News
Sani-Gwarzo Reiterates FG’s Commitment to Revolutionize Policing Landscape
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to implementing a comprehensive police reform to revolutionize the policing landscape by fostering inclusivity, community engagement, intelligence-driven operations, and technological integration.
He stated this during the Bi-Monthly Consultative Meeting of the Directors/Heads, Reform Coordination, and Service Improvement at the Ministry of Education Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Phase III, Federal Secretariat, Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary, according to a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press, Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), said that currently, the Ministry of Police Affairs is spearheading policy reforms and administrative initiatives aimed at bolstering the operational efficiency of the NPF and improving welfare and morale.
In addition, the Ministry is actively engaging in nationwide citizens’ town hall meetings to foster community participation in policing and secure enhanced support from critical stakeholders for policing operations.
Sani-Gwarzo stated that the adoption of the SERVICE COMPACT with all Nigerians (SERVICOM) signals a realization that the Public Service could do better and needs to do better, to serve the Public adequately.
In his words, “There is a confluence of goodwill across all strata from Mr. President that has written agenda that has been itemized, calculated and weighted in percentage and given the mandate to the Ministers with a term of references broken down into themes with the Head of Service that has given reforms agenda in a compendium called FCSSIP 25 and other documents to support as well as translating same into actions driven by directors”.
He said, “Most of the time it is the director’s reforms that can make or destroy the Ministry. I like that attitude of being in the first position, that is what Ahmed Bola Tinubu told us during a retreat. We must win, we must succeed, it is not negotiable”.
In her keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Service Policy and Strategies Office (SPSO) Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Debora O. N Odoh pointed out that Directors and Heads of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement in the Ministries and Agencies occupy a privileged position in the architecture and hierarchy of institutions implementing the ongoing reforms in the public service.
She added that the meeting provides another opportunity to examine their achievements in the past months on the implementation level of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP25) and other reform initiatives, and the way forward.
Earlier, the Director of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Ministry of Police Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Musa Mshebwala in her paper presentation titled “Synopsis of Police Reform in Nigeria” stated that the ongoing pursuit of comprehensive police reform is a multifaceted approach that addresses the systemic challenges facing the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) while incorporating lessons learned from past reform efforts.
He added that the strategy emphasizes a holistic and inclusive approach, prioritizing collaboration between government agencies, civil society organizations, and the public.
“Unlike previous attempts, we emphasize political will more, recognizing its pivotal role in driving meaningful change within the NPF. Additionally, we are committed to fostering transparency and accountability at all levels of the police force, instituting robust oversight and delivery mechanisms, and ensuring that reform initiatives are responsive to the needs and aspirations of the communities they serve,” he stressed.
An explosion has rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community in Gonna Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The explosion occurred late on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction
Thick black smoke was seen billowing into the atmosphere, with a raging fire spreading fast into the mangrove from a video that emerged on Tuesday morning.
The TNP is a federal transport line that supplies oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State.
When contacted, the Police spokesperson in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko said she would find out and get back to our reporter, though she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
The Punch
A former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has rejected Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s call for opposition leaders to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai, who recently joined the SDP after dumping the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), appealed to opposition leaders in an interview with the BBC Hausa.
Although he did not mention Lamido’s name, the former Governor of Kaduna State invited key opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, to join the SDP.
Responding to El-Rufai’s call in a separate BBC Hausa interview on Sunday, Lamido described the former governor’s invitation as an insult, saying the PDP laid the foundation for El-Rufai’s political career.
“The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP,” Lamido said.
He added: “He once said that there are no adults in Nigeria in politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP.”
Lamido also questioned El-Rufai’s motive for dumping the APC for the SDP and his leadership style.
“Leadership is done with patience and vision, and doing things for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole,” the PDP chieftain said.
Restating his loyalty to the PDP, Lamido said the opposition party has not done anything to warrant his defection.
“If I was going to leave the PDP, I would have done so in 2014 when the APC was formed,” he said.
Lamido also enjoined El-Rufai to put patriotism first instead of showing anger towards others.
He said: “What should be done is to put patriotism first, instead of showing anger towards someone.”
“The PDP has been working to rebuild its strength after losing the 2015 presidential election,” he concluded.
The youth chapter of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Wike, to retract his publicly disparaging remarks against the Ijaw nation and the leaders of this socio-political body.
According to the youths, it is embarrassing that Wike insulted the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, even in death without respecting him.
Addressing journalists on Saturday, the National Youth President of the Youth Wing, Doben Donyegha, who gave the ultimatum, said that it was annoying that Wike abused the leaders of the South-South geopolitical zone less than 24 hours after its delegation met with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Wike, during a media chat on Thursday, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.
Donyegha, who also urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the minister from his cabinet, said that the youth wing no longer had confidence in him and that keeping Wike in his cabinet may affect the president’s re-election chances in the Niger Delta come 2027.
The President of the PANDEF youths also asked the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate the minister, alleging land-grabbing activities in the FCT.
