₦airaland Forum

By Michael Attah

Three weeks today; precisely, it’s more than three clear weeks, after the House of Representatives gave its verdict of a clean bill of health to the management of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), over alleged financial heist at the commission involving a whopping sum of N100 billion.

Surprisingly, but not unexpected, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and its allied vuvuzelas who led the defamatory assaults are silent. They unconscionably blew the false alarm bordering on spurious, mendacious, politically -motivated and malicious allegations on the commission’s management.

But the CSOs have been humbled with the House’s exonerative verdict on the commission and so, have now chosen the wise path in the wisdom of “silence is golden.” Had the verdict turned against the NEDC management, the fury of hell would not have contained their loud rantings.

The NEDC’s management led by the Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali, a stickler to standards, anti-corruption czar, a renowned evangelist of transparency and accountability in public service was alarmed and astonished with the bogus allegations raised against him and members of the NEDC management team in July 2020. But he was unperturbed!

As a first reaction to the spurious garbage spilled by an obscure group, North East Vanguard for Good Governance (NEVGG), Alkali, an astute public administrator and world-class manager of human and material resources, retorted calmly, “Nobody gave us up to N100 billion; I really don’t know how they got that figure.” Armed with this truth and confidence in his leadership of the commission, Alkali was ever willing to appear before the National Assembly Committee to respond to the allegations and redeem the image of the commission from politically-induced brickbats.

But the figure of N100 billion, within span of barely a year, alleged on Alkali by his adversaries, who accused him of corrupt practices was an amount too huge to be ignored by anybody. A synopsis of the allegations fingered Alkali in embezzlement, high handedness, abuse of office, over inflation of contracts, awards of non-existent contracts, massive contract splitting and flagrant disregard for due process or procurement laws in the award of contracts among others. So, the news went viral instantaneously.

Recount that President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the “Northeast Development Commission Bill” into law in October 2017, as a replacement for other existing support initiatives such as the Presidential Initiative on Northeast and the Victims Support Fund for victims of insurgency in the Northeast. The NEDC board of management was later inaugurated in May 2019, with Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali as the Managing Director.

But early in July 2020, a year later, NEVGG generated, fabricated, and publicized damaging allegations against the NEDC management and bluntly called for the sack of the NEDC boss and its management for the abuse of the funds voted for the settlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Northeast region ravaged by Boko Haram terrorists.

And the allegations whirled instantly because it coincided with the frenzy of the probe of the over N1trillion massive and multi-layered financial sleazes at the management of NDDC, another commission with a mandate to spearhead infrastructural development in the Niger Delta region.

Therefore, the House of Representatives picked up the gauntlet to investigate the alleged financial heist, two weeks later in the same month of July 2020. The issue was brought before the House in a motion by the Minority Leader, Hon.Ndudi Elumelu and it was unanimously adopted. The House mandated its Committees on Finance, Procurement and the NEDC to meticulously investigate these allegations and submit its findings to the Green Chamber, thus setting the stage for the investigation of the commission.

But the truth deliberately undermined by the petitioners ‘was that when the management of the NEDC commenced operations in 2019 upon inauguration, the released take-off grant was N10 billion only, though N45 billion was the entire sum budgeted for the commission in 2019. Other piecemeal releases later cumulatively pegged the total figure released to the NEDC at N25 billion in the 2019 fiscal year. And for the 2020 budget, fresh funds had not been released to the commission at the time the allegations were raised and mainly due to the exigencies of Covid-19 pandemic.

Therefore, the figure of N100 billion bandied as allegedly embezzled sounded hollow and betrayed the concealed intention of the petitioners as conspiracists after the malicious persecution of Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali and the management of NEDC. So, the antagonists of Alkali only stirred the honest nest with such damning frivolities for selfish reasons.

But come to think of it, a peep into the books of account of the commission displays an impressive adherence to every financial management, disbursement and procurement law, which Alkali was accused of violating flagrantly. The attacks on his person were carefully crafted.

For instance, Alkali was alleged to have conspired with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouk to withdraw and squander N5 billion for the procurement of vehicles for the military without approval of the NEDC board. But the decision to support the military operations in Northeast did not emanate from the NEDC management, but it came from recommendations of a communique of a Security Summit of the relevant stakeholders in Maiduguri, which pressed on the NEDC to support logistics for the Military.

And the NEDC board too was duly informed and gave its nod; but the amount expended for the purchase of vehicles was less than N5 billion as alleged. But since it was over the approval limits of the commission, due process was adhered, as the matter was referred to the ministerial tender’s board to the Bureau for Public Procurement. And advice was sought in the process and the approval granted.

Interestingly too, the probe established nowhere where Alkali neither committed funds of the commission to acquire landed properties in Abuja, Kaduna or Maiduguri nor paid himself monthly salaries and allowances amounting to N8.5 million, without recourse to the Salaries and Wages Commission as alleged by the petitioners. Thus, the otherwise serious investigation of the NEDC management over misappropriated N100 billion and abuse of procurement laws morphed into a comic show.

In the NASS correspondence with ref. No; NASS/CAN/35/Vol.1/153, dated July 8, 2021, to the NEDC Managing Director, it communicated the decisions of the House of Representatives resolutions on the probe of the alleged misappropriation of 100 billion as follows; (a) Commend the North East Development Commission for their due diligence in the execution of the projects; and also, directed the management to hasten to utilize other released, but unspent funds in the commission’s custody.

In clear terms, the House of Representatives found out the truth and absolved the NEDC Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali and his management team of any complicity in the handling of the commission’s finances. Therefore, the NEDC under the leadership of Alkali remains a doyen of accountability and transparency in the execution of projects, as it seeks to ameliorate the sufferings and pains of people of the Northeast region devastated by more than 10 years of Boko Haram insurgency.


Attah is a legislative staff at the National Assembly and wrote this piece from Abuja.

By Israel Abiodun

Like a half-drunk arousing from a stupor, Amnesty International is finally exiting a self-inflicted reverie by returning to the trenches against the Nigerian state and the institutions entrusted with maintaining the country’s sovereignty, law enforcement and military agencies. It is an assignment at which it failed in the past and has apparently also failed in this instance even before it has properly relaunched itself.

The international human rights monitoring non-governmental organization was apparently dazed by a quick series of events: the former service chiefs left office on excellent notes and got higher national assignments contrary to its expected outcome from the campaign of calumny against them during their tenure; the legacy of these former service chiefs was sustained by their successors, which means terrorists that are Amnesty International’s clients continued to receive heavy punishment at the hands of government forces; and against the lies told to block Nigeria from acquiring military hardware, the country successfully bought attack aircrafts that has further tipped the equation against terrorists.

Caught out in this manner, the folks at Amnesty International, possibly hard pressed for a strategy to roll back the progress recorded by the government against the terrorists it has always been sympathetic to, the NGO dug up its old style book and resorted to a worn tactic of presenting Nigeria’s military and law enforcement organizations as being tools in the hands of a government it has done everything to cast as repressive and murderous against the citizens.

A first manifestation of this was the publication of its trademark hasty report titled “Nigeria: At least 115 people killed by security forces in four months in country’s Southeast”. The story touted that ‘“The evidence gathered by Amnesty International paints a damning picture of ruthless excessive force by Nigerian security forces in Imo, Anambra and Abia states,” said Osai Ojigho, Country Director at Amnesty International.’

That report, scanty on facts and heavy on conjectures, tenuously attempted to present all those in the figures it cited as innocent. The impression it created was that member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a designated terrorist organization, and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), were innocent of the carnage they claimed responsibility for in the southeast. Perhaps Amnesty International has a database of all IPOB/ESN members against which it was able to verify the identities of the casualties from the security operations against terrorists in the region and that it was also able to crosscheck its database about the membership of the 500 persons it reported as arrested.

It used the testimony of two persons, with a mix of faceless and nameless persons thrown in, as a basis for establishing the innocence of the people that were unfortunately killed or arrested in these operations. This alone is reason to be suspicious of whatever figures Amnesty International throws around – a population sample that is statistically flawed and conclusions that are overly reliant on anecdotal reckonings that it makes no efforts to substantiate.

What should set the alarm bells tolling for any conscientious Nigeria, however, is this organization’s subtle but insidious pitching of citizens against each other by creating the impression that the terrorists, their innocent victims, and the government forces that are protecting innocent citizens from terrorists are different breeds of humans that should be accorded different level of human rights. The group overly focused on the killing and arrest of suspected terrorists while glossing over other fundamentals.

Its reports said _”Nigeria’s government has responded with a heavy hand to killings and violence widely attributed to the armed group calling itself Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a pro-Biafra movement. According to government officials, the ESN killed dozens of security operatives and attacked at least ten public buildings, including prisons and police stations, from January to June. In response, security forces comprising military, police, and Department of State Services (DSS) have killed dozens of gunmen, as well as civilians, where attacks have been committed.”_

Thus, Amnesty International accused the government of responding to terrorist acts “with a heavy hand” while it glossed over the fact that those killed were mostly during gunfights that ensued when they attacked security formations in the southeast. It trivialized that civilian that refused to subscribe to IPOB/ESN’s preference for violence were summarily executed by these terrorists in the goriest manner. It equally attempted to be clever by half when it admitted that “the ESN killed dozens of security operatives and attacked at least ten public buildings, including prisons and police stations, from January to June” yet was critical of the response to these crimes. Can Amnesty International name one country that would allow crimes of this magnitude against the state and citizens to be treated with kids’ gloves?

In what could possibly be the most perverted instance of revisionism recorded in the year 2021, Amnesty International flippantly dismissed the casualty on government side as “dozens of security operatives”. For the avoidance of doubt, The Brigade Commander of 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, Imo State, Brig. Gen. Raymond Utsaha reported that IPOB/ESN “gunmen had killed 78 police officers, 38 army officers, five Naval officers, seven Air Force officers, 15 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence officers, 31 community policing members and over 100 innocent citizens in the five states of the South-East region since the unrest (January to the first week of June 2021).” Who should Nigeria hold responsible for these atrocities? Would the criminals, bold enough to commit these kinds of atrocities, allow themselves to be taken in without a fight or alive for that matter?

The reality, irrespective of the spin by Amnesty International, is that the more than 262 people that IPOB/ESN killed under the franchise of “unknown gunmen” were Nigerians, they had names and identities with families and loved ones that have remained in mourning. It is appalling that this so-called human rights NGO has behaved in a manner that confirms that it places terrorists above these deceased Nigerians in terms of value and the need to safeguard their lives. It is an irresponsible act of misplacing human right monitoring and reporting that the entire world should rise and condemn.

Of greater concern is the long-term damage that Amnesty international is attempting to inflict with the questionable report, as it has done in the past. Its mainstream and social media circuits have already picked up this piece of trash without interrogation and are running with it to perpetrate the fable of “a repressive government” while proxy and franchise NGOs are already keening on the report in the hope of hobbling the government to give free reign to IPOB/ESN’s desired reign of terror. A whole lot of pseudo activists, who are in the real sense opposition politicians and crises entrepreneurs, are already running all over the place as end users of Amnesty International’s poisoned chalice.

It is thus pertinent to caution those celebrating the Amnesty International’s report that there is absolute need for circumspection. The report from this organization, like many before it, is not meant to serve the interest of Nigeria. Rather, it is geared as part of a larger effort to promote chaos in the country by petrifying personnel of law enforcement agency into not being willing to fight terrorism so that terrorists can gain the upper hand and consequently achieve the breakup of Nigeria: by now it should be clear to all that Amnesty International has routed for Boko Haram/ISWAP to form an Islamic (Sharia) republic in the northeast of the country, IPOB/ESN in the southeast and who knows what else they will back in other parts of the country while exploiting ethno-sectarian schisms that were never there prior to its deep state operation in Nigeria.

Let us all agreed that Amnesty International’s human rights campaign in Nigeria is misplaced to the extent that it has deployed its work for diabolical purposes that are against the interest of Nigeria. We should tell this organization to cease and desist so that government forces can restore normalcy in our security situation.

Abiodun wrote this piece from Ibadan.

By Philip Agbese


Still on the research paper titled, “Fake Civil Society: The Rise of Pro-Government NGOs in Nigeria,” written by a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), scholar, Mr. Matthew T.Page. I promised to examine another dimension of the issues I still find germane for interrogation in the piece.

The research paper essentially de-marketed the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as cultivating pro-government or “briefcase,” Non-Governmental Organizations’ (NGOs) to blur authentic NGOs at the detriment of popular agitations in Nigeria’s civic space.

In this phase of my reply, I will expose Mr. Page’s fraudulent and criminal parameters and conclusions on the output of what he flaunts as “mainstream” NGOs. Particularly, I will x-ray the named foreign organizations in the research which have also passed his credibility test, but perceived by an appreciable percentage of Nigerians as the external masked vehicles of destabilization and forces campaigning for the breakup of Nigeria.

We should also not forget that I faulted Mr. Page’s hypothesis that the authenticity of NGOs operating in Nigeria is not determined solely by the outputs, as echoed by the self-acclaimed researcher. I judge them in this light because they also goof and derail, especially, when they embrace other ulterior motives as often experienced in our clime.

A scrutiny of some of the mainstream NGOs consistently reveals veiled postures and inordinate sympathy for opposition elements in the country. Quite a number of these mainstream NGOs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have also assumed the toga of alternate governments and mouthpiece of the opposition in Nigeria, while they pretend as organizations servicing public interests. I have been to their stockyards and I know what I see.

However, I observed that the so-called researcher was very reserved in mentioning the names of the mainstream NGOs/CSOs he aligned with impeccable credentials, but wrote splendidly in their defence. Nonetheless, Mr. Page mentioned Amnesty International (AI) and the CNN. He portrayed these organizations as among the victims or those frequently harangued or attacked by the pro-government or fake NGOs over their position in promoting good governance in Nigeria.

I feel, it is unfair to drag unnamed organizations into the furnace of this conversation, but restrict myself to the ones mentioned by Page and his sponsors . I will endeavour to point out a few instances where the organizations cited by Page, incited and displayed partiality, rather than perform neutrally in accordance with the laid down procedures of these organizations. They rather promoted civil unrest, clandestinely supported Boko Haram terrorists and other dissident groups in conspiratorial style against Nigeria.

In the estimation of Page and the CEIP, Amnesty International (AI) is a credible international human rights organization operating in Nigeria. But in the course of executing its assignment, AI has dispensed itself as a force aligned to partisan and incendiary pursuits in the country.

The AI’s reports of 2015/2016/2017 on human rights violations in Nigeria were heavily centered on the unprovable indictments of security forces in the prosecution of counter-insurgency operations and allied unrests in parts of the country.

I stand to be corrected that since 2015, AI has not proved a single allegation it has made against Nigeria. In one of the reports, AI wrote; “Torture and other ill-treatment by police and military remained pervasive. Extrajudicial executions, extortion, and arbitrary and prolonged detention were rife.”

It is not new to all laws that the person who alleges, shoulder the onus of proving his case. The Federal Government of Nigeria under President Buhari was shocked with the AI’s report and least believed the alleged atrocities ever occurred, especially, perpetrated by the Nigerian Military prosecuting the war against Boko Haram in the Northeast.

The Nigerian Army was figured prominently in the allegations. In a bid to ascertain the veracity of the claims, the then, COAS, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai (rtd) instituted a special military probe panel. The internal Army probe panel into AI’s allegations comprised representatives from the legal and human rights communities. AI shunned the probe panel’s sittings and refused to substantiate its allegations. I don’t think it is proper that simply because an organization has the power to speak to the listenership of the world, it has the liberty to churn out unverified deadly claims.


The Federal Government of Nigeria also constituted another Presidential Probe panel as ordered by the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to also pry into AI’s allegations. For the second time, AI turned it down. It raised suspicious dust about the real motive of AI in Nigeria. AI cannot lead campaigns on lawful engagement between the Military and civilians in wartimes, but brazenly show disregard to our internal laws and constituted authority, whilst its reports drapes with insidious support for dissident groups troubling the country.

Again, during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, AI displayed this disdain and the inclination to peddle lies ostensibly to please certain veiled interests. Firstly, AI defended the protests as peaceful to its end. But there were abundant evidences that the protests turned bloody from the fourth day, with the protesters involvement into unlawful and undemocratic acts, such as killing of security agents, vandalism, arson, rape of women and looting of private and public buildings.

To further push the game to attract the international community, AI reported the alleged killing of 38 protesters by Nigerian soldiers deployed to Lekki Tollgate in the heat of the mutation of the protests into violence to maintain peace and security. This report has begged for authentication from AI to this day. But it damaged national coherence and engendered incitement.

AI’s official website screamed of massacres at Lekki tollgate. When tension calmed, the Lagos State Government instituted a Judicial Commission of inquiry into the incident. For the umpteenth time, AI could not establish the massacres at the Lekki tollgate by armed soldiers. It rather relied on secondary reports such as the misrepresentations and uncertain figures bandied by sponsors of the protests.

To straighten the fight against the FGN by external organizations, the Cable News Network ( CNN), came on stage to bolster AI. The CNN tweeted on its official website on October 22, 2020 that, “At least 56 people have died across Nigeria since the #EndSARS protests began on October 8, with 38 killed across the country on Tuesday alone, according to human rights group Amnesty International.” (Check this link: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/22/africa/nigeria-protests-56-dead-jail-fire-intl/index.html).



But BBC’s reporter and editor who covered the Lekki tollgate incident live, disputed the claims of AI in a separate report. However, when the falsity of these reports generated tension across the country, CNN employed the trick of profuse denials, by muddling up the facts contained in the reports it aired! Is Page and his sponsors also alleging that BBC has joined the league of pro-government NGOs since it refused to be part of the fraudulent claims by AI and CNN?

Again, CNN's rejigged story on the incident on October 22, 2020, claimed, the 38 deaths it reported on October 20, 2020 was across the nation. But its tweet on October 23, 2020 was that the military did the killing on the said day. It also credited the source of death of the 56 persons in its report to Amnesty International, only to recant it in a hazy fashion the next day in a "clarification" tweet which rather confirmed the falsified casualty figures!

Therefore, on one incident, both AI and CNN could neither investigate the true death figures nor agree on the figures they concocted and published for public consumption. I have no doubt that both organizations were conscious and deliberate about the damage they plotted to trigger on Nigeria.

We knew and patriotic Nigerians discerned sinister motives of AI and CNN. They were after the agenda of projecting Nigeria as a country consistently violating human rights of Nigerians even under the Buhari Presidency.

This effectively sealed, the Leahy Law would be invoked against Nigeria and the country would continue to be denied both military technical assistance and weapons to battle Boko Haram and sister insurgencies plaguing the people. This was AI and CNN's veiled, but manifested support for terror sects tormenting Nigeria.

And Page and his co-travelers, at CEIP expected patriotic Nigerians like myself not to voice out against this evil? Like I emphasized in the earlier piece, we were obliged to use any weapon at our disposal to stop the traitors in amplifying degree of our plight!

And Page's claim on the "briefcase" groups did not invalidate the genuine and patriotic actions. But CESJET, one of the NGOs in the category of Mr. Page's one-man or "briefcase" group took the bold step to petition the ICC over the partisan derailment of AI and others in the performance of their duties in Nigeria in 2016.


CESJET's petition was duly acknowledged in a "letter with reference number OTP-CR+265/16 was dated September 9, 2016 and was signed by Mr. Mark Dillon, head of Information and Evidence in the Office of the Prosecutor, ICC, and alleged that AI in “…promoting and protecting human rights has been derailed into an incendiary and partisan goal...For now, lopsided views, shortsighted and hasty conclusions, some not backed by facts are Amnesty International’s hallmark instead of bold objectivity in the pursuit of its vision."

Therefore, it is erroneous for Page to postulate that "... the activities of mainstream NGOs are typically constructive and contribute to good governance, sustainable development, and economic prosperity."

Quite frankly, I perceive the glaring compromises and abuses by the so-called mainstream NGOs/ organizations that Page sees as holy or saintly as extremely injurious to the stability, peace and security of Nigeria. The disappointment and frustrations they wrought on the Nigerian Military in fighting the multiple insurgencies were also destructive of national interest.

Each time I read some of their reports and outings on insecurities in Nigeria, it aligned with the preference for terrorists to win the war against Nigeria, than the country's triumph. The immediate consequence of these aberrational actions has been the prolongation of the counter-terrorism war in the country, which is still with us today!

I dare say, AI and its allies are agents of Page and his financiers. With Page's submissions, I am prodded to question the neutrality and credibility of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP). Let me conclude by advising Page, his cohorts in Nigeria and CEIP to come out clean from the advertised bias, clandestine and, sometimes subversive disposition against Nigeria. They should promote international peace from the standpoint of neutrality and truth.

Agbese, is a UK trained human rights researcher and wrote this piece from Agila.

By Terna Terka

The North East Development Commission, as an agency of government, is saddled with the responsibility of leading the socio-economic recovery of states in North-East Nigeria, ravaged by the Boko Haram crisis since 2009.
I have followed the activities of the NEDC closely since its inception, and I dare say that the way and manner the leadership has employed the use of Information and Communication Technology in carrying out its operations is indeed phenomenal. This much was indeed buttressed by the way it has continually engaged the youths through the instrument of ICT, with the various ICT centers established across states in North-East Nigeria.
The establishment of ICT centres across states in the North East is indeed a welcome development because it would allow the bustling youthful population the opportunity to be self-reliant. In the words of the managing director of the NEDC, he said that the objective of the NEDC ICT programme is to improve access to Information Technology resources within the North-East zone and empower the population with necessary vocational education, skills and tools that can make them self-reliant. Brilliant.
I am aware that the NEDC has made the training of youths on ICT a significant scope under its youth empowerment scheme. And the result has been phenomenal across states in North-East Nigeria. In Bauchi State, the NEDC trained 204 youths on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Agriculture.
At the presentation of certificates to the graduands, Governor Bala Mohammed explained that the NEDC has been thorough in the area of ICT training, provision of agricultural machinery and inputs, stressing that the two sectors are driven by the youths who suffer from the problem of unemployment, which has led a lot of them to restiveness and social vices.
I could not agree less with the statement of Governor Bala Mohammed in the sense that the management of the NEDC indeed realized the importance of engaging youths in these critical sectors with the ultimate aim of filling that gap which has been created over the years as a result of the crisis in the region.
No fewer than 197 youths have graduated from the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training programme in Adamawa state. It is instructive to state that the ICT training programme encompasses entrepreneurial skills, bookkeeping and computer appreciation such as digital graphics design and smartphone repairs. Little wonder why a cross-section of youths in Taraba State commended the NEDC for training 331 of them in various skills.
The story is also the same in other North-East Nigeria states that have seen the youths embracing productivity while channelling their time and energies into making life meaningful for themselves in ways too numerous to mention.
In my opinion, this move by the NEDC is indeed strategic and aimed at reducing the venerability of youths being conscripted into insurgent groups. For those of us conversant with the methodology of the Boko Haram insurgents in recruiting fighters, I can say that with this initiative in place, not only would recruiting youths into terrorist gangs be daunting; it would also aid the reconstruction efforts of the federal government in North-East Nigeria. On the heels that the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has strong potential to transform economies and societies in several ways.
At this point, I must commend the NEDC for sound leadership with what I have called the ICT revolution at the grassroots level. We might not fully grasp the strategic importance of this because it is at the initial stages, but in the long run, the impact would be phenomenal.
I also think it won’t be a bad idea if the federal government replicates the NEDC ICT training model across the country to engage the curious minds of youths across the country, especially at the grassroots level.
This is also a lesson in leadership, where the conceptualization and implementation of policies with the target audience are at its core. This is what the NEDC has done with the ICT Training Programme, which is deserving of commendation.
The Mohammed Goni Alkali led NEDC has proven that they mean business with regards to fulfilling the commission's mandate. And the NEDC is indeed moving in the right direction, not just with the ICT revolution but also in other critical areas where its intervention has been felt.
The agricultural and educational sectors are other areas where the NEDC has introduced dynamism. I dare say that the leadership of the NEDC has indeed redefined leadership which should serve as an example to other intervention agencies in the country.
In conclusion, the takeaway from the NEDC ICT revolution is the creation of jobs for the youths in the North East that would translate to less restiveness and other vices that are inimical to the region's socio-economic development.
This is indeed a big one. And the charge to the Mohammed Alkali Goni led NEDC is to continue to do more now and in the years to come towards seeing to the revamping of the economy of North-East Nigeria.

Terka wrote this piece from ABTI, Yola.

NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has advised Prospective Corps Members to utilise the opportunities of the service year to uphold National Unity and preach peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

He said the NYSC Scheme was established for the promotion National Unity and integration.

Ibrahim stated this today while addressing the 2021 Batch 'B' Stream One Prospective Corps Members during his visit to NYSC Plateau State Orientation Camp in Mangu.

The Director-General also urged them to use the service year to build teamwork and preach against Nigeria's break-up.

"Take advantage of the Orientation Course to foster unity, national integration and peaceful co-existence."

"NYSC was established to promote national unity and the Scheme will continue to live up to its mandate," he said.

Speaking further, lbrahim appealed to the Prospective Corps Members to respect dignity of labour, have vision for excellent performance and drive it with passion.

He warned them against social vices saying, "Avoid cutting corners, respect the law, do the right thing and maintain good integrity", he said.

He added, "Avoid cyber crimes, drugs and don't allow any of your actions today haunt you tomorrow,"

General Ibrahim advised the Prospective Corps Members to be security conscious and adhere strictly to the security tips given to them in the camp by not exposing themselves to danger.

He warned them against embarking on authorized journeys, and advised that they must obtain permission from the NYSC if it becomes compelling to travel.

"Don't travel at night, avoid boarding vehicles by the roadside and don't take chances," the DG stated.

Ibrahim cautioned them against wrong usage of the Social Media, admonishing them to "Be careful on the way you use the Social Media. Don't post or share fake news."

During the visit, a minute silence was observed in memory of the five Prospective Corps Members that died recently in an auto-crash along Abaji/Kwali on their way to report at the Orientation Camp in Katsina State.

By Toby Prince

Truly, from the outset, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari knew Aso Rock is a hot seat and Nigeria, a very complex country to govern. He has millions of admirers, and enough political adversaries too.

President Buhari is not a leadership neophyte. So, despite the toughness of the game, he has refused to succumb to the fusillade of internal or external agents and forces of destabilization amassed against the nation. The surfeit of insecurities plaguing the country unyieldingly remains a big setback. But Mr President has refused to bulge, much as the anti-state antagonists are also ruthless and relentless.

Yet Buhari’s greatest burden emanates from the veiled external forces whose actions and utterances over time have betrayed sinister motives against the progressive ideals and continued existence of the country as one indivisible entity. So, they are quick to side with non-state actors back home in their crafted evil designs to destabilize Nigeria; but at the same time, portray President Buhari as Nigeria’s worst leader citing indiscernible reasons.

Under a democratic government, there is bound to be a clash of pro and anti-government forces. This posture borrows its strength from the inherent free exercise of citizens’ rights of association and expression which are doctrinal to democratic practice. The visible presence of Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) in the civil space under the Buhari Presidency reflects state respect for these appendages of democracy.

It is easily observable that on both sides of the coin, the NGOs in Nigeria have indulged in rancour-free exercises of their might in the defence of democracy, partisan interests, rule of law, and good governance. No human institution or system is perfect and so, no one expects the NGOs to be 100 per cent perfect either.

However, what is strange is the adroit defence of what a researcher, Mr Matthew T. Page, termed mainstream NGOs and his outright declassification or hard punches on those he considers “pariah” NGOs, tagged as pro-government, “dubious” or “briefcase entities.”

Mr Page is a non-resident scholar with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and some other foreign organizations. He is also a non-resident Fellow with the Centre for Democracy and Development in Abuja. On July 28, 2021, Mr Page published a paper with the title, “Fake Civil Society: The Rise of Pro-Government NGOs in Nigeria.”

He devoted time to throw darts at President Buhari for fueling pro-government NGOs through his appointees, sponsored mainly to choke the genuine civil society space in Nigeria and divert attention from poor leadership policies or other manifestations. “After a fifteen-year lull, pro-government NGO activity has reached new heights since Buhari took office in 2015,” Mr Page asserted.

One is not necessarily frowning at the thrust of the researcher’s paper on operations of NGOs in the country. It is, however, difficult to believe or even vouch for Mr Page’s postulated reasons for the existence of the NGOs he brands as “criminal” enterprises or state-sponsored “cookie-cutter” groups.

It’s ironic that the researcher was unconcerned with the defective nature or operations of NGOs he dubbed as mainstream in the country, but conferred on them the aura of perfection, despite their apparent gaffes most time. But in contrast, he specifically backlashed and tongue-lashed the other civil society groups simply because their views support President Buhari’s administration. That’s a partisan stand already.

Therefore, it is in bad taste for Mr Page to fail to perceive the existence of the mainstream and pro-government NGOs as exciting discourses on the democratic plane with the incongruent positions they take on national issues such as security, good governance, corruption, human rights and the rule of law. It is faulty for the paper to unbending project that pro-government NGOs are satanic on the simplistic basis of registration irregularities or defects; whilst their mainstream counterparts are exemplary messiahs in the views they canvass because they are lawfully registered.

To exculpate his preferred NGOs, Page backed it up with a few lines of hogwash that the “genuine” NGOs eulogize worthy government policies or actions when necessary. It is an implausible argument to claim the interpretation of government’s actions or policies as right or wrong in the sight of Nigerians can only be determined by Mr Page or his clan of so-called credible NGOs.

It is misplaced for Page to reason that President Buhari is such an awfully bad leader to the extent that himself or cronies must hire the services of these “fake” NGOs or briefcase entities to unjustifiably launder their public image, repress human rights abuses, scuttle popular opinions, serve as platforms for syncopating government officials’ illiberal causes for either political or financial gains. Or they are established to attract funds from international donors. Most times, the so-called credible NGOs also indulge in glaring subversive activities to sabotage the Buhari administration or commit deliberate destructive blunders.

But Page poured out his mind bizarrely; “Pro-government NGOs also frequently champion illiberal causes, pushing back against calls for reform, defending state repression, and absolving the government of responsibility for human rights abuses. Yet they also try to appear legitimate by adopting the mannerisms and lexicon of mainstream NGOs. Pro-government NGOs are also, by definition, opaquely funded, most likely by political appointees close to senior officials who seek to generate media attention for their views.”

This piece is hinged on two main aspects of the researcher’s ad hominem on discredited NGOs. Firstly, that pro-government NGOs engages in praise-singing of President Buhari, the Nigerian Military and its Service Chiefs, especially on issues of security. He singled out Chief Philip Agbese, a London-trained lawyer, public affairs analyst and rights activist as the kingpin of the pro-government NGOs in North of Nigeria, together with a handful of others who deploy them as platforms to meaninglessly applaud the performance of the President and the military handling the anti-terrorism operations in the country.

Like even the published paper hinted, Agbese performs this chore because of his abiding faith in the Buhari Presidency and the competence of the Nigerian military to defeat Boko Haram and allied insurgencies in Nigeria. Page and his sponsors must also acknowledge the existence of cyberspace terrorism, which is basically propaganda inclined and also lethal as battlefield terrorism. The activities of Agbese and his other compatriots should rather be seen as patriotism to one’s country in assisting the military to deflate the fake propaganda of cyberspace terrorists against Nigeria.

Nigerians must also know that there is no perfect administration anywhere in the world. But a leader who is meeting the minimal benchmarks in leadership should be supported and emboldened by the ruled to accomplish more. It is what makes leadership what it is and what it should be. Perhaps, Mr Page and his sponsors are unaware of the extent to which Boko Haram and banditry penetrated Nigeria before the Buhari Presidency, so he cannot notice the positive impact now.

Page needs another research to understand the efforts of Buhari and the Nigerian military, in pushing back these tormentors, reclaiming territories and the current stage, where insurgents are held to a standstill by soldiers. No sane Nigerian or anyone else anywhere can conscionably stoop low as to say the former Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has failed to perform credibly in quelling the multiple insurgencies in Nigeria under President Buhari.

That is not to say, President Buhari is a saint and Philip Agbese has never ascribed such status to him either. And it is doubtful if Agbese will ever say President Buhari is a saint. But if there is one national challenge that President Buhari has handled impressively is the fight against insurgencies. Nobody can take that away from Buhari and the likes of Matthew Page must also take time to commend, rather than squabble with NGOs trying to assist the country in battling cyberspace terrorism in wartimes like now.

The fixation of Page’s so-called credible NGOs to also undermine Nigeria most times is undisguised. Amnesty International (AI) for instance, had on several occasions morphed into a mouthpiece of terrorists in Nigeria. They also transcended to a parallel or opposition government in Nigeria, administering its Country Office in Abuja like a daily newspaper, churning out news reports only favourable to the insurgents to dampen the morale of troops.

This is the same AI, which twice, declined appearance before a probe panel to testify or substantiate its bogus claims of human rights violations by the Nigerian Military in the prosecution of counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast. Even if AI considered the composition of the probe panels as lopsided, one expected AI to respect the Nigerian Government by testifying and thereafter, writing and publishing its observations or report on the probe. But it failed disrespectfully.

So, outsiders thinking this posture by AI never angered Nigerians are untruthful to themselves and it is certain, they will never tolerate such an organization in their home countries. Again, let unbiased minds consider the haste with which AI reported killings at Lekki tollgate during the #EndSARS protests and the death toll? In the end, the organization could not even provide evidence of the 10 persons allegedly shot with live bullets by soldiers.

The CNN was later conscripted into this conspiracy by reporting staggering and uncertain figures of casualties in the Lekki incident ranging from the initial 78 to 35 persons, as brutally killed by soldiers. But to this minute none of these organizations has proven any death from the Lekki incident. That’s an unprofessional and mercantile display of journalism practice by CNN. In other climes, CNN would have been sanctioned. But truly, the U.S. State Department’s 2020 Human Rights Report on Nigeria over the October 2020 alleged killings of unarmed #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki tollgate, by its unambiguous declaration of lack of evidence vindicated the Nigerian Army.

So, indubitably, the outcome of this research work advertises Matthew T. Page and his sponsors at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as a mutation of the external conspirators against the security, peace, stability and unity of Nigeria, like the other identified foreign organizations. It is curious why Page is blinded to the contributions of pro-government NGOs in pairing up with the military in fighting cyberspace terrorism, but unreservedly applauded international organizations whose operations bolster the terrorists’ tormenting Nigeria. Page should revisit the fallouts from the paper by exploring the deliberately excluded angles hinted in this piece or he will be reckoned as one of these paid foreign writers, who has also finished the job very poorly like CNN.

Prince is an editor based in Abuja.

RE: GUNMEN KILLED 344 CORPS MEMBERS IN THE NORTH-WEST ZONE IN JULY - THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

NYSC Management wishes to restate that the story with the above caption, peddled by Opera News, quoting The Punch Newspaper as source is very misleading.

This same medium on Thursday, 29th July, 2021 came up with a fake story with the caption: NEARLY 200 NYSC MEMBERS MURDERED ACROSS THE NORTH-EAST THIS YEAR AS KIDNAPPING ESCALATES

As earlier stated every discerning mind knows that story, as well as that of today are both false. No Corps Member deployed to the North-East and North-West geo-political zones of the country was killed, neither was any abducted by bandits in July, 2021, as reported.

Management would have ignored this story, but had to issue this rebuttal for the sake of undiscerning minds who may swallow the fake news, hook, line and sinker.

Management hereby passionately appeals to both the mainstream and new media, as opinion moulders and critical stakeholders in the polity to always place national interest above every other consideration in their reportage, as anything contrary has the propensity to create apprehension in the minds of parents, guardians and other stakeholders.

NYSC shall continue to prioritise the security and welfare of Corps Members which is the cardinal policy thrust of the Scheme.

Management.

Photo News: H.E. Amb Tukur Yusufu Buratai presented his Letter of Credence to Benin President

H.E. Amb Tukur Yusufu Buratai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin presented his Letter of Credence to the President, Republic of Benin Mr. Patrice Talon on 27 July 2021.

Honourable Abdullahi Ilelah of the Magistrate Court, Zuba, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday ordered Solomon Adodo, remanded in Suleja Prison, while his trial for alleged impersonation, inciting public disturbance and forgery offences continue.

Adodo who was charged to court for impersonating the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo declined to comment until his lawyer appeared.

The Prosecutor, A.S. Oyeyemi Esq who argued that Adodo's offences were contrary to sections 114, 179 and 364 of the Penal Code, submitted that it is the right of the defendant to get a lawyer.

Oyeyemi also requested Justice Ilelah to give a date for the case to come up for mention.

Consequently, Justice Abdullahi Ilelah adjourned the case till 2nd August, 2021 and the Judge directed that Solomon Adodo be remanded in Suleja Prison.

The political chicanery and the orchestrated machinations of some political leaders within the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), to sideline the incumbent Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinabjo (SAN) from contesting the 2023 presidential election because of his positive mien and gentleman inclination to national development has been linked as the basis for the formation of a new group, the Osinbajo Solidarity Movement, OSM, to move forward from the shadows of political hibernation.
 
The leader of the new group, Hon. Adeola Jegede said that, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, (SAN) represents one of the best if we are looking forward to a better country.
 
In a statement made available through the Eastern Nigeria coordinator of the group, Hon. Chibuzor Omehiehukwu said that, Osinbajo Solidarity Movement is an offshoot of a collective decision of men and women both at home and in the Diaspora who are eminently qualified to speak and proffer solutions to the emergence of a new Nigeria where merit counts. He said that the group is poised to inform Nigerians about the huge assets they stand to lose if the vice president was denied an opportunity to showcase his untapped potentials which has been hidden for political arithmetics.
 
“Prof. Osinbajo is a rare and cerebral breed, whose experience over the last few years as number two citizen in the country should not be underestimated. His handling of the economy when uninhibited has always been adjourned excellent, even to the ordinary man on the street," says Chibuzor.
 
The group said, Osinbajo has traversed the length and breadth of the country and found out that his acceptability is not in doubt. We are aware of his political dillemma,  but for the sake of the country, we are urging the Vice President to brace the odds and clear the air on the issue.
 
Chibuzor asked Nigerians to team up with OSM, stressing that, for Nigeria to survive the siege,  we must look beyond poltics of stomach infrastructure, ethnicity, party affiliation and religious basis, but the best man for the job.
 
“Nigerians should see OSM as a vehicle to drive home the best beyond 2023. We need his intellectual charisma and experience, we need his strength and positive outlook, we cannot ignore these characters, that is why we want you to join us to ensure Osinbajo’s presidency is a success, the statement concluded.

By: Reno Omokri

I would like to thank Bashorun Dele Momodu for publishing my rejoinder to his Pendulum column of July 17, 2021. It was a honourable thing to do.

To those who have not read it, please find it below:

Dear Egbon Dele Momodu,

In your Pendulum column of Saturday, July 17, 2021, you wrote as follows:

“Many people felt that they were tired of the reckless profligacy and incredible corruption that pervaded the land under the Jonathan administration.”

The above statement is a historical revision and is not supported by facts.

There was no “reckless profligacy and incredible corruption” under former President Jonathan.

The only international institution accepted by the world as an objective arbiter on measuring corruption is Transparency International.

You may recall that under then President Jonathan, Nigeria made her best ever improvement on the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index till date, in 2014, moving from 144 the previous year, to 136, an 8 point improvement.

No other administration before then achieved that feat, and no other government afterwards has repeated it.

You may also recall that on February 1, 2021, Transparency International’s most recent Corruption Perception Index revealed that Nigeria is more corrupt today than it was under the previous administration, having moved 13 places backwards in the CPI, from 136 in 2014 to 149 in 2021 (our worst performance ever).

You will therefore agree with me that your assessment of the situation under former President Jonathan is faulty, especially when you take into effect that that administration eliminated the corruption in the fertiliser procurement regime, introduced the cashless policy and the Bank Verification Number to reduce opportunities for corruption, and eased out two ministers over conflict of interest, as well as probing the petroleum sector in a bid to rid it off the fraudulent subsidy regime.

Transparency International is a non governmental organisation based in Germany and has no affiliation with either the government of former President Jonathan, nor his political party. It is therefore prudent to accept their findings as an unbiased and non partisan body.

I do hope you would publish this to give your readers a more accurate picture of the period of our national life in question.

Thank you and may God bless you.

Reno

In addition to that rejoinder, I decided to write a more in-depth piece to generally address this myth of Dr. Jonathan’s corruption. A myth, for those who do not know, is a narrative that is not founded on facts or grounded in reality.


The idea that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan ran a corrupt administration is a myth. Nigeria was already a country battling endemic corruption before Dr. Jonathan took office on May 6, 2010 as President. That is a notorious fact.

Now, it is in the political interest of political opponents of Dr. Jonathan to sustain this myth, but let us instead focus on what cannot lie-the facts.

Year after year, Transparency International has maintained that Nigeria’s corruption is concentrated in two critical sectors, namely the petroleum sector and the civil service procurement regime.

And those two areas were the focus of the Jonathan administration’s efforts to rid the system of opportunistic corruption.

What is opportunistic corruption?

Let us take the oil sector. When you have a subsidy regime that is overseen by civil servants and supervised by politicians, you have a system that provides a lot of opportunities for corruption. Civil servants can cook and were in fact cooking the books, and politicians were approving their figures because they were getting a cut.

The Nigerian system of fighting corruption has been to go after those civil servants and politicians not sympathetic to his government and party with a sledge hammer. We have seen from Nigeria’s abysmal Corruption Perception Index report that that method is not working.

The Jonathan approach was more cerebral. He first set up the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, headed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to expose corruption practices in the industry. Nobody appoints Nuhu Ribadu to probe a sector of his intention is to promote corruption. Nuhu Ribadu has an unshakable reputation as a straight arrow.

And after that Taskforce submitted their report on November 2, 2012, the President himself set up machinery in place to end the subsidy regime and completely privatise this sector rates as one of Nigeria’s most corrupt.

That singular act would have eliminated opportunities for corruption amongst civil servants, politicians and contractors.

But Nigerians misunderstood and felt that Jonathan wanted to benefit those who sponsored his election. If indeed that was the case, why would he want to end subsidy? The natural thing to do, if he wanted to reward people, would have been to sustain the policy.

It did not occur to Nigerians that if Dr. Jonathan wanted to pay back those who sponsored his election then the last thing he would want to do was end the subsidy regime.

As a result of the report of the Nuhu Ribadu led Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, the President ordered the prosecution of Mahmud Tukur, the son of the then Chairman of the ruling party. Can that happen today? President Jonathan insisted that the High and mighty must be made an example of, and Abdullahi Alao, the son of another political elite (Arisekola Alao) was arrested and tried.

And lastly on this score, in 2012, then President Jonathan inaugurated a presidential committee, led by Access Bank Chief Executive Officer, Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede, to carry out a forensic audit to verify all subsidy claims before they could be paid. Anyone who knows Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede knows he is incorruptible. That is not the type of person to let things slide.

At the end of the day Nasir El-Rufai, Tunde Bakare and others rallied Nigerians and grounded the country.

Another attempt at fighting opportunistic corruption (this time successfully) was with the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which the Jonathan administration introduced in 2011, which required fingerprinting all civil servants as a prerequisite for salary payments.

This was to eliminate the corruption of ghost workers. Through IPPIS, Nigeria flushed out 50,000 ghost during the Jonathan administration’s pendency.

$800 million that would have been paid to them in annual salaries and entitlement was saved.

As a matter of fact, almost all the intellectual and scientific methods that Nigeria currently uses to fight corruption were initiated and implemented by the Jonathan government, including IPPIS, BVN, the cashless policy and the Treasury Single Account.

The TSA was a brainchild of President Goodluck Jonathan and Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; when they wanted to bring all the resources of the federal government of Nigeria under one account, and they wanted that account to be a single account so they could promote transparency.

However, because they knew that if we have this treasury single account, and we recall all the funds that the federal government has in banks and in different institutions, it is going to collapse the economy.

So they decided it was going to be done in phases. Maybe, five percent at given times of about six months.

The point I am trying to drive home here is that the Jonathan administration made immense progress in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Index because that government was focused on preventing corruption by eliminating opportunities to be corrupt.

Some people mention Dasuki. This is now six years, and Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retired) is yet to be tried. He is ready. Like me, he is a meticulous record keeper. He had maintained that the charges are bogus and no $2.1 billion is missing.

We also had our faults. We were unaware of monies kept by Andrew Yakubu in his house. We were also not as forceful as we ought to have been in micromanaging some ministers that we now know were profligate. Nobody is perfect.

However, no administration has made the type of progress that we made in reducing Nigeria’s Corruption Perception Index ranking. And until anybody is able to beat us, with all due respect, they should give honour to whom it is due!


Reno Omokri
Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Avid traveller. Hollywood Magazine Film Festival Humanitarian of the Year, 2019.

As the saying goes, "keeping fit is good business". This is what the Interim Administrator/CEO of the NDDC expounded upon at the end of a football tournament organised by the union of the NDDC for all its staff.

The tournament which was tagged "MD's cup 2021" kicked off at Itam West football field Akwa Ibom State on the 19th of July and ended on the 23rd of July. It was a refreshing time for the staff of the commission as it allowed them to interact with each other and network with visitors who came from far to witness the event.

During a press briefing with newsmen, the Special Adviser on Youth Matters to the Interim Administrator of NDDC, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, who spoke on behalf of his boss urged youths in the Niger Delta Region to take their minds away from mischief by engaging meaningfully in sporting activities.

Udengs advised at the end of the maiden edition of the five-day football tournament organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission, in Port Harcourt the Rivers State Capital, to enable staff of the commission to keep fit for effective productivity during work hours.

The S.A on youth appreciated his boss Barr. Efiong Akwa for participating fully during the opening and closing of the event. He said gestures like this do not only encourage staff but gives them a sense of belonging, promoting staff unity, a healthy workforce and motivation. He further enthused that the Niger Delta Region will only be great when youths from the area are determined and focused.

Adding that sports, like education, were veritable tools that could be used in realising the transformation of society. However, the Special Assistant on Youth reeled out plans of the commission to organize a football tournament among the nine states in the Niger Delta.

In his words, "the NDDC will soon organize a football competition among the nine states that make up the Niger Delta, This is to produce skilled individuals that will contribute positively to society through sports activities

“As we already know, sports create a veritable avenue for youths to discover their hidden talents. Sports all over the world today is no longer a pastime venture as it has become big business and now brings national and international recognition to those who give it the seriousness it deserves.”

While congratulating the Male and Female winners of the NDDC Football tournament, Eradiri commended the participants for the display of sportsmanship during the competition.

The Director General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim,flagged-off the NYSC National Sanitation Exercise at the Palace of the Sa'Nyanyayi of Nyanya Abuja, today, 24th July, 2021.

In his address, the Director General pointed out that the need to enlighten the general public on the health risks of poor hygiene was based on the report of the last HIRD exercise which attributed most ailments diagnosed to poor sanitation habits.
The exercise according to the Director General was an avenue to empower the people with adequate information on personal and environmental hygiene with special focus on regular environmental sanitation and proper disposal of waste among others.

He commended the efforts of the NYSC Officers as well as corps members who put in their best in the humanitarian service to the community.

The Ogoga of Ikere, HRM Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado today showered encomium on the NYSC for the wonderful job the scheme is doing not only in keeping the country united but in the development of rural communities in Nigeria. The Kabiyesi in his address said this is a scheme I will want to continue because of its impact on the development of Nigeria especially in the rural areas. Kabiyesi commended the Director-General for his noble and notable initiatives ranging from the HIRD to this NYSC Environmental Sanitation Programme. He specifically commended corps members in Ikere-Ekiti for their different developmental initiatives like the construction of Speed Breakers, Construction and Renovation of Public Toilets, Health Initiative Programmes among others. The State Coordinator in her reaction appreciated the Kabiyesi for supporting the scheme as well as taking the corps members as his own children. The Kabiyesi in appreciation of the sanitation exercise entertained the State Coordinator and all the corps members in Ikere-Ekiti.

ITF: Disregard Sahara Reporters, 'invisible' staff's alarm against Ari, group tells Nigerians

The Coalition for Good Governance (CGG) has urged Nigerians to disregard the false alarm by Sahara Reporters and a faceless staff of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) against its Director-General/Chief Executive, Sir Joseph Ari.

The group, at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, said after thorough investigation, it discovered no iota of truth in the claims of nepotism, favouritism and marginalisation against Sir Ari.

According to Secretary-General, Sola Olumese, Sahara Reporters was either misled by the hypothetical staff or is being mischievous in its reportage of events around the ITF.

On the issue of nepotism, the CGG noted that for the first time since the agency's creation, the management team cuts across all the six geopolitical zones of the nation.

The group further revealed that its research shows that promotion in the ITF is carried out in line with federal character principle without any preference for females as being reported.

It noted that accusations over promotion of women is preposterous and "only goes to show that we are fighting against ourselves, a battle we may likely never win".

The group also rubbished claims that Ari awarded contracts to his family, noting that it found no tangible proof.

Acknowledging the achievements of Ari, the CGG said the ITF boss has done remarkably well to rid the agency of nepotism, tribalism and the likes.

Under the current management, Olumese said ITF has become more focused, result-oriented, achievement-driven and strategically repositioned in the pursuit of its aims and objectives.

Olumese also said youth unemployment and paucity of critical technical skills for national development has been tactfully and strategically combated, therefore, bringing it to a minimal effect.

The group, however, urged Sir Ari not to relent on his good works, or get dissuaded by actions of different polluted media publications and charlatans surrounding him.

While calling on other agencies to emulate the ITF, the Coalition of Good Governance called on the Federal Government to show more commitment and support in the promotion of technical skills development as a panacea for the nation’s industrial development challenge.

Read full statement below:

Protocols,

The leadership of The Coalition for Good Governance welcomes you all to this press conference convened to clear the air on some spurious allegations raised against the leadership of the Industrial Training Fund and the need to set the record straight.

Over the decades, there has been a recurrent and sustained argument that Nigerian agencies, like its counterparts in Africa and other countries of the developing world, underperformed due to mismanagement of public funds, nepotism, or lack of capacity to deal with the contemporary complexities of governance. The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has debunked many conflicting rumors and speculations through it's effective positive impact on our great Nation, Nigeria.

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has been a great parastatal of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. In pursuant to its statutory responsibility over the years, the ITF has expanded its structures, developed training programmes, and fully reviewed its strategies, operations and services in order to meet the expanding, and changing demands for skilled manpower in the economy.

The Coalition for Good governance inclines to make us understand that, "on the re-appointment of Sir Joseph Ari, as the Director-General/Chief Executive, ITF has proven its essence of establishment by promoting and encouraging the development and acquisition of industrial and commercial skills required in various industries across the nation".

Under the current management , ITF has become more focused, result-oriented, achievement-driven and strategically repositioned in the pursuit of the aims and objectives of the ITF. The strides achieved in the development of critical and technically Skilled manpower for industries and national development are commendable and worthy of emulation.
The Coalition for Good Governance feels disturbed and very concerned about the awful reports given by Sahara Reporters and hypothetical action of the disgruntled staffs who spoke to Sahara reporters concerning the management and its administrative style.

The Coalition has taken its time to investigate the issues raised in that publication and can authoritatively confirm that there is no iota of truth in all that have been said. We can only say that it is either Sahara Reporters was misled by the hypothetical staff or is being mischievous in its reportage of events around the ITF.

It is not new to us, issues of pettiness, anger , pain and rumor mongering, especially in this part of the world where political rivalry comes to play even when there should be a common goal to be achieved by individuals, who knowing better should put aside all anger or petty rivalry.

On the issue of nepotism, the CGG wishes to state that, it is a fact that for the first time since the creation of the ITF, the management team cuts across all the six geopolitical zones of our nation, Nigeria. How then can same be accused of nepotism?

If the Director General, Sir Gawaski is accused of certain wrongdoings, isn’t it only fair to confirm stories before passing them on to be eaten up by the general public? The ITF’s management is at peace, the kind of peace never before experienced in any organization . It says much about their good work and efforts targeted at nation building, equity and fairness to all concerned parties in the country.
The Coalition therefore wishes to unequivocally commend this equitable principle that is at play at the ITF and call on other critical agencies to emulate them. If anything, it tells of how much of hardwork has been done to rid the organization of nepotism, tribalism and the likes.

It is not hidden, how our country has struggled with having women in leadership. An issue we address with future tenses as regards the solution. The ITF management under the able leadership of Sir Gawaski is not waiting for the future. He gives everyone a fair shot, male or female, no matter the tribe.

We struggle as a nation, trying to rid ourselves of sexist leaders who downplay the roles of women in our society and we as a governmental organization pride ourselves in having women at the front of our affairs.

Apparently, Like every other governmental organization in Nigeria, employment and promotion is carried out in line with the federal character principle and the ITF is no exception.

Accusations as regards promotion of women is preposterous and only goes to show that we are fighting against ourselves, a battle we may likely never win. Will there have been complaints of men getting promoted? We claim to be fighting against sexism and chauvinism when every time a woman forges ahead, all we see is someone undeserving.

The Coalition for Good Governance has spoken endlessly for decades about women becoming more active in politics and governance, why then are we embittered by deserving women who have been given a fair shot at things, isn’t only hypocritical and chauvinistic? Aren’t we the source of our own problems. Some men, most likely embittered by women forging ahead, thinking they are more deserving of the positions have come forward to speak , accusing the leadership wrongly, claiming these women were promoted for hidden reasons, how do they know of the ‘hidden’ reasons and the media has acted once again on mere hearsay.

On Sir Gawaski’s reappointment not following due process, the president of the nation reappointed him for a second term, it goes to show that the organization delivered properly under the DG’s rule in the first term. If we watch closely this allegations, it should be noted , how much anger these rumor mongers have harbored in their hearts, it is obvious they are not comfortable with the DG’s reappointment and his giant strides at the ITF.
This goes to show what length these people would go to just to give the organization a bad name.

If these people are unhappy about the second term, they should be picking their bone with the president who thought it wise to reappoint the hardworking DG. Harbored anger has slowly grown to become hate and resentment, nothing will ever be good enough.

These people have a deep seated feeling that the Director General is not worth his position and so it has become a problem for them , they will scrutinize and find faults even where none is. When one is considered not good enough, a lot of things can happen, a lot more can unfold. Accusations begin to fly because that is the only way to know to show their frustration and fight back.

The Coalition for Good Governance has openly declared that the ITF under sir Ari has been nothing short of upright and following the righttsaeps, in accordance with what is required of us as a governmental organization by the law, once again we stand by our word, stating clearly that the organization has been under nothing but good governance.

On giving out contracts to family members, where is the proof of that ? If Sir Gawaski ran the organization like his ‘personal estate’ , how are there people cutting across different tribes at the hem of affairs? Or is the DG now from all geopolitical zones in the country?

One question begs to be asked at this junction, if there is zero nepotism at the head, why should there be at other levels? Over the last two years, sir Ari has been commended for keeping his promise made to the nation as regards his leadership in the ITF.

One occasion comes to mind , his inaugural speech , Sir Ari made a promise after his heart felt appreciation to the president to take the organization to the next level, his promise has been kept and it is evident in how far the organization has come.

He had told the entire ITF family and the nation at large that he was willing to fulfill the Mandate thrust on his shoulders as the DG . He said ; “we cannot afford to betray the trust that is given to us. We must note that our activities must be carried out with utmost commitment and total dedication. I, therefore, call on the management and the entire staff of the ITF and other key stakeholders to contribute innovative ideas. The time has come for us to really come together as a family and do something meaningful and different.”

Sir Ari has brought the organization farther than it had ever been, making sure to remove nepotism and marginalization, the two things most dealt with in governance from this organization. Sir Ari has given Nigerian women a shot at leadership in the organization as well. A feat yet to be achieved by most political organizations in the country . Indeed, sir Ari so far base done an excellent job.

CGG wishes to state in unequivocal terms that the challenge of increasing youth unemployment and paucity of critical technical skills for national development has become an emergency which ITF has been tactfully and strategically combating, therefore , bringing it to a minimal effect in our dear Nation.

We therefore urge Sir Ari not to relent on his good works, or get dissuaded by actions of different polluted media publications and charlatans surrounding him. While the ITF, under Sir Joe Ari has done creditably well in performing above expectations, the Coalition of Good Governance urges the Government to show more commitment and support in the promotion of technical skills development as a panacea for the nation’s industrial development challenge.
The Coalition of Good Governance applauds Mr President for his unending support for ITF, and his precious love for our great Country.

God bless President Muhammadu Buhari, God bless Nigeria.

By Benedict Aguele

The Industrial Training Fund has been in the news of late for leading a revolution in the technological space in the country. One of the reasons is the recent launch of made in Nigeria Android phone, ITF Mobile with 100% locally sourced materials.
I was impressed, to say the least, and that ignited my interest in the ITF, and the revelations have been mind-boggling. As a start, the ITF, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, and established in 1971, has not only raised training consciousness in the economy but has also helped in generating a corps of skilled indigenous manpower which has been manning and managing various sectors of the national economy.
In those days, at the mention of ITF, the thought of students’ placement on industrial training readily comes to mind. This erroneous impression is that everything about the ITF starts and ends with certifying students' industrial training experience.
I dare say a lot has changed in the operations of the ITF under the leadership of Joseph Ari as the director-general. After detailed scrutiny of the ITF in the last five years, I speak on good authority that, indeed, there has been a revolution in the agency. One of the signs is the manufacturing of the ITF Mobile, the first made in Nigeria smartphone.
I gathered from reliable sources that the ITF had also been silently finetuning skilled indigenous manpower in various sectors of the economy through the revamping of the ITF Model Skills Training Centre.
The Model Skills Training Centre was established by the Industrial Training Fund as a Post-Secondary Technical Institution in 2011 to provide industry-relevant career and technical education programmes for secondary school leavers and adult learners. It was a two-pronged effort by the Federal government to actualise the millennium development goals. To date, the Model Skills Training Centre (MSTC) is progressing in developing the nation’s economy through its highly Skilled Human Resource.
In 2016, the MSTC formally applied to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which is mandated to accord approvals on prospective TVET programmes to include specific programmes for critique/vetting and development in the National Vocational Certificate (NVC) component. This was closely followed by another critique exercise request to add the National Innovative Diploma (NID) component to its certification status.
In 2017, the MSTC was granted approval to operate as an Innovative Enterprise Institute (IEI), with effect from December 2016, to offer programmes in the two components of NID/NVC. Admission into the MSTC is now through JAMB for the NID programmes that run for Two (2) years and direct admissions for the Modular programmes that run for four weeks to 24 weeks. Today the Centre is a Model in TVET Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
This brings me to the leadership question in Nigeria. I have long stated in numerous forums that leadership is required to set the country on the path of greatness. Using the ITF as an example, we could see how credible leadership has resulted in groundbreaking initiatives that make every Nigerian proud. Let's rewind; if the director-general of the ITF, Joseph Ari, had toed the line of his predecessors in office, I am sure the ITF would have remained that agency responsible for student's placement for industrial training exercises alone.
We should learn to call a spade a spade and celebrate those who have displayed acts of ingenuity in service to the country. The story of Joseph Ari at the ITF comes readily as a worthy example for leading the revolution at the agency in the last five years of his stewardship.
I gathered that it's about service for him, and this could be felt in the manner the agency has been able to carry out its mandate effortlessly. This, in my considered opinion, answers the leadership question that is needed in the country.
The likes of Joseph Ari have proven that leadership is not rocket science; therefore, there are no 'set' qualities that have to be present in all leaders. Instead, an effective leader draws from a range of personal qualities to help them deal with different circumstances and challenges. This is the Joseph Ari story at the ITF and why he should be celebrated and not castigated. Unfortunately, this is the country we have found ourselves in, where some does not want to see anything progress and where the ultimate aim is to pull down rather than uplift.
I have been reading some mischievous publications on Joseph Ari recently, and I could not help but laugh in utmost disbelief. And I said to myself, how can we make progress as a country when good deeds are detestable, and blackmail is the order of the day.
I hold the firm opinion that the media has a role to play in ensuring that malicious and mischievous intentions are not promoted at the expense of the integrity of those with a solid commitment to providing credible leadership in the country.
The implication of the above is that should mischievous elements get the upper hand, we can be assured that the country would be thrown to the dogs, and sustainable growth and development would elude us.
Those that are envious of the sterling leadership of Mr Joseph Ari at the ITF should do well to swallow their pride and desist from the well-orchestrated slander campaign launched in the media, which might be as a result of the exploits recorded by the agency under his watch and in record time.
In my considered opinion, I think the narrative on the Joseph Ari led ITF should be on how leadership has transformed a once docile agency to a proactive and result-oriented agency. My two cents.


Agule is a strategic communication expert and wrote this piece from Abuja.

The Director-General of NYSC Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, today made an emotional and historic visit to the writer and composer of the NYSC Anthem, Dr. Oluwole Adetiran at his Ibafo residence in Ogun State.

The visit was predicated on the news on the ill health of the great Music Legend who composed and produced the age-long NYSC anthem.

The Director General was received by the living music legend with joyous tunes from a group of choristers whom "Baba" himself has nurtured over time. The colourful reception was greeted by a majestic rendition of the 3-stanza NYSC Anthem, which Dr. Adetiran himself led in an astute orchestral manner.

The DG was full of praise for the man who single handedly composed what has now become a very famous anthem of the Nigerian youth in the NYSC Scheme. The Director General thanked Dr. Adetiran for this unforgettable, invaluable contribution to the Scheme via the composition of the Anthem.

Overwhelmed by the emotions of being recognised by the Chief Executive of NYSC, and the kind emotional words of the Director General to him, Dr. Adetiran then burst into tears of joy in appreciation of the visit. The Director-General assured him that the NYSC will forever stand by him and members of his family at all times. The NYSC Boss prayed to God Almighty to grant him speedy recovery and good health.

The Music Legend in appreciation, was full of excitement and fulfilment that the Director-General made out time to visit him and also thanked the Director General for sustaining the values of the scheme which motivated him to compose the Anthem in the first instance. He said "I am very proud to be part of the NYSC success story through the Anthem I composed. I am today fulfilled by this your visit"

The DG was accompanied by the Acting-Director, Special Duties and the State Coordinators of Ogun and Lagos.

FCT CORPS MEMBERS BEGIN ENUMERATION EXERCISE FOR THE NATIONAL HOME GROWN SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME.

Corps Members in the FCT have commenced the Enumeration exercise of the National Home Grown Feeding Programme.

The exercise which commenced on Tuesday July 13th saw the Enumeration exercise take place across a section of the FCT. These include schools in Bwari Central, Karshi, Gwagwalada Central and Lokogoma.

The LEA School Kutunku, LEA Gwako, Jahi Kadi Kuchi , LEA School for the blind Jabi and LEA Primary School Wuse, among others across Area Councils in the FCT, were issued the Enumeration Forms to start off the exercise.

The corps members are expected to carry out the enumeration process till Monday 19th July when the Programme closes. The following are photographs of the event.

By Adamu Adamu


It appears that journalism has been thrown to the dogs in Nigeria with the array of disjointed publications that we are subjected to every passing hour. It gets to the point that one of the worse nightmares one might experience is having to go through some supposed news mediums.
In this ignoble category is Sahara Reporters, which can best be described as a platform for blackmail and sale to the highest bidder. To start with, Omoyele Sowore, its publisher, is reputed for using his medium as an avenue to extort gullible victims. This is aside from the fact that there is no record anywhere where it was stated that he studied journalism or cut his teeth with any reputable news medium.
The best of him was that he studied Geography and Planning at the University of Lagos from 1989 to 1995, with his academic program extended by two extra years after being expelled twice for political reasons and student activism. That is the ABCD of Omoyele Sowore and Sahara reporters.
I am writing this piece in reference to a story published by Sahara Reporters with the caption “North-East Development Commission Managing Director, Alkali in Alleged Multi-Billion Naira Corruption Scandal", quoting a group named North East Vanguard.
After reading the news story, I almost puked with the way and manner such gibberish was put out for public consumption and without recourse to the sensibilities of some of us from North-East Nigeria, and also conversant with the operations of the North East Development Commission.
As a start, the group North East Vanguard is a shadowy one promoted by a group of nonentities, that is, if they truly exist. Consequently, their submission reads more like tales by moonlight because of the litany of incoherency. The group claimed to have unearthed massive corruption involving billions of naira at the NEDC.
They took their idiocy further by stating that "The Managing Director, Mohammed Goni Alkali, takes home as monthly salary, N8.5 million without recourse to the Salaries and Wages Commission, apart from a whopping N300 million as running cost for his office per annum.”
I was stunned that I wonder which of the Mohammed Goni Alkali they were referring to in their submission. I consoled myself that maybe it was another Mohammed Goni Alkali and not the one that heads the NEDC. I said to myself that it must have been a case of mistaken identity or outright mischief.
I think both could suffice in this case because it remains a figment of the imagination with other wild allegations that reads more like a poorly written Nollywood script. And I am not surprised the group could find a willing collaborator in Sahara Reporters to churn out their illusions about the operations of the NEDC under Mohammed Goni Alkali.
To put it mildly, the shadowy group merely rehashed the propaganda published by some disgruntled politicians sometime back, who felt entitled to the finances of the NEDC meant for humanitarian interventions, and since they could not have their way, they went berserk.
I trust Alkali not to respond to gibberish, which has been his posture in over a decade that I have known him. However, I elected to send a message through this piece to those who think Alkali succumbs to blackmail. My question is, do they even know who Mohammed Goni Alkali is? I don't think so because if they knew who he is in terms of character and posture, they would try another customer willing to play ball.
Instructively, as close as some of us are to him, we know the limits in terms of asking for favours that would make him bend the rules or subvert the process. We also know that once our request goes against the common good, it is dead on arrival, and as such, we do not bother to even make such requests in the first place.
I can’t count the number of persons he has cut ties with for daring to ask for favours that undermine the objectives of the NEDC. I am sure some of these persons are behind the slander campaign. And to think they can link hi, Alkali to corrupt practice is almost laughable. The corruption toga doesn't fit him because all of his years in private and public service, he has remained aloft as a stickler for upholding what is right and detesting what isn't right. And his leadership of the NEDC is not an exception.
Some of us are aware of how he has been managing the affairs of the NEDC and constantly put him in our prayers for God to see him through the onerous task of leading the implementation of the developmental blueprint for the North-East geo-political zone that had been ravaged by over a decade of insurgency.
The promoters of North East Vanguard must realize that this is a tough nut to crack. It would be in their best interest to desist from further malicious enterprise targeted at tarnishing the image of Mohammed Goni Alkali. They should instead channel their resources to more charitable ventures that would serve good to humanity.
And my candid advice to Mohammed Goni Alkali is that the threat is real, and he must not get distracted by their shenanigans. He must maintain focus with his eyes on the ball in his characteristic manner. This is not a time for distractions. If the so-called North-East Vanguard has any documentary evidence, they should do well to present it to the general public and not crying wolf where none exist.

Adamu is a development researcher and wrote from Yola.

No fewer than 10 civil society groups have dismissed allegations of multi-billion Naira corruption scandal against the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) and its Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali.

The CSOs, in a joint press statement co-signed by Comrade Lawrence Audu and Comrade Bassey Ukpong for the Good Governance and Advocacy Network (GGAN) on behalf of other groups, on Tuesday, said the North-East Vanguard and its cohorts aim to distract Alkali by peddling falsehood.

According to the CSOs, the allegations of embezzlement of funds by the NEDC's MD was based on assumption, without a single strand of confirmable evidence.

The statement noted that the North-East Vanguard has decided to ignore some of the achievements of the NEDC, including hundreds of projects under education, health, agriculture, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and other social infrastructures.

The groups also recalled how the commission partnered the Borno State Government and others in the region under the Rapid Response Intervention (RRI) programme to address the challenge of damaged infrastructure and other facilities.


The statement further rubbished alleged nepotism in employment levelled against the MD, noting the NEDC Governing Board has all the six geo-political zones represented.


The CSOs, however, advised NEV and their cohorts to do more research on NEDC's activities under Alkali and if possible visit the North-East to see for themselves.

Read the full statement below:

Patriotic Nigerians from across the country and beyond have unceasingly drawn the attention of the leadership of the Good Governance Advocacy Network (GGAN) over the sabotaging activities of some mercantile and self-acclaimed society watch groups. These sponsored veiled demonic forces are still politicking with the security of lives, and the ensuing peace in the Northeast region, where Boko Haram formerly occupied swathes of territories, especially in Borno state.

The same emergency mercantilist groups are back with venomous attacks on whoever is responsible for bringing immediate reprieve to the war-torn, displaced and impoverished people of the region like the Hon. Minister, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiq Umar Farouk. It is also manifest in the sustained malicious propaganda on unsubstantiated and spurious allegations of embezzlement of public funds by the Managing Director, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali.

We are astonished at the level some Nigerians can stretch in the promotion of blatant chicanery and destructive campaigns targeted at certain public officials. It is wittingly crafted to distract these public servants from ensuring President Muhammadu Buhari does not take the obvious glory of defeating the insurgency in the region and rebuilding destroyed infrastructures. GGAN has realized that the NEDC boss is the latest victim of these hatchet civil groups.

In the inner fold of these ganged-conspirators against the FGN and its hardworking appointees in sensitive places, is another ambiguous NGO or some sort of advocates, by an innocuously fading identity of “North-East Vanguard (NEV).” By their watery outbursts in a recent public statement, NEV truly comprises vanguards, proponents and crusaders of falsehood against the NEDC boss, in the most disgraceful and de-estimating manner of their self-worth.

How could sane leaders of a pressure group accuse a boss of a federal commission, with unbridled allegations of his embezzlement or diversion of multi-billion-naira funds of the commission without a single strand of confirmable evidence, but dangling fluid statements or assumptions or seeking the assistance of others to unearth the truth? It is tantamount to putting the cart before the horse and betrayal of their malicious agenda.

NEV’s only evidence was that when President Buhari last visited Borno state shortly after June 12 Democracy Day, none of NEDC’s projects was commissioned. But let’s ask ourselves, how many capital projects was Mr. President able to commission on the last visit to Borno from the bulk of 576 projects presented by Gov. Babagana Zulum? Just about seven! Was President Buhari in Borno to commission NEDC projects or who has told these misinformed and misdirected NEV leaders that NEDC never contributed a dime or partnered with the state in the completed projects in Borno. Is NEDC meant for Borno state alone or the Northeast region? What sort of lowly priced nitwits is NEV? We shall soon add a syllabus to the acronym of “NEV” to read, NEV-ER, as nowhere the conduct of government business is aligned or espoused by their simplistic reliance on assumptions.

The allegations bandied by NEV started resonating in the media in 2020. It's the same allegations, rejigged over and over. NEV has voiced nothing new on the tenure of the NEDC boss, Alh. Mohammed Goni Alkali. And contrary to the false claims by NEV, the inaugurated board of the North East Development Commission Education Endowment Fund (NEDC-EF) since August 7, 2020, has launched numerous interventionist programmes in the education sector beginning with the initial seed amount of N6billion same year and replenishable yearly in scholarships. It has targeted and is progressively reaching out to over 20,000 beneficiaries annually across the region, with an overall target of 150 beneficiaries on the template of access to academic and professional capacity development opportunities in diverse fields. This intervention has engaged over 5 000 bachelor’s degree, 336 masters and 54 doctorate degree candidates as well as training of teachers/civil servants.

The NEDC under Alhaji Alkali trains people of the region in skills and acquisition, provides starter packs to over 5 000 Information Communication Technology (ICT) trainees every year. It has empowered a whooping 5000 women and youths on entrepreneurship, and another 2000 others for vocational skills in each of the 1,028 wards in the Northeast. NEV will decline acknowledgement of these programmes because it is at variance with the deliberate agenda to diminish the gains of the NEDC in public space, by creating a deceptive impression of embezzlement.

Certainly, NEV officials who raised the unfounded alarm of alleged embezzlement of billions of naira budgeted for the NEDC have never set their foot anywhere in the Northeast for years. Or else, it is noticeable that some of the 576 projects displayed by Gov. Zulum during the Presidential visit in Borno, includes partnership with NEDC’s intervention initiatives on infrastructures under the Rapid Response Intervention (RRI) programme in addressing the challenge of damaged infrastructure and other facilities in 112 LGAs of the region. The NEDC aggressively executed 224 projects under education, health, agriculture, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and other social infrastructures in two years.

The relaxed silence of international organizations and other indigenous NGOs over the threat of massive famine and starvation in the insurgency ravaged region is because of NEDC’s active intervention through the Integrated Agriculture Programme (IAP). Through it, agricultural machinery and equipment, varieties of seedlings, fertilizers, agrochemicals and extension service logistics vehicles to enhance the production capacity of smallholder farmers in the region are provided. Nigerians must know, solving the problem of mass hunger in the region is not achievable within two years as envisaged by NEV, but a gradual process and the impact is commendable so far.

Therefore, it defeats sound logic for a faceless group that values, even its veiled identity or image to make sweeping allegations that the NEDC boss collects millions of naira monthly or yearly as salary or office impress. Its same pettiness which compels NEV to assume support operational vehicles NEDC donated to the Military and other security agencies in the region to enhance their security duties and duly approved by the NEDC Governing Board were inflated.

And most laughably, NEV accused the NEDC management led by Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali of nepotism in employment or is it “sourcing” for staff of the commission from MDAs by handpicking. But the NEDC Governing Board has all the six geo-political zones represented, in addition to other federal MDAs. It is unrealistic to think that all of the members are blind to Alkali’s “glaring” nepotism without raising an eyebrow.

Lastly, NEV and their cohorts should do more research and investigations on NEDC activities under Alkali. If the pressure group feels the House of Reps abandoned its probe of NEDC, there must be a reason. It's either they have found nothing worthwhile in the allegations or they are still investigating. But as usual, vilifiers like NEV would not like to speak about the glowing commendation of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, led by its chairman, Sen. Yusuf Abubakar on the Alkali-led NEDC management for its “outstanding performance” in humanitarian interventions in the region with these profound words, “…it is just one year, but it has performed tremendously well in the past year; especially in the area of humanitarian intervention.” The detractors can continue, but they won’t distract the focus of the NEDC boss from performance.

The National Youth Service Corps has said it will not relent in complying with the provisions of the freedom of Information Act.

It also said adequate measures have been put in place to entrench transparency and accountability in the day-to-day running of the Scheme.

NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim disclosed this today during the opening ceremony of NYSC Freedom of Information Act Desk Officers' Workshop in Abuja.

The workshop with the theme; "Boosting Government's Fight against Corruption through the Freedom of Information Act", was organised for NYSC FOIA Desk Officers from all the NYSC State Secretariats and NYSC National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja.

The Director-General commended the commitment and resourcefulness of the Desk Officers, as well as the entire workforce of the Scheme, which has contributed immensely to the modest heights attained so far.

Ibrahim said NYSC has remained commited to the successful implementation of the FOI Act since it came into effect in 2011, in compliance with the Federal Government's directive on the domestication of the Act by all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

"This, coupled with our effective feedback mechanism, ensure prompt response to all FOI requests and timely rendition of annual reports to the Federal Ministry of Justice over the years", the DG said.

He urged the Freedom of Information Act Desk Officers to build on the successes recorded, through greater dedication to duties and also assist Management in sensitizing other members of staff to continue to adhere to the work ethics of probity and accountability.

Speaking further, General Ibrahim advised the FOIA Desk Officers to intensify efforts in the discharge of their duties, in order to achieve the Scheme's target of becoming the leading agency in FOIA compliance.

He added that in line with the provisions of the NYSC Act on proactive disclosure, information on the operations of the NYSC are regularly posted and updated on the Scheme's website and social media platforms, in addition to the usage of the traditional media.

"It is heartwarming to note that as a result of the vision-driven commitment of the Press and Public Relations Unit and the tenacity of the Desk Officers, NYSC has earned recognition as one of the best performing agencies in the FOIA compliance ranking", the DG added.

Ibrahim also reiterated that NYSC Management would resist any attempt to threaten the integrity of the Scheme's operations and processes, including the mobilization, deployment, relocaction and posting of Corps Members, adding that the Scheme remains committed to protecting the lives Corps Members.

The Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, in her address said the NYSC FOIA Desk Officers' Workshop has become a yearly event in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2011, which prescribed continuous training and retraining of Desk Officers for optimal performance.

She said the Scheme has established FOIA Community Development Service groups in all its formations nationwide who engage in sensitizing members of the public on their rights under the Act.

"Recently, the FOIA CDS group in Ebonyi State was at the PRESCO High School, Abakaliki, where they sensitized the students on the FOI Act and the need to seek information from credible sources".

"The Gombe State FOIA CDS group did same at the Government Day Secondary Secondary School, Army Barracks in Gombe and was also at the National Orientation Agency Gombe, to seek collaboration to facilitate a wider reach for their awareness campaign", Adeyemi said.

Tinubu Support Group (TSG), a Political Group rallying support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s Presidential ambition on Wednesday said it is confident that the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not back out from the 2023 Presidential election race because of his good intentions.

UMAR IBRAHIM MUHAMMED , Director General of the group said even though Tinubu has not formally informed them of his desire to contest, they are confident that he will not reject the offer when the time comes.

While dismissing The National Coordinator for Concerned Advocates for Good Governance (CAGG), Barrister Olusegun Bamgbose claims that the National Leader for the All Progressive Congress (APC) Party, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu is considering withdrawing from the 2023 Presidential race, Umar said Asiwaju is determined by his good intentions for Nigeria rather than dwelling on who support him or not.

“We are confident that he will contest. He will not back out from the Presidential race. He cannot back out because of his good intentions for Nigeria and upport accross the country, that will not make it possible for him to back out.

“What we need in Nigeria is someone like Asiwaju Tinubu, who knows everybody. Someone with large network, who has supported and nurtured people across all the zones, someone, who believes in making stars to unite Nigeria and a man with blue print of development for the country". Umar concluded

The Forum of Former Federal Lawmakers in Nigeria has decried the current state of insecurity in the country urging government to end the menace immediately.
The forum in a public notice suggested ways out of the logjam.
It said government must first correct perceived areas of injustice, exclusion, and economic alienation in the country as part of a robust solution to end insecurity.
The former federal lawmakers also advised that government must intensify dialogue with non-state actors in order to assuage frayed nerves across the nation and succeed in containing agitations, conflicts and insurgencies benefiting the society.
The former lawmakers said they were worried about the menace of farmers/herders clash and proffered ranching as the best solution to sedentary pastoralism.
Against the backdrop of the porousness of the nation's borders, the former federal lawmakers urged governments at all levels to scale up land border control measures.
It called on the Federal Government to issue a timeline during which to vanquish the Boko Haram insurgency amongst others, while also calling for an end to bloody secessionist agitations.

Nigeria's Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. T.Y Buratai (rtd), has been appointed as the Patron of the National Forum of Ex-Councillors of Nigeria.

The group made this known on Tuesday after paying a visit to the former Army Chief in Damaturu, Yobe State.

According to a statement by the chairman of the State chapter, Abdulganiyu Mohammed, the ex-councillors choose Buratai due to his effort in restoring peace, security and development to communities in the state as well as the nation in general.

The group commended the former COAS for establishing many strategic military units and institutions in the northeast that further deter terrorist activities.

"Today, Tuesday, June 29, 2021, the Yobe State chapter of the National Forum of Ex-Councillors of Nigeria call on former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to the Republic of Benin, His Excellency, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), at the Government Lodge Damaturu. The team was led by the Chapter’s Chairman, Honourable Abdulganiyu Mohammed," the statement reads.

"In his remarks, the Chairman briefed H.E. about the aims and objectives of the association, adding that they are closer to the people. He also said they were there to show appreciation and gratitude to Lieutenant General Buratai (rtd) for his efforts as Chief of Army Staff from July 2015 to January 2021, which brought peace, security and development to their communities in Yobe State and Nigeria at large.

"They commended him for establishing many strategic military units and institutions in the northeast that further deter terrorist activities. The team further stated that they were to congratulate him for his well-deserved appointment as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin and presented him with a letter of appointment and honour as Patron of the Forum".

Responding, Ambassador Buratai thanked them for a visit and accepted to serve as Patron of the Forum.

He also commended the delegation and members of the Forum for their continued commitment to peace and development in their wards, Yobe State and the nation.

He said that as grassroots people, Ward Councillors have a strategic role in supporting the Federal and State Governments in fostering peace and security in their respective wards.

By Kolawole Anthony

The latest confirmation of Lt. General Tukur Buratai (rtd) as a non-career ambassador to the Benin Republic has sent great shivers down the spines of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their splinter groups in the South-Eastern part of the country.

Against IPOB's belief, Buratai has proven himself qualified with unique skills. His vast wealth of experience as a war veteran, peacekeeper, administrator with efficiency in maintaining order and stability in conflict-ridden areas around the country, along with his untainted outstanding records set him apart in the eye of The National Parliament Screening and confirmation, Security Agency's check on personalities, and the Final Senate screening.

As part of the process before his confirmation, the members of the public were invited to submit petitions which would be either considered on the provision of worthy evidence or discarded when considered substantial. If culpable of the evidence, the particular nominee would eventually be disqualified.

All these formalities were satisfied, yet the IPOB and it's over 22 nebulous CSOs kept quiet. They neither wrote any petition against Buratai, nor showed their grievances in writing before his appointment, but now want to tarnish the image of the former Army Chief as one who supervised genocide in Nigeria is unfortunate and smacks of mischief.

The efforts made by malcontent members of the proscribed sect to degrade Buratai's image is a shameless act and goes against every principle of decency. It shows that the group is clueless and they are only out there to cause havoc and disorder under the disguise of having the interests of the Igbo people at heart.

In the third paragraph of their senseless letter, reference was made to the summary and links of what they termed "grave human rights violations and other conduct-atrocities" of T.Y Buratai when he served as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff all of which are unverified accounts of allegations tabled against the ambassador. It is witless of them to have used such baseless links and unverified summaries of what they claim are Buratai’s sins as support to their false claims.

The efforts and struggles of the Nigerian Army should not be demeaned and denigrated by disgruntled members of this group. Most of their efforts have been tailored towards scandalizing several members of the Buhari-led administration including the president himself all in the name of fighting for a just cause.

All movement of calumny by this group against the ambassador will not be accepted. Their futile cries for justice against Buratai is foolish as it is condemnable.

It has been proven that Buratai’s tenure as the Chief of Army Staff is one earmarked by several victories against insurgency and the protection of human rights. The group is quick to forget that this same man who they have so shamelessly slandered for the violation of several human rights instituted an office in the Nigerian Army dedicated to the protection of human rights by the soldiers.

Most of their claims in the letter were unsubstantial and controversial in all regards. All those who signed such an appalling letter must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to individuals who would like to try such in the future. Everyone has his or her right to express opinions, but accusing an individual without substantial proof is a hatchet job.

The IPOB have yet again proven itself to be an organization full of dishonesty, unclear practices and violence. It is this very group that accused the ambassador of violating human rights that were also responsible for several attacks on innocent citizens and government properties earlier this year. It is thus ridiculous to see such an organization accuse someone of crimes they are clearly guilty of.

The Report of April 27 concerning the spate of attacks on security forces in the southeastern part of Nigeria by the so-called harmless peaceful protesters as claimed by IPOB, had it that, there was a gun exchange by IPOB with the police before they were subdued by the intervention of troops, which later resulted in the killing of five security officers including two soldiers.

_"Unidentified men attacked the police station in the southern part of Okigwe town," Imo State police spokesman Orlando Ikokwu confirmed to AFP that, "Five policemen were killed while another is missing," he said. Residents of Okigwe, however, claimed to have seen the bodies of six slain policemen._

From evidence and eyewitnesses, authorities attributed this spiteful attack to the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group campaigning for Biafran independence.

The ambassador was also blamed for the EndSars protest which saw the shooting of some of the protesters at Lekki toll gate sometime in October last year. Such an accusation is baseless. It is an effort by IPOB to corner the purpose of the protest into their selfish gain and therefore uses it as a weapon to attack the Nigerian military and haul them in a negative light.

The actions of the IPOB are a clear example of rewarding good and selfless service with chagrin and ignominy. Buratai’s excellent career record is enough evidence to prove to the world that this was a man who served his country to the best of his abilities. During his tenure, he was at the forefront of protecting human rights that he instituted a human rights desk to ensure that his men comply with set rules of engagement to protect the human rights of individuals.

This same man carried out a campaign to improve civil-military relations between the Nigerian Army and host communities which saw to the provision of basic and social amenities in such communities some of which include a massive water project in Abakpa and the provision of farming implements to farmers in such communities. This campaign also saw the provision of free medical outreaches in several communities around the country. All these helped to improve the overall living standards of people in such communities and helped alleviate poverty to a great extent in such communities.

It is therefore obvious that their vile agitation for freedom and their spurious attack on the personality of our dear Ambassador Buratai is borne out of the fear of blocking their core source of weaponry and ammunition supplies, which have been through borders that stood as a channel of support from their members in other countries.

Being befuddled and knowing how he had curbed their nefarious activities on many occasions in the past, the Indigenous People of Biafra had foreseen greater destruction lying ahead for them. Therefore, they resolved to use evil strategies, and different means to pull the Nigerian Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Buratai, out of that sensitive position.

What is best befitting for Ambassador TY Buratai is a Nobel peace prize, a great honour of service to his country and mankind, a peacemaker, and a great icon.

This is a man that deserves every accolade for a job well done in saving lives and properties. A selfless patriot that took an uncountable risk by endangering his life just to secure peace and unity in Nigeria.

He has earned great recognition and should be inducted into the country's HALL OF FAME. All these, we believe he would get someday.

Kolawole PhD wrote this piece from Keffi.

*Seme Border: Group charges Amb Buratai to facilitate healthy trade relations, national security between Nigeria/Benin Republic*

... passes vote of confidence on Nigeria’s envoy to the Benin Republic

Nigeria's Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Amb Tukur Buratai, has been tasked to swiftly hit the ground running, enhancing trade relations and trans-border security between both nations, especially around the Seme Border.

Passing a vote of confidence on the former Chief of Army Staff, the Nigeria First movement said Amb Buratai is tailor-made for the job owing to his vast experience in military and diplomacy.

Lt. Gen Buratai (rtd) and immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olanisakin (rtd) were on Tuesday presented with letters of credence as envoys to Benin and Cameroon respectively.

And according to Nigeria First, Buratai's confirmation shows that President Muhammadu Buhari was satisfied with his performance as COAS, having effectively flushed out insurgents and other criminal elements from the North-East and other parts of the country.

Speaking on behalf of the group at a press conference on Friday in Abuja, Secretary-General, Comrade Augustine Richard Adie, noted that Buratai's appointment is a welcome development at a time the nation's border is under several threats.

Adie added that with Buratai, trade relations between the two countries will be strengthened more than ever, leading to more foreign exchange for Nigeria.

Recalling his stint as Army chief, Adie hailed Buratai for a successful campaign against insurgency in the country which has translated to peace and security to several parts especially in the once-troubled North-East

He, however, advised members of the opposition party and other disgruntled individuals to stop the campaign aimed to malign Buratai’s image.

Expressing total confidence in his ability, the group called on all Nigerians to extend support for the country's new Ambassador to the Benin Republic.

Read the full statement below:

Nigeria First, heartily congratulates Ambassador, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) on his recent appointment. We are happy to finally acknowledged that "the Best man for the job has finally arrived".

Knowing about the way Nigerians have continuously expressed their enraged feelings about the matters of insecurity in the country, ever since when Boko Haram insurgency has taken the country unaware since 2009 when they began a violent campaign in North-East Nigeria, everyone now believes in every reason to tighten up our security portals.

Having fought a good fight to subdue and weaken internal terrorism and banditry in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari took a great strategic move on this appointment because he was satisfied with your performance and your great knowledge of international diplomacy.

Therefore, Mr President saw the need to expand frontiers in the war against insurgency in the country, which in our opinion culminated in the appointment of the former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors to galvanize the much needed regional support at addressing the threat posed by the Boko Haram insurgents.

For the record, Nigeria has never experienced a much peaceful time as compare to when Buratai was Chief of Army Staff since the rampage of Book Haram had begun.

Nigeria is still battling insurgency even with the change of Service Chiefs that most Nigerians had clamoured for. And was that the solution? Has that changed anything?

Instead, the situation has remained stagnant and getting worse as some stipulated by many.

The appointment of Ty Buratai is a welcome development in terms of the development of diplomacy and national security.

His appointment at a time when Nigeria’s border is under several threats is a wise decision made by the administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari. This move is vital and strengthens trade relations between the two countries.

Buratai is the ideal candidate for this position owing to his vast intellect and diplomatic skills. The current position to which he has been recently appointed must be handled delicately. It requires someone with profound intellect and experience. We are happy that Buratai has been chosen as the man for the job.

This is a man that served the country as a military leader without a blemish on his entire career. This is the right reward for a man who has served his country diligently and to the best of his abilities. This is a man who has given his all to the nation and we have no doubt that he will do the same in his current position.

However, despite the flawless record of this man, his appointment has been bathed with opprobrium by several individuals who believe that he is not fit for the job for several reasons best known to them. There have also been several claims that his appointment is all in a bid to protect him from prosecution for crimes wrongfully alleged against him. These, we believe are the evil efforts of several members of the opposition party and other disgruntled individuals to sully Buratai’s image. These individuals have failed to see the bigger picture but have instead chosen to allow politics and senseless sentiments to blindfold them. These individuals are only after their interest instead of national interest. Nigeria is currently in a delicate situation presently. The country has been plagued by insecurity and corruption amongst others and senseless political propaganda should not be added to the list.

Buratai’s appointment is a promising development as it has a lot of potential advantages, one of which is the fact that the former chief of Army Staff has a vast network of friends and acquaintances globally. This is a great boost in terms of diplomacy and will be very beneficial in his current position.

Buratai has a lot of unique skills in his arsenals such as his vast wealth of experience as a war veteran, a peacekeeper, an administrator and his efficiency in maintaining order and stability in conflict-ridden areas around the country. These skills will be very vital when it comes to his orchestration of diplomatic relationships and strategy.

Let us all not be quick to forget his successful campaign against insurgency in the country and how he managed to bring peace and security to several parts of the country especially in the northeast. During his reign as the chief of army staff, he moved his base to the forefront of the war where he managed to defeat and wipe out many terrorists especially the one hidden in the enclaves of the Sambisa forest.

Instead of the fight against insecurity, those of us familiar with the dynamics and state of play in the international arena will see the wisdom behind his appointment. It is a wise move to involve the international community in the fight against terrorism and banditry by appointing an individual who is conversant with the necessities of Nigeria and the various areas in which support is needed.

It is well known that the trans-border security between Nigeria and the Benin Republic is quite low and has been plagued by smugglers and bandits. Buratai’s experience when it comes to tackling insecurity is thus priceless in dealing with border security between Nigeria and the Benin Republic. His diplomatic skills are also sure to improve trade relations between the two countries.

Several businessmen and women have been clamouring over the closure of the Nigeria-Benin Republic border and have explained how the border closure has affected their business. We can boldly say to you all that have faith in Buratai as all issues regarding the Border closure and trade relations will soon be resolved.

Nigeria’s lost revenue to the Benin Republic has been a troubling issue to the country. It goes without saying that no nation can survive without its foreign exchange earnings and Nigeria is in no way an exception. We are certain that the ambassador will employ his sagacity and diplomatic skills to see to the re-opening of the Nigerian-Benin Republic border as soon as possible.

Buratai has been a loyal and patriotic servant to the people of Nigeria. His records and portfolio are excellent. He boasts a lot of skills, expertise and experience. He made incredible contributions towards the establishment of the Nigerian Amry University which greatly improved pedagogic approaches towards tackling insurgency in the country. His leadership boosted the morale of the Nigerian army and greatly influenced the war against insurgency. The time he served as a service chief has been widely regarded as one of the most productive in the annals of the Nigerian army. Under his leadership, the Nigerian army was rated high as regards human rights compliance by various international bodies. This was achieved as a result of his establishment of human rights offices to address issues regarding human rights violations by officers. This is another example of the insight the man portrays.

Nigeria plays a strategic leadership role in Africa and the appointment of a man as sagacious and experienced as TY Buratai ensures that Nigeria cements its place as the giants and leaders in the African continent. It is well known to all that Nigeria is a country looked up to owing to its portfolio, thus, the appointment of Buratai as a representative in the Republic of Benin is a step in the right direction.

It makes much strategic sense because we would be sure that Buratai would put his wealth of knowledge to bear, especially in addressing some of the issues of concern for the country regarding Boko Haram getting logistics support outside the country.

Ambassador Tukur Buratai remains a great asset to our country because of his deep foresight on national security. He is also a military historian, and thus good that he has offered himself once again in service to the country.

Nigeria First expresses total confidence in Buratai as a model of patriotism and chauvinism. His many accomplishments are a testament to the fact that his appointment was the right decision by the current administration. We call on all Nigerians to extend their support to the newly appointed ambassador rather than greet his appointment with baseless criticisms. Let us also continue to provide our endless support to the current President of this great nation and his administration as they work tirelessly for the growth and development of Nigeria.

God Bless President Buhari, God Bless Nigeria.

Football is a game that brings people of all race and colours of life coming together to not only play for a goal but as a form of entertainment and exercise. This is totally not different from the crop of personalities in the Abuja9800 Sports Club who weekly come out to exercise, bond, network and entertain themselves in different sporting activities.

Abuja9800 Sports Club is an organization that has been in existence for over eight years in the city of Abuja participating in football activities, social activities and most especially organizing Corporate Social Responsibilities in FCT.

Going from all of these the club is now set to flag off the maiden edition of its football league competition which promises to be competitive, exciting and a refreshing moment. The league will begin on Saturday the 26th of June 2021 and will be played every last Saturday of every month until December 2021 where the final match will be played to wrap up the clubs' activities for the year 2021 coupled with a CSR event and Family Party.

Speaking to newsmen after the final meeting with the League Management Committee is the Chairman of the Club Mr Inem Uwah who expressed his satisfaction with the plans; Mr Uwah echoed " I am super excited about the plans so far and the league in itself which we as management of the club together with the League Management Committee have taken time to draw out modalities for the league. I also want to use the opportunity to thank our partners for supporting our club and ensuring that the league comes to reality. Let me also invite our friends and lovers of football to join us every last Saturday of the month for our league matches or every Saturday and Tuesday for our regular training"

In the same vein, the Special Assistant on youth and sports to the interim Administrator/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Engr Udengs Eradiri whose office is a proud sponsor of the Abuja9800 Football League also addressed newsmen after the meeting; Engr Eradiri said " This is another opportunity for us at the NDDC to support laudable football events like this because we believe it is an opportunity to give young people from the Niger Delta region who reside in the Federal Capital Territory to showcase their football talents to scouts who will be a part of the audience at the event. We are in full support of the success of this event and we will ensure that more Niger Deltans participate in footballing events"

The league will have some Ex Internationals and Abuja scrabble lords who will be playing scrabble on the side as side attractions. A trophy, medal and cash prize of N500,000 will go to the league winners, golden boot to the highest goal scorer and some other prizes will be won in the course of the league.

By Mark Bonaventure

Nigeria is somewhat experiencing security challenges that are not surprising because there are various factors responsible for it. In this case, I would say the Boko Haram insurgency took the country unaware since 2009 when the Boko Haram group began a violent campaign in North-East Nigeria.

The Nigerian Military has been actively involved, recording gains and setbacks simultaneously because it's asymmetric warfare and not the conventional. The implication of this is that there has to be a constant review of operational strategies because insurgencies worldwide are dynamic and evolve every passing day.

I recall that insurgent activities were aimed at security agencies from the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency. From there, it metamorphosed into hostage-taking. It further transformed into targeting women and children and establishing a caliphate. And today, one cannot point to the actual aim of the insurgents because they have continually engaged the Military in fierce battles.

This fact was corroborated by the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, when he stated that the Boko Haram insurgency might not end in 20 years. I recall when he made that statement; most Nigerians didn't comprehend the import of his message because they were not knowledgeable of the dynamics in asymmetric warfare.

He said the terrorists had indoctrinated the people for a long time, making it difficult to defeat them within a short period. He also stated that political and socio-economic factors need to be addressed, adding that many communities in northern Nigeria lacked basic amenities.

With the benefit of hindsight, he was right because Nigeria is still battling insurgency even with the change of Service Chiefs that most Nigerians had clamoured. And was that the solution? Has that changed anything? I still believe that the change of service chiefs was meant to rejig the operational strategies and not because of non-performance as some section of the country would want us to believe.

It could thus be argued that it was a strategic move by the President because there was a need to expand frontiers in the war against insurgency in the country, which in my opinion culminated in the appointment of the former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors to galvanize the much needed regional support at addressing the threat posed by the Boko Haram insurgents.

It was thus speculated that Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has been posted to the Benin Republic to galvanize support from the West African country. If that news is eventually accurate, it makes much strategic sense because we would be sure that Buratai would put his wealth of knowledge to bear, especially in addressing some of the issues of concern for the country regarding Boko Haram getting logistics support outside the country.

I also wish to emphasize that Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai remain an asset to the county because of his deep foresight on national security. I am sure many do not know. He is also a military historian. It is thus good that he has offered himself once again in service to the country. I dare say that not many would be readily available because he just left one of the most daunting offices in the country in retirement.

It was expected that he would devout his retirement time with his family, but that is not the case, as he has continued in service to the country. I think it high time the country celebrates such individuals. His records in the Nigerian Army are exceptional. Under his tenure, substantial gains were recorded in the war against insurgency and other forms of criminalities.

This act is what I would call patriotism, and I believe with time, all those that saw him in a different light would come around to appreciate him for his display of love for the country. The example of Buratai is one in many cases of Nigerians that have been committed to the growth and development of the country, but he stands out hence this article.

I also need to remind us that such practices are prevalent in developed nations, where individuals with outstanding public records remain helpful to the country even in retirement. And Nigeria should not be left out because the security challenges in the country require that we explore all available avenues towards the restoration of peace and stability.

This, in my opinion, would significantly provide answers to the national security question in the country when we realize that times have changed and there is the need for regional and international collaboration in addressing security challenges.

To put it simply, the involvement of the likes of Buratai with years of experience would assist in no small measure in ensuring that the question of galvanizing regional support for Nigeria in the war against insurgency at the diplomatic level is achieved.

At this point, Nigerians must come to terms with the reality that guns and tanks are not the only potent weapon of war. Diplomacy also plays a critical role. Diplomacy translates military triumph into new arrangements. It implies war planning and the conduct of war in accordance with a strategy that unites political, economic, informational, and intelligence measures with military actions and a well-crafted plan for war termination.

Diplomacy is also the art of pursuing internationally possible. It involves the unpleasant task of interacting persuasively with usually disagreeable adversaries and sometimes tedious friends. I am reminded of the story of a former US ambassador to the Soviet Union, Mac Toon, who went aboard an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean for a meeting with the admiral who commanded its battle group. At the end of their discussion, the admiral leaned over to ask, "What’s it like being an ambassador? I've always thought that after I retire, I might want to try it." Ambassador Toon replied, "that's funny. I've always thought that, when I retire, I might try my hand at running a carrier battle group." The admiral said, "That's ridiculous. A naval command requires years of training and experience." But so do the management of foreign policy and diplomacy if the ship of state is not to be sailed onto the rocks or beached in the desert.

In the case of Nigeria, if we build a diplomatic capability with our neighbours to match our military prowess, we will gain a fundamental building block of national strategy towards addressing the Boko Haram insurgency in the country. And this, in my considered opinion, represents what the ambassadorial appointments of the likes of Buratai would avail the country.

Therefore the time to act is now in our quest towards bringing the Boko Haram insurgency to an end. I can vouch that we are on the right course with a man like Buratai and his wealth of experience. Needless I say more.

Bonaventure is a public affairs analyst and wrote from Badagry.