Military
2023 Budget Defence: State House gets nearly 50 per cent cut
2023 Budget Defence: State House gets nearly 50 per cent cut
The Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar, says the State House 2023 budget proposal of N21.1bn is comparatively lower than the 2022 appropriation of N40.1 billion by 19.01billion.
Umar revealed this when he led other top management staff of the State House to defend the 2023 budget proposals before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, on Thursday in Abuja.
In his submission, which also included details of the 2022 budget performance, the Permanent Secretary noted that there was a marginal decrease in the personnel cost due to the anticipated retirement of 40 staff in 2023.
According to him, the recurrent expenditure levels in the various cost centres have been maintained except for marginal increases in the Office of the President, Vice President and the Chief of Staff to the President.
On capital expenditure for 2023, Umar explained that the major areas of expenditure in the State House under capital appropriation include the annual routine maintenance of the facilities in the Presidential Villa, Abuja and the State House Complex, Lagos.
It also includes the purchase of operational motor vehicles, State House Clinic and the proposed National Centre for Coordination for Early Warning and Response Mechanism (NCCRM) in the office of the Vice President for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) .
The facilities in Abuja and Lagos include but are not limited to buildings and infrastructure in the President’s and Vice President’s residences, Offices, State House Auditorium, State House Gymnasium and Presidential Banquet Hall.
Others are, Council Chamber, State House Conference Centre, Presidential and Ministerial Airport Chalets and Airport Lounge in Abuja as well as State House, Dodan Barracks Complex in Lagos.
While noting that commitment to these facilities take 65 per cent of the total appropriation, Umar disclosed that in order to keep them in optimal working condition, N7.20 billion had been proposed for year 2023 as against N7.76 billion in 2022.
‘‘Closely following this, is the dire and urgent need for the complete replacement and upgrading of the communication/telephony system and electronic visitors record management in the Presidential Villa,’’ he said.
He added that N150 million had been proposed for the completion of the telecommunications infrastructure in 2023.
On the facilities and buildings in the Lagos Liaison Office Complex and Guest Houses, the permanent secretary told the Committee that ‘‘they are old and require not only maintenance, but renovation and renewal.’’
He, therefore, expressed concern that the provision of N59 million for maintenance of State House Lagos Complex and Guest Houses was inadequate.
He said that an estimated sum of N644 million would be required to upgrade the facilities.
On the purchase of operational motor vehicles and following discussions with the Budget Office of the Federation, Umar said N1.96billion had been proposed under the phased replacement of vehicles in the Presidential Ground Fleet and those in the Conference Coordination Unit (CCU).
‘‘It is noteworthy that most of the vehicles being proposed for replacement were procured more than 10 years ago and have since exceeded their useful economic lives.
‘‘This has resulted in frequent breakdowns and an unsustainable expenditure on repairs/replacements of parts,’’ he said.
He maintained that the released amount of N800 million was inadequate to procure the required numbers that need to be replaced partly because some of the vehicles are treated and very expensive.
On State House Clinic, Umar thanked the Committee members for their support in getting the Presidential/VIP Wing of State House Clinic off the ground.
He expressed delight that the project which was flagged off on Nov. 1, 2021, was at an advanced stage of completion.
‘‘This level of progress was attained given the full support of Mr President and the assistance of key stakeholders especially this distinguished Committee which has appropriated funds needed with the backing of and support of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning,’’ he added.
According to him, the project, which is 80 percent completed, will be delivered by the end of Dec., 2022 or latest during the 1st quarter of 2023.
Speaking on behalf of the Committee, the Chairman, Sen. Abba Moro, before adjourning the meeting sine die, said:
‘‘I am not unmindful that the State House is the hub of the government and everything radiates from there.
”We would do the needful and if there is a need for us to see you again, we will invite you.
”But so far with what has been discussed and presented to us, we will be able to do the needful to the satisfaction of all.’’
2023 Budget Defence: State House gets nearly 50 per cent cut
Nigerian Troops rescue 2 Kidnap victims in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN on Tuesday rescued two kidnapped victims during an aggressive patrol in plateau state.
The operation dubbed “HAKORIN DAMISA IV,” thwarted the kidnap attempt along Maraban Jama’a road in Jos LGA.
Intelligence sources told Zagazoma Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region that the troops deployed at Bisichi while responding to the distressed call on the kidnapping activities, stormed to the scene and discovered a brown Peugeot.
The sources said that the troops conducted a search Operation in the surrounding bushes and rescued the owner of the vehicle one Mr Abdul Bello along with another lady Miss Sekyen MELODY Yapshak who was kidnapped at her parents residence opposite Nigeria Police college.
The rescued victims were taken to the police college clinic for medical check and the vehicle was moved to the troops location for further action.
The source emphasized the commitment of OPSH to maintaining its efforts toward tackling security threats in the region.
He also highlighted that the operation will continue to target criminal elements and bring them to justice.
End
Nigerian Troops rescue 2 Kidnap victims in Plateau
Military
NAF airstrikes hit Bello Turji’s camp in Sokoto, exterminate scores of fighters including 3 bandit kingpins
NAF airstrikes hit Bello Turji’s camp in Sokoto, exterminate scores of fighters including 3 bandit kingpins
By: Zagazola Makama
Airstrikes conducted by the Air component of Operation Hadarin Daji of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on April 27, 2024, at Bello Turji’s camp in KAGARA forest located between Shinkafi in Zamfara and Isa LGA in Sokoto, has resulted in the killing of . scores of fighters including three top bandit kingpins.
It was gathered that the Air strikes were conducted a few hours after the terrorists carried out a reprisal attack on a unit of Civilian Joint Task force at Forward Operating Base ISA, in response to the killing of 7 bandits and recovery of 7 AK47 rifles, 4 x motorcycles and other items. Eight Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price during a gunbattle with the bandits.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region that acting on intelligence on withdrawal of the attackers towards the axis of Shinkafi, the Air component immediately dispatched aircraft to track down the terrorists.
Sources said that the terrorists were trailed to Kagara Forest under a Mango tree between Shinkafi and Isa. Consequently, NAF aircraft attacked the camp in multiple waves, leading to the instant obliteration of scores of the terrorists.
The fleeing bandits were intercepted and mopped up by the ground troops in an ambush at Makwaruwa village in Sabon Birni of ISA lGA.
Battle damage assessment indicated that some top bandits like KACHALLAH UBAN DABA, DAN JANGERU and DOGO NA HANTS, while 13 bandits sustained various degrees of injuries. Bello Turji reportedly escaped the attack.
Zagazola understands that the wounded bandits were sneaked into Kagara under ISA and receiving treatment in a Primary school.
The sources said that shortly after the killing Bello Turji’s fighters, the surviving angry fighters stormed Rijiya Malladan and Harin Shalla in ISA where they set the village in flames and destroyed food items. They were, however, pushed back by the Joint troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in collaboration with government backed militia, otherwise known as Yan sa Kai.
The preceding week has no doubt been eventful, especially for Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) in Northwest Nigeria. Alongside the Land Component and other security agencies, aircraft under these operational theatres have ensured that terrorist, insurgents and other criminal elements operating in the regions do not constitute significant security threats to innocent citizens within the regions.
NAF airstrikes hit Bello Turji’s camp in Sokoto, exterminate scores of fighters including 3 bandit kingpins
Nigeria: Troops stormed terrorist den, rescuing 44 in Borno
By: Our Reporter
The troops of Operation Lake Sanity IIII, a subsidiary of Operation Hadin Kai, have rescued 44 women, children, and the elderly after a major incursion into the insurgents’ dens in Timbuktu Triangle in Damboa LGA in Borno State.
It was gathered that the victims were rescued after some ISWAP fighters were subdued by the troops of Sector 2 Special Forces troops in collaboration with HYBRID and the Civilian Joint Task Force on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
NEWSng learned that the rescued victims include 28 children, 14 women, and 2 men. However, no military casualties were recorded on the side of troops during the operation.
The sources said that the troops’ resilience and doggedness are unwavering as further exploitation to complete annihilation of the insurgents is being sustained in the mountainous environment.
Nigeria: Troops stormed terrorist den, rescuing 44 in Borno
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