N-power beneficiaries not fit for Community Policing – Leadership Editor

ByIsrael Wellington Jeremiah

According to an article published by the  Leadership Newspaper. They believed that the current precarious security situation in the country, despite concerted government efforts is worrisome. Equally disturbing is the approach towards finding a solution to it. Experts are expressing their concern that some of the measures being put in place may lead to a deeper crisis in the future if not decisively challenged and addressed now.

In an assessment of the procedures, they refer to the recruitment process into the security agencies especially the police. Where the Government and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) recently announced a proposal to recruit National Youth Service Corps members and the beneficiaries of N-Power Programme to beef up the manpower needs of the Nigeria Police Force. The corps members and N-Power participants are to make up for the inadequacies in the ongoing recruitment of 10,000 additional hands by the Force.

While the Newspaper commend the federal government for its efforts to increase the number of police personnel, they don’t believe that N- power beneficiaries should be compelled to join the police force. According to them,N-power beneficiaries are certainly not the first option. In their opinion, the choice to join the police or any other security outfit should be a personal decision made out of conviction and passion.

It is of their opinion that the country must not draft N- Power beneficiaries wholesale into the police force.They appreciate the fact that the N-Power programme, especially its graduates component, was meant to be a stop gap measure whereby participants would serve for two years within which period they were expected to find a more permanent employment, exit and pave the way for others. Their conversion to other areas of need, talk less of the police, was not part of the plan.

In view of the foregoing, They call on the federal government to discard the idea of enlisting N- power participants into the police force as they believe it will be counterproductive in the long run. The proposal as it presently stands is tantamount to conscription.They insist that only candidates who are motivated to join the police force should be given the opportunity through a transparent process. It is also imperative that a thorough background check be done on all the prospective candidates as this will go a long way to having a police force every Nigerian will be proud of. In their own view, any recruitment or employment opportunities should be thrown open for all eligible citizens to compete for. That way, the best brains are likely to emerge to serve the very purpose of their selection.

Source: https://empowermentopportunities.com

Repentant bandits in Katsina expose how Police, Army officers were compromised

Repentant bandits in Katsina expose how Police, Army officers were compromised

Repentant bandits in Katsina expose how they give security agents money in exchange of ammunition

Security agents supply us with ammunition while we pay them – Some repentant bandits in Katsina

There is currently a tension building up among the men and women of the security agencies in Katsina more especially the police and army following the decision of the State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari to engage bandits in dialogue, according to a report by The Nation.

According to the report, some of the repentant bandits “were also said to have dropped useful hints to the effect that many of the soldiers and policemen deployed to check the activities of the bandits had been compromised.

“Some of the security agents were said to have entered into agreements with the bandits to look the other way while they carried on with their nefarious activities or even provide them with arms and ammunition while the bandits pay back in cash or rustled cattle.

“Since two leaders of the repentant bandits reportedly opened the Pandora box, security agencies have been working on clues to uncover the soldiers and policemen fueling banditry in the state. Sentry gathered that many of the errant soldiers and policemen are already cringing, with some of them desperately seeking to be transferred away from the state.”

Source: http://katsinapost.com.ng

NNPC to begins full rehabilitation of refineries in January 2020 – Kyar

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it will begin full rehabilitation of the nations three refineris by January 2020.

The nation’s refineries are located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.

The Group Managing director Malam Mele Kyari disclosed this on Saturday in PortHarcourt during a facility tour to the Port Harcourt refinery.

Kyari in a statement by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, the spokesman for the corporation noted that the move would help the corporation to refine crude oil at optimum capacity by 2022.

He said that the visit to the refinery was part of his strong determination and commitment to ensure that the nation’s refineries deliver real time value and address the petroleum needs of Nigerians.

According to him, making the refineries to operate at optimal capacities is a mandate that NNPC as a corporation will leave no stone unturned to actualize, because a timely delivery of the asset is a priority.

“We will stick to time, we will deliver this project by 2022. We will commence actual rehabilitation work in January.

“We will do everything possible between October and December to close out all necessary conditions for us to deliver on that project.

“I believe that with the support that we have from the shareholders – government of this country, the entire staff of this company and the contractors, I believe it is doable and we will deliver the project,” the GMD said.

He further tasked the contractors on the need to consider their reputation as most critical element in business processes and engagements.

“It’s no longer about business now, but a reputational issue. For the original builders of the refinery, Tecmmont, Eni/NAOC and NNPC, let us be conscious of the fact that our reputation is at stake as far as this project is concerned.

“The NNPC leadership has promised this country that our refineries will work, therefore, we must work not to disappoint over 200million Nigerian stakeholders,” Kyari added

He also challenged the Port Harcourt refinery management to ensure that the nation’s indigenous engineers and other professionals working in the refinery were fully engaged to participate actively during the rehabilitation and own the process.

According to him, the involvement of the indigenous workers will build capacity, save cost and introduce an era of steady and uninterrupted production curve that will grow the oil and Gas Industry.

In his presentation on the progress and milestones on Phase 1 of the projects, the Tecmmont Project Manager, Mr. La Mattina Carmelo, said that the inspection aspect of the project had progressed to 91 per cent and Final Report and EPC Proposal stood at 75 per cent.

He added that his company would deliver the first phase of the rehabilitation within three weeks from now.

He also assured that there were no challenges as the project was progressing efficiently, pledging to offer its best services to ensure a timely delivery.

In the same vein, the project consulting company, Eni/NAOC, represented by the its project manager, Daniele Tamburini, confirmed that the work done so far by the NNPC and Tecmmont complied with global standard.

Tamburini said his company was ready to receive the full report of the scoping for final assessment and support the corporation to deliver the project in record time, saying that the initiative was a good business for Nigeria.

Earlier in his address, the Managing Director of the PHRC, Mr. Abba Bukar, expressed appreciation to the GMD for his deep commitment in ensuring that the refinery works for the benefit of Nigerians.

Source: https://guardian.ng

UN welcomes Yemen Iran-backed Houthi offer to end Saudi Arabia attacks

Houthi rebels have claimed to have carried out the attack, but the US and Saudi Arabia have blamed Iran. Tehran denies any involvement in the strikes. Yemen’s civil war has killed 10,000 and pushed millions to the edge of starvation in what has become the world’s worst man-made humanitarian disaster. 

Saudi Arabia and its regional allies drastically escalated the conflict in 2015 when they launched an air campaign against the Houthis, who had ousted President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and seized the capital, Sanaa.

⤕Saudi emerged from attacks ‘stronger than ever’ ― Saudi Aramco CEO ⤕Iran vows to destroy any aggressor, as US sends troops to Saudi The Houthis have launched numerous drone, missile and rocket attacks on the Gulf kingdom. 

The UN has welcomed a proposal from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels to end all attacks on Saudi Arabia as part of a peace initiative.

A statement said the proposal could send “a powerful message of the will to end the war”. The offer comes a week after drone and missile strikes hit Saudi Arabian oil facilities.

What have the Houthis offered? In a televised announcement, Houthi Supreme Political Council chair Mahdi al-Mashat said the group would end all strikes on Saudi Arabia, provided the kingdom and its allies did the same. 

“We reserve the right to return and respond in the case there is no reaction to our initiative,” he said, and called on all parties in Yemen to work towards “comprehensive national reconciliation”.

On Saturday, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths welcomed the halt on strikes and the calls for a political solution. 

“The special envoy stresses the importance of taking advantage of this opportunity and moving forward with all necessary steps to reduce violence, military escalation and unhelpful rhetoric,” a statement issued from his office read.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com

IBB sends crucial message to Igbo, says Nigeria can't afford to break

- A former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, has advised the Igbos to ensure peaceful coexistence with other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria - IBB also urged them to make Nigerians continue to feel their positive impact in every nook and cranny of the country - The Nigerian leader, however, emphasised that Nigeria could not afford to break The people of the southeast geopolitical zone have been urged by the former military leader, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), to ensure that Nigerians continue to feel their positive impact. Legit.ng reports that the former president made the plea on Saturday, September 21, when the Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA) from the 19 northern states and Abuja visited him for his recent 78th birthday.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the IDA delegation was led by its president, Chief Chikezie Okezie and the Eze Igbo of Minna, Eze Pampas Wahiwe. 

He, however, warned that Nigeria must remain an indivisible entity regardless of ethnic, religious or political differences. “You should continue to allow your positive impacts to be felt among host ethnic nationalities in the country, as you explore business opportunities available. Nigerians, Igbos inclusive, should ensure they uphold the ideals of Nigeria’s founding fathers. “An indivisible Nigeria is very necessary and we must do everything possible to remain as one family, though we differ in tribe and tongue,” he said. He appreciated the Igbos for being very enterprising and determined to succeed by penetrating the nooks and crannies of the country for business exploits. “You should use same spirit of enterprise to promote peaceful co-existence among Nigerians, in all that you are doing. “You have done well to keep Nigeria together. The Igbos are known to have the potentials of traveling far and wide, exploring new frontiers and business opportunities,” he said.

Okezie prayed God to continue to grant IBB the strength and wisdom to offer advice that would help Nigeria in tackling its various challenges. “As an elder statesman, your wise counsel is very much needed at this point in our national life,” he said. (NAN)