At least, four retired police chiefs now in the legal profession have offered to render free legal service to over 197 police officers recently retired by the Police Service Commission, PSC, over alleged falsification of their ages, attainment of 60 years, 35 years of service and Force Entrants Appointment Date. One of the four lawyers, a retired Assistant Inspector-general of Police, AIG, with his Chambers in Abuja, told some selected Journalists on condition of anonymity that the need to render Free Legal Services to the affected officers by him and his colleagues was not unconnected with various injustices some of them suffered while they were serving members of the Force.He said they were particularly concerned about those of courses 18,19 and 20, stressing that an Appeal Court had ruled in favour of the officers in 2017.
He disclosed that since injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, he and his colleagues have no option than to join the formidable legal team of the sacked officers to seek justice for the affected officers.The retired AIG further said that he has taken into consideration that most of the officers forcefully retired by the PSC under the leadership of retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, are seasoned police chiefs with great wealth of experiences and as such, such experiences should not be wasted.It will be recall that last month, the PSC ordered over 197 police officers to proceed on compulsory retirement.
An advocate for peace, education, and gender equality, Zuriel Oduwole, has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.A Sunday press release noted that Oduwole has actively engaged in global diplomatic efforts, influencing discussions on education and peace, working to create opportunities for marginalised communities and promoting meaningful change.Born in Los Angeles to Nigerian grandparents, Oduwole has engaged with several world leaders, including presidents and prime ministers, to discuss policy and development issues.Her efforts focus on improving education access for marginalised communities and promoting systemic change.“At 13, Oduwole mediated a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, meeting with then-President David Granger at the United Nations to emphasise the importance of peaceful dialogue.“In 2020, she consulted with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on global peace strategies during the Arab blockade of Qatar, which concluded peacefully in 2021,” the statement stated.It noted that Oduwole’s nomination recognise her efforts and “reflects Nigeria’s growing influence on the global stage.”
Her advocacy for education, which she views as fundamental to both development and stability, has been central to her mission from an early age.“Oduwole’s commitment to education began at nine when she observed young girls in Accra selling goods instead of attending school. This experience inspired her to use documentary filmmaking to raise awareness about educational barriers,” it added.Upon learning of her Nobel Peace Prize nomination, Oduwole, who is also a filmmaker, sought more investments in young girls, saying, “I have never sought recognition, only to speak up where it’s needed. This honor reflects the urgent need to invest in young voices as agents of change.”As the founder of ‘Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand,’ she is empowering young people, particularly girls, to advocate their rights and future opportunities.Through storytelling and diplomacy, Oduwole has inspired change, influencing policies and creating a more inclusive and equitable world.The Norwegian Nobel Committee is expected to announce the 2025 laureate later this year.“Regardless of the outcome, Oduwole’s nomination underscores the growing impact of youth advocacy in global policy and sustainable peace efforts,” the statement added.
The Nobel Peace Prize, one of the world’s most esteemed honours, acknowledges individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to peace and human rights.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called for a stop to all forms of entrenched vindictiveness, cruelty, and deep-seated animosities towards Igbos in Nigeria following the revelation by former military leader, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) that the January 1966 Coup was not an Igbo coup.The group also demanded an unreserved apology from President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the government, past military leaders and particularly General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) for the pain suffered by the Igbos.The Ohanaeze, in a statement on Sunday by its Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said it’s time to put a stop to the narrative that Igbos are anti-Nigeria’s progress.Iziguzoro maintained that the erroneous promotion of the 1966 coup as an Igbo coup, has brought about catastrophic consequences, hatred and ethnic targeting against the Igbos in Nigeria.The Ohanaeze, therefore, commended IBB “for his bold and historic assertion that the January 1966 Coup d’état was unequivocally not an Igbo coup.”The Ohanaeze position was made known after IBB disclosed that it was an Igbo officer, Major John Obienu, who crushed the 1966 military coup.General Babangida disclosed this on page 39 of his book ‘A Journey In Service’.He stated that the ethnic colouration given to the coup as Igbo filtered in as a result of the killing of the then Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello and his wife, Hafsatu.
Based on Babangida’s submission, the Ohanaeze has now demanded an apology to the Igbo nation by President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria as a country for the long years of trauma suffered by the region and its people.The group submitted that an apology from President Tinubu would give an opportunity for reconciliation and a united Nigeria.“This courageous acknowledgment stands as a crucial milestone in altering the narrative that has unjustly painted the Igbo people as antagonists within the broader scope of Nigeria’s tumultuous political landscape. It signals a potential cessation of the entrenched vindictiveness, cruelty, and deep-seated animosities directed toward the Igbo Nation over the past five decades.“During his recent book launch titled “A Journey in Service,” General Babangida’s clarity regarding the 1966 coup, notably his exemption of the Igbo people from the unjust label of being “enemies of the North,” is indeed commendable—albeit belated. The ramifications of the erroneous classification of the 1966 January Coup as an Igbo insurrection have been profoundly detrimental, leading to catastrophic consequences not only during that tumultuous period but extending into the present day. Specifically, this mischaracterization incited the July 1966 Counter Coup against the then Military Head of State of Igbo descent and precipitated violent uprisings targeting Igbo citizens residing in northern Nigeria, sowing seeds of discord that ultimately contributed to the tragic Biafra War, in which three million Igbos, predominantly women and children, lost their lives.
In the wake of this tragic history, the Igbo people continue to suffer from systemic injustices and marginalization. Our demographic representation in terms of least number of states within the federation remains the least of any ethnic group, the political conspirancies to deny Igbos from ascending to Nigeria’s Presidency and we face deliberate omissions of Federal Government presence in the Southeast. The tragic closure of the Eastern Economic Corridor, characterized by the permanent shutdown of the Calabar seaport and other critical infrastructures, underscores the extent of our exclusion. Additionally, the implementation of the federal government’s discriminatory policies, exemplified by the quota system and the absence of functional international airports in the Southeast, serves to reinforce the barriers to our equitable participation in the socio-political fabric of Nigeria.“In light of these grievous injustices, Ohanaeze Ndigbo reiterates our demands articulated during the 1999 Justice Oputa-led Judicial Commission for the Investigation of Human Rights Violation Panel. It is imperative that the current federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must confront the shadows of our historical traumas. We demand a public and unreserved apology from the President on behalf of past military regimes, particularly that of General Yakubu Gowon, who orchestrated unprovoked bombardments and shellings over Igbo territory during the Nigeria-Biafra War that resulted in immense human suffering and loss.
Furthermore, we maintain our resolute stance that the Nigerian federal government must dispel the long-standing inequities perpetrated against the Igbo nation by paying reparations amounting to 10 trillion naira. This demand is not merely a demand for financial restitution or restitution; it is a necessary acknowledgment of the value of human lives lost and the cultural and infrastructural devastation endured by our people, which remains evident even 55 years post-conflict.“In an ideal society, the implications of General Babangida’s confession would prompt accountability among those who endorsed the odious actions against the Igbo. However, embodying the spirit of forgiveness that defines our identity, the Igbo people have extended our pardon to General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and others for the grievous sins committed against our community during the Biafra War spanning from 1966 to 1970.We earnestly call upon President Tinubu to embrace this opportune moment for genuine reconciliation and restorative justice, thereby laying the foundation for a united and harmonious Nigeria, where the scars of the past give way to a brighter future for all citizens.”
The Federal Government has been urged to acknowledge and honour the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, the man behind the credibility of the annulled June 12, 1993, election.Retired Archbishop of Enugu Province (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, made the call yesterday in Enugu while also demanding that former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), be prosecuted for the injustices he confessed to committing against Nigeria.Nwosu, who chaired the then National Electoral Commission (NEC) and conducted the historic June 12 election annulled by Babangida, passed away on October 24, 2024, without receiving any national recognition for his patriotic service.
He is set to be buried on March 28.Reacting to Babangida’s confession at his recent book launch, Archbishop Chukwuma condemned the silence of the government and Nigerians on Nwosu, who he said played a key role in the election that is now celebrated as Democracy Day.“Now, Humphrey Nwosu is dead, and it has been acknowledged that he conducted Nigeria’s most credible election, yet no national honour was given to him.
Kingibe was honoured, Abiola was honoured, but the man who conducted the election was ignored. Nigeria has been unfair to Humphrey Nwosu,” Chukwuma stated.He called for a posthumous national award for Nwosu and urged the government to name a monument in his honour. He also insisted that the federal government must play a role in his burial.
On Babangida’s confession, Chukwuma dismissed it as insulting and unacceptable, saying:“All that Babangida said in his book, regretting or confessing that MKO Abiola won the June 12 election, is absolute rubbish! It is a great disappointment and an insult to Nigerians.“If I had my way, IBB should be jailed for making such a statement after taking the entire country for a ride.”He further criticized Babangida’s claim that annulling the election was for Nigeria’s good, calling it a blatant lie.His words: “Nigerians are suffering today because of bad leadership, and we still cannot conduct a credible election. Babangida’s confession comes too late—after the deaths of Abiola and Nwosu.
He must apologize to their families and to the Nigerian people.”The Archbishop urged President Bola Tinubu’s government to recognize Nwosu’s contributions to democracy, warning that failure to do so would show that the current administration is also complicit in undermining credible elections.
Mamman Vatsa Writers Village,* tucked amidst igneous rocks and ranges, vales and valleys in Abuja’s *Mpape District* is rapidly contesting the medal of Nigeria’s most vibrant headquarters of literary activity. The physical location of the ever-growing permanent headquarters of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (ANA), was, for several decades after it was allocated to ANA in 1986, a forlorn wasteland. The soldier-poet, Mamman Jiya Vatsa, who was a member of the association and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, (FCTA) in his time, was concerned about the serial mendicant nomadism of the association. ANA forever quested, cap in hand, for host states across the country, for its activities. Vatsa, an army General and poet himself, concurred with the request of ANA’s primordial leadership, for a settled operational address and allocated the present site, to the association. The bounteous parcel of land survived attempted takeovers by successive regimes and capricious trespassing.
These chopped off nearly half its original span of over 60 hectares. Under the leadership of Denja Abdullahi a few years ago, ANA secured partnership with *KMVL,* a construction firm headed by Kolawole Shaw, also a retired military officer, for the actualization of the dream of structured physical development of the hectarage. The breathtaking, still-in-progress complex, already features well paved, substantially tarred network of roads complete with drainages. There is a large auditorium, parking areas, secretariat, library, luxury suites, apartments, bars and African-themed gazebos. There are residential blocks by way of fully detached, semi-detached and terraced houses. There is even a modern shopping centre, as part of the enterprise of making the village self-sufficient.
The names of famous Nigerian writers echo from the doors and signages of structures and facilities, beginning with the revered African master storyteller, Chinua Achebe, after whom the conference centre is christened. The secretariat of the association pays tribute to Emeritus Professor Femi Osofisan, one of Africa’s most profound and most prolific dramatists. Suites in the residential area, voice the names of past leaders of ANA, notably Odia Ofeimun, Kole Omotoso, Abubakar Gimba, Olu Obafemi, Wale Okediran, Jerry Agada, Remi Raji and Denja Abdullahi. The two-storey standalone “writers residency” is tribute to the memory of former ANA President and Ogoni rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa. A prominent playwright, novelist and essayist, Saro-Wiwa was, sadly, executed alongside eight others under the military government of Sani Abacha in 1995.
They were allegedly complicit in the murder of four of their kinsmen, months earlier, a development which stirred restlessness in the oil producing area. The *Mamman Vatsa Writers Village* is rapidly assuming the status of the new *Mecca* for African literature, an evolving pearl of the continent. Between the monthly activities of the Abuja segment of ANA and the quarterly events organised by the national body, the writers’ facility is regularly kept alive. Literary juggernauts like Osofisan, Obafemi, Ofeimun, Ernest Emenyonu, Okediran, Raji, Abdullahi, Niyi Osundare, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Shamshudeen Amali, Idris Amali, Al-Bishak, Udenta Udenta and Sunnie Ododo, have been guests and pilgrims at the resort. Same for Tony Afejuku, Razinat Mohammed, Mabel Evwierhoma, Dul Johnson, Joe Ushie, Maria Ajima, Rasheed Na’Allah, Amanze Akpuda, Greg Mbajiorgu, Isiaka Aliagan, and indeed the recently transited literary luminary, Nuhu Yaqub.
The diaspora component of Nigeria’s formidable literary harvest, as well as foreign writers, are also regular callers at the village. Voices and laughters; “hi fives” and backslaps, typically activate and enliven the slumbering boulders and sleeping bedrocks in the commune, whenever literary adherents, pilgrimage. Saturday February 22, 2025, the Mamman Vatsa Writers Village hosted an unusual guest. The airwaves had become frenzied weeks and days before when it became public knowledge that the first President in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, Olusegun Obasanjo, would be the distinguished guest at the month’s edition of the regular reading and writer’s dialogue. The planning was competently steered by the Abuja zone of ANA, led by Chukwudi Eze, the veteran architect who designed the *Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library,* Abeokuta, Africa’s first such purpose-built resource. Obasanjo was to speak to the topic: *The Writer’s Role in Nation Building and Africa’s First Presidential Library.* Obasanjo’s life and career as a soldier; military Head of State; world statesman; death row prisoner; democratically elected President, traversing aeons and times, has spawned a luminous repertoire of books and publications. These include *My Command,* (1980); *Nzeogwu,* (1987); *Africa Embattled* (1988) and *Not My Will,* (1990). There are also *This Animal Called Man,* (1998), and *My Watch,* (2014), which is a hefty three-volume work.
To be doubly sure, Obasanjo’s oeuvre spans over two dozen books straddling several subjects and preoccupations.A three-man panel made up of Professors Emeka Aniagolu of Veritas University, Abuja; Razinat Mohammed, University of Abuja and Onyinye Nwagbara of the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA), were billed to engage with Obasanjo. The imminence of Obasanjo’s return flight, however, altered the plan. Obasanjo opted to speak to the first part of the topic, the role of the writer in nation building, deferring the discourse on the presidential library until another encounter. He decried the poor reading culture in Nigeria which is on the rise, and warned it could be antithetical to the preserved of the nation’s literary heritage. According to him, Nigeria has produced some of the world’s finest and most respected writers, a situation which he observed compels the evolution of new writers to sustain the trajectory. Obasanjo noted that despite the advantages provided by technological advancement, many youths do not apply themselves to the grindstone of rigorous reading and intellection. He noted that if this *laissez-faire* attitude is not corrected, it could backlash vis-a-vis the emergence of uninformed and incompetent leaders. The former President noted that the internet provides limitless opportunities which must be leveraged by the younger generation.
His words: “Many of them no longer do serious reading. Reading makes an effective and productive human being. A reader is a leader, a leader must not necessarily be a writer but must be a reader to be up to speed with trends and happenings.”Speaking further, Obasanjo noted that “Nigeria is blessed with good writers who have used their craft in nation building and one of such distinguished authors is Chinua Achebe. He showcased Nigeria’s culture to the world and elevated our culture in his writings.” The former President charged the youths to take bold steps in shaping their own futures rather than wait for opportunities to drop on their laps. He noted that the recurring mismanagement of the nation’s human and material resources were at the roots of the nation’s travails. He canvassed the application of political will in the nation’s policy formulation and execution, noting that limited bureaucratese in military dispensations was instrumental to better effectiveness under martial rulership. He commended ANA for its impressive work in developing the writers village and in championing initiatives to inspire up and coming writers. ANA Abuja Chairman, Chukwudi Eze noted that the power of writing is evident in the motivational phrase: “Give me liberty or give me death,” which birthed the American revolution and built the nation into a global colossus. He thanked Obasanjo for according him the special privilege of designing the Abeokuta-based presidential library. He applauded Obasanjo’s initiation of the *Africa Leadership Forum,* (ALF) back in the days, which sought to broaden the worldview of the continent’s potential leaders.
Eze expressed the hope that Nigerian leaders across levels will emulate Obasanjo’s uncommon Pan-Nigerianism and the placement of competence and merit, over and above clannish parochialism. ANA National President, Usman Oladipo Akanbi who flew in from Ilorin for the programme, thanked Obasanjo for the honour done to the association by his keeping a date with the writers body like he promised. The gesture, he noted will spur the association to greater heights. Akanbi noted that the former President indeed brightened the weekend of youths and teenage students who attended the event, who never believed they would ever see him in flesh and blood. Former Minister of the FCTA, Muhammad Abba-Gana, CON, who attended the event, commended Obasanjo for liberalising property ownership in Abuja by approving the mass housing scheme, proposed during his period in office as Minister. He observed that before Obasanjo’s coming, workers were predominantly resident in faraway communities and had to commute through the stress of heavy vehicular traffic to the city centre everyday, and back home. Abba Gana acknowledged Obasanjo’s courageous liquidation of Nigeria’s foreign financial commitments and his bequeathal of a very robust foreign reserve to the successor administration.
Senator Shehu Sani who shared the same section of a jailhouse with Obasanjo when they were both incarcerated by former military leader, Sani Abacha, was equally in attendance. A published author himself, he applauded Nigerian authors for deploying their creativity to drive societal change towards the attainment of an egalitarian nation. Jerry Alagbaoso, a former Member of the House of Representatives and prolific playwright; former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Shamshudeen Amali, and Obasanjo’s private secretary during his stint as military Head of State, Ambassador Albert Omotayo, were also at the programme. The Chinese Embassy was represented at the gathering by a three-man delegation led by Yang Jianxing, the Cultural Counsellor and Director of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Nigeria. Al Bishak, Vicky Sylvester Molemodile, Professors at the Federal University Lafia and the University of Abuja, respectively, and Colonel Shaw, lead developer of the ANA behemoth and member of the association by adoption, were also present.
Etim Oqua, a retired police Commissioner and Otunba Abiodun Fagboun, graced the occasion. On Obasanjo’s entourage were his longstanding ally, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe and Obasanjo’s children, Obabiyi, and Funke. Obasanjo received an ANA-branded commemorative souvenir presented by Usman Akanbi, in recognition of his untiring contributions to national development, through the decades.
Tunde Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja
Thai lady arrested at Lagos airport with boxes of illicit drug consignments . As NDLEA intercepts UK-bound drug shipments concealed in walls of crated cartons
By Ebinum Samuel
Attempt by a 24-year-old Thai lady, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, to smuggle 43 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 46.60 kilograms into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos has been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who arrested her after discovering the illicit consignment in her boxes.The suspect who confessed to being a hired drug trafficker was arrested on Thursday 20th February 2025 during the inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar at the arrival hall, terminal 2 of the Lagos airport. She said the drug cartel, which recruited her promised to pay her $3,000 upon successful delivery of the illicit drug consignment in Nigeria.Another bid by a drug trafficking syndicate to ship 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud with a total weight of 42.2kg concealed in walls of crated cartons to London, UK, through the export shed of the Lagos airport was also frustrated by NDLEA officers on Friday 21st February.
Three suspects: a freight agent and two dispatch riders were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the mastermind of the shipment, Samuel Bitris, was swiftly traced to his Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos home where he was arrested.At the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state, NDLEA officers on Thursday 20th February intercepted 49 cartons containing 49,000 pills of tamol, a brand of tramadol 225mg in a 40ft container during a joint examination of the shipment with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.In Nasarawa state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 22nd February arrested two suspects: Bello Adamu, 40, and Pius Azuka, 42 at Kokona/Keffi with 517kg of skunk, while two other suspects: Usman Ruwa, 43, and Yunusa Haruna, 45, were nabbed in a Toyota Corolla car conveying 62.7 kilograms of skunk along Sabon Asibiti road Kontagora, Niger state on Thursday 20th February.With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Maku Grammar School, Tapa, Oyo state; Comprehensive Secondary School, Orogwe, Imo state; Jama’atu Islamiyya Secondary School, Ankpa, Kogi state; and Owerri-Aba Primary School, Ugwunagba, Imo state, among others.While commending the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Niger, and Nasarwa Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
The Commissioner of Police, *CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc, mnips, PhD,* today, 22nd February 2025, engaged Officers in charge of Surveillance, Patrol, and Guard units across the Divisional Headquarters within the Command. He charged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, vigilance, and efficiency in ensuring public safety, maintaining law and order, and responding swiftly to security incidents.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Command, SP Ikenga Tochukwu said this engagement aligns with the Command’s ongoing strategic initiatives to enhance policing operations and service delivery across Anambra State. *CP Orutugu* reiterated the need for officers to provide prompt and effective security interventions, emphasizing their role in fostering public trust and confidence in the Police Force.”
In furtherance of his commitment to strengthening the security architecture of the state, *CP Orutugu* has also facilitated the deployment of newly passed-out recruits to various Police Divisions. He urged all officers to remain courageous, disciplined, and professional in the discharge of their duties, assuring residents of improved policing services and a safer environment”Ikenga disclosed that Anambra State Police Command remains resolute in its mandate to protect lives and property and will continue to implement proactive measures to address security challenges in the state.
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd, mni, has decried the worsening human rights violations in the South East states of the country and threatened that the Commission will no longer tolerate this serious act of indiscipline from any serving Police Officer.DIG Argungu said the Commission will henceforth not hesitate to put its disciplinary processes in motion to see to the dismissal of errant Officers who have found it difficult to work within approved boundaries. He spoke at the South East Stakeholders Summit on Peace and security and Public Hearing on Human Rights violations in South East of Nigeria which is currently ongoing in Enugu.His goodwill message at the Summit was presented on his behalf by the Head of Press and Public Relations/ Spokesman of the Commission, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani.
The PSC Chairman said the Commission is aware of the serious human rights violations by some misguided Police Officers in the South East, ” who against the Commission’s several warnings to stay away from civil matters have continued to swim in it because of the financial attraction “.He said the Commission has severally warned that Police Officers should stay clear of land matters, debt and rent collection, marital disputes and other civil matters and allow the courts to do their duties. ” But we have discovered that the allure of filthy money has become their albatross as they have continued to perpetuate this evil act”.DIG Argungu said he was excited that the summit is holding in Enugu, the colonial capital of Eastern Nigeria. According to him, the Eastern Region has of late become the hot bed of insecurity in the country and the unofficial Headquarters of Human Rights violations.
He commended the Organizers of the programme for bringing the searchlight on this topical national issue. The PSC Chairman said the Commission whole heartedly identifies with the Organizers “on this mission in the South East, adding that the zone needs peace and security.According to DIG Argungu “the Commission is very much interested in what is happening here especially as it affects the entire South East. “we are no more comfortable with the abuse of Office by some security personnel detailed to provide security across the region. We understand there is a high level of insecurity in the zone especially with the ceaseless and senseless attacks from brainwashed youths from this zone masquerading as freedom Fighters and killing their brothers and sisters”He said the Commission has also continued to observe the corruption and extortion that dots all the roads traversing the region ” by virtually all the security operatives who are supposed to safeguard the roads and restore unhindered movement of people, goods and services. The road blocks mounted by these security Agencies, he lamented ” have unfortunately turned into toll gates where road users are forced under gunpoint to part with money”.The PSC Chsirman told the summit that the South East must be freed of these gangs of Police Men who have found it difficult to work within established boundaries.
He commended the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah for the transformative governance that he has brought to the state especially in the area of security..” I am aware that Enugu State has redeemed itself from the Monday Sit at home that had crippled the economy of the state and other South East states.He assured the Governor that the Commission will always stand by him to collectively fight “this war to comprehensively free the zone of banditry, crime and criminality and other emerging security menace in the South East of Nigeria.
Quote:“The greatest contribution to economic growth is not physical infrastructure, but brainpower; what I refer to as “grey matter infrastructure”.
We must now invest in better nutrition for African children who are the future of the continent “–Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President AfDB (at the Annual Meeting of the bank in Lusaka, Zambia,May 23, 2016
By Oyoze Baje
With the noble vision of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to “envision a prosperous, inclusive, resilient and integrated Africa, focusing on accelerating inclusive green growth and driving prosperous and resilient economies across the continent” the bank has been positivity impacting on the quality of life of millions of citizens across the continent, for decades.
But going by the startling statistics of the Human Development Index (HDI) of the richest and the poorest African countries, there is still much to be done to pull many more millions of Africans from the ignoble pit of mass poverty and ignorance, in sync with the vast natural resources that the Creator has blessed the continent with.Meanwhile, what is the meaning of the Human Development Index (HDI) and what disparities still exist, and more so what lessons should the African presidents be gleaning from the sanitary efforts of the AfDB?Put in its simplest term the ” HDI is a summary of measure of a country ‘,s average achievements in three key dimensions of human development “.
These entail a long and healthy life, access to quality knowledge delivery, and a decent standard of living. That comes about as calculated by the United Nations (UN). What is disturbing are the clear differences between the HDI of the richest African countries and the poorest ones?
For instance, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of the top 5 richest African countries as at 2024 are as listed: Seychelles leads with 0.802 while the other four are Mauritius (0.796), Algeria (0.759), Tunisia (0.739) and Botswana (0. 728). Take note, that according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) data, Nigeria does not rank amongst the top five prosperous African countries, neither does it rank amongst the poorest. Amongst these are South Sudan (0.347), Burundi (0.350), Central African Republic (CAR) (0.358), Niger (0.345) and Chad (0.373).
Definitely, the interventions of the African Development Bank is required to reduce the poverty challenge. So, how far has it fared? That is the million naira question.The answer is predicted on the strong pillars of AfDB’s popular ‘High 5″ priorities focused on infrastructure, agriculture, integration of some countries, impacting the lives of the people and boosting economic growth.Distilled in its essence, these are clearly spelt out as, Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the Quality of life for the People here in Africa. To break them down the first called Light Up and Power Africa is aimed at increasing access to electricity, connecting millions to the grid and promoting renewable energy.
On its part, the Feed Africa initiative supports agricultural development through initiatives like Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), which has boosted wheat production in countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan as well as maize production in Kenya and South Africa.Furthermore, the Industrialised Africa project comes through direct investment in infrastructure, skills development and supporting the growth of Small and Medium Scale enterprises.Of similar significance, the Integrate Africa supports regional integration through infrastructural projects, trade facilitation and economic cooperation initiatives. And last but not the least of the initiatives is that aimed at improving the Quality of life for the African people through which the AfDB supports projects that improve access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare and education.
Noteworthy, is the fact that under the watch of the Nigerian-born Adesina, the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, under the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan-led administration that made positive impact on the rural farmers and lifted the HDI of Nigerians, similar transformation has been brought to bear on the several African countries.
Little wonder that he is the proud winner of the World Food Prize in 2017, as well as the prestigious Sunshak Peace Prize Laureate in 2019. What is important therefore, are the important lessons for African political leaders to learn from his illustrious career trajectory, emulate and imbibe from the ‘High 5′ initiatives.
In fact, one African country that has keyed into AfDB’s impactful’ High 5′ projects and reaped bountifully is none other than Tanzania. It should interest other African countries than within three years of becoming the president in 2021, Samia Suluhu Hassan has achieved what others have not.
For instance, under her administration the country has recorded an astonishing 128 % status in food security, to the extent of exporting surplus to five African countries. All these were achieved with focus on productivity, supporting farmers and creating an enabling environment for agricultural growth. The key ingredients that have spiced the achievements include investment in research, seed production and irrigation farming.It is of significance to note that Tanzania is the first country to set up a Presidential Delivery Council to oversee the implementation of its Food and Agricultural Delivery Compact. That is a holistic approach to the sustainable development of the sector.In addition, the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy has created a most conducive environment to improve the profitability of the sector. That is also aimed at reducing rural poverty, which it has achieved. It is therefore, important for us to understand what President Hassan said about the AfDB.
She has indeed praised the bank as ” a dependable partner”and being ” the best partner for our development”, while recognising AfDB ‘s positive impact on the country’s socio– economic development and transformative projects.READ AThese are therefore, the lessons for the leaders of the continent to glean from and keep promoting, all in the interest of improving on the people’s Human Development Index, HDI.Going by Adesina’s notable remarks on human nutrition, made during the bank’s Annual Meeting on May 23, 2016, Africa accounts for 20 out of the 24 countries in the world with children’s stunting rate of over 40%. Worse still, 22 out of the 34 countries that collectively account for 90% of the world’s stunting live in Africa! And about 58 million African children under the age of 5 years are too short for their age.
This sad situation should therefore, serve as a wake-up call on the policy makers and those who implement them to devolve more budgetary allocations to both agriculture and education.With that done, enhanced by transparency, probity and accountability there will be “grey matter infrastructure” in place, as Adesina has rightly called for. The time to start the much-needed action is now.
The Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force are set to conclude the 2022/2023 recruitment of Police Constables into the Nigeria Police Force. The Medical screening for this batch is scheduled to commence from February 26th and end on March 12th 2025.Applicants who took the Computer Based Tests (CBT) on 5th – 6th March, 2024 but were not listed in the first stream of successful candidates called up for training are to log onto the recruitment portal https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to check their application status and print invitation slip.
According to the Commission’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, the exercise is scheduled to hold at designated Police Hospitals in the 17 Police Zonal Headquarters spread across the country on date and time indicated on applicants invitation slip.The Portal will open today, Saturday, February 22nd, 2025 at 12noon. Invited applicants are to ensure they appear for the medical screening exercise on the date and time indicated on their invitation slip.Invited applicants are also to appear in clean white T-shirts and short with the following; invitation slip, form submission slip and NIN slip.
