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THE GEN CHRISTOPHER MUSA SHAIKH LAWAL ABUBAKAR TRIUMPH SHOULD KNOW

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THE GEN CHRISTOPHER MUSA SHAIKH LAWAL ABUBAKAR TRIUMPH SHOULD KNOW

By Zagazola Makama

Nobody is better placed to champion the cause of unity, peace and stability in the society than he who commands spiritual authority.

Riding on a high moral pedestal, such a leader possesses the capacity to mold the character under his moral influence into a force for good.

Spiritual leaders are like torch-bearers. Through their sobered preachments and pious disposition, they hold out the light in place of darkness, inspire hope in times of despair and provide moral compass for the people to navigate the truth.

It becomes concerning and indeed disappointing when such a moral or spiritual leader decides to turn his pulpit into a platform of misinformation, mischaracterisation and misrepresentation, for whatever reason.

It is even more dangerous when the object or subject of such misinformation, mischaracterisation and misrepresentation has to do with sensitive matters such as the defense and security of the country.

The video clip of a sermon by a revered Imam, Mallam Lawan Triumph surfaced over the weekend and not a few people were incensed by the content of what ought to have been a ‘sobered preachment’. For whatever reason, the good Imam veered off the spiritual upliftment of the congregants to pander to the highly inflammable Nigerian politics.

Not only was he trying to mix religion with politics, he went as far as diminishing the choice of Gen Chris Musa as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff; not on account of his competence but for where he hails from and the religion he professes!

In the reckoning of the good Imam, Gen Musa’s pedigree as a thorough-bred military officer, who has distinguished himself with a track record of excellence, does not matter while considering him for appointment as Chief of Defence Staff. What is paramount, in his estimation, is where the General hails from (Zangon Kataf) and where he worships!

As a matter of fact, the good Imam made a lot of inflammable submissions in that sermon which we will not bother to rehash here. It is, however, apropos to remind him and those other clerics who show no restraint in inciting their audience with divisive rhetoric, that they are not living up to their calling.

Their calling is to be fair-minded, unbiased, selfless, tolerant and peaceful. It is not to stoke ethno-religious division, nor to make inciting statements capable of igniting ethnic or religious conflagration.

Pray tell, how is it fair to say that General Christopher Musa is not worthy to be the Chief of Defence Staff simply because he is a Christian from a minority ethnic group of Kataf? How did were Gen Musa (or any Service Chief for that matter) hail from or where he worships determine his experience, competence, capacity and readiness to discharge his duty in accordance with the expectations of the Nigerian people?

In the face of mounting internal security challenges assailing the country and the north in particular, does the good Imam really care about who will produce results, or he is more interested in provincialism? More importantly, who says that the CDS or the Service Chiefs must come from any particular region or religion?

In any case, the crux of my intervention with this article is to allay the fears of the Imam (and those who share his views) about the choice of Gen Chris Musa as Nigeria’s 18th Chief of Defence Staff.

As a Counterinsurgency Expert who has covered Nigerian military’s counter insurgency and anti-banditry operations across the Lake Chad region and the northwest region of Nigeria in the last decade, I believe I stand in good stead to tell the Imam more about Gen Musa.

Like a professional colleague aptly captured it, the history of battle between the insurgent Boko Haram/ISWAP and the five countries around the lake Chad region can never be completely written without the mention of General Christopher Musa.

A warrior in all ramifications and a defender of the good of our common humanity, Gen Musa is a courageous gentleman officer whose structure and name alone send cold chills down the spine of terrorists.

Winner of the prestigious Collins Powell Meritorious Award for Soldiering, Gen Musa became the Theatre Commander, North East Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, in 2021.

His time at the North_East was marked by the ruthless decimation of tens of high-profile terrorist commanders and hundreds of their foot soldiers by troops of the Nigerian Military. Working in active synergy with sister-services and other security agencies, the troops under his Command consistently dealt deadly blows to the terrorist groups in his areas of responsibility.

With a combination of kinetic and non kinetic approaches targeted at the adversaries, it was under his command that over a hundred thousand Boko Haram members and their families laid down their arms and voluntarily surrendered to the troops of the Nigerian military. The efforts of the military under his command also led to the return of more than 1.5 million IDPs taken refuge in Maiduguri, Borno State capital back to their ancestral homes.

He facilitated the reopening of federal roads in Borno State that were closed due to insecurity and ordered the dismantling of a roadblock set up by security to boost economic activities in the state as well as to ease the hardship being faced by commuters and transporters on the highway.

His legacies at the North-East theater of operation also include the excellent management of man and material which saw to exponential improvement of troops’ welfare and good relationship with the civil populace.

His trajectory in the military made former President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm him with the prestigious National Award in the category of Officers Of the Order of the Federal
Republic.

At the end of his tour of duty at Operation Hadin Kai, Gen Musa was posted to Command the Infantry Corps, the position he held until his appointment as the Chief of Defence Staff.

What Nigerian Expect From Gen Chris Musa

It is the desire of every distinguished battle-tested General to command the entire Army one day if God so approves. But the God of General Musa rather chose another path for him, and which is that he should rather suprintend over the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria.

As the Chief of Defence Staff of a country where 34 out of 36 states are involved in one crisis or the other, only God can guide this General in this onerous task ahead of him. His ascension to the highest military rank in Nigeria is surely not by chance.

It is obviously the result of his track record of excellence. With the partnership and cooperation of the Service Chiefs, it is expected that the military under his superintendence will get on top of the current security challenges across the country and possibly contain them.

Residents of Plateau and Kaduna states respectively will be returned to their ancestral lands snatched from them by dare-devil bandits. That is ongoing because Nigerians have seen the new Army Chief, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, launch operation “Hakorin Damisa ” to take out daring bandits who have taken over more than 200 communities from residents.

Many internally displaced persons in Jos and environs know that they will soon return to their ancestral homes with this renewed zeal.

Above all, with the new GOC of 3 Division, Maj. Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, who has already hit the ground running by relocating his Operational Headquarters to Mangu, it is expected that the terrorists will be rooted out soon and most residents will spend Christmas in their homes already taken over by foreign bandits.

He is going into the Plateau war theater from his wealth of experience as GOC 7 Division and former Commander Sector 3 Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) of the North-East war theater. The state will soon have a big sigh of relief.

In Kaduna State, the ongoing wave of onslaughts against criminals in their enclaves has already drawn significant praises from the residents for completely clearing the bandits terrorising commuters along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway; so also the bandits tormenting Kuriga, Manini Chikun, Pole Wire, Birnin Gwari, Ungwan Namama, Kwalba, Rafin Dawa Dende,Ungwan Madaki, Buruku, Udawa, Doka, Maganda, Dogon Dawa, Sabon, Layi-Kuriga-Maganda-Farin Ruwa, Sabon Birni, Kuyelo,Farin Ruwa, Damba to Kangon Kadi, Labi,Udawa river Apewohe, Dakwala and Kunai villages among others.

The troops deployed in the areas artfully ensured that flashpoints within the Kaduna General area were also kept in check to prevent any form of dissent or criminal activities from any quarter.

The killings in Zamfara, Katsina and Niger states respectively will end and residents will return home. That is the expectation of people in Niger Shiroro, Birnin Gwari, Kuta and up to Sokoto.

In Kogi state, the sleeper cells of terrorists in Kogi, Okene Forest, Eyima, Okehi and Adavi, from where they are carrying out their heinous crimes, have been dislodged while 12 Brigade with two battalions with several FOBs are currently being mapped out to sustain the gains.

A lot of military watchers expect that some of the rusty conventional doctrines of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) will be deliberately tampered with to ensure new recruits understand right from the depot how to engage in asymmetric warfare, banditry and any other form of reinvented criminality.

The revered Imam, Malam Lawal Abubakar Triumph should be learned enough to know that Allah exalts whosoever He wishes, Muslim or Christian, to any position in the human society.

Malam should also know that the military’s constitutional duty and responsibility is to protect the territorial integrity and secure the country from internal and external insurrection.

So constitutionally sacred and exceptional are the military’s duties and responsibilities that whoever, Muslim or Christian, is adjudged most capable and competent to perform any task is assigned to do so without any bias whatsoever.

Gen. Christopher G Musa, who is exceptionally committed to the peace and security of Nigeria, was appointed CDS on the grounds of sheer credibility, capacity and competence, not on the grounds of his religion and region.

Zagazola Makama is a Counter-Insurgency expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region.

THE GEN CHRISTOPHER MUSA SHAIKH LAWAL ABUBAKAR TRIUMPH SHOULD KNOW

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Military

“GOODBYES ARE NOT THE END, BUT THE BEGINNING OF NEW JOURNEYS,” SAYS MAJOR GENERAL MAINA………as He Hands Over to Major General UM Alkali, the 7th Commandant of AWCN

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January 23, 2025

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“GOODBYES ARE NOT THE END, BUT THE BEGINNING OF NEW JOURNEYS,” SAYS MAJOR GENERAL MAINA………as He Hands Over to Major General UM Alkali, the 7th Commandant of AWCN

By: Hashimu Saad

The Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) witnessed a memorable leadership transition on 22 January 2025, as Major General Ishaya Maina handed over the leadership to Major General Umar Mohammed Alkali, the 7th Commandant of the institution. The ceremony, held at the College Conference Room in Asokoro, Abuja, marked the end of an impactful tenure for Maj Gen Maina and the beginning of a new chapter for AWCN.

In his valedictory address, Maj Gen Maina reflected on his tenure, which began on 30 June 2023, describing it as a challenging yet rewarding journey. Expressing gratitude, he acknowledged the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) for granting him the opportunity to contribute to training operational-level leaders in line with the COAS’s Command Philosophy:

“To consolidate the transformation of the Nigerian Army towards bequeathing a well-motivated and combat-ready force that can effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.”

Maj Gen Maina extended his appreciation to the College Governing Council, the Chief of Training (Army), and other Army Headquarters Principal Staff Officers for their critical support, which enabled AWCN to fulfill its mission of producing well-trained, educated, and inspired operational leaders for the Nigerian Army.

Addressing the College staff, he urged them to offer the same unwavering support to the incoming Commandant, Major General Umar Mohammed Alkali.

In his remarks, Maj Gen Alkali expressed his deep appreciation for the trust reposed in him to lead such a prestigious institution. He pledged to continue building on the foundation laid by his predecessors, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, innovation, and a forward-looking approach.

“The Army War College Nigeria holds a strategic role in shaping the operational leadership of our Army. I am committed to ensuring that we sustain and enhance the standards of excellence that this institution is known for. Together, we will forge new paths, introduce cutting-edge methodologies, and strive for transformative outcomes in the training and education of our operational leaders.”

He called on the faculty and staff to maintain their dedication and professionalism, as their contributions are vital to achieving the College’s objectives.

The event featured several key moments, including a tour of the College facilities, the signing of handing-over notes, the ceremonial transfer of the College flag, the presentation of souvenir, and a group photograph.

As he bid farewell, Maj Gen Maina left the audience with an inspiring message: “Goodbyes are not the end, but the beginning of new journeys.”

“GOODBYES ARE NOT THE END, BUT THE BEGINNING OF NEW JOURNEYS,” SAYS MAJOR GENERAL MAINA………as He Hands Over to Major General UM Alkali, the 7th Commandant of AWCN

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Ogidigben $20 billion Gas Project: Nigeria Receives Investment Commitment from Chinese Firm

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January 22, 2025

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Ogidigben $20 billion Gas Project: Nigeria Receives Investment Commitment from Chinese Firm

By: Michael Mike

The federal government has received a commitment from a Chinese firm, China National Chemical Engineering International Corporation Ltd (CNCEC), to support the development of the $20 billion Ogidigben Gas Project in partnership with Nigerian stakeholders in a restructured funding partnership.

The commitment was given to the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) Joseph Tegbe who is presently leading a team to China to market Nigeria and its opportunities for investment.

A press statement on Monday read that Tegbe held strategic sessions with renowned Economist and former World Bank Director Prof Justin Lin Yifu, who pledged support for the NCSP office in areas of policy implementation, reforms, and attraction of Chinese investments.

The Director General delegation was also hosted by China National Chemical Engineering International Corporation Ltd (CNCEC), whose President Li Zhenyi, expressed his company’s commitment to contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth through construction and industrialization specifically their strong desire to support the development of the $20 billion Ogidigben Gas Project in partnership with other Nigerian stakeholders in a restructured funding partnership.

The Director-General acknowledged CNCEC’s technical capabilities and their previous accomplishments; and also reiterated the bold and audacious support of President Bola Tinubu on the major developmental projects across Nigeria as national priority to fast track the nation’s industrialization.

Tegbe’s visit to China was as part of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) projects coordination, and investment drive, and he has continued to have strategic engagement with key Chinese stakeholders to deepen the bilateral cooperation. The visit aimed to review priority FOCAC projects, explore innovative funding options, and attract major Chinese investments into Nigeria.

In Beijing, the Director-General met with representatives from China EXIM Bank and China Development Bank to discuss accelerated delivery of priority projects. The delegation also visited the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Headquarters, where they toured a 2.5 million eggs-per-day production poultry farm, a visit to the firm aimed at assessing the feasibility of replicating similar projects in Nigeria using innovative funding models, such as the part contractor-financed, BOT, among others as recently adopted in other China financed projects.

During the visit, the delegation moved to Xinjiang where they visited TBEA, the number 1 electricity corporation in China and leading power transmission enterprise. They discussed status of their project and explored investment options and opportunities in mini and microgrid solutions to enhance Nigeria’s power sector.

The delegation’s next stop was at Shanghai where they made a courtesy call to the Nigeria Consulate in Shanghai, engaging in productive discussions about trade and investment opportunities in the region. These conversations focused on facilitating growth in key areas and exploring ways to enhance cooperation between the Consulate’s trade mission and the Director-General’s office.

The delegation thereafter visited the impressive Yangshan Deep-Water Port, also known as Shanghai Port. This massive port is currently the largest in the world, was constructed by China Harbor Engineering company, who also constructed the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Nigeria. The port
boasts an incredible capacity of 51 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). During their visit, the delegation had the opportunity to cross the remarkable 35-kilometre bridge, specifically designed for the evacuation of men and materials from the port. This bridge is a testament to China’s impressive engineering capabilities.

According to the statement, before leaving China, the delegation is expected to engage key players in Chinese economy in Shenzhen, and Guangzhou to facilitate and fast-track FOCAC project implementation through familiarization and feedback sessions with the relevant participating companies.

The statement added that “the ongoing visit is part of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership’s efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and promote economic cooperation between the two nations, an initiative that aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria’s economic growth and development, particularly in areas such as infrastructurb development, technology transfer, and job creation.

Ogidigben $20 billion Gas Project: Nigeria Receives Investment Commitment from Chinese Firm

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AT 2025 WEF, VP Shettima Markets Nigeria, Africa As Investment Destination

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January 22, 2025

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AT 2025 WEF, VP Shettima Markets Nigeria, Africa As Investment Destination

** Says Africa Has Indeed Woken Up

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said serious investors can now take unfettered advantage of Nigeria’s growing investment climate to tap from the limitless opportunities in the country and the African continent.

VP Shettima spoke on Tuesday during a forum titled, “Roadmap to Co-create Investment Opportunities for Africa’s Frontier Markets,” at the ongoing annual meeting of the 2025 World Economic Forum ( WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

At the session which was co-chaired by Mirek Dusek, Managing Director of World Economic Forum, and chaired by Marie-Laure Akin Olugbade, Senior Vice President, African Development Bank (AFDB) group, discussions focused on the Humanitarian and Resilience Investing Roadmap for Africa.

He told the forum that the tales they hear about the country and the African continent as a whole are really not that of doom and gloom as being painted by doomsday proponents.

The Vice President noted that Nigeria is poised to invade the global business platform with modernisation and robust investments, assuring that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a seasoned chartered accountant, is working to make the nation an investment destination in Africa.

“For 20 years, I have been in the Nigerian banking industry. I was a general manager in Nigeria’s largest bank, Zenith Bank. I grew up in that ecosystem. The President himself is a seasoned chartered accountant. So, I believe that Nigeria is ready for business, Nigeria is ready to embrace the path of modernization with very robust investment,” he declared.

Acknowledging however that the nation may still have certain deficits, VP Shettima pointed out that Nigeria is looking up to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to address the challenges.

He stated: “We are having a huge deficit but we are looking forward to the AfCFTA and that involves investing in infrastructure for instance the coastal highway from Calabar to Lagos is the largest single investment in Africa. We are building corridors to the North.

“We have the West African gas pipeline. We are thinking ahead of time akin to the Belt and Road Initiative. We are partnering with 14 African countries to invest in gas infrastructure down to Morocco.”

Senator Shettima insisted that Africa is not all about tales of doom and gloom, maintaining that the continent has woken up from its slumber.

Likening Napoleon Bonaparte’s opinion about China to the case of Africa, the VP said, “So, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the stories you hear about Africa are not that of doom and gloom. From DRC to Somalia, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire, Africa is waking up from its slumber.

“I remember what Napoleon Bonaparte said about China, he said “China is a sleeping giant but when she wakes up, she will rattle the world”. So, Africa has woken up and we will take our rightful place in the comity of nations because as I said earlier, the trajectory of global growth is facing Africa. We are the youngest continent.”

Also drawing a leaf from the late Nigerian head of state, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, VP Shettima said Africa has come of age and can no longer be treated like an adolescent.

“I want to quote Murtala Mohammed – a Nigerian military leader at an extraordinary summit of the OAU, about 50 years ago. He said “Africa has come of age, it is no longer under the orbit of any extra-continental power, and it shall no longer take orders from any country, however powerful,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, in a show of African leadership collaboration at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Shettima, on Tuesday joined South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, as special guest of honor at a high-level briefing, following his earlier participation in the Africa Investment Forum.

….VP Shettima, Botswana’s President Hold Talks

  • Meet WTO DG, Okonjo – Iweala

Similarly, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the President of Botswana, Duma Boko, on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting where areas of mutual interest between both countries were discussed.

The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos, Switzerland, is part of Nigeria’s commitment to fostering stronger intra-African relations and economic cooperation.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of leveraging their countries’ strengths to promote mutual growth and development.

The Vice President, who congratulated President Duma Boko on his election victory, called for deeper partnerships and collaborations between African nations, saying it is time Africa united and presented a common front on interests regarding the continent.

During the meeting, Vice President Shettima welcomed the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, introducing her to the Botswana President.

The Vice President commended Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s exceptional achievements, describing her as one of Africa’s finest.

Other areas of interest discussed between the two leaders included trade, investment and strengthening of diplomatic ties.

AT 2025 WEF, VP Shettima Markets Nigeria, Africa As Investment Destination

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