Connect with us

Breaking

Nigeria is facing extraordinary security challenges — US

Published

on

United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has said that Nigeria’s current security are “extraordinary”.

Blinken said this during a virtual roundtable with Kenyan and Nigerian journalists. Revealing how the US could assist Nigeria to tackle the security challenges posed by Boko Haram, bandits and IPOB, Blinken said;

“IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE CHALLENGES THAT NIGERIA FACES, WHEN IT COMES TO SECURITY, ARE QUITE EXTRAORDINARY — AND YOU REFERENCED THEM — WHETHER IT’S TERRORISM, WHETHER IT’S BANDITRY AND CRIMINALITY, WHETHER IT’S PIRACY. ALL OF THESE ARE REAL CHALLENGES.

“ONE, WE ARE IN ABSOLUTE SOLIDARITY BETWEEN US IN TRYING TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES TOGETHER. AND THE UNITED STATES IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING NIGERIA AS IT MEETS THESE CHALLENGES. AND WHAT THAT INVOLVES PRIMARILY IS HELPING NIGERIA CONTINUE TO BUILD ITS CAPACITY THROUGH TRAINING, THROUGH RESOURCES, THROUGH INFORMATION SHARING, THROUGH EQUIPMENT, AND ALL OF THAT DONE, VERY IMPORTANTLY, WITH FULL RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

“BUT IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER, AS WE ARE, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE DRIVERS OR FACILITATORS OF VIOLENCE AND INSTABILITY THAT WE KNOW THOSE ENGAGED IN THESE ACTIVITIES CAN SOMETIMES FEED ON. AND THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THESE CHALLENGES. ‘’MILITARY APPROACH IS VITALLY IMPORTANT, BUT IT’S INSUFFICIENT, AND SO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PROGRESS, OPPORTUNITY IS HUGELY IMPORTANT.”

The US Secretary of State also told countries battling insecurity to tackle the root cause of such crisis.

Blinken added;

“SO, TOO, ARE DEALING WITH SOME OF THE OTHER DRIVERS THAT SOMETIMES PRODUCE CONFLICT, VIOLENCE, AND EXTREMISM. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT’S STRIKING, OF COURSE, IS THE LAKE CHAD BASIN. AND THERE WE’VE SEEN OVER TIME, AS YOU KNOW, THE EROSION OF THE BASIN, INCLUDING BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

“THAT, IN TURN, CAN PRODUCE CONFLICT OVER RESOURCES, NEW MIGRATORY PATTERNS THAT PUT PEOPLE IN CONFLICT, FOOD INSECURITY, THE MORE EASY SPREAD OF DISEASE, ALL OF WHICH CAN PRODUCE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TERRORISM, CRIMINALITY, OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE ARE MORE LIKELY.

“SO I THINK IT’S VITAL THAT WE ADDRESS THESE, AS I KNOW PRESIDENT BUHARI IS VERY FOCUSED ON, AND IT’IS ALSO WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE PRESIDENT BUHARI, AS WELL AS PRESIDENT KENYATTA FROM KENYA, TAKE PART IN THE CLIMATE SUMMIT THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN CONVENED LAST WEEK, WHICH WAS A VERY POWERFUL MANIFESTATION OF THE BROAD INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES POSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH IN TURN, AS WE DO IT, I THINK WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE DRIVERS WE’VE SEEN OF CONFLICT WHICH IN TURN CAN FEED EXTREMISM.

“SO, IT’S A LONG WAY OF SAYING I THINK WE HAVE TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE, THE COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE – OBVIOUSLY FOCUS ON THE HARD SECURITY COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE AND STRENGTHEN THAT, BUT ALSO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF SOME OF THE BIGGER PIECES OF THIS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS TOGETHER AS WELL.”

Breaking

JUST IN: Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun joins ancestors at 81

Published

on

By

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun has joined his ancestors after a brief illness.

He joined his ancestors at the age of 81.

It was gathered that the late monarch was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning having stayed indoor throughout Tuesday on account of slight malaria fever, though, he was hail and hearty on Monday during which he personally received few guests that paid him congratulatory visits on his second year anniversary on that day.

Making this announcement was the Baba-Kekere Olubadan and his younger brother, Dr Kola Balogun in a statement by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the late monarch, Oladele Ogunsola.

According to the statement, Dr. Balogun disclosed that Oba Balogun would be buried at his Aliiwo ancestral home by 4.00pm on Friday according to Islamic rites just as he said that the State Governor Seyi Makinde, though already verbally informed, would be formally notified early in the morning.

The late Olubadan was the first most educated to have emerged as Ibadan monarch, a British trained P.hd holder, a former university lecturer, former member of management staff of Shell British Petroleum, former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party, NPP, former Senator and a successful business man.

His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting which he presided over last Saturday where the decision to derobed Mogaji Akinsola, Olawale Oladoja was taken.

He however, on Tuesday instructed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade to midwife a small committee to deliberate on last Friday’s decision on what should be the position of Ibadan Zone in the proposed newly reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The decision of the small committee was earlier on Thursday ratified by the Olubadan Advisory Council at a meeting presided over by Otun Olubadan and the former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and was to be taken to the late Oba Balogun for his signature Friday morning so as to meet the deadline for submission to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters later in the day.

The late Olubadan is survived by wives, children and grandchildren.

Announcing the passage of the monarch, Governor Makinde, in a statement, stated that Olubadan, who joined his ancestors late Thursday evening at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, described him as an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever, who made great marks on Ibadanland in just a little over two years of his reign.

He expressed his condolences to the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State, praying to God to grant repose to the soul of the deceased monarch.

Makinde said: “With total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing unto glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Mohood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

“A mighty Iroko has fallen; Oba Dr. Balogun has joined the ancestors.

“In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while.

“On behalf of the Government and good People of Oyo State, I condole with the immediate family of the Oba Dr. Balogun, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland.

“It is my prayer that God grants repose to the soul of our late monarch.”

Continue Reading

Breaking

JUST IN: Labour Party National Chairman, Abure arrested for attempted murder in Edo (Video)

Published

on

By

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure.

Abure was arrested on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on allegations of premeditated attempted murder, amongst other alleged infractions.

The Labour Party chairman’s arrest followed a petition by the LP Youth Leader, Comrade Eragbe Anselm Aphimia.

The petition, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, dated February 13, partly reads, “I, Comrade Eragbe Anselm, write to you with utmost urgency and grave concern regarding a heinous act of violence perpetrated against me on the 29th of December 2023.

“I am a member and National Youth Leader of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria, and the events I am about to recount are of utmost importance for justice and the safety of individuals involved in political activities.

“On December 28, 2023, I flew into Benin City Airport around 2 p.m. as part of an official 5-member delegation authorised by the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa.

“Our mission was to organise Ward, LGA, and State Congresses in Edo State, as well as supervise the sale of nomination forms for various posts, as mandated by INEC guidelines, within the stipulated time frames.

“On arrival at the Benin Airport, I was received by one Mrs Mary Okheime Newberry, who falsely claimed to be providing transportation and accommodation on behalf of unnamed “stakeholders.”

“She proceeded to lodge us at the Smart Homes Hotel, unknown to us that she was plotting a sinister and gruesome ambush. The next morning, a man named Austin Emeka came to pick me and my colleague, Mr Patrick Anethua, up from the hotel lobby, pretending to take us to a meeting venue.

“Instead, we were violently attacked just outside the hotel gates by a waiting mob.”

Continue Reading

Breaking

JUST IN: Tinubu appoints new leadership for NAFDAC, NCDC

Published

on

By

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment and reappointment of chairpersons of boards and chief executive officers of agencies under the ministry of health and social welfare.

In a statement on Thursday by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, Tinubu approved the appointment of Mansur Kabir as the chairman of board of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He also reappointed Mojisola Adeyeye as the director-general (DG) of the agency and appointed Olajide Idris as the DG of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Continue Reading

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

Most Read...