Nation
Synergy Imperative In Defeating Security Threats -Corps Marshal
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Dauda Biu, has tasked security agencies to collaborate in defeating all security threats in the country.
Biu made the appeal while addressing participants of exercise Haske Biyu for Senior Course 45 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji, on Monday.
The Tide source reports that the three weeks exercise was a Joint and Multi-Agency Training on Internal Security and Low Intensity Conflict.
He said the joint training would enhance skills and update knowledge of the participants, especially on security strategies to mitigate internal security challenges.
“The importance of joint and multi-agency collaboration in internal security and low intensity conflict operations amongst law enforcement agencies and the military cannot be over emphasised.
“The AFCS in its resolve to bring out innovation and measures to improve security and checkmate internal security in the country, designed this exercise to hold on yearly basis”, he noted.
Biu said it was imperative for the participants to embrace the opportunity, so as to contribute effectively to national security.
He observed that the AFCSC has been involved in manpower development in broad range of skills to enhance quality of operations, management and leadership for the attainment of national security goals.
The Corps Marshal said that the training would therefore enable the participants to broaden their knowledge and understanding of military operations, including internal security and counter-insurgency operations.
“The exercise is also organised to enhance the collective training efforts of participating agencies to enable them carry out their responsibilities more efficiently.
“The training forms the basis for synergy of efforts amongst various stakeholders involved in internal security operations in Nigeria”, Biu added.
According to him, the dynamics of the global security environment and current national security challenges has made security agencies and other stakeholders to be deployed regularly on internal security operations.
“Such deployments require you to carry out array of operations that involve kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, to counter threats posed by predominantly irregular groups and non-state actors”.
Biu lauded the AFCSC for holding capacity building programmes for FRSC personnel and other paramilitary agencies.
Earlier, the AFCSC Commandant, AVM Emmanuel Wonah, said exercise Haske Biyu was designed to offer knowledge to all participants on broad security issues in the country.
“This year’s edition will focus on the South West geopolitical zone where acts of banditry, kidnappings and agitation have now regrettably become commonplace.
“These criminal acts targeted at the most vulnerable members of the society have undermined national security and the economic wellbeing of the citizens”, he said.
Wonah said the exercise entails lectures, presentations and demonstrations on internal security operations.
He added that the participants would provide practical and workable solutions to problems associated with internal security and counter insurgency in the country.
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, raising alarm across the state’s education sector.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, said that “45.7 per cent of the 58,188 students from public schools who sat for the exams did not pass.”.
This failure rate comes despite the state government’s significant financial backing N1.577 billion was paid on behalf of the students to cover WAEC fees.
“Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 only was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.
In a bid to tighten accountability and avoid wastage, the Commissioner disclosed that biometric and image registration was carried out to accurately determine eligible students for government sponsorship for the 2025 WASSCE.
“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona fide beneficiaries of the Lagos state government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he added.
However, the Lagos State Government rolled out a bold educational intervention – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates – aimed at reversing the tide of academic failure in the state’s public schools.
Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to equip Lagos students with tools for success.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.
Ekiti State Government says it has vaccinated 226,429 eligible girls in the State against the Human Papilloma Virus, an infection believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer.
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the HPV immunization exercise, which she flagged off in the State in May 2025 was a great success, noting that it reached targeted communities and protected children against cervical cancer.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccines in Ekiti State.
She said, “The introduction of Measles Rubella Vaccines is a very crucial step towards protecting Ekiti children particularly the target age group of nine to 14 years from diseases.
“I urge all women in the State to regularly scan their breasts. This can be done with the aid of the Mammography machine which is available at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti”.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, noted that the Measles Rubella vaccines would be rolled out nationally in October, 2025.
Filani said that the State was taking proactive steps to sensitise residents of the State before the date to ensure adequate awareness on the vaccines by citizens.
The Acting Ochimba of Ogida in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam, says peace remains paramount in the socio-economic development of Etche land.
Eze Azuatalam, however, called on his people to embrace and eschew violence at all times.
The Onwa Nagbara Oha made the call during the official commissioning of his palace at Ogida recently.
The epoch-making ceremony held at his palace saw the attendance of members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; the academia; the political class; the clergy ; women as well relevant stakeholders within and outside Etche land.
The Ngbaragida of Azuafor re-emphasised the essence of peace and social harmony which he said open the window for meaningful development to take place.
He also sought the support and collaboration of his people to achieve the desired goals of development, progress and prosperity.
He noted that the peace being witnessed in the area must be sustained through collective effort, saying, contributions and sacrifices need to be made by all concerned to live in peace.
Eze Azuatalam said his aim towards building a better Ogida cannot be compromised as he and his people have no other place called home.
The Acting Ochimba said as part of efforts to build a better Ogida, he has instituted a number of development projects, adding that some of his kinsmen have been empowered through his hard-earned money and resources, saying, he will continue to assist the less- privileged around him.
He reaffirmed his desire to impact positively on the lives of his people as the engagement of the youths will help to reduce social vices in the area.
He thanked members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs for honouring his invitation.
He specifically thanked the Onyi Ishi Etche and Ochie of Etcheland, His Eminence E mmanuel Opurum for leading Etche on the path of prosperity, and described the revered King as a role model to the younger generation.
He said his fatherly role has been a source of hope and inspiration to his subjects.
The palace was unveiled by His Eminence with the assistance of Ochimba of Abara, Eze Jonah Nwala and other prominent Etche traditional rulers and chiefs while the Onyi Ishi Etche was represented by Eze Ken Nwala, Onyi Ishi Agwuru, Ulakwo/ Umuselem Clan.
The Onyi Ishi Etche urged other prominent sons of Etche to emulate the kind gesture of Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam as his magnanimity is being seen and appreciated by his people.
Eze Azuatalam also applauded the efforts of Prof Mekuri Ndimele, former Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the growth of Etche land.
According to him, during Ndimele’ s tenure, a lot of development projects were sited at the institution, including the development of Etcheland and empowerment of Etche people.