News
Ojo reiterates Kingibe’s advocacy for recruitment of women in military, paramilitary
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Ojo, has echoed the call by Senator Ireti Kingibe for the recruitment of more women into the military and paramilitary services.
The Minister, who was represented at a meeting with the Board of the Civil Defence, Fire, Correctional and Immigration Services by Ja’afaru Ahmed, the Secretary of the Board said the Bola Tinubu administration is in favour of getting more women into these services. He said:
“The Federal Government has reviewed the guidelines for recruitment into the Civil Defence, Fire, Correctional, and Immigration Services to accommodate more women. Emphasising that, 35 percent of recruitment into the services would be allocated to women.
The Minister’s comment comes two months after Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), had urged military and paramilitary authorities to promote gender inclusivity by recruiting more women into their organizations.
The Senator who spoke during a three-day sensitization workshop titled, “Enhancing Gender Responsive Security Operations and Community Dialogue Project(Phase II)” jointly organized by the National Defence College, the National Institute for Legal and Democratic Studies(NILDS), and UN Women, stated that recruiting more women into these services would promote gender responsiveness and diversity. She urged the active involvement of women and marginalised youth by these services. She said:
“Develop and utilize gender disaggregated data to understand the specific security needs of different demographics specifically women. Inclusive recruitment and leadership. We all know every aspect of the military can do better than they have been doing in the past. We are here to promote diversity and inclusivity within the security forces by encouraging the recruitment of more women and create pathways for their professionalism,development, leadership within the security sector”.
Senator Kingibe, who also is Chair of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs had also at that occasion that it was imperative for more women to be included in governance as their input would br critical.
“We are the giant of Africa and we need to start thinking like giant every way. As long as we don’t legislate on issues concerning women, we won’t achieve much”. she said.
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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