President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Nigerian Army to intensify the fight against insurgents and other criminal elements until peace and security return to the country.

“I charge you all to sustain these efforts until the full restoration of peace and security in the nation is achieved.”

President Buhari who declared open, Virtual Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Abuja warned that any act of hooliganism hiding behind lawful and peaceful protests will be dealt with decisively to ensure peace and stability in the country.

He commended the Armed Forces for swiftly restoring law and order in various states during the large-scale criminality that ensued in the wake of the #EndSARS protests.

He reiterated the Government’s commitment to the rights of citizens to embark on peaceful protests responsibly and in accordance with the laws of the land, even as he recalled that the #EndSARS protests were sadly hijacked by hooligans to cause wanton damage to lives and property in many cities across the country.

The President described the Year 2020 as a very challenging one, citing the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative impact on almost every aspect of national life.

“Despite this, I am pleased to note that the Army remained resolute in the discharge of its Constitutional roles and in keeping the wealth and welfare of our soldiers a priority.

“The Army’s support of Civil Authorities in the management of the COVID – 19 Pandemic is a case in point.

“Also, the peaceful elections conducted in Edo and Ondo States would not have been achieved without the high level of professionalism displayed by all security agencies, including the Army,” he said at the conference themed “Human Capacity Development in Sustaining Professionalism and Responsiveness of the Nigerian Army in the Discharge of its Constitutional Roles.”

The President commended the Army for its unwavering commitment towards curtailing the activities of insurgents, armed bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and other violent criminals through ongoing exercises and operations in different parts of the country.

Notably, he said the Exercise SAHEL SANITY launched a few months ago in the North West states to rid the Katsina-Zamfara corridor of marauding bandits had recorded commendable progress.

“I have also been briefed about the tremendous successes that have been achieved by troops during the ongoing Operation FIRE BALL in the North East.”

President Buhari also used the occasion to pay tribute to men and women in uniform who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the defence and security of the nation, commiserating with their families, comrades and friends.

“As we pray for the repose of their souls, we must strengthen our collective resolve to address those issues that will make every part of our country a safe and secure place to live and carry out our normal business.”

He pledged that his administration will not relent in its efforts to take adequate care of families of fallen heroes who had paid the supreme sacrifice in the fight against insurgency and other forms of crimes across the country.

At the conference, the President launched the Housing scheme for Next of Kin of personnel of the Nigerian Army killed in action.

“It is in line with this that the Army as part of its welfare initiative and in line with the Federal Government’s housing programme is undertaking the Housing Scheme for families and next of kin of troops that were killed in action in the fight against insurgency and other criminalities in the country.

“I believe this initiative will act as a huge morale booster to the troops on the frontlines as well as project the Army in good light.

“On our part, I assure you that this administration will continue to do all within available resources to provide for your operational and welfare needs.”

President Buhari said that he had been briefed that some of the major capabilities procured for the Army will soon be inducted into the various theatres of operations, urging personnel ‘‘to make judicious use of these capabilities, even as we await the arrival of others currently pending shipment to the country.’’

On the choice of the theme of the annual conference, President Buhari noted that it is only through human capacity development that any institution can attain the level of professionalism needed to effectively and efficiently carry out its Constitutional roles.

The President, therefore, congratulated the Army on holding this Conference at the magnificent edifice housing the Army’s Cyber Warfare Command with its state-of-the-art Cyberwarfare Operations Centre, adding that this shows that the Army is alive to the changing nature of warfare which is gradually moving into the cyber domain.

“By the same token, I commend the visionary leadership that has worked assiduously to emplace this vital capability that will fill an existing gap in our nation’s security and defence architecture.

“This and other numerous infrastructural projects that have been embarked upon in recent times by the leadership of the Army has shown good utilization of scarce national resources.”

Earlier, the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi appreciated the President for always approving funds for operations of the military in the country, assuring that all resources will be judiciously utilised.

This was even as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, made it clear that the Nigeria Army is well poised to confront all security challenges, which includes cyber threats.

Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, has advised Corps Members to be security conscious in the current happenings around the country.

The Director General, who addressed the corps members at the Lagos and Ogun State Orientation Camps today, December 6, advised them also to avoid boarding vehicles by the roadside and instead patronise designated motorparks.

He cautioned against engaging in night travels, night parties, lone movements, saying that approval must be obtained from relevant authorities in the NYSC before travelling.

He warned that any Corps Member that embarked on unauthorised journey would be sanctioned, asking them to take advantage of their service year to promote national unity as well as develop entrepreneurial skills that would give them an edge in their future endeavors.

“Don’t violate NYSC Bye-Laws. l urge you to take your security very serious. Shun cultism, cybercrime, drug addiction and ethnic bigotry.

“As Corps Members you are to promote the unity, integration and peaceful co-existence of the country”

Kano State Governor, Dr. Umar Ganduje has said that the East Carolina University, in the United States actually sent a letter to him, appointing him a visiting professor to the university, but later turned out to be fake, even as he is now demanding an unreserved apology from the Institution for embarrassing him and the people of Kano State.

Several Nigerian newspapers had recently reported that Governor Ganduje was appointed as a Senior Mentoring Scholar and Visiting Full Professor of e-governance and International Affairs by the university.

But days after the circulation of the report, the America-based University distanced itself from the appointment in a letter to the Governor. The letter was issued from the office of the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the university.

It was gathered that Ganduje’s appointment was conveyed to him by one Victor Mbarika, a lecturer in International Center for IT and Development at the university. The university had said that it did not authorize the letter.

Reacting to the new development, Governor Ganduje said that he was “shocked” by the fake appointment and therefore demanded that the university’s management punished Mabarika and issued an “unequivocal apology” to him.

In a statement by the Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), Usman Alhaji, Governor Ganduje said that the fake appointment, “stirred up controversy which attempted to embarrass” him and the people of Kano.

The statement said: “…while the governor or any of official of his government has no any reason to doubt the veracity of the letter sent by one of its faculty members, which was communicated using the university’s instrument of office, it equally did not at any time solicit for such appointment.

‘’We are deeply saddened by the uproar stirred up by this controversial appointment that attempted to embarrass the person of the governor and the good people of Kano state.“

According to the statement, Governor Ganduje, being an academician of repute, would be the last person on earth to have neither solicited nor accepted fraudulently appointment into academic position in any university or institution of higher learning within and outside Nigeria.”

The former Federal Minister of Health and an elder statesman, Professor ABC Nwosu, has described the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections, Peter Obi, as one who is not only annoyingly stingy, but has a legendary level of frugality that helped him to manage state resources prudently as the Governor of Anambra State.
Nwosu, who spoke to newsmen, said that Obi’s stingy nature significantly helped him in not only prudently managing the little resources available in the State then, but aided him in saving enough resources for the state.
“Peter Obi excelled in prudent management of the lean resources.
“Peter Obi, being a businessman, made sure the resources were there and made sure that he didn’t borrow.
“He also saved a lot of money, especially foreign exchange, and got us to invest in new things like the brewery at Onitsha.”
Recalling the build-up of events preceding Obi’s election into Anambra State’s governorship position, Nwosu said he decided not to contest against Obi in that election because he saw in him a young man “who could dance better” and deliver good governance to the people.
He agreed that the then Peoples Democratic Party-led government of Chris Ngige did a good job in terms of infrastructural development, but, as expected, Obi laid the foundation for educational and industrial revolution in the State.
“PDP brought Ngige and Ngige sprang a surprise in infrastructure.
“With all the problems he had, he was not bad.
“He came a long way.
“But the person who pushed the dream to where we were going was Peter Obi.
“He came and did the one thing that we would have done before, handing over schools to the Missions with money to run them.
“And Anambra State, within a space of one or two years, came from the bottom to the top.
“For me that is how governance should be measured.
“I am especially proud of Peter Obi for this humility in high places, frugal management and building up of resources especially opening up of education to the highest level and for laying the foundations for industrial development and investment of Anambra’s resources.”
Nwosu praised Obi for what he described as his moderate lifestyle which impacted positively on his governance of the State and helped him leave enough savings behind.