Perhaps even more than the ailing economy, a worsening security situation has given Nigeria the most concern over the past few years. It is an ugly phenomenon that has bothered every law-abiding Nigerian, the National Assembly and the government. Despite several measures and huge resources deployed against it, the tide of the menace of violent crimes has not turned in many parts of the country. It is so worrisome that some people wonder if government is doing anything about the situation. Some even query the essence of a Parliament in the country if it has failed in helping to arrest the situation. However, the federal lawmakers have often demonstrated that they are as much concerned as the ordinary citizens who can no longer sleep with their eyes closed. Indeed, there have been a series of interventions from the National Assembly, ranging from convening a security summit, passage of security-related bills and motions and increasing Appropriations to the security sector year in year out. Yet, the unfortunate situation continues to fester. This concern again came to the fore on 30th December, 2023 when the Senate interrupted its Christmas/New Year recess to pass the 2024 Appropriation Bill. This followed a motion by Plateau Senator Diket Plang who drew the attention of the Upper Chamber to the horrendous killings on Christmas eve by unknown gunmen who invaded communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State. The security issue took a better part of the plenary that day even before the main business of the day was attended to. The debate on that day ended with a resolution to summon the Security Chiefs to interact with the Upper Chamber early in the New Year. By the time the Senators returned from their Christmas/New Year recess on 30th January, 2024, insecurity in the country had assumed an even more worrisome dimension. Again, the issue took the centre stage at the plenary on their first legislative day of 2024. As soon as the President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio read his welcome address, the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, was on his feet, raising a Point of Order to draw the attention of the chamber to killings in some communities in his Benue South Senatorial District. The Senate President was hesitant in using his discretionary power to allow Senator Abba Moro proceed with his motion. “I have over five people with matters of urgent national importance. Most of them have to do with insecurity,” Akpabio told his colleagues. It was evident from his voice that he was touched emotionally by the state of security across the country. Akpabio then suggested that the Senate went into a closed door session to assess all the motions to determine which one to consider first. After the closed door session, the Senate suspended all other items on the Order Paper, consolidated all the motions that were related to security issues into one “collective motion on the spate of insecurity in Nigeria” and allowed the Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, to present it on behalf of the 109 Senators. The Senate, as stated in the motion, noted with sadness the rising spate of killings, kidnappings, banditry and other criminal activities across the country. It further noted specifically the brutal killings in some communities in Agatu and Logo Local Government Areas in Benue State, the various kidnappings within the Federal Capital Territory where victims were killed after the kidnappers had collected ransom, several cases of kidnappings all over the country where huge ransom have been paid and several of the victims still got killed, the recent killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State and the abduction of primary school pupils in Emure Ekiti, the unfortunate bomb explosion at Bodija, Ibadan in Oyo State where not less than five lives were lost and several residential houses, schools, hotels and religious worship centres destroyed and also the killings of several residents of Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi communities in Plateau State. It was against this backdrop that the Senate did “invoke the earlier resolution to invite the Security Chiefs for an interacting session with the Senate, with a view to resolving the insecurity that is plaguing the country.” Before the adjournment that Tuesday (30/01/2024), the Senate President announced that the outcome of their engagement with the Security Chiefs this week would be discussed with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Because, according to him, “we have a responsibility to collaborate with the Executive, to contribute our ideas to ensure that our constituents and ourselves including our children can sleep with their two eyes closed.” Speaking further on the same subject, Akpabio said: “security is everybody’s business and without security we cannot have progress. As this 10th Senate is working with our colleagues in the House of Representatives, we are very determined to make laws, resolutions, oversight aimed at ensuring rapid progress of the country and immediate improvement in the economy of Nigeria. This will not be possible without a secured Nigeria.” By the time the Senate engages the Security Chiefs this week, it is expected that the new cases that happened between the last adjournment and their resumption this week will be taken on board. This includes the brutal killing of another monarch, Onikoro of Koro-Ekiti in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State and abduction of two people, including the king’s wife. ***Awoniyi, media aide to Senate President, writes from Abuja
The Presidency has described former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, as hypocrite for raising alarm over the challenges facing the country’s economy. Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement reacting to Atiku, said that there is no iota of truth in the Atiku’s accusation. “Atiku’s claim that the government’s policies have created intense cost of living pressures are also not grounded on facts as recent comparative cost of living indices show that Nigerians still enjoy the lowest cost of living in Africa. “His claims that the private sector is shrinking and that multinational companies are leaving our companies in ‘droves’ are not grounded on facts. “Atiku should be honest enough to admit that President Tinubu inherited a weak economy. “Nigerians can easily see through the hypocrisy of Alhaji Atiku, who in accusing President Tinubu of poor response to the nation’s challenges and causing pains and despair, didn’t offer any better policy options in his run for the Presidency different from the economic reform agenda being pursued by President Tinubu.”
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has promised to accelerated approvals of requests and documents submitted to it by operating oil and gas companies to ensure speedy development of oil and gas projects in the country. The Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engineer Felix Omatsola Ogbe who spoke when he received senior officials from Chevron Nigeria Limited, led by the Deputy Managing Director, Cosmas Iwueze, stressed that the Board would continue to improve on the timeliness set by the Service Level Agreement (SLA) instituted by the Board, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd) and international oil companies for shortening the contracting cycle for oil and gas projects. He called for the setting up of technical working groups (TWGs) between the representatives of the NCDMB and respective international oil firms. He explained that the working groups could meet monthly or quarterly to evaluate the companies’ expectations from the NCDMB on their projects. The intent, he said is “to resolve contentious issues, close all the gaps and come to an agreement before the official correspondences are received. “That will ensure quick turn-around and approvals will be dealt with quickly and that will help to cut downtime.” He emphasised the need for all oil and gas companies to comply with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, even as he promised that the Board will accede to cogent urgent requests from companies to avoid delays that could cause costs overruns, impact negatively on oil and gas operations and the economy at large. He encouraged the companies to see NCDMB as partners in progress, adding: “we want to create the enabling environment that will minimize conflicts with international oil companies (IOCs) and attract investments into the sector. “We want to create employment opportunities for our youths and help achieve the economic objectives of President Bola Tinubu. We want to make international oil companies comfortable and reverse the exit of foreign investors because they create jobs, and we need all hands on the deck.” Ogbe said that he had long and successful career with Chevron Nigeria and that the hallmark of the company is teamwork. He noted that NCDMB operates with the same core value, hence the Board is determined to support oil companies to accomplish their operational goals. “We have to make sure that you succeed otherwise we will not be successful.” The Executive Secretary confirmed that NCDMB under his watch will not emphasise the use of sanctions, but will seek to dialogue with companies to achieve win-win situations. “We will be flexible regarding your requests, but we all need to have open minds and look at the critical paths that will ensure that we make progress and produce effectively.” This was even as the Director, Planning Research and Statistics, NCDMB, Isaac Yalah, commended Chevron Nigeria for supporting the Board’s development of the Nigerian Content Research Centre of Excellence at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), in Ondo State. He said that the Board will continue to collaborate with Chevron on other projects and would address any issues relating to requests for expatriate quota approvals. Responding, the Deputy Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria, Cosmos Iwunze commended the Executive Secretary for adopting the mantra of collaboration and pushing to increase crude oil production in Nigeria. He acknowledged the importance producing crude oil at competitive costs, saying that the primary aspiration of oil companies and the Federal Government is to ramp up Nigeria’s crude oil production volumes and shore up the revenue accruing to the national coffers. The Deputy Managing Director emphasised the need to incentivise investments in the oil and gas sector, adding that international oil and gas companies in Nigeria compete for capital with their sister operations in other oil producing nations. “The capital we need for big oil and gas investments is domiciled with global investors. We need to always present Nigeria as an investor friendly destination where people can come and do business.” He also confirmed that the company was working on some major projects, relating to deepwater and Escravos gas-to liquids (EGTL) and he looked forward to receiving the Board’s support and collaboration when the projects come for consideration and approvals.
Former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to swallow his pride, accept the mistakes he had made all along and act fast to avert total economic collapse. “Tinubu and his economic management team must swallow their pride, admit their missteps and failures, and follow those who know the terrain. They must act fast before the economy sinks deeper into the abyss.” In a statement today, February 4, Atiku noted that Nigerians are now “gravely concerned, and rightly so, that Tinubu’s poor response to Nigeria’s economic challenges is setting the stage for a prolonged and deeper domestic economic crisis.” According to Atiku, Tinubu’s economic policies, “drawn from a so-called renewed hope agenda, are ironically dashing hopes, creating pain and causing despair. The private sector is shrinking by the day as small businesses are emasculated and as Multinational Companies, confused and weary of the economy, leave Nigeria in droves. “The intense cost of living pressures has created more misery for the poor in towns and villages. There is HUNGER IN THE LAND as basic commodities, including BREAD, are becoming out of reach for average Nigerians.” Atiku, who was the Presidential candidate of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, said that President Tinubu’s 2024 budget represents “a business-as-usual exercise, bereft of concrete ideas and actions that would support Nigeria’s journey toward economic transformation – consisting mainly of wasteful expenditures to cater to a bloated Federal Government. “Budget 2024 will not facilitate growth and cannot empower our citizens to earn a living and live a decent life.” He said that Tinubu has shown no capacity to deal with the adverse and disastrous impact of the new subsidy regime on the people and businesses and the new foreign exchange policy, which provides for a free-floating exchange rate. “His initiatives are literally uninformed, arbitrary, and chaotic.” Atiku criticised the palliatives which he described as “too mean, pitiable, and contemptuous of the poor. “He seems genuinely lost, bewildered, and overwhelmed. “To mask their failures, BAT and his political appointees are busy blaming his predecessor in office for bequeathing a ‘dead’ economy. “This is a familiar game popularised by former President Buhari while in office. It reinforces what we already know: that BAT came into office unprepared.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has alerted Nigerians and stakeholders about the economic Saboteurs that are currently causing panic in the system. “We urge all stakeholders to disregard stories aimed at causing panic in the system and see them clearly for what they are – acts of national sabotage. “We wish to advise, in the strongest terms, against the peddling of false reports that have the potential to be disruptive to the economy.” In a statement today, February 3, by the Acting Director in the Corporate Communications Department, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, the apex bank drew attention to a recent story published by a national newspaper alleging that the Federal Government is considering to convert $30 billion domiciliary deposits to Naira. CBN described such story as “absolutely false.” The statement said that the story is aimed at triggering panic in the foreign exchange market, “which the CBN is working assiduously to stabilize, as evidenced by its recent work and policy directions.” The appex bank regretted that similar “false narratives have been spread on the work of the CBN over the past few months. “It is clear that vested interests are determined to sabotage our efforts. “We want to assure the general public that CBN is working to build confidence and would never do anything to undermine the currency and the economy.” The statement stressed that the apex Bank is the only designated authority for monetary policy changes “and will always advise on any policy change(s) before they are brought into operation. “The CBN is always open to answer questions about our policies.”
Anti corruption agencies have exenorated an oil mogul, Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, popularly known as AA Rano, of underhand deal in forex business with the Personal Assistant to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, popularly known as Tunde Sabiu. Sources at the agencies who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “We received several petitions on the activities of the young man (Tunde) and from our preliminary findings, his legitimate earnings could not explain his luxurious lifestyle. “On the AA Rano man, we have yet to find any credible link to business dealings of former President Buhari’s PA. Of the series of petitions received on Sabiu, none mentioned AA Rano as an accomplice, even though the former allegedly invested some questionable sums of money using fronts for Maritime, Real Estate, and Oil and Gas businesses. “While we couldn’t find evidence of AA Rano’s involvement in Sabiu’s scandals, we are still investigating the allegations to check all the leads. We are not leaving anything out.” A $400 million fraud allegation posted on social media claims that Sabiu and AA Rano had an altercation over a business deal. According to the claims, Sabiu was alleged to have used one of the companies of AA Rano to acquire some businesses, including a property in Abuja, which cost billions of Naira. Meanwhile, a source close to the oil magnate confirmed that there had been no business relationship besides a couple of casual meetings in which the AA Rano and Sabiu exchanged warm pleasantries. “The allegation that Sabiu used AA Rano as a front to acquire businesses and that there were altercations between the duo due to a deal that went awry are all false. “The only property being talked about is Sigma Apartment, located in Wuse II in the heart of the capital city. The property was bought by Mr Sabiu Mahuta, the Business Development Director of AA Rano, on behalf of the company. The rumour mongers could have mistaken the director’s identity with that of the former presidential aide for sharing the first name “Sabiu.” “The SIGMA property, which was acquired through successful bidding from AMCON at the sum of N1.9 billion in 2020, was sold a few years later at the rate of N3.4 billion to another billionaire investor and the owner of AY Maikifi Oil and Gas, who demolished the structure for a massive shopping mall on the land. “A lot of waivers and favours that big corporations and groups benefitted from the CBN in the last administration – some of which might be questionable – were not extended to AA Rano in any way. Go and check the records. “So all the speculations about business relationships are deliberate attempts to demarket the legitimate business interests of Alhaji AA Rano, which include Airline, Property, and Oil and Gas businesses.” It was gathered that the management of AA Rano has met with operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and another investigative panel a couple of times, where they provided relevant documents on their legitimate business and thumped their chests that their hands were clean. Source: PRNigeria
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned directors and top civil servants in the services of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to continue to do the right thing at the right time or face his anger. The minister, who flagged off the construction of the 7.2 kilometer Gaba-Tokula road in Bwari Area Council yesterday, February 2, made it clear that he would not tolerate what he called: “bureaucratic sabotage” in the execution of the projects by officials of the FCTA. He asked Directors to expedite action on payments of contractors working on the various projects to avoid unnecessary delays in the execution of the projects. “This is not a period where you bring bureaucracy into what we are doing. They (would) minute a file to you to pay contractors, the file would stay in your office for two weeks. “Woe be onto you that will do anything that will not make this project to go on well because you will become enemy to the people. “So, take it seriously so that when the file comes to you, do it immediately and see that the payment of contractors are being processed and paid to them because when you keep the file, you suffer the payment and who will suffer? The communities will suffer. I’m not going to tolerate that. Anybody who sabotages our efforts will also be sabotaged. So have it at the back of your mind.” Wike emphasised that funds are available for every project awarded, assuring the contractors that their funds would be paid as and when due. The minister said that the road being constructed is a part of the 30-kilometer road project that he was directed to construct in the six Area Councils, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said that in addition to the Gaba-Tokula road, the Administration will construct two more rural roads in the Bwari Area Council before the end the year. Wike assured that abandoned roads would be completed, adding: “I can assure you, by the directive of Mr. President, go home and sleep with your two eyes closed. “Those projects must be started again. I can assure you that.” The Minister blamed the problem of insecurity and rural urban migration in the FCT partly on the lack of basic infrastructure in the rural parts, saying that he is ready to change the narrative by providing the needed infrastructure. The minister had earlier directed the six Area Council Chairmen to select roads for construction, as instructed by the President, adding that provision was also made in the 2023 National Supplementary budget for the construction of these roads. “As I speak to you, all the Area Councils, apart from the one we are flagging off today, this year, will have two more roads. “In essence, in this year, each Area Council will be having three roads, which has never happened since the creation of FCT as the Federal Capital Territory.” Wike said that job creation is a priority of the administration of President Tinubu, even as he called on the contractors working on the projects to give opportunity to the youths, including men and women who are willing and able to work on the construction sites, to enable them fend for their families.
Why do men think big successful girls are single because all they want is money and independence instead of marriage and commitment? Why do they think being financially independent mean you want to live alone and die lonely? Well, the women also suspect that there is a hidden agenda somewhere. Yeah, can the men swear that they are not the ones annulling our rights and mandates while promising to ‘Insha’ Allah ‘empower’ us. You can’t win against their armoury. It is so difficult to please or understand the way their minds work. But haven’t I warned that there is no point trying to decipher a man’s mind? If you put a man on a pedestal and try to make him feel appreciated, he’ll say it’s because you want something from him. If you respect him, run his bath, give him a massage on Friday evening and curtsy when giving him his food, it’s because you saw that he’d just made some money and wants to help him spend it. As if a girl can’t just be nice and give her man a treat. If a woman stays at home doing her God-ordained duties as a good wife and mother, she is a lazy, unenterprising NFA (No Future Ambition). Really? The most taxing career is the one any full-time housewife does. No retirement, no leave and thankless most of the time. These guys can’t even manage wife-for-a-day gig. And nine months with another human being growing inside you? That would kill these guys, mass-murder-like. If a woman has a career that she works hard at, she is too hard, cold and unfeminine. She can’t be a complete woman. “In fact, I can’t marry a woman like that.” There are still guys all over the place who think that career women are not wife materials? Bush boys. If a man has a low-paying, unchallenging job, his wife must have brought bad luck from her father’s house. “Don’t you see she has two left legs?” Unbelievable, right? That such men still walk around in this century is a crime, seriously. If she gets promoted ahead of him, she must be sleeping with the boss. After all, he graduated before her. It doesn’t matter if he’s not half as intelligent as she is or can’t work without supervision. Is there a portion of the holy books that says all men are more intelligent than women? Some men have to work under women. All puns intended. Now if he gets a job ahead of her, that’s the way it should be because he’s supposed to be more brilliant, abi? Right. If you compliment his looks and clothes, you are doing it because you want to change your wardrobe too and if you keep quiet, you don’t appreciate him. If a woman cries when he hurts her, she is blackmailing him. If she does not, she is arrogant and insensitive. If a woman slaps a man, it’s an abomination but if he slaps her, she must have pushed him too far and a few slaps are necessary to keep a woman on the straight and the narrow. If she is proud of her achievements and thanks God for how far He has taken her, she is boastful, trying to lord it over him and reminding him of his inadequacies. If she advises him regularly, and takes interest in what he does, she is a nag. And if she doesn’t, she is carefree, uncaring and unproductive. If she is so tired after a hard day’s work, traffic jam and shopping, she is a lazy feminist, irresponsible career woman who can’t cook. It’s absolutely beneath him to make ordinary eba and warm the soup. But if he has a headache after a busy day, he must see the doctor or check into a health resort to avoid a breakdown. “I work too hard to provide for everybody.” Ah ah. Try telling him you have a headache when he wants to make love and you must be having an affair. If your hours are easy and you get home early, you should go and get something challenging. See where all your mates are. If you take a decision you think will benefit the family and surprise him, you have no regard for him and you are not submissive. If you demand lovemaking when he’s tired, you are inconsiderate but if he demands it when you are tired, you are pushing him out, into the arms of a girlfriend. If you dress smartly, you are trying to attract other men. If you are fat, how can he introduce you to his friends? If you do aerobics and watch your figure, you are vain. If he buys a car before you, a party must be thrown but if you buy one before him, you are arrogant. If he asks to use the car and you tell him to check the tyres at the vulcanizer’s he will throw the keys back at you. “So because it’s your car, I have now become a driver? The next thing you’ll tell me is to take the car to the car wash.” Men are in a class all by themselves but we are not fooled. We can sense their insecurities. Thank God for the real men, the ones who are comfortable in their own skin, the ones who marry and stay married to successful women, knowing that they hold her heart and all that she comes with, lock, stock and barrel. Please raise your glasses to the he-men. *Egbemode (egbemode3@gmail.com Culled from: Prompt News
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has finally fixed between N4.6 million and N4.9 million as fare for the 2024 pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Saudi Arabia. The Commission had initially aimed to maintain the 2024 Hajj fare at N4.5 million that was charged as initial deposit but had to change against the backdrop of the crash of Naira mid-week. “Regrettably, the recent instability in the Dollar exchange rate compelled a necessary adjustment despite commendable efforts by NAHCON Chairman, Jalal Ahmad Arabi to maintain cost of the year’s Hajj at the said rate. A statement today, February 3, by the NAHCON spokesperson, Fatima Sanda Usara, quoted Jalal Arabi as saying that he had actively negotiated substantial discounts with service providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in late January, aimed at alleviate costs for intending pilgrims but failed because of the crash of the Naira. “However, the volatile currency situation within the week necessitated the Commission to take a drastic decision to consolidate the gains achieved in lowering the cost of services for the Hajj, without which the price of 2024 Muslim pilgrimage might have shot to about N6,000,000 (six million Naira). “Consequently, intending pilgrims from Nigeria’s Southern center are required to pay N4,899,000 as Hajj fare; those from the Northern center will pay N4,699,000, for the Hajj and pilgrims from Yola and Maiduguri center will pay a fee of N4,679,000 for the 2024 Hajj.” NAHCON Chairman narrated how he tried to work out reduced Hajj fare but said that the new development should be regarded as “the will of Allah, because the Commission, facing a tight deadline of 25th February, has limited time to explore further options to remain within the range of N4.5million which he assiduously worked for. “Consequently, NAHCON announces the feasible cost of Hajj to meet the impending remittance deadline. “Intending pilgrims are therefore advised to balance their Hajj fare by Monday, 12th of February accordingly, to enable the Commission transfer the funds before the imminent deadline. “NAHCON assures the public of its commitment to ensuring a smooth and successful Hajj pilgrimage for all participants despite the challenges posed by foreign exchange factors. The Commission appreciates the understanding and cooperation of the Nigerian Muslim community during these times.”
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have shown their class by handing down a goal to their Angolan counterparts thereby riding to the semi final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023in Cote d’Ivoire. The Super Eagles, through Ademola Lookman, displaced the Palancas Negras of Angola in the quarter final clash played this evening, February 2. The lone goal came in the 41st minute of the first half. The second goal by Victor Osimhen was ruled offside.
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Insecurity: Senate Takes Bull By The Horns, By Ola Awoniyi
Perhaps even more than the ailing economy, a worsening security situation has given Nigeria the most concern over the past few years. It is an ugly phenomenon that has bothered every law-abiding Nigerian, the National Assembly and the government. Despite several measures and huge resources deployed against it, the tide of the menace of violent crimes has not turned in many parts of the country.
It is so worrisome that some people wonder if government is doing anything about the situation. Some even query the essence of a Parliament in the country if it has failed in helping to arrest the situation.
However, the federal lawmakers have often demonstrated that they are as much concerned as the ordinary citizens who can no longer sleep with their eyes closed. Indeed, there have been a series of interventions from the National Assembly, ranging from convening a security summit, passage of security-related bills and motions and increasing Appropriations to the security sector year in year out. Yet, the unfortunate situation continues to fester.
This concern again came to the fore on 30th December, 2023 when the Senate interrupted its Christmas/New Year recess to pass the 2024 Appropriation Bill. This followed a motion by Plateau Senator Diket Plang who drew the attention of the Upper Chamber to the horrendous killings on Christmas eve by unknown gunmen who invaded communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
The security issue took a better part of the plenary that day even before the main business of the day was attended to. The debate on that day ended with a resolution to summon the Security Chiefs to interact with the Upper Chamber early in the New Year.
By the time the Senators returned from their Christmas/New Year recess on 30th January, 2024, insecurity in the country had assumed an even more worrisome dimension. Again, the issue took the centre stage at the plenary on their first legislative day of 2024. As soon as the President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio read his welcome address, the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, was on his feet, raising a Point of Order to draw the attention of the chamber to killings in some communities in his Benue South Senatorial District. The Senate President was hesitant in using his discretionary power to allow Senator Abba Moro proceed with his motion. “I have over five people with matters of urgent national importance. Most of them have to do with insecurity,” Akpabio told his colleagues. It was evident from his voice that he was touched emotionally by the state of security across the country. Akpabio then suggested that the Senate went into a closed door session to assess all the motions to determine which one to consider first.
After the closed door session, the Senate suspended all other items on the Order Paper, consolidated all the motions that were related to security issues into one “collective motion on the spate of insecurity in Nigeria” and allowed the Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, to present it on behalf of the 109 Senators.
The Senate, as stated in the motion, noted with sadness the rising spate of killings, kidnappings, banditry and other criminal activities across the country. It further noted specifically the brutal killings in some communities in Agatu and Logo Local Government Areas in Benue State, the various kidnappings within the Federal Capital Territory where victims were killed after the kidnappers had collected ransom, several cases of kidnappings all over the country where huge ransom have been paid and several of the victims still got killed, the recent killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State and the abduction of primary school pupils in Emure Ekiti, the unfortunate bomb explosion at Bodija, Ibadan in Oyo State where not less than five lives were lost and several residential houses, schools, hotels and religious worship centres destroyed and also the killings of several residents of Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi communities in Plateau State.
It was against this backdrop that the Senate did “invoke the earlier resolution to invite the Security Chiefs for an interacting session with the Senate, with a view to resolving the insecurity that is plaguing the country.”
Before the adjournment that Tuesday (30/01/2024), the Senate President announced that the outcome of their engagement with the Security Chiefs this week would be discussed with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Because, according to him, “we have a responsibility to collaborate with the Executive, to contribute our ideas to ensure that our constituents and ourselves including our children can sleep with their two eyes closed.”
Speaking further on the same subject, Akpabio said: “security is everybody’s business and without security we cannot have progress. As this 10th Senate is working with our colleagues in the House of Representatives, we are very determined to make laws, resolutions, oversight aimed at ensuring rapid progress of the country and immediate improvement in the economy of Nigeria. This will not be possible without a secured Nigeria.”
By the time the Senate engages the Security Chiefs this week, it is expected that the new cases that happened between the last adjournment and their resumption this week will be taken on board. This includes the brutal killing of another monarch, Onikoro of Koro-Ekiti in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State and abduction of two people, including the king’s wife.
***Awoniyi, media aide to Senate President, writes from Abuja