the essence of the capacity building, it is a guideline for them to be able to act so they can provide a standard policing service to all Nigerians.

“The Police Act itself has 17 paths that are linked together .Majority of what we are trying to look at is how the police dispose their powers ,we need to be able to respect the lives of the people we protect and then protect their properties.”

Another facilitator, Prof. Isaac Albert, Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, while identifying areas where knowledge is lacking, said the workshop aimed to revisit what is taught in police colleges to align it with global best practices.

“The world is changing. The Nigerian environment is changing. When the likes of the IG was recruited, we did not have terrorism, banditry and the level of insurgency that we are having across the land.

“That is to say, the curriculum that was used for training all the big police bigwigs across the country needs to be updated because the conflict environment has changed.

“Now, what we are trying to do and which the police has permitted us to do is to ask those who are managing the training schools, if there are gaps for us to fill in what in teaching the cadets and how they are taught.

“We are not the ones that will change anything in the schools, but we want to sensitise them to the fact that the security environment of today requires rejigging what we teach to be in tandem with the problems they want to solve.”

SP Julius Nwaejie, one of the directing staff attached to Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, said the training was an eye-opener, very sound, well-packaged, well-facilitated and well-delivered.

Nwaejie said: “This course, we pray, should be a continuous one because we have learned a lot and it has made us to be more prepared to offer more to our cadets and recruits as the case may be.

“We are very grateful to International Alert and we believe that they will continue to be updating our knowledge more and more so that we’ll be getting more transformed, more well-informed police officers that will serve the country in a better way.”

Asp. Faith Dadagbon, attached to National Institute of Police Studies, appreciates the enormity of the challenge ahead.

“International Alert has trained us to be good trainers by way of helping us to understand the Police Act better and to have a good knowledge and skills required to be able to cascade them to our recruits , cadets and even others officers .

“The enhanced knowledge on the Police Act, the ACJA as well as the things discussed in the course of the training concerning gender issue will really help us to carry out our assignment as trainers better”, she said.

The police officers believe that by strengthening the knowledge and skills of police personnel, International Alert seeks to promote accountability, transparency, and community trust in law enforcement.

The capacity-building initiative is expected to have a positive impact on policing standards, ultimately contributing to safer and more just communities.(NAN Features)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Features

Integrating gender response into Kaduna State education budget

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By Aisha Gambo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Education is catalyst to social, economic and national development. To achieve their potential, governments at all levels are encouraged investments in the sector.

Investment in education has the potential enhance access to quality teaching and learning process for upcoming generations and boost enrolment.

Such investment should not only be in the form of infrastructure but also instructional materials and capacity building for teaching and non-teaching.

This stimulates a safe environment and provides equal opportunities for girls and boys to be empowered and educated.

These equip them with the necessary skills realise their full potential and contribute to societal development.

However, some cultural and societal norms in Nigeria prioritise the education of boys over girls.

This has resulted to gender disparities in education attainment as girls face other barrier to access and complete their education.

According to UNICEF 7.6 million girls are Out Of School in Nigeria while 3.9 million at the primary and 3.7 million at the junior secondary level.

UNICEF further said that 48 per cent of OOS girls are in the northwest and northeast.

A survey by Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics in 2020 shows that 31.1 per cent of children within the primary school age are out of school, adding that 31.9 per cent of children within the junior secondary school age are out of school in the state.

However, the survey also revealed that the distribution of out-of-school cases in the state consist of 63.7 per cent male and 36.3 per cent female.

Government interventions in enhancing gender responsive education. 

Over the years the Kaduna state government has increased budgetary allocation to education sector to reinvigorate basic and post basic levels to enhance access to free and quality for all.

For instance, the state government earmarked N26. 2 billion for Education in 2024 approved budget.

The sum of N12.5 billion was allocated to the ministry of education; N2.7 billion to State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB)while the remaining N11 billion was shared among the state-owned tertiary institutions; schools quality assurance authority and library board.

The state also developed a 10-year Education Sector Plan (ESP) named Kaduna State 2019 – 2029 Education Sector Strategic Plan.

It is a comprehensive and strategic framework developed with support of development partners to guide planning, implementation and evaluation of education policies and programmes.

UNICEF says achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 which is inclusive and equitable quality education for all, a Gender-responsive Education Sector Planning (GRESP) is essential.

This is because GRESP is a holistic approach to advancing gender equality in and through education, including learning and learning environments, teacher education and practice, curriculum and administration among others.

To advance gender equality in education, education systems need to be gender responsive by design which include funding of girl child education.

At the Kaduna State ministry of education, an exclusive department for gender ,now female education was created to tackle issues related to girl child education.

Each year, the department is funded to execute gender related programmes such as second chance education, sensitisation on gender based violence, creation of water and sanitation facilities in schools among others.

The director of planning in the ministry, Salisu Baba-Lawal, said that government prioritises gender equality and social inclusion as such has allocated a large sum of money to achieve it.

“We have provisions for gender in our annual budget which fund gender related projects.

” In 2021, a sum of N7 million was allocated to gender, N4 million was budgeted for the year 2022, N5 million allocated in 2023 and in 2024 , N12 million was allocated to female education”, he said.

Following the money

For many years, the gender department in the Kaduna State ministry of education has been conducting activities that address challenges of both girls.

But with the recent review in 2024, which changed the department’s name to female education it now prioritises female education.

However, that doesn’t stop it from conducting activities or projects that would benefit the male gender.

Though a detailed breakdown of the budget expenditures were not made available, the department explained the programmes and projects they conducted.

The Deputy Director, Female Education, Hajiya Aishatu Muhammad, that explained that the ministry had provided second chance for girls who dropped out of school due to early marriage or pregnancy.

She said that school uniforms, socks and sandals were provided for the girls while teachers were paid stipends for staying over time as most classes were done in the afternoon.

Another project the ministry was to provide Water and Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools with boys and girls having separate toilets to ease themselves during school hours.

Abdullahi said the ministry with the support from World Bank’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project built toilets and boreholes making the school environment conducive for the girl child.

“It may interest you to know that, the ministry of education in collaboration with AGILE, nominated amongst the existing staff we have in the school ,a  Gender Based Violence (GBV) focal person.

“We even have a Grievance Response Mechanism (GRM)   officer and we have a suggestion box in the schools to serve as a channel for reporting incidents”, she said.

Abdullahi, who doubles as the AGILE focal person, said that since the implementation of the project, the enrolment, retention and completion of female students has increased as they now feel more comfortable learning.

Parents, expert call for improvement

Malama Hajara Abubakar, a widow and a mother of four girls, recounts her struggle in ensuring her children get an education.

“Their father died when three of them were in junior secondary school; I had to do menial jobs to get them learning materials and pay other expenses the schools may request even though it’s a public school.

“But when they completed their SS 3 I couldn’t afford to pay for their exams, so I married them off; I wanted them to further their education but couldn’t.

“So when my youngest daughter completed SS3, I raised N10, 000 and pleaded with my neighbour who was a head a teacher in a private school to assist me and she did.

“Now that girl is working and taking care of me ‘, she said.

Abubakar says there are many parents like her who cannot afford to pay for their children’s final exams, and urged governments to look into the matter.

In spite government’s effort to provide free and quality education to children and return out of school children to schools to school, some education experts say there is still need for improvement.

Hadiza Umar, founder of communication for children and international development, while commending Kaduna State Government’s effort in address gender parity in schools said there was need for gender related programmes and policies to be scaled up.

She also said some of the programmes like the second chance education, sexual health reproductive awareness campaign among others should cut across all the schools in the state.

Umar says giving free education to girls but leaving them to pay for their senior secondary school exams would not achieve the desired results.

“Government should focus on paying for SSCE and JAMB because most of them can’t move forward and can’t get certificates to continue to even get a job.

“They cannot get admission and are unable a job that can help them generate some funds and further her education’’, she said.

While some experts advocate payment of Senior Secondary School exams fees, others demand effective monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of gender programmes.

Dr Hassana Shuaibu, Senior programme Officer, Ace Charity, says a breakdown on the expenditure of the female education budget should be available to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation.

She reiterated the need for an education sector plan that is gender responsive and the importance of funding of GRESP as well as transparency and accountability of the education budgeting. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria**

Environment , Features , Health

How WASH facilities foster hygiene practice in Ogun community

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By Vivian Ihechu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Every morning, Miss Darasinmi Agunbiade, a primary 5 learner at the LG Primary School, Adie Owe, Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government of Ogun state, wakes up very early to look for water for the household.

Agunbiade treks a long distance to get water before going to school daily.

It is the same ordeal that indigenes and residents of that community have had to endure.

In her school, there was no potable water and only one toilet serving the school – teachers and learners, thereby making water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) poor.

The narrative is not uncommon in the country  as most schools and communities, especially in semi urban and rural areas, do not have access to WASH facilities including  potable water.

According to UNICEF, water is the most basic human need for health and well-being, with water and sanitation being critical to the health of people and the planet.

Goal 6 target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets is to ensure access to water and sanitation for all, bearing in mind the quality, access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, and sustainability of water resources.

UNICEF says in Nigeria, no fewer than 69 million people do not have access to safe water, with many children spending hours every day trekking to collect water, sometimes missing out on a chance to go to school, play with friends and enjoy their childhood.

For some, in the process of passing through the ordeal of getting water where it is not easily accessible, they are molested or even lose their lives.

Corroborating, the World Health Organisation (WHO), affirms that safe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene are crucial to human health and well-being.

It adds that safe WASH is not only a prerequisite to health, but contributes to livelihoods, school attendance and dignity and helps to create resilient communities living in healthy environments.

Water scarcity means stress to life, poor access to water for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene practices including open defecation, and these lead to dirty environment and disease outbreaks including cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea.

As regards WASH-related burden of disease, WHO  estimates that no fewer than 1.4 million people die each year as a result of inadequate drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene.

It says that the vast majority of these deaths are in low-and middle-income countries.

Also, unsafe sanitation accounts for 564,000 of these deaths, largely from diarrhoeal disease, and it is a major factor in several neglected tropical diseases, including intestinal worms, schistosomiasis and trachoma.

Recognising hygiene as a crucial component of the Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK) programme and affirming the difficulty of hygiene practice and education in the absence of basic water and sanitation facilities, Nestlé’s investment in WASH facilities for beneficiary schools underscores its commitment to comprehensive health education, enhancing quality of life and building thriving communities.

Relief came for Agunbiade, learners and educators at the school and indeed, several families within Adie Owe community, with the inauguration of WASH facilities provided by Nestlé Nigeria Plc, to  serve over 500 individuals .

The LG Primary School Adie Owe is a beneficiary of N4HK, a school-based nutrition and health education program built on four pillars: Healthy Nutrition, Healthy Hydration, Physical Activity and Hygiene.

A delighted Agunbiade said she was happy and would no longer have to endure long treks for water.

Thanking Nestlé, she said her school, which prior to now, had only one toilet, now had separate facilities for girls and boys, “making practising what we learn during the hygiene sessions in N4HK classes become much easier.”
With this, they can drink, cook, bathe, and wash with clean water.

In addition, they will practise better WASH practices, including hand washing, keeping the toilets clean and ultimately, the environment will be cleaner.

Nestlé Nigeria’s Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Victoria Uwadoka, said the company recognises  that maintaining appropriate hygiene standards and practices, a pillar of N4HK is very difficult in the absence of basic water and sanitation facilities.

“Nestlé Nigeria is committed to making access to water a reality in every school within the N4HK programme.

“This is in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG-6), – ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” she said.
Uwadoka, who spoke at the inauguration of the project, said: “At Nestlé, we have invested in providing access to water and sanitation facilities in the N4HK beneficiary schools.

“In Ogun State alone, we have completed and inaugurated facilities in 10 schools, serving 4,000 learners and educators as well as members of the immediate communities,’’ she said.

Lauding the initiative, the Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Ogun,  Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, represented by Mrs Adedotun Ogunleye, Zonal Education Officer for Ado Odo Ota, commended Nestlé for partnering with the state government on the provision of facilities for public schools.

“The sustained partnership with Nestlé Nigeria in promoting a conducive and sustainable environment for education is highly commendable.

“We appreciate the company for conceptualising this noble idea of provision of water and sanitation facilities in schools, which is aimed at providing a healthier environment for the safety of our children,” he said.

Dr Femi Majekodunmi, the Board Chairperson of Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) commended  Nestlé for Healthier Kids programme and for successfully implementing various developmental school programmes and projects across the 20 beneficiary schools in four local government areas of the state.

Majekodunmi was represented by Honorable Isiaka Aderohunmu, Permanent Member 2, Ogun SUBEB.
According to him, the donation of water and sanitation facilities will go a long way to boost the morale of learners and teachers and provide opportunity for the children to learn in a conducive environment.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a Public Health professional, Ms Peace Onyekwere, highlighted the implications of poor WASH and environment.

“Places with poor hygiene practices and where there is no or poor potable water, leave children and even adults vulnerable to situations that can result to microbial or bacteria ingestion.

“Drinking and cooking with unsafe water causes ailments and diseases like cholera, diarrhoea.

“It also leaves the environment unclean and dirty. One needs clean water to wash hands, bathe, clean the mouth, wash clothes, cook and clean the environment especially washing bathrooms and toilets.

“There can be contamination of the environment with animal and human feces in poor and unhygienic environment.

“An when human and animal feet carry feces deposited in the open, they bring different microbes and pathogens into the environment- homes, schools, markets, places of worship among others.

“These bacteria can cause many types of infections, depending on the one, one has been exposed to and what part of the body it infects.

“Some of bacterial infections can degenerate and lead to different ailments including sepsis , gastroenteritis (food poisoning), Hepatitis A, intestinal diseases, skin diseases among others,” she said.

She said: “When it comes to cognitive development,  there is also link between the environment,WASH, and stunting, diarrhea and anemia, of which are  known risk factors for child developmental shortfalls.

“Studies confirm that continuous exposure to fecally contaminated food, water and fomites (objects contaminated with infectious agents whereby through which infections can be passed, including toys, spoons, cups, plates, door handles),  as a result of  poor sanitation and hygiene, also causes  environmental enteropathy (EE),  a chronic disease of small intestine.

“ In addition, impaired growth occurs in children growing in poor hygiene and sanitation conditions,’’ Onyekwere said.

To improve environmental health, Dr Emeka Ude, an environmentalist, harps on the need for improved environmental health, which would require among other strategies, strong investment in diverse aspects of water  (resources, provision and management) and sanitation.

He notes that, however, this is more challenged by climate change and its impacts, with population growth and increased industrialisation,’’ he said.

Nevertheless, he says strong government leadership is required with support from private and corporate entities especially as it is estimated that currently, 2.2 billion people have limited access to safe drinking water, and by 2025, half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas.

One such way private/corporate involvement is Nestlé Nigeria’s  sustainable water stewardship, targeted at providing access to safe water sources and sanitation in communities near their operations and sourcing origins.

The efforts continue  to align with the SDG 6, encouraging consistent multi-stakeholder action to increase access to and ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, for a sustainable environment.

In conclusion, clean and accessible water is vital to our health, much as it supports communities and economy, and environment.

With water scarcity, there are environment, health, mental, education, social and economic implications, hence the need for continuous availability of clean and safe water  for the climate system, human society and the environment.
(NANFeatures)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

*****If used, kindly credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Features

Nigeria’s huge stake in CNG revolution

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By Chijioke Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In a world encumbered by greenhouse gases and air pollutants, migration to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles is imperative.

In Nigeria, the unveiling of CNG conversion centres has given traction to Africa clutching on CNG as a viable alternative to Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol.

The CNG push is in tandem with President Bola Tinubu’s promise to ease public transportation and ameliorate the hardship faced by Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidy.

The CNG quest has also received significant fiscal and physical nudges with the recent  rollout of 64 buses and 2000 tricycles that will run on CNG and a pledge to raise provisions in the 2025 budget to N225 billion from the current N130 billion.

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, CNG creates fewer smog-related tailpipe emissions than gasoline and can reduce tailpipe Greenhouse Gases by about 20 per cent.

Data from MOTOR JIKOV CNG indicates that approximately 15 million CNG vehicles are in operation globally, out of which about 1.5 million are in Europe.

In keying to the global CNG inclination, the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG) recently unveiled conversion centres in Abuja, while states are following suit.

Mrs Omolara Obileye, Coordinator of Business Development and Strategy, Pi-CNG, who performed the unveiling, said the initiative would reduce the dependence on fuel.

According to her, conversion has started for commercial vehicles.

“We are starting with Abuja and Lagos and we will keep rolling out; the announcements will be made regularly as we go to each of the states.

“Private cars are supposed to pay a fraction of the cost of the conversion while the transport associations have 100 per cent conversion free.

“However, the cost depends on the vehicle size because there are different types of vehicles; and there is a need to understand what exactly we need to configure in the system.

“We have over 12 conversion centres in the FCT; we will continue to increase the number and update the public,” she said.

Worthy of note, critical partners are taking the bull by the horn.

Of late, the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) and other stakeholders announced a partnership to provide N10 billion credit to Nigerians for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversions.

The stakeholders are Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) and Pi-CNG.

At the agreement signing in Abuja, the partners unveiled the N10 billion Credit Access for Light and Mobility (CALM) Fund, in response to growing financial strain on Nigerians, due to high energy and transportation costs.

The Pi-CNG and CREDICORP are among the portfolio companies under MOFI, an investment and assets management establishment of the Federal Government.

The new fund will enable Nigerians to obtain loans for CNG conversion kits and energy-saving solutions through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), providing a pathway to sustainable energy without the financial burden of upfront costs.

Espousing the partnership, Mr Uzoma Nwagba, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, CREDICORP, said MOFI would aggregate and expand the consortium fund, collaborating with private and institutional investors to grow initial N10 billion.

Nwagba explained that the CREDICORP would act as Fund Manager, using its expertise in consumer credit to manage loan disbursements and offer credit guarantees.

“We are setting aside a fund that will allow Nigerians specifically access credits to convert their vehicles to CNG with one to three years repayment duration.

“CREDICORP will seed the CALM Fund with N2.5 billion, ensuring that Nigerians can access affordable financing at 15 to 20 per cent per cent interest rate, through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).

“People are charged different interest rates depending on their institutions and credit worthiness, financial behaviour, earnings and diligence with paying back previously,” he said.

He said the Pi-CNG Ltd. would serve as a service provider, facilitating the conversion of vehicles to CNG through authorised centres and offering discounted conversion packages for consumers using CALM loans.

Similarly, Sir Michael Oluwagbemi, Chief Executive Officer, Pi-CNG, said the initiative was necessitated by the president’s desire for Nigerians to be mobile and enjoy affordable, eco-friendly fuel and reliable transportation.

“The Consumer Credit Corporation is partnering with us to unveil this access for private individuals to access consumer credits to afford the cost of conversion, to enjoy the low cost of CNG and the access it gives for transportation.

“This scheme has the tendency to attract the investment that will enable these conversion kits to be manufactured domestically; another programme is being coordinated with MOFI, on domestic manufacturing capacity for the CNG sector,’’ he said.

The Pi-CNG boss said that the development would enable civil servants or workers in the organised private sector whose salaries/income could be tracked and verified by a financial institution to benefit from the fund.

He said it would naturally translate into other sectors of the economy, because the civil servants and organised private sector workers could leverage their vehicle at low cost for the economic benefit.

Dr Armstrong Takang, Managing Director, MOFI, said the fund would address the unintended consequences arising from oil subsidy reforms.

“Through flexible financing options, Nigerians will be able to obtain immediate credit to convert their vehicles to CNG and adopt solar energy solutions—reducing dependency on expensive fuels and lowering electricity bills,” he said.

The partners encouraged Nigerians to explore the opportunity by applying for CALM Fund loans through participating financial institutions (www.credicorp.ng/apply) while specific CNG conversion centres will market the options to consumers.

Nonetheless, some stakeholders have raised concerns on CNG  safety and sustained affordability.

Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu, an economist and motorist, expressed worry that conversion to CNG could look like a solution, but attendant damages in the future might not be known.

“Firstly, most cars are of high quality and of high technology, built with precision; building a CNG device, which ab-initio, was not in the technical plan of the vehicles, may cause some damage to the system.

“Secondly, the high cost of conversion does not make it attractive and affordable to the middle and lower income earners,” he said.

However, a CNG conversion expert, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, dismissed CNG fears and implored Nigerians and motorists to visit standard conversion centres to convert their petrol vehicles.

The expert, who is an official of NASENI – Portland Gas Limited Conversion Centre, cautioned motorists against the patronage of roadside and amateur personnel while trying to convert their vehicles’ engine to avoid damage.

He implored motorists to engage the services of professionals at authorised standard centres and also avoid usage of inferior kits and cylinders, especially cylinders that were not completely made of steel.

According to him, some cylinders are so inferior and not good to be used, in the sense that they are made of steel and fibre.

He urged motorists to avoid such cylinders during conversion.

“We have a standard at Portland Gas Conversion Centre, we use high quality and complete steel cylinders which have heavy weight.

“CNG is good and safe, I give motorists 100 per cent confidence and assurance in ensuring that their vehicles are converted.

“The only disadvantage I see is the space in the boot which the cylinder will occupy after conversion and there is no other disadvantage.

“CNG is lighter than air; it is not like Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Diesel or Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) that can easily pour or spark up fire,’’ he said.

Tinubu, recently applauded Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) efforts at promoting and supporting the “Switch to CNG” campaign, which boosted public awareness and provided affordable CNG conversion kits even before the official kickoff of the Pi-CNG.

According to Tinubu, CNG, being a cleaner and more affordable fuel, reduces the carbon footprint and saves consumers significant fuel costs.

“Nigeria’s motorists can buy petrol at N1, 000 per litre or equivalent gas per Standard Cubic Meter at N200.

“We have also introduced incentives for commercial motorists to convert from petrol to gas ‘free of cost,’” Tinubu said.

Stakeholders hold that it has become expedient for Nigeria, with its vast natural gas reserves, to make a huge stake in the global CNG revolution.

They say this should not only be due to its economic advantage but also to mitigate adverse climate impact of traditional fuel. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Features

NDIC and the task of protecting Nigerians’ banking interests

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By Ginika Okoye, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

It was Eric Hoffer, an American moral and social philosopher who observed that disappointment is a sort of bankruptcy, the bankruptcy of a soul that expends too much in hope and expectation.

The Hoffer quote captures the disposition of many bank customers who at one time were victims of failed banks in Nigeria.

Analysts say the experience of failed financial institutions could be a devastating blow to depositors as trust is shattered resulting in ruins in financial dreams hitherto secured future.

They opine that the ugly experience undoubtedly has been the lot of most bank depositors over the years in failed banks such as Savannah Bank and most recently Heritage Bank.

But amidst these uncertainties and heart-wrenching experiences of victims of failed banks, experts say the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has stood as a beacon of hope for customers of failed banks.

NDIC was established to protect depositors, and contribute to the stability of the financial system.

It aims to achieve this through effective supervision of insured institutions, provision of financial/technical assistance to eligible insured institutions, prompt payment of guaranteed sums and orderly resolution of failed insured institutions.

The Corporation has consistently bridged the gap and played critical roles in maintaining financial system stability, exploring its strategies, successes, and the impact on the lives of bank depositors.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is responsible for issuing and revoking licenses of banks and once a bank’s license is revoked, the NDIC steps in as the liquidator to carry out failed bank closure.

Reports from NDIC says the Corporation as at date, has closed a total of 651 banks involving 50 Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), 55 Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs), and 546 Microfinance Banks (MFBs).

To this end, the Managing Director of NDIC, Mr Bello Hassan, said the Corporation had paid 86 per cent of total insured deposits for customers of the defunct Heritage Bank.

According to him, timely reimbursement to depositors is key to maintaining financial stability.

He said the Corporation reviewed the Maximum Deposit Insurance Coverage for Deposit Money Banks from N500,000 to N5 million, Microfinance Banks from N200,000 to N2 million, Primary Mortgage Banks from N500,000 to N2 million, and Mobile Money Operators from N500,000 to N5 million.

Hassan said the update aims to bolster depositor safety, public trust, the inclusivity of financial services, and the overall stability of the financial sector.

“In this regard, the Corporation has reassessed its depositor payment methodology with a view to adopting a different approach that will ensure prompt payments to depositors.

”This was tested in the recent payment to depositors of Heritage bank in-liquidation.

”It is instructive to mention that, the Corporation using the Bank Verification Number (BVN) of depositors obtained from Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) was able to access alternate accounts of customers and commenced payment to depositors within a record time of four (4) days,” he said.

Bello said the Corporation had strengthened its collaboration with the judiciary to expedite the prosecution of failed financial institutions.

He said the collaboration had resulted in the resolution of long standing cases and the declaration of 100 per cent liquidation dividends to uninsured deposits of over 20 closed banks.

The director-general said that alternative dispute resolution mechanisms had also been employed to enhance the Corporation’s liquidation activities and improve debt recovery.

On challenges of banks’ liquidation, he said the Corporation had experienced difficulties in loan recoveries.

Hassan, however, assured that the Corporation would immediately commence the process to avoid delays.

On litigation, he said the Corporation was ready for any litigation that would emanate from the handover of the bank.

Hassan said the Corporation would rely on support from the judiciary for expedited hearings on any debt recovery case brought by the Corporation,” the managing-director said

Mrs Pamela Roberts, the closing Manager of the defunct Heritage Bank, said the Corporation had adopted some innovative approaches that enabled it to promptly pay depositors of the Heritage Bank in-liquidation.

She said that the Corporation initiated deposit tracer, Single Customer View (SCV) and described a failing bank as one that had difficulty in meeting obligations of its depositors and other creditors as well as one that persistently suffer liquidity deficiency.

Roberts said that some bank closure activities include pasting notices of revocation order in strategic locations around the bank and undertaking tagging of the bank’s assets and chattels, among others.

She listed some challenges of the Corporation in bank closing to include unfriendly bank staff, aggrieved/hostile depositors and creditors, volume of work and inadequate resources.

Others are insecurity, hostile environment through threats by bank owners and unseen/self-closed banks.

She said that the Corporation initiated deposit tracer, Single Customer View (SCV), claims settlement through the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) to ensure prompt payment of insured deposits to depositors.

”The banking licence of Heritage Bank Limited was revoked on June 3, 2024.

”The liquidation of Heritage Bank was unique in that Claims Verification and Deposit Pay off was carried out simultaneously with the bank closing activities.

”The Corporation leveraged on the centralised Information Technology (IT) configuration of the bank to spool most data,” she said.

Mrs Adeniran Ajagunna, a customer of the defunct bank, said her money at Heritage Bank was paid in full without any form of verification or hassles.

”My money was paid in full. I was surprised to have gotten my money without stories.

”This is the first time I am believing in Nigeria,” she said.

Mr Ezekiel Akoh, another customer of the defunct Heritage Bank, said he received his five million naira insured deposit in his BVN alternate account.

Akoh said he was scared of spending the money until he studied his credit alert which stated that the money came from NDIC.

”Even my family members were surprised at this,” he said.

Ms Amina Abubakar, a customer of the Abeokuta branch of the defunct Heritage Bank, said her insured deposit was paid by the NDIC after two months of the bank closure.

Abubakar said she received her insured deposit through her Wema bank account.

”NDIC, I love your services,” she said.

She commended NDIC for the payment without any form of application or verification.

Mr Benjamin Ajua, a civil society activist, said that NDIC has been a beacon of hope for bank depositors in the country.

He said that by providing a financial safety net, NDIC ensures that depositors’ hard-earned savings are protected, thereby maintaining public trust and confidence in the banking system.

”This protection not only safeguards depositors’ funds but also promotes financial stability and prevents systemic crisis.

”By implementing these measures, NDIC has successfully protected depositors’ interests and maintained financial stability in the country.

”As the banking sector continues to evolve, NDIC’s role remains crucial in ensuring that depositors’ trust is not misplaced.

”With NDIC’s protection, Nigerians can confidently save and invest in banks, knowing that their deposits are secure,” he said.

NDIC’s unwavering commitment to protecting bank depositors’ interests has been a resounding success but analysts say there is more to be done in an evolving world.

As a testament to the Corporation’s effectiveness, NDIC has become a model for deposit insurance corporations across Africa.

But the agency has come under criticism from some quarters. As in every aspect of endeavour, observers say there is still room for improvement, including increasing the percentage of depositors that are fully paid their deposits after the bank’s collapse.

They say the Corporation should also cut down on the time it takes to pay customers of failed banks. Doing this would reduce the mental trauma associated with bank failures.

In spite of the challenges, financial experts say as NDIC continues to grow, its presence will remain vital, providing a safety net for depositors and fostering a stable banking system. (NANFeatures)

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Features

Etsu Nupe: Unique celebration of 21 years on the throne

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By Mohammed Baba Busu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

On September 10,  2024, a unique and gracious celebration package commenced earnestly for the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers.

The event was designed to celebrate Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar’s 72nd birthday and 21 years on the throne as a first-class royal father.

The Etsu is one of the revered traditional rulers in Nigeria, partly because of the tremendous impact he has made in the lives of the less privileged in his domain and even beyond.

This year’s celebration was exceptional for many reasons. One of them is the manner he touched the lives of countless less privileged citizens of the society in a manner no one expected.

The celebration started on September 10 through September 15, 2024.

On the first day of the week-long event, the royal father visited the Medium Security Custodial Centre located in Bida where he had a chat with the inmates and counseled them on morals while serving their various jail terms.

As a compassionate father, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar (Bahagadozhi), facilitated the release of six inmates.

He paid all that was needed, including their fines and compensation for those imprisoned because of debts.

It was indeed, a heart-rending sight as the released prisoners and some persons who witnessed how it happened were shedding tears of joy.

He also donated food items and toiletries to the inmates, encouraged them to be law-abiding and take full advantage of the educational and vocational programmes available to them to transform their lives.

He emphasized the importance of them being productive and useful to themselves and the larger society after serving their jail terms.

While receiving the royal father on behalf of the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (CGCS), Malam Haliru Nababa: the Controller of Correctional Service, Niger State Command, Mr Maikudi Garba Adamu, applauded the Etsu Nupe for his support and care for the inmates.

He congratulated him on his 21 years on the throne and his 72nd birthday, prayed for his sustained good health, long life, and blessings for the progress of his domain and humanity in general.

Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar also went to Bida remand home and donated cash and food items to the inmates.

He also visited the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida, where he donated N5,000 cash to each of all the patients on admission, gave them packages that contain toiletries.

Still in the spirit of the celebration, the royal father visited the school for the physically challenged and made donation of several items, including food stuff, cash and instructional materials.

He also took time to empower widows, youths and other vulnerable residents of his domain.

The epochal activities marking the 72nd birthday and 21 years on the throne climaxed with special prayers at the Bida Central Mosque.

Speaking during the special prayers and walimat, the Royal Father appreciated God Almighty for keeping him alive and giving him sound heath.

He also commended his subjects and all residents of the state for their support over the years since he ascended the throne.

While commenting on the current economic hardship in the country, the royal father admonished his subjects to be patient and continue to pray for God’s grace to overcome the present predicament.

He also noted that there is no beginning that does not have an end, and stressed that there is no situation that prayer cannot change.

He advised his subjects to stop blaming the government but rather continue to offer fervent prayers and trust in God, noting that all developed nations have passed through periods of hardship before stabilising to become great.

While also enjoining his subjects to live in peace with each other over the years, he charged them to continue to tolerate one another and continue to resolve differences including land disputes amicably.

He called on leaders at all levels to fear God and try as much as possible to put in place policies that will make life easy and meaningful for the less privileged members of the society.

He particularly called on those who are saddled with the responsibilities of distributing agricultural inputs meant to be free, to ensure that they give genuine farmers free as stipulated by the government.

Also, in a special Sunday service to mark the memorable event, the Bishop of Bida Anglican Church, Rt. Rev. Jonah Kolo thanked God for giving the Etsu Nupe the grace to celebrate the 72nd birthday.

He also prayed for many more years in sound health and mind.

He commended the Etsu Nupe for his unbiased way of handling issues in the kingdom and also carrying everybody along, including adherents of all religions.

This, according to him, has been the enabler of peaceful coexistence in the state.

President Bola Tinubu was also part of the celebration as he made public statement to congratulate the Etsu Nupe for attaining 21 years on the throne and 72nd birthday.

This, many said, is a special recognition of the contribution of the royal father to the peaceful coexistence of residents of Niger State and to the growth of the country.

In a congratulatory statement signed by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, he said:

“President Tinubu recognises the strong and purposeful leadership of the Etsu Nupe as Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and his contributions to the traditional leadership institution and community development.

“The President commends the first-class traditional ruler for supporting education and development initiatives and facilitating healthcare projects in Nupe Kingdom.

“President Tinubu also commends him for working for the stability of the country by promoting peaceful coexistence and cooperation among different ethnic groups, not only in Niger State but also throughout Nigeria.

“The President also notes the Etsu Nupe’s steadfastness in promoting interfaith harmony and understanding among different religious groups since he assumed his ancestors’ throne more than two decades ago.

“He urges the highly regarded monarch of the Nupe Kingdom to continue to foster national unity and development.

“President Tinubu wishes the king good health and happiness as he celebrates.”

On his part, Gov. Mohammed Umaru-Bago of Niger also eulogised the wisdom and deep knowledge demonstrated by the Etsu Nupe in providing purposeful leadership to residents of his kingdom over the past 21 years.

In a congratulatory message, the governor commended the fatherly role that the 13th Etsu Nupe has been playing not just among the Nupe-speaking people but throughout the nation.

He noted that the unity and high cultural values among his subjects speak volumes of his purposeful leadership.

The governor stressed that the Etsu Nupe had done exceptionally well to promote, strengthen and sustain the age-long rich cultural heritage of the Nupe Kingdom.

He categorically noted that the reign of Etsu Nupe has tremendously impacted positively on not only his subjects alone but also diverse Nigerians around his kingdom, describing him as a bridge-builder, selfless, determined and caring leader, who always stands by his people.

“It is, therefore, important to stress that the revered royal father needs the continued support, prayers and goodwill of all residents of Niger state to enable him to continue to provide the needed leadership to people.

“Youths in the state must also learn and emulate the virtues (love and care for each other), of the royal father for a peaceful and prosperous Niger State.

“Let me also join millions of residents of Niger state and the country at large to wish our royal father long life, good health and more prosperous years ahead,” Bago said.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris described the Etsu Nupe as “a worthy leader who has displayed exceptional wisdom to his people”.

While identifying himself with the successes recorded by the Nupe traditional ruler Idris, who holds the title of Kakaaki Nupe, commended the peace and prosperity in Nupe land under his leadership.

“Etsu Nupe has been a worthy leader who has displayed exceptional wisdom to his people, and to which both the Niger State and federal governments have benefitted over the past two decades.

“It is not in doubt that his reign has witnessed peace and prosperity in Kin Nupe and will continue to be a blessing to his people and to the nation’’, Idris said.

Similarly, Alhaji Mustapha Abubakar-Bida, Sarkin Dawaki and Chairman, New Niger Development Projects Development also joined the multitude to celebrate Etsu Nupe.

“Your twenty-one years of visionary leadership, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to the progress of our great Nupe Kingdom’’, Abubakar-Bida said. (NANFeatures)

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Features

Time to avert another all-out Arab-Israeli war

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By Kayode Adebiyi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

This round of a potential all-out war between Israel and the Arab World was triggered on October. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants from Gaza fired thousands of rockets into towns and cities in southern Israel.

As reported, the militants broke through the heavily fortified border fence with Israel, killed more than 1,200 people, including civilians and soldiers. As they retreated to too with them took 240 hostages.

It was the first time that Israel faced a direct attack of that scale on its territories since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It dealt an embarrassing blow to Israel’s renowned intelligence system.

Conflict experts say there are many reasons why the attack not only embarrassed but also infuriated Israel.

Firstly, it caught the Israeli forces off guard on the solemn Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret. It occurred under the shadow of the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War.

Also, the thousands of rockets launched into Israel in 20 minutes distracted the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) while Hamas militants infiltrated the border and captured both civilians and soldiers.

Security experts say probably most embarrassing for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is that the assault echoed and amplified that of Hezbollah in the Lebanon War in 2006.

Netanyahu vow to dismantle and destroy Hamas using “all the power” of the IDF. Indeed, the next day Israel declared a state of war.

The intricacy of any conflict between Israel and its neighbours became yet evident when Hezbollah and the Houthi escalated their attacks on Israel which dated before the October 7 attack.

Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas and Houthi, a Yemeni militia that disrupted global shipping by attacking ships in the Red Sea, stepped up a series of confrontations with Israel.

Since then, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least seven high-ranking Hezbollah commanders and officials in recent weeks, including the militant group’s chief Hassan Nasrallah.

Unfortunately, as stakeholders work frantically to reach a ceasefire as a precursor for a more sustainable peace deal, Iran launched close to 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in a large-scale attack. It was piqued by the death of Nasrallah.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the strikes, including the use of hypersonic weapons, were in retaliation for the killings of the leaders of its allies Hezbollah and Hamas.

Middle East conflict experts say, although it is open knowledge that Iran supports Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi, it was the first time it publicly and directly owned up to such support.

Netanyahu said Iran had made a “big mistake and will pay for it”, prompting experts to warn that the Iranian attack has done nothing but to heighten fears of an all-out regional war further.

The current crisis in the Middle East is not the first one between Israel and its Arab neigbours, therefore world leaders and the international community should avert this looming war.

On May 15, 1948, the first Arab-Israeli war broke out following the declaration of the State of Israel’s independence on May 14, 1948.

The conflict involved Israel and Arab forces from Egypt, Transjordan (now Jordan), Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.

The war formally ended with a series of armistice agreements between February and July 1949, although the fighting largely ceased on January 7, 1949.

Eighteen years after the first Arab-Israeli war, Arab and Israeli forces clashed again between June 5 and 10, 1967, in what came to be called the Six-Day War.

The Six-Day War started after intensified bombardment of Israeli villages from positions in the Golan Heights.

The Israeli Air Force responded by shooting down six Syrian MiG fighter jets.

By the time the war ended, Israel had driven back Syrian forces from the Golan Heights, took control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and drove Jordanian forces from the West Bank.

The 1973 Yom Kippur War broke out after sporadic after sporadic fighting that followed the Six-Day War.

On Oct. 6, 1973, the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur Israel was caught off guard by Egyptian forces crossing the Suez Canal and by Syrian forces crossing into the Golan Heights.

The Arab armies showed greater aggressiveness and fighting ability than in the previous wars, and the Israeli forces suffered heavy casualties.

The fighting lasted through the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and only came to an end on Oct. 26, 1973.

On March 26, 1979, Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty formally ending the state of war that had existed between the two countries for 30 years.

Under the terms of the treaty, which had resulted from the Camp David Accords signed in 1978, Israel returned the entire Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, and, in return, Egypt recognised Israel’s right to exist.

On June 5, 1982, less than six weeks after Israel’s complete withdrawal from the Sinai, increased tensions between Israelis and Palestinians resulted in the Israeli bombing of Beirut and southern Lebanon.

Considered a stronghold of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the organisaton evacuated the city under the supervision of a multinational force following massive Israeli shelling of west Beirut.

However, Hezbollah, a militant group that formed as a militia to resist the Israeli invasion in 1982, continued to engage in a guerrilla campaign against Israeli forces until they withdrew fully in May 2000.

Even after Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, Hezbollah continued to press Israel over border disputes and Israel’s detention of Lebanese prisoners.

On July 12, 2006, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into northern Israel, killing several Israeli soldiers and capturing two others in an attempt to pressure Israel into releasing Lebanese prisoners.

Israel retaliated by launching an offensive into Lebanon to recover the captured soldiers, and later a ground offensive that aimed to push Hezbollah away from the Israeli-Lebanese border.

By the time the conflict ended on Aug. 14, 2006, the abducted Israeli soldiers remained in Hezbollah’s custody.

Their remains were later exchanged through UN-brokered negotiations in 2008 and the handling of the war was heavily criticised by the Israeli public.

In September, UN human rights Chief, Volker Turk, said major Israeli operations in the occupied West Bank were taking place “at a scale not witnessed in the last two decades”.

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, also condemned what he referred to as the “broadening conflict in the Middle East”.

However, beyond the rhetoric, the world must prevent another Arab-Israeli war. (NANFeatures)

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Features

Key takeaways from NAN inaugural international lecture

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By Rotimi Ijikanmi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Charles Darwin, English naturalist and biologist said, “it is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change”.

Although Darwin’s insight relates to his popular theory on evolution by natural selection, however, in our ever changing world, it is also apposite to the subsistence and success of businesses, ideas and even government establishments.

In the 48 years of its existence, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), no doubt, has witnessed series of evolution and its operations and environment have been transformed in response to the changes in the society it serves.

The agency has moved from typewriters to computers; from analogue cameras to digital ones.

NAN has evolved from cyclostyled news bulletin delivered by messengers in motorcycles to specialised news and multimedia services delivered direct to subscribers via satellite ; and from an ill equipped wire service to a modern news agency.

From satellite service, the agency evolved its official portal where subscribers access news and information.

Realising that modern news delivery is becoming virtual, with subscribers wanting information directly on their inbox, NAN is equally leveraging on various social media platforms through a multi media unit in rendering its services

Beyond text only service, the agency equally evolved audio and visual news transmission in English while the latest in its kitty is news rendition in the three major languages – Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.

It is, however, worthy of note, that the series of evolution above, relate to the primary mandate of NAN, as a national news agency in Africa, which prides itself as always first with the news on Nigeria and beyond.

Therefore, the Oct. 3 debut of an annual international lecture of the agency has been described as novel and a departure from a regimented timely delivery of factual and objective news.

NAN MD Ali Mohammed Ali,

The maiden annual lecture, as innovated by the Malam Ali Mohammed Ali, the new Managing Director of NAN, was organised to ignite international conversations around security in Nigeria and the Sahel region

According to Ali, given its strategic importance in the last 48 years of existence, “NAN, the largest news agency in Africa, must play a pivotal role in giving direction on political, economic and social issues.”

One may be tempted to ask the questions; how does an annual lecture conform with the mandate of a News Agency, and why does it takes almost five decades for it to debut?

The statutory editorial Policy on NAN, partly quoted below provides the answer to the first leg of the question.

“The agency must bring enlightened opinion to bear in discussing national and international issues. It must positively influence public opinion and contribute to the evolution and formulation of correct national policies.

“The Agency is enjoined to promote understanding among the peoples of the ECOWAS sun-region,the AU and the world in general.”

On the delay in the take off, this could be an oversight on the part of past leaderships. However, as the saying goes, “better late than never.”

The inaugural lecture themed: “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024): Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges – Genesis, Impacts and Options,” was no doubt, apt considering the scale and impacts of insecurity in Nigeria and the Sahel region at large.

With the staggering number of fatalities in the Sahel region due to violent extremism, one cannot agree more on the imperative of the discourse

According to former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, the Chairman of the day, in 2020, a whopping 4,660 people were killed in the Sahel region while another 2,660 civilians lost their lives in banditry attacks in 2021.

The General equally noted that Ngeria’s security challenges cannot be divorced from the regional heritage in the Sahel, a vast landmass which encompasses the troubled countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Cameroon.

Former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar

The lecture, therefore, gave the opportunity for the Special Guest of Honour, President Bola Tinubu to highlight the commendable progress in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other forms of violent crimes across the country. by the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Tinubu, who was represented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, reassured Nigerians of government’s commitment to return the country on the path of stability through kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.

“In tackling our security challenges, our administration has adopted a multifaceted approach as enshrined in the renewed hope agenda which prioritised security as a critical component of government focus,” he said.

Tinubu,in his capacity as the Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, also used the forum to issue stern warning to terrorists and insurgents to surrender or face renewed onslaught of the military.

From the host, the guest lecturer to ministers in attendance, members of diplomatic corps and other distinguished guest who spoke at the event, it was agreed that the insecurity in the Sahel is complex with deep roots in sundry causal factors

The sundry casual factors according to them, included climate change, food insecurity and extremism which have created a ring of violence and instability in the region.

Proffering solution to the challenge, it was agreed at the lecture that insecurity cannot be addressed without looking at the genesis, the root causes, problems and possible solutions.

It was a general consensus that insecurity in the Sahel is fueled, among others, by economic challenges instigated by unfair access to capital and the leadership at all levels, must take necessary steps to bridge the gap.

It was also resolved that multi-dimensional approach beyond military intervention is needed to address insecurity in the Sahel region.

The participants resolved that Issues of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment must be addressed by leadership at all levels to nip insecurity in the bud,

President Bola Tinubu

They recommended that in tackling insecurity across the continent, African leaders must priotise targeted developmental projects to alleviate poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment.

Coming back home, the participants resolved that Nigeria’ ssecurity challenges cannot be divorced from its regional heritage in the Sahel, a vast landmass which also traverses the troubled countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Cameron .

They agreed that home grown solutions are critical to tackling insecurity in the country.

The media was admonished to curtail negative narratives about insecurity in the country, tell true stories on beauty,, development and achievements of their country.

Nigerians were also charged to speak well of their country, support the agenda and programmes of the leadership.

An icing on the cake was the pledge by the National Assembly to deploy possible legislative machinery in ensuring that the recommendations from the inaugural lecture are not swept under the carpet.

Based upon the results, it can be concluded, therefore, that the inaugural lecture achieved its aim to, among others, interrogate the violence troubling the Sahel and proffer solutions to the problem. (NANFeatures)

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Tackling terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa

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By Mark Longyen, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, once warned that: “If nothing is done, the effects of terrorism and organised crime in the Sahel region will be felt far beyond the region and the entire African continent.”

For almost two decades now, the threat posed by groups, who espouse fundamentalist religious narratives to unleash violent extremism and terrorism across the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa, has seemingly spiralled out of control, as was predicted by Guterres.

For instance, a recent report by Global Terrorism Index, a terrorism tracker platform, indicates that the epicentre of violent extremism and terrorism has indeed shifted out of its original stronghold in the Middle-East into the Central Sahel region, and is cascading down to coastal West Africa.

The report also says that Sub-Saharan Africa alone currently constitutes more than half of total deaths resulting from violent extremism and terrorism globally, with 50 per cent of the victims being ECOWAS citizens.

Also, according to a new study by the African Centre for Strategic Studies, acts of terror in the subregion increased by more than 100,000 per cent in the last two decades, in spite of local and foreign interventions to curb it.

The report further says that in 2023 alone, more than 23,000 people were killed in Africa — a 20 per cent increase compared to 2022.

One of the three identified “hotspots” of violent extremism and terrorism that are the strongholds of the most dreaded terrorist groups in the subregion, is the Lake Chad Basin bordered by Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria where Bolo Haram holds sway.

Other hotspots are the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the al Mourabitoun in the Sahel region (Mali), as well around the Horn of Africa (Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda) where the Ansar Dine, al Qaeda, and Al Shabaab hold a significant measure of influence respectively.

Diplomatic and security experts say that these extremist groups’ decisions to strengthen their ties with international jihadist networks, and declaring allegiance to them, is largely responsible for the current spike in terrorism far beyond the Sahel region.

Violent extremism and terrorism are fueled by illicit arms trade, unemployment, poverty, inadequate policing, marginalisation, political exclusion and instability.

These presently pose more dangerous challenges to national and regional security efforts to tackle.

Dealing with the monster of terrorism requires multifaceted, comprehensive and collaborative approaches, analysts say.

These must include interrogating and dealing with the root causes; deliberately promoting individual national economic developments; ensuring good governance; ending marginalisation and human rights abuses, among others.

Devising urgent, deliberate mechanisms aimed at strengthening greater regional cooperation between affected countries, as well as ensuring consistent collaborative support from international development partners are absolutely necessary.

However, a myriad of security initiatives, which seek to address the root causes of terrorism have woefully failed to fully contain the geographic footprint of violent extremists in the sub-region.

This is mainly because implementing these strategies requires sustained collaborative efforts from governments, international organisations, civil society, and local communities, which is no easy task.

It was in light of this development and the urgent need to curb the surging scourge of terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa that the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recently organised an Annual International Public Lecture with the theme: “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2014); Genesis, Impact and Lessons for Nigeria.”

The Guest Lecturer, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the pioneer ECOWAS Commission President and currently the African Union’s (AU) Chief Mediator on Sudan, enumerated the factors fueling insecurity in the Sahel region to include weak governance, corruption, as well as the Libyan and Sudanese crises.

He said that other causative factors included the vast ungoverned spaces in the zone, the drying/shrinking of Lake Chad, and terrorism financing through the interference of external forces, who seek to exploit it for their own interests.

Chambas, who is also a former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), said that military solution alone would not address the Sahel’s security challenges, and called for other proactive efforts to tackle them.

The expert suggested that efforts should be made by countries in the region to alleviate poverty and inequality among their citizens, saying that this was the antidote to the root causes of violent extremism and terrorism in the subregion.

He said that the issues of weak regional cooperation had further taken a toll on the subregion’s security challenges, and called for the stepping up of regional cooperation and initiatives as the panacea to the menace of terrorism.

The AU chief also urged Nigeria to cooperate with neighbouring countries to ensure joint border protection and security, which he said would go a long way to tackle the subregion’s security challenges.

“The issues of terrorism financing and supply networks should be effectively cut off or addressed.

“We see the terrorists riding hundreds of thousands of motorbikes.

“How are they getting these and the fuel?

“These are what we should interrogate,” he said.

Participants at the maiden Annual International  Public Lecture of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja

The President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, while addressing the participants, applauded Nigeria’s leadership role and efforts toward addressing the security challenges, which he said had been bedevilling the subregion  for nearly two decades.

He said that the ‘dogged efforts’ of Nigeria over the years, had yielded visible results, particularly by reducing the effectiveness of Boko Haram terrorists to mere ‘rubbles and pockets’ of attacks.

Touray noted that terrorist attacks, which were initially confined to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in the Sahel, and Nigeria in the Lake Chad Basin, had multiplied and were spreading to West Africa’s coastal countries like Benin, Ivory Coast and Togo.

“Initially confined to certain countries in the Sahel (Mali and Niger) and the Lake Chad Basin (Nigeria), terrorist attacks have multiplied and spread to other countries (Burkina Faso) and are now a real threat to coastal countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo),” he said.

The commission’s president said that the transnational nature of the current threat of violent extremism and terrorism had forced member states to initiate collective collaborative actions to curb the scourge.

He said that in view of the prevailing escalating violent extremism and terrorism, West African countries’ leaders were already working on setting up a 5000-man ECOWAS Standby Force to fight against terrorism.

“On the directives of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, efforts are ongoing to set up a 5000-man kinetic force to fight against terrorism using the platform of the ECOWAS Standby Force,” Touray added.

Also speaking, President Bola Tinubu noted that the security challenges of the Sahel region was crucial for Nigeria’s security, stressing that Nigeria’s strategic position and large population meant that instability in the Sahel would significantly affect the country.

Represented by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Tinubu said his administration had deployed a combined multifaceted approach comprising kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to tackle the threat of violent extremism and stem the tide of its ripple effects.

The President attributed the security challenges of the Sahel, which he said had contributed to the subregion’s woes, to many factors, including bad governance, climate change, food insecurity, youth unemployment and religious extremism, among others.

“The complex security challenges have deep roots in sundry causal factors, such as climate change, food insecurity and extremism, which have created a ring of violence and instability in the region,” he said.

Former Head of State and Chairman of the event, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, corroborated Tinubu’s view on the root causes of the Sahel crisis, stressing that these were responsible for creating a fertile ground for insecurity to thrive in the subregion.

“At the heart of insecurity are unemployment, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, internal conflict, and environmental degradation, which create a fertile ground for insecurity in the nation and the region,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, while aligning with the aforementioned participants, linked insecurity in the Sahel and Nigeria to both local and global issues, including poor governance, economic marginalisation, climate change, and the fallout from conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East.

He said that multilateral efforts through regional cooperation and collaboration were crucial to tackling these issues, adding that the Armed Forces were working tirelessly alongside regional and international partners to combat the challenges.

“Nevertheless, the path to lasting peace requires a multi-dimensional approach beyond military intervention, as the nature of insecurity in the Sahel is deeply rooted in socio-economic and political issues, necessitating comprehensive solutions,” Musa said.

Mohammed Idris, the chief host of the event and Minister of Information and National Orientation, said Nigeria was committed to addressing the root causes of terrorism, and tackling the underlying issues domestically, and in collaboration with international partners.

He called for determination, collaboration, and a united effort, to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity in order to restore peace and stability in the terrorist ravaged Sahel region and entire Sub-Saharan Africa.

Idris emphasised the need to properly situate and understand the root causes of violent extremism in the Sahel, which he said was not an isolated issue, adding that no single country could tackle it alone.

“By understanding the root causes, evaluating the impact on our territorial integrity, and implementing strategic policy measures, we can effectively address the challenges posed by this crisis,” he said.

NAN is not alone in the bold and germane efforts to end the scourge of violent terrorism and terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Earlier in April, African leaders held a two-day African High-Level Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja with the theme: “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Institution Building to Address the Evolving Threat of Terrorism in Africa.

The summit aimed at precipitating ‘African-led and African-owned’ solutions against terrorism; strengthening regional response to terrorism threats; enhancing regional cooperation; producing a comprehensive approach and addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, among others.

Almost simultaneously, the AU and ECOWAS also held an Inaugural Joint Consultative Meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) and the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) at the Ambassadorial Level, in Abuja, aimed at addressing the subregion’s security challenges through multilateral efforts.

Analysts posit that in light of the prevailing menace of violent extremism and terrorism, curbing the scourge of violent extremism must start with addressing the root causes of extremism.

The antidote to the upsurge in violent extremism, in spite of the counter-terrorism strategies being put in place, also entails  scaling up the tracking of terrorists and cutting off their sources of funding.

The solution also requires the strengthening of regional collaboration and cooperation, empowering local communities to develop their own solutions to prevent violent extremism, as well as addressing poverty and inequality, among others.

A mixed bag of regional cooperation and collaborative efforts alongside international partners, institution building, resource mobilisation, intelligence sharing, and social contracts, among others, are discernibly crucial to successfully tackling Sub-Saharan Africa’s security challenges. (NANFeatures)

…If used, please credit the writer and the Agency.

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