Tuesday 28 July 2020

Buratai restates commitment to peace keeping operations, internal security





By Sani Idris

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has reaffirmed commitment of the Nigerian Army to peace keeping operations and enhancing internal security in the country.

Buratai stated this on Tuesday during the investiture of the COAS Intervention projects at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC), Jaji, Kaduna State.


The COAS, represented by the Commander Infantry Corps, Maj.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, said Nigeria’s role in peace support and peace keeping operations yielded positive results in promoting regional security and global peace innovatives.

Buratai said: “The Nigerian Army has over the years proved itself as a veritable force to reckon with within its various engagements particularly peacekeeping missions around the world.”

He said the Centre had keyed into his vision of turning the Nigerian Army into a professionally responsive Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles by repositioning it to meet world standards in terms of facilities and training regiment.

“This is evident in the State of the Art facilities installed at the Centre as well as the quality of training of potential peacekeepers and participants of individual courses.

“All these efforts will definitely ensure the Centre merits its reputation as a Centre of Excellence,” he said.

Buratia reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army toward ensuring full recognition of the United Nations (UN) in the courses run by the Centre and continue to occupy its pride of place among the UN Centres of Excellence.

“We will continue to support in order to boost the morale and fighting spirits of troops to face the daunting challenges associated with maintaining peace and security in the country.”

He lauded the Commandant of the Centre in seeking training recognition for its courses by the UN, which had reached advanced stage.

The COAS also commended his resolved to repositioning the Centre to meet international standard.


Also speaking, the Commandant of the Centre, Maj.-Gen James Ataguba, said the standard of training and state of infrastructure were critical element in UN accredited institution.

Ataguba noted that the need to upgrade the standard of the Centre in human resources and infrastructure led to the COAS intervention projects.

“In line with the vision of the COAS, the first phase of the project was directed at providing conducive working and training environment for staff and participants of the Centre.

“To project the centre positively before our international clientele, a project to reconstruct the signpost was embarked upon,” he said.

He said the signpost was designed with a concrete name stand and lightening while the main entrance gate was remodelled.

The Commandant  revealed further that plans were underway to visit international peacekeeping institutions in Ghana, Kenya and the Netherlands.

Ataguba said the tour would enable them to compare the status of the institutions with a view to upgrade its standard.

“Plans to create a portal for the website in our bid to introduce e-learning and collaborative efforts with some Nigerian tertiary institutions are at advanced stage of completion.”

He lauded the COAS for his guidance and provision of resources which facilitated successful completion of the projects.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the inaugurated projects included lecture halls, convenience and foyer while its portal website upgraded.


Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam


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Saturday 25 July 2020

Nigerian army commissions 373 cadets at Jaji



By Sani Idris

The Nigerian Army, on Saturday commissioned 373 cadets of its Direct Short Service Course (DSSC) 25/2020, into officers cadre at the Nigerian Army (NA), School of Infantry (NASI) in Jaji, Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the officers, who comprised of serving and non-serving personnel, graduated in different fields after six months of intensive training at the school.

The new officers were conferred with the rank of Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army by the Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin.

Addressing the new officers, Magashi said that the DSSC was designed for the employment of professionals from various fields into specialist corps and directorates of the Nigerian army.

He said the commissioning ceremony was significant considering the myriad of security challenges confronting the country, especially insurgency and banditry in the North East and North West zones respectively.

The minister urged the new officers to brace up for the task ahead of them, adding that many of them would be subsequently deployed to support the various ongoing internal security operations.

“Your commissioning today is coming at a time when the Nigerian Army is engaged in different operations in response to the myriad of security challenges.

“These include counter-insurgency operation in the North East and anti-banditry operation in the North West, among others.

“Most of you will find yourself in various theatres in support of these operations.

“I am certain that your training has inculcated in you a high standard of discipline and professionalism, which you would be expected to inculcate in addressing these security challenges.

“We expect nothing, but total commitment, loyalty, selflessness and sacrifice from you.

“I implore you to put all that you have learnt into practice in the discharge of your assigned roles,” he said.

Magashi, however, enjoined the cadets to leave up to oath of allegiance to be loyal to the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to the Nigerian army.

He assured them that they would subsequently be posted to different corps of the NA where they would be exposed to further training in different areas of specialisation.

He said: “You must endeavour to continue to seek personal development, which will add value to your service to the Nigerian army.”

He urged them to apply the tradition and customs of the Nigerian Army, and be conversant with the harmonised terms and condition of service of the army to guide them.

Magashi commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for providing resources and direction to NASI, as well as the commandant and instructors, for the good job being done.

He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for approving the training, and for his unwavering support to the armed forces.

Magashi also commended the school for being able to conduct the training in spite of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), pandemic, without threat to health, adding that the success had been due to strict adherence to the guidelines.

“I must confess that from my observation today, NASI has undergone tremendous improvement in terms of infrastructure and I must commend the officers and the leadership of Infantry Corps for the positive transformation so far,” he said.

The 373 newly commissioned officers were later administered the oath of allegiance and decorated with the rank of Lieutenant by their parents/guardians. (NAN)

OYS/DOR
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Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

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Saturday 18 July 2020

Foundation donates food items to 200 teachers in Kaduna



By Sani Idris

Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), on Saturday donated food items to 200 private school teachers in Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the food items were donated through the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS).

The Country Director of GPFN, Rev. John Hayab, while donating the food item said it was to cushion the effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Hayab said that private schools teachers were among those badly affected by the lockdown of schools and are barely surviving as a result of non payments of salary.

“Every sector in Nigeria as well as the private schools is important, the teachers in private school have been going through difficult times for about four months of the COVID-19 lockdown.

“The private schools teachers are being paid salaries when parents pay their children’s school fees, as a result of the situation, they have been facing serious difficulties in trying to fend for their families, he said.

Hayab noted that other countries during the pandemic have been supporting private school teachers and that prompted the foundation to also show such concern in Nigeria.

“One of the reason some people are unable to be called to order during any violence in our society is that no one showed them love when they were in need, we should learn to help one another during trying times.

“We have reached out and assisted so many people during the lockdown with our personal incomes, we are encouraging others to do same as it’s humanitarian and will be repaid by God,”  Hayab said.

He called on the Government and other spirited individuals and organisations to assist private school teachers especially during this period of hardship occasioned by the pandemic.

Also, Malam Halliru Maraya, the Northern coordinator of GPFN, said the gesture was aimed at putting smiles on the faces of private school teachers.

“Private school teachers play a critical role in provision of education in the country pursuant to the apparent neglect and collapse of the public school system, he said.

Maraya added that the government had not done much to ameliorate the plight of Private school teachers regarding palliative.

“Although our donation is small, it is not really small metaphorically because it would bring happiness to the teachers,” he said.

He called on the Government to reopen schools so as to pave way for continuation of teachers livelihood and learning activities.

Ja’faru Yusuf, state Chairman of NAPPS, whike appreciating GPFN, said the gesture would go a long way in easing the ravaging effect of the COVID-19 among the teachers.

He thanked the foundation for the kind gesture and also appealed to government to reopen schools and monitor the compliance of the COVID-19 safety guidelines. (NAN)

SA/EOB/IU
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Edited by Edith Bolokor and Isaac Ukpoju

Sani Idris

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Thursday 16 July 2020

Ministry, NGOs distribute food items to over 100 households in Kaduna


By Sani Idris

 No fewer than 100 households in Kaduna State have benefitted from food items distributed by the state Government in collaboration with two NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Kaduna State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development collaborated with two NGOs, Muzaif Foundation and Gracious Givers Foundation, in the humanitarian gesture.
The Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajia Hafsa Baba, said the gesture was part of the ministry’s efforts in assisting less privileged households to cushion the ravaging period of Coronavirus pandemic.

The Commissioner, who was represented by Mrs Zahida Jibril, the Chief Executive Officer of Muzaif Foundation, added that the ministry would continue to support the less privileged in the state in various ways to ameliorate their sufferings.
“We would also initiate as many programmes and activities as we can towards helping the vulnerable so they can also have a sense of belonging.
“We would make sure the vulnerables realize that they have not been forgotten in the state, arrangements are being put in place to ensure they are out of hunger especially in this trying time”, Baba said.
Also speaking during the distribution exercise, the Founder of Gracious Givers Foundation, Aminu Bashir said the vulnerable people were those who needed to be assisted at such a critical time.
He called on government at various levels to assist NGOs of their kinds with grants to enable them easily do their duties and reach out to vulnerable communities.
While appreciating the NGOs, a private  arabic school teacher, Malam Usaini Ahmad, said there had never been such kind gesture showed to their community in the past.
“We are very happy to be remembered, there has never been such kind gesture brought to our community and we hope it will keep coming.
“We pray that God Almighty continue to bless you and replenish your purse for giving out to the needy”, Ahmad said.
He called on government to make special plans in assisting private school teachers especially in this period, to ameliorate the sufferings amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
NAN reports that the food items, which included rice, garri and semovita, were shared to households in Nassarawa area, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis.(NAN)
SA/KOO/MZA
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Maharazu Ahmed

Sani Idris

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