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The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, has ordered the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Accounting officers of Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to attend a compulsory retreat. The SGF gave the directive in a statement signed by Director, Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Mr Lawrence Ojabo, last Monday in Abuja. He quoted the SGF as saying that the retreat would centre on the Public Procurement Act, 2017 and effective implementation of the 2018 budget. He explained that the retreat, which was scheduled to hold on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja at 8.00 a.m, was organised in conjunction with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). “The retreat is to ensure effective implementation of the 2018 budget. “It will address all identified inadequacies or deficiencies in 2017, with a view to enhancing 2018 budget implementation.” He noted that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred E. Oyo-Ita would be the Guest of Honour, while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Alhaji Muhammad Bello would be the Chief Host. Registration and collection of retreat materials will take place on Friday, April 6, at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja from 2.00 p.m.
The Benue Peoples Forum (BPF), has attributed the state’s backwardness on mutual suspicion among its ethnic groups.
Its National President, Mr Samuel Akough, who stated this yesterday in Makurdi, during the inaugural meeting of the forum, said that the distrust among the major tribes had frustrated efforts to unite toward attaining set goals.
“Virtually all the ethnic nationalities in the state prefer to stand alone because they are suspicious of one another.
“Politicians also worsen these differences by pitting one tribe against the other to achieve selfish motives,” he said.
Akough advised ethnic groups to set aside tribal differences and work together toward a better Benue, pointing out that all groups would gain if they worked together.
He said that the forum was conceived to serve as a platform where Benue people could come together and reason as a people, regardless of their tribal, religious and political differences.
“Our goal is to bring all the ethnic groups together to form a cohesive force that will initiate and execute ideas and projects that will improve the living conditions of the people.
“We want the people to understand that poverty and misery does not discriminate on the basis of tribe. They must understand that we must bury our differences otherwise our differences will bury us,” he said.
Chairman of the occasion, Mr Terlumun Utev, who spoke in the same vein, lamented that tribal varieties that should be an asset had continued to keep the people apart.
“The disunity among the tribes in Benue has kept us all backward. We have a lot to gain if we all support each other and make sacrifices toward a better life for all,” he said.
Utev urged Benue people to unite and build a better state they would be proud to call their own so that unborn generations would inherit a developed state.
The Guest Speaker, Mr Cephas Kangeh, who spoke on the topic: “Using Politics as a Catalyst for the Empowerment of Benue People”, sued for the deepening of democracy by allowing participatory politics.
“We need to deepen our democracy so that it will be a catalyst for the empowerment of our youths,” he said.
He called on political actors to promote political freedom by reducing the involvement of money in politics, and challenged the electorate to demand accountability from their representatives so as to keep them on their toes.
Secretary, Medical and Health Workers Union, Benue chapter, Mr Richard Gbawuan, in a good message, urged the state government to construct dams across the state so as to encourage farmers to venture into irrigation farming.
“All the 23 Local Government Areas in the state have rivers and streams which will make the construction of dams very easy,” he said.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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