DELTA – Child Rights Activist, Comrade Ighorhiowhunu Aghogho, has raised alarm that remand home in Sapele, Delta State, is “over congested with children”.
He said children between the ages of 14 and 17 years are being sent to prison in the State.
“Remand home in Sapele, Delta State is congested with children and other young persons. Children under the ages of 14-17years are being sent to prison in the State. Who sent the children to the remand home?”
This claim could not be independently verified by The Dune at the time of filing this report.
Aghogho spoke against child imprisonment.
He said it was gross violation of child’s right to subject any child to emotional and physical torture in the guise of trying him or her for a crime.
“Never should a child be sentenced to prison. It is against the constitution.”
Aghogho who spoke at a seminar he organised for health workers/ professionals in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, advocated the creation of leisure centres in the State for children.
He alleged that juveniles were exposing themselves to different crimes including prostitution, drugs, pocket and purse picking at Enerhen junction, an unregulated spot they converge for leisure, according to him.
“There are no leisure parks and libraries to engage and dissuade the minds of children from violent crime in Delta State. People now take their children to Shoprite to snap pictures. Is Shoprite a leisure centre?”, he added.
Aghogho called on Delta state government, rights activists and the media to worry about the trend of child rights abuses and violent crimes perpetrated in the state by juveniles.
AKWA IBOM – The Pioneer chairman of Performing Musician Association of Nigeria (PMAN) Ibesikpo Asutan chapter, Akwa Ibom State, Aniefiok Moses Edem, has cried out to Governor Udom Emmanuel, to save him from a kidney disease.
Edem, 45 years old, is suffering from an end-stage kidney disease, according medical report from the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH.
An indigene of Ikot Akpaetok, Ibesikpo Asutan local government area, Edem said his health challenge started in 2017 and has deteriorated in the last couple of months, forcing him to be placed on twice weekly maintenance haemodialysis.
A letter from UUTH, signed by Dr. Udeme Ekrikpo, consultant nephrologist, states the patient is unable to have regular dialysis sessions because of cost and that counts for the serious deterioration of his health.
“Because of the huge cost of haemolialysis treatment which is put at about N350,000 per month, patient is unable to have regular dialysis sessions. This has taken a huge toll on his quality of life and is threatening his continued survival”, the letter reads.
The hospital says the patient is willing to undertake definitive treatment, a kidney transplantation, estimated to cost N8million.
Edem has been surviving on support from friends and his former co-performers, according to Mr. Ifiok Effiong, who contacted The Dune reporter seeking help for the patient.
The patient has had swollen legs and stomach since the illness hit him like a tsunami, two years ago.
Edem could be reached through Mr. Ifiok Effiong, through the phone number, 08025797984.
Chris Ekpenyong, the senator representing Akwa Ibom North West District, Akwa Ibom state, has lost his wife.
The senator’s wife, Grace, is said to have passed on in Uyo, last weekend.
The son, Emmanuel Ekpenyong, confirmed the incident Monday morning.
“It’s a sad reality we must have to accept,” Mr Ekpenyong said.
Mr Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state, won the 2019 Senate election against an incumbent senator, and former governor of State, Godswill Akpabio.
People who were close to the late Grace said she was hard-working, and a loving wife and mother to her husband and children.
She was an entrepreneur who ran a flourishing bread factory and some agro-allied businesses in Akwa Ibom state.
AKWA IBOM – The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, in the Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, said on it had arrested five suspected smugglers and seized 370 bags of smuggled rice from them.
The suspects were arrested in a wooden boat on Sunday, August 12, 2019, during a routine anti-smuggling patrol carried out by operatives of the base.
The Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Toritseju Vincent, while handing over the suspects and the seized items to the Nigeria Customs Service in Ibaka on Thursday, said the navy had made consistent seizure of smuggled rice in its drive to accomplish its anti-smuggling patrol functions.
“One of our major functions in the Nigerian Navy is anti-smuggling patrol, and with our cooperation with the Nigeria Customs Service , we have consistently seized smuggled rice from Cameroon into Nigeria.
“So, an arrest was made on Monday, August 12, 2019, of five suspects with a large wooden boat conveying 370 bags of rice. I want to use this opportunity to thank the Customs for the continuous and unwavering support to curb this menace.
“On behalf of the Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, I hereby hand over these 370 bags of the smuggled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service”, Vincent said.
The Chief Superintendent of the NCS, Akwa Ibom State, Olutola John, while receiving the suspects and the items , commended the navy for supporting the organisation in the campaign against smuggling.
John said the suspects, upon the completion of investigation, would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
“I, on behalf of the Area Controller, Eastern Marine Command, Port Harcourt, hereby thank the Nigerian Navy for complementing the efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service in this command in doing its legal business activities in this area.
“We will continue to cooperate with our sister security agency, the navy, to end the illegal business activity of smuggling and influx of smuggled goods into the country.
“I can assure the public as well that as soon as the investigations are completed, the suspects will be charged and the goods will be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
One of the suspects, Sunday Robin, told our correspondent that he was hired to bring in the smuggled rice from Cameroon.
Robin, who hails from the Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, stated that it was his first time in the business and that he was not aware that bringing in rice from Cameroon was against the law.
He stated, “I was hired as a water bailer by the owner of the rice, MR CHIMEZIE, to go to Cameroon and bring the rice for him. On my way back, I saw a navy gun boat and I was arrested after I told them that I was carrying 370 bags of rice.”
“They took me down to the navy base and locked me up. This is my first time of being hired as a water bailer and I did not know that bringing in rice from Cameroon is wrong.”
ABUJA – The federal government of Nigeria has claimed that the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibraheem El-zakzaky and his wife, acted provocatively in India during their medical trip.
El-zakzaky’s spouse while in India accused the Nigerian securities of killing her children, a statement by the federal ministry of information and culture, says.
The government however insisted that the allegation was aimed to “winning international sympathy as well as disparaging the Nigerian government.”
El-zakzaky was returned to Nigeria after he protested that the condition of the hospital he was admitted to in India was worse than the detention he was held, back in Nigeria.
The government’s statement issued on August 16th, and signed by Grace Isu Gekpe, Permanent Secretary of the ministry says “acts of misconduct exhibited by El-zakzaky necessitated his repatriation.”
El-zakzaky
“With total disrespect and complete loss of decorum for international procedures while in India, he initiated contacts with a team of lawyers led by Ali Zia Kabir Chaudary and Gunjan Singh in that country.”
“He also contacted some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), such as the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and other Shiite groups. His aim was to seek asylum and eventually relocate to another country.”
The statement stressed that El-Zakzaky’s actions in India demonstrated malicious intents capable of embarrassing the governments of Nigeria and India.
“Among other demands, El-zakzaky demanded to be relocated to a 5-Star hotel to receive visitors instead of being admitted in the hospital as a sick person”, the statement adds.
AKWA IBOM – Independent Magazine Publishers Association of Nigeria (IMPAN), has presented National Merit Award for change and good governance to the chairman, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), Prince Akpan Ikim.
The award came barely few months after Akwa Ibom State was declared the cleanest state in Nigeria by an NGO working on environmental sanitation.
Presenting the award on Friday, 16th August, at AKSEPWMA secretariat in Itam, Akwa Ibom State, President of IMPAN, Prince Jude Ubaka, said Ikim was able to meet the demands and yearnings of the masses, through his agency.
Ubaka said Ikim was nominated for the award based on the sterling findings of an investigative report detailing his unwavering commitment to routine monitoring, supervision and implementation of the State law against indiscriminate and illegal dumping of wastes.
He said such commitment puts forward Prince Ikim ‘as an accomplished world class development professional with a unique track record on waste management.’
“We appreciate your doggedness in transforming the face of the State. Your good performance has gained the admiration of all.”
Ubara lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for identifying and appointing Prince Ikim, to head the waste management agency.
In his response, Prince Ikim said he was humbled by the recognition of his modest contributions to the sanitation and well-being of the residents of the State, particularly as it came from non-residents in the State who have not been directed impacted by such contributions.
He dedicated the award to Governor Udom Emmanuel and staff of AKSEPWMA.
Ikim thanked IMPAN for the recognition, saying that AKSEPWMA is committed to maintaining a clean, friendly and green environment in Akwa Ibom State.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai commends the commitment and achievement of troops deployed at Forward Operating Base at Daura in Katsina State for combating armed banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping among other menaces during Operation Harbin Kunama III and ongoing Operation HADARIN DAJI in the North Western part of Nigeria.
Buratai gave the commendation when he visited the base on the 15th of August 2019.
He also disclosed the Army authority’s plans to replicate the noble concept of Super Camp in the region, with the aim of projecting offensive patrols, raids, ambushes and other combat missions to tackle the security threats occasioned by the activities of bandits and other criminals elements.
The COAS maintained that provision of logistics to enable troops perform effectively remains his top priority.
Lt Gen TY Buratai announced that works and provision of infrastructure will soon commence on the proposed permanent site of the 171 Battalion located in Daura.
He informs them of the introduction of Boots and Polish allowances, among other welfare packages to boost troops morale, encourage hardwork and professionalism.
There was loud ovation when the COAS conducted troops at the base to series of push ups.
In another development, the COAS along with the Chief of Defence Staff General AG Olonisakin and other Service Chiefs attended the commissioning of Nigerian Airforce Reference Hospital in Daura and thereafter paid Sallah greetings to Mr President, Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR. The COAS also paid Sallah homage to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar CFR.
Credit: Sagir Musa, Acting Director Army Public Relations
AKWA IBOM – Policy Alert, a leading non-governmental organisation in the Niger Delta, holds a-one day training on utilising Freedom of Information Act as a tool for delivering public sector transparency and accountability in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service.
The training is for desk officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Akwa Ibom State.
Mr. Tijah Bolton-Akpan, Executive Director, Policy Alert.
The training which has as its theme, “Utilizing the FOI Act 2011 as a tool for Combating Public Sector Corruption at the Subnational Level”, holds on friday 16th August, 2019.
The programme officer, Faith Paulinus, said the training is part of the Strengthening Citizens’ Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C) project, which Policy Alert is currently implementing in Akwa Ibom State, with support from Actionaid Nigeria.
“The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011 is an important piece of legislation aimed at empowering citizens and state actors and institutions to promote transparency and accountability in government” Paulinus said.
“There is a huge confusion and clear dearth of capacity within state institutions on how the FOI Act could be utilized as a tool for anticorruption. Part of the confusion stems from the provisions of the Official Secrets Act which is seen by many as detracting from the rights of citizens to access publicly held information. The other part relates to whether the Act is applicable to subnational jurisdictions.”
“The proposed training seeks to address this gap and the general lack of knowledge on the provisions of the Act and inability of state actors at the state and local levels to respond to FOI requests according to its provisions.”
Paulinus disclosed that Policy Alert will be mobilizing, building capacity and facilitating a number of citizen-led efforts by communities, media and civil society in Akwa Ibom State to utilize state budgets and the FOI Act as tools for combating and changing attitudes around corruption, in the next phase of the training.
Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, Chairman, Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, recently suspended from office may have his education and law certificates withdrawn.
Obono-Obla’s suspension announced on Wednesday 14th August, took immediate effect, according to a letter signed by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to Government of the Federation.
Obono-Obla
The letter dated August 14, 2019 obtained by Premium Times and sighted by The Dune, states that the suspension shall subsist until the conclusion of on-going investigations into case of alleged falsification of records and financial impropriety against the panel chairman.
“I write to convey the directive of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for your suspension from office as Chairman, Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, with immediate effect”, the letter reads.
Obono-Obla was suspended following a recommendation of the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives had in February written to the Federal Government, demanding it to act on the House resolution calling for the sack of Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla.
The letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, referenced NASS/CAN/105/Vol. 25/044 was dated 5th February 2019 and signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Sani Omolori and referenced.
Copied in the letter were, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF); Inspector-General of Police, Chief Justice of Nigeria; President Nigeria Bar Association (NBA); Vice Chancellor, University of Jos; Director-General, Nigeria Law School; Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Chairman, National Universities Commission (NUC); Chairman, Council of Legal Education; Nigeria Law School; and the Chairman, Body of Benchers
The letter reads: “The House of Representatives on Thursday, 20th December 2018, considered the Report of the AD-HOC Committee on Finance to Investigate the Legality and Modus Operandi of the Special Presidential Panel and subsequently recommended that:
“The president should be urged to dissolve the panel in view of the arbitrary use of powers and abuse of Office by the Chairman; “Code of Conduct Bureau should be utilised to perform the gap that the Panel seeks to fill in the current anti-corruption drive; “The President of the FRN should discharge Chief Okoi Obono-Obla of his responsibility as Special Adviser and Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP); “The Independent corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) should investigate the allegations of corruption contained in the Audit Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation on the financial transactions of the Panel and prosecute the culprits;
“The Law Degree of Chief Okoi Okono- Obla, having been obtained fraudulently, be withdrawn by University of Jos.”
“The Council of Legal Education should withdraw the Law School Certificate awarded Ofem Okoi Ofem (now known as Chief Okoi Obono-Obla) as it was based on the degree which he obtained from the University of Jos through fraud; “The Body of Benchers should withdraw the Call to Bar Certificate issued to Chief Okoi Obono-Obla; “The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should prosecute Chief Okoi Obono-Obla before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee; and
“Chief Okoi Obono -Obla should be prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and charged to court for forgery and misrepresentation”.
It could be recalled that the House had indicted Obono-Obla of forgery of West African Examination Council (WAEC) result following both oral and written testimonies by the examination body.
Whereas the WAEC result (Examination No. 09403/247 May/June 1982) with which Obono-Obla obtained his degree in Law indicates that he made five credit passes, including Literature-in-English, official letters from WAEC to the House of Representatives dated 11th and 17th April 2018 and signed by Mr. A. A Okelezue and Mr. Olu Adenipekun, respectively, showed that he did not sit for Literature-in-English.
Also, in his oral testimony under oath, WAEC Deputy Registrar, Mr. Femi Ola, affirmed the allegation, describing the result Obono-Obla’s parades as “altered”, “not genuine”, and “invalid”.
Shina Phillips, the CEO of Matchmakers Consult International Limited, is known to many as one of the pioneers of modern day Nollywood and a versatile FIFA-Licensed Players’ Agent. He is the initiator of the prestigious Nigeria Pitch Awards and an FRSC Celebrity Marshall; not many however know him as a seasoned security expert known for his professional and in-depth knowledge of security issues. His involvement in security dates back to the late 1990s. He is a regular face on Security Watch Africa Programme on the Africa Independent Television (AIT). He has served as an International Assessor for ‘Security Watch Africa’ and ‘Security Watch Africa Awards’. He has had the privilege of having to go round the country to do assessments on the state of Nigerian security; to proffer advice, where necessary, to the government; and commend the security agencies where they are doing well. In an interview, he dissects Nigeria’s security problems and what needs to be done to get us out of our security woes.
Shina Phillips (left), Presenting a memento to IGP Abubakar Ibrahim Adamu
Nigeria’s State of Security: We need to step up spending on security
While assessing the state of Nigeria’s security, Philips believes that the Buhari’s administration, just like his predecessors, has budgeted and spent huge amount of funds on security. “Since assuming office as President and Commander-in-Chief, the President has approved huge budgetary spending on security and generally, people could see the impact of this on the battle against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East. We have also had the military getting involved more and more in internal security as a stop-gap approach to curtailing growing incidences of insecurity around the country. The President has ordered recruitment of more security personnel especially in the Nigeria Police, in order to improve police presence around the country. The media have also reported the military taking delivery of military hardware and weapons necessary to fight not just the insurgency in the North-East but other battle fronts around the country. These are very commendable steps. No doubt, Nigeria is making steady gains in security.
“In spite of these spending, you cannot dismiss the fact that certain security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police, are indeed underfunded. Let me fist put this in the proper context: in any country in the world, no amount spends on security will ever be enough, even in America. In Nigeria, we need to further step up spending on security to adequately tackle our security situation. At this level, as the greatest black nation in the world, our Police especially are not as technologically equipped as the Police in more advanced nations. It is saddening. I have had the privilege of being out there and I can tell you that their Police are well-kitted and well-funded; let alone the military and some other arms of their security agencies. I think that with the kind of awareness now in our society, there is need for proper funding of not just the military but also of the Nigeria Police because they are responsible for internal security. When you look at the situation of things today, I do not see any difficulty or any form of complexity in tackling the security problem we have in this country because we have what it takes.’
“Secondly, when I look at our own setup, the major problem I see is that we have not successfully managed our diversity: we are divided across religious lines; we are divided across ethnic lines and sometimes we are sharply divided across certain ideological and political stands.”
Speaking further, Philips highlights the massive impact a nation’s economy plays in maintaining security. “There is no amount of expertise you deploy to deal with the security of a nation without looking at the economy of that nation. We must pay attention to those things that easily trigger some of the criminalities you have in our society. Suffice to say that in Nigeria, we have a lot of security experts who have proffered solutions by way of security expertise but then they seem to fail because you need to first create an enabling environment that is safe for investments and safe for creation of jobs. I think the President and his cabinet realized at some point during his first tenure and that was why we experienced spirited efforts to inject funds into the economy through the ‘Tradermoni’ initiative which is a form of cash transfer to people who may not be able to access business loans from banks. It is a good idea because in spite of the criticisms, it has seen billions of naira in circulation and more importantly, in the hands of those who really need it.”
Explaining further, Philips provides a rear insight into the futility of any government’s efforts at securing the society without paying proportional attention to growing the economy. “If you provide security in a particular environment and neglect issues of job creation and economic and social welfare of the citizens in that same environment, you are inevitably and invariably going to have an upsurge in criminality that will equally put a lot of weight on your security apparatus.”
Making the point clearer, Phillips states; “the more security agencies try to tackle criminality on this side, the more it increases on the other side so much so that there is strong likelihood that these efforts will yield little or no result.”
Tackling poverty, trans-border arms’ flow with reduce insecurity
Shina Philips believes only a well-thought out and holistic approach to the nation’s security challenges will yield desired results. “Unfortunately for our security chiefs, one of the first things to do is outside their statutory responsibility. The economy must take centre stage in finding solution to insecurity in Nigeria. Some criminalities such as cultism, armed robbery, burglary, banditry, kidnapping and so on, can be linked to the fact that there is no daily supply of meal in many homes. While poverty is not entirely responsible for crimes, a high rate of poverty will most likely trigger a corresponding high rate of crime. So I would think that no matter the design you put in to deal with criminality in the country, it is also safer to look at the economic wellbeing of the people. I think this alone will reduce the level of criminality and boost the efforts of the security agencies. I see this government is working on this and I encourage them to make more haste. I also advise the government to look into the idea of the Social Security Scheme especially as practiced in most advanced societies. This will take care of the vulnerable citizens and ensure that the society caters for them on a regular basis.”
“Secondly, our security arrangements must continue to evolve in order to confront the new face of crime on the continent. One of the ills of globalization is the issue of trans-border crimes. We know the President has reached out to leadership in neighbouring countries, but more has to be done to stop the inflow of arms and devices and even criminal elements across our borders. On the one hand, we are dealing with the issue of Boko Haram, whose threat the military have been able to bring down to a certain level. I would say the only thing left now is to completely annihilate the sect, but technically and to a very large extent, that has been dealt with. On the other hand, we are also dealing with several other security threats across the 6 geo-political zones: armed banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and gang related conflicts, militant and succession agitation. We have special security task forces operated by the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce, Department of State Services, EFCC, NSCDC and others. It is not enough to say we are equipping the security agencies with weapons or that we are looking at the area of intelligence gathering, or that we looking at funding the agencies as it were; there will always be the very salient issue of coordination, collaboration and cooperation among the security agencies. Competition and rivalry among them will only serve narrow and parochial interests.
“We can then look at the internal security architecture where the Nigeria Police play a major role. What do we need to do to be able to manage our internal security in the country and deal with insecurity?” Philips asks rhetorically.
We need database and predictive policing
Predictive Policing is premised on the availability of data which will help the police predict venue, time and possibly persons involved in criminalities based on a particular trend observed through a study of data. For instance, take the issue of kidnapping: If the police are technologically equipped, they will be able to track and eventually arrest perpetrators of kidnapping. We need the police to set up a strong central database where they can access records of criminals who have in the past committed any crime. There seems to be a strong loose end as far as that area is concerned. Data is of central importance to the success of the Police. This will make us have an appropriate budget for our security agencies to deal with the issue of criminality.
“There are currently plans to add 280, 000 officers to take the strength of the Nigeria Police to 650, 000 officers. At the current strength of 371, 800 police men and women, the country has a ratio of 1 police man to 467 citizens. This is grossly inadequate. In some countries the police-citizen ratio is just one to ten or twenty.’
IGP Adamu is competent, savvy with technology for 21st century policing
Shina Phillips’s position and disposition on the current Police leadership has been well documented in the media. Having interacted with the Police hierarchy over the last decade, he is perhaps best suited to speak on how well prepared the Police leadership is to tackle insecurity in Nigeria. “I will say that the Nigeria Police are fortunate to have as IGP, Abubakar Mohammed Adamu, a highly seasoned police officer, with a strong management team and officers that are responsive and ready to run with his own vision and who are ready to take the Nigeria Police to its enviable height. We have an Inspector General of Police who understands what global policing is; what is obtainable in term of policing all over the world. When you have such a person as the IGP, there is a likelihood and definitely so that there will be a huge turnaround. He will be able, not only to generate the funds that the Police need, but also to technologically equip the Police.’
“The best way to assess the readiness of the Police is to first assess its leadership. As I said and I wish to be quoted out there, fortunately for the Nigeria Police, the current IGP knows what to do in the area of technological advancement, sourcing for funds and partnering with the government to give Nigeria the kind of Police they can be proud of. He also knows how to rid the Nigeria Police Force of elements that have dented the image of the Nigeria Police.”
Explaining his position further, Phillips takes a look at the number and caliber of those serving with him; they are the ‘Progressives’ of the Force. “If you step into some of their offices: the DIGs, AIGs and CPs, you would be very proud of our Police. So we have a leader who has those running with his vision and I know, giving him time and government backing he will be able to equip the Nigeria Police so honourably that the perception of the public about the Police will change and there will be room for collaboration. He has the knowledge of what Community Policing is; he has knowledge of what visibility in terms of police presence without unnecessary harassment is. Also, I have keenly observed that this IGP knows what the right of the Police officer is and what the right of the citizen is. Our hearts should bleed when we hear that a police man or woman is killed in the line of duty.
“The IGP is also working to enhance institutional capacities and prime all police departments. There is going to be tremendous change. I know him and I know he is not carried away by the office. He has enmeshed himself in the vision of the Nigeria Police. He is assisted by the entire management team of the Nigeria Police who are determined to run with his vision. He is supported by a professional and irrepressible image maker in DCP Frank Mba, a very effective ACP Idowu Owohunwa, the Principal Staff Officer to the IGP, SP Jolugbo Moses, a seasoned international police officer and a dedicated secretariat made up of Special Assistants and Personal Assistants ever ready to serve the IGP. I expect nothing less than an efficient and vibrant Police Force while these men and officers remain in charge.”
President Buhari should give more support to Police
“This will be the president’s legacy because he has an able lieutenant in this IGP, whose vision for the Police tallies with the President’s. If there is a political will and proper funding, believe you me, criminality will be dealt with and as the most populous black nation in the world, we would take our proper place in the comity of nations and stand proudly.”
Shina Phillips (right) during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai in Abuja
Outlining some of the immediate benefits of a secured Nigeria, Philips identifies tourism as one area the nation will experience improvement. “The sector will attract more investors and more tourists from abroad. This will boost our revenue and trigger more FDI inflows. No investor will come to a country where there is no security. If there is good security, you will see that the Nigerian economy will grow and can run 24 hours. Nigeria has everything it takes to run a 24-hour economy. ”
My Position on Community Policing
“Community Policing is not strange to us. In fact, effective policing is partnership with the community. However, there is need to sensitize the people and partner with the traditional rulers; bring them into the entire security architecture in order to make them understand the place of partnership. Community Policing takes the saying that ‘The Police is your friend’ into the realms of reality. It builds trust between the Police and the community. The Police basically need information to perform maximally. The community can provide the needed information but the Police must guarantee the security and continuous safety of informants by keeping them anonymous. There is also the need to create what is called ‘constabularies’ so that within an environment, we can look at men and women of honour who people in the society can vouch for; build them into the Force and give them privileges to act as eyes for the Police. The only limitation for them is that they cannot carry weapons. These people, by virtue of their being members of a particular environment, will have access to information which will help the Police fight crime and keep society safe.’
State Police may polarise ethnicity, except…
The issue of State Police has been in our national discourse since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999. However, in recent times, owing to grave security concerns across the country, the calls for the adoption of State Police have increased. As an International Assessor on security, Shina Philips states what his position and elaborates on factors which influenced his decision.
“I have been strongly concerned about the idea of State Police. Before we can heed calls for State Police, we have to beef up the federal police structure and operation and get it well-funded. If the structure of our police is perfected at the federal level and patriotism has become the order of the day, then the idea of State Police will be embraced by all.
“My position is informed by the very obvious fact that State Police in Nigeria today may be abused not only by politicians as some people have said but by the ordinary citizens especially if rules of engagement are not properly defined. Our problem as a nation is hinged on patriotism. For state police to work the people must be very patriotic and for us to rid the nation of corruption, we must be patriotic. ‘
“Patriotism is the way forward for Nigeria and Nigerians. When you see a nation whose people are patriotic, you will see the flag of that country proudly displayed everywhere regardless of differences in tribe and religion. Religion cannot unite a nation because you have different creeds; but patriotism can unite the people regardless of their religious, their ethnicity, their political differences because at the end of the day, you are thinking alike and placing the nation above yourself. Unfortunately, the leaders we have today are thinking of themselves above the nation. They have selfish and greedy tendencies and they so ignorantly display it. But when you become patriotic, the common interest of the country is paramount; you are thinking, at that point, what you will do for your country and not what your country will do for you. But the country also must be able to stand tall so that its people will be proud. This is when the country needs to create such an environment where it has done greatly for its people in the areas of infrastructure and the economy.’
“I am aware that proponents of State Police have argued that when the system is adopted, police officers will be men and women who know the environment and the terrain well and will also know the people very well. But this is my argument against this line of thinking: If a Hausa man who comes from Maiduguri and resides somewhere in the South-South, has a case against an indigene of one of the states in the South-South; the IPO is from the South-South. The DPO is from the South-South. I can bet the first thing the South-South man will do is to speak in his dialect. It is the same thing if the situation is reversed. This means we are further polarizing the country and working against our unity.’
“We must first see ourselves as Nigerians before we begin to talk of our ethnic backgrounds, but the reverse is the case today. We should be able to see a Yoruba man introducing himself first as a Nigerian, an Ibo man and Hausa man introducing themselves first as Nigerians and it will be so much later that the other person will ask ‘What part of Nigeria are you from?’ We need to first think Nigeria.
“How do we achieve this? We need a leader who is visionary, patriotic and charismatic and fortunately we have that in President Muhammadu Buhari. He is leader with a whole lot of goodwill and massive followership. I will advise that the President convene a Confab solely for the purpose of instilling the noble idea of patriotism and galvanizing the population towards this direction. Remember that President Buhari as Military Head of State in 1984 did this. In Rwanda, for example, it took a visionary leader. It is so amazing that when you get a visionary leader, you will find people of like minds around him. A visionary leader is not keen on his cronies. A visionary leader is looking for those who will deliver. He will spell out the vision. He will find men and women who will die for that vision and you will find a people that will follow and die for the vision. These are visions that have taken the countries that we envy today to the height they are, and they have continued to sustain these visions. Americans are planning another trip to the moon. When JF Kennedy announced that America would be going to the moon, it took another nine years before they eventually landed on the moon! I must confess, it takes vision to do this. It is time for Africa to attempt the impossible and Nigeria can take the lead.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu (right) with Phillips
“Africa is a blessed continent. Africa’s sons and daughters have their footprints in great and timeless innovations across the world. This is why Matchmakers Consult International introduced the Africa LAMPS Awards. This represents Legends of Arts, Management, Politics, Science, Sports and Security Awards. It will identify and honour Africans who have made tremendous contributions to all human endeavours across the continents in the globe. I work with a crack team made up of Nelson Olafisoye, a versatile manager of resources, Fred Efole, a seasoned journalist and Ross Alabo-George and astute and experienced project manager.
Operation Puff Ader, POCACOV, are good initiatives
“The IGP Mohammed Adamu is a man of impeccable character. He has to a large extent shown himself to be patriotic and a visionary; he is a man who knows exactly what is best for the nation in terms of policing. He is a man who deals with people with patience so he can translate his vision to those who are working with him. If we have that kind of a leader as the head of our police, the speed at which there will be transformation will be interesting. One of the things I see about him is that he is so detribalized. His wealth of experience as an international police officer who was with INTERPOL and rose to an enviable position will prove crucial for Nigeria. He has a whole lot of experience to bring to the Nigeria Police. He loves being a policeman. I was not surprised when ‘Operation Puff Adder’ popped up and not too long ago, he flagged off the POCACOV – Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices. This is an extremely smart move by the Police to tackle the problem of cultism and gang related crimes through advocacy and persuasion. This will be to the delight of all parents and school authorities across the nation.
“POCACOV will be marshalled by Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police and PPRO of the Enugu Command under the supervision of the FPRO, Frank Mba. SP Amaraizu is a Police Officer who has demonstrated his passion for a youth population free from cultism and drugs. He is the best man for the job. By putting POCACOV under the FPRO, the IGP has clearly demonstrated faith in the use of education and advocacy to stern the tide and spread of cultism. This is a sign of the good things to come.”
