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Police, NSCDC Have Clear Roles Under the Constitution- Tunji-Ojo
Police, NSCDC Have Clear Roles Under the Constitution- Tunji-Ojo
By: Michael Mike
Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has said the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) should brace up to perform its constitutional given role, insisting that the constitution was clear on the role of the Corps which are to secure the nation’s critical infrastructure.
Speaking at the celebration of the World Civil Defence Day in Abuja on Friday, the Minister said there is distinct roles in the constitution for both the Nigeria Police Force and the NSCDC and there was no reason for a clash in roles.
He said that the members of Civil Defence Corps have no reason to perform the role of the police as they have a duty to ensure that the nation’s oil pipelines are not vandalized and oil theft is a thing of the past.
He equally said they have the duty of ensuring that a stop is put to illegal mining and that lives and property at mining sites are protection.
He said though they have done so much but much more need to be done in ensuring that Nigeria’s natural resources is not stolen by vandals and that public infrastructure are protected.
The Minister said: “I have not come here to commend you but rather to tell you to brace up as there is much more that needed to be done.”
He however called for collaboration between all security apparatus in the country to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.
The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi said the
Corps has intensified patrol, monitoring, surveillance and have emplaced adequate security measures to ensure protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) in all its formations across the Country including the Federal Capital Territory to prevent violent attacks, willful damage, vandalization and sabotage.
He said: “The Corps’ Anti-Vandal Squad and the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has continued to wage relentless war against vandals of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure and oil thieves among others.
“The sudden upsurge in the vandalization of railway tracks and sleepers is also being critically addressed as the Corps has begun an onslaught on these criminal elements/economic saboteurs. This renewed war has led to several arrests and seizures in the past one year.”
He revealed that between January and February 2024 alone, the Corps has made significant impact in the war against vandalization and oil theft where over 57 suspects have been arrested. A greater percentage of the arrested vandals are those involved in the vandalization of railway tracks and sleepers.
He said: “Similarly, on 11th January, 2024 at about 0057hrs, the Corps in conjunction with the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited also arrested a vessel, MT KALI suspected to have been involved in oil theft at the sea in Beneti, Bayelsa State.
“The Vessel was arrested with about 119 metric tons of crude oil already loaded. Twelve (12) crew members and eleven (11) community members on board were arrested and are undergoing investigation.”
Audi, who is also celebrating three years as CG, said parta of the achievements recorded from March, 2021 to date include
1,421 arrests, 933 prosecutions, 488 convictions and 233 destroyed illegal refineries.
Police, NSCDC Have Clear Roles Under the Constitution- Tunji-Ojo
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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