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FG Demobilises 13,000 Ex-Militants

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15 years ago

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The Federal Government has so far demobilised about 13,000 ex-militants after a successful training from Obubra camp in Cross River.

The chairman, Presidential Committee On Amnesty, Chief Timi Alaibi made this known in an interview with newsmen during an Award Night last Friday organised by Quantum Project Limited in Port Harcourt.

Alaibi who was represented by Mr Wilfred Mania, a director in the Amnesty Committee said that 38 of the demobilised ex-militants have been sent to South Africa for further training, while a number of others are being sent to Asia, Europe and America for various trainings.

Alaibi described the training process as on-going, adding that the trainings are in line with United Nations international standards.

Also speaking, a representative of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Mr Larry Boms said that UNITA is the only UN agency that has its office in Port Harcourt.

This is in line with the agency’s desire to join forces with other organisations to eradicate poverty in the Niger Delta.

Boms used the occasion to thank the management of Quantum Project Limited for its commitment towards the eradication of poverty in the Niger Delta and assured of UN agency’s support to achieve the desired goals.

In her address, the Managing Director of Quantum Projects Limited, Mrs Josephine Itanyo, said the Eagles Award Night was organised annually to recognise emerging etnerpreneurs in the Niger Delta.

Mrs Itonyo explained that the programme was also to instill the spirit of entrepreneurship and self reliance among the people of the region.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government says the training of additional ex-militants under its post-amnesty programme has been shifted to June, 2011.

The extension, according to Mr Allen Onyema, chairman, Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN), was accommodate additional 6,166 trainees who recently embraced the amnesty programme.

FEHN is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) engaged by the Federal Government to conduct transformational training on non-violence for the repentant militants.

Onyema, however, told newsmen at the ex-militants rehabilitation camp at Obubra, Cross River State that his organisation would work hard to ensure that the June, 2011 deadline for the new trainees was realised.

 

Peace Annele

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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