Marwa Advises on Discipline, Hardwork, Patriotism

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has charged the Nigerian Military School (NMS) boys to always make discipline, hardwork, loyalty, and patriotism their watchwords in all they do throughout the duration of their study in the school and afterwards.

Marwa, who gave the charge in his remarks as the special guest of honour and reviewing officer of the 70th Foundation Day parade of the military school, urged the boys to see the quality of education received in the school as a solid springboard for their future endeavours, even as he warned them against indulging in substance abuse.

He noted that the school has made historic contributions in remolding boys to cater to the manpower needs of the Nigerian Army and other fields of human endeavours of the nation at large.

Addressing the Class 6 Boys, Marwa said “the quality of education and solid foundation you have acquired in this prestigious institution is enough to serve as a springboard for your future endeavours. Therefore, discipline, hardwork, loyalty, and patriotism should always be your watchwords and should also guide your actions. I wish you all the best in your ongoing external examinations.”

He told the other grade boys that “you must continue to strive to maintain the level of discipline that NMS is known for. I am aware that your commandant is resolute and has maintained his resolve not to condone or spare any act of indiscipline in the school.”
He urged them to make a good choice of their future by abstaining from substance abuse.

“Studies and living experiences have also shown that drug abuse cannot solve any problem. Rather, it creates new complex challenges. The good news is that there is the other side of drug abuse for young people, which is intentionally embracing a drug free life, by choosing positive and healthy habits. With the world at your feet and God by your side, you have the power to take decisions on the kind of life you want to live, from now on and to set valuable goals and take actions that will lead you to a safe and productive destination. As students of this esteemed learning institution, you bear the burden of living and staying true to the ideals and spirit which we have all carried proudly over the years”, the NDLEA boss stated.

He said as an ex-boy and an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), “the time has come for us to begin consideration for automatic admission of graduating NMS boys into NDA.”

While expressing appreciation to the school management for inviting him as the reviewing officer of the 70th Foundation Day parade, Marwa recalled his own experience in the school. “On this very parade ground, I marched as a boy from 1966 to 1970. Indeed, I was one of the two stick orderlies on the foundation day parade of 20th May 1966 in my form one where then Lt Col Hassan Usman Katsina, then Military Governor of Northern region was the reviewing officer for that parade. It is therefore a great honour and privilege for me to stand before you today as the reviewing officer for the 70th Foundation Day parade of the Nigerian Military School (NMS), fifty-four years after my graduation”, he stated.

He commended the school established in 1954 and saddled with the responsibility of training proficient young Nigerians to provide leadership at the junior level in the Armed Forces, adding that the NMS has since its establishment 70 years ago made tremendous contributions to national development both within and outside the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Marwa Advises on Discipline, Hardwork, Patriotism

FG Asked Not to Relent in Regularizing Activities of Its Agencies for Effective Performance

By: Michael Mike

The federal government has been advised not to relent in its effort at regularizing the activities of its agencies to take out duplicity of roles and boost efficiency.

The advice was giving on Monday during the resumption to duty of the newly appointed Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Bariate.

Speaking at the event, Director, Inspection and Enforcement of NESREA, Abdulsalam Isa, while itemizing the challenges of the agency, which include workers welfare, low budget, amongst others, complained about the encroachment of the Ministry of Environment into the mandate of the agency.

He lamented that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was also duplicating some of the agency’s functions.

He said: “Presently, NESREA is confronted by multiple challenges that have hindered compliance monitoring and enforcement activities in recent times. These include: Lack of adequate funding which has made the agency to operate at a low capacity or inefficiency. Often times, accessing funds from government coffers is tough, and is a major obstacle to effective regulation of facilities. As a result, consistent visits and follow-ups are often lacking, leading to inadequate compliance monitoring and insufficient enforcement of standards.”

He added that: “To attain global standards, the agency’s financial quota needs a degree of increment/expansion that will shift the preponderance (superiority in weight, power, importance or strength) from short term funding to long-term funding for the agency’s growth and development. Recognizing the importance of compliance monitoring/enforcement and awareness creation as drivers of the existence of the agency, there is the need to strategically and consciously secure funds for work.”

He decried that: “There are functions which were domiciled with the agency that have been deliberately encroached on by the FMEnv, thereby causing rifts between the two parties. This has incapacitated the agency in the discharge of its duties.

“Also, just like most other government agencies, NESREA is faced with attempts by sister Agencies (example NAFDAC) to duplicate its functions, even when the NESREA Act clearly defines the boundaries of each Agency.

” It may interest you to note that since inception, the agency has established six (6) Zonal Offices, thirty-five (35) State Field Offices and two (2) Reference Laboratories across the nation to assist in tackling the various environmental challenges in all States of the Federation; however, the Agency regrettably has no field office in the FCT.

“The present office accommodation that houses the Headquarters is of great concern, considering the number of staff and available basic amenities in the building as well as proximity to other basic amenities such as transport stations, banks etc. Sir, serious attention is required in this area to ensure a conducive work environment for staff.

“Staff salary and welfare is grossly insufficient considering the extremely high cost of living in the country. Despite the hazards and challenges of the job, staff salaries have not seen a corresponding increase in recent years, and have remained stagnant since the last review in 2010, with no adjustments made to reflect the rising cost of living or the growing demands of the job.

“The agency’s salaries and allowances are nothing compared to other Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) worldwide and, even to similar Agencies like National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). So far, the Agency has made efforts to ensure a better salary and condition of service.

“Though at its final stage of implementation, the agency is yet to achieve any result due to political bottlenecks. This effort therefore requires urgent follow-up before implementation of the new minimum wage.”

On his part, the new Director General, Innocent Bariate said NESREA will need to work in unity to be able to achieve the agency’s mandate.

Innocent, who stressed the importance of unity, said, “I am coming with a plain mind and would want to assure you all that we will work together .”

He also added that: “We move not only to pursue the mandate but also to pursue the vision .

“The only way we can do that is by working together. You can count on me at all times but I will like to work with each and everyone.”

He also promised to look into the workers welfare, saying “under my leadership, I will pursue the welfare of workers.”

The DG also said that the agency will be collaborating with partners and other agencies to ensure that the agency fulfilled its mandates.

FG Asked Not to Relent in Regularizing Activities of Its Agencies for Effective Performance

GOC 7 Div. Visit frontline troops in Sambisa Forest, lauded them for killing 21 terrorists and rescuing 386 civilians

By: Zagazola Makama

The acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 of the Nigeria Army, Brig. Gen. Abubakar Haruna, has paid a morale boosting visit to the troops fighting Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest and lauded them for killing 21 Boko Haram terrorists, destroying their camps and rescuing 386 victims.

Gen Haruna, stated this while addressing the troops in the outskirts of Sambisa forest in Konduga LGA after welcoming them troops for conducting a 10-day operation.

Haruna said that the operation tagged “Operation Desert Sanity III was to clear Sambisa forest of the remnants of all categories of terrorists as well as provide some of them eager to surrender as observed the opportunity to do so.

“I want to commend you for your exceptional performance and professionalism exhibited during the operation and I urged you to sustain the tempo. Our Special Forces troops, the troops of 21 armored Brigade, the Civilian JTF and the Hybrid Forces have all done very well.

The Chief of Army Staff is highly pleased with your performance. Gentlemen, you have done your beat. You have sacrifice yourselves to ensure that peace and normalcy returns to the North East. This is a wonderful outing and we are very happy.

“We have to stop what ever we are diong and come here to let you know that we are with you always. To know what you people are diong so that we can have a feeling of what you people are giong through.

He urged them to do more to hasten the defeat of insurgency. My call on the officers and soldiers to remained committed noting that surely the end result will be a resounding success for all of us.

“Our effort is to ensure that we clear remnants of terrorists in the Sambisa and give those willing to surrender the opportunity to surrender. With this operation, we envisage many of them will surrender as they have started.

The troops have successfully cleared several Boko Haram enclaves ranging from Lawanti, Ukuba, Farisu, Sabil Huda, Njimia, Garin Gulukos, Garin Falluja, Shababul Ummah, Garin Pannel bitter and Lagara Anguwan Gwai Gwai among others.

The troops killed scores of the terrorists including their commanders and made recoveries of different types of arms, equipment and armored vehicles.

“We also rescued some civilians; as of yesterday, we rescued 386 and I am sure the number will increase by today,” Haruna said.

Some of those rescued who spoke, said they have been in captivity for the past 10 years and will be provided with medical support and rehabilitation.

We therefore thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja for giving us all the support which translated to this achievement and the Theartre Commander Commander, North East Operation Hadin Kai Joint Task Force, Maj. Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, for his strategic guidance and supervision.

Zagazola understands that the presence the GOC accompanied by his Principal Staff Officers of the Division in the frontline symbolizes a courageous leadership which has immensely boosted the morale of the fighting troops.

GOC 7 Div. Visit frontline troops in Sambisa Forest, lauded them for killing 21 terrorists and rescuing 386 civilians