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I Reserve Exclusive Powers To Sack Service Chiefs, Buhari Tells Senate
Williams Anuku, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has told the leadership of the National Assembly that he would not succumb to pressure from them to sack the Service Chiefs, despite escalating insecurity in the country.
Reacting to a resolution by the Senate today (Tuesday) that the Service Chiefs should either resign or be sacked, the President reminded the Senators that “appointment or sack of service chiefs is a presidential prerogative.”
A terse statement issued by Presidential Media Adviser, Femi Adesina reads:“The Senate Tuesday adopted a resolution calling on the Service Chiefs to resign or be sacked due to the multi-pronged security challenges in the country.
“The Presidency notes the resolution, and reiterates that appointment or sack of Service Chiefs is a Presidential prerogative, and President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will do what is in the best interest of the country at all times.”
Recalls that despite acknowledging that he was not satisfied with the level of performance of the security agencies, Buhari has ignored calls by various stakeholders that the service chiefs be relieved of their jobs.
Yesterday the President played host to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai at the presidential villa, where he was briefed on security situation in the North-West and North East.
Buratai had told State House Correspondents after the meeting that Nigerians were culpable in the acts of terror being unleashed by bandits and terrorist groups.
According to Buratai, terrorism will come to an end, if Nigerians expose criminals in the society to security agencies, because they live among us.
July 21, 2020
Refugee Commission Distributes Items in North East
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has distributed items in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Taraba states.
NCFRMI Honourable Federal Commissioner, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed disclosed this in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Sadiq Abdullateef, on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to the statement, over 9,500 IDPs benefitted from Mayo Belwa, Michika, Madagali, Demsa, Numan and Lamorde camps in Adamawa state; over 5,000 IDPs from Bali camp in Taraba state and over 13,000 displaced persons from AlAmin Daggash, Gwange, Bama, Sheikh Sharir, Al-Miskin and Gidan Kifi camps in Borno state benefitted from the disbursement.
Over 15,000 POCs from Geidam, Bade, Potiskum, Damaturu, Fika and Machina camps in Yobe state also benefitted from the gesture.
NCFRMI Honourable Federal Commissioner, who was represented by the deputy director, human resources NCFRMI, Bello Muhammad Bello in Adamawa, said the gesture was in line with the commission’s mandate of ensuring continuous welfare for persons of concern in the country.
Other NCFRMI representatives are; the North East Zonal Head, Hajiya Zainab Dahiru for the Adamawa state disbursement; Head of Internally Displaced Persons of the Comission, Hajiya Fatima Mamman Daura for the Borno and Yobe disbursement and an Admin Officer, Amana Yusuf for the Taraba state distribution.
July 21, 2020
Minister Proposes Review of National Defence Structure
UGAR UKANDI ODEY, Jos
The Minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), has proposed the establishment of a committee to conduct a fundamental review of how the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is structured and managed, most notably the services within a single defense framework.
Major General Magashi (rtd) stated this while delivering a paper titled “Nigeria and the Challenges of Hybrid Warfare”, at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, also said the initiative should drive organizational decisions on joint capabilities, forces structure, and conceptual developments, and come up also with a roadmap to guide the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to prepare for a much more encompassing interpretation of the phenomenon of conflict.
“An organization that will be simpler and more cost effective, with clear allocation of responsibility, authority, and accountability is what I want”, Magashi said, adding that “we are also on track to re-equip and work with the academia as well as local engineering firms on innovation and maintenance”.
He added that the multidimensional and asymmetric nature of hybrid warfare present a huge challenge to state actors of which the Armed Forces of Nigeria is part.
According to Magashi, “it is thus apparent that the security framework of the country is not adequately driven by robust intelligence, and therefore security agencies mostly react to activities of terrorists and criminals within contested zones”.
He explained further that ” while it is easy to lay the blame on the doorsteps of the security agencies, certain factors such as internal divides, high level of poverty, religious intolerance, population bulge, amongst others, are beyond military solutions”.
However, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, in his paper titled “Hybrid Warfare and Challenges of Joint Operations”, pointed out that Nigeria is currently confronted with security challenges ranging from terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry, kidnapping,
farmer/herders conflicts, sophisticated armed robbery, illegal bunkering, vandalism to militancy.
He added that the complexities of the threats were further heightened by the porous borders which facilitated unchecked movement of criminal elements, small arms and light weapons, as well as other contraband items from the neighbouring countries into Nigeria.
“These combined factors with resultant negative effects on the socio-economic development of the country”, he noted, “have necessitated hybrid warfare and joint operations efforts in Nigeria”
General Olonisakin who said the operations have continued to stabilize the security situation across the country, added that in spite of the efforts, there are still some gaps with regard to prosecuting hybrid warfare and joint operations, concluding that the gap were in the areas of information management, interoperability, and coordination, among others
July 20, 2020
Securing Nigeria Not An Easy Task, Gen. Buratai Admits
Williams Anuku, Abuja
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has admitted that ensuring all round security for the country was not as easy as it seems.
He said rather than go about complaining about the spate of insecurity in the country, Nigerians should also explore how they can be of assistance, especially by way of providing vital information to the security agencies.
Buratai made these comments, on Monday, shortly after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari to brief him on security situations in the country, especially in the North East and other troubled regions.
His remarks came barely few weeks after President Buhari took a swipe on the security chiefs, scolding them that their best wasn’t good enough, hence no excuses would be tolerated by his administration.
Buratai’s admittance on the complexity of securing the nation also came barely hours after bandits unleashed terror in Katsina and Borno states, leaving deaths and destruction in its wake.
According to the Chief of Army Staff, the support of all Nigerians would be of immense value in helping the military and other security agencies end insurgency and other security challenges troubling some parts of the country.
While speaking to State House Correspondents, he said, “Securing the country is not an easy task, the army will continue to do its best in carrying out its task.
“We are still carrying out our task and we will deal with them. You know securing a country is a task that everybody knows and we will prevent the country from any form of insecurity and in this case, you know the military task is very clear; to defend our country from external aggression, to defend our territorial integrity and to come to the aid of civil authority, which we are doing”.
Commenting on how Nigerians could be of help, he noted that providing vital information about the whereabouts and movements of insurgents and bandits will help a lot in containing the situation.
According to him, if you want insurgency and other acts of criminality to end today, the totality of the people’s effort must be put into the matter so as to see that insecurity in the country is reduced to the barest minimum.
“If we don’t do anything and continue to complain, and continue to accuse the agencies involved in fighting it, then we are not helping matters. You are supposed to find solutions as something is being done on daily basis.
” I assure you that we will soon reach the end of the tunnel and we will see the light that will improve the security situation in all parts of the country.
“So, the same task that we should end curtail or bring to the barest minimum, the issue of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and insurgency and we will do it. We are essentially supporting the Nigerian Police and we will do it to make sure that our country is safe,” he assured the nation.
He noted that the worrisome situation in the North-West was already improving, due to steps taken by officers and men of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with other security agencies.
He lauded his men in the frontline of the battle against insurgency and peacekeeping operation in the zone and other parts of the country for doing a good job, adding that normalcy will soon be restored to the affected areas.
July 20, 2020
CHINA NATIONAL SECURITY LAW AND THE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG: AN ANALYSIS
By Agaba Halidu
Hong Kong has been part of China as far back as the Qin Dynasty in the third century B.C., and it remained a part of the Chinese Empire for about 2,000 but lost it to Britain in the nineteenth century in the opium wars. Britain had desired Chinese tea, in exchange for her silver, and opium which she imported from India but was objected by China because of the crisis of addiction to opium that her (Chinese) armies were experiencing.
The development resulted in wars that China lost and Hong Kong known as the “Pearl of the Orient” was ceded to Britain in the lease Treaty of Nanking, and that of the first Convention of Peking, making her a crown colony of the British Empire for the One Hundred and Fifty-Nine (159) years only to be returned to China on the 1st of July,1997 as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR) and this was to last for fifty years which is 1947.
To be sure since the return of Hong Kong to China, she has been governed by one country, two systems policy – an operational tool of China for the HKSAR. As captured in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China’s document, this policy entailed that: central authorities shall not interfere in affairs within the scope of autonomy of the HKSAR, the HKSAR government shall have the final say on matters within its autonomous jurisdiction as prescribed in the Basic Law, calling for no approval by the central authorities and the government of the HKSAR may, within the limits prescribed by the Basic Law, choose its means of exercising its functions and powers. These, therefore, means that within the period under review, Hong Kong was to be allowed political, legal, social and economic autonomy, except in matters of foreign relations and defense, in line with the 1984 Sino –Britain Declaration which spelled out the plans for the hand over of Hong Kong to China
On the 8th of July, 2020, things took a dramatic turn when China through its parliament, passed the National Security Law for Hong Kong because of the growing concern on the part of the Chinese government of the ugly development and insecurity.
To this end, it is hoped that these Law will safeguard national security, take care of the inadequacies in Hong Kong’s legal system and law enforcement mechanisms, deal with separatism and foreign interference in the semi-autonomous territory and bring back Hong Kong on track as early as possible to the smooth implementation of “One Countrys, Two Systems. The provisions of the Law as widely reported by Baker Mckenzie in an article titled National Security Law in Hong Kong states that:
The 66-article law criminalizes four types of acts: secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security and stipulates the corresponding penalties, which in the most serious cases, could result in life imprisonment.
The HKSAR will establish a new Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, led by the Chief Executive of the HKSAR (“Chief Executive”), to be responsible for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. The Hong Kong Police Force (“HKPF”) and the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) will set up designated departments to handle crimes against national security. The Chief Executive will designate relevant judges to adjudicate such crimes. The executive, legislative, and judicial organs must adhere to the rule of law in preventing, suppressing, and punishing offences that endanger national security. While safeguarding national security, human rights, and the rights and freedoms of HKSAR residents should be respected according to law. Except for specified circumstances, the HKSAR will exercise jurisdiction over offences under the National Security Law.
The Central People’s Government (“CPG”) will establish the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR to oversee and guide the work of the HKSAR in safeguarding national security. In case of conflict between local laws of the HKSAR and the National Security Law, the National Security Law will prevail. The NPCSC has the authority to interpret the National Security Law.
Since the law was passed and came into force, there have reactions around the world. While some see this as a welcome development as it will bring stability in the Orient, others have taken to the view that this will outlaw dissent and destroy the autonomy promised when Britain handed the territory to Beijing in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” framework. Others, especially from the western world, also argue that the law will end free Hong Kong as it is seen as a break of promises to the people of Hong Kong and goes against china’s obligations to the international community. Furthermore, the law is also said to be detrimental to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. It is seen indeed as a blow to public confidence which has clear implications on the human rights of people.
The reservations against this law are quite appreciated, however, there are so many germane issues that need to be examined which for me makes the passage of the national security law a necessity. First, if you look at the prevailing situation in Hong Kong, you will discover that she is unsettled. Peace and security are almost becoming a scarce commodity and we all know that peace and security is an essential factor of human life. A peaceful and secure environment is critical to every society since it affects all aspects of economic and social development in a country, and is a necessary sin-qua non to the realization of societal goals. Rather than having these, the reverse now is the case in Hong Kong.
A case in point of crisis that has been witnessed in Hong Kong was that of February 2019. As captured by Shek, D.T.L. in his article entitled, Protests in Hong Kong (2019–2020): a Perspective Based on Quality of Life and Well-Being published in Applied Research Quality Life Journal, the Government of the Special Administrative Region, P.R.C. planned to introduce the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 which focused on extradition which will regulate transfers of criminal fugitives who are wanted in different parts of China, including Taiwan, Mainland China, and Macau. What followed this decision of the government of the HKSAR was an overwhelming demonstration, protest, and riots. According to Shek, the level of vandalism as a result of this crisis was extensive as about 740 sets of traffic lights, 52.8 km of railings along the road, and 21,800 square meters of paving blocks were all damaged which required some HK$65 million to repair. He said the most striking destruction was the damage of the Legislative Council building and the occupation of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in November 2019. For me, these all give problems to the rule of law in Hong Kong and put public safety and security under danger. Similarly, because of the increasing spate of this violence and unrest, Hong Kong has dropped from the top 10 to No 20 in the Safe City Index 2019 of the Economist Intelligence Unit. To this end,
I, therefore, submit that the national security law will help in restoring order and help a peaceful life in the Orient. In other words, the National Security Law is a timely intervention on the part of Beijing which will significantly stabilise the troubled orient thereby creating a peaceful environment.
In a related development, aside from peace and stability that the national security law will bring, I also believe that the law will also bring about economic prosperity as it will boost business activities in the Orient which is currently on the downward trend as a result of the crisis that has rocked the territory. Conflict in whatever form, be it a riot, protest, demonstration poses a range of risks to society’s and at large, a country’s economic growth and development because conflict interacts with the economy through multiple, complex pathways.
To be sure, this has been the experience of Hong Kong. As a result of this chaos especially the one over the proposed extradition bill between the territory and mainland China, Hong Kong suffered the worst recession since the 2009 Global Financial Crisis.
Fewer tourists flew into the territory, retail sales fell to as low as 23%. Put together, it is on record that retail, catering, and hotel industries all together lost up to 15 billion Hong Kong dollars which is equivalent to 1.9 billion U.S. dollars making Hong Kong come down from its place atop the Index of Economic Freedom, a position it had held for 25 straight years. All these will be reversed by the national security law which aims at providing an enabling environment void of rancor and acrimony thereby enhancing economic activities.
Conclusively it also my belief that the national security law will help in cutting off the influence of foreign hands who have had a tremendous influence on the pearl of the orient. There are strong arguments that the social movements recorded so far in Hong Kong are not entirely a domestic movement, as external forces are involved. These external forces are being accused of instigating and adding flavor to some of the riots, protest in the land especially meddling with Hong Kong’s legislative and judiciary bodies.
Dr. Halidu Agaba is with the Department of Political Science & International Relations, University of Abuja. Email: agaba.halidu@uniabuja.edu.ng
July 20, 2020
Air Force release report on Arotile’s death
No foil play
*As NAF releases preliminary report on investigation on death of Arotile
*Says death was caused by blunt force trauma to her head
*Case handed over to the Nigerian Police for further investigation
*“Arotile was a pride of the NAF in whom the Service had invested massively in terms of resources, time and energy”.
By Samuel Itsede
The Nigerian Air Force has released its preliminary findings into the death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria’s first combat helicopter pilot.
Recall that Flying Officer Arotile, was reported to have died on July 14, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna. The death has generated a lot of controversy with some Nigerians suspecting foil play and calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances leading to her death.
In a press briefing today in Abuja, the Director, Public relations and information Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said preliminary investigations shows that there was no foil play in the death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, noting that her death was caused by “blunt force trauma to the head and significant bleeding resulting from being struck by the vehicle”.
He noted that being a civil case, the authorities of the Nigerian Air Force will be handed over to the Nigeria Police with a view to further investigating and charging the suspects to court in accordance with extant laws.
Giving details of events leading to her death, Ibikunle said that the Late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, a Squadron Pilot at the 405 Helicopter Combat Training Group (405 HCTG) Enugu, attached to the Air Component of Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, having recently completed her Promotion Examinations, was in Kaduna awaiting deployment for her next assignment and stayed with her sister, Mrs Damilola Adegboye, at Sabo Area in Kaduna, visiting the NAF Base whenever necessary.
“On 14 July 2020 at about 10.55am, the Late Flying Officer Arotile received a phone call from her colleague, Flying Officer Perry Karimo, a fellow helicopter pilot from the 405 HCTG, who wanted to discuss arrangements for their return to Enugu, requesting that she comes to the Base so that they could work out the modalities. Subsequently, at about 10.58am, the Late Arotile placed a call through to Squadron Leader Diepiriye Batubo, the Group Operations Officer (GOO) of 405 HCTG, who was in Minna at the time, to clarify issues regarding her deployment. Ibikunle noted that the call from Flying Officer Karimo as well as the one to Squadron Leader Batubo both took place before 11.00am, over 5 hours before the incident which led to her death.
“Flying Officer Arotile was later conveyed from Sabo to the NAF Base Kaduna by her sister, Mrs Adegboye, where the deceased dropped her phone for charging at a house in the Instructor Pilots’ Quarters belonging to Squadron Leader Alfa Ekele. Her elder sister later dropped her off at the Base Mammy Market at about 4.00pm, where she proceeded to photocopy and laminate some documents. It was while she was returning from the Mammy Market at about 4.30pm that 3 of her former schoolmates at the Air Force Secondary School (now Air Force Comprehensive School) Kaduna; Mr Nehemiah Adejoh, Mr Igbekele Folorunsho and Mr Festus Gbayegun, drove past her in a Kia Sorento SUV, with Registration Number AZ 478 MKA. It is noteworthy that Messrs Adejoh, Folorunsho and Gbayegun are all civilians who live outside NAF Base Kaduna, but were on their way to visit one Mrs Chioma Ugwu, wife of Squadron Leader Chukwuemeka Ugwu, who lives at Ekagbo Quarters on the Base.
“Upon recognising their schoolmate, Arotile, after passing her, Mr Adejoh, who was driving, reversed the vehicle, ostensibly in an attempt to quickly meet up with the deceased, who was walking in the opposite direction. In the process, the vehicle struck Flying Officer Arotile from the rear, knocking her down with significant force and causing her to hit her head on the pavement. The vehicle then ran over parts of her body as it veered off the road beyond the kerb and onto the pavement, causing her further injuries.
“Flying Officer Arotile was subsequently rushed to the 461 NAF Hospital Kaduna for treatment, while Mr Folorunsho (one of the occupants of the vehicle) who is also an Accident & Emergency Nurse at the St Gerard Catholic Hospital Kaduna, administered First Aid.
“Flying Officer Arotile was confirmed dead by the On-Call Doctor at the 461 NAF Hospital at about 4.45pm on 14 July 2020, as a result of the head injuries.
“The trio of Messrs Nehemiah Adejoh, Igbekele Folorunsho and Festus Gbayegun were immediately detained at the Air Provost Wing, 453 Base Services Group Kaduna as investigations began. They were subjected to Toxicology Tests at the 461 NAF Hospital but no traces of alcohol or psychotropic substances were found in their systems. It was however discovered that the driver of the vehicle, Mr Nehemiah Adejo, did not have a valid driver’s license.
“Traffic Officers from the Kawo Police Station and the Kaduna State Police Command as well as Road Traffic experts from the Federal Road Safety Corp were also called in to provide support during the investigation”.
On those who have engaged the NAF on a campaign of calumny over the death, the Air Force spokesman noted that “The Nigerian Air Force, being a highly professional and disciplined organization, will not join issues with any individuals or groups regarding the spurious allegations of ‘foul play’ espoused in some quarters”
Noting that, “Flying Officer Arotile was a pride of the NAF in whom the Service had invested massively in terms of resources, time and energy. Consequently, it is ludicrous for anyone to even remotely insinuate malevolent intent on the part of the Service against one of its most prized assets.
He decried the fact that some Nigerians rather than allow the Arotile Family and the Nigerian Air Force to grieve for the departed Tolulope in peace, many have chosen to politicize her death, while others are using the incident to push meritless, misguided ethnic and religious agendas.
“The Nigerian Air Force wishes to implore everyone to respect the sensibilities of all those who have suffered most by this loss, those who really knew Tolulope – her family, her friends and her Nigerian Air Force colleagues. It is of absolute importance that the memory of this Fallen Hero and our precious child is not tainted by the propagation of misplaced sentiments and wild shenanigans”
Until her death at the tender age of 24, ‪Flying Officer Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service.‬ During her short but impactful stay in the Service, late Arotile, who hails from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is said to have contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of armed bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.
July 19, 2020
Obaseki, Shiabu face fresh legal hurdles
As the race for the forth coming Governorship elections in Edo state heats up the incumbent governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy Mr. Philip Shaibu are facing fresh Judicial hurdles.
Obaseki and Shaibu were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) until last month when they switched camps to the PDP on account of being denied the party’s ticket.
The plaintiffs in the suit against Obaseki and Shaibu are the APC and one of its members, Mr. Edobor Williams.
Shaibu, in the suit with reference number FHC/B/CS/75/2020, is alleged to have presented a forged West African School Certificate and tax clearance certificates to INEC, contrary to Section 31 of the Electoral Act and Section 182 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the suit against Obaseki, with reference number FHC/B/CS/74/2020, the plaintiffs want a declaration that the governor, in INEC’s form EC9 at Column C, thereof sworn to on June 29, 2020 at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Registry, Abuja to the effect that he obtained from the University of Ibadan (UI) in 1979 a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Classical Studies, was false and contrary to Section 31 (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended.
In the alternative, the plaintiffs want a declaration that Obaseki’s INEC Form CF001 at Column “C” thereof sworn to on July 11, 2016 at the High Court Registry, Benin City, to the effect that he obtained from UI in 1976, a BA degree in Classical Studies was false and contrary to Section 31 (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended.
Also being sought by them are: a declaration that Obaseki’s statement contained in INEC’s form EC9 at Column “D” thereof sworn to on June 29, 2020 at FCT High Court Registry, Abuja, to the effect that he worked in Afriinvest Limited from 1994 to 2014, when he retired, was false and contrary to Section 31 (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended;
A declaration that Obaseki’s presentation of a BA degree in Classical Studies from UI, with a sole signatory of the Vice-Chancellor and no effective date of award, as against the standard operating procedure of the Examinations, Records and Administrative Data Processing Division of UI, amounts to the presentation of a forged/false certificate to INEC, contrary to the provisions of Section 182 (1) (j) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), 1999, as altered;
A declaration that Obaseki’s presentation of Advanced Level WAEC certificate, dated June 1976, which showed that Obaseki sat for examination in subjects materially different from those shown in the testimonial of the Institute of Continuing Education of September 25, 1975, where Obaseki was a student and from where he purportedly wrote the said examination, amounts to the presentation of a forged/false certificate to INEC, contrary to the provisions of Section 182 (1) (j) of the Constitution of FRN, 1999, as altered.
The plaintiffs are also praying the court for an order disqualifying Obaseki from contesting the Edo state governorship election on September 19 or on any other date that might be approved for the purpose, on the grounds that Obaseki supplied false information on oath to INEC, contrary to Section 31 (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended.
The plaintiffs want INEC to be ordered to remove Obaseki’s name from the list of nominated or sponsored candidates for the crucial election, while PDP should be restrained from participating in the election, among others.
The plaintiffs are being represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) amongst others.
July 19, 2020
Buhari Set To Commission Itakpe/Warri Railway
By Samuel Itsede
For over thirty two years after it was abandoned by previous governments, President Muhammadu Buhari would soon be invited to perform a virtual commissioning of the Itakpe/Warri standard gauge railway for commercial use. Minister of Transportation Rt.Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said.
Amaechi who spoke during an inspection tour of the project facility in Warri Delta State, also commended the contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, (CCECC), Technique , Engineering,Architecture, Marketing (TEAM) and Julius Berger for a job well-done.
He said the contractors lived up to expectations in terms of quality job delivery.
” We are planning for the President to perform a virtual commissioning of this project.The contractors have since concluded their jobs and left the site, the only contractor left is the CCECC, and they will soon leave the site as well and hand over the train to NRC. We’ll know if NRC has done a good job when they manage it properly because the issue is maintenance.
“I am satisfied with the job done by the CCECC, TEAM and Julius Berger. The contractors must be commended for a good job delivery,” he said.
Amaechi also restated that out of the ten stations completed, President Buhari had approved that the main station in Agbor be named after former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“President Muhammadu Buhari had already approved the naming of Agbor station after Goodluck Jonathan”, he said.
Speaking further on the safety of passengers as regards the coronavirus pandemic, Amaechi explained that proactive measures would be put in place by the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to protect the lives of all passengers.
He said there would be strict adherence to the NCDC guidelines and procedures by the passengers.
“We are going to abide by the guidelines of the Covid 19 Tax Force. Every passenger (s), no matter how highly placed must obey the rules. Everybody must wear their facemasks and come with their sanitizers before boarding the train. We’ll also abide by the committee’s directive of three metre distance, that’s why we are reducing the number of passengers from eighty eight to forty. We will also increase the number of policemen for the enforcement of law and order in all the coaches”,he said.
Amaechi assured that cargo operations would commence immediately as soon as discussions were concluded between Dangote and Bua cements .
While also noting that the Covid 19 Pandemic had slowed down project delivery particularly on the Lagos-Ibadan railway, the minister said the situation would not deter him from performing and delivering on his assignments.
July 19, 2020
Arotile’s death under investigation
There are indications that the authorities of the Nigeria Airforce have already commenced full scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the car accident that led to the death of Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile.
Recall that the Nigerian Air Force had on July 14 announced the death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.‬
24 years old Tolulope Arotile was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, and was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service. She flew
several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.
Her death at such a tender age and the circumstances surrounding her death has shocked the nation. With many calling for an independent Probe into her death.
Sources within the Nigeria Air Force, who spoke to Daybreak on condition of anonymity, the driver of the vehicle and the classmate of the late Flying Officer have been in custody since the incident “they were arrested immediately after the crash, remember that the incident happened within the premises of our base. The driver of the vehicle and the classmate were immediately arrested by the Air police” The source noted that this was standard procedure, starting that if criminal intention was establish there may be the need to expand the investigation and inviting the police. He however noted that preliminary findings shows that it was a tragic freak accident.
In a related development authorityies of the Nigerian Air Force have announced that the remains of late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, will be laid to rest with full military honours at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja on 23 July 2020.
Our source also revealed that the honour been accorded the late Arotile was unprecedented ” the military cementary in Abuja is only reserved for personnel who dies in active combat, but we are waving this requirement in her honor and the parents have agreed that she should be buried there”.
July 18, 2020
Fare Thee Well Ambassador Zhou Pingjian, A True Friend Of Nigeria
By Dr Austin Maho
On October 18th, 2016 when ambassador Zhou Pingjian presented his Letter of Credence to President Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja there were high hopes that a new page was about to open in China Nigeria relationship.
The then-incoming ambassador was upbeat when conveying President Xi Jinping’s warm greetings to President Buhari. As the new Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, he promised to work with Nigeria to take China-Nigeria strategic partnership to new heights to the greater benefits of the two countries and peoples.
His mandate was clear cut. He wanted to see more Chinese investments in Nigeria, more cooperation and counterpart funding of critical projects, technology and skill transfer and a favourable balance in trade between Nigeria and China.
As the curtain falls on his tour of duty, after four years, we can unequivocally say that Pingjian has met and surpassed himself in several fronts.
During his tenure, Chinese investments in Nigeria has grown significantly. Nigeria’s infrastructural development has received financial boost from China and the trade balance between Nigeria and China has significantly improved. Data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) shows that funds from China have gone into eleven different infrastructure projects across the country, in roads, rails and bridges. More Chinese investments and investors have flowed into the country from China in the last four years than at any other time in the country’s bilateral relationship with China since 1971.
He not only promoted Chinese investment in Nigeria he was also a champion of integrity and commitment. A major plank of his tenure was to ensure that no Chinese project fails in Nigeria, even if the executing Chinese company had to take a loss.
Zhou Pingjian was a bridge builder a believer in made in Nigeria with China and he used all his energies to promote the concept that Chinese companies can set up factories in Nigeria working with Nigerians and sourcing local raw materials and weaning Nigeria from over-dependence on Chinese imports.
It is on records that in the last four years of his mission, more Chinese companies have opened up factories and manufacturing plants in the country more than ever before.
At every given opportunity he draws a parallel between the developmental trajectories of China and Nigeria. He believes that Nigeria would roar and achieve its full potential not just to lead Africa but become a global player.
He was a friend of the Nigerian media and at every turn, sort to give media practitioners in the country the opportunity to experience the real China, which had faced a relentless barrage of Western media propaganda. He was proactive in information giving, he not only made his personal phone number available to journalists to call him directly to clarify issues when the occasion so demand, but he also maintained one of the most vibrant media offices in the history of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria.
In the face of the global coronavirus pandemic which first hit China, the embassy proactively issued a daily update on the situation in China especially in Hubei province until the situation was brought under control. This ensured that rumours and speculations were kept out of the Nigerian media.
It remains to his credit that many Nigerian journalists benefited from trips to China to experience the real China from within and make up their minds themselves if China was actually the Communist gulag as portrayed by the West.
As an erudite scholar, he also used his scholarly prowess to address many issues as it affects his country. he wrote extensively on the issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
There were no internment camps in Xinjiang where Uighur Muslims were being held against their wish, but there were training and skill acquisition centres designed to equip the Uighur with life skills to be able to integrate fully into Chinese society rather than trading in terror. This was a strategic response by the Chinese government to terrorist activities in the Uighur region.
Hong Kong remains a special administrative zone of China and China would respect and maintain, the one country two systems principles of the region. On the new national security law, he believes it’s a sword and a shield. A sword to protect Hong Kong from the activities of secessionists under the guise of pro-democracy movement and a Shield to protect Hong Kongers to be able to live their lives and conduct their business without fear for their lives.
he also wrote published articles on the coronavirus pandemic.
He believes that solidarity and cooperation would conquer the coronavirus pandemic and that Nigeria and the rest of the world should learn from the Chinese experience in containing the coronavirus.
“As one of the countries hit by the first wave in the pandemic, China was the first to bring COVID-10 under control. There must be something worth looking at. China has taken the most comprehensive, stringent and thorough measures to fight the virus. It works, albeit at huge cost” He said in his article.
It was not all a rosy ride for ambassador Pingjiang, there were awkward moments, moments when he had to respond to several summons by the Ministry of Affairs to defend controversial Chinese government policies and prove that China is truly a friend of Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Perhaps no issue was more testy for the outgoing ambassador than the Guangdong incident that pitched many Nigerians against the Chinese government and sort to portray China as discriminatory against black.
He consistently maintained that the measures in Guangdong were not discriminatory but universal, applied in equal measures to Chinese citizens and foreigners alike to contained the spread of the coronavirus.
“All the measures taken there were aim to fight against the COVID-19, not against any Nigerian, any African, or any foreign national”.
“As for the issues raised regarding the situation of Nigerians in Guangdong involved in local outbreak response, the Guangdong authorities attach great importance to Nigeria’s concerns and work promptly to improve their working method.
It is my assessment that all of them were caused by a lack of communication or misunderstanding. We thank all Nigerian brothers and sisters in China for bearing with us in such a trying time no one ever expected or wanted” he said
He insists that in China, “all foreign nationals are treated equally. We reject any differential treatment, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination. Nothing whatsoever has changed in China’s policy of friendship towards Africa. China cherishes its strategic partnership with Nigeria. Nigerian friends can count on getting fair, just, cordial and friendly reception in China” he said at the heat of the controversy.
Through his direct and indirect intervention, China has given unprecedented aid to the Nigeria government at all levels in the fight against Covid19. Donations of medical supplies have poured into Nigeria from the Chinese government, private individuals and institutions. Chinese companies doing businesses in Nigeria under his guidance have rallied round in aid of the country, donating tons of medical supplies and giving palliatives to the needy.
He saw the need to help Nigeria combat the virus as non-negotiable.
“Both China and Africa face the formidable task of combating the virus while stabilizing the economy and protecting people’s livelihoods. As President Xi stressed at the Summit, (China Africa Summit) we must always put our people and their lives front and centre. We must mobilize the necessary resources, stick together in collaboration, and do whatever it takes to protect people’s lives and health and minimize the fallout of COVID-19”.
Perhaps the greatest testimony of ambassador Zhou Pingjian tour of duty came from President Muhammadu Buhari himself. The president at a farewell meeting, lauded the growth of Nigeria China bilateral relationship during the four years stint of ambassador Pingjian.
Buhari paid tribute to the outgoing ambassador and China’s contributions in financing and building badly-needed infrastructure during his tenure. “Please convey our appreciation to President Xi Jinping for the contribution of China towards reversing the infrastructure deficit we suffer in the areas of rail, roads, airports, and power,” President Buhari told ambassador Zhou.
The cordial send-off for the departing Chinese ambassador also reflects the close political ties between the two countries.
Ambassador Zhou will be sourly missed, as we say far thee well to this friend of Nigeria it is hoped that the incoming Chinese ambassador would not find his shoes too big to fit.
July 17, 2020