₦airaland Forum

NANS ZONE B LEADERSHIP SUMMIT; Redefining the Modules Integrating the Paradigm.


Franklin Benjamin, A United states polymath, leading writer, political philosopher, humorist and civic activist once asserted that
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”.
This is true because ignorance is a bane for development and a path to destruction.

The knowledge of “Education according to without values, C. S. Lewis which as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.” formed the crux that necessitated the convergence of Students Leaders, SU Presidents of Tertiary Institutions across the 11 states of South-south and South East, Nigeria at University of Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

The Conference which had the theme - EDUCATION; THE PATHWAY TO REDEFINING LEADERSHIP was graced by notable speakers including the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva, Acting Vice chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Stephen Okodudu, Chairman Enforcement and Recovery, Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Leo Leo Umanah who spoke indepthly on creating Right values, and the need for mental calibration.

In his opening remarks, the Coordinator of NANS ZONE B, Comr. Etinyene Offongekpe expressed appreciation to the students for coming together to seek possible ways to addressing the country’s challenges, this he said will redefine leadership on the right perspective.

The Minister of State for petroleum resources, Chief Timipre Sylva during his keynote presentation noted that Nigerians are the solution to the problem facing the country and once we come to the realization of that established fact, change our mindsets and actions, integrate new modules and activate new strategies, Nigeria will be better than what it is today.

He commended the leadership of NANS Zone B ably led by Comr. Etinyene Friday Offongekpe for having the best interest of the country at heart and for putting up such event.
This he said will go a long way to repositioning leadership as the new generation prepares to take over.

In his goodwill message, the Revolutionary president of NANS, Comr. Asefon Sunday Dayo appreciated the Minister for playing fatherly roles and for always finding time to interact and seek ways to improve our nation.

Highpoint of the event include the official induction of the Honorable Minister of State for petroleum resources into the prestigious NANS Hall of Fame, first ever to be inducted.

By EMMANUEL ANI

The recent appointment of the Chief of Army Staff has generated reactions in the polity regarding the suitability of Major General Farouk Yahaya for the plum but demanding job. The interesting part is that some that are ignorant of the dynamics involved in such appointments have taken centre stage with insinuations and illogical conclusions so much so that it defeats common sense.

I had initially refrained from commenting on this contentious issue. However, I had a change of mind when the mischief became heightened with the tendency to mislead members of the unsuspecting general public.

I recall that upon the death of the former Chief of Army Staff and ten others in the unfortunate air crash in Kaduna, some persons, instead of respecting the sensibilities of families and relatives of the deceased officers that died in the line of duty, elected to scorn and curse. This is most unfortunate. This is how bad things have turned in our dear country.

These individuals didn’t stop there. They took their diatribe further by whipping ethnic and religious sentiments on who the next Chief of Army Staff should be. They consequently pushed forward names along ethnic lines like they are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

President Muhammadu Buhari eventually announced a new Chief of Army Staff. They went berserk, throwing all manner of diatribes on why the new man should have been from a particular part of the country. Even those that know nothing about the Nigerian Army suddenly became experts and analysts on how the President deliberately refused to appoint a certain officer as Chief of Army Staff. This is sad.

From all intents and purpose, the mischief gained traction in the public space because they succeeded in assuming that membership of the Security Council in Nigeria should be based on ethnicity and religion and not competence. I hate to do this, but I have to do it to put issues in proper perspective as someone knowledgeable in the security architecture in the country.

Before now, we have had instances where a former president appointed a certain officer to head the Nigerian Army. Suffice to add that the officer wasn’t from the infantry or armoured corps as the prerequisite for heading the Nigerian Army. Was hell let loose? The same former President made another appointment that also forced over 50 senior officers to proceed on retirement. Was hell let loose? The point I am trying to make here is that the President and Commander-in-Chief has the prerogative to choose whomever he deems suitable for the job. That is his constitutional duty, and I don't see any reason why ethnic and religious sentiments should be put forward in the first instance.
Back to the crux of the matter, the present security challenges in the country require that utmost care is taken into consideration when sensitive appointments are made, especially in the Armed Forces. And the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff is one instance where the President has demonstrated his uncommon neutrality and hunger for the best hand at all times .

I can only wish that these religious and ethnic agitators would take out time to read the profile of Major General Farouk Yahaya. I also hope they can also take out time to digest his exploits in the course of his illustrious carrier in the Nigerian Army. When that is done, would they realize that the President was not guided by ethnic or religious sentiments as mischievously propagated.

A fine officer and a gentleman, no doubt. A former Garrison Commander Headquarters Guards Brigade, former Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), a former Deputy Director Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, a former Deputy Director Army Research and Development and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield. A former General Officer Commanding 1 Div of the Nigerian Army and former Commander Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Terrorism in North-East Nigeria, amongst others too numerous to mention.

Having all of this in mind, would it be appropriate to state that the President was not meticulous in choosing the Chief of Army Staff? Would the President have sacrificed competence on the altar of religion and ethnicity? I dare say that if only they knew who Major General Farouk Yahaya is, they would bury their heads in shame. Also, if only they are privy to the widespread jubilation across all army formations in the country with the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff.

What does this tell us? It tells us that President Muhammadu Buhari has once again displayed an uncommon commitment to addressing the security challenges in the country. And it would have been a topic for discussion if the new Chief of Army Staff does not possess the qualifications and experience to lead the charge against insurgency in North-East Nigeria and other acts of criminalities across Nigeria. But that is not the case and a reason why we must commend the President once again.

I must also emphasize that Major General Farouk Yahaya is not just from Sokoto State; he is one of the A list officers in the Nigerian Army that commands tremendous respect across the board for his work ethic and dedication in service to the country. He is a fine officer that serves as a role model to young officers and one that has left indelible marks in the sands of time in all task assigned to him.

Let me also add here for our reading pleasure that data obtained from the Council on Foreign Relations shows that from April 1, when he took charge of the war against Boko Haram, till when he was appointed as Chief of Army Staff, the number of civilians killed by insurgents dropped by 17 percent, while the number of Boko Haram terrorist killed shot up by 46 percent. What does this tell us? It simply tells us that here is an officer that understands what it means to lead. And his appointment to lead the prestigious Nigerian Army is a step in the right direction.

At this point, those trying to stain his lofty credentials because he is from a particular part of the country should have a rethink and give peace a chance. Needless I mention that he is one of the finest officers in the Nigerian Army, and his appointment is a challenge rather than filling a slot.

I have no doubt whatsoever that the new Chief of Army Staff would hit the ground running because he understands the enormity of the task at hand. And he will deliver in record time; I can bet. So, therefore, let us learn to call a spade a spade. I believe time shall tell, and Nigerians would be grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for his choice of Major General Farouq Yahaya to lead the Nigerian Army.

My charge to the new kid on the block is to remain apolitical, strengthen institutions and lead with the fear of God.

Ani is a security analyst and wrote this piece from UNN, Enugu Campus.

By Philip Agbese

The appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Farouk Yahaya on May 27, 2021, has generally elicited loud endorsements from Nigerians. His appointment followed the sudden demise of his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash, along with 10 other Army personnel in Kaduna a week ago. (May their souls rest in perfect peace).

Gen. Yahaya, one of Nigeria’s finest breed of trained infantry combatants has a rich profile and experience in counter-terrorism combats. A member of the 37 Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Gen. Yahaya was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on September 22nd 1990. Over the decades, Gen. Yahaya has held numerous Staff, Instructional and Command appointments in the Nigerian Army.

But briefly, Gen. Yahaya was a Garrison Commander, Headquarters Guards Brigade, Deputy Director Army Research and Development, Military Secretary, the Chief of Staff, Headquarters of Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, and the General Officer Commanding, (GoC), 1 Division of the Nigerian Army among multiple others.

Until his elevation in appointment as COAS, Gen. Yahaya’s service records were synonymous with military excellence globally. He was deep into the forests of the theatre of war in the Northeast, functioning in the capacity of Theatre Commander of the renamed Counterterrorism and Counter-Insurgency military outfit code-named “Operation Hadin Kai” (OPHK), literally meaning “cooperation” in Hausa vernacular.

It is indubitable that in the last six years, the Nigerian Army has dealt a fatal blow on incensed Boko Haram insurgents, ISWAP terrorists, armed bandits and other allied cross border armed criminal gangs who have delighted in terrorising parts of the country. And with the confusion and infighting in the camps of Boko Haram and ISWAP, coupled with the assured sustained pressures mounted on these terrorists by troops, the coming of Gen. Yahaya as the new COAS holds every significance in finally blighting the menace of all forms of terrorism in the country.

Gen. Yahaya parades many meritorious service medals and awards. He is definitely a shining Army star in warfare. Farouk Yahaya is an Army General generally honed and polished by the finest of senior Military officers, home and abroad, who are experts in anti-terrorism warfares. Prominently, Gen. Yahaya is an ardent adherent of the leadership school of thought of His Excellency, Ambassador TY Buratai, the retired Army General, who served Nigeria as COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency operations from 2015-2021.

Nigerians have recognized Gen. Buratai as a courageous, fearless, determined, patriotic and loyal professional soldier, who broke the many jinks of terrorists when he served the country. He made them breathless at all times and even military experts have seen his fearless shadows in Gen. Yahaya. There is no gain contradicting the reality that the new COAS is a tested hand in the theatre of war.

President Buhari is famed for the knack of going for the best brains in appointments, especially in sensitive areas. The choice of Gen. Farouk Yahaya as the COAS has also confirmed the President’s principle and doctrine of impeccable credentials, merit and excellent performance above any other consideration.

Apparently, there is no disputation that Gen. Yahaya would not only excel in his new assignment, as an officer who has been part and parcel of the anti-insurgency campaigns in Nigeria. But also, security experts have vouched on his competence to surpass the excellence of his mentor, Gen. Buratai by breaking new records in the prosecution of Nigeria’s renamed counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

However, and observably, the appointment of Gen. Yahaya means many things to different Nigerians and spurted varying dimensions of national discourse. But the dormant and inescapable feature of these perceptions in the public psyche is the trust and convictions in the professional competence and dexterity of the new COAS to finally blight the fires of terrorism in Nigeria.

However, there are a few leftists in Nigeria, who have never failed in the “patriotic” duty to themselves of rubbishing any policy or decision pronounced by the Buhari Presidency. These minority discordant voices are habituated to faulting every decision and at every time, not necessarily based on sound reasons, but from selfish, unpatriotic and self-satisfying prisms. But again, it is the beauty of democracy. So, this clan of Nigerians are blindfolded to the anticipated leadership impacts of Gen. Yahaya in Nigeria’s anti-insurgency campaigns.

To these ethnoreligious bigots and naked campaigners of regionalism, President Buhari has not pleased them in the choice of Gen. Yahaya simply because the tested Army General is not from their part of the country. The expressed sentiment is that Buhari would have attracted their eulogies had he appointed someone from their part of the country, even if he is glaringly incompetent or unqualified.

So, the sabs are massively wailing, lamenting and mouthing foolishly. But it is the normal hypocritic trait in most Nigerians, which has held back the progress of the country for decades. Those wailing loudest and feeling alienated from Buhari’s choice of Gen. Yahaya as COAS on such simplistic grounds of regionality do not respect the same posture when hiring personal security guards. Why do almost all of these ethnic bigots outrightly shirk from hiring personal security guards who are people from their villages?

Many of the bigoted ethnic campaigners who are on a deliberate smear campaign to stain the credentials of excellence of Gen. Farouq Yahaya are laughably questioning President Buhari on why he again failed to appoint an Igbo man into the National Security Council. But the competence of Gen. Yahaya was the compelling reasons Mr. President considered choosing Gen. Yahaya.

Let the truth be told! The National Security Council is neither an arena for ethnic groups nor campaigners, but a serious national security platform for tested and trusted senior Military officers. It is easy to notice the confusion in the camps of these disguised saboteurs. It’s not surprising that none of them is faulting the appointment of Gen. Yahaya based on competence or previously poor service records, but they are rather concerned that he would have been an Igbo, Yoruba or Ijaw Army General. So, they are free to lick their wounds and trumpet louder, the ethnic sentiments against merit and competence.

For those versatile in security issues, Gen. Yahaya’s emergence is one of the best appointments that Mr. President has made since the beginning of the year. Anyone who thinks otherwise should contest this assertion. As someone who has served as GoC and later, Theatre Commander in the Northeast, mandating Gen. Yahaya now to lead the war against the insurgents in Nigeria justifies and fills any imagined vacuum in the anti-terrorism combats.

Nigerians, particularly, troops in the frontlines are expecting Gen. Yahaya to immediately restore the suspended Army core values, which sustained counter-insurgency operations. These include the return of all quarterly exercises, development of a versatile Intelligence gathering network/ instruments, sustenance of the apolitical posturing of soldiers and a tough deal and decisive warfare expeditions against all armed criminal elements across the country.

Nigerians are assured that with the known records of professional competence identified with Gen. Yahaya Farouq, the country is on the sure path of the final defeat of terrorists. The Army warmonger would certainly make Nigeria proud because he is sure prepared to deliver on the task which Nigerians have elected him to do. Nigerians wish him and his team good luck, as they anxiously await the victory and trophy of triumph against terrorists.

Agbese is a publisher and human rights law researcher based in the United Kingdom.

Ojodu LCDA: Groups decry campaign of calumny against Layeni, calls for probe of Odunmbaku.


Groups known as the Centre for Public Accountability CPA, and the Ojodu Development Initiative have urged the All Progressives Congress and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission LASIEC, to disregard the call by a self styled Ojodu Collectives Group, demanding for the disqualification of Alhaja Layeni Olufunmilayo Kafayat, from participating in the primary election of the party to decide the candidate of the party for the local government elections in the state over allegations of forged secondary school certificate. According to the groups, in a joint statement issued and signed by Executive Director, Olufemi Lawson and Oluwatobi Johnson on Friday in Lagos, not only is Layeni, a leading candidate for the chairmanship of Ojodu Local Council Development Area, she also possess every qualifications to be elected, as the flagbearer of the party, in the forthcoming local government Election.

The groups said it is worried, about the desperation of those who it described as being behind the campaign of calumny against Layeni. The statement accused the outgoing chairman of the local government, Muyiwa Olori, a Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor Ms Toke Benson, and a chieftain of the APC, Cardinal James Odunmbaku of desperation to impose Odunmbaku's son, David Odunmbaku as the next Chairman, of the LCDA.

"We consider it important, for the sake of unsuspecting members of the public, particularly the electorates in Ojodu, to make this public statement, to dispel the lies being peddled by this individuals, against the candidature of Kafayat Layeni. These persons have not only cross the boundaries of all known civility in their campaign of calumny, but have also resulted into commiting series of forgery and perjury, all in the desperation, to impose David Odunmbaku, on the people of the LCDA, even though against the popular wish of the people."

"In the last few days, this group sponsored by David Odunmbaku and his political merchants have made series of attempt, to compromise the authority of Salvation Army School Ebute Meta Lagos, which is the Alma mater of Layeni, in order to get a disclaimer on her attendance of the school. They also went further, by forging letters purportedly written by the West Africa Examination Council WAEC, denouncing the qualification of Kafayat Layeni. Their failed request, which we have further found out to have been intiated using the company belonging the Odunmbaku's family carried a false claim of Layeni, seeking an employment under the company, an incident, that never was. This is not only treacherous of a group and individual, seeking to occupy public position, but also requires an immediate arrest and prosecution of those behind this act of perjury."

"While restating our believe, in the aspiration of Kafayat Layeni, which represents the aspiration of the majority of inhabitants of the LCDA, we sincerely hope that the APC and the relevant security agencies, will immediately invite for questioning and possible prosecution, all those who are found to be involved in this failed attempt at manipulating the will of the people of Ojodu LCDA." the statement concluded.

The Grand Alliance of Ojodu Conscious Indigenes has demanded the disqualification of Hon. James Faleke's Candidate for the Ojodu LCDA Chairmanship election, Alhaja Layeni Olufunmilayo Kafayat. Most ridiculous is the name dropping and grandstanding by Hon James Faleke, that their illegal action, has the full support of the National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to a press release signed by the group's spokesman, Comrade Kolawole Gbenga, it stated that it's unfortunate that someone aspiring to lead the council could be be parading a fake result.

He further added that the party is a platform which is built on good virtues which must not be exploited by power drunk personalities who will do anything to get political power.

Also, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) has clarified the authenticity of the December 1979 result being paraded by Alhaja Layeni Olufunmilayo Kafayat, saying that the certificate is not genuine.

In the said result, Layeni claimed to have made C6 in English Language, C5 in Government, C4 in Economics, C4 in Mathematics, D7 in Biology, C5 in Commerce and C3 in Accounting. The examination body had stated that the said result did not come from them.

Comrade Kolawole Gbenga, has urged the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to disqualify Layeni from participating in thr primary election to decide the candidate of the party for the general election.

The group also called for a proper and thorough investigation into thr case since falsification of result is a serious crime under the Nigerian Legal System.

By: Taiwo Akerele


Today again creates another window for the world and its leaders to reflect on the condition of children across the globe, the fate of their education, the security of the learning environment, the key issue of nutrition and global child rights and freedom of learning and knowledge acquisition.


The global pandemic, COVID-19 has forced millions of children all over the world to learn from home, how conducive these homes are. These bring to the fore the need for concerted efforts to ensure that families are catered for by governments in the area of jobs creation, shelter and adequate feeding which has resultant effect on the condition of the child.


In Nigeria, the conditions are even worse and this day, the 27th of May 2021, is an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on key policies that have direct bearing on learning, literacy development and the rights of the child.

Today, we have an opportunity to review the impact of school feeding and how this program fared in terms of impact and outcome, today we have an opportunity to look at the issue of nutrition and the child rights law already passed by the national assembly and some states across Nigeria. How has the law been implemented and a far reaching impact on the targeted populace.

Today Nigeria is faced with the crisis of out of school children estimated at 10.5 million by the UNICEF (2019/2020) which Policy House International has projected to get to 15million by the end of 2021 if the security challenges in parts of the north are not addressed and if the culture of school closures continues unabated.


Today in Nigeria, the average national budget provisioning for the entire education system accounts for less than 5% of the national budget as against the 26% recommended by UNESCO. Out of this 5%, only 1.5% is provided to basic education, at the state level the situation is not different on the average nationally. This calls for serious concern. So the key question is what quality of children we are grooming in Africa’s biggest economy by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and by population.


Today, Children's Day affords us the opportunity to look at our national basic education curriculum, what does it reflect on for us as a nation? Does our curriculum prepare our children for a digital economy? An artificial intelligence economy, an economy that is ready for production, agri-business and manufacturing or a lazy and unproductive economy full of theory and empty in practical?

As we join millions of children all over the world to celebrate this day, for us in Nigeria, we must reflect on the basket of issues both as government and stakeholders in the educational ecosystem and get our acts together to make life more bearable for our kids, the leaders of tomorrow. Happy International Children's day 2021.


Thank you


Taiwo Akerele is the Country Reps, Policy House Int’l and FCT Chapter Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)

By Thomas Uzah


In 1964, the then American President, Mr. Lyndon B. Johnson in a pithy address to the International Labour Press Association glorified the place of the worker in public life; “You are a part of the conscience of our society. You are always goading. You are never satisfied with the job that is partially done. You are always working and calling for the further advancement of working people, and you speak from a point of view. You speak on behalf of values.”

This position amplifies the dire need to evolve favorable conditions to carter for the welfare of the worker in order to ginger his productivity and excellence in the workplace. But it is often overlooked by employers and leaders in most instances.

However, the leadership of Associate Professor Shuaibu Ibrahim, a serving Brigadier General of the Nigerian Army and the current Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has marketed itself differently.

In appearance, Gen. Ibrahim is unassuming; but his personage is an embodiment of multiple military and administrative talents. He is governed by a doctrine of excellence anywhere he finds his feet and believes in making the best use of all human resources. But good enough, he knows there are unavoidable obligations, any leadership desiring of better results from workers must fulfill.

Therefore, from the outset, Gen. Ibrahim began to tinker with ideas the scheme would adopt to support the Federal Government in funding its operations by thinking outside the box to remain strong and relevant. And to achieve this , the NYSC boss knew, the scheme must inescapably place extra premium on welfare of both staff and corps members. “I appeal to our corps employers to take care of the welfare of members; mentor them,” he appealed soon after his appointment.

Consequently, Gen. Ibrahim deliberately attaches extraordinary premium to all who tastes his leadership anywhere. And in NYSC now, it is an entirely new and exciting experience for staff as well as corps members. As NYSC boss, Gen. Ibrahim has prioritized the welfare of workers and youth corps members to heights hitherto unknown.

The scheme is rated one of the best performing federal government agencies today, because a motivated staff leaves nothing to chance in the performance of their official functions. It is natural that when the worker is motivated to work, he goes the extra mile excitedly.

And Gen. Ibrahim has capitalized on this weapon, by his undiluted and undistracted attention to issues of welfare and remunerations. Timely payment of salaries and legitimate allowances ignite the ambience of a workplace, anywhere in the world. Even the Holy scriptures admonishes that a worker deserve his wages.

Salary payment defines everything in a working environment. It motivates, stimulates, increases productivity and encourages teamwork for excellence. Gen. Ibrahim’s leadership of the NYSC has made it his sacred obligation.

And since, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim is aware of these salient motivational doctrines, which propel productivity and triggers a convivial working environment, he is dispensing a leadership that bows to these demands at all times.

It is unarguable that in Nigeria today, issues of salary payment have been a thorn in the flesh of most government establishments. And the problem seems to exacerbate with the sudden scourge of Covid-19 pandemic, which has dealt a serious blow on global economies.

Even with the increasingly less funds in circulation, Gen. Ibrahim has insulated NYSC staff from this nightmare through prompt payment of basic and lawful entitlements. Quite pleasurably, Gen. Ibrahim has withered the storm in NYSC very conveniently.

By his relentless efforts, the Director General has been able to catapult the NYSC to a comfortable pedestal through investment initiatives. These investments have generated internal revenue for the NYSC, which partly funds the scheme’s operations. The NYSC Director General has registered the strong presence of the scheme in poultry farms; hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice plantations and milling as well as feed mills in different parts of the country are signposts of his remarkable leadership.

Added to it, Gen. Ibrahim has supported the scheme’s funding by resuscitating previously abandoned NYSC water and bakery factories to consolidate on its investment profile. With the returns yielded by these investments, coupled with the federal subventions to the agency, payment of salaries and allowances of staff have been prompt and ceaseless. His favorable disposition to salary payment has earned him the epaulet “Mr. Alert” in all NYSC offices across the nation.

In same manner, the welfare of corps members has been given top priority. Gen. Ibrahim wasted no time in implementing the New National Minimum Wage of N33,000 (thirty-three thousand) as monthly allowance of serving corps members. He boosted the monthly allowance of corps members with an additional N3,000 (three thousand) to serve as incentives to corps members and encourage personal savings. He operates on Lailah Gifty Akita’s the doctrine that “If people are paid well, there should be no poverty.”

To the NYSC boss, it does not matter whether it is staff or corps members, but salary and monthly allowances bank alerts come before the end of every month. Each time he visits NYSC office anywhere in Nigeria or even during media outings, corps members endearingly address hm with the sobriquet “Mr. Welfare,” for his rare and uncommon attention to their comfort.

Gen. Ibrahim has recorded his name as the only Director General of the NYSC who has lobbied State Governments and employers of the services of corps members to pay them additional monthly stipends. He has successful blighted the doctrine of discretionary payment of stipends to serving corps members through gentle persuasion of employers.

And his concentration on the welfare of both staff and corps members goes beyond timely meeting of their financial obligations alone. He has also demonstrated a relentless commitment to their health welfare in same measure. For instance, at the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria, Gen. Ibrahim ensured the monthly allowances of corps members were paid without the usual clustering for clearance in order to forestall the spread of the disease.

He stated in a public statement that the; “…payment of monthly stipend for the month of April shall be effected without the usual gathering for clearance, in keeping with the rule of social distancing. It is equally imperative to add that there shall not be clearance for the month of May, 2020. The system shall generate automatic clearance for everyone.”

Conversely, Gen. Ibrahim instantly complied with the directive of the Presidency by enlisting all serving corps members into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). He does not hesitate in approving medical bills and has expended huge resources on critical health needs of corps members by footing medical bills where necessary.

Therefore, it is understandable that Gen. Ibrahim is feted with epaulets such as “Mr. Welfare,” or “Mr. Alert.” And it streams from a genuine heart of excitement from those he has the mandate to lead. The unalterable truth is that Gen. Ibrahim has changed the fortunes of the NYSC amazingly. He is indeed, a national asset both in intellect and capacity to do things differently.

Uzah PhD is Head of Department, Mass Communication, Kwararafa University Wukari.

By Charles Ibekwe

Nigeria’s national parliament is not expected to function like a house of comedians. It ought to be a serious chamber and a progressive think-tank for Nigerians. It is supposed to be populated by men/ women of integrity, foresight and very knowledgeable legislators mandated to make good legislations for the progress and development of Nigeria.

Unfortunately, and glaringly too, the nation’s parliament has been overrated in recent times. Specifically, the House of Representatives is fast earning for itself a notorious reputation of an assemblage of idle and retrogressive minds. Even street comedians should have a better sense of humour.

The House of Representatives is habituated in doing everything possible to assail and assault the sensibilities of Nigerians they have been elected to serve. About a week ago, an opposition legislator, Hon. Awaji-Inimbel Abiante (PDP Rivers State), proposed and sponsored a bill to repeal the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act. This bill seeks to abrogate Section 315(5)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

The proposed bill has passed the second reading in less than a week, It is an indication of its advanced stages of getting the nod of parliament to proscribe the NYSC, a noble youth scheme, which has been in exsistence since 1973.

The defunct Military regime of Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) was goaded into launching this scheme in 1973 to bridge the schism and pervasive air of distrust and hatred among Nigerians in the aftermath of the Nigerian civil war of 1967 to 70. From the intendment of the Gen. Gowon’s military administration, the NYSC initiative was crafted and designed as a significant part of his 3Rs policy of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction to heal the nation.

Furthermore, the NYSC is structured to foster national unity, integration and a better understanding of the disparate entities of the country’s plurality. It also has the mandate to engender a greater and deeper understanding of the ethnic, linguistic, religious, and socio- cultural compositions of Nigeria in youths, frequently referenced as leaders of tomorrow. Suffice it to say, no positive relic of the Gowon administration has surpassed the reality and goodies of an NYSC scheme.

Ironically today, Hon. Awaji-Inimbel Abiante and his cahoots in the Green Chamber want Nigerians to believe the NYSC scheme has outlived its usefulness. And more offending, these lawmakers have committed scare public funds to sponsor its scrapping in the nation’s life.

But more profoundly senseless are the reasons advanced by the lawmakers for embarking on this unpopular action. Sponsors of the bill for the scrapping of the NYSC are arguing that the scheme deserves a “death sentence” because the objective of the NYSC Act in promoting national unity and integration have been disfigured by compromised national insecurities, in some geopolitical zones in the country, as reflected in the pervasive threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and violent clashes among other national malaises.

It sounds hollow! Whilst the national threat of insecurities is real; the most infantile reasoning is what Hon. Awaji-Inimbel Abiante and his clan of cheer clappers, backbenchers and nitwits in the Green Chamber. It is not discernible in any conceivable way how scrapping the NYSC is a substitute or remedy to curing the nation’s insecurity pandemonium and scourge.

And determined to push a self-serving and nonsensical argument beyond the threshold of absurdity, the sponsors of the NYSC repeal Act questioned the rationale for the overdependence of private and public agencies for jobs and roles that these agencies should ordinarily have engaged the serving corps members in gainful employment. The legislators frowned at the poor remuneration, from employers’ who hire the services of corps members, only to discard them after the mandatory one-year service scheme.

From the periphery, one is tempted to believe, the Reps members are truly concerned that Nigerians earn poor wages and remunerations’ which has saliently echoed in the parliamentary discourse on scrapping of the NYSC. Yet, this is the same parliament which turned down President Muhammadu Buhari’s a mere N55,000 (fifty-five thousand) proposal for new minimum wage for Nigerian public servants. Rether, it approved a paltry N33, 000 (thirty-three thousand). There should be a limit to hypocrisy.

However, the national parliament has not told Nigerians the real reasons they want the NYSC scrapped. But it is extremely poor outing for the Green Chambers which has pleasurably declined increasing the budget of Nigerian Military in the age of insurgency and still grappling with approvals for bills to establish community policing to complement conventional security to suddenly turn around to be so concerned by insecurities and feels scrapping NYSC scheme is the antidote to securing the lives of Nigerians.

There can be nothing so farcical than this! The flimsy excuses they have adduced for attempting to scrap the NYSC speak volumes about their incapacity to really comprehend the problems of Nigeria and the best ways to assist the executive arm of government resolve them.

Despite the security threats, to blanketly argue that NYSC members are denied employment by private and public establishments because of the near-free labour they offer while serving the nation is absolutely false. While it is utopian to think every corps member should be reabsorbed by his or her place of primary assignment, many lucky ones have had the opportunity to be returned after service since the inception of the scheme.

There are immutable records that corps members who have performed creditably or excelled in their places of primary assignment have gained employments by various establishments. The NYSC scheme has by far too many benefits to the participating youths and the nation for anybody to think of scrapping it.

These benefits have not faded and cannot be eclipsed in the psyche of Nigerians in the manner contemplated by the Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila-led House of Representatives. It is inappropriate now that the country is in dire need of national unity for the peaceful co-existence of Nigeria’s younger generation.

It is fair to assert that the mandate of the NYSC has not been fully utilized over the years. But the NYSC’s current leadership led by Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim is performing wonders with these young Nigerian graduates. His overhaul and repositioning of the scheme which has expanded opportunities of self-reliance and employment for ambitious Nigerian graduates is exceptional.

The incumbent NYSC Director General has either launched or reinvigorated the hitherto dead training and investments ventures of the scheme. The NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme, the one month’s practical skills training in the orientation course content for corps members during camps has assumed a pride of place.

Many young Nigerians have used the skills acquired during the orientation camp and savings in the course of service to establish private businesses or investments. Is this a scheme some Reps members are plotting to scrap at a time the FGN is scouting for every window to tackle the massive youth unemployment?

One of the main focus of the Buhari Presidency now is on diversification into agriculture to guarantee food security. Gen. Ibrahim has not only revamped moribund NYSC farms nationwide, which cultivates tens of thousands of hectares of lands , but has partnered and is still partnering agencies like the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA); Leventis Foundation Nigeria and the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation among hordes of others.

These organizations’ and agencies have offered serving corps members the rare opportunity of trainings as soil doctors and extension services workers; agricultural best practices and agro-allied linked ventures. These have the potential of spiral effects on agricultural activities in various communities across the country.

There are other ways envisaged by Gen. Ibrahim to assist the FGN tackle massive youth unemployment through the NYSC. A parley has reached advanced stages with relevant stakeholders to formally establish a legislation-backed NYSC Trust Fund. It is designed to source its funding from a percentage of profits of mega companies operating in Nigeria to among other things, financially empower passing out corps members for financial independence and private investments to become employers of labour, instead of employment seekers.

Just recently, at the 2018/2019 President’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) honours award ceremony, President Buhari offered automatic employments to ex-corps members in the Federal Civil Service. Others benefitted from scholarships to pursue post-graduate studies up to doctoral level in any university in Nigeria. These were ex-corps members who excelled in the four cardinal training programmes of the Scheme.

These are some of the benefits the Reps who sponsored the repulsive bill seeking to scrap the NYSC are tactically trying to deny Nigerian young graduates. It is sufficiently poor reasoning and an inexplicable daydreaming. Already, patriotic analysts’ are trumpeting that the haters and adversaries of President Buhari in the National Assembly are trying to set another trap for him with the idea of scrapping NYSC. It would generate massive criticisms of his failures again. Mr. President must be wary of the black sheep tacitly, but assiduously working to ruin his administration.

The sponsors of the repugnant bill on NYSC are the undisguised enemies of the Nigerian youths.They are the same parliamentarians who kicked against the idea and funding of President Buhari’s youth and the less privileged empowerment initiatives’ under the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP). They are back again, in another garments and Nigerians must rise up to secure their country from these saboteurs.

Ibekwe is a public affairs analyst and wrote this piece from Enugu.

The bill to amend the 1999 constitution to discontinue the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme is an evil plot against Nigerian youths and not in the interest of the nation, a civil society group has said.

Kicking against the move, the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) said the purveyors of conflict and agents of destabilisation are at work to earnestly set the country up in flames.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Executive Secretary, Comrade Isaac Ikpa said the relevance of the scheme to contemporary Nigeria can't be overemphasised.

Established on May 22, 1973, by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon under Decree No. 24 of 1973, the
the primary objective was to reconcile and reintegrate Nigerians after the civil war.

But the lawmaker representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, had argued that the scheme has overstayed its usefulness.

In reaction, Comrade Ikpa said that the scheme has instead evolved over the years in fulfilling its mandate of bridging ethnic and religious divisions and fostering the spirit of Nigerian nationalism.

He noted that thousands of young Nigerian graduates still look forward to participating in the one-year mandatory service.

According to Ikpa, the scheme also provides most youths with the opportunity for self-reliance in preparation for life ahead through the allowances paid and the experiences they go through.

Describing the move as "anti-youth, anti-people and misplaced", he added that it is targeted at removing the last institutional framework for national stability and cohesion to satisfy the criminal mindset of a few Nigerians hiding in the National Assembly as lawmakers.

He, therefore, called on all well-meaning Nigerians to "see this attempt as an affront to our sensibilities by a select few that are hell-bent on destabilising the youthful population in Nigeria, which on its own is a recipe for conflict".

The CSO urged all Nigerians to mobilise in their large number to stop the bill as quickly as possible, adding that if there is any crucial moment in history to reinforce the essence of the exercise, it's now.

It, however, called on the leadership of the National Assembly to put the interest of the country at heart and halt further deliberations on the grossly ill-informed bill.

The CSO also urged the Federal Government to do all within its means to ensure that those against the interest of the country do not succeed in disorienting its youthful population.

Read the full statement below:

This is indeed a sad chapter in the book of our dear country in the sense that it has become evident that the purveyors of conflict and the agents of destabilization are at work to earnestly set the country up in flames by muting the idea of scrapping the National Youth Service Scheme.

The relevance of the NYSC in contemporary Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. That the NYSC has evolved over the years in fulfilling its mandate of bridging ethnic and religious divisions in Nigeria and fostering the spirit of Nigerian nationalism is a statement of fact.

It is, therefore, worrisome that some vested interest would attempt to push for the scrapping of such as initiative that is well-grounded to address the various ethnic and religious agitations and tensions in the country.

It is, therefore, the considered view of the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency that the call for the scrapping of the NYSC is not only disjointed, it is also of poor taste and a puerile attempt at plunging the country into a crisis of unimaginable proportion.

It is also our considered view that the selfish proponents of the Bill seeking for the scrapping of the NYSC failed to realize that hundreds of thousands of young Nigerian graduates look forward to participating in the one-year mandatory service.

They also failed to realize that the one year service year provides most youths with the opportunity for self-reliance in preparation for life ahead through the allowances paid to them and the experiences they go through in their service year.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency is therefore alarmed that the Bill seeking for the scrapping of the NYSC has reached second reading in the House of Representatives. This is indicative that patriotism in Nigeria has been thrown to the dogs.

It is also indicative that some people have sold their souls to the devil in return for a plate of porridge hence the inglorious attempt at seeking for the scrapping of such an initiative that is more needed and relevant in the country now in the critical point of our existence where there have been politically motivated calls for separation in various parts of the country.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency states unequivocal terms that the Bill is anti-youth, anti-people, misplaced and targeted at removing the last institutional framework for national stability and national cohesion to satisfy the criminal mindset of a few Nigerians hiding in the National Assembly as lawmakers.

As a result of the press conference calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to see this attempt as an affront to our sensibilities by a select few that are hell-bent on destabilizing the youthful population in Nigeria, which on its own is a recipe for conflict.

We strongly believe that the agents seeking to destabilize the country are behind the Bill and call on all Nigerians to mobilize in their large number to stop the Bill as quickly as possible because if there is any crucial moment in history to reinforce the essence of the Scheme, it's now.

It remains our stance that the contributions of the NYSC to the country's socio-economic development remain outstanding. This is also because the NYSC has evolved over the years and well-positioned to give the youths an avenue to realize their potentials through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme.

We also wish to repeat that the NYSC is set up deliberately to advance national cohesion and unity. And if there's any crucial moment in history to reinforce the essence of the Scheme, it's now. This much all well-meaning Nigerians and relevant stakeholders must come to terms with to see the folly in the call the scrapping of such a laudable initiative.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency states that scrapping the NYSC would be a fundamental blunder. As such, it must cease to be a topic of discussion. We are calling on the leadership of the National Assembly to put the interest of the country at heart at this critical point of our existence.

The leadership of the National Assembly must halt further deliberations on the grossly ill-informed Bill seeking for the scrapping of the NYSC. They must rise above political considerations as the peculiarities of time require the sincerity of heart and purpose.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency is also calling on parents and guardians to join their voice in condemning this ignoble call in the national interest. We also call on other concerned stakeholders to lend their voices as well.

We are also calling on the federal government to do all within its means to ensure that those against the interest of the country do not succeed in disorienting the youthful population of Nigeria, as the country cannot stand any youth upheaval that might arise if the NYSC is scrapped.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency supports the laudable initiatives in the NYSC, and our commitment to the sustenance of the NYSC remains unflinching.
Thank you all for your time and attention.

By Atim Atedze

The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC) has come of age so much so that the institution's gains cannot be quantified in the country's socio-economic life. So much has been written and said about the scheme regarding its contribution to the country's socio-economic development.

And this is where it stands in commemoration of the 48th anniversary of the existence of the NYSC and what it represents as an institution designed to promote national unity amongst the teeming youthful population in the country. The NYSC was created to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. One of the objectives of the NYSC is to contribute to the accelerated growth of the national economy.

After the Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970, as part of the "3R" program—reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation—the government created the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to bridge ethnic and religious divisions in Nigeria and foster the spirit of Nigerian nationalism. General Yakubu Gowon, the military head of state, created the NYSC as one of many ways to achieve national unity in Nigeria. The program is a mandatory one-year service to the country after completing a first degree for youths below the age of thirty. Participation is a prerequisite for admission into graduate schools and employment in Nigeria.

The question that thus arises is, has the NYSC been successful in achieving its primary objective of "developing common ties among the Nigerian youths and promoting national unity and integration?" For all its faults, the answer is still yes. By posting “corpers" to unfamiliar places to interact with people from different backgrounds, the NYSC brings together Nigerian youths from diverse socio-economic and ethno-religious backgrounds. This helps bridge the ethnic and religious divisions in the nation by providing exposure to other ethnic groups, which is a positive step towards building a stronger nation.

The scheme also aids social integration by providing opportunities for cross-cultural interaction that has led to inter-tribal marriages, helping to reduce inter-ethnic stereotypes and suspicions prevalent during the period after the war. The scheme further serves as an employment buffer by offering employment to recently graduated youths. Some places of deployments retain the "corpers," thereby aiding economic integration in the country. Likewise, NYSC fosters a sense of patriotism among Nigerian youths; participation is regarded as obeying the clarion call to serve the fatherland. This position still stands and needed given the prevailing circumstances where the country has witnessed sentiments along ethnic and religious lines.



I know some would argue that the scheme has outlived its usefulness; some would also say that the scheme's objectives ought to be rejigged to reflect the realities of the time in the country. These positions are valid and at the same time invalid because the proponents of the above stated have narrowly missed how the NYSC has evolved over the years to be that engine room for the socio-economic development of the country.

As an aside, the NYSC is what every young Nigerian graduate looks forward to yearly. I dare say that most parents and guardians also have a sense of fulfilment when they see their children and wards kitted in the NYSC khaki uniform. To say it brings joy and a sense of pride would be an understatement. The corps members themselves relish every moment during their participation in the scheme.

The NYSC of yesterday is not the same as the NYSC of today in the sense that a lot has changed. The NYSC of today has evolved into a skills and entrepreneurship development scheme where corps members are availed the unique opportunity to contribute their quota to the country's development. For example, the NYSC has a Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme in place to facilitate access to requisite skills and resources necessary for successful entrepreneurship.

The SAED programme is targeted at young Nigerian graduates deployed for the one-year mandatory service and designed to be implemented during the required camping exercises (in–camp) and throughout the service year (post-camp). Corps members will be encouraged to learn in-demand industry skills, position themselves to become value creators, and leverage career and business start-up opportunities.

The SAED programme, in my opinion, supports the federal government's aim to catalyze economic transformation through the promotion of entrepreneurship and self-reliance, particularly among youth. While corps members are encouraged to start a business in any field of their liking, SAED emphasizes twelve vocational skill sectors, including within the agri-food sector, tourism, construction, information and communications technology and education. This, we must admit, wasn't the case many years back, and this tells us that the NYSC is evolving to meet the peculiarities of time.

Also, the welfare of corps members has been prioritized by successive administrations. If we do not know, the monthly allowance paid to corp members goes a long way for many families. This is where I commend the present Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, for his numerous innovations in the scheme over the years, which in my opinion, is a function of leadership.

Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has redefined the concept of leadership through his sterling performance at the NYSC. And today, the NYSC is robust in its programmes and impactful in its contributions to national development.
A good example of his sterling leadership is signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State, on the training of Corps Members and Staff on modern farming methods. This is indeed brilliant given the vast potentials for wealth creation in the agricultural sector.

The NYSC DG was also recently commended for ensuring the improvement of staff and corps welfare, involvement of Corps members in COVID-19 Interventions, active participation of corps members in National assignments, especially election duties, Skills Acquisition, resuscitation of NYSC Ventures and enhancement of security network for corps members among others. And many more innovations too numerous to mention.

As the NYSC clocks 48, all relevant stakeholders must continue to extend their support to the scheme for optimal performance. The peculiarities of time require this, and it consequently beholds on well-meaning Nigerians to make the NYSC impactful in the country's socio-economic development. I say hurray to NYSC at 48.

Atedze wrote this piece from Lagos.

By Idoko Ainoko

Wonders, as they say, shall never come to an end. I was taken aback when I stumbled on a news item on Sahara Reporters alleging that the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, during his time in office entitlements under the Uniform and Boots Allowance and Scarce Skills Allowance approved by President Muhammadu Buhari since November 2017 have not been paid by the army authorities, then under the former Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.).

Initially, I struggled to make sense of the story, which forced me to read carefully until the end. But I could not get the import of the story. Instead, I was confronted with a poorly written story laced with mischief and intended for character assassination. And my conclusion was that there was no sense in the story.

However, I was constrained to pen this article because of the danger such bare-faced lies could have on the psyche of members of the unsuspecting general public. The story is absolute balderdash and a typical Sahara reporters style of maligning individuals and organizations in return for a plate of porridge.

This trend must stop as it is not in the interest of the generality of Nigerians but that of a select few who are bent on truncating our nascent democracy in fulfilment of their evil desire to set the country up in flames.

Having stated the above, it is essential to highlight the fact that in the annals of the Nigerian Army, never was there a time where the financial books of the Nigeria Army were subjected to rigorous scrutiny, than during the tenure of the former Chief of Army Staff. And he didn’t disappoint.

So, in my opinion, it is most despicable and an act of sheer wickedness for anyone or group to allege that monies and allowances meant for troops were not given to them under whatever guise. Just in case Sahara reporters and their promoters are not aware, under the Buratai leadership, it is on record that the Nigerian Army experienced tremendous infrastructural development that includes but not limited to the building of hospitals to cater for the medical needs of officers and soldiers, as well as their families, massive renovation of command secondary schools across the country, the establishment of the Nigerian Army University and also, the renovation of army barracks across the country.

I deliberately mentioned the above achievements to give us an idea of how the former Chief of Army Staff placed the welfare of officers and soldiers on a premium by undertaking projects that directly impact on their lives and that of their families. Since assumption of office, the former COAS on annual basis through his welfare programme evacuated over 70 personnel, spouses and retired personnel for medical treatment annually. He instituted a medical insurance for all category of officers and soldiers including treatment abroad.


The question thus is if a man with such foresight and disposition could embark on such projects, why would that same man cheat his troops? The narrative is not connecting, and it can only be misguided and meant for mischief purposes.

I also wish to state that with the successes recorded in the fight against insurgency, it would have been impossible for the troops to record such feats if their allowances are left unpaid for upward five years as alleged by Sahara reporters and their co-travellers. This new move by Sahara reporters is not only uncharitable; in my opinion, it is nothing but a distractive tool designed by the promoters of violence in Nigeria to cause a distraction so that they can have the time to regroup and wreak havoc in the country.

It is also a statement of fact that under the leadership of Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, the Nigerian Army witnessed an enviable upliftment in its operational procedures and an emphasis on improved welfare for troops. So much so he was nicknamed the soldiers' soldier. This same man would pass the night in the trenches with soldiers and eat from the same pot with them.

It is the same man that pays unscheduled visits to his troops on the battlefield. It is the same man that organizes feasts for soldiers during festive seasons in the theatre of operations and other parts of the country where operations are conducted. I can go on non-stop because here was a general that connected well with his troops at all times. And for the records, if the allegations peddled by Sahara reporters were true, there would have been no way the officers and soldiers would have kept quiet for that long.


I dare say it is not possible because the Tukur Buratai era in the Nigerian Army was characterized by transparency, accountability and improved fiscal policies that contributed mainly to the successes recorded in the prosecution of the war against terrorism and other acts of criminalities across the country. Under Tukur Buratai, the Nigerian Army opened its financial records for scrutiny under a Freedom of Information request by a group of civil society organizations. And as we all know, the outcome was a commendation for entrenching a fiscal discipline regime in the Nigerian Army.

At this point, I do not think I should go further because it's unnecessary given the realization that this also is another campaign to discredit one of the best that has led the Nigerian Army to the best of his ability, and his records stand tall. Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai ( rtd) remains a legend. In the annals of the Nigerian Army, there has never been a time where the Chief of Army Staff connected effortlessly with his troops. And this is because he prioritized their welfare and not what Sahara reporters and their promoters want the unsuspecting members of the general public to believe.

At this point, I would advise those that are envious of the Tukur Buratai years in the Nigerian Army to do themselves well by coming to terms with the reality that Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai was an example in service to the country.

Ainoko wrote this piece from Kaduna.

Tinubu Support Group ( TSG), has expressed deep shock over the report of a fatal air crash of a Nigerian Air Force plane conveying the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, and other military personnel on Friday, near the Kaduna International Airport.

Tinubu Support Group, in a condolence message issued by it's Director General, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, also commiserated with the Nigerian Armed Forces and Mr President on the demise of “distinguished and professional officers.’’

The Group stated that the fallen heroes had demonstrated incredible courage and leadership, including during turbulent times in the fight against insecurity.

According to the group, the late Officers will be fondly remembered for their dedication and commitment as military officers; and their numerous landmark contributions to Nigeria’s unity and development.

Tinubu Support Group urged the bereaved families, friends and associates to honour the fallen soldiers memory by upholding their invaluable sacrifices for a peaceful and united Nigeria.

The group prayed that Almighty God would comfort all who mourned the fallen soldiers, and grant their soul perfect peace.

The Nigeria First movement says a grand plot is underway to blackmail the immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) and other recently retired service chiefs.

According to the group, a well-orchestrated campaign of calumny is already in motion with a report aimed to denigrate their personalities and incredible track record while in service to the country.

Nigeria First made the revelation at a press conference on Friday in Abuja.

In his address, Secretary-General, Comrade Richard Adie Augustine said it is alarmed that such a plot could be hatched despite the tremendous sacrifices of the former service chiefs in addressing the country's security challenges.

The group rubbished reports which claimed allowances of soldiers and officers under the Manual of Financial Administration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria 2017 (MAFA) had not been paid since 2017.

Augustine noted that Buratai, in particular, not only responded to a Freedom of Information request by a coalition of civil society organizations led by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Enough is Enough (EiE), and BudgIT, requesting information on spending on military operations across the country but received credit from the groups.

Nigeria First, therefore, concluded that this is indeed the height of mischief that all well-meaning citizens must resist as it is tantamount to insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians.

Describing the former COAS as an "incorruptible Nigerian", Comrade Augustine added that he and others should be regarded as heroes of our democracy for their efforts at entrenching transparency and accountability while in office.

The group, however, urged Nigerians to disregard these recent attacks for lacking in merit and yet again another puerile attempt at giving them a bad name in envy of their track records while in service.

Read the full statement below:

The Leadership of Nigeria First welcomes you all to the important press conference put together in light of the recent campaign of calumny launched by some despicable elements bent on dragging the immediate past service chiefs into a disjointed narrative all in a bid to malign their character and rubbish the numerous successes recorded by the Nigerian Military during their tenures.

Nigeria First is alarmed that such a campaign could be hatched given the tremendous sacrifices of the immediate past service chiefs in addressing the security challenges in the country during their tenures.

This, in our considered opinion, is a sad tale in the sense that it is capable of setting a dangerous precedent where those that sacrificed and devoted their time and energy in service to Nigeria would be rubbished by some disgruntled elements all in a bid to score cheap political points at the detriment of national development.

While we are not surprised by this despicable campaign, Nigeria First, as an organization devoted to promoting the ideals of good governance and the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria, is duty-bound to lend its voice by outright condemning this anomaly in the collective interest of the country.

It also suffices to add that under the immediate past service chiefs, the welfare of troops took a front burner through improved remuneration and a general improvement of the living conditions of officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nigeria First wishes to state that the report indicating that allowances of soldiers and officers under the Manual of Financial Administration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria 2017 (MAFA) had not been paid since 2017 remains a figment of the imagination of the propagators of the campaign as under no circumstances could such happen given the transparent way and manner the finances of the Nigerian Army was administered during the tenure of the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai ( Rtd).

Nigeria First consequently wonders how allowances of soldiers and officers would be left unpaid over five years, and t would go undetected given the periodic scrutiny of the expenditure of the Nigerian Army in the prosecution of the war against terrorism and other acts of criminalities across the country.

It is thus becoming evident that the promoters of the campaign of calumny did not do their homework well to realize that under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Nigerian Army indeed responded to a Freedom of Information request by a coalition of civil society organizations led by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Enough is Enough (EiE), and BudgIT, requesting for information on spending on military operations across the country, particularly in the Northeast.

We wish to state that not only was the request honoured, but the coalition of civil society groups also went further to commend the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, wherein it stated that "while we ascertain the level of compliance of the information provided, we welcome Mr Buratai’s demonstrated commitment to the Freedom of Information Act by responding to our request."

Accordingly, the coalition of civil society groups went further to state that “a quick look at the documentation shows a list of several projects implemented by the Nigerian Army. Among those listed and displayed, which appeared to show certain projects the Nigerian Army said it carried out with budgeted funds, include: places where operations were carried out; renovation of barracks and military hospitals, spending to honour late soldiers; training and workshops; repairs of some old military equipment; and completion of offices and housing projects. Others are feeding of soldiers; building of new barracks and schools; acquisition of arms and ammunition and vehicles for military operations; as well as provision of welfare for soldiers."

It is thus baffling what the promoters of the recent campaign to malign the personalities of the former service chiefs stand to benefit when the records are there for all and sundry to peruse at any given time. Nigeria First wishes to state that this is indeed the height of mischief that all well-meaning Nigerians must resist as it is tantamount to insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians.

It is also a statement that the performance of the former service chiefs while in office remains outstanding. It would be in the best interest of the promoters of the recent campaign of calumny to desist forthwith and instead accord the former service chiefs the respect they deserve for their numerous sacrifices while in office.

Nigeria First, as an organization wishes to put it on record that the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai ought to be regarded as one of the heroes of our democracy in Nigeria for his efforts at entrenching transparency and accountability while in office.

Nigeria First as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria wishes to use this medium to inform members of the general public to disregard the recent attack launched against the former service chiefs as it is dead on arrival for lacking in merit and yet, again another puerile attempt at giving them a bad name in envy of their track records while in service.

Nigeria First, as an organization, reckons with the fact that the former Chief of Army Stagg, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, remains an incorruptible Nigerian who would never deny anyone his rights and privileges as well as earned entitlements.

We stand by this position and wish to advise those bent on castigating him to desist from such uncharitable endeavours as a matter of urgency and necessity. This despicable campaign of calumny must stop.

We thank you all for your time and attention, and God bless.

By Steven Onwu

Purposeful leadership can do wonders. It can turn things around in a twinkle of an eye. And it can make tedious tasks seem simple. The aforementioned aptly describes the Yakubu Pam adventure in the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission since he assumed leadership some months ago.

I have been a fan of Rev Yakubu Pam for his numerous contributions to the entrenchment of peaceful coexistence amongst Nigerians. This much he has diligently pursued in the past 30 years of his life, where he has been advocating for religious and ethnic harmony, especially in Northern Nigeria. Rev Yakubu Pam is not a stranger to leadership. Hence, he hit the ground running since his well-deserved appointment as Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission. It is sufficient to add that before his appointment; he was the Chairman of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Board, a position where he distinguished himself by introducing institutional reforms that placed the Board in good stead towards achieving its strategic mandate.

This much Rev Yakubu Pam has brought about in the NCPC. It is therefore not surprising that in less than one year at the helm of affairs, his impact has been felt, and the fortunes of the Commission have taken a turn for the best.

This is what I call the Yakubu Pam magic, which was not surprising to some of us that have followed his success story for several years. He is a man with many parts, and he is also a man filled with passion for service to humanity.
I recall that it was stated in some quarters that Yakubu Pam would reinvigorate the operations of the NCPC within a record time. Even though some quarters expressed reservations, he has proven all those that expressed reservations wrong with his sterling performance at the NCPC.
If not for anything, Rev Yakubu Pam has entrenched the regime of transparency and accountability at the Commission, which has been a challenge in the Commission's operations for several years. That it has become possible within a short period indeed explains the leadership acumen of Rev Yakubu Pam and what it entails to be a leader with eyes on the ball.
Today, the NCPC is a success story. It results from the provision of sound leadership and a commitment to render service when it matters most, with the example of Rev Yakubu Pam, I dare say that Nigeria can overcome its challenges if those in leadership positions tend to lead with sincerity of heart and purpose.

The Yakubu Pam revolution at the NCPC was naturally expected because of his track record that speaks volume of integrity, accountability and transparency. His vast knowledge of diplomacy saw him excel in the position of Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of Northern Nigeria (which includes the 19 Northern States and Abuja) from 2016 to date, Vice President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, 2013 to date and District Superintendent, Jos mainland Assemblies of Nigeria, 2010 to date, including as Chairman, Plateau State Inter-Religious Council; and Chairman, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Committee, Plateau State, were contributory of how he has been able to turn the fortunes of the NCPC around and in record time.
I cannot but commend President Muhammadu Buhari for identifying such a man as Rev. Yakubu Pam for a leadership position in the country. I do not doubt that he has not only reposed the confidence of Mr President, he has also set a standard for leadership in the country. This much has been stated in numerous forums by relevant stakeholders, whom have never been short of words for the transformation at the NCPC under Rev. Yakubu Pam.

Rev Yakubu Pam falls under the category of silent achievers whose impact doesn't dot pages of newspapers. However, silently, they are making exploits and making life more meaningful through the provision of purposeful leadership, as with the case of the NCPC, whose fortunes has taken a turn for the better.
And the commendations have continued to pour in from home and abroad for the man nicknamed the Apostle of Transformation by stakeholders for obvious reasons associated with his stewardship at the NCPC. And one whose coming has redeemed the image of the Commission.
I can't but charge Rev Yakubu Pam to continue to render selfless service to humanity in the light of the above. He should not rest on his oars and refuse every temptation to deviate from the lofty standards he has set in the areas of transparency and accountability.
I also want the relevant stakeholders to realize that the task at hand is a collective one. As such, it is worth extending their support to the reforms introduced by the Yakubu Pam led administration at the NCPC.
I can go on non-stop on Yakubu Pam’s transformational leadership at the NCPC. However, the lessons that should resonate are that in all that we do as a people and as a country, sound and purposeful leadership remain that magic wand needed to translate our hopes and aspirations into tangible realities. At this point, I would say well-done to Rev Yakubu Pam.

Onwu is a civil rights activist and wrote from Badagry.

Children Day 2021: Shine Band Music, Mariam Ashely Yusuf Foundation Pays Courtesy Visit to Emir of FCT disable colony in Abuja.


By: Benedict Aguele


May 27th Every year in Nigeria is declared a public holiday for Primary and Secondary school children.

The observance of Children's Day in Nigeria is aimed to raise public awareness of problems, that children face. About 42% of the Nigerian population are children and 1/3 of children aged from 6 to 14 don't go to schools. Many children leave schools for different purposes and children's rights are often violated. Unfortunately, the government of Nigeria doesn't make much to solve the problems connected with children's right violation and the inadequate system of education.

Mariam Ashley Yusuf Foundation a Non-Governmental Organisation in partnership with Shine Band Music has decided this year to host a charity concert for the children in FCT disable colony karamajiji, Abuja.


The organizers of the charity concert Founder, Shine Band Music Ventures, Mr. Smokey Timi Abajor and Founder, Mariam Ashley Yusuf Foundation, Ms. Mariam Ashley Yusuf, and members of their team paid a courtesy visit to the Emir FCT disable colony karamajiji a suburb in Abuja, to intimate him of the plan to host a charity concert in his community.

The Emir and members of his council received the team warmly while lauding the initiative of the organizers he also prayed for the success of the event and thank them for the gesture.


In a brief speech by the organizers of the charity concert thank the emir and members of his council for the warm reception and went further to say they decided to organize the charity concert for the kids living in the community to celebrate and show them love, care, and attention and also educate them on the importance of education.

By: Arowolo Solomon Alaba

When he became Lagos State Governor in 1999 after three decades of military dictatorship, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu inherited what amounted to a nearly failed state. Over the course of eight years, his administration
promoted a consistent pattern of reforms to promote development, resuscitate the state’s value systems, and restore
its image. In 2007 Babatunde Raji Fashola, who was Tinubu’s chief of staff, succeeded him as governor with the
same consistent approach.

Today, many Nigerian's dream is to visit Lagos after which they grow the thought of moving to London. This shows how Lagos have evolved over time, becoming the London of Nigeria.

In the year 1999 when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn in as the executive governor of Lagos state. Though the popular Lagos city was one of the most dirtiest state in Nigeria, no wonder Idris Abdulkareem shot the video of controversial song " Nigeria jagajaga" in Lagos.
Tinubu changed the narrative of Lagos state, he reformed Lagos state from being a state used as a frontier of backwardness.

He brought up a blueprint which today has transformed Lagos state from not just becoming the most developed in Nigeria but also the fourth richest when compared to other nations in Africa.

The blueprint which has given birth to the implementation of several institutional reforms through the creation of new agencies in
the areas of transport, resource mobilisation, urban environmental management, and sewerage and waste
management. These agencies include the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Lagos State
Water Authority, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos State Emergency Management
Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Emergency Medical Services (LASEMS), Lagos State Ambulance Services, and
Lagos State Microfinance Institution (LASMI).

After Asiwaju's two terms in 2003, Lagos state has continued to develop through the patterns of the Blueprint , no wonder he said " I am a talent hunter. I put talents in office, I help them". This shows that the beauty of a steady developing state lies within the succession of power.

Compared with other states in the country, Lagos now occupies a special position in terms of quality leadership and development. Outside Lagos, there is hardly anywhere in the country where a semblance of governance is taking place simply because the quality of leadership is very abysmally low; and without effective leadership nothing meaningful can be achieved.

Tinubu provided good leadership by laying out the broad development framework for the state; his immediate successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Akinwumi Ambode took it a notch higher by providing practical expression and direction to the plan, while Mr. Babatunde Sanwo-Olu has taken to it an unprecedented level.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a clever political operator with a passion for getting the job done and a knack for picking bright, committed technocrats to do it.
Arowolo Solomon Alaba
Member, Tinubu Support Group

By Samson Ayuba

I was scared to turn on my radio this morning for fear of listening to another terrible news. The state of insecurity in my beloved country Nigeria has drastically worsened. The one peaceful country is now being gradually torn apart from its insides by the demon called insecurity. Every Nigerian citizen has now been forced to live in constant fear. The country is now bedeviled by jihadist insurgency in the northeast, separatists attacking security forces in the southeast and multiple kidnappings in the northwest.

For long have we known that Security across Nigeria is challenged, with many insurgents' groups in the north far from defeated, a seeming resurgence of a low-level insurrection in the oil patch, ongoing conflict in the middle of the country over water and land use that sometimes acquires ethnic and religious dimensions, and a general wave of criminality around the country.

Should we say that, "the obvious escalation of banditry and terrorism which has been greatly subdued during and since after the 2019 elections, is now a facade in the hands of this present service chiefs?"

The question we ask now is , given the complexity of the present security challenges we thought was missing in the efforts of the former service chiefs, What have their successors done to ensure success and restore confidence of Nigerians in the security architecture ?

We all know that their appointment came amid calls by Nigerians on the government to urgently address the security challenges we are facing. But with what we are experiencing in just few weeks after the appointment of the new chiefs, Isn't all these calling for an act of apology to the former Chiefs?


The question one would ask is, "what are the service chiefs doing at this critical time when the country is plagued with endless security crises?"
Bandits and terrorists have now taken over the country and now use it as their playground for hunting and shooting practice. The painful thing is that they carry out their atrocious acts so confidently that you wonder if the country has no security present in it. Kidnapping and senseless killings have now become the order of the day in the country known to the whole world as the giant of Africa.

The number of incident reports from the press recently is alarming. Just recently, news broke of the abduction of several students at Greenfield University in Kaduna State. Two of the abducted students were killed shortly after their abduction while three more dead bodies of those kidnapped were found three days later in a village close to the University. Earlier that day, there had also been a report of attacks by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in Borno and Yobe States in which several people were killed and over two thousand residents fled their homes. This was a follow up to the abduction of nine students in Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State. Several incidents of killings kidnappings were also reported that same day Kaduuna, Oyo and Osun states.

The violence in the country reached an all time high on the 26th of Apri, the day in which there were many killings in several parts of the country such as Niger, Benue, Kebbi, Yobe, Lagos, Anambra, Imo and Lagos States. Many described that day as "Black Monday." The Nigerian military were not spared by the killings as the following day, several security personnel were killed by unknown gunmen in Rivers State.

There has been growing anger amongst the public over the recent increase in violence in the country. The citizens of Nigeria have begun to lose their faith in the Nigerian military. The economic state of the country has been greatly crippled thanks to the bold terrorists and bandits. Banditry and terrorism has made it very difficult for farmers to farm and also transport their produce. Foreign investors have begun to have second thoughts on investing in the country.

The efforts put in by the past service chiefs are commendable. They might not have completely defeated terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, but they did their very best to combat insecurity in the nation. In contrast to the action of the current service chiefs, I remember the former Chief of Amy Staff of Nigeria, General Tukur Buratai who relocated to the north-east which was the forefront of the battle against terrorism This gallant act of his helped boost the morale of the army which lead to the defeat of a significant number of terrorist elements and restored hope to the people of that region.

The current service chiefs should take some lessons from the past service chiefs who gave their best at the warfront. They should wake up from their slumber and lead the armed forces to win the war against insecurity in the nation. I cal on the service chiefs to remember wars are never fought in their homes or offices. The war is fought on the battlefield therefore; they must rise to their feet and lead their soldiers to the battlefield.

They should come up with plans and strategies to deal an effective counter attack against insurgents and Bandits. They must now hearken to the cries and the wails of the Nigerian people and carry out the mandate assigned to them by the president. They made several promises, but words are nothing without actions. They must act now and make the country a safer place to live in.

Some of the very overzealous officers who were eager to become chiefs had made several promises to their godfathers on how best to protect citizens of the country but are now failing terribly. In their bid to become service chiefs, they turned the armed forces into a political arena and after being appointed service chiefs, they have suddenly gone AWOL in the theatre of war. Several men of the armed forces are now being brutally murdered. The numbers of security forces being brutally murdered daily has risen to an all time high. Soldiers now run from terrorists like rats into their holes. The battle against terrorism which the country was previously winning is now engulfing the country. Thousands of innocent Nigerian citizens have been displaced from their homes and are now moving into various IDP centres across the country.

The current service chiefs seem clueless as to what to do to lift the nation up from the pit of crisis that it is gradually falling into. They are nowhere to be found in the face of the war against banditry and terrorism. The service chiefs have suddenly turned to special assistants to the NSA and Chief Details to the Defence Minister, roles which they were not appointed for. They are expected to be forefront of the action leading the army and not reveling in their various mansions while our patriotic soldiers are being mercilessly slaughtered.

Instead of seeing Boko Haram and other terror groups as the enemies, Nigerians are being manipulated into seeing the military as their enemy while inconsequential differences like religion and ethnicity are highlighted to the zenith, not knowing that our gallant soldiers are being plummeted in battle like rats into sands, our territories are being taken on daily basis by Boko Haram and the battle which we were once winning under the previous chiefs has now overtaken the country.

However , at the bottom of it all is that Nigerians want to be secure from increasing attacks by kidnappers, bandits , Boko Haram insurgents and criminal herders , among others, which they felt the former service chiefs could not guarantee.

Our citizens are gnashing their teeth in pains, starvation is of high increase due to stolen farm lands by these bandits through their bloody oppressions, and people have been moving into IDPs Centre across the country because of the fear of loosing more loved ones.

We plead with our new service chiefs to take up the mantles that were placed in their hands. Our flag is green and white, History shouldn't put it to their face that they painted it "RED" during their time.

Our new service chiefs should know that they are leaders of war against insurgency, they must be ready to lead from the front. They must wake up to go beyond words by staying with our troops in the theatre of war. Our troops need the moral and support to fight, they need your presence to remain gallant in every confrontations.

President Buhari has always been giving his unrelenting effort in cash and kind, in support of seeing an end to Terrorism and banditry in the country.

He once said "We have a lot of work ahead of us and some of the things not said is to not compromise the security and the efforts being put by the law enforcement agencies. But, really, we are acutely aware of our responsibilities. Our responsibility is to secure the country, so we have a lot of work to do.

I plead with our service chiefs not to frustrate his invested efforts. We need action, we want solutions, and we want result.
God bless the President,
God bless Nigeria.

Ayuba contributed this piece from Lokoja.

Some Christian youths have hailed Rev. Yakubu Pam's exemplary leadership since taking charge as Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).

The group, under the aegis of Young Christians Forum of Nigeria (YCFN), said the commission has recorded tremendous progress in its operations in the last 10 months.

The Christain youths made this known in a strategic report released on Monday after a thorough appraisal of the NCPC's activities in fulfilment of its strategic mandate in the country.

A veteran preacher of over three decades, Pam's appointment in July last year was greeted with excitement owing to his deep knowledge of the commission and understanding of inter-religious harmony and conflict resolution in the country.

Among others, he was Chairman of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Board, Vice President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 Northern states and the FCT, a position he holds to date.

And in the report signed by its President Rev. Enya Peter, the group said Pam has entrenched transparency, accountability and probity in NCPC's operations.

In less than one year, Peter said that the respected preacher activated periodic strategic assessment and feedback mechanisms, enhanced staff welfare and also engaged relevant stakeholders irrespective of religion.

The Christian youths, therefore, admitted that Rev. Pam has so far set lofty standards and urged other government officials to emulate his lead to attain sustainable growth and development in the country.

While calling on the Executive Secretary and his team not to relent but continue to introduce more positive policies and initiatives, the body also urged relevant stakeholders to continue to extend their support to him.

Read the full report below:

Introduction:

The mission of the NCPC is to provide a conducive environment for the smooth airlifting of pilgrims to Holy sites and to ensure enhanced welfare, responsible leadership at all levels, Federal and States, for hitch-free pilgrimage exercise throughout the year; and to supervise any interested body or organisation for Christian Pilgrimage to the Holy sites globally.

On this heel, the Young Christians Forum of Nigeria undertook a strategic assessment of the NCPC, intending to identify the efforts of the present leadership toward fulfilling the mandate of the organisation.

The assessment report identified key governance indicators aimed at critically assessing the operations of the NCPC to put issues in proper perspectives for members of the general public with regards to the leadership of the organisation.

This report relied on primary sources of data that includes but not limited to interviews, distribution of questionnaires, news reports, feedback from pilgrims and other critical stakeholders.

Key Governance Indicators:

Organisational Structure:

The assessment report revealed a dynamic organisational structure at the Nigeria Christian Pilgrimage Commission led by its Executive Secretary Yakubu Pam, who, upon assumption of office, introduced far-reaching measures towards repositioning the NCPC. It was also discovered that the operations of the various zonal offices had been boasted for optimal performance through periodic strategic assessment and feedback mechanisms from intending pilgrims across the country. This much was also identified in the seamless procedures for intending pilgrims scheduled to undertake a pilgrimage to the holy land.

The Executive Secretary also introduced incentives for staffers towards enhancing their productivity in the discharge of their responsibilities, which has led to an improvement in the operations of the NCPC.

Transparency and Accountability

The report also identified transparency and accountability as the core of the operations of the NCPC. According to information gathered, the entrenchment of transparency and accountability has seen a drastic improvement in the processes of the NCPC. This much was corroborated by staffers, pilgrims, stakeholders and regulatory authorities under whose purview the NCPC falls.

The report identified that under the leadership of the Executive Secretary, the NCPC had received numerous commendation as an example in the conduct of government business that is devoid of any form of anomaly or unwholesome practices.

This much has gone a long way in the restoration of confidence regarding the judicious use of funds available to the commission for its day to day operations. The mechanism put in place to ensure transparency and accountability is also topnotch and quite commendable as there are various checks and balances to ensure that the processes and procedures of the commission are not violated at any point.

Thus, it is a statement that the NCPC ranks high in the prudent management of resources, which is lofty and should serve as an example to other government agencies.

Probity and leadership:

It was observed that the operations of the NCPC are anchored on probity, and this drive is led by the Executive Secretary, who, alongside the management team, has provided sound and exemplary leadership.

It was discovered that the NCPC has been able to record a complete turnaround in its operations in record time due to the aforementioned, which are laudable and strategic toward achieving the mandate of the NCPC.

Stakeholders Engagement

The NCPC, under the present leadership, has been noteworthy in the engagement of relevant stakeholders in Nigeria and partner countries in ensuring the success of its operations. It was identified that the various stakeholders had extended commendation to the leadership of the NCPC for recognising the importance of stakeholders’ engagement in its critical operations.

Improved Welfare:

It was observed that the leadership of the NCPC had placed a premium on the welfare of staffers, which has translated to an astronomical level of productivity in a positive workplace environment.

This much was also corroborated by the workplace ambience occasioned by mutual respect and collaboration amongst staff.

Conclusion:

The Young Christians Forum of Nigeria, as a result of the strategic assessment of the NCPC, wishes to state that under the leadership of the Executive Secretary, Yakubu Pam, the organisation has recorded tremendous progress in its operations. The entrenchment of transparency and accountability stands as one of the organisation's hallmarks and primarily responsible for its smooth operations over the years and in record time.

We consequently wish to add that the various initiatives introduced in the organisation are noteworthy and should be emulated by others in the position of leadership in the country towards attaining sustainable growth and development in the country. The Executive Secretary of the NCPC has set lofty standards that by all indication were brought about by the provision of sound leadership and a passion for service.

It is, therefore, our conclusion that the NCPC under the leadership of Yakubu Pam is well positioned towards attaining its mission of an organisation with high spiritual content capable of being translated into action for national development, security, probity and accountability, in line with the policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Recommendations:

The Young Christians Forum of Nigeria, as a result of this, makes the following recommendations:

The relevant stakeholders should continue to extend their support to the leadership of the NCPC by making suggestions that would assist in fulfilling the mandate of the organisation.

That the leadership of the NCPC should not rest on its notable achievements but to continue to introduce policies and initiatives that would ultimately boost its operations in ways too numerous to mention.

The Executive Secretary and the management team should continue to provide sound and credible leadership at all times.

By Okanga Agila

At a time when one should logically take for granted that they would have become wiser and sober, considering that the wind they sowed is now being reaped as a whirlwind, detractors of Nigeria’s peace and stability, notably Sahara Reporters, are yet to learn any lesson.

The world may be perplexed today as to the nature and dynamics of the security threats that Nigeria is contending with, but note must be made of how Sahara Reporters led the charge in the assault on the military as an institution. The approach of this treasonable entity was subtle, with a paced frequency, it constantly dished out misinformation about the military. This undermined the institutions of the Military at several levels. It sought to foster dissention within the military, notably the army, while also casting the commanding officers as corrupt persons who do not have the interest and the welfare of their troops at heart.

This obsession with undermining the military through malicious attacks on the integrity and credibility of the military chiefs is one that Sahara Reporters and the hands pulling its puppet have committed to with such vengeance that one wonders if they have elevated their disdain for anything military has been elevated to the level of a religious movement, one that requires a fanatical zeal for its purveyors to find a sense of fulfillment in life.

Thus, the latest salvo from the trenches of Sahara Reporters, a hogwash titled “How Ex-Army Chief Denied Nigerian Soldiers Their Allowances Despite Buhari's Approval Since 2017” is no surprise given that it has made a career out of hounding the immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Buratai (retired). It is interesting how these same people, who did their best at attempting to discredit and distract the former COAS think they can now achieve what they could not actualize while Buratai was in office. There was a time they were surfacing at least one baseless fresh accusation weekly against Buratai without being able to prove a shred of their malicious claims against him.

These rabblerousers are back to what they do best, inciting mass hysteria with a view to procuring a lynch mob to take down the respectability of their quarry, this case, Buratai, in the court of public opinion, which has sadly become fickle at the hands of online and social media manipulators. In the said news story, they claimed that troops are not being paid certain moneys based on the Manual of Financial Administration (MAFA) for the Armed Forces of Nigeria 2017, the official document detailing the payable allowances of the military personnel. In their usual fashion, they conveniently forgot to mention that the document, which was approved by President Buhari on November 9, 2017, has tremendous input from the former COAS as the then incumbent. It was he, who introduced boots and uniform allowance and had them in the 2017 MAFA.

As former COAS, there are several welfare packages introduced by Lt Gen Buratai (retired), which are not covered by the Manual of Financial Administration (MAFA). Such welfare initiatives are in addition to the massive infrastructural development across the various Army formations in the country as well as many community development projects and services for which he is still receiving accolades.

It is further uncharitable of Sahara Reporters or anyone who persists in peddling its propaganda content to ignore the economic realities that are not peculiar to Nigeria. Even before the COVID-19 Pandemic made landfall there was already a slow-motion kind of global economic meltdown that was later exacerbated by the pandemic. A sincere person or entity would have thus realized and properly acknowledge that the scarce skill allowance, and some other allowances reported in the news item were not implemented 100% due to funding constraints.
Even at a tokenistic level, those bankrolling Sahara Reporters and other online rags to sabotage Nigeria, should invest a little of their resources in training their foot soldiers in Reporting Governance, which would take their operatives above the impish penchant for resorting to beer-parlour kind of analysis. Anyone steeped in how government operates would have understood that although MAFA was approved 2017 there was no appropriation to give it financial backing until the year 2020 when partial funding was granted. The budget cut resulting from the impact of COVID-19 on the economy further put pressure on finances. One should then ask if Sahara Reporters, its clients and the people it spoke with in the military had expected that the former COAS would violate the Appropriation Act in each successive year to pay what was not provided for in the budget. This same pack would have bayed like wolfs at full moon had that been the case.

Had this terrorists’ sympathizing publication taken its time to genuinely investigate and balance its story, it would have at the very least give a passing mention that an implementation strategy was adopted by all the Military Services and the Defence Headquarters to ensure equity, fairness and transparency in the implementation of MAFA.

It should be noted however, that the 2017 MAFA which is the most robust welfare to the Armed Forces since inception was introduced under the able leadership of the immediate past crop of the Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a credit to the President and Commander In- Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, something that Sahara Reporters had never acknowledged until now what it is desperately searching for rocks to hurl at present the government and anyone that had served it diligently. The National Assembly most also be commended for their support in appropriation of funds despite the current tight economic environment.

Furthermore, a manual of financial administration is essentially a guide for the military’s non regular allowances subject to appropriation and does not consequently override extant legislation. There has been many MAFAs before the 2017 MAFA, however, no MAFA has succeeded in the level of implementation as the 2017 MAFA which has archived almost 80%.

One curious aspect to interrogate is the manner in which Buratai was singled out for vilification in the news report when the issues it raised cut across all the branches of the Armed Forces. Could it be because the Army under his command then was the most unforgiving in punishing the terrorists to which Sahara Reporters is exceptionally beholden?

The mischief makers behind this news story are hell bent on tarnishing the image of the former COAS with the taint of corruption. Considering that this is a mission they failed to accomplish while he was in military service, one can only assure them that General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd) is not and will never be corrupt in his lifetime. His determination as a honest leader remains his greatest asset and this no one can destroy no matter the amount of propaganda. Each time they bring General Buratai under scrutiny they will only succeed in exposing the kind of sterling qualities that earned him a diplomatic assignment upon his completing his military service to the country.

Rather than waste further efforts on vilifying a man that has no skeleton in his cupboard, detractors would do well to start discussing options among themselves about how to undo the damage they have done to the once peaceful country that they have incited extremists to daily torment.

Okanga wrote this piece from Agila.

By Best Agbese

The appointment of the Plateau-born famed minister of the gospel, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam as the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), on June 26th 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari attracted loud applauses within the Christian community in Nigeria. Rev. Pam emerged leader of the commission on the hills of the unceremonious exist of his predecessor, Rev. Tor Uja following faulty leadership outings and crisis of trustworthy leadership.

The NCPC is the apex national regulatory body for Nigerian Christian pilgrimages, an exercise for spiritual rebirth and deeper understanding of the Christian faith by worshippers. Additionally, it also, has a mandate to create platforms conducive for national inter-religious dialogue, harmony, peaceful co-existence, and development in the comity of the Body of Christ in Nigeria.

Issues of religion are quite thorny, sensitive, and explosive in Nigeria. The Federal Government of Nigeria is always concerned with the constant frictions and altercations among the diverse religious sects in the country. So, it is incumbent on any leader of a national religious body to work towards vacating issues which propel disharmony and animosities in religious circles.

Therefore, the mandate of the NCPC leadership is hinged on exiting these unnecessary brawls, entrench inter-religious harmony and enhance the spiritual welfare of Christians in Nigeria. Presently, the NCPC coordinates and supervises activities of intending pilgrims to Holy Lands around the globe, including Israel, Greece, Rome, with the latest addition of Jordan by the Rev. Pam leadership in the 2021 pilgrimage exercise.

These were the onerous tasks placed on the shoulders of Rev. Pam when he mounted the saddle about a year ago, precisely in July 2020. In order to deliver to Nigerians, worthy services of a pilgrim’s commission, Rev. Pam ensconced his vision in battling corruption; rebranding the tainted image of the commission; changing the faulty perception and mindset of the people; strong synergy with the church and the establishment of an NCPC peace desk to resolve emerging disagreements.

So far, Rev. Dr. Pam who parades over 30 years of leadership experiences in the Christian community on the local and national stages, have armed him with enough wisdom to discharge his responsibilities honestly, conscientiously and with the fear of God Almighty.

In effect, Pam considered his elevation to the national leadership of the Christian community in Nigeria under the auspices of the NCPC as a golden opportunity to redeem the battered image of the commission and Christians, which also negatively affected the global reputation of the nation.

The NCPC boss has brought to the table his wealth of experience in promoting inter-religious harmony and conflict resolution, especially in Northern part of the country in the administration of the commission. These have not only been his weapons, but trusted assets in leading NCPC to its towering ambience at the moment.

Barely a year into office, Rev. Pam has admirably proved his mettle as a leader of the people. He has reorganized and repositioned the NCPC as the most organized and efficient pilgrimage body in the world, recognized for excellence in faultless services. These are driven on the principles of fairness, equity and justice as his anthem.

Ab initio, Rev. Pam was convinced that his failure to lead the NCPC on the path of glory will bring shame to the church and canvassed inclusive leadership from all stakeholders in Christendom in the country. Pam enthused that “There’s a need to bring out talents to build NCPC. The time has come to work together and collectively re-build the image of our country and the NCPC.” It has been his operative doctrine inspired by orderliness and commitment to a service which repulses all manifestations of corruption in the commission.

Pam is a team player and keeps constant touch with Executive Secretaries and Board Chairmen of States’ Christian Pilgrim Welfare Boards and other stakeholders in piloting the affairs of the commission. He has sustained synergy with disparate bodies for the smooth dispensation of the operations of the commission.

To get started, Rev. Pam trained staffers of the commission in Lagos for effective Pilgrimage operations and refreshed their memories on the discharge of official responsibilities at a three-day staff retreat in Jos. The NCPC under the leadership of Rev. Pam also organized the maiden Ministers Conference of Network of Gospel Ministers in Northern Nigeria (NOGMINN), in Jos, Plateau state as part of his deliberate policy of his inclusive administration of the commission.

This platform which assembled ministers of the gospel was utilized by Pam to sermonize to the church in Nigeria to assume complete ownership of Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria and the operations of the NCPC generally. With a mind always fixated on peace, the NCPC boss invited these ordained messengers of God to assist in restoring peace and unity in the Northern part of the country.

To his credit and the expansion of the experiences of Nigerian pilgrims, Rev. Pam has worked out modalities for the 2021 intending pilgrims to explore new Holy sites around the world, outside the routine sites. The Kingdom of Jordan has been added to the list of countries to be visited by Nigerian pilgrims because of its historic religious significance to Christian faithful.

And proactively, Rev. Pam embarked on an inspection and exploratory visit to the new sites; dialogued with the Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities in Amman and finalized the arrangements. It will be a novel experience for the 2021 pilgrims.

The NCPC executive scribe is also conscious of the Coronavirus pandemic and its effects. To ensure Nigerian pilgrims are protected from contracting the disease, Rev. Pam has kept in constant touch with the Israeli authorities to monitor and detect any unusual or awkward development that may endanger and compromise the health of Nigerian pilgrims.

And in consonance with one of his visions, Rev. Pam has introduced and vigorously pursued peace-building among religious sects in the country. His intervention in the perennial Southern Kaduna crises between Christians and Muslims tremendously assisted in brokering peace to warring factions. It terminated with a three-day peace summit, where the agenda of de-escalation of crises was extensively discussed and a report, containing recommendations on enduring peace has been forwarded to Governor Nasir El-Rufai for necessary action.

To expand the tentacles of the NCPC and bring its services closer to Northern Christians, the commissions executive secretary is currently in persuasive dialogue with the Northern governors for the establishment of pilgrim welfare boards in states with any such office. He is optimistic that the fruitful discussions would create more pilgrim boards in the North to deeply unite Christendom and generate progressive ideas for the development of the country.

Conversely, NCPC under Rev. Pam has intensified sensitization visits to State Governors as well as advocacy for sponsorship of pilgrims in Nigeria. Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam has demonstrated in all ramifications, an impactful leadership of the commission in a short while. At the expiration of his five- year tenure, NCPC would surely be transformed into an enviable national asset for both Christians and the nation through Pam’s purposeful and focused leadership. #

Agbese is a UK based scholar and wrote from Dundee.

BY: KCU MACEBUH

There is a Daily Trust back page column article, of Monday, April 19, 2021. The article is titled "Nigeria's Next Accidental President?". It is written by Daily Trust columnist, Suleiman A. Suleiman. The columnist writes the article under the sobriquet, THE WHITE PAPER. The material, below, is our duly tailored exception to the "Suleiman Paper," as hereinafter referred.

Of the "Suleiman Paper," in which he interrogates, but without its demanding scrutiny, a paper, "Accidental Processes," by Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, of which its subject is similar or collateral to Suleiman's topic of "accidental presidents," the Daily Trust columnist discusses what he considers the history of Nigerian presidency, military and civilian (elected and selected), having historically been occupied by leaders, as what he terms "accidental presidents" who, according to Suleiman, were -- and still are -- not institutionally prepared, trained, tutored, or socioculturally exposed in their respectively projected governance templates to federalism, as based on multiethnic and religious pluralism of Nigeria.

We do here assume that Suleiman's "accidental presidents" include not only Nigeria's first republican President whose office was ceremonial, without executive powers, but also Nigeria's first and only Prime Minister, of federal executive powers, as the Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Government of the Federation, October 1, 1960 - January 15, 1966. We add also that among Suleiman's "accidental presidents" of Nigeria was "that one," as "Head" of that contraption termed "Interim National Government," of some months of the year, 1993.

For purposes of our interest, we proclaim that it is for us politically competent, necessary and proper to express neutrality on required interrogation toward determination of factitude or otherwise of the underlying presumptions and assumptions of Suleiman's "accidental presidents" moniker. Our self-imposed neutrality offshoots from absence in Suleiman's "accidental presidents" thesis a sampling inspection, of statistical significance, of who among Nigeria's past and present, even aspiring , presidents "are to be housed," true or false, in columnist Suleiman's categorical canopy of "accidental presidents."

Notwithstanding merit or demerit of "Accidental Presidents?", Suleiman, in roping in potentially aspiring president/s into its canopy, inveighs what amounts to encrusted geopolitical, if not distinctively ethnic sarcasm, ostensibly defanging any element of deferential weight of nationalist or federalist trustworthiness of his presumptive introspection of "accidental presidents."

In enroping into his "accidental presidents" canopy all aspiring, but yet "undeclared" contestants, Suleiman states, "What with some presidential hopefuls celebrating their birthday in Kano, making donations to victims of fire in Katsina and holding a national colloquium about the nation, all in about the same week, and all without stating clearly what everyone paradoxically knows but still don't."

Without any hindrance, every discerning mind in ongoing maneuvers on Nigeria's 2023 presidential politics knows who Suleiman is referring to. It is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

While the thrust of Suleiman's cynicism appears covertly refuged in his apparent castigation of the impediments of the country's electoral law or laws, in its apparent fire brigade approach to presidential campaign scheduling, restricting early emergence of election aspirants on campaign husting before the electorate, it cannot in any reasonable electoral measure, by viritue of his cognizably tested political pedigree, defying enumeration hereunder, be concluded that Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge, if destiny so compels, an "accidental president." We stop here, for now.

KCU Macebuh
Member, Tinubu Support Group(TSG)

kcumacebuh@gmail.com

The Tinubu Support Group(TSG)on Sunday cautioned a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Chief Olabode George, to desist from fabricating lies against APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

George, had in an interview with Arise TV on Friday accused Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of corruption in his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.

But the TSG in a statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Oluwatosin Johnson, said the PDP chieftain is a “confused liar” as he lacks sense of history.

Oluwatosin said George’s criticisms of Tinubu were not based on any concrete facts but envy, jealousy and bad faith.

He said George became terribly envious of Tinubu’s unending political achievements in the nation's space while he had remained an unproductive commodity in the Nigerian electoral market.

He added, “We are aware of the fact that Chief Bode George has no other passion than to get at Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at any time.

"The gap between Asiwaju and Chief Bode George in terms of political acceptance, leadership, achievements, followership, capacity, credibility etc is huge in favour of Asiwaju.

“ We want to remind Chief George that Asiwaju has never been convicted by any court of law but could the same be said of some people? ”.

The group while responding to Chief Bode George's claim that he would cease to be a Nigerian citizen if Asiwaju becomes President, said " It is crystal clear how much you love your country through this cheap talk.

" For a man who left office over 14years ago and was never found corrupt by the 16 years of PDP Govt and yet this old man will continue to use such gutter language without evidence shows his intelligence" he shouldn't be taken serious.

" We are sure the day will come when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will assume that prestigious office and we know you will eat your word that day", The group concluded.

The Executive Director Policy House International, Comrade Taiwo Akerele is set to contest the chairmanship position of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) FCT Chapter, Akerele released a statement in Abuja on Friday calling for members of the association to support is aspiration to becoming the chairman of the association.

Read his Statement below:

Dear colleague/ANA Abuja chapter member,

Reinstatement of aspiration to run for Chairman of FCT chapter of ANA,

Good day, my name is Taiwo F. Akerele, approximately about 12 weeks ago on 20th of February I formally declared my intention to run for the FCT chapter chairman of A.N.A i followed this up with individual messages sent to members, I have since received alot of feedback and opinions from members of this association most of which were quite encouraging and others advisory.

In the wake of the lull in the electoral process I have had to follow suit in the spirit of the moment. However following the release of the electoral guidelines and procedures I wish to appeal once again to members to give me the opportunity to lead this noble association in this very important period.

I will reproduce my 25th of February message hereunder;
_________________

I am directly reaching out to you to further deepen my personal relationship with individual members of the association to underscore my seriousness with respect to this aspiration.

I have only one dream along with other objectives to use my wealth of experience in government, civil society, development partnership and private sector to revive the Abuja chapter of the association to become the golden chapter of ANA in Nigeria.

In my last two decades of active work in Nigeria I have worked with individuals and we have become professional colleagues having brought in our individual talents to build organization we worked in, so also I desire to partner with you to build ANA Abuja chapter to an enviable height and I do hope you will support me with your vote at this critical time.

Please free feel to contact me at anytime for more constructive engagement.

I will be guided by the constitution in all my dealings because the constitution is very clear on the operational modalities to run and operate the association within the ambit of the law of the land.


Signed
Taiwo Akerele
chairmanship aspirant 2021.

... vows to defend nation’s democracy

The Nigeria First movement says it will resist any attempt by vested interests to destabilise President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

The pan-Nigerian organisation said it is aware of the plot by disgruntled elements hiding under the nomenclature of activism to perpetrate evil in the country through the sponsorship of acts of violence along ethnic and religious lines.

Nigeria First which raised the alarm at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, however, vowed to defend the country's democracy.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had on Sunday alerted Nigerians on sinister moves by misguided elements to wreak havoc on the government, sovereignty and corporate existence of the country.

The Presidency echoed this warning on Tuesday, adding that the intention is to eventually throw the country into a tailspin, which would compel a forceful and undemocratic change of leadership.

And speaking on behalf of the group, National Secretary,
Richard Augustine-Adie said urgent and proactive steps must be taken, else Nigeria would end up in ruins.

He, therefore, called on all well-meaning Nigerians to "stay united in one spirit, body and soul, for it is neither East nor West, South or North but One Nigeria, and the Nigeria of our dreams which is within reach if we stay united".

While commending security agencies for their efforts in addressing the security challenges in the country, the group further cautioned these "unscrupulous elements to channel their resources and time to more productive ventures".

The Nigeria First added that it would mobilise Nigerians to the streets should they continue with their despicable attempt at destabilising the country.

Read full statement below:

The leadership of Nigeria First welcomes you all to the important press conference in light of the recent happenings in the country that portends grave danger if the relevant stakeholders do not take urgent and proactive steps in the country.

Nigeria First, as a pan-Nigerian organization with membership across the country, is alarmed with the turn of events in the country regarding the activities of some disgruntled elements that are hell-bent on causing disaffection in the country through a nefarious plot to truncate our nascent democracy.

It is consequently despicable that the harbingers of violence and destruction have perfected the plot to destabilize the country to fulfil their desire to see the country burn and seize to exist.

Nigeria First is aware of the seriousness of the plot and, as such, wishes to inform members of the general public to be wary of individuals and groups hiding under the nomenclature of activism to perpetrate evil in the country through the sponsorship of acts of violence along ethnic and religious lines.

These individuals and groups have been behind the religious and ethnic tension in the country in an apparent attempt to divide the country along these lines and eventually set the country at war at this critical point of our existence.

We wish to state in unequivocal terms that should urgent and proactive steps not taken, these harbingers of violence and conflict would have their way, and Nigeria would end up in ruins to the chagrin of the vision of our founding fathers.

This is indeed the time for all well-meaning Nigerians to stay united in one spirit, body and soul, for it is neither East nor West, South or North but One Nigeria, and the Nigeria of our dreams which is within reach if we stay united and resist overtures from these unscrupulous elements to destroy the country.

Nigeria First, as an organization in the vanguard of promoting the ideals of good governance, peace and unity in Nigeria, is sending a clarion call to all religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria to see this trying period as an avenue to prove to the world that there is strength in our diversity.

This is also an avenue to send a strong message to these unscrupulous elements to channel their resources and time to more productive ventures that would have a meaningful impact on the lives of ordinary Nigerians instead of promoting and sponsoring acts of violence across the country.

Nigeria First wishes to remind Nigerians that the pledge to Nigeria our country, to be faithful, loyal and honest. To serve Nigeria with all our strength, to defend her unity and uphold her glory, is indeed sacrosanct.

It is, therefore, our considered opinion that this is indeed time to come together and defend the unity of Nigeria in this critical point of our existence. If we don't do this, nobody will do it for us. It consequently behoves us to ensure that those plotting the destabilization of Nigeria are put to shame.

Nigeria First, as an organization, is also using this medium to inform all those that have been fueling religious and ethnic tension in the country that Nigerians shall indeed expose and reject them in totality.

We shall also mobilize Nigerians to the streets should they continue with their despicable attempt at destabilizing the country. We shall march for the unity of Nigeria, and we shall ensure that Nigeria stays united as ever.

We also wish to commend the efforts of our security agencies in their efforts at addressing the security challenges in the country. It is indeed a statement that they have been proactive and doing all within their means that Nigerians are protected across the country.

We must also remind Nigerians that the task at hand requires all hands to be on deck in our quest to stay united as a people and as a country, for united we stand and divided we fall.

Nigerians must also do well to realize that the gains recorded in critical sectors of our economy have rattled some vested interests. As such, they are hell-bent on throwing the country into chaos by all means necessary.

Nigeria First shall continue to engage critical stakeholders in this regard, and we make this solemn pledge to ensure that Nigeria continues to enjoy peace and tranquillity.

Our support for the strides of the Muhammadu Buhari administration remains unflinching. This much we have demonstrated over the years, and we shall continue to in the quest to translate the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians across the country into tangible realities.

It is our firm belief that Nigeria shall overcome its adversaries, and we shall come out as one solid and indivisible entity.

We thank you all for your time and attention and implore us to take this message of peace and unity to our various constituencies.

Adaeze Emmanuella Ezissi, an anti- drug abuse campaigner has urged Nigerian youths to shun drug abuse and the violent life it leads to for the sake of their health, wellbeing and future, and for the sake of the country.

In a press statement she issued in Abuja Ms Ezissi who is currently putting finishing touches to her book on Combating Drug Abuse Among the Youth charged Nigerian youths to remember the link between drug abuse, political violence, criminal lifestyle and all manners of insecurities, including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping. In her view, “the well established connection between drug abuse and political thuggery and criminal conducts is enough warning for youths to toe the path of decency and engage in acceptable social behavior and attitudes. This is because if you fall victim to drug abuse not only will your life be totally ruined, you will also be a disgrace to your family and an embarrassment to the nation”.

Ms Ezissi who is also the Chairman of the local organizing committee of an upcoming Summit on Drug Abuse put together by CERANY which is headed by Barr Chuks Aka-Madu, lamented that Nigeria may soon have a wasted and lost generation of drug addicts if all hands are not on deck to stem this evil scourge.

While commending the Federal government in its bold and ambitious anti- drug abuse initiatives and the NDLEA for its innovative and proactive war against drug abuse and trafficking, she still believes that a lot more still need to be done. She thus called upon all stakeholders and indeed every Nigerian to join the campaign against drug abuse because it is everybody’s war and not that of the government alone.

To this end she emphasized that attention should be focused on “reaching out to very young children who are not yet exposed to drug abuse, mounting an aggressive public enlightenment campaign on the evil effects and consequences of drug abuse, counseling of vulnerable entities and those who are already drug dependent, and mapping out strategies for the treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of those weaned out of drug abuse into society’s mainstream”.

Incorporate Buratai, other past service chiefs in security architecture, group tells Buhari

Following worsened security situation across the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to integrate Lt. Gen T.Y Buratai (rtd) and other immediate past service chiefs into the nation's security architecture.

According to the Patriotic Front of Nigeria (PFN), Buratai and other former military heads "still have a lot to offer the country in this critical point of our existence".

The group said the nation must tap into its wealth of experience now more than ever, adding that failure to do so could further exacerbate the tension in the country.

In a statement signed by Alhaji Lateef Alli, its national secretary, a former House of Reps member, the PFN said it would be uncharitable for them not to be a part of the security architecture in the country.

While admitting that the retirement of the ex-servicemen brought the nation to its current state, Alli called on President Buhari to make amends by incorporating them into the military before things get out of hand.

Read the full statement below:

The Patriotic Front of Nigeria is issuing this press statement in light of the recent happenings across the country regarding the security of lives and properties.

The situation indeed calls for concern from all well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders. It is on the heels of this patriotic duty that the Patriotic Front of Nigerhass calling on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, to, as a matter of urgency and national interest, incorporate the immediate past service chiefs into the security architecture in the country.

We hold the firm conviction that the immediate past service still have a lot to offer the country in this critical point of our existence occasioned by the recent upsurge in acts of religious and ethnic tension across the country.

We wish to use this medium to remind President Muhammadu Buhari of the enviable track records of the former service chiefs, particularly the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai ( Rtd).

Our position is hinged that recent events across the country have thus indicated the enormous sacrifices of the immediate past service chiefs that culminated in ways too numerous to mention in addressing the various security challenges in the country at the time.

We must consequently admit that the immediate past service chiefs know more and quite more than many know. Therefore it would be uncharitable for these individuals not to be a part of the security architecture in the country.

The danger of refusing to leverage on their wealth of experience remains that the country would continue to grapple with insecurity as experienced in most parts of the country in recent times.

The Patriotic Front of Nigeria wishes to reiterate that the change of service chiefs at a time like this was indeed a strategic error given the peculiarities of the time.

This fact we must admit and consequently do all within our means to ensure that those with the requisite knowledge, experience and capacity are incorporated into the security architecture in the country without delay.

The Patriotic Front of Nigeria calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to act in the country's overall interest before things get out of control. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has the constitutional mandate to decide the membership of the security architecture in Nigeria.

Consequently, the Patriotic Front of Nigeria is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to incorporate the immediate past service chiefs into security architecture to leverage their experience in addressing the security challenges across the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari wishes to be reminded that the urgency of time requires proactive actions. And this request, in our considered opinion, would be beneficial to the country at large.

Hold Senator Kashim Shettima responsible for worsening insecurity in North-East - NEPC

The North East Peace Congress (NEPC) says ex-Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, should be blamed for the worsening insecurity in the region.

According to the group, the Borno Central lawmaker championed the call for the removal of the immediate past Service Chiefs, a move it says has resulted in calamity.

Since the retirement of the former military heads in January, the insecurity across the nation has deteriorated.

From insurgency in the North-East, a new wave of kidnapping is the day's order in the North-West and North-Central while secessionist has taken the South-East and South-West.

But in a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Ali, on Wednesday, the NEPC said all these would have been avoided had the immediate service chiefs remained in office.

Ali said Shettima spearheaded the advocacy to reshuffle the military architecture, hence should be held responsible for the implication.

The group, however, demanded that the Senator tell the world the truth behind his "agenda", knowing full well the outcome that will follow.

Read the full statement below:

North East Peace Congress is saddened by the loss of 30 Nigerian troops of the 156 Battalion in Mainok area, Borno State even as we have become increasingly worried about the growing fatalities on the side of government troops since the change of guard that ushered in the new military chiefs.

Our worry is further heightened by the rapid degeneration of the security situation across the country as seen in the ascendancy of the militant wing of the terrorist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Eastern Security Network (ESN), which became more daring since the current Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria assumed duty. IPOB/ESN was never daring enough to attack anywhere in Nigeria on the scale they are now doing.

Equally on the rise and more brazen is the spate of kidnapping by foreign militias that have practically taken over the entire country. What was once limited to certain geographical locations under the predecessors of the current service chiefs has now become nationwide since they came into office.

The sense of helplessness presented by the spread of insecurity to once secured areas is worsened by the Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) regrouping and unleashing casualties on the Nigerian military on a scale it has not been able to attempt in the four years preceding the coerced exit of the immediate past military chiefs.

North East Peace Congress squarely blames the continuous killings by Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists, IPOB/ESN, kidnappings and failing security situation, particularly in the northeast on the change of service chiefs.

We are pained that the hurried change of Service Chiefs, which was a Strategic Miscalculation and Political Suicide canvassed by some selfish and self-seeking North East Leaders, is fueling this orgy of violence while most of those that brought their region and the entire country to this sorry pass have tactically fled into safe zones in Nigeria and abroad.

For us, Senator Kashim Shettima is the face of the self-centred Borno leaders who canvassed for a change in service chiefs without thoughts for the consequences that are now being visited on the country and the northeast in double portions. Senator Kashim Shettima spearheaded the advocacy to change the service chiefs. We, therefore, hold Senator Shettima responsible, and we demand that he tell the world the true intention and agenda behind his lobby for the service chiefs to be replaced knowing fully well that this is the outcome that will follow.

We demand that Senator Kashim Shettima immediately deploys the same tactics and resources he committed to hounding the former service chiefs out of office into pressuring the incumbents to seek help from their predecessors so that the military can again have a grip on the situation.

Distinguished Guests, Our Amiable chairman members of the high table, Coordinators from the 36 states of the federation .......
Let me start this remark by thanking God Almighty for bringing this day to light. Indeed, today marks the dawn of a giant coalition, the assembly of the fans and lovers of our mentor, our father, and our leader, no other than his Excellency, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
Today, We are gathered here at the instance of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, upholding this firm political virtue and kindling a light that will burn across Nigeria, thus setting a synergy for a better Nigeria.
The Asiwaju Fan club birthed today, the 22nd day of April 2021 Is a baby that will be nurtured to bring together all those that believe and will support the ideologies and mission of our leader.
Let me quickly mention that this assembly was borne out of a deep and genuine passion for the person of Ahmed Bola Tinibu and his leadership qualities indeed he has been a remarkable one.
In the coming weeks and months, the Asiwaju Fan club will blossom and spread through all nooks and crannies,we have successfully planted structures across the state and our state Coordinators that will be inaugurated today are people that were carefully selected based on their political pedigree and capacity. And the task before the state Coordinators is to select competent people as the local government and ward coordinators thereby taken the Asiwaju fans club to the grassroots.
In the build-up to the formation of this club, we have had so many sleepless Night, consulting and propagating the vision of this club across notable and prominent stakeholders, let me quickly thank and appreciate our options: Alhaji Ibrahim Yahaya Mohammed, The Talba Samari Nupe and The chairman sokodeke charitable foundation, RT. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke. I want to thank you for your immense support and belief in this course
Very importantly, I want to thank all our state co-coordinators from the 36 states and fact, whose out of their personal sacrifice travel from far and near to be here today. Thank you for your drive and belief in this project.
And to all our guests, you are all special and we value you a lot.
The Asiwaju Fan Club is here to stay.
We urge you all to support us as we work to build an enormous Fan support base for our leader.
Thank you all and God blessed

Hon Balogun Ade Bright,
National coordinator,
Asiwaju fan club.

The Incentive-Based Program (IBP) of Policy House International has condemned the killing of three Greenfield University students abducted by bandits in kaduna state.


Recall that that an unspecified number of students were abducted from the university located at Kasarami village off Kaduna-Abuja Road in Chikun Local Government Area on Tuesday night with a ransom demand made by the kidnappers for their release.

The Incentive-Based Program (IBP) of Policy House In its reaction,
condemned the killing, describing it as heinous and unacceptable.

While also calling on the relevant security agencies and the government to rise to the challenge and deal with the elements threatening the stability of the country.

The Incentive-Based Program (IBP) of Policy House had recently raised alarm on the rising trend of student kidnapping which is now 800 within the 1st quarter of 2021.

Schools have been shut down in most parts of the north and now 3 students have died in the kidnapper's den.

Security agencies should fish out the killers otherwise this will embolden the future attackers and discourage literacy development in the north a trend that is already frightening.

For us at Incentive-Based Program, this is the right time for a state of emergency to be declared in the entire education system in the north to ensure maximum security around schools.

It was Chibok (Borno), then Kankara (Katsina), then Kagara (Niger), then Kegere (Zamfara) and Afaka (Kaduna)

Following a wave of school closures in most part of Northern Nigeria between December of 2020 and March 2021 following an upsurge in kidnapping and abduction of students in different states such as katsina, Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara states, Incentive Based Program (IBP) of Policy House International is extremely concerned that the number of out of school children will rise to 13 million by December of 2021 as against the 2019/2021 estimates of 10.5m by UNICEF. UNICEF had then stated that one of five of out of school children in the world is in Nigeria.

While other countries are doing everything to close the gap in number of out of school children in the society, the activities of Boko Haram, kidnappers and bandits is further deepening the Nigerian figures and this is particularly worrisome and pathetic for northern Nigeria that is already considered to be averagely an educationally dis- advantaged region of Nigeria.

From our records and estimates close to 800 students have been kidnapped between December of 2020 and March 2021. This has also resulted into the closure of boarding schools in at least three states over the period and available data shows that over 60 schools with at least an average of 600 students are affected by this sudden closures which has serious implication for academic stability, domestic finance, crime among adolescents, rising illiteracy in the region and security implications, drug, cultism and general crime. While the affected states have invested in basic infrastructure and school feeding, the general insecurity in the region has dampened educational enthusiasm among parents and children of school age.

We note for instance from media reports that on the 17th of February 2021, Niger State Government shut down all boarding schools in four local governments such as Rafi, Munya, Shiroro and Manga LGAs while on the 15th of December, Zamfara state government shut down 10 schools in towns sharing borders with Katsina, Kaduna and Sokoto states following series of abductions of students during the period.
We call on the Nigerian Government to accelerate the implementation of the lofty educational intervention programs outlined under the Alternate School Program (ASP) earlier launched in January 2021 and also to call on the states government to fastrack its investment in perimeter fencing, local security arrangements and the deployment of technology in securing the schools. The 1st quarter 2021 estimates for the Nigerian educational system is not encouraging at the moment as government intervention in the area of security has not yielded the desired result and required target not met.

Finally, if this trend is not quickly tackled, Policy House International is worried that the gap between states in the north and the south education- wise will continue to widened this is because while the south is grappling with inadequate infrastructure to cater for ‘over enrolment’ so to speak in public schools in addition to the private schools, most states in the north are grappling with security for the few brave young kids of school age who have braced all odds to be in school, the implication is that while academic sessions are relatively stable in the south, it will take a generation for the children of same school age in the north to catch up.

Taiwo Akerele
Executive Director/Country Repr.
Incentive Based Program (Policy House Int’l

The death of Idris Deby, President of Chad, has been described as shocking and might bring about a twist in the war against terrorism in Nigerian and the West African sub-region. According to multiple sources interviewed for comments on the latest development, there was a unanimous agreement that the death of Idris Deby, though unfortunate, might bring about the much-needed success in the war against terrorism in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region.

According to an international expert on cross-border crimes, Prof. Harem Suitzubury, he believed that Idris Deby was a major player in rebellious guerilla warfare in the African continent from the early 90s when he took power by leading a rebellion against President Hissène Habré in December 1990.

“The era of Idris Deby was eventful and one that draws on the history of the entrenchment of rebellious and insurgent activities. Of course, being a rebel himself, one could understand how he could hold power for 30 years. Even though he was president of Chad, he promoted several rebel groups to fight those he perceived as threats to his stay in power and interestingly, some of the rebels under his control breakaway and constituted a great threat to his life that eventually culminated in his death.”

He also stated that the bulk of the crisis in the Lake Chad Basin region was because of the activities of Idris Deby, who promoted rebel groups to do his bidding against groups that were opposed to his leadership style and his extended stay in power.

“When you look at the crisis in the Lake Chad Basin region, you would see traces of Idris Deby’s footprints. More recently is the Boko Haram insurgents found the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin as a haven. This was with the tactic support of Idris Deby in the sense that the bulk of the logistical support the Boko Haram group have been receiving comes from Chad. In a way, I think his death would be a major blow to the Boko Haram insurgents."

This view was corroborated by another scholar Dr Ibraheem Saloung who stated that the economic potentials in the region were a significant factor in fuelling the conflict in the region.

“One of Africa's largest freshwater bodies, the Lake Chad, has shrunk by 90 per cent. Over 10 million people across the region are in need of emergency assistance. The United Nations has termed the Lake Chad crisis as "one of the worst in the world. In the Sahel straddles Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, Lake Chad is home to 17.4 million people. It is blessed with rich aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. The Lake Chad basin comprises biosphere reserves, World Heritage and Ramsar sites as well as wetlands of international conservation importance.”
"At the height of these is the President of Chad, who is viewed as an ally of the French authorities whose interest in the economic potentials in the region has never been disputed. Consequently, the Boko Haram war has continued to gain traction because Idris Deby made the region a haven for the insurgents where they have training camps and retreats to whenever they come under heavy bombardment from Nigerian troops."

“Recall that in 2014, former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan visited Chad, reiterating the need for Nigeria and her neighbours to intensify joint actions and cooperation to win the war against terrorism and insurgency. Jonathan stated that if the countries do not cooperate, we will not find it easy to win the war because when the heat is strong in one country, the criminals and terrorists will go to another one and hide. This was very instructive, but again the much-needed commitment was not secured because Idris Deby was a major actor in the conflict."

This fact also reinforced that the Boko Haram group have been able to launch violent campaigns in Nigeria because Chad became their operational headquarters after their dislodgement from Camp Zero in Sambisa forest in 2016. This much has been highlighted at numerous forums by experts in conflicts that have consistently emphasized the need for regional cooperation in the war against terrorism in the African continent.

According to Alfred Dumberg, an international expert in conflict management, he opined that the lackadaisical commitment of Chad is responsible for the ineffectiveness of the Multinational Joint Task Force in carrying out its mandate.

“The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is a combined multinational formation, comprising military units from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. It is headquartered in N'Djamena and is mandated to bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency. But the commitments of some of the member countries have been suspect, especially Chad under Idris Deby, who didn't show enough commitment even though the MNJTF was headquartered in Ndjamena.”

“In my opinion, it was a deliberate act by Idris Deby in his desire to increase his relevance level in the continent. He turned a blind eye to the activities of Boko Haram fighters in Chad, he allowed for logistical support from external sponsors of the group using the Chad route through the Baga axis, and this is where we are today."

“For some of us conversant with the operations of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Chad was meant to be the game-changer in the sense that if Idris Deby had shown commitment, the Boko Haram war conflict would have been long over.”

He further highlighted that all the support to Boko Haram had been coming from Chad, including training and logistic supplies.

“I tell you, great successes would be recorded in the war against terrorism with the death of Idris Deby, who from available information has been a major covert sponsor of the Boko Haram insurgents. There would be changes that would bring about success in the prosecution of the war. It is hoped that the relevant stakeholders use this opportunity to show commitment towards ending the Boko Haram war."

To this end, Dr Funke Adeniran, a professor of international diplomacy, opined that Lake Chad countries must fully integrate their forces into the MNJTF to boost its capacity by better sharing plans and intelligence, committing troops for more extended operations and improving troops' human rights compliance.

“MNJTF’s effectiveness has suffered from confusion over priorities, the four countries’ reluctance to cede command to the force itself, and funding and procurement delays. To make the joint force a more effective part of efforts to tackle the region’s jihadist insurgencies, Lake Chad countries should build up their planning, coordination and intelligence sharing. Governments and military leaders should lean toward sharing more information with the joint force and give senior officials greater leeway to determine what can be shared and what should be withheld for security reasons. They should commit troops for more sustained periods and clarify when national forces act under MNJTF command.”

Disregard call for Pantami's sack, CSOs tell President Buhari


The Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance said the ongoing call and social media campaign for the resignation of the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami is a well funded program aimed at heightening insecurity in the country, by some highly placed individuals, who have continued to profit, from the security challenges, being experienced in some parts of the country.

Speaking at a Press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, the Coalition, which is an amalgamation of various Civil Society organizations, said it is alarmed, by the sustained campaign against Dr Pantami, whom it described as principled, innovative and a key member of the team, of the incumbent administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.



"We are forced to publicly condemn the ongoing well coordinated campaign of calumny against Dr Pantami, by those, whom we have discovered, are opposed, not only to the digital revolution of our economy, but also the efforts of the ministry, under his Leadership, particularly the compulsory National Identification Number NIN, which these unpatriotic Nigerians, have exploited over the years to fester insecurity in the country, when the use of mobile telecommunication devices, became a veritable tool for kidnappers, terrorists and other criminals, who operates under the cover of being anonymous to perpetrate evil unhindered." Leader of the group, Comrade Declan Ihekiare stated.

"We dare say that Dr Isa Pantami's sincere admission of once holding views, which were supposedly is support of some radical groups, during his growing up years, is an unusual display of sincerity, patriotism and we see this, has a welcome step. Dr Pantami's great work and output at the ministry of digital economy where he took a Ministry that was sleeping and upgraded it to a 21st century Ministry, have become mitigating factors, against the expectations of those who are patrons of terror groups and their accomplices in the telecom business, who have over the years, profited from the insecurities being faced by our people."

The group further asked President Muhammadu Buhari, to disregard the campaign against Dr Pantami, and not allow the government to be misled by those it described as selfish, who want Mr President to “unwittingly” fall into the trap of some individuals who are the sympathisers of terrorists groups in the country.

It also said it is also becoming a certainty, given the intensity of this campaign of calumny that the Communication Minister, that the sponsors of the campaign against Pantami are desperate to decimate persons they perceive as loyal and committed to the visions of President Muhammadu Buhari so that they can fill the resulting vacuum with their own henchmen.

"Finally, we call on Nigerians, particularly the young people with a large presence on the social media, not to be carried away, by the antics of these unpatriotic Nigerians, whose greed and penchant for ill gotten wealth knows no bounds and are ready to destroy the collective good of our people, for their selfish gains."