Tag: Security council

  • Security Council Considers Nationwide Ban On Motorcycles, Mining Activities

    Security Council Considers Nationwide Ban On Motorcycles, Mining Activities

    The National Security Council on Thursday announced that it is considering a nationwide ban on motorcycles and mining activities in the country as part of its strategy to curb terrorist activities, checkmate loopholes and cut off their sources of funding.

    This was the outcome of the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.

    Addressing state house correspondents after the meeting chaired by the President, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami stated that investigations are still ongoing especially to establish the correlation between mining and motorcycles which they suspect provide funding for the supply of arms to the terrorists.

    Malami who noted that terrorists had moved from the conventional ways of funding their activities to mining and ransom taking, disclosed the government was not unaware of the economic consequences of the proposed resolutions, particularly the motorcycle ban but it has become imperative in order to guarantee the nation’s security.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Aregbesola, speaking on the attack on Kuje prisons detailed that despite the extensive intelligence gathered before the onslaught, the attacks succeeded due to “there was no will to act.”

    He also revealed that President Buhari had received a report on the preliminary investigation of the Kuje attack and officers who have been found to renege on their responsibilities would be punished.

    Terrorist groups, in particular in Nigeria, are increasingly interested in controlling areas of production of gold

    The opportunistic nature of these activities ties strongly to the fact that gold is often the favoured mineral of the terrorist groups as many of these groups use this to secure a source of funding for future operations.

  • Nigeria Re-elected into AU Peace and Security Council

    Nigeria Re-elected into AU Peace and Security Council

    The Federal Republic of Nigeria has been re-elected into the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for another three (3) year mandate (2022-2025), to represent the West African region.

    Nigeria pulled 44 votes in the first round to secure the statutory 2/3 votes required to win the election.

    Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Victor A. Adeleke, represents Nigeria in the Council at the Permanent Representatives level.

    The election of the 15-member Council was held during the 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (Ministers of Foreign Affairs) in Addis Ababa.

    Also elected for a 3-year mandate alongside Nigeria, were Cameroon, Djibouti, Morocco, and Namibia.

    Elected for a two (2) year mandate were Burundi, Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, and Gambia.

    Nigeria is the only country that has sustained the membership of the PSC since the inception of the Organ in 2004, following the Decision of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government dedicating a Seat of 3-year term to Nigeria at every PSC election.

    This is in recognition of Nigeria’s sterling contributions to the maintenance of peace and security in Africa and beyond.

    It is in consonance with the AUPSC Protocol and without prejudice to the 2/3 votes standard requirement.

    The PSC is a standing decision-making organ of the African Union charged with responsibilities of: conducting early warning and preventive diplomacy; facilitating peace-making; establish peace-support operations; and, in certain circumstances recommend intervention in Member States to promote peace, security and stability. The PSC works in support of peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction as well as humanitarian action and disaster management. It is mandated to institute sanctions; and implement the AU’s common defense policy.

    The PSC also ensures the implementation of key conventions and instruments to combat international terrorism; promote coordination between regional mechanisms and the AU with respect to peace, security and stability in Africa.

    According to the Nigerian Embassy in Addis Ababa, going forward, Nigeria’s objectives in the AU-PSC will remain guided by the renewed commitment of the Administration of President Muhammed Buhari, “towards accelerating the ongoing implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA) in-line with the core objectives of the AU Agenda 2063 and the UN 2030 Agenda.

    “As Africa continues to respond to old and emerging conflicts on the continent, particularly that of unconstitutional change of government, Nigeria targets collaborative efforts towards improving on gains made in proffering African Solutions to African problems premised on the overall objective of African ownership and leadership to durable peace in the continent,” the Embassy stated.

  • Ensure stable, peaceful 2020, Buhari tells security chiefs

    Ensure stable, peaceful 2020, Buhari tells security chiefs

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday presided over a meeting of the Security Council where he directed security chiefs to ensure a peaceful and stable socio-economic environment across the country, in the New Year.

    Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas, told State House correspondents after the meeting that the meeting appraised the nation’s security situations in 2019 with emphasis on ongoing internal and regional operations.

    “Mr. President has directed that the council and the members of armed forces ensure a peaceful society in 2020.

    “To that effect, we are more than determined to continue from where we stopped in 2019 and to ensure that we sustain our various operations to ensure a secured Nigeria for all of us,” he maintained.

    He disclosed  that the council resolved to assess security developments in areas where relative peace had been restored with a view to withdrawing the military to concentrate on other emerging threats and concerns in the country.

    “With respect to operations within the country, it was generally agreed and noted that the security agencies have done their very best in ensuring that the deliverables are made clear.

    “You will recall that the various operations in the country in the northeast, northwest, north-central, the southeast, as well as the southwest where all members of the armed forces are taking part as well as the intelligence agencies, have ensured that we all enjoyed a better holiday period that has just been observed.

    “We also recalled that in those areas where the military has been able to achieve desired objectives, from the first quarter of next year, the civil authority will be preparing to take back those responsibilities as the military draws back its forces from those areas.

    “This will enable the military to focus its attention on other emerging threats and areas of concern,” he added. 

    On maritime security, the naval boss disclosed that a lot had been achieved in the protection of the nation’s maritime environment.

    “It also observed that in the maritime environment a lot has been done to ensure that our resources are protected.

    “The outcomes of the operations there are have seen to the arrest of about six vessels that were involved in stealing of the nation’s maritime resources,” he said.