Prince Chinedu Munir Nwoko, mostly known in the business, entertainment and political circles as Ned Nwoko, has become Grand Patron to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, , an association made up of the finest hands in Nigeria’s security reportage.
Ned Nwoko is one of Nigeria’s outstanding investors in hospitality, a business that requires committed attention to safety and security.
The chairman of THE MOUNT NED NWOKO RESORT, comprising THE TOWER, a 100FT structure built on a 1000FT location and unarguably, the highest point in Delta state, confirmed his acceptance in a meeting with the leadership of NAOSRE led by its President, Mr. Oyewale Femi, in Abuja on Thursday, November 26, 2020.
As a grand patron, Ned Nwoko is expected to play an advisory role in guiding the leadership of NAOSRE in key security information dissemination for a safer Nigeria.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai has given a thumbs up to officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army fighting in various theatres of Operation and other security threats for admirably rising up to the challenges and successfully bringing the situations under control.
Buratai expressed pride that the prevailing cases on insecurity even though they are evolving from several fronts have continued to succumb to the professionalism and capability of the Nigerian Army which is benefitting from the various capacity advancement and training programmes initiated under his leadership.
His words, “Despite the prevailing cases of insecurity in several parts of the country, I am proud to say this, the Nigerian Army has continued to rise admirably in tackling all security challenges plaguing the nation, as can be seen in the decimation of terrorists in the North East and bandits and kidnapping in the North West and North Central zones of the country.
Gen Buratai who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), Army, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun spoke on Tuesday at the Graduation Lecture for Course 4, 2020 of the Army War College, Nigeria and Commissioning of the War College Office Complex Extension in Abuja.
The COAS said the Army War College has continued to play a vital role since it’s inception pointing out that after 3 years, “Our Vision has paid a high level of dividend”.
In this regard, Buratai said, “Graduates of the Army War College have added value to Nigeria Army War fighting capabilities” adding, “This explains why I have focussed a lot of attention in upgrading the facilities and environment of the college to required standard.
Noting that the new office extension has 415 seating capacity at its ultra-modern lecture hall, the COAS said, “It is with a deep sense of fulfilment that I commission the office extension after commissioning new sporting facilities for the AWCN few weeks ago.
Earlier, Guest Lecturer at the occasion and UNDP Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr . Mohammed Yahya disclosed that the United Nations Development Programme was interested in three key programmes in any country it works with.
These are Governance, Environment and Inclusive growth.
He warned African countries to beware of the rise and increase in violent Extremism regretting that in the year 2020 alone, 3,181 Africans have been killed as a result of violent Extremism.
While noting that other than the use of force alone, African countries to consider injecting other strategies in addition, to tackle violent Extremism, the UNDP Country Representative said, “Nigeria has to lead the way. Nigeria needs to be ahead of the curve of fighting extremism.
Present at the occasion were the Ambassador, Indian High Commission to Nigeria and the UK Attache to Nigeria, DG Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Maj Gen Garba Wahab (rtd(), former Commandant, AWCN, Maj Gen Charles Ofoche, Chief of Military Intelligence, Maj Gen AA Adabayo, Commander Army Headquarters Garrison, Maj Gen Hamman, and Acting Provost Marshal Army, Brigadier General Ahmed among several other dignitaries.
Following the resolutions reached at the EARLIER meeting of the Major Oil Marketers of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) renewal workshop held on 24 September, 2020 at IBETO Hotel Abuja in the face of frequent cases of road traffic crashes involving petroleum tankers and trucks leading to wanton destruction of lives and property in the country, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha directed that a meeting of strategic stakeholders be held on Monday, 23rd November, 2020.
At the meeting held at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Headquarters Abuja, the Corps Marshal of FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi represented the SGF.
According to the press release signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem, the meeting which had in attendance, Executive Secretaries of MOMAN and NARTO and Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation took some far reaching resolutions aimed at tackling the menace of petroleum tanker crashes in the country. Kazeem disclosed that the meeting recommends that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to consider securing a Presidential Directive for urgent intervention in the provision of soft loans for truck renewal, using similar template as applicable to pharmaceutical companies and other sectors of the economy at the peak of COVID -19 .
He added that as a long term solution to the safe, efficient and sustainable transportation of petroleum products across the country, the meeting stressed the need for NNPC to re-activate failed and vandalized pipelines in the country to reduce the burden on the transportation of petroleum products by road. “Members further called for a timeline to be set for the enforcement of the maximum load capacity of 45,000 litres of petroleum products by trucks operating from the Tank Farms across the country,” he added.
Kazeem further disclosed that the meeting resolved that enforcement of all safety standards including anti-skid, anti-rollover and anti-spill (safety valves) be prioritized within a given time frame as outlined in the similar communiqué reached in 2018. He said “Government to consider issuing directives on enforcement of the 10-year policy on importation of trucks, so that any articulated vehicle that is beyond 10 years of age should not be allowed into the country.”
Part of the resolutions, according to him was that, FRSC, MOMAN and NARTO are to organize a joint enlightenment campaign for articulated vehicle drivers including production and placement of jingles in different languages on radio and television stations, production of handbills and also convene a press conference within two weeks
The resolutions were endorsed on behalf of the relevant stakeholders by Clement Isong and Aloga Ogbogo, Executive Secretaries of MOMAN and NARTO respectively and the Corps Marshal of FRSC.
A Sunday report by an online media, claiming there was another attack by Boko Haram on the convoy of Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, is false. There was neither an attack on the governor directly nor on any component of his convoy.
Zulum’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement issued on Sunday, said Zulum traveled to Baga, spent a day supervising the distribution of food and other relief to thousands of residents and returned to Maiduguri safely with no hitch whatsoever.
“For the record, we write to quickly clarify that contrary to a “breaking news” by an online news medium, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum was neither attacked nor was any component of his convoy attacked by anyone.
“The governor was actually in Baga from Saturday to Sunday, during which he supervised the distribution of food and cash support to 5,000 residents and he assessed major reconstruction and resettlement efforts with no hitch whatsoever.
“While we continually accord respect to all media organizations as supportive partners, we importantly clarify that we have no knowledge of the breaking news” in question.
As members of the public can testify, it is the culture and principle of Professor Zulum to say things as they are, and in this case, it is what it is- no attack whatsoever.
Any media organization that wants further clarification may wish to contact the Nigerian military. Meanwhile, Governor Zulum appreciates all well wishers, and he gratefully commends armed forces and civilian volunteers for the relentless efforts to fully regain lasting peace in Borno State” the statement said.
Following the cross examination that happened at the Lagos Judicial Panel, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, Commander of the 81 Division, Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, clarified that the army went to the tollgate with both blank and live ammunitions.
While being cross-examined, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo insisted that that the military acted within the Army’s Rules of Engagement in keeping up with professionalism.
Reacting to the statement by Major Osoba Olaniyi, Acting Deputy Director, Public Relations, 81 division, titled, “Re-Cross Examination of Brig General Ahmed Taiwo on Blank and Live Ammunition by Troops of 81 division, Nigerian Army”, he emphasised that carrying both blank and live ammunition is part of the table of Equipment for internal Security Operation as well as part of the rules of engagement for soldiers during such IS operations.
He advised Nigerians and stakeholders to beware of the antics of agents of both local and foreign destabilization who are bent on using the EndSARS plant seeds of discord in the nation.
The statement reads,“ The attention of the headquarters 81 division, Nigerian Army has been drawn to news items on both the social and mainstream media insinuating the troops of the Nigerian Army contradicted its evidence of firing blank ammunition when it also carried live ammunition for internal Security on the 20th October 2020.
“We hereby state unequivocally that carrying both blank and live ammunition is part of our table of Equipment for internal Security operations.
“It is part of the rules of engagement for soldiers on internal Security operations to carry both blank and live ammunition .
“The use of any of these ammunition as stated in our rules of engagement depends on the level of threat at the operational area.
“Please note that one of the principles of internal Security operations is the use of minimum Force. Minimum Force itself is a function of the assessment of the Commander on ground.
“In this circumstances, ie; the Lekki Toll Gate, the Commander on ground assessed that there was no need to use live ammunition. That was why only blank ammunition was used at the Lekki Toll Gate.
“The blank ammunition was fired into the sky and not at the protesters.
“The results are all glaring as there was no fatality recorded. This has been corroborated by BBC reports and other reputable news media outfit.
“The use of blank ammunition/minimum Force achieved the aim of dispersing the hoodlums and crowd.
“It is pertinent to reiterate that the Nigerian Army is a law abiding institution that actis in tandem with her rules of engagement.
“We therefore wish to advice all stakeholders to guide against being used by local and foreign agents of destabilization who do not wish this country any good.
In its bid to solidify the security architecture of Lagos State, the Lagos State Police command has relaunched its Anti Crime Strategies to curb crimes and criminality across the state.
The command today, Sunday 15th November, 2020, at about 7am, carried out raids simultaneously on identified black spots, reasonably believed to be harbouring criminals and hoodlums, across the fourteen (14) Area Commamds in Lagos State.
In the swift operations, police operatives of the command arrested seven hundred and twenty (720) suspects with incriminating items including locally-made guns and life cartridges, charms, weed suspected to be Indian hemp, substances suspected to be cocaine and some items suspected to have been looted from various shopping outlets within the state during the recent Endsars violence.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, who matched his words with actions, had earlier warned and directed police officers and men to move against lawlessness and criminality in Lagos; he affirmed the zeal of the command to sustain the operations, even, beyond the yuletide season.
CP Hakeem Odumosu has however directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, panti, to commence discreet investigation on the arrested suspects for immediate prosecution. He also urged those whose items were looted during the recent Endsars violence to come up for claims of their items with prove of ownership.
The police chief commended the officers and men of the command for the successful operations, while he charged them to be at alert for more operations across the state.
SP Oluwuyiwa Adejobi (mmip)
Police Public Relations Officer
Lagos State Command
Ikeja
Oyewale Femi, a media entrepreneur and publisher Sahara Weekly, has taken oath of office as President, National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE.
Femi, alongside other executives, emerged elected in an election conducted by the association on October 29.
The oath taking ceremony held in Lagos on Thursday, November 12.
Speaking, Oyewale rationalized the strategic importance of NAOSRE as a partner in the promotion of the spirit and letters of Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which unequivocally provides for every citizen to live a secured life within Nigeria’s approximately 923,768 sq km land mass.
“As a foremost association that parades the finest hands in security reporting, NAOSRE will play its professional role in Nigeria’s defence and security mechanism,” he said.
He however urged members to rededicate themselves to objective security journalism in line with the set mission of NAOSRE especially at this challenging times.
Continuing, Femi congratulated Lagos Police Command Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Muyiwa Adejobi who marked his birthday on November 11. He also assured members of transparency and accountability saying “I congratulate Superintendent Muyiwa Adejobi who marked his birthday yesterday.
“Muyiwa and Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu are credible security officers I have come across in recent time. To our members, I will operate an open door policy and serve as a servant leader,” he stated.
Before the handover, Favour Benson, immediate past President of the association, thanked members and excos for the supports extended to her regime which resulted into some landmark achievements especially in the area of increased membership and a successful election of the new executives. “I thank you all for supporting me to pilot this association at a most challenging time. I urge you to extend same supports to the new leadership,” she said.
Shola Adeyemo, the association’s Chairman Board of Trustees, took members and guests down memory lane on the conceptualization of the online security union early 2020 and submitted that “It has been a tortuous task nursing and nurturing a baby association. But I have no doubt in my mind that NAOSRE has come to stay and it would continue to play its frontline role in the promotion of balanced information for a safer Nigeria,” he assured.
Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists represented by its Vice president, Mr. Israel Bolaji and a team of CMC media group led by Cornell Udofia described NAOSRE’s out going and incoming executives as credible persons in the media industry whose credentials are welcome addition to Nigeria’s security media space.
In her remarks, the association newly sworn in Vice President, Mrs. Love Oyedokun assured members of remarkable journey in the important task of promoting peace in Nigeria through unadulterated professionalism.
Apart from Oyewale Femi and Love Ikuku Oyedokun, those who were sworn in as elected executive members were Dayo Bamgbala, Secretary, Mrs. Azuh Lilian, Financial Secretary, Gbenga Shaba, Registrar.
Others were Adetogun Olakunle, Treasurer, Edwin Usoboh, Provost and Abiona Adenike, Welfare.
The list of newly sworn in executives includes Abayomi Obatinuadeyo, Online Director and Idumonza Isidahomhen, Public Relations Officer.
