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DCP Garba Cautions Against Wrong Security Reportage
The Commandant of Police Training School, Ikeja, DCP Musa Yusuf Garba (fisn, iips, csp) has expressed worry and anger at the display of the Nigerian media agencies particularly as it relates to reportage of security issues. He made his assertion at the maiden edition of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) Dinner and Awards held last week in Lagos.
The Commandant contended: ‘The country is not only facing insecurity challenge but also facing wrong insecurity reportage where the successes of security agencies particularly the Nigerian Police is either under reported or twisted to fit in the narration of those who are harbingers of hate speech and media abuse with sole aim of undermining the collective efforts of citizens to live in peace, harmony and humility.’
‘Therefore the country needs patriotic individuals, groups and associations to use their professionalism to counter these negative narratives in the public domain.’
He advised members of the security news association, ‘this is where your National Association of Online Security News Publishers NAOSNP should distinguish themselves as a conglomerate of professional media experts to change the situation. There is also need to use your platform to promote and create more awareness about the activities and successes of the Nigerian Police in its quest to rid the country of criminals.’
‘Online platforms and particularly social media are very effective tools in the expression of opinions but many people have abused the privilege, and hence professionals and experts in this area like you should deploy your expertise to help in creating awareness and security consciousness among the citizenry which may improve citizen participation in building content and value-based society.’
On his part, the chairman of the occasion, the former National Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, who bagged the award ‘NAOSNP Champion of the Voiceless’ reiterated ‘Security is everyone business despite the challenges of insecurity across the country, I’m very optimistic our great country will come out strong.’
Also winning the NAOSNP awards were former Inspector-General of Police, MD Abubakar; AIG Zone 2, Ahmed Iliyasu; Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu; his Imo and Osun State counterparts, CP Isaac Olutayo Akinmoyede and CP Adie Jeremiah Undie.
Equally honoured on the night were the Comptroller of Immigration Service, Usman Musa Abdullahi; Commander of Inspector General of Police-Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari; Commandant of Police Training School Ikeja, DCP Musa Yusuf Garba; General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), Engr Olajide Oduwoye; CEO of Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun; Chairman of PCRC Lagos state, Apostle Kehinde Showemimo; Chairman of PCRC Victoria Island, Mr. Matthew Ibadin; Chairman of Silicon Valley Nigerian Economic Development SV-NED Inc.; HRH Queen Mother Chief Mrs. Amina Temitope Ajayi F.I.I.M; Chief Security Officer of Fidelity Bank, Mr Peter Okoloh; CEO of Evergreen Protective Services, Chief Anthony Gasby Ayoh; CEO of Garu Technologies Limited, Alhaji Lukman Garu and Vice Chair, Ikorodu Local Government, Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba.
Expressing her joy, the elegant and vibrant Vice Chair, Ikorodu Local Government, Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba shared an important prediction ‘in the next 12 years, Nigeria would be a wonderful place to be’.
In his welcoming speech, the President of NAOSNP, Mr Samson Oki noted that the association works in cooperation with all the national security agencies and corporate security organizations with a view to promoting security and checkmating the spread of fake news in the social media space. He, then, charged newsmen especially investigative journalists to ensure check and balance in their reportage and give room for equity and fairness.
All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Samuel Ajose, has declared that the endorsement of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the next governor by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) will not stand.
GAC, regarded as the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, endorsed Hamzat, as its consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The decision was reached during a closed-door meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, indicating an early alignment within the ruling party ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Speaking after the session, GAC leader, Tajudeen Olusi, said members unanimously agreed on Hamzat, expressing confidence in his ability to sustain and build on the state’s developmental progress.
Olusi explained that the meeting was convened to deliberate on the party’s forthcoming primaries and assess the governorship position ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking about the GAC adoption of Hamzat as Lagos APC consensus 2027 governorship candidate on Arise News on Tuesday, Ajose said that Sanwo-Olu and others are trying to force President Tinubu into making a decision.
“I don’t think our president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is giving in to what they are doing.
“What they are just trying to do is to coerce him into taking a decision, and I don’t think that decision will stand.”
The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to borrow Five Hundred and Sixteen Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-three Thousand, seven ($516,333,007) US dollars in syndicated financing from Deutsche Bank AG.
The House approved it during the plenary on Tuesday in Abuja after the presentation of a report by the deputy chairman of the House Committee on Aids, Loans, and Debts Management, Abdullahi Rasheed.
The money is expected to fund the construction of sections of the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway.
President Tinubu wrote to the lawmakers, seeking a $516.3 million loan from Deutsche Bank to support the construction of the road.
The president said the loan, to be sourced from a syndicated financing facility by Deutsche Bank, will fund sections 1, 1A, and 1B of the project, which covers about 120 kilometres.
Tinubu requested a resolution in line with Sections 16 and 21 of the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act, 2011, to enable the federal government to secure the financing for Sections 1, Phase 1A, and Phase 1B of the project.
The project is a flagship initiative of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is targeted at enhancing national connectivity, improving the movement of goods across key economic corridors, and drastically shrinking travel time.
The 1,000-kilometre project will link Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states, connecting Illela to Badagry.
According to him, the financing arrangement will be backed by a partial risk guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC).
He said the Federal government will provide counterpart funding of over N265 billion for land acquisition, compensation, and related infrastructure.
The former Lagos governor said the loan is structured for nine years and includes a three-year grace period.
It has an interest rate pegged at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange SOFR plus 5.3 per cent per annum.
Already, the Federal Executive Council has approved the financing plan.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested a former chairman of defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni, over alleged money laundering, misappropriation and diversion of funds amounting to N36.54bn and $30m.
Ayeni, a businessman, was arrested in Abuja on Thursday, and is currently being held at the commission’s facility.
The arrest followed an EFCC probe into alleged misappropriation and diversion of funds said to have been obtained from Polaris Bank through multiple entities linked to him.
“Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a former board chairman of defunct Skye Bank Plc and businessman, Tunde Ayeni, in connection with alleged money laundering, misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N36,540,058,400.00 and $30m.
“Ayeni was arrested sequel to the investigation of the EFCC into alleged misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N36,540,058,400.00 and $30m obtained from Polaris Bank Plc by different entities linked to him.
“The funds were loans obtained allegedly for specific investment projects but subsequently transferred to other entities’ accounts. Investigations showed that, though the loans were obtained for purposes such as finance of marine security activities, electricity distribution contract, estate development, they were diverted to the NITEL/MTEL asset acquisition through NATCOM account,” one of the sources said.
Another source said the commission is currently probing 12 companies allegedly linked to Ayeni, which it said were used to obtain the loans from Polaris Bank.
“Twelve different companies linked to Ayeni are being investigated by the EFCC. They are entities he allegedly used to obtain loans from Polaris Bank for his shady activities. The loans are depositors’ funds fraudulently obtained and frittered into diverse wasteful purposes. Ayeni will be arraigned in due course upon conclusion of investigations,” the source said.
When contacted, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale confirmed the arrest but declined to give further details.
The Punch
