News
‘Reorganise Nigeria’s Security Architecture To End Terrorism’
Security experts in the North-East have advocated proactive measures to reorganise national security architecture to tackle terrorism and other criminal activities in the country.
They also called for closer collaboration between security agencies and communities to effectively address security challenges in the country.
The experts, who spoke in Bauchi, Gombe, Maiduguri and Yola, said such collaborative effort would enhance security network in the country.
A Bauchi-based security expert, Mr Abdullahi Yelwa, said that Nigerians were largely responsible for the insecurity due to lackadaisical attitude to security issues in the society.
He said: “everyone is guilty of security situation in Nigeria”.
The expert, however, blamed the leaders for their inability to demonstrate great political commitment towards providing lasting solutions to the problems.
Yelwa, a lecturer with the Department of Crime Management and Control (CMC), Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, said it was imperative to prioritise security ahead of the 2023 general election.
According to him, the primary essence of government is to ensure security of lives and property of the people, noting that this has not been significantly achieved over the years.
“This is having a symbolic effect. When you talk of physical insecurity in terms of kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, banditry and others, you will also discover that people have been sent packing from their farms.
“Invariably, this would multiply what we call food insecurity because people cannot eat and if people can’t eat, they will be hungry.
“So, if people can’t sleep because they are hungry and certainly, the rich will not sleep because the poor are awake,” he said.
He noted that some states were relatively better than the others in terms of security, adding that, “in the North-East generally, you can appreciate God Almighty for what we have in Bauchi State”.
The expert said that all hands must be on the deck for a peaceful and crime free society.
He added that the masses have a responsibility to give credible intelligence, and the security agencies should use the information to resolve security problems.
“The challenge we have is that some security agents are complicit in these security issues.
“We have cases of security personnel involved in killing innocent people. So, if a security personnel would be involved in such obnoxious acts, what about others.
“We need to rework and reorganise the security architecture in such a way that it will be workable.
“We must ensure that people are employed, adequately trained and modern equipment deployed to handle security situation,” he said.
Corroborating Yelwa’s views, a public analyst, Mr Inuwa Abubakar, stressed the need for deployment of modern equipment to rejig security apparatus in the country.
“Security agencies are operating in an analogue dimension and the criminals are changing their tactics. It is important we go all out digital,” he said.
Abubakar further said it was imperative for Nigerians to understand the mandate of all security agencies, adding that their roles must be clearly defined and adhered to.
“Each and every organisation wants to convince the public that it is the most important, reliable and hardworking.
“And even those who are supposed to come at a very rare invitation such as the military, now partake in internal security operations.
“The civil defence too wants to carry arms even though they are not meant to do so, and everyone wants to poke nose into the police work because it is inadequate, ill equipped and ill trained,” he said.
Similarly; the Gombe Commissioner for Ethical Orientation and Internal Security, Adamu Dishi, attributed the relative in the state to effective synergy between the government and security agencies.
He said the feat is achieved through implementation of sound programmes and policies aimed at providing enabling working environment to security agencies in the state.
The commissioner said inter-agency rivalry was a major challenge threatening to internal security, adding that, ‘In Gombe, we do not have such problem.
‘’Gombe is situated at the centre of the North-East, and on daily basis we record influx of people from neighbouring states.
‘’Such working collaboration is imperative towards improving the security and ensuring that Gombe remained a safe haven for all,” he said.
The commissioner said the government successfully tackled communal clashes which was the only security problem, especially in southern part of the state.
“Throughout 2022, there was no communal clash in the state.
“The success recorded in tackling the issue may not be unconnected with the collaborative effort between the government, security agencies and relevant stakeholders in sensitising the parties involved,” he said.
Also; Special Assistant to Governor Inuwa Yahaya on Security Matters and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Alhaji Yusuf Danbayo, said the state governor prioritised support to security agencies which translated to relative peace in the state.
He said, “the governor has been providing support to security agencies and treated credible intelligence seriously.
“The security agencies are succeeding in the fight against crimes in view of the synergy between all the stakeholders”.
In the same vein, the Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State, SP Suleiman Nguroje, said the command had intensified surveillance and patrol to protect lives and property in the state.
“The Police Command and other security agencies designed security rink strategies, to provide enabling environment for all political parties to move around without any challenges.
“By doing so the command engaged organising secretaries of political parties to give us time tables of their campaigns to help the Command provide security everywhere,” he said.
Nguroje further reiterated the command’s commitment to fight crimes, protect lives and property in the state.
Moreso; the Police Commissioner in Borno, Abdu Umar said the command had intensified patrols and raids against criminal hideouts to sustain the gains achieved in the fight against insurgency in the state.
He said that about 1,800 constabulary had been deployed to enhance community policing across the 27 LGAs of the state.
He said the role of constabulary would assist in crime detection and prevention, conflict resolution, intelligence gathering and dissemination to maintain law and order.
“The command deployed 10 policemen across the 27 LGAs, to augment sister security agencies in combating terrorism and crimes,” he said.
For his part, a Counter Insurgency Expert in Borno, Babangida Musa, advised the security agencies to sustain the gains recorded in the counter insurgency campaign.
Musa said that reports indicated that terrorists were fleeing Borno to other parts of the country.
He called for synergy between security agencies in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon Republics, and urged them to be on alert to monitor terrorists fleeing the region.
“We are told that they have been migrating to the North-West and North-Central to join forces with bandits.
“This analytic alert recommends a proactive state and regional intelligence, security engagement, absolute local vigilance and sustained regional collaborative effort as part of a joint strategy.
“In fighting terrorism all hands must be proactively unified towards a common positive goal,” he said.
He urged security agencies, local and the international communities to adopt a bottom up civil-military approach to effectively end terrorists’ violent activities in the country.
As Rivers State celebrates the 58th anniversary of its creation today, some stakeholders have called on the State Government to do more towards improving the quality of infrastructure and human capital development in the State..
A cross section of stakeholders who spoke in an interview with The Tide also commended successive administrations in the state for their efforts towards expanding infrastructure network across the state.
They noted that more communities, both at the upland and riverine parts of the State, now have access to road network than when the stayte was created 58 years ago.
They, however, urged the government to return the state to the era of overseas scholarship when brilliant students are given opportunities to further their studies.
Speaking with The Tide, former youth leader of Chokota community in Etche Local Government Area, Mr. Ebere Nwankwo, said Rivers State has made progress in various fronts, despite the ongoing political crisis in the State.
Nwankwo noted that the State now has more tertiary institutions, both private and public, while the number of secondary schools have tripled.
He added that the State has also recorded tremendous progress in the area of healthcare.
According to him, healthcare has been brought closer to the doorstep of the common man, as there is hardly any local government in the state that doesn’t have a government health centre today.
The youth leader further said that many Rivers indigenes, home and abroad, have brought glory to the State in their various capacities, and urged the government to provide the enabling environment for the youths to excel.
Also speaking, the spokesperson for the International Peace Advocates, Mr. Emmanuel Nkweke, said the position of Rivers State among the comity of states in the country cannot be taken for granted.
He attributed this success to the efforts of successive administrations in repositioning the state for development.
Nkweke, however, called for a speedy resolution of the political impasse in the State to enable the State move to the next level of development.
Also speaking, a civil servant, Mrs. Ngozi Sunday, noted the efforts of government to improve the quality of lives of Rivers people, but called for a return to democratic governance in the State.
Another civil servant, Mrs. Munuonye Tina Ogechi, said Rivers State within the past 58 years has recorded significant achievements in road infrastructure, youth empowerment and repositioning of the state civil service for greater productivity.
She commended the suspended Governor of the State, Sir Similanayi Fubara, for taking the issue of women empowerment and peace seriously.
Meanwhile, a teacher, Mr. Orie Fiberesima, decried the high cost of living and lack of jobs in the State, and the need for a more effective government.
He also stressed the need for the government to look into the issue of high rent in Port Harcourt, noting that houses are now beyond the reach of the average Rivers man.
Mr. Innocent Chimobi, in his own view, urged the government to attract more industries and foreign investments to the State as a way of providing employment opportunities for the jobless youths in the State.
He also called the attention of the government to the terrible state of roads in some rural communities, advising the government to work hand in hand with the communities to foster better development.
By: John Bibor/Claire Julius
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, yesterday, unveiled a 12-member ministerial committee to oversee the 753-unit recovered housing estate linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The estate was recently handed over to the Ministry by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement released yesterday, Dangiwa emphasised the critical nature of the assignment, describing it as a key step towards realising the housing component of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The statement read, “Housing and Urban Development Minister, Ahmed Dangiwa, has inaugurated a twelve-member ministerial committee on the 753-unit recovered housing estate located in the Lokogoma district, Abuja, FCT.”
He reiterated that the committee’s mandate aligns with the President’s vision and the Ministry’s reform objectives to transform the estate into liveable, secure, and affordable homes for Nigerians.
“The committee was constituted based on the vision of Mr President and the Ministry’s housing reform drive to ensure that the recovered property is swiftly transformed into liveable, secure, and affordable homes for the benefit of Nigerians,” he said.
Dangiwa underscored the importance of technical expertise and institutional integrity in executing the assignment, noting that committee members were selected from key departments within the Ministry.
“Your selection is a testament to the confidence the Ministry has in your ability to drive this initiative with the seriousness and efficiency it demands.
“Nigerians are watching and expect results. They want to see homes completed and allocated transparently. They want to see the government working for them,” Dangiwa emphasised, urging committee members to collaborate effectively and remove unnecessary bottlenecks.
He charged them to adopt a fresh mindset, stating, “Think outside the box. Be results-oriented.”
The committee is chaired by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Belgore, and includes senior directors and aides from the technical, financial, engineering, planning, procurement, and media departments.
The committee’s Terms of Reference include conducting a thorough structural and integrity assessment of the buildings, determining the number and condition of housing units, and valuing existing work through proper surveying and market evaluation.
Additionally, the committee will assess costs required to complete essential infrastructure such as roads, power, and water. It will also develop standards for architectural and finishing consistency, propose a fair and transparent strategy for disposal and allocation of units via the Renewed Hope Housing Portal, and devise a public engagement plan to build confidence.
The committee must ensure effective coordination with key stakeholders, including the EFCC, FCTA, and relevant utility providers. A preliminary report is expected within four weeks.
The Minister of State, Yusuf Ata, emphasised the need for the committee to co-opt additional professionals as required, given the scale of the task and tight deadline.
“The committee should have the authority to co-opt members to assist, considering the magnitude of the task and the four-week timeline,” he noted.
Belgore assured that the team would execute its duties diligently and professionally.
“The committee has been tasked with ensuring the recovered estate undergoes a comprehensive technical assessment, is strategically completed, and disposed of transparently and cost-effectively, in line with national housing delivery objectives,” he said.
He added that the success of the assignment would serve as a model for transforming recovered public assets into impactful infrastructure.
“The successful execution of this assignment will serve as a benchmark for converting recovered public assets into infrastructure that directly benefits the people,” he concluded.
Renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has been deported from Saudi Arabia after being denied entry into Medina, effectively barring him from participating in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
Gumi, a Kaduna-based cleric, known for his controversial views on national and international issues, confirmed the development in a statement posted on his official Facebook page, yesterday.
“Due to some reasons related to my views on world politics, the authorities in Saudi Arabia do not want me to be present at Hajj even though they have granted me a visa,” Gumi wrote.
The cleric, who was part of a delegation of religious scholars sponsored by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), arrived at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina on Saturday night via Umza Air.
However, upon arrival, Saudi immigration officials reportedly stopped him at the airport and denied him entry into the city, before placing him on a return flight to Nigeria.
Sheikh Gumi added in a statement on his page that the Nigerian authorities have shown concern and have promised to engage Saudi officials to seek clarification and resolution.
“I am grateful to the authorities in Nigeria who have pledged to engage with the Saudi authorities on this matter,” he said.
Although no official reason has been provided by Saudi Arabia for the deportation, observers believe the action may be connected to Sheikh Gumi’s outspoken political and religious views, which may be at variance with the kingdom’s policies.
Gumi has, in recent years, played a prominent role in dialogue initiatives with armed groups in Nigeria’s northern region and has often voiced criticism of Western and Middle Eastern political interventions.
The incident has sparked discussions among religious communities and the wider public, with many questioning the implications of political ideology on religious observance.
As of the time of filing this report, there is no official statement from the Saudi embassy or the Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the development.
Sheikh Gumi has since resumed his public preaching and teaching engagements in the country.
-
Nation5 days ago
PDP Crisis: Wike Accuses Makinde Of Betrayal, Instigating Party Members Against Him
-
Rivers5 days ago
NAFDAC Uncovers Evangelism Group Involved In Fake Drug Distribution
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
C’River Unveils Sustainable Environment, Natural Management Policy
-
Nation5 days agoAn Entertainment Giant Goes Home
-
Rivers5 days ago
Don Advocates ‘Okanaa’ Theory For Ecological Survival
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
Gunmen Kill Woman, Abduct Husband In Edo
-
Niger Delta5 days agoHYPREP Solicits Regulators, Asset Owners’ Support
-
Rivers5 days ago
Oil Spills: Association Slams SPDC Over Non-Inclusion Of More Communities