Metro
NIS Makes Case for Enhanced Attention to Nation’s Blue Borders
The acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Isah Jere Idris, has made a case for some deliberate actions to improve the current security architecture across the nation’s Blue Borders. He opined that the deployment of ICT solutions in Border security has become inevitable for the country and called for enhanced funding.
The acting Comptroller General stated this during a working visit to the Service’s Blue Border Formations in Oron and Ibaka areas of Akwa Ibom State. He maintained that the rising volume of migratory activities along the nation’s international waterways measuring over 853 kilometres requires that a closer attention is devoted to the sector for improved surveillance. He noted that the waterways of Oron and Ibaka areas for instance, are accessible to countries such as Mali, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cameroun among others and so concerted efforts should be made to equip all the agencies along that corridor for good security cover, he stated.
During the visit, the acting Comptroller General paid courtesy visits to the traditional institutions in the Border communities where he solicited for their cooperation especially in information sharing to ensure effective Border security. At the palace of the paramount ruler of the Oron nation, His Royal Majesty Odiong Edet Akan, the acting Comptroller General stated that “We have come to realize that no security/military agency can achieve enduring peace and order anywhere in the country without the partnership of the traditional rulers and members of the local communities”. He recalled that the traditional rulers had played great roles in the nation’s security arrangement during the pre and post-colonial eras and called for a re-visit of the roles of traditional rulers in the nation’s security architecture. Speaking earlier the paramount ruler of the Oron nation, stated that members of his communities have been and will continue to be very supportive to the Immigration Service and called for sustenance of the existing relationship.
The acting Comptroller General later proceeded to Ibaka Control Post where he inspected the operational areas and a Jetty under construction. He harped that when completed the Jetty will impact positively on operational activities at the Control and urged the Personnel to continue to demonstrate strong commitment to duty.
He thereafter paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the paramount rule of Mbo local government area, His Royal Majesty Ogwong Okon Asukwo Abang. The royal father assured of the support of his subjects to the Immigration Service and called on government to invest more on maritime security.
An interesting outcome of the visit to the Blue Border areas of Akwa Ibom State was the promise made by the acting Comptroller General that the two Control Posts of Oron and Ibaka would be included in the eBorder project of the Service shortly. When this is achieved the two locations would be connected to the Command and Control Centre at the Service Headquarters real time and online, for effective surveillance and monitoring of all movements and activities in the areas.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has inspected seven Modified Light Tactical Vehicles procured for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to enhance and strengthen their operations in securing life and property in the country, according to a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
Gaidam performed the function in company of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anuma Ogbonaya Nlia, and top Management of the Ministry at the Federal Secretariat, Phase III, in Abuja.
The Minister stated that the seven Modified Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles were acquired from the budgetary allocation of the Ministry, and they would be handed over to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to enhance their security operations to enable them to perform better. “They are supposed to use it professionally to combat insecurity in the country,” he stressed.
A stray bullet has allegedly killed a student who was heading to the examination centre to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination being organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The incident happened on Gbagi market road in the Egbeda Local Government Area of the state when a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer in pursuit of a suspect hit and allegedly killed the student on Tuesday.
Investigations revealed that the boy was on a motorcycle with his father and twin brother when the incident struck.
The student, according to multiple eyewitnesses, was on his way to the examination centre.
One of the sources, simply identified as Ajani, said, “A police officer opened fire while chasing a fleeing vehicle. One of the bullets reportedly hit the student. The student was riding on a motorcycle with his father and twin brother.
“The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Another witness said, “The deceased was on his way to the examination centre alongside his twin brother when the tragedy happened.”
Meanwhile, irate youths took the student’s lifeless body to the state Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, to demand justice and called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene.
The deceased body has been deposited at Adeoyo Hospital morgue.
As of press time, authorities have not released an official statement on the incident.
The Punch
The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have condemned the recent distribution formula for the N50 billion earned allowance approved by the Federal government for university-based unions.
The unions expressed their displeasure in the sharing formula in a jointly signed statement by the President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, and the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi on Sunday in Abuja.
The Federal government last month approved the release of N50billion to universities as earned allowances.
The N50billion is to be shared between the Academic Staff Union of Universities; NASU, SSANU and National Association of Academic Technologists.
The statement said: “We wish to make it clear that this is not a contest of supremacy among unions. Rather, it is about fairness, recognition, and the equitable treatment of all workers who form the backbone of the Nigerian University system.”
The unions further demanded a review and reversal of the allocation formula, which they describe as “grossly unfair” and “totally unacceptable.”
The unions argued that the distribution was capable of creating industrial disharmony and accentuating the teaching/non-teaching dichotomy in Nigerian universities.
They vowed to stand united in demanding justice, fairness, and recognition of their rightful place in the university community.
They warned that going ahead with the unfair distribution will breed resentment and trigger widespread industrial disharmony.
“Non-Teaching staff of Nigerian Universities are not second-class citizens but are critical stakeholders who contribute immensely to the day-to-day functionality, administrative efficiency, research excellence, technical operations, and overall development of the Nigerian Universities system.
“A harmonious and productive academic environment can only be achieved when all stakeholders are treated with respect, dignity, equity, and fairness,” the statement added.
