Thursday, 5 November 2020

NSCD Commandant-General calls for more cooperation to prevent conflicts

 Workshop


By Mohammed Tijjani/ Sani Idris



The Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCD), Abdullahi Mohammadu, has called for sincere cooperation between security agencies and civil populace to prevent conflicts in the country.


Mohammadu made the call in Kaduna on Wednesday at a 2-day workshop organized by the NSCDC and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) and conflict prevention for communities and security providers.


The training workshop was also in collaboration with the Kaduna State Peace Commission, funded by the Norwegian Government.


Mohammadu who was represented by Assistant Commandant General Zone B, Danladi Mugadi, also urged communities to fish out crisis merchants in their midst for appropriate punishment.


He said it was important to have sincere cooperation to “bridge the torn fabric of trust between security agencies and the civilian population”.


The NSCDC chief also called for greater synergy between security agencies to ensure successful prevention of conflicts.


“We must change our attitudes to work and collaborate more instead of fighting for supremacy and survival.


“We must see ourselves as a complete system where the action of one component affects the other towards goals attainment.


“In peace and conflicts resolution, no single organization is superior to others as both have some jurisdictional powers, in effect, no single organization can do it alone.”


The official appealed for effective collaboration between peace institutions and other stakeholders to encourage community networking system and family policing strategy.


“Law enforcement agencies and peace initiative

institutions should be adequately funded and

strengthened by government to provide the much

needed intelligence and responses, instead of relying

on foreign and international donor Agencies”, he added.


The Commandant-General disclosed that the NSCDC has been working to engender support from the population to ensure effective policing at the grassroots.


“Furthermore, the Corps as a grass root security agency

with a mandate to settle disputes from willing members

of the public is committed to “walking the talk” in terms of encouraging Early Warning through intelligence

gathering and public engagements.


“We are intensifying efforts as we evolve a human centric policing strategy,” ‘he added.


According to him, conflicts are flourishing because of the inability of the society to bring the merchants of destruction to book.


He also identified the absence of good governance, mistrust, inter-communal violence and organized crime, as precursors of conflicts which must be tackled through collective action.


Earlier, the Executive Vice Chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Ms Pricilla Ankut, said the workshop was a  precursor to the formal launching of the Conflict Early Warning Early Response System (CEWERS), the commission had developed with the support of the UNDP.


According to her, the workshop was designed to build the capacity of relevant stakeholders in peacemaking,

peace-building, conflict mitigation and prevention.


“Over the years, the Kaduna State Peace Commission (KAPECOM) has organized similar and other capacity building workshops to empower peace workers in undertaking peace works, mediation and negotiation across the state.”


She noted that early warning and response to potential conflicts makes mitigation easier and more effective in

limiting conflicts.


Ankut thanked the UNDP, the Norwegian government and the NSCD for the collaboration.


“With development partners such as the UNDP, the design and operationalization of the CEWERS that will assist in achieving this preventive objective has given us a flip for which we are grateful”, she said.


Also, the Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security Unit of UNDP, Matthew Alao, said the training was critical, as there would be no development without peace in any society.


Alao who was represented by Elia Von-Rotz, said the training was important as it sought to advance an integrated approach to conflict prevention, through early identification and reporting of conflict situations.


“It is a known fact that conflict is inevitable in every society, in our daily interactions, conflicts are bound to happen, however, if they turn violent, outcomes are always destructive, thereby hindering national development.”


He noted that the UNDP had worked with Kaduna State Government and provided support for the establishment of the peace commission and the ICT-based Early Warning and Early response system.


“The essence of this collaboration is to deepen the peace process which is a core aspect of the SDG 16, to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,” Alao added.


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Wednesday, 4 November 2020

Buratai pledges improved welfare, training for Army personnel

Training


By Mohammed Tijjani


The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, on Tuesday, pledged more welfare and training for Army personnel to tackle security challenges in the country.


Buratai also pledged to provide necessary support for the Army to excel in sporting competitions.


The Army Chief made the pledge in a message to the opening of the Directorate of Army Physical Training Officers Conference, holding at the Nigerian Military School (NMS) Zaria, Kaduna State.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buratai was represented by Corps Commander Infantry, Maj.-Gen. Stevenson-Olugbenga Olabanji.

The conference, which will end on Nov. 4, has as its theme: “Repositioning the NAPT Corps through Elective Training and Sports Excellence.”


He stressed that his main vision was to ensure that the Army becomes professionally responsive in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

 

“Consequently, operational, administrative and logistics strategies were evolved to refocus on fighting against insurgency and other security threats nationwide,” he said.


On the conference, Buratai expressed optimism that it would assist the PT Corps to take its pride of place in providing requisite support to the Nigerian Army, for combat efficiency and excellence in sports.


Buratai stressed that time has come for the Nigerian Army to return to the heights it occupied in sports excellence.


“Sequel to these, I have devoted a lot of resources for infrastructural and human capacity development,

in addition to the training of our sportsmen and their participation for various national and international sports and military games.


“I have followed events in the PT Corps in the last one year. I have observed the diligence with which the personnel of this Corps have carried out the onerous tasks of keeping the NA fit for combat efficiency.


“I am not also unmindful of the recent achievements of our sportsmen in various sporting events, as outlined by the Director Physical Training (Army) in his welcome address.


“Consequently, the twin issues of fitness training and drive for sports excellence have led to mark achievements both by the NA and the individual sportsmen.


“This has reinforced the age long belief that training is at the heart of professionalism.


“It was in view of the foregoing, that I feel obliged, to be part of the efforts by the PT Corps to review its present state, in relation to the existing fitness  and combat challenges the NA has, with the aim to reposition itself,” he said.


Buratai appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued and invaluable support to the Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.


“Therefore, I wish to pledge the commitment and unalloyed loyalty of officers and soldiers of the NA to the President and the defence of our democracy,” he added.


Earlier, the Director, Army Physical Training, Maj.-Gen. Wilson Ali, said they were working on introducing para sports into their sporting programme.


“This is with the view to constructively encourage and engage personnel who have sustained one form of disability or the other in the course of their career.”


He also said that efforts were on to provide facilities for archery, cycling and shooting, to mentor available talents  to global excellence.NAN


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    Monday, 2 November 2020

    National Youth Day: Foundation tasks Nigeria youths on value of freedom

     In commemoration of the national youth day, the Arewa Youth Trust Foundation has tasked Nigerian youths to Judiciously use and value the freedom they have towards the development of the nation.

    The Team Lead of the foundation, Amb. Fahad Chikaji made the call in a statement to newsmen on Monday in Kaduna.

    Chikaji said Nigerian youths must always think before they act as it was also necessary they find adult mentor.

    He emphasised that they must learn not to be followers by establishing legitimate pace and set of values on their own, being humble and maintaining emotional stability to achieve a set objective.

    “The simple but effective processes of thought will help you avoid making critical mistakes that could cost you your freedom, education or your life,’’ he said.

    According to him, National Youth day should be used to reflect, take stock and chart a new youth action plan that would tackle the issues confronting Nigeria’s teeming youth population.

    “A responsible adult knows what is best for his well-being, as such must avoid being part of the crowd.

    “It is popular to be haughty or arrogant; such attitudes tend to prevent an individual from developing healthy relationships.

    Chikaji added that there were many deep cultural, social and spiritual values that could benefit Nigerians but were left untapped and ignored.

    He, however, recommended that simple and basic set of values for youth such as life, education and freedom if placed high and considered in decisions making would positively affect the choices they make.

    “If you value your life; education and freedom, you will think twice about drinking and driving, threatening a teacher which will get you expelled and will avoid criminal behavior that will lead to incarceration thereby restricting freedom”, he said.

    He, therefore, called on the youths to obey and respect their parents, saying that their happiness and good prayers affected positively towards achieving success life.

    “Be respectful to your superiors and strangers, If a person offends you and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures but simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick.

    “If you find that he did not intend any offense; come out frankly and confess yourself in the wrong when you struck him, acknowledge it like a man and say you didn’t mean to,’’ he said.

    Chikaji also advised the youths to be disciplined, hard-working and committed with a spoon desired to succeed.

    “If there is no aim in life you can’t achieve anything; be good, follow your heart, think about impact, care about time, understand the big picture, follow the data and be open.

    “As the future generation, we must rise up and work hard to excel in order to achieve greatness in life,’’ Chikaji said.(NAN)

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    Friday, 9 October 2020

    Climate Change: Microbiologist urges recycling of plastics, stoppage in production

    October 9, 2020 12:06 am by 

    Plastics


    Mr Jaafar Abdullahi, a lecturer in the Department of Microbiology, Kaduna State University (KASU), has called for the recycling of plastics to save the environment from avoidable disasters like floods.

    He also called for a total halt in further production of plastics in view of their danger to the natural habitat.

    Abdullahi spoke on Thursday in Kaduna at a one-day training for science journalists organised by Climate Change Reporters.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the training was carried out in collaboration with Motherhood Foundation and Gusau Institute.

    In a paper he titled: “Effects of climate change in the distribution of diseases”, Abdullahi said that climate change had brought about new diseases and caused dangerous organisms to spread to new places.

    According to Abdullahi, Nigeria can come up with the idea of recycling existing plastics which could serve and last for hundreds of years.

    “The recycling outfits can generate employment for young persons and improve internally generated revenue for the government.

    “Let the world stop production of new plastics while we recycle the ones we already have in place,” he said.

    He added that apart from saving lives, recycling of plastics would create jobs and keep youths busy so as to reduce social vices committed by them.

    According to Abdullahi, plastics and products such as water bottles, water sachets and polythene bags which end up in drainage are partly responsible for floods and diseases across the country.

    “Floods provide more breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other vectors which means, indirectly, greenhouse distributes diseases,” he said.

    He called on Nigerians to admit that climate change is everybody’s problem and that no agency, government or scientist could fix it alone.

    “We are all in this together; our lifestyle towards the environment must change and that is where the media should come in through massive enlightenment,” Abdullahi said.

    Earlier in her remarks, the Chairman, Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna chapter, Hajiya Asma’u Halilu, had thanked the organisers for the training that would update journalists’ knowledge with regards to science reporting.

    Malam Nurudeen Bello, the Director of African Climate Reporters and Chairman of the occasion, appreciated the level of responses from the journalists.

    “We hope to keep the tempo so that journalists can be imbued with basic knowledge to handle this technical area with great proficiency,” he said. (NAN) 


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    Tuesday, 6 October 2020

    Synergy between security agencies has substantially minimize security challenges – CAS

     


    October 6, 2020 6:04 am
    By Tijjani Mohammed 

    Lecture

    The Chief of  Air Staff, Air Marshal, Sadiq Abubakar, says the synergy between security agencies has helped to substantially reduce the security challenges in the country from what it was five years ago.

    Abubakar also said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF ) is  undergoing alot of transformation through capacity building in all aspects, to meet the security challenges of the country.

    The Air Chief spoke with newsmen in Jaji, Kaduna State, after a lecture he delivered to students of Senior Course 43 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College.

    “If there was no synergy all these years, we would have ended up bombing our people, and there was no single incident of such, that clearly means we are synergizing

    “We are understanding what the overall objective is and we are working towards ensuring that the we achieve that objective, which is to ensure that Nigeria is secured.

    “Looking at where we are coming from in the beginning of 2015 where bombs were exploding everywhere, I think with every sense of humility, we have made some substantial progress.

    “There are still issues that have emerged like banditry and many others which we are equally working round the clock to ensure we address for the security of Nigeria and Nigerians,” the CAS said.

    On the lecture, Abubakar said that it was to interact with the students who are the future of the Nigerian Air Force  and future of the air wings.

    “I have discussed a number of issues, some of which we have started to address; issues like utilizing the space, among others; it is quite an exciting outing for me,” he said.

    According to him, the emphasis he gave to acquisition of knowledge by NAF personnel was in recognition of the importance of knowledge to the success of air operations.

    “The value of any human being is substantially determined by how much he or she knows, that is why in my vision I talked about capacity building, how much you are useful to your society or to your nation.

    “This is substantially a function of how much knowledge you have; the 21st century is a knowledge driven century  and you cannot function without it, that is the main thing I passed to the senior officers.

    “They must ensure they have a clear picture of what is happening, they must read, interact, compare notes with others, that is the only way they can move forward.

    “They must also try to look inwards in terms of being able to produce some of these things like the way research and development is conducted in the Nigerian Air Force,” he said.

    Abubakar stressed that the whole idea was to lay a foundation where officers could take over seamlessly, and believe in themselves that they have what it takes to solve some of the issues without necessarily irritating their partners.

    “While thanking our partners, we really need to look inward, which we have been doing in the Air force and even at the tri-service level in the defence headquarters.

    “We have the research and development bureau that is working in collaboration with the services to ensure that we are able to address some of our air maintenance challenges,” Abubakar said.

    He noted that the questions raised during the lecture, showed the commitment and patriotism of the officers and their willingness to work hard and ensure that Nigeria is secured.

    NAN reports that the Air Chief delivered lecture on the ‘Future of Air warfare in the Nigerian Air Force’.(NAN)
    TJ/MZA

    Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

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