“If you’re going to say what you want to say, you’re going to hear what you don’t want to hear.” ― Roberto Bolaño
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun was on a state visit to Ogun State from Tuesday, 16th April to Thursday, 18th April 2024 to commission various police projects.
I watched a video of the IGP during the presentation of security vehicles by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun where the IGP said, “The police management is watching kneely the debate on state police. The police management will speak at the appropriate time and make its decision known to the public”
The media was agog with the headlines such as “IGP differs with Tinubu on state police,” “Tinubu, Jonathan, Abdulsalami, Back State Police As IGP Differs.”
I was opportune to meet with the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Ben Okolo who represented the Inspector General of Police at the national dialogue on state police held in Abuja on Monday and he said, “I spoke from my own perspective, not on behalf of the IGP or the police management. At the appropriate time, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun will speak on the subject matter.”
The issue of state police in Nigeria is indeed a sensitive and complex topic. The debate around establishing state police forces in Nigeria has been ongoing for many years, with differing opinions and concerns raised by various stakeholders. Some people have expressed concerns about potential abuse of power, lack of proper training, and political interference.
It is important to approach discussions about state police in Nigeria with sensitivity and awareness of the diverse views and interests involved.
It is also crucial to consider the potential impact on security, governance, and human rights when exploring such reforms.
Adewole Kehinde is the publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached via 08166240846. Email: kennyadewole@gmail.com
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has expressed his deepest condolences on the demise of Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim (Dan Adda) who died yesterday in Kaduna, aged 72.
In a message of condolence, Governor Inuwa Yahaya recalled the late Umaru Dan Adda’s contributions to the state and the nation, as a political figure and through his other services in various capacities including chairmanship and membership of many boards.
According to a press release on Tuesday, 23rd April 2024 signed by the Director-General (Press Affairs) Gombe Government House, Ismaila Uba Misilli, said that the Governor who described the deceased as a philanthropist of note, emphasized Alhaji Umaru’s legacy of kindness and service which earned him respect and admiration.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya, on behalf of the government and people of Gombe State, extended his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the deceased, the Sarkin Bai and Ajiyan Gombe families, and through them, all relatives, friends, and associates of the late elder statesman.
He prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the deceased Aljannat Firdaus and give those he left behind, the fortitude to bear the great loss.
As announced by the family, the funeral prayer for the late Alhaji Umaru Dan Adda will take place by 11: am today in Kaduna.
Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s nominee for governor of Edo State, has distanced himself and his group from the recent attack at the University of Benin Staff Club in the state capital.
Instead, he restated that a “highly-placed Edo State Government official who has been pulling the strings behind the scenes and orchestrating mayhem” was behind the attack, and he urged the school’s students to launch an “unrelenting campaign against me.”
This was disclosed in a message he released on Monday via his X handle. It was dated April 22, 2024, and was headed “Further statement regarding the unfortunate incident at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Senior Staff Club.”
A fight broke out on the school grounds when Akpata, a guest at an interactive session hosted by the University of Benin Staff Club, was forcefully disrupted.
He went to see Dr Presley Osemwegie, an institution lecturer who had been hurt in the incident, and stated that he “nearly took his life by a brutal axe blow to the back of his head.”
The statement partly read, “I felt compelled to provide this further statement in respect of the deeply regrettable events that occurred at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Senior Staff Club on Friday, 12th April 2024.
“As the attack unfolded, those present at the Staff Club will attest that upon realising that students may have been involved in the ugly incident, I immediately began to plead for leniency towards any such student. As a former student myself, I understood the grave consequences of such misguided actions on their futures. I made this same plea before the committee investigating the said incident, hoping to protect any student who may have been involved.
“However, emboldened by the apparent support of the highly-placed Edo State Government official who has been pulling the strings behind the scenes and orchestrating mayhem, some of these students have continued an unrelenting campaign against me, fabricating accounts completely lacking in truth – all seemingly in a bid to gain perceived political advantage for their benefactor.”
He called on the parents of the said students to “urgently intervene in the matter and extricate their children from the clutches of desperate politicians exploiting them,” noting that the politicians are “ready to jeopardise” the students’ lives for “immediate political gain,” at the expense of their education.
Akpata also cautioned the “desperate politicians ” who are endangering the lives of the youths to “kindly cease these reckless actions immediately,” adding that the lives of the students are more significant compared to “any fleeting political agenda.”
He said that “neither I nor anyone from my team initiated or perpetrated any attacks. Rather, we were the victims of what evidence increasingly suggests was a premeditated assault, potentially motivated by political interests.”
The LP governorship aspirant called on members of the public to join forces against “those who would stop at nothing to gain or hold onto power even at the expense of the next generation.”
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has congratulated an illustrious son of Gombe and member of the State’s Special Honorary Advisory Council, Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar for winning the 2024 Hallmark of Labour Foundation’s Award of Excellence for his outstanding contributions to research, innovation and value-chain development.
According to a press release on Tuesday, 23rd April 2024 signed by the Director-General (Press Affairs) Gombe Government House, Ismaila Uba Misilli, said that Governor Inuwa described the honour as well-deserved, considering the immense contributions of the awardee towards the development of the state and the entire nation.
“This outstanding award is indeed a recognition of your positive contributions. Your achievements remind us all of the power of hard work, integrity, and commitment to making a difference,” the governor said, expressing optimism that the recognition will encourage others to follow suit.
“We hope this remarkable recognition which brings pride and honour to the entire people of Gombe State, will serve as an inspiration for others,” he added.
He was honoured alongside some prominent Nigerians, including the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Development, Prof Ali Pate.
Professor B.Y. Abubakar was the pioneer Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (2006-2016) and former Pro-Chancellor of the Gombe State University of Science & Technology, Kumo (2018-2020).
He is a currently serving as member in the Special Honorary Advisory Council inaugurated by Governor Inuwa Yahaya to guide the implementation of his government’s good policies and programmes.
Hallmarks of Labour Foundation is a non- governmental organization, established to promote the virtues of honesty, hard work and integrity. through character emulation and role modeling.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is the Chancellor of McPherson University, Dr Christopher Kolade, a veteran broadcaster, diplomat, scholar and administrator, with leadership excellence and outstanding integrity.
The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party has rejected the final list of candidates for the 21 September governorship in the state, released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the list published by INEC, Oluyinka Faith Alufohai is listed as the deputy governorship candidate of the party, instead of Alhaji Asamah Yusuf Kadiri (SAN).
It would be recalled that LP’s candidate for the election, Olumide Akpata, had earlier dropped Oluyinka Faith Alufohai for Alhaji Asamah Yusuf Kadiri, as his running mate.
The State chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi, in a statement on Monday, appealed to the party members not to be disturbed by the development.
He, however, absolved the electoral umpire of what he described as “simply a technical error.”
Ogbaloi noted that the state chapter of the party actually submitted the name of Alhaji Kadiri as its deputy governorship candidate, but was wrongly substituted at the national headquarters of the party due to a “technical glitch”.
According to him, “Our team followed all necessary procedures and submitted Alhaji Kadiri’s name and credentials as the deputy governorship candidate, well within INEC’s stipulated window.
“Unfortunately, a technical glitch occurred at the end of the national headquarters of our party during the submission process, resulting in the incorrect name appearing on the final list.
“We are currently actively engaged with INEC officials to rectify this issue immediately and our team has provided all requisite documentation demonstrating Alhaji Kadiri’s valid nomination. We have been following up with INEC diligently, to ensure it updates its candidate list with accurate information.
“We recognise the anxiety this error may cause, but urge our supporters to remain calm and steadfast in their commitment to our party’s vision.
“Your unwavering support and activism have been invaluable thus far, and we need you to continue spreading awareness of our platform and championing the positive change we represent.
“The Labour Party is determined to contest the forthcoming September 21, 2024, Edo State Governorship elections fairly and transparently. We should not allow this minor administrative hurdle to dampen our confidence or impede our momentum.
“Together, we shall overcome any obstacle, minor or major, as we continue our march towards restoring Edo State to its pride of place nationally.”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, has thrown his weight behind the formation of state police across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
This was part of the memorandum submitted to the Deputy Speaker and Honourable Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, cited by our reporter.
Ndarani, SAN, said that the formation of state police in all the states of the Federation is long overdue.
According to his argument, with the rising spate of insecurity and the gradual involvement of the communities and local vigilantes in collaborative efforts between the regular police and members of the public to protect lives and property, there is no doubt that the neighbourhood would be safer, crime reduced, and offenders easily fished out.
“Out of the over twenty-five (25) Federating nations in the world today, including the United States of America, India, Indonesia, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, etc., and others like Great Britain and Italy, which practice multilevel policing systems, Nigeria is the only country without a State Police, Ndarani said in his submission to the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review.
He said, “Our submission on the State Police is to strengthen our proposal for a parliamentary system of government since the State Police is an essential aspect of a strong federation, which we seek to achieve through our submissions.
Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, SAN
“To foster cooperation between the federal and state police, we recommend that the Constitution and other relevant laws in this respect by the National Assembly should specify and clearly define the responsibility of the federal and state police formations and give a clear-cut demarcation between their spheres of operation.
On how to check the excesses of politicians who would use the police at their disposal to hunt down and terrorise their political opponents and to quell opposition and wantonly violate the rights of the citizens, Ndarani, SAN, suggested that a provision be made in the Federal Law that will permit the National Assembly in such situations to proscribe such state police formation and prosecute the officers so indicted.
An excerpt is the abstract of the State Police Formation from the Memorandum on the Review of the 1999 Constitution submitted to the House of Representatives.
NIGERIA POLICE AND NIGERIAN SECURITY ARCHITECTURE We support and recommend the formation of State Police in all the States of the Federation, which we consider long overdue. With the rising spate of insecurity, and the gradual involvement of the communities and local vigilantes in collaborative efforts between the regular Police and members of the public in protecting lives and property, there is no doubt that the neighbourhood would be safer, crime reduced and offenders easily fished out. Out of the over twenty-five (25) Federating nations in the world today, including the United States of America, India, Indonesia, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, etc., and others like Great Britain and Italy, which practice multilevel policing systems, Nigeria is the only country without a State Police. Interestingly, the four regions that existed during the First Republic operated State Police too, whose powers were taken away by the military that overthrew the civilian government then. This is the essence of Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Our submission on the State Police is to strengthen our proposal for a Parliamentary system of government since the State Police is an essential aspect of a strong federation, which we seek to achieve through our submissions.
Interestingly, since the advent of the present 4″ Republic that is from 1999 to date, the call for State Police has grown and gathered momentum. The persistently and embarrassing security breaches across the country and the apparent crass failure of the one Federal Police structure is a source of worry on how to adequately police a 200 Million population, a vast and diversified territory consisting of 36 states and Abuja, 774 Local Government Areas, 8,812 Wards, 176,606 polling units with only 371,000 underpaid, understaffed, under-trained and under-motivated Police Officers commanded by the Inspector General of Police headquartered in Abuja. As a corollary to the Federal Police Service Commission, the State Police should put in place a State Police Commission, nominated by a broad-based group like NGOs, Clergy, Force men retired and serving, businessmen, chieftaincy institutions, and others with proven integrity and non-partisan. Any member of any State Police found to be partisan or a card-carrying member of a party should be dropped. The State Police Commission would be charged with the duty of recruitment, promotion, discipline, and training of State Police officers and will also put up a robust guideline to deal with all acts of indiscipline and accountability of these officers, some of which should be handled by the Federal Police Force. The state heads should only be called Commissioner of Police and shall be answerable to the State House of Assembly, Federal Ministry of Police Affairs and the judiciary.
To foster cooperation between the federal and State Police, we recommend that the Constitution and other relevant laws in this respect by the National Assembly should specify and clearly define the responsibility of the Federal and state Police formations and give a clear-cut demarcation between their spheres of operation. Furthermore, we submit that certain crimes should be classed as federal Crimes while others should be classed as state crimes, and there should be avenues for the Federal Police to intervene, take over and prosecute offenders. The other details would be worked out by experts but must accommodate the peculiarities of our type of democracy, on how to check the excesses of politicians who would use the Police at their disposal to hunt down and terrorise their political opponents and to quell opposition and wantonly violate the rights of the citizens. This means that a provision should be made in the Federal Law which will permit the National assembly in such situations to proscribe such State Police formation and prosecute the officers so indicted.
…As Governor A.A Sule Visits NASENI to Facilitate Discussions on the Project
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), is set to collaborate with Nasarawa state government and Bobtrack Tractors, a division of Saint Bob Motors Limited to start the manufacturing and assembling of tractors in the north-central geo-political zone.
The facilities and infrastructure available at one of NASENI’s Institutes, Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI), Lafia, Nasarawa state will be used for assembling and manufacturing of the tractors.
According to the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the project which is aimed at creating wealth and jobs for Nigerian youths is in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda of ensuring food security and promotion of mechanized farming and agro-business in the country. Halilu disclosed this when the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule led a delegation comprising Bob Track Tractors to pay a visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, April 22nd, 2024.
L-R: The Chief Executive Officer, of Bob Track Ltd, Mr. Ibifiri A.C Bob Manuel; the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, and Mr. Jerry of Bob Track Ltd, during a courtesy visit at NASENI Headquarters on Monday, April 22nd, 2024.
Mr. Halilu who assured Governor Sule and the delegation of NASENI’s readiness to do business with them, said, “The Agency is willing to partner with you and sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) so that in the next couple of weeks we will move into action.”
He disclosed that Mr. President had recognized NASENI as a national brand and its National Tractor Recovery Programme wherein 55,000 tractors would be refurbished for mechanized farming nationwide.
In his remarks, Governor Sule said, he aligned with NASENI’s vision of collaborating and promoting made-in-Nigeria goods and also believed that the government’s role is to provide a level playing field necessary for businesses to thrive.
The objective of his visit, he said, was to introduce the Bob Track Tractors which deals in assembling and manufacturing tractors and farm implements with offices in Port Harcourt to NASENI so that it could utilize the existing facilities at AMEDI, Lafia for assembling tractors instead of acquiring new land for the business.
The CEO of Bob Track Tractors, Mr. Ibifiri A.C. Bob Manuel said, “We are ready to take up the facility that you have in Nasarawa State, create employment and wealth for the youths in the area and also use it as a hub to drive a mechanized agricultural vision of the present administration. We are willing to invest in Nasarawa state with the help of His Excellency, his team and NASENI.”
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has highlighted the pressing need to revamp the existing framework for providing housing to Nigeria Police Officers, with only about 10% of the workforce’s housing needs currently being met.
The IGP announced in Abuja on Monday during the launch of the inaugural Nigerian Police Housing Summit themed “Renewed Hope for Police Housing in Nigeria.”
The IGP further emphasized that the summit aims to develop strategies to bridge this gap and ensure accessible and affordable housing for all ranks.
IGP Egbetokun noted that preliminary assessments and engagements with key stakeholders are already underway in this regard.
He expresses gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Housing, Architect Ahmed Dangiwa, for their leadership in delivering affordable housing to Nigerians.
He similarly assured that the launch of the Nigeria Police Housing Summit is part of a significant step towards realizing his administration’s vision of providing accessible and affordable housing to its officers.
The objectives of the Nigeria Police Housing Summit are ambitious and far-reaching, including articulating a vision for effective housing as an essential welfare tool, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, proposing actionable strategies for rapid delivery of affordable housing, and aligning housing initiatives with sustainable practices.
The housing summit also focuses on the establishment of a 100 billion Naira Police Housing Fund, aimed at financing sustainable housing development for officers.
The keynote address was delivered by the chairman, of Cooperative Mortgage Bank Limited, Femi Adewole
Dignitaries at the event include the Chairman of, the House Committee on Housing and Habitat, Hon. Aminu Babale, representatives of the Minister of Housing represented by Shehu Usman Osidi, Managing Director and Chief Executive of the FMBN, representative of the Chairman, Police Service Commission, all the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and other stakeholders in the housing sector of Nigeria’s economy.
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has revealed that the reforms initiated and implemented by his administration led to the saving of the sum of N2.3 billion in the local government councils.
Governor Diri disclosed this on Monday at the opening ceremony of an orientation programme organised for newly-elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen, councillors and principal officers at Perdis Hotel, Akenfa.
According to a press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Daniel Alabrah, said that the governor stated that on assumption of office in 2020, some local government councils were highly indebted and unable to pay salaries. But the administration took measures that resulted in regular payment of salaries, execution of projects and saving of funds.
The Bayelsa chief executive restated his call on the Federal Government to create additional local councils in the state, saying it was injustice for some states to have more than 40 councils and receive monthly allocation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee while the state had only eight.
He charged the newly elected local government officials to make good use of the two-day workshop to equip themselves with the requisite knowledge to carry out their responsibilities.
The governor also called on them to work as a team to ensure that development was felt at the grassroots.
He said: “Local governments as at 2020 were unable to pay salaries, particularly Nembe, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Sagbama. There was some form of dissatisfaction in the system.
“After I went through the recommendations of the Deputy Governor, whom I entrusted with investigating the local government, I wasted no time in approving the recommendations.
“The recommendations included the ban on loans from any source by local government chairmen without the approval of the governor, compulsory savings by every council, and the division of balance after payment of salaries into 60 and 40 per cent respectively. One part was for compulsory savings and the other for project implementation and immediate commencement of computerisation of their payroll as well as compulsory quarterly award of projects by each council chairman.
“We found a lot of fraud in the local government system. But as it stands today, our councils have N2.3 billion as a result of the combination of the factors of reforms and proper supervision of that tier of government.
“The breakdown is N400 million for compulsory savings while N1.9 billion for capital projects. This is aside from the one done by caretaker committees in terms of project execution within the short period they stayed.”
Diri assured of his administration’s commitment to support the councils to achieve their goals and expressed confidence that the new officials would meet the expectations of the people.
“We firmly believe that good governance begins at the grassroots level. That is precisely why we have gathered here to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to improve our local government administration and enhance service delivery.
“I recognise the immense responsibility you have to bear as representatives of the people at the local government level. Remember, you have been entrusted with the mandate to serve and uplift our rural dwellers and communities. I do not doubt that you will work diligently to fulfil this obligation.
“I urge you, particularly our chairmen, to encourage teamwork, financial probity and prudent expenditure of projects.”
Earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Development, Mr Ifidi Ebiware, urged the new local government officials to avail themselves of the opportunity presented by the training to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform their duties.
Mr. Ebiware also admonished them to justify the confidence reposed in them by implementing people-oriented policies that will impact positively on the people at the grassroots
He thanked Governor Diri, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission and other stakeholders who ensured a hitch-free electoral exercise.
The Federal Government has initiated the process for distribution of various food items to the Kogi State Government. This action follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for the release of grains to alleviate the effects of the current global economic climate on vulnerable persons across the country.
President Tinubu had authorized the release of 42,000MT of assorted grains from the National Strategic Reserve for distribution to vulnerable individuals across all local government areas of the states of the Federation.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and the National Emergency Management Agency have started the transportation and distribution process.
At the flag-off event in Lokoja Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director General of NEMA, who was represented by Bashir Idris Garga, Zonal Director of NEMA North Central, presented the items to Kogi State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo who was represented by the Deputy Governor Comrade Joel Oyino. The event was also attended by the Head of the NEMA Disaster Response unit and commander of NNS Lugard Naval Base Lokoja Commodore MM Epele, other top Government officials of Kogi state, Religious and Traditional leaders, civil society organisations and labour leaders.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in his remarks presented by the Deputy Governor expressed his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government for the support. He confirmed the receipt of the items from NEMA and committed to ensuring that the prescribed guidelines for their distribution are followed.
In his speech at the flag the representative of the DG NEMA, accompanied by Mr. Justin Nwazuronye, head of the NEMA Abuja operations office, noted that the delivered items to Kogi State included 462 MT of maize (9,240 50kg bags), 546 MT of sorghum (10,920 50kg bags), 189 MT of millet (3,780 50kg bags), and 98 MT of Garri (3,920 25kg bags).
He also outlined the list of local government areas and stakeholders involved in the distribution and the proportions of items reserved for different groups of vulnerable people.
Members of the Kogi State Cultural Troop were on hand to perform at the ceremony.
