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Border Security: NIS Command and Control Centre Comes Alive with Induction of 123 Officers

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Border Security: NIS Command and Control Centre Comes Alive with Induction of 123 Officers

By: Michael Mike

In order to enhance the nation’s security and checkmate the threat of porous border, the Federal Government on Monday inducted 123 officers into the Command and Control Centre facility at the Headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for border control, security and governance.

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, assisted by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap inducted the officers at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Tunji-Ojo said the infrastructures and facilities inside the Centre have been fully integrated with International Police (Interpol) and other security outfits across the world to do pre-profiling of passengers and pick up persons of interests anywhere in the world. 

He said: “Persons of interest would be picked up anywhere even before they board their planes to Nigeria because the facilities here have capacity and capability of pre-profiling passengers.@

The Minister, while revealing that President Bola Tinubu would soon commissioned the newly completed electronic passengers gates (e-gates) at the Airports in Lagos and Abuja, said the Command and Control Centre would operate 24/7 to monitor land,  maritime and air borders of the country. 

He noted that Nigeria is deprived of the luxury that other countries in Africa have as its geographical location that places it around 10 countries in the Sahel region and the Gulf of Guinea in the south where about 5 million barrels of crude oil is produced per day, makes it imperative for the borders to be well guided.

The Minister said with the commencement of operation of the Centre, the Nigeria Immigration Service has gone beyond procurement of travelling documents for its citizens, but now fully integrated into the security architecture of Nigeria to play a dominant role. 

Tunji Ojo said: “The NIS is now a crucial component of the National Security Architecture of Nigeria. We have here, the NIS that is determined to implement its responsibility. Nigeria Security now depends on you especially with the infrastructures and facilities in place at the Command and Control Centre. 

“These facilities provide data on Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS). It means nobody should come to Nigeria without pre-profiling them. So we have this facility for irregular migration and real time analysis on passenger movements

“I am prepared to give my best to Nigeria to ensure that the system works effectively and efficiently. I urge you as the first set of officers to man these facilities across the country to give your best as well. 

“There will be zero tolerance for error. And we have arranged the system in a way that fatigue would not set in on the officers that would be on shifts at every point so that they would do their jobs seamlessly. “

On her part, the Comptroller-General of Immigration Service, CGIS, Nandap said about 253 officers were selected for special training regarding the manning of the infrastructures at the Command and Control Centre, noting that the first set of 123 officers were representatives of various commands across Nigeria. 

Nandap, who described the induction as a special day in the history of the NIS, said the officers who scaled through the first stage of the training would move to the next stage which involved data analysis and travel plans.

She said the Advanced Passenger Information System, APIS, would enable the NIS pull data from different sources to track down persons of interests and check mate possible threats against the country.

Border Security: NIS Command and Control Centre Comes Alive with Induction of 123 Officers

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Three Bandits Killed as Terrorists Attack Chediya Community in Tsafe LGA

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Three Bandits Killed as Terrorists Attack Chediya Community in Tsafe LGA

By: Zagazola Makama

At least three suspected terrorists were neutralised on Sunday following a violent attack on Chediya community in Agarin ward of Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State.

According to local sources, armed bandits stormed the village in the early hours, opening fire and setting several houses ablaze. The residents, however, mounted stiff resistance, engaging the attackers in a fierce confrontation that resulted in the death of three of the assailants.

While the villagers succeeded in repelling the attackers, the bandits also burned down several homes and forced many families to flee for safety.

“They came heavily armed and started shooting sporadically. Some of our youth confronted them, and in the fight, we managed to kill three of them,” said a resident who asked not to be named for security reasons.

Three Bandits Killed as Terrorists Attack Chediya Community in Tsafe LGA

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Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution

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Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), on Monday, called for urgent global action to tackle plastic pollution causing environmental crisis.

APWEN, under its “STEM for All” initiative, North-East zone, made the call, while commemorating the 2025 World Environment Day in Gombe.

Speaking virtually, President of APWEN, Engr. Adebisi Osim, said it is imperative to encourage recycling of plastics, as part of measures to reduce pollution.

Osim noted that the amount of plastics manufactured annually for use had made it necessary for urgent actions to be taken, to ensure a cleaner and safer environment.

“Today’s theme, “End Plastic Pollution” is not just a catchy phrase, It is a wake-up call; a global one and we are answering that call, not with panic, but with STEM-driven solutions and people-centered action.

“According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the world produces over 430 million tonnes of plastic annually, and over two-thirds of that becomes waste.

“Alarmingly, less than 10 per cent is recycled, and the rest clogs our drains, litters our streets, chokes our rivers, and poisons marine life.

“Here in Nigeria, the World Bank estimates that Lagos alone generates 13,000 metric tonnes of waste per day, and 15 per cent of that is plastic.

“We see it daily in pure water sachets lining our gutters, single-use bags littering markets, and microplastics infiltrating our food chains,” she said
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Osim called on stakeholders to invest more in recycling the plastics towards reducing the need for new plastic production, which will in turn lower greenhouse gas emission.

She assured that state chapters are collaborating with young people, to design plastic alternatives, using local materials, and to build waste-sorting systems using simple robotics.

Osim added that the chapters will also explore the conduct of STEM fairs, which are focused on sustainable innovation.

In the same vein, Chairman of the Gombe chapter of APWEN, Engr. Deborah Danladi, urged stakeholders to invest in plastic waste recycling, to save the environment, as well as create jobs and wealth for youths.

Danladi also underscored the need for more action and sensitisation to ensure collective approach to addressing the menace of plastic pollution.

Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution

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UN Agencies Drum Support for Adequate Investment in MSMEs

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UN Agencies Drum Support for Adequate Investment in MSMEs

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations (UN) agencies in Nigeria have hammered on the need for adequate investment in the development of Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to advance economic growth in the country.

The agencies disclosed this during the commemoration ceremony of the 2025 MSMEs Day on Monday in Abuja.

The event was jointly organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Director, UNIDO Sub-regional Office, Abuja, Mr. Philbert Johnson, who was represented by National Programme Officer at UNIDO, Mr. Reuben Bamidele,, said that MSMEs role in nation building cannot be underestimated, therefore the need for adequate investment to ensure their sustainable growth is of uppermost importance.

Johnson said: “We are gathered together today to discuss proper ways to promote innovation and growth within the MSMEs sector.

“In Nigeria, as we know not less than 40million MSMEs are making huge contribution to the economic growth of the country, by providing employment and serving as means of livelihood for people.

“MSMEs, thereby, contribute to the growth of Gross Domestic Products across sectors of the country’s economy. We gathered to dissect the challenges MSMEs face and also, to work closely together towards achieving sustainable growth.”

The ILO Country Representative, Dr Vanessa Phala, stressed the need for strategic measures to be taken to bolster MSMEs impact on the nation’s economy.

Phala, who was represented by ILO’s National Project Coordinator for the Social Dimension of Ecological Transition, Stephen Agugua, said: “We look at how MSMEs can drive the future of the economy through job creation and employment. When you think of job creation and employment that is where ILO comes in.

“MSMEs are key to the growth of every economic sphere: Through this dialogue platform ILO will know the challenges MSMEs are facing and look at pathways for ensuring sustainable solutions collectively.”

The UNDP Deputy-Director, Ms Varsha Redkar-Palepu, represented the National Programme Specialist and Trade Focal Point at UNDP by Claire Henshaw,, described MSMEs as pivotal to nation building.

She noted that MSMEs form the foundation of inclusive and sustainable development in Nigeria, “MSMEs are vital engines for job creation, innovation and social mobilisation, particularly for women and youths. While operating on margins of formal economic systems, we need to put MSMEs at the centre of our development.

“In Nigeria and across Africa, MSMEs holds the key to transforming economic opportunities to meaningful development and the ambition into tangible outcomes,” Phala said.

On his part, Managing-Director of Prohealth, a private organisation, Dr Chinedu Nnabuihe who spoke on behalf of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), commended the UN agencies for putting the event together.

According to him, the event is dedicated to the invaluable role MSMEs play in advancing innovation, creating jobs, increasing inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the country.

“In Nigeria, MSMEs are the engine of our economy, driving local production, supporting livelihood and contributing significantly to national GDPs. This is amidst challenges posed by economic situation, limited access to finance and infrastructure.
“Nigeria MSMEs have continued to demonstrate resilience, creativity and determination. At NECA we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering an enabling environment in supporting MSMEs development,” Nnabuihe said.

The event attracted stakeholders from Small and Medium Enterprises Development (SMEDAN), Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nigeria Association of of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Others include, National Insurance Commission (NICOM), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

Highpoint of the event was visit by the stakeholders to the exhibition stand of MSMEs, overview of UNDP engagement with MSMEs, government agencies’ engagement with MSMEs and WIP-intellectual property for MSMEs.
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