News
NSCDC CG Calls for Intensified Efforts at Safeguarding Schools
NSCDC CG Calls for Intensified Efforts at Safeguarding Schools
By: Michael Mike
Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi has frowned at the renewed spate of attacks on schools in the country and directed State Coordinators of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC), Commanders of Special Female Squad (SFS), men and officers of the Corps to intensify efforts towards protecting educational institutions which are among critical national assets and Infrastructure (CNAI).
The NSCDC boss stated this in a keynote address delivered at Corps National Headquarters Abuja, reiterating that NSCDC is a lead agency in the protection of CNAI, hence, commensurate response must be developed to end the menace of attacks on schools.
He said: “All personnel must join in the protection of schools or resign.
“We have a lot of issues concerning schools in the country and NSCDC is the lead agency in the protection of CNAI. We can’t fold our hands to watch things going wrong without commensurate response to restore stability in our schools, the Commandant General emphasized”.
Represented by the Deputy Commandant General in Charge of Administration, Adeyinka Ayinla, the CG decried the recent attacks on schools in Kaduna and Sokoto States where many pupils, students and a teacher were abducted and still being held by their abductors, stressing that the meeting was to place those specifically charged with the responsibilities of schools safety and security to be on their toes and assured them of maximum support.
The NSCDC boss also re-echoed the need for all schools in the country to register with the centre through its website:
www. nssrcc.gov.ng and reach the centre via some designated phone numbers that were made available to participants.
He emphasized the need for all State Coordinators of NSSRCC and Commanders of SFS to participate in all meetings of ‘The parents-Teachers Association’ and establish cordial working relationships with school communities and the traditional institution to win trust and confidence, noting that it can lead to free information sharing which may, in turn, facilitate swift response in distress situations.
Earlier in his remark, the Commander of the NSSRCC, Commandant Hammed Abodunrin explained that the centre is meant to ensure the safety of schools, adding that it gathers information from different locations and disseminates to where such information would be acted upon.
Abodunrin maintained that different security agencies with the mandate of protecting schools like Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Armed Forces and Defence Intelligence Agency are all represented at the centre and called on schools in the country to ensure the passage of timely information to the centre for immediate response.
On her part, Commander Special Female Squad, Assistant Commandant of Corps Imonikhe Oluwakemi, said the squad is designed to support the federal government’s Safe Schools implementation project, adding that they visit schools to sensitize pupils, students, and teachers among others on things to be done for enhanced security.
The SFS Commander stressed the need to have functional CCTV in schools adding that they have visited the federal ministry of education for that purpose.
She further called on parents and guardians to continue to educate their children and wards on safety and security measures in schools and assured that the Squad will continue to ensure maximum protection in all educational institutions in the country.
NSCDC CG Calls for Intensified Efforts at Safeguarding Schools
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
•••771 to Graduate in Nigeria in 2025
•••Otuaro Hails Scholars’ Performances
By: Michael Mike
Nine students awarded foreign post-graduate scholarships by the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated from their master’s degree rprogrammes in universities in the United Kingdom.
The successful scholars are the first graduates in the offshore post-graduate scholarship deployment to UK institutions by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic session.
They graduated from the Anglia Ruskin University, University of Dundee and The University of Law with master’s degrees in cyber security, data science and engineering, law, construction and civil engineering management, project management, and ICT.
Also, 711 undergraduate and post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries are expected to graduate from universities within Nigeria this year.
The PAP, on Wednesday, 3 December, 2025, organised a graduation reception for the scholars in London.
Otuaro has congratulated them on their successful graduation, stressing that they completed their programmes in record time which shows the seriousness they had put into their studies.
He said they have justified the Federal Government’s investment in their education with their successful graduation, and urged other beneficiaries not to be distracted in their academic pursuits.
“We congratulate these scholars on their successful graduation. It shows that they took their studies seriously. That is what we demand of every scholarship beneficiary, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate level”, Otuaro said.
He reiterated his unwavering commitment to expanding the scholarship scheme to create more opportunities for indigent students of Niger Delta extraction to access higher education with a view to closing the human capital development gap in the region.
Otuaro said it was for this reason he deployed 3800 beneficiaries in-country in the 2024-2025 academic year, and increased the figure to 3900 in the 2025-2026 academic session with 200 for foreign scholarships.
Otuaro has so far deployed 7700 students for the PAP scholarship scheme within Nigeria in less than two years.
Within this period, also, he has also deployed 162 students from the region for post-graduate programmes in targeted disciplines in the UK universities.
According to him, this is in conformity with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the Niger Delta, who has given unprecedented support to the PAP because of his sincere love for the area.
The PAP boss said, “Our decision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the Niger Delta. We will continue to create more higher educational opportunities for students from indigent backgrounds in our region.
“We are also deepening the implementation of the programme’s mandate in informal education and other areas for the sustainable peace and socio-economic advancement of the region.”
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
By: Michael Mike
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited has been incorporated to seamlessly allowed for the Refinery and Free Trade Zone in Ondo State.
A press statement on Thursday read that: “In furtherance of our commitment to the execution of these two major projects – Refinery and Free Trade Zone in conjunction with the Ondo State Government, the joint partners have taken another giant step by incorporating a joint company, namely – SUNSHINE JOINT VENTURE INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED – as the vehicle to be used in executing these projects. A move that further reinforces the sincerity of purpose and total commitment of the funding partners to move ahead together as a united front.
According to the release by Wale Adekola on behalf of the JV, the Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limitedwill, going forward serve as the vehicle to work with the Ondo State Government through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) in the implementation of the executed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
The statement added that: “In moving the projects forward for implementation, the JV team met in Dubai to finalize the funding modalities and put in place structures and plans for the commencement of activities for ground breaking and community engagements. These initial activities are aimed at complementing the 50th Anniversary of the creation of Ondo State and the one year anniversary of the election of the Executive Governor of the Sunshine State, His Excellency, Chief Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa CFR.
At the Dubai meeting were key officers of the JV Company, including: Messrs SALEHI FARHAD; ZAHERI NAVID; EGHBAL KORDJAMSHIDI; SAHEED ZAHERI; DR. STEPHEN DIKE; HENRY OWONKA AND MRS. NAMVAR MARYAM.
The statement further informed that, plans have been concluded to mobilize the relevant contractors working with the locals and host communities to put up structures that will host the information center, architectural models to showcase the projects on offer and facilities that will serve the team. All these are being planned with ONDIPA to execute the relocation and accommodation of the host communities that are likely to be affected by the projects and create a seamless transition that will engender peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship with our host communities.
The JV company further reiterated its commitment to work with Ondo State Government (through ONDIPA) to change the infrastructural landscape of the Sunshine State and for mutual benefits.
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
By: Zagazola Makama
Seven suspected bandits were arrested along the Benin–Agbor Road in Edo State during stop-and-search operations, security sources confirmed.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects, all Fulani youths, were intercepted after being offloaded from a truck at about 1800 hours on 2 December 2025. A search revealed pictures of assault rifles, including AK-47s, on their mobile phones.
Upon interrogation, the suspects claimed to have travelled from Adamawa State. Investigations are ongoing for the possible recovery of actual firearms and to determine their involvement in criminal activities.
Security agencies have urged members of the public to report any suspicious movements to help prevent criminal acts in the area.
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
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