News
Group kicks agaisnt establishment of a new security outfit in Nigeria
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
Non State Actors Consultative Forum (NOSACOF) a non governmental organization has kicked against a proposed bill on the establishment of a new security outfit under the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
This was contained in a press statement made available to our reporter in Dutse by the forum’s convener, Comrade Abdurrazaq Alkali.
The group in the statement, called on the president to be cautious over the alleged effort by some politicians and people in government trying to alter certain structural and constitutional changes in some government institutions that may create confusion for his administration.
The statement reads,”Mr President Sir, the present push for a bill by some members of your government to make the National Assembly change the provision that establish the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and allow the NSA to establish and recruit own staffs similar to existing government agencies and parastatals is ill informed and can set a very bad precedence”.
The statement explained further that “concealing the fact that the true intention and motive for such move is about their personal and political interest”.
Comrade Alkali added that “First and foremost, passing this bill will mean that the overall office of the NSA infrastructure will have to be overhauled to avoid conflict with the sections of the constitution that establish it or the section of the constitution will have to be expunged to accommodate the bill provision”.
The forum in the statement expressed the fear that “This has the potential of creating many overlaps in the functions of some already existing intelligence agencies such as National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Department of State Service (DSS) etc with the same vision and mission, aims and objectives that may further widen disunity, rivalry and lack of synergy between the various security agencies”.
“Presently the NSA has been the fulcrum of maintaining and enforcing co-operation between the security agencies, and one key component of its success is due to the fact that it derives staffs and collaborations from the various security agencies, such that the agencies do not see the office of the NSA as a rival agency”, the group emphasis.
“Thus, restructuring the office of the NSA into an agency and allowing it to recruit its own staffs00 will very much reduce the efficiency in the operations of the office of the NSA”.
The statement maintained that “This is because the office of the NSA will not be able to fill the roles with candidates of the desired expertise and speciality, it will end up spending years (may be decades) and billions of Naira to train these staffs to the desired level of competency.
“On the other hand security agencies may be reluctant to share staffs with the NSA as they will feel they are no longer relevant in the office of NSA.
“With the current security and financial challenges bedeviling the country, this is definitely a wrong move and a wrong timing as well”.
The statement also noted that the office of the NSA is known to be one of the only offices that work with highly professional and skilled staffs extracted from the various security agencies mainly based on merit, skills and capacity.
“Mr President, the onus of making the right decisions about our country rest on your shoulders and I am confident that you will not allow such dubious bill to be pushed through using your name and or support”.
The convener therefore commended president Bola Ahmed Tinibu on his proactive actions so far in the implementation of some policies and institutional restructuring in order to salvage the future of this country.
Comrade Alkali concluded, saying, “since the coming of president Bola Ahmed Tinibu’s administration, it is quite clear to all Nigerians that it will not be business as usual”.
The Obidient Movement, led by Dr. Yunusa Tanko, has issued a press statement condemning the circulation of false social media posts attributed to Senator Datti-Baba Ahmed. The fabricated posts, which have gone viral, are described as part of a deliberate smear campaign aimed at damaging the Senator’s reputation.
The movement clarified that Senator Datti-Baba Ahmed does not operate any social media accounts, making all attributed posts entirely baseless. During a recent press conference, the Senator unequivocally dissociated himself from these claims and urged the public to disregard them.
“This is a targeted attempt to tarnish the Senator’s image and credibility,” Dr. Tanko stated.
The Obidient Movement has called on its supporters and the public to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the issue. They urged people to ignore, counter, and report the false posts whenever they appear.
The statement concluded with an appeal for continued support and collaboration in combating misinformation, reinforcing the movement’s commitment to truth and integrity.
The Senate has granted approval for a $2.09 billion (N1.767 trillion) loan requested by President Bola Tinubu to address the N9.7 trillion deficit in the N28.7 trillion 2024 budget. The decision was made during Thursday’s plenary, just 48 hours after the request was submitted to the National Assembly.
President Tinubu, in letters to both chambers of the legislature earlier this week, highlighted the importance of the loan for financing key projects and programs critical to national development.
Following the request, the Senate assigned its Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, led by Senator Aliyu Wammako (APC, Sokoto North), to review the proposal. Presenting the committee’s report, Senator Wammako described the loan as vital for implementing the Debt Management Strategy, reducing borrowing costs, extending debt maturity, and bolstering Nigeria’s external reserves.
The committee recommended raising the loan through Eurobonds or similar international financing instruments, subject to market conditions. It also suggested that any excess funds from exchange rate adjustments be directed toward capital projects in 2024 to support infrastructure and economic growth.
The Senate approved the loan unanimously, with no objections raised during deliberations. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, commended the Wammako-led committee for its swift and thorough handling of the proposal.
This loan approval is part of the government’s broader strategy to bridge fiscal gaps while focusing on developmental priorities and economic stability.
Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, has been arrested and detained by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on charges of inciting public crimes with terrorist intent.
The alleged offence reportedly occurred in Lahti on August 23, 2021. Finnish authorities apprehended Ekpa on Monday, November 19, marking another chapter in his history of legal confrontations.
A source confirmed Ekpa’s arrest, noting, “He was arrested three days ago. But this is not the first time. He will likely be questioned and released soon.” Ekpa was previously detained in 2023 on suspicion of fundraising fraud but was released the same evening.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has also requested the detention of four additional suspects in connection with terrorism-related charges.
Ekpa has gained notoriety for his leadership of a Nigerian separatist group advocating for an independent Biafran state in southeastern Nigeria. Finnish authorities allege that he used social media platforms to coordinate actions that resulted in violence against civilians and authorities in Nigeria.
Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen of the NBI stated that the investigation focuses on a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, suspected of public incitement to crimes with terrorist intent.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has continued to engage the Finnish government through the European Union (EU) to extradite Ekpa. In August, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters emphasized the dual approach of diplomatic engagement and sustained military operations against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, reiterated the government’s resolve, saying, “The FG would respond appropriately to the Finnish Government through the EU. On the part of the military, troops would sustain operations against IPOB/ESN.”
Ekpa, who has represented Finland’s National Coalition Party (NCP) in local government, currently serves on Lahti’s public transport committee. Finnish authorities continue to investigate his activities, emphasizing the potential connection between his leadership role in the separatist movement and violent actions in Nigeria.
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