A file photo of Nigerians protesting the killing of a young man, Kolade Johnson, by a Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operative in April 2019.
Tactical squads within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has been banned from carrying out routine patrols and othe conventional low-risk duties.
According to a statement by police spokesman, DSP Frank Mba on Sunday, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu ordered that “all FSARS, STS, IRT & other Tactical Police Squads operating at Federal, Zonal & Command levels are hereby banned from carrying out routine patrols & other conventional low-risk duties – stop & search duties, checkpoints, roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect.
The IGP also warned that: “Henceforth, no police personnel is authorized to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti”.
The statement by Mba further stated that: “All Police Force personnel must always appear in their police uniforms or approved tactical gear.
“All Tactical Squads must also desist from the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices.
“Henceforth,the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State/FCT Commands as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any police misconduct within their Area of Responsibility (AOR)” the IGP warned.
The IGP assured that authorities will step up monitoring of all activities of Tactical Squads (FSARS etc) and other police officers, nationwide, and ensure the prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all officers who violate these directives and other Force regulations.
Furthermore, the IGP stated that the NPF’s complaint Response Unit (@PoliceNG_CRU on Twitter) will also continue to be available to receive and investigate complaints against Police Officers, for appropriate action.
IGP Adamu however encouraged Nigerians to make available full details of incidents to the Unit, using any of their contact details.
This directive comes barely 24 hours after a young man was reported to have been killed by FSARS operatives in Delta State on Saturday. The ugly incident sparked renewed anger and clamour amongst Nigerians for an end to the squad, which many believe has gone rogue and unable to protect citizens.
Barely five days after candidates of the 17 political parties contesting the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State, including incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), signed a peace accord supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), gunshots believed to have emanated from a political clash rendered the atmosphere in Akure Sunday morning.
PM News reported that supporters of the PDP and the APC in Ondo State exchanged gun fire in Akure, the capital.
It was reported that the shooting, which happened on Oba Adesida Road was an escalation of a clash on Saturday, which led to the killing of an APC supporter.
According to statements posted on twitter by residents, one person was reported killed today and many injured.
“When did Ondo state election become a war? I haven’t heard this level of violence in Ondo since 2003 general elections. What is going on?”, wrote Love Ogundipe.
“This #Akureshootings is becoming something else, last night all hell was let loose at Oba nla, this morning is ijomu. Since when do we vote with guns in Ondo state? This is a new level of unacceptable election violence”, Ogundipe added.
“Akure is the last place I expect violence from. Not a good sign atal (sic). Two people reportedly shot dead in 48hrs”, wrote Feyisayo..
While residents of the state have expressed their concern over safety, the Ondo PDP claimed two persons were killed and accused members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) supporting Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Nigerian government is talking about removal of subsidy on oil products and deregulation of the sector again. This issue is always ever with us. Though the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its civil society partners campaigned against it the last time it came up in 2012, it’s now the turn of the APC government to see it as a viable option. Herein the following matters arise.
One, it is fraudulent and cowardice on the part of the Nigerian government to use the World Bank and IMF as a cover and drop their names as the motivators of subsidy removal. That’s not true. IMF and the World Bank will not insist nor make any country to embark on a policy it doesn’t want. They only advise based on their neoclassical background.
A neoclassical economy requires free market, capitalism, deregulation, liberalization and privatization. That’s what IMF and the World Bank believe in, and they are not apologetic about it. And they need not be apologetic. You believe what you believe; the responsibility is on the other party to convince you of the alternative. They are not devil or criminal because they are not thinking like you.
Therefore, the responsibility to deregulate either down or upper stream of the oil sector is that of the Nigerian government. All it needs to do is to convince Nigerians that its decision on the matter is in their best interest that may not be immediately evident, but in the medium and long runs. And if Nigerians believe it is sincere they may buy its proposition. If otherwise, it has to keep on trying until they are both on the same page.
Curiously too, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP( hypocrisy and anti subsidy removal posture is very fraudulent. PDP government of President Jonathan marshaled and articulated a good argument for subsidy removal in 2012 through many officials, including the then Governor of Edo State, Mr. Oshiomhole who had previously led many protests and strikes against it when he was a labour union leader.
Whereas, a good understanding of Mr. Atiku Abubakar’s economic blueprint dovetails to an eventual removal of subsidies as it is predicated on neoclassical assumptions. Therefore, there is no reason for PDP to play opposition politics for the sake of it.
A smarter move by PDP would have been to let APC know its hypocrisy in 2012 and coming into term with reality now which PDP canvassed then. It should have seized the opportunity to have a joint platform with the government to dialogue with the people, on why if subsidy is removed and well implemented, it will definitely bring pains but many benefits in the long run.
The same position goes to the labour. Many of them like Oshiomhole, know the theoretical foundation and reality of subsidy removal and they accept it. But they are torn between Marxist and pro masses rhetoric. So therefore they take a dubious position of pretending that they will fight government against subsidy removal. But the truth has finally arrived.
The tragedy of the labour’s position is, it opens itself to be called pro APC, pro Buhari and pro Fulani. It removed a big chunk from the credibility of already fading and largely irrelevant movement.
So Nigeria will finally remove oil subsidy. Let’s hope so. But is there really any subsidy at anytime? Or is it normal lie, trust politicians?
They have actually been lying about the existence of any subsidy to Nigerian masses. Only the rich, government officials, bank and oil companies and big business workers are being subsidized.
What they have been camouflaging as subsidy which they must remove is the appropriate pricing of oil products. The inappropriate pricing have many problems for the economy. It makes the oil sector and the whole economy inefficient. It adversely selects investors or it keeps investors and needed capital away from the economy.
The market economy thrives on the appropriate role of the price. If the price is right, as determined by the market forces, then other things will be right, including employment of resources and inflow of capital.
The above position is what government officials should be canvassing rather than lying about subsidy that doesn’t exist. Because Nigerian officials aren’t informed and are dubious, they haven’t been able to get the people on the same page with them. As a result they have allowed Nigerians to be exploited by self seeking labour leaders, civil society profiteers and dishonest politicians.
It doesn’t matter whether a government is a socialist or capitalist, if it runs its affairs contrary to theories and principles, it will find itself in trouble. Economic and political theories and principles intertwine and at the same time they have boundaries. Those boundaries must be respected for policies to be effective and meaningful for growth and development.
The disregard for those boundaries has been responsible for ineffectiveness of economic policies in the underdeveloped countries, especially in Africa. If the issue or objective is to reduce poverty and corruption and engender growth, we must pay attention to particular theories and principles that will make them realizable.
It is meaningless protesting and going on strike if access to economic resources is the solution to our problem. Rhetoric and good speeches may massage our pain for a while, but our pain will surface again after the anaesthetic effect of speeches and rhetoric has waned off.
If government’s objectives in the long run is growth, development, poverty and corruption reduction, the policy option to pursue now is, appropriate pricing, deregulation, liberalization, privatization, true federalism and restructuring of the Nigerian state. Let’s do it now.
Sanmi Obasa is a research analyst, he teaches business studies at Centennial College, Toronto.
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, have condemned the alleged killing of a young man in Delta State by a team of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police.
The incident was reported to have occurred in front of Wetland Hotel, Ughelli in Delta State on Saturday.
The operatives allegedly shot the citizen and left the scene. A trending footage shows them speeding off in the victim’s vehicle – a white Lexus SUV.
Reacting to the development, Atiku said SARS was set up to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes, but noted that the unit has morphed into an oppressor of the Nigerian masses.
According to him, “The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian Police was set up to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes. However, the unit has today morphed into an oppressor of the Nigerian masses who strive every day for a better life.
“Reports of intimidation, harassment and outright extortion by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have continued unabated. I strongly condemn their cruel actions against our people, and I urge the government to rise to the occasion and nip this monstrosity in the bud with the seriousness it deserves.
“It’s expedient that the activities of SARS are reviewed to ensure that the rogue elements are excised from the unit and sanity returned to its operations.”
In his reaction, Saraki called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to immediately put a stop to these reprehensible activities and restructure the unit to better perform its lawful duties of safe guarding the lives and property of the Nigerian people.
“The reports of the continued harassment, illegal arrest, detention and high handedness by rogue cells of SARS against innocent Nigerians – most of them young people – in spite of the efforts to reform the Police & raise standards of policing are disheartening.
“A situation where the officers of the Police Force become a threat to the lives and property of the citizens they swore to protect is condemnable and unacceptable.
“I call on the Federal Government to immediately put a stop to these reprehensible activities and restructure the unit to better perform its lawful duties of safe guarding the lives and property of the Nigerian people,” Saraki said.
In commemoration of 2020 World Teachers Day, the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led Ogun State Government has declared Monday, October 5 as public holiday.
To this end, the state government said schools would not be opened to the students on that day.
Abiodun, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Primary and Secondary Education, Ronke Soyombo, explained that the government would not allow teaching activities on October 5 in order to celebrate the World Teachers Day.
The Abiodun administration enjoined students to stay at home on the said date, adding that teaching and learning activities would resume on Tuesday, October 6.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, has warned that no security aides would be allowed to accompany VIPs or political appointees on the day of the guber Elelection in Ondo State, noting that severe punishments would be meted out to anyone who violates the order.
This was coming as Adamu has deployed Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Research and Planning, Adeleye Oyebade to administer the general security arrangement for the election in the state.
Also, to ensure effective coordination and full implementation of security arrangements towards a peaceful election in the October 10 Ondo State gubernatorial election, IGP deployed Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Federal Operations, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters in Abuja, Karma Hassan, and eleven Commissioners of Police.
Adamu charged Oyebade to bring his wealth of experience to bear by ensuring the due enforcement of all electoral laws throughout the period of the election.
The police chief, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said Garba Umar would be in charge Monitoring/Evaluation and would be assisted by Habu Sani.
Other senior police officers deployed to handle other layers of security in the state are: Abiodun Alabi, Bishi Omololu, Ashafa Kunle, Akeera Yonous, Buba Sanusi, Audu Madaki, Evelyn Peterside, Sadiku Gbenga and Abutu Yaro.
Officers and men of the Force as well as personnel of other security agencies deployed for the election have also been charged by IGP to conduct themselves professionally and work in line with best practices as highlighted in the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Elections.
He also enjoined members of the public, especially politicians and their supporters to cooperate with the police and other security agencies in the national assignment of guaranteeing a hitch-free gubernatorial poll.
General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has advised the Buhari-led Federal Government to restructure Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world.
The call was made by Adeboye on Saturday during a symposium organised by RCCG and Nehemiah Leadership Institute to mark Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day Celebration, with the theme ‘Where will Nigeria be in 2060?’.
The former lecturer at the Department of Mathematics of the University of Lagos said Nigeria should be restructured “as soon as possible” to forestall a breakup of the various socio-ethnic components that make up the country.
A proposition by Adeboye is the creation of a system of government that is 100 percent Nigerian, and the adoption of a merger of the British style of government and the American system of government as a way to protect Nigeria’s future.
“Why can’t we have a system of government that is 100 per cent Nigerian, unique to us? For example, we started on with the British system of government, somewhere along the line, we moved over to the American system of government,” Adeboye stated.
“Can’t we have a combination of both and see whether it could help us solve our problems because in Mathematics if you want to solve a problem, you try what we call Real Analysis, then if it doesn’t work, then you move on to Complex Analysis and see whether that will help you. If that fails, you move on to Vector Analysis and so on.
“I believe that we might want to look at the problems of Nigeria in a slightly different manner. Some people feel that all our problems will be over if Nigeria should break up. I think that is trying to solve the problems of Nigeria as if it is a Simple Equation. The problems of Nigeria will require quite a bit of Simultaneous Equation and some of them are not going to be Linear either – forgive me I am talking as a Mathematician.
“Why can’t we have a system of government that will create what I will call the United States of Nigeria? Let me explain. We all know that we must restructure. It is either we restructure or we break, you don’t have to be a prophet to know that one. That is certain – restructure or we break up.
“Now, we don’t want to break up, God forbid. In restructuring, why don’t we have a Nigerian kind of democracy? At the federal level, why don’t we have a President and a Prime Minister?
“If we have a President and a Prime Minister and we share responsibilities between these two so that one is not an appendage to the other. For examples, if the President controls the Army and the Prime Minister controls the Police. If the President controls resources likes oil and mining and the Prime Minister controls finance and inland revenue, taxes, customs etc. You just divide responsibilities between the two.
“At the state level, you have the governor and the premier, and the same way, you distribute responsibilities between these people in such a manner that one cannot really go without the other. Maybe we might begin to tackle the problems.”
Further in his presentation, Adeboye decried how traditional rulers have been relegated to the background. He canvassed for the recognition and restoration of traditional rulership in the governance of the country.
“If we are going to adopt the model, then we need to urgently restore the House of Chiefs. I have a feeling that one of our major problems is that we have pushed the traditional rulers to the background and I believe that is a great error particularly for a great country like Nigeria.
“I find it very ridiculous that one will ask a traditional ruler to inform the chairman of his local government before he travels.
“Go to any town in Nigeria, everybody in the town knows the paramount ruler in the town and they respect him (but) many of them don’t even know the name of the chairman of their local government.
“The traditional rulers are the actual landlords, they control the respect of their people. Their people will listen to them much more, I am sorry to say, than they will listen to some politicians.”
“Without any doubt, we must restructure and do it as soon as possible. A United States of Nigeria is likely to survive than our present structure,” he concluded.
A coronavirus vaccine may come in a matter of months just as about mkmnnn persons have died of the virus globally.
According to a British media report on Saturday, AstraZeneca and Oxford University jointly-developed COVID-19 vaccine may be rolled out in six months.
The vaccine, which is currently under the last phase of trial, may be given a clearance by health regulators in December.
The Times quoted UK government sources involved in the making and distribution of vaccines as saying that a full vaccine roll-out programme for adults could take six months or less after approval.
“We are looking at closer to six months and it is likely to be far shorter than that,” a government source said.
In line with a protocol developed by the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, any approved vaccine will then be given to all over 65s, followed by younger adults at higher risk, which could include those from ethnic minorities as well as those with serious health issues based on their higher risk from the deadly virus.
Next in line will be people over 50, with younger adults at the back of the queue.
The UK government has ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine once it is ready for roll-out and the doses are being manufactured before it has been shown to be successful in order to save time once it clears all the regulatory stages, British media reported.
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Saturday parades 29 suspected illegal miners who operate at different sites in Imo.
The State Commandant, NSCDC, Danjuma Elisha who paraded the alleged illegal miners on Saturday said the suspects were arrested following a directive by Gov. Hope Uzodimma to crack down on illegal mining operators in the state.
The suspects, Elisha said we’re arrested by a combined team involving the Military, Police and the Federal Road Safety Commission among others.
Elisha said that he would conduct the profiling on the suspects before charging them to court.
“We are here to work and we must carry out the governor’s directive to its fullest by ensuring that the environment is safe for all.
“Illegal mining is impacting negatively on the lives of people in Imo.
“It is one of the causes of landslide and heavy flooding, so we will not allow it to happen again,” he said.
The arrest operation was a feat achieved due to the existing collaboration and synergy of operations among security agencies in Imo state.
According to NAN, one of the suspects, Kelechi Nwokocha, who pleaded for forgiveness, confessed that he was in the business for seven years.
“I was arrested at Worie River at Nekede Old Road.
“I am aware that we are doing illegal business and our mining activities are impacting negatively on the environment.
“If I am given a second chance, I will not go back to illegal mining again,” he said.
NAN reports that Gov. Uzodimma had recently announced a ban on illegal mining and directed security agencies to crack down on suspects.
A file photo of Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari, when he addressed the nation on 60th Independence Day, October 1st 2020,
Trafficking in Nuclear Materials Potential Threat to International Peace- President Buhari Warns
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday called for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, warning that trafficking in nuclear materials remains a potential threat to international peace and security.
In his video-message to the UN High-level meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, President Buhari restated Nigeria’s commitment to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
He, however, expressed concern about the ‘‘slow pace’’ of States possessing nuclear weapons in disarming and decommissioning their existing nuclear facilities.
”We are concerned about the slow pace of progress by nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, in accordance with their legal obligations and undertakings under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),” President Buhari said.
Reiterating the need for the United Nations to continue engaging Nuclear Weapon States to speed up their efforts in disarming and decommissioning their existing nuclear facilities, the Nigerian leader said:
”The best approach to avoid damage associated with nuclear materials such as humanitarian crisis, accidents, disasters and criminality is the total elimination of nuclear weapons.”
President Buhari told world leaders at the virtual summit that the universalization of the NPT was dependent upon strict compliance with its three pillars namely, disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
He, therefore, enjoined other Member States to ratify the Treaty, noting that Nigeria had played a major role in negotiations leading to the coming into force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty).
”We will continue to galvanize other African States to abide by the tenets of the Pelindaba Treaty. This is to ensure that the entire continent remains nuclear-free.
”While there are no easy solutions when we confront one of the gravest existential threats to the survival of the human race, we must remain undeterred and committed to a world of safety and security, one without the volatility posed by Nuclear Weapons,” he said.
The Nigerian President said it was noteworthy that this year marks the 75th Anniversary of the use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan that terminated the lives of thousands of people with severe long-term damages to the environment.
”The Anniversary is a forceful reminder of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons which undermine global, national and human security.
”Hence, there is need for all states to comply with applicable international laws and conventions to ensure a world free of nuclear weapons.
”We must, therefore, redouble our efforts to implement the provisions of the Nuclear NPT being the basis of Non-Proliferation Regime.
”This is to enable us achieve our desire for total elimination of nuclear weapons,’’ he said.
President Buhari used the occasion to highlight how Nigeria had demonstrated support for multilateral efforts towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
The President recounted that as one of the countries in the vanguard of the campaign for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Nigeria signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 20th September 2017 and recently ratified it on 6th August, 2020.
He noted that Nigeria joined like-minded states to sponsor the resolution titled “Taking Forward Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament Negotiations” which led to the legally binding Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
”Nigeria has been involved in the promotion of peaceful application of nuclear science and technology at national and international levels.
”Accordingly, Nigeria ratified several international treaties and conventions in the area of nuclear safety and security.
”We have also expressed political commitment to the IAEA Code of Conduct on safety and security of radioactive sources.
”More so, we have developed and approved the first International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Integrated Nuclear Security Plan for the period 2010-2012 with further review to cover 2019-2021 period.
”In this connection, Nigeria commends the continued efforts of the IAEA, particularly its role in monitoring and inspecting nuclear facilities. We urge States to ensure compliance with IAEA safeguards and standards at all times as well as nuclear verification disarmament measures,” he said.
The President added that in order to facilitate the development and peaceful deployment of nuclear technology, Nigeria regulates and implements its energy aspiration through the relevant agencies.
”In addition, we are reforming the National Nuclear Security Sector to make it robust and reliable.
”These reforms involve the domestication of The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism; Review of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act; and Review of Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority Act.
”To further demonstrate our commitment to nuclear security, Nigeria successfully converted the Nigeria Research Reactor (NIRR-1), a 31 kilowatts miniature neutron source reactor from highly enriched uranium to low enriched uranium fuel.
”Also in 2019, the administration set up Nigeria’s Nuclear Security Support Centre and developed a Nuclear Security Detection Architecture to serve as a sustainable safeguard for maintaining nuclear security and detection of radioactive materials out of regulatory control,’’ he said.
President Buhari also reminded the Summit that the 1996 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice affirms that the threat or use of nuclear weapons constitute a crime against humanity and a violation of international law, including international humanitarian law.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 2, 2020
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