News

States Fortify Security At Schools Over Boko Haram Threats

Published

11 years ago

July 4, 2014

Some state governments have started to comply with a presidential directive requiring them to fortify security in and around public and private schools in their areas.
President Goodluck Jonathan had directed states in the North East to secure schools against the background of the abduction of some school girls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
Jonathan also announced a N6.2billion Special Intervention Fund by the Federal Government, and advised the states to complement the efforts through counterpart funding.
A recent survey indicated that proprietors of schools are gradually keying into the programme of providing modern security systems to check attacks by criminals.
In compliance with the presidential directive, the Yobe State Government said it had erected fences around all public schools in the state as a measure to check attacks by insurgents.
More than 100 students were killed by insurgents last year at Government Secondary School, Damaturu, and Government Secondary School, Mamudo, as well as Federal Government College, Buni-Yadi, and College of Agriculture, Gujba.
The State Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Lamin, said the fences were meant to check trespassing in the schools.
“The schools were porous and vulnerable before the erection of the fences but now there is a sense of security as no one can drive through except through the gates,” he said.
Many teachers and students expressed satisfaction with the new arrangement.
A teacher, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “It (fence) gives us some sense of security unlike when you could drive in from all directions.”
Some parents, who also refused to be mentioned, commended the state government for fencing the schools and rebuilding burnt structures.
Also, security personnel were seen around some schools in Damaturu.
On its part, the Gombe State Government said it had been recruiting retired soldiers to guard public secondary schools.
At the Government Girls’ College, Doma; Government Secondary School, Gombe I; Government Secondary School, Gombe II; and Arabic Teachers College, Gombe; at least three retired soldiers each were employed to guard the schools’ premises.
Some of the former soldiers said on condition of anonymity that they ran two shifts – day and night – at their respective schools.
At some private schools, such as Pen Resource Academy, Gombe; Yahaya Ahmed Model School, Gombe; and St. James School, Gombe, private security men were seen guarding the premises.
Some of the schools had also erected barricades at their entrances as a way of checking movement into their premises.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Gombe, Fwaje Atajiri, said that the police were collaborating with other segments of the society to ensure effective security.
He added that the command had a good synergy with other security agencies in the state in sharing and using intelligence.
“We meet from time to time where we share intelligence and from time to time engage in joint operations,” he said.
Atajiri explained that the operations covered all sectors of the society, including schools and other public places.
Also in Adamawa, one of the three Northeast states under emergency rule in the last one year, school proprietors have begun to beef up security around their premises following violent attacks by insurgents since 2012.
However, an official of the state government said the state had yet to receive the Federal Government’s Special Intervention fund.
Ahmad Sajoh, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the state governor, Murtala Nyako, said the governor was committed to investing in security for the benefit of the people.
Meanwhile, heads of security agencies in the state said they were collaborating in their jobs.
The Brigade Commander, 23 Amoured Brigade, Yola, Rogers Nicholas; the state Commissioner of Police, John Abakasanga; and the state Comptroller of Immigration, Rauf Adeboyega, all attested to a collaboration among the agencies.
In Abeokuta, the authorities have also taken steps to beef up security around schools.
Some school administrators said that the issue of security had become paramount to them because of incessant attacks on schools.
The Principal, Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Olurotimi Farunbi, said the walls of the school had been raised to make scaling of the fences difficult.
He said that the school had also increased the number of its security personnel to ensure effective surveillance of the premises.
A source at Federal Government College, Odogbolu, said that the school had restricted movement in and out of its premises from 8:00 p.m. to 6 a.m., except on special cases.
The source said that students had also been barred from using phones in the school, while vehicles going into the school premises were searched thoroughly.
“We make sure all vehicles moving in and out of the school premises are thoroughly searched.
We also organise regular fora during which we sensitise both students and parents to the need to be security conscious. We normally create special sessions during our PTA meetings during which we invite security personnel to give us talks on security issues,” he said.
The Principal, Iganmode Grammar School, Ota, Kayode Ajayi, said that the school recently bought a bomb detecting machine, while plans were underway to buy CCTV cameras to beef up security in the school.
On his part, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the command had intensified security in and around public and private schools in the state.
“Those that operate boarding facilities enjoy presence of our policemen on their premises during and outside school hours. We also ensure regular patrols of other schools which do not operate boarding facilities while we have also compiled the list of all security managers of the schools and colleges, including tertiary institutions, for regular meetings and interactions,” he said.
The State Intelligence Bureau, SIB, of the command has also been liaising with the Department of State Security (DSS), in Ogun for proper intelligence information gathering and sharing with stakeholders, including principal officers of the schools, Mr. Adejobi said.
He said that the command would continue to do the needful to ensure adequate protection of lives and property in and around school premises.
Similarly, the Bauchi State Government said it had provided security measures in all its schools following threats of attack on some schools across the state.
The Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Ibrahim Aminu, said in Bauchi that the state government had sensitised teachers and students to security matters, especially on seeing strangers or strange objects.
He said that the threat to attack schools was not a new phenomenon.
“We have taken some measures in collaboration with security agencies, parents and the communities to ensure that all our schools are safe. Sometimes, the threats came repeatedly, they equally came from students who felt they would not pass their promotion examinations and after investigations some students were held responsible for the threats by the security agencies,” he disclosed.
Aminu said that proactive measures were also taken whenever information filtered into the ministry that there was a threat issued to any school.
“What we do is to send it to the security agencies and we investigate and take all the necessary measures we can. We don’t joke with threat and useful information,” said the commissioner.

News

Ibas Inaugurates RSIEC, Service Commissions, Healthcare Board In Rivers …Charges Appointees To Embrace Principles Of Service

Published

14 hours ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, has charged newly appointed Board members to uphold the highest standards of discipline, competence, integrity, and unwavering dedication in their service to the State.

He emphasized that such commitment is critical to stabilizing governance, restoring democratic institutions, and advancing the principles of good governance in the State.

This was contained in a statement by the Administrator’s Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo on Monday.

Ibas issued the charge on Monday while inaugurating the reconstituted Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, and the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Administrator urged the new appointees to embrace their roles with diligence, patriotism, and a commitment to transforming Rivers State through excellent service.

Addressing the Chairman and members of RSIEC, Ibas underscored their pivotal role in ensuring credible local government elections that reflect the will of the people.

“Your task is clear but demanding: to conduct free, fair, transparent, and credible elections at the grassroots level. You must resist bias, favoritism, and external interference while restoring public confidence in the electoral process,” he stated.

“The independence of your actions is crucial to sustaining peace, stability, and grassroots governance. I urge you to act with fairness, impartiality, and professionalism—even in the face of difficult choices,” Ibas added.

The Sole Administrator also charged the Rivers State Civil Service Commission on the need to eliminate mediocrity and foster a culture of excellence through merit-based recruitment, training, and promotions.

“The civil service must transition from favoritism to competence, integrity, and accountability. Your commission will lead reforms, including digital transformation and standardized practices across ministries, departments, and agencies,” he said.

He disclosed that extensive training programmes are underway, with a committee set up to overhaul the public service framework for greater efficiency.

Meanwhile, Ibas urged the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission to ensure professionalism and discipline in local government administration.

“As the closest tier of government to the people, you must drive reforms that insulate the system from politics and mediocrity. Your mandate includes merit-based recruitment, training, and enforcing standards for effective service delivery,” he stated.

In the same vein, the Administrator charged the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board with revitalizing healthcare delivery across the state’s 23 local government areas.

“Primary healthcare is the foundation of a sustainable health system. Your board must ensure facilities are adequately staffed, equipped, and operational focusing on maternal health, immunization, malaria control, and community health services,” he said.

He emphasized data-driven operations, incentives for rural health workers, and restoring the referral system to improve healthcare access.

He also assured the Board of sustained government support, including funding, for the effective discharge of their mandates but warned that board members would be held accountable for their performance.

The newly inaugurated members include: RSIEC: Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey (Chairman) with Prof. Arthur Nwafor, Prof. Joyce Akaninwor, and others as members.

Civil Service Commission: Dr. Livinus Bariki (Chairman), Amb. Lot Egopija, Mrs. Maeve Bestman, and others.

Local Govt. Service Commission: Mr. Isreal Amadi (Chairman), Rear Adm. Emmanuel Ofik (Rtd), Dr. Tonye Pepple, and others.

Primary Health Care Board: Dr. Dawari George (Chairman), Dr. Chituru Adiele (Executive Director), Prof. Kaladada Korubo, and representatives from key ministries.

News

Rivers PDP Debunks Sale Of LGA Election Forms

Published

15 hours ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

The Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Dr. Kenneth Yowika, has debunked claims that the party has commenced sale of forms for chairmanship and councillorship elections across the 23 local government areas of the state.

Yowika made the rebuttal in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, describing the publication on the social media as baseless and untrue.

He urged members of the PDP to disregard the claim, saying that official communication regarding the sale of forms would be disclosed through the appropriate channels.

“With reference to information trending on social media, it has been falsely claimed that the sale of forms for Chairmanship and Councillorship elections in the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State will begin soon.

“However, the party has firmly denied these rumours, stating that they are baseless and untrue.

“The party has its own established methods of reaching out to its numerous supporters.

“The People’s Democratic Party, a law-abiding organisation, will patiently await the release of guidelines from the recently inaugurated Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) before considering any sale of election forms.

“The PDP is urging its members to remain calm as official communication regarding the sale of forms will be disclosed through appropriate channels,” the statement read.

Enoch Epelle

News

South-South contributes N34trn to Nigeria’s economy in 2024 – Institute

Published

16 hours ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

Prof. Pius Olanrewaju, President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), has stated that the South-South region contributes N34 trillion to country’s economy in 2024.

He made the remark at the South-South Zonal Banking and Finance Conference in Calabar, yesterday.

He spoke on the theme, ‘’Building An Inclusive South-South: Economic Diversification as a Catalyst For Development.’’

Olanrewaju, who quoted the data from the Cable Data Index, said the feat was more than 21 per cent of Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The president described the growth as ‘’ impressive,’’ saying that it was not driven by oil alone but significant expansions in trade, services, and the creative industries.

According to him, to fully harness this potential, coordinated financial, technological, and policy support is essential.

“As we work to reposition the South-South for broad-based prosperity, the financial system must play a central role, not merely as a source of capital, but as a catalyst for innovation, ideas incubation, and inclusive economic growth.

“This conference, therefore, provides a strategic opportunity for stakeholders to reimagine the South-South economy, not merely as a resource belt, but as a region of diverse capabilities and resilient enterprises.”

Olanrewaju added that Nigeria must move beyond old models and chart a new course for the development of the South-South region, where financial institutions and stakeholder collaborate to diversify the economy for shared prosperity.

He, however, commended Gov. Bassey Otu for his pledge of land for CIBN Secretariat in Cross River and being the first sitting governor to willingly undergo and complete the Chartered Bankers Programme.

On his part, Gov. Otu said that the conference discussion on the economic diversification in South-South region was timely against the backdrop of global trade and economic volatility that was affecting the nation’s economy.

Represented by his deputy, Mr Peter Odey, Otu said the South-South region must now act with urgency to diversify its economy while leveraging its shared natural endowment in agriculture and extractive resources.

“This conference must help develop tailored financial solutions that reflect the unique strengths and realities of states like Cross River in the south-south.

“Diversification should be evidence-based and must be backed not just by financial advice but project focused financing and real investment support,” he noted.

He said that Cross River had taken the bold step to invest in its agricultural sector by launching an Agro processing hub.

Otu further said that the state had invested in aviation by acquiring more aircrafts for Cally Air, construction of the Bakassi Deep Seaport and injecting N18 billion in its tourism sector.

Similarly, Mr Tolefe Jibunoh, Cross River Branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said that the region was blessed with natural resources, cultural diversities and immense human potentials.

Jibunoh, who was represented by Mr Segun Shittu, Head, Currency Control Office, CBN, Calabar, noted that strategic diversification could unlock unprecedented opportunities for growth in the region.

He added that the CBN remained steadfast to maintain monetary possibilities and promote a sound financial system as a catalyst for sustainable economic development for the benefit of all.