National News
N18.9 trillion Worth of Properties, 587 lives saved from fire in 2021
N18.9 trillion Worth of Properties, 587 lives saved from fire in 2021
By: Our Reporter
The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has saved properties worth N18.9 trillion from destruction by fire as well as 587 lives and rescued 260 persons in 2021.
This was revealed by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at the decoration of newly promoted Deputy Controllers General (DCGs) of the Service in Abuja on Thursday.
According to the Minister, “Last year, the FSS responded to 2,845 SOS distress-calls in which 136 lives and property worth N3 trillion were lost. But the FSS was able to save 587 lives, rescue 260 persons and save property worth N18.9 trillion.
“In sum, the stock of the FSS has grown in leaps and bounds as the agency has contributed significantly to national security – in the protection of lives and property.”
He said the achievements were made possible through the interventions of the federal government between 2015 and now, noting that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration has committed more resources into the Fire Service than since its creation in 1901.
He said: “The attention and resources devoted by the Buhari administration since 2015 is more than whatever has been put into it since its establishment in 1901. Between 2015 and 2020, the Federal Government provided 106 modern firefighting trucks to the FSS.
“Last year, the Federal Executive Council also approved (and have since been procured and deployed) N10.4 billion infrastructure upgrade comprising of 44 firefighting engines, 15 water tankers, 15 rapid intervention fire engines (not conventional ones) that can go into the nooks and crannies to respond to distress-calls and 20 basic life support ambulances.
Also, 17 firefighting officers were sent to Belarus for an advanced trainer-training course. These officers are the master trainers that will be training other officers on modern firefighting, disaster and emergency management.”
Aregbesola commended the former m Controller General of the Service, Alhaji Liman Ibrahim, for his visionary leadership and invaluable contribution to the service, saying he will miss working with him.
“I must not fail to commend and thank the erstwhile CG, Ibrahim Liman, for his innovation, industry and perspicacity. He is the human instrument of revolutionary changes at the FSS.
“His capacity to grasp issues and policies and make them actionable is legendary. I will miss working with him. I thank him for his invaluable services to the nation through the FSS. I pray that he will be happy and fulfilled in retirement and have resounding success in his endeavours.”
The Minister condemned the rising incidents of criminals, hoodlums and touts who attack firemen and their equipment while attending to fire emergencies, stating that the Service has now developed capacity to effectively contain and deter them.
He said: “One sad recurring phenomenon is touts and miscreants attacking firemen and their equipment whenever they respond to fire emergencies. This is deplorable and totally condemned. For this purpose, we have worked out modalities on armed escorts accompanying firemen on assignment, for the protection of their lives and the equipment.”
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Aregbesola congratulated the newly decorated DCGs, stating that DCG Karibo Samson will continue to lead in acting capacity until a substantive Controller General is appointed.
He said: “I would like to congratulate the newly appointed Acting CG and DCGs being decorated today – Karibo Samson, Jaji Olola Abdulganiyu, Agunloye Teslim Oluokun and Agu Callistus Kanny (rtd). Samson will mount the saddle of the service in acting capacity until a substantive CG is appointed.
“It is of particular interest to me when the Acting CG said he joined the service as a fireman. It means the service is an equal opportunity employer; every fireman has the potential to become the CG.”
Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional Fire and Immigration Services Board, CDCFIB, Hajia Rufai Ahmed, read the citations of all the newly promoted DCGs and reasons why they were promoted. She urged them to live up to the billing.
Responding on behalf of newly promoted officers, Acting CG of the Federal Fire Service, DCG Karibo Samson thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the confidence reposed in them, stating they won’t disappoint Nigerians in discharging the statutory responsibility to the public.
Also at the event were Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaibu Belgore; Hon. Commissioner Appointment and Promotion CDCFIB, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Etim Bassey (rtd); Hon. Commissioner Discipline and General Purposes CDCFIB, ACG Ado Abdullahi Ja’afar (rtd), Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, CG Abubakar Audi; Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, CG Haliru Nababa, and other invited guests.
N18.9 trillion Worth of Properties, 587 lives saved from fire in 2021
National News
EU Declares Nigeria Matters to Us
EU Declares Nigeria Matters to Us
… Reiterates Commitment to Strengthen Long Standing Partnership
By: Michael Mike
The Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, David MacAllister on Monday declared the importance of Nigeria to the bloc, stating that Nigeria “matters” to us.
He also reiterated the bloc’s commitment to strengthening its long-standing partnership with Africa’s largest democracy, Nigeria.
MacAllister, who led a six-member European Parliament delegation on an official visit to Nigeria on Monday, after a meeting with the Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar disclosed that their mission to Nigeria was designed to deepen mutual understanding, explore new areas of collaboration, and reinforce political and economic ties between both sides.
He said: “We are a delegation of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, We are six members in total from five different countries, from three different political groups in the European Parliament. And this shows a cross-party interest in further deepening and strengthening the relations between the European Union and Nigeria.”
MacAllister while describing Nigeria as a strategic partner whose influence on the continent and beyond makes it an indispensable ally in shaping Africa–EU relations, said: “Nigeria is considered as a strategic partner for the European Union. “We have a long-lasting, good and close relationship based on shared values and also on joint interests.”
He noted that the visit was part of the Parliament’s tradition of engaging directly with partner nations to better understand their challenges and opportunities.
He said: “The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee travels with smaller delegations a few times a year to other parts of the world,” adding that: “We mainly travel to get to know better the countries, to understand better the challenges these countries are facing, and also the opportunities these countries have. And we are also there to very carefully listen.”
MacAllister while expressing appreciation to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs for hosting the delegation, noted that their discussion was insightful and covered a broad range of regional and global issues.
He said: “It was a great honour for us to be received by the Honourable Minister. His Excellency took more than one and a half hours of his precious time to really go into detail with many, many questions we had as regards the further development of the African Union, the further development of ECOWAS, and the developments in all neighbouring countries of Nigeria.”
He said the dialogue also reflected a shared interest in understanding the trajectories of both regions, stating that: “The Minister was also very interested in finding out how the further developments of the European Union will look like.”
He said: “Because just like Nigeria, just like ECOWAS, we in the European Union, of course, are also facing enormous challenges.”
He reaffirmed that Nigeria remains a vital partner in Europe’s engagement with Africa, stating that: “To sum up in one sentence — Nigeria matters. Nigeria matters for us in the European Union, and we in the European
Parliament are very keen to deepen the strategic partnership with Nigeria. And this will be our message when we go back home to Brussels.”
Responding, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, welcomed the lawmakers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, describing the European Union as a critical partner in trade, security, and development.
He said: “Any visit from the European Union has to be considered very important because Europe still remains our largest trading partner,” adding that: “Figures may vary, but it is not less than 31.8 billion euros.”
He described Europe and Africa as “natural neighbours,” emphasizing that geography should unite rather than separate the two continents.
He said: “For those who understand a bit of Latin, ‘Mediterranean’ means ‘water in the middle of land. So where Europe is concerned in its relations to Africa, what we have is water in the middle of land—we are closer than we imagine.”
He noted that Nigeria’s partnership with the EU extends beyond trade, touching on regional stability, food security, and job creation.
Tuggar said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emphasizes food security as his number one priority because we are a nation of 230 million people, expected to become 400 million by 2050. We are in a race against time to create jobs, feed our people, and ensure our population is healthy.”
He added that Nigeria’s recent inclusion as the 77th shareholder of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development reflects its commitment to global economic cooperation.
He saud: “We have a lot of lessons to learn from the European Union, which itself is still integrating. It gives us hope and serves as a model that we seek to emulate. We will continue to strengthen our collaboration with the EU in all areas.”
Other members of the European Parliament delegation included Christophe Thomas (France), Jaliana Lefebvre (Croatia), Marta Emigo (Portugal), and Tim Kenan (Finland).
EU Declares Nigeria Matters to Us
National News
PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS
PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Tinubu has made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture.
The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff. The new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.
Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retains his position.
The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service, and dedicated leadership.
The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
All appointments take immediate effect.
PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS
National News
Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy
Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria-Germany trade volume has hit an all-time high of €3 billion, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther said on Thursday
The envoy who addressed a press conference in Abuja said the 30% increase could be attributed to Nigeria’s economic recovery.
Gunther who called the press conference ahead of the joint Nigerian-German binational commission scheduled for Berlin, in German, noted that Nigeria remains “Germany’s second biggest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa with a total trade volume of 3 billion Euros,” adding that: “Trade volumes have increased this year by 30% due to Nigeria’s economic recovery.”
The envoy equally revealed that more than 90 German companies are active in the country, “indirectly creating about 17.000 jobs in Nigeria.”
Gunther also told journalists that good times between both countries were not over, promising Nigerians that more investments are on the way, especially in the energy and the pharmaceutical sectors.
She revealed that in the energy sector, the Presidential Power initiative is now in the second phase.
She said: “This cooperation with the German energy giant Siemens will add about 7 Gigawatts to Nigeria’s Energy Grid. Secondly, the German –Nigerian cooperation in the Gas sector, eliminating gas flaring and improving Nigeria´s CO2 footprint.”
The envoy revealed that the relationship has also improved in the area of Visa and Migration as no fewer than 7,600 visas were issued to both students and short term stay, adding that plans were already in place to increase the number.
Gunther said: “All the common goals and projects would not work if they were not supported by travels on all levels between our two countries, plus legal migration. Last year alone, the German Embassy here in Abuja and the German Consulate General in Lagos granted around 1400 long-term visas for purposes such as study in Germany, family reunion and employment as well as around 6200 visas for short-term stays such as business and tourism.
She revealed that: “This year, we are well on track to raise those numbers,” stating that:
“The German missions remain committed to furthering the bilateral relations by granting visas to properly documented applications.”
She also assured that in the area of military cooperation, Germany will continue to stand by Nigeria.
She said: “This year marked a new chapter: the launch of our first Bilateral Annual Programme, bringing military experts from both countries together for in-depth exchanges and joint planning.
“Through the Bundeswehr Advisory Group, Germany has been a reliable partner — supporting Nigeria with field medical expertise and counter-IED operations, car mechanical training and other interventions.
“And we’re not stopping here. Germany will continue to stand with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
“Next month, we’ll take this cooperation to the next level: for the first time, high-level military staff talks will take place in Abuja, opening the door to even closer collaboration in the future.”
She also revealed other areas of cooperation which includes support for the Nigeria police force and the drug enforcement agency amongst others.
In the area of stabilization efforts at containing impacts of terrorism and climate change, the envoy said: “Germany is supporting the development of resilient state institutions and the strengthening of local communities.”
She said focus are on the North East (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe) and the North West (Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina), “where initiatives such as the reconstruction of schools, health centres, markets, housing, and police stations are improving both security and daily life for local people.”
Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy
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