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Allow traditional rulers, local councils to tackle insecurity – DG NARC
The Director-General, Nigerian Army Resources Centre (NARC), retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab says allowing traditional rulers and local government councils to function optimally will greatly reduce insecurity at the grassroots.
Wahab made the call in a paper titled “Security a Collective Responsibility” presented at the 44th Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), on Saturday in Abuja.
He said solving security challenges would be most effective at the local level.
According to him, government interference in traditional institutions and local councils is weakening their ability to discharge their roles effectively.
“To address insecurity, we need to go to the grassroots, the local government, because we want everybody to be involved at the local government level.
“People know themselves and so we need to get that clear and the governors should and must allow local governments, 774 of them, to function and perform effectively.
“If that is done, it becomes easier for us to get people to be involved and you cannot do that without the traditional institutions because they command so much respect within their localities.”
The DG also called for good and inclusive governance as well as social justice to deter criminality.
He said that impunity also fuel crime as long as people know there won’t be consequence for their action.
According to him, governance must be inclusive to give every segment of the society a sense of belonging.
He called on Nigerians to challenge the status quo, adding that once there are structures to monitor and punish those who don’t perform their assigned responsibilities, things will be better.
“So you must take steps that will make sure that everybody is involved in security, which is a collective responsibility,” he added.
In a goodwill message, the President, Alumni Association of Defence College (ANDEC), retired Air Cdre Darlington Abdullahi, said the nation’s security challenges required all stakeholders to agree on the best approach to solve them.
Abdullahi said that even though a lot had been done in that direction, more still needed to be done to make Nigeria peaceful.
He pledged to partner with AANI and other stakeholders to collectively address the security challenges bedeviling the country.
Also, Dr Mike Ejiofor, a Security Consultant, said that Nigeria does not lack solutions to its challenges but the will to implement them.
Ejiofor said that government’s interference in the traditional institution was exacerbating the security problems.
He advocated for constitutional amendment to give traditional rulers powers to provide local security in their domains.
According to him, contrary to reports that some states lack resources to fund state police, all states in Nigeria are funding vigilante groups.
“I support the creation of state police but I urge the president and governors to put appropriate measures in place before establishing it,” he said.
On his part, the Executive Director, Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Malam Umar Yakubu, said the solution to Nigeria’s security challenges lie with the alumni of various security institutions.
He charged them to come up with workable solutions to address the security challenges.
The President of AANI, Amb. Emmanuel Okafor, said the twin challenges of insecurity and economic difficulties had created social tension including street protests and looting of food items.
He said the association as part of its contribution to restore normalcy, was partnering with various stakeholders to promote good governance and sustainable development for a better society.
He said the alumni association believed that there should be change of attitude to ensure collective action against the current insecurity in the country.
According to him, there should be broad based commitment and consistent implementation of comprehensive national development plans to make positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.