VP Shettima Decorates Newly Promoted Police Officers in His Office

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday decorated five police officers from his security detail with their new ranks following their recent promotion by the Police Service Commission.

The officers promoted included Idowu Olatunji who moved to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) from Superintendent of Police. Adamu Barma was elevated to Superintendent of Police (SP), while three officers – Rufai Mohammed Bello, Usman Abubakar, and Yanas Zidon – were all promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

At a brief decoration event at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Shettima praised the officers’ dedication to duty while reminding them of the increased responsibilities that come with their new positions, just as he assured them of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the development and welfare of all security agencies.

He said, “Today’s event is a recognition of your dedication and hard work but with promotion comes greater responsibility as the President is proud of the work and sacrifice you make for all Nigerians.”

The Vice President emphasised the importance of maintaining professional standards, urging the officers to remain above reproach and stay committed to the core values of the Nigeria Police Force.

He also expressed gratitude to the Police Service Commission for their swift approval of the promotions.

VP Shettima Decorates Newly Promoted Police Officers in His Office

Roadmap for Mangrove Conservation and Protection Underway- FG

By: Michael
Mike

The Federal Government has disclosed ongoing plan to develop a roadmap for the conservation and protection of mangroves in the country.

Speaking at a parley with journalists in Abuja, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat, Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe, said a roadmap which will outline key priorities for Nigeria in mangrove conservation, reforestation, afforestation, and protection is in the offing.

Maduekwe, who is also the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, explained that the roadmap aligns with the mangrove breakthrough initiative launched at COP27 and the Secretariat’s 2025 theme, which is to amplify nature-based climate solutions.

She further explained that the roadmap will also focus on identifying the necessary actions, setting clear goals, and developing a strategic investment plan to ensure effective implementation and long-term sustainability of environmental initiatives.

She noted that the world has identified that mangroves are important because you are talking about livelihood, coastal resilience, improving the livelihoods of the community members, amplifying nature-based climate solutions. “We’re starting with the mangrove technical site visits to the nine states in the Niger Delta because we’re talking about coastal resilience,” she revealed.

Maduekwe said: “We are going to the mangroves to see for ourselves what the status is and what we need to do as a country to further firm up our adaptation in that area. One of the things that is going to come out from the technical visit is the roadmap. We’re developing a roadmap for mangrove conservation and protection for the country.

“As part of the technical site visit, we’re having a town hall meeting in Calabar, Cross River State. Significantly, Cross River is the first state to have adopted the climate change law and they have a green economy commission. We found it important that we have the town hall meeting in the first state that has been able to warehouse the Climate Change Act. So, we’re having a town hall meeting on February 4th this year.”

She said that the town hall meeting will bring together teams from various states, including Commissioners of Environment, international partners, and stakeholders, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for financing mangrove conservation and protection in Nigeria while focusing on identifying grant opportunities.

She added that: “The mangrove site visit and the town hall meeting are part of our preparatory efforts towards the event we’re having in March in Lagos State, which is a symposium on the intersection between arts, climate change, and the mangroves, and then have the art exhibition on March 5th.

“When you’re talking about the Arts day and the environmental day, our focus is working with all stakeholders to focus on planting trees. We know that Nigeria is dealing with accelerated reduction of our forest cover, so planting trees will also enforce that as well, and that is also part of the nature-based climate solution.”

She said the mangrove breakthrough initiative aims to raise $4bn in sustainable finance, focusing on mangrove conservation, afforestation, and protection, adding that: “Nigeria is aiming to be part of that $4bn, and that’s why we’re having the roadmap. One of the challenges we have identified about mangrove afforestation, conservation, and protection is the absence of a policy document.

“Recently, Indonesia has received finance from the World Bank to develop and to do mangrove conservation, but that’s a loan. I’m looking at how Nigeria can warehouse climate finance grants, so Nigeria must have a strategy document, and that’s what that roadmap is about.”

Roadmap for Mangrove Conservation and Protection Underway- FG

Lukurawa extremist Attack Police Checkpoint in Kebbi, killed 2 policemen

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected extremists, believed to be members of Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), otherwise known as LUKURAWA have attacked a police checkpoint at Garin Natshini Gada in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State in the early hours of Jan. 3, resulting in the death of two police officers.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the attackers, reportedly on motorbikes, overran the Nigeria Police Force personnel stationed at the checkpoint, seizing two AK-47 rifles and other items.

They also rustled a significant number of cattle during the assault. A police patrol vehicle was abandoned at the scene.

Troops from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Argungu, in collaboration with elements from Augie, responded swiftly by conducting clearance patrols to the affected area, approximately 10 kilometers from Argungu town. Upon arrival, they discovered that the extremists had already vacated the scene.

According to local sources interviewed by the troops, the attackers retreated along identified withdrawal routes. The military has since dominated the area and initiated an exploitation operation to pursue the assailants.

The bodies of the fallen police officers have been evacuated to the morgue while efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen cattle are ongoing as security forces intensify their operations to restore normalcy in the region.

Lukurawa extremist Attack Police Checkpoint in Kebbi, killed 2 policemen