National News
WHY WE MUST CRUSH ILLICIT DRUG SYNDICATES – TINUBU
WHY WE MUST CRUSH ILLICIT DRUG SYNDICATES – TINUBU
By: Our Reporter
Urges continent’s anti-narcotic agencies to consolidate partnerships
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has implored heads of national drug law enforcement agencies in Africa to renew the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in their respective countries.
Specifically, the Nigerian leader warned vehemently that the African continent would remain in chains till it breaks free from the shackles of the criminal enterprises of drug barons and syndicates of illicit drugs.
President Tinubu sounded the warning in Abuja on Tuesday when he declared open the 31st meeting of the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa (HONLAF) at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
“If we don’t dismantle the criminal enterprises that threaten our future and build a brighter tomorrow for all Africans, we will remain in chains in a diseased and amoral world, as will our children and their children,” he told the anti-narcotics agencies’ chiefs.
In his keynote address titled, ‘Rising Above the Drug Threat’, the President who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event, observed that Africa was “at the mercy of a threat that knows neither race nor geography, neither gender nor social class”.
To this effect, he enjoined the heads of drug law enforcement agencies to consider the conference in Abuja as a ray of hope and a catalyst for positive change across the continent.
President Tinubu thanked them for their sacrifices in ensuring a world that is free of illicit drugs.
He said, “This threat has crossed borders and destroyed societies and dreams. Without the moral commitment of the men and women in this room, this threat would have left cities, countries, and even civilizations erased. So, I must commend you for your sacrifices in the bids to keep our world drug-free, sane and safe.
“This conference emphasizes your investment across borders to protect us from the devastation of drugs, a threat that only submits to the enforcement of the law.
“Therefore, we are grateful to HONLAF and its partners, notably the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for creating this avenue, for offering intelligence and drug law enforcement officials a grand opportunity to compare notes, collaborate, and build networks that would be several steps ahead of the criminal network of drug transnational organizations.”
Tinubu noted that in the last couple of decades, criminal organisations had made frantic efforts to breach the security measures in African countries, all in a bid to pollute the minds of their citizens, adding however that the anti-narcotics agencies have proven to be a thorn in their flesh.
The President who doubles as the chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated: “But while it’s a compliment that drug-law enforcement organizations are a threat to their criminal empires, their desperation must never be taken for granted.
“Without you as gatekeepers of healthy nations, humanity as we know it would have long been perverted. So, on behalf of the world, I say: thank you, thank you to all of you who have kept us from being polluted and destroyed.
“For us, the commitment to the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse is not just a matter of policy; it is a moral imperative. We recognize that a population at war with drugs is not a dividend but a liability. We believe that the future of our youth, the strength of our institutions, and the well-being of our communities depend on our ability to eradicate this threat.”
President Tinubu further stressed the need for the anti-narcotics agencies to consolidate established contacts, strengthen operational existing partnerships and cooperation among them at the sub-regional and regional levels. This, he said, would make trafficking of illicit drugs and movement of drug syndicates difficult in the African continent.
On the choice of Nigeria for the conference, President Tinubu said it is a profound recognition of the campaign and fight against illicit drugs in the country by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“We are hosting the 31st HONLAF meeting here to reassure you of our promise to participate in building a world not threatened by the infiltration of illicit drugs,” he added.
Declaring the meeting open, the President said, “while I encourage you to take some time out from the busy schedule of your programs to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of Abuja, I thank you for your dedication and resolve in this noble cause and look forward to the fruitful discussions and partnerships that will emerge from this gathering.
Welcoming guests earlier, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), restated the stakeholders’ commitment to addressing the world’s drug problem, noting that Nigeria will continue to uphold the objectives of multilateral organizations dedicated to combating drug trafficking and related crimes.
He emphasized the need for global partnerships in addressing drug trafficking and other vices, noting that the world’s drug problem cannot be effectively tackled by individual entities.
Speakers at the opening session of the meeting included the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), Mr Ghada Fathi Waly; the UNODC Country Representative, Mr Oliver Stolpe; The Commandant of the National Institute for Security Studies, Mr Ayodele Adeleke, and Representative of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, among others.
WHY WE MUST CRUSH ILLICIT DRUG SYNDICATES – TINUBU
National News
VP Shettima Restates FG’s Commitment To Improved Healthcare Delivery
VP Shettima Restates FG’s Commitment To Improved Healthcare Delivery
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria, especially in rural areas.
He specifically recognised the critical role of medical professionals in Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem, assuring of the government’s commitment to supporting and retaining healthcare talent in the country.
Speaking during a visit by a delegation from the West African College of Physicians (WACP), VP Shettima commended healthcare professionals for their dedication to serving the nation, despite challenges.
“Yours is a very noble profession and many of the young ones are opting to leave the country but you did not. It’s not because you have not had options, but you felt a moral obligation to stay at home and serve,” he said.
The Vice President assured the delegation that the government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is committed to addressing healthcare challenges.
He highlighted the appointment of Professor Muhammadu Ali Pate as the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, noting the Minister’s deep understanding of the health sector.
“We will treat members of our professional bodies with dignity and respect. We will provide the enabling ground for you to work in Nigeria,” VP Shettima promised.
Recalling his efforts to support healthcare education in Borno State, the Vice President said, “In 2014, as governor of Borno State, I took it upon myself to sponsor female citizens of the state to study Medicine and Surgery in Sudan.
“The students have all graduated and licensed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to practice medicine in Nigeria and are under the employment of the state government.”
He emphasised the government’s moral obligation to assist the people, saying, “We have a moral obligation to assist our people. In the fullness of time, we will have a course to rejoice. We will support you.”
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr. Jeremiah Aboi Madaki, thanked the Vice President for his support of the 48th Annual General and Scientific Conference of the West African College of Physicians.
Madaki expressed optimism about the government’s commitment to improving healthcare systems, even as he shared the communique of the conference with the Vice President.
“We are here to thank you for your encouragement and for advancing discussions on health system revitalization under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Dr. Madaki also assured of the College’s commitment to policy advocacy and its plans to work closely with the government to implement evidence-based policies that improve healthcare outcomes in Nigeria.
Other members of the delegation included Dr. Habibu Galadanci, Dr. Ogugua Osi-Ogbu and Dr. Tahir Umar.
VP Shettima Restates FG’s Commitment To Improved Healthcare Delivery
National News
A New Era for the Nigerian Army: Setting Agenda/Defining the Priorities for General Oluyede – The Gift, the General, the Legend
A New Era for the Nigerian Army: Setting Agenda/Defining the Priorities for General Oluyede – The Gift, the General, the Legend
By Zagazola Makama
The recent appointment of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff following the passing of Lt Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest for enhanced national security. With rich resume of command and staff appointments, General Oluyede is well-equipped to tackle the multiple internal/external security to defend the territorial integrity challenges assailing Nigeria.
A consummate infantry officer who has held several respective challenging positions to mention a few, Gen Oluyede’s was the Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School and many more.
General Oluyede participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation Lafiya Dole and HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade and Commander Sector 2 of the Nigerian Army at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2020. His resume speaks for itself, a resolute leadership in a time of need.
As General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, he explicitly distinguished himself as a gallant commander who gave oil thieves in the Niger Delta region a bloody nose. He was also the Commander of the elite Infantry Corps in Kaduna where stripped an indelible mark with pragmatic transparency. With great leadership skills, he served until this current appointment as the Acting Chief of Army Staff. The mantle is passed to a General of soldiers but a father to all, passionate and dedicated leader.
As he takes charge, General Oluyede has his work cut out for him at a time the country is buffeted by the multiplicity of internal and external challenges ranging from terrorism, insurgency, cross-border banditry, kidnapping, secession agitation, attacks on maritime assets, other forms of violent criminalities and transnational crimes. Being the linchpin in the country’s internal security operations, the Nigerian Army, which he now leads, is currently deploying its troops in 36 out of 36 states of the federation for one significant operation or the other. This sphere could only be a position suited for a decorated General like the new Chief of Army Staff, who no doubt will deliver.
Expectedly, Nigerians are holding their breath in anticipation as they eagerly await the new Army Chief’s plan of action and how he intends to tackle the country’s numerous security challenges. But feelers from close quarters indicate that the gallant infantry General would prefer to maintain the momentum he met ” another wise turn of leadership as others could have made changes too sudden and too gullible to begin. He is said to have decided to continue from where his late predecessor and former course mate stopped as the wise saying goes ‘building a house or bridge has its foundation:. In fact, he has adopted both the administrative and command structure put in place by Gen Lagbaja, including so worthy of emulation to include his mission, vision and command philosophy, at least for now.
This spectacular commitment to continuity and building on existing foundations is lauded by close watchers considering the current momentum steering in the entire battle against terrorism, insurgency and banditry in the country. What this translate to is that Gen Oluyede appreciates the quality of work done by his predecessor and understands the imperative of maintaining the momentum leveraging on team work, shared purpose and collective action which the Nigerian Army is well known for.
Even though his coming into the saddle was never foretold given the unexpected demise of the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, Gen Oluyede, true to type as a gallant General of the Nigerian Army, has since appointment hit the ground running. Just couple days in office, he took a trip to Sokoto State where the terrorist group aka Lakaruwas were reported to have commenced attacks on some communities. To see things himself and assesses the readiness of his troops to confront the new challenge, this spark is the beacon light of motivation, morale and high spirits needed for operatives on internal security operations in the field. During that visit, he charged up the troops to deal decisively with situation and ensure that the terrorist group are totally obliterated. Few days ago in Kaduna where he went to hand over formaly to his successor at the Infantry Corps, the Army Chief disclosed that what is uppermost in his mind were the welfare of personnel and the protection of Nigeria’s national security. Another posture of wisdom and the administration of office.
As General Oluyede begins his tenure, several key areas, in our reckoning, demand attention in order to effectively to tackle Nigeria’s internal security challenges, and this include prioritizing decisive action against the Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency in the north east and surrenders from the group and the War against Banditry in the North West. Even though the efforts in those theatre’s of operation is up and running effectively so, it is expected that he will add more fillip to the operational effectiveness of the troops.
One key area that the new Chief was already paying close attention is interagency collaboration, synergy and liaison: Fostering seamless collaboration with sister services and other security agencies is crucial to tackling Nigeria’s complex security landscape. During his recent visit at the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration(NASFA), Apapa, Lagos, he charged Regimental Seargent Majors (RSM)of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force and the Nigeria Police to curb inter agency rivalry and be exemplary in carrying out their statutory duties as custodians of discipline,regimentation, as well as customs and traditions of their various services.
It is good that the General has already identified welfare of his troops as one of his top priorities, we expect him to also up-build the capacity of the troops through adequate training and provision of needed equipment and combat enablers that will make the job easy for the gallant soldiers. There is no doubt that enhanced personnel welfare and capacity building will enhance morale and operational effectiveness of the troops.
Gen Oluyede should also embrace innovative strategies to address emerging security threats. This is important because there is the need for him to think outside the box and come up with ingenious ideas considering that the traditional methods may not have been effective enough to address the complex emerging security challenges that Nigeria is confronted with. He will need to adopt multi-dimensional approach community engagement – building trust with local communities to gather intelligence and prevent violent groups from taking foothold. Again, he is in a challenging spot with the activities of extremist and junta authorities in the SAHEL where the right approach or measures to intensely secure and defend Nigeria’s integrity is paramount.
By focusing on these key areas and embracing the principles of continuity, innovation, and accountability, General Oluyede will no doubt primed to lead the Nigerian Army to greater heights and ensure a safer, more secure Nigeria for all. We at Zagazola Media Network wish him a successful tour of duty.
Zagazola Makama is a counter insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad Region.
A New Era for the Nigerian Army: Setting Agenda/Defining the Priorities for General Oluyede – The Gift, the General, the Legend
National News
VP Shettima Launches Innovation Drive For Indigenous Healthcare Solutions
VP Shettima Launches Innovation Drive For Indigenous Healthcare Solutions
*** Says Grand Challenges Nigeria an avenue to promote groundbreaking research, local expertise
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched ‘Grand Challenges Nigeria’ (GCNg), a national innovation programme aimed at revolutionising Nigeria’s healthcare landscape through locally-developed solutions.
The initiative, which is part of the global Grand Challenges network, will focus on maternal and child health challenges in the first phase.
Speaking on Monday when he launched the GCNg at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Vice President Shettima told the audience that the initiative became necessary following an urgency occasioned by the rapid pace at which the world “is evolving in the realms of science and technology.”
He stressed the importance of contextualizing solutions to national challenges, citing this as “a cardinal message” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, just as he said the initiative will promote groundbreaking research and build local expertise, among others.
“This initiative is more than a response to problems; it is an avenue to promote groundbreaking research, build local expertise, form strategic partnerships, and engage communities in co-creating culturally relevant solutions,” VP Shettima said.
He explained that the programme will integrate with existing government healthcare initiatives, including the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Nutrition 774 programme.
“What Grand Challenges Nigeria promises is transformative: a Nigeria where every child has access to proper nutrition, where every family can rely on the quality of our healthcare system, and where our public health metrics continue to improve year after year,” the VP noted.
The Vice President also announced an immediate call for proposals on “Advancing Innovative Solutions for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, while explaining that the initiative will address various challenges, from infectious diseases to food security and climate resilience.
“Our gateway to innovation is rooted in recognising our place within the global community,” he stated, adding that “we must believe that our progress is intertwined with the progress of the rest of the world.”
VP Shettima emphasised that the Tinubu administration is “steadfast in its resolve to provide the support needed to turn our aspirations into lifelines for our people.”
The Vice President expressed anticipation for witnessing the ingenuity of Nigeria’s best minds, “whose innovations will receive the funding and support they deserve through this initiative.”
In his keynote remarks, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, said the Grand Challenges Nigeria is aimed at developing local solutions to critical issues confronting Nigerians.
The Minister noted that the model aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8-point agenda using innovation to drive prosperity and growth, and in the process, empowering researchers and innovators.
Chief Nnaji said the ministry remains committed to fostering growth, using innovation, even as he assured that the Grand Challenges Nigeria will prioritise key goals investment in education and environmentally sustainable projects, among others.
On his part, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, commended the commitment of the Vice President and the dedication of the Federal Government to the launch of the initiative, noting that the programme would go a long way in complementing existing efforts in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition in Nigeria.
He pledged the support of the House of Representatives for the Grand Challenges Nigeria framework, especially as it impacts food security and nutrition across the country, noting that he was looking forward to a rewarding collaboration with stakeholders to deliver on its vision.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, said the responsibility of addressing the issues of malnutrition and food insecurity requires focused efforts and collective actions, which, according to him, the Grand Challenges Nigeria initiative is designed to contain.
He expressed hope that by adopting the framework of the Grand Challenges Nigeria, Nigerians would be at the forefront of finding solutions to problems in the country, thanking the Federal Government for believing in the efficacy of the initiative.
The chairman commended the leadership of the Vice President as chairman of the Nutrition Council of Nigeria and a key promoter of advancing nutrition and related agenda across the country.
In the same vein, the President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Salisu Abubakar, commended the leadership demonstrated by the Vice President in the launch of the initiative, noting that it would help address health challenges by leveraging locally resourced and researched solutions/approaches.
He pledged the support of the society in ensuring that solutions adopted through the programme are inclusive and adaptable to Nigerians, especially in improving their health and wellbeing.
On her part, the Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Uju Rochas-Anwulah, said the launch of the Grand Challenges Nigeria reflects the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to reforming the economy and ensuring food security by leveraging solutions that are homegrown and rooted in the values of communities across the country.
She noted that resources and the framework for solving local problems would be harnessed from the grassroots, adopting an inclusive approach where the expertise and experience of stakeholders at all levels would be taken into cognizance.
VP Shettima Launches Innovation Drive For Indigenous Healthcare Solutions
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