Gov Obaseki calls for state police.

Gov Obaseki calls for state police.

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called for the decentralisation of the country’s security architecture to check crime and criminality.

The governor said this during the Edo State Security Summit, held at the Government House, Benin City, on Friday, with the theme, “Edo State Security Framework: Repositioning for the Future.”

The governor also officially launched the state’s Command and Control Center, named after former Inspector General of Police and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr Solomon Arase and the Special Force Building, in Benin City.

The governor said the government is partnering with security agencies, leveraging technology, and evolving a public safety system that is anchored on citizen participation, to tackle insecurity in the state

He said, “Crime is local as well as security and until we have a decentralised legislative framework to allow component parts to take policing to a certain level and ensure active collaboration between the federal/central security agencies and local agencies, we will not succeed in fighting against criminality.

“When we started collating data of crime incidents in the state between 2017 and 2020, there was a rise in crime and criminality in the state. But today, we have seen incidents of crime go down drastically. We thank all the security agencies for their collaborative efforts in reducing crime in the state by 47.7 per cent between 2020 to date.”

The governor who said he was proud of the reforms introduced by his administration in the last seven years, especially in the areas of security, said there is still so much to be done to reduce crime to the barest minimum in the state.

“Collaboration with various security agencies has been the key to the reforms we have undertaken in Edo State. We have been collating data in the state using technology and walking into the future. Our goal is to use this data to check, investigate crime, and understand what is going on in various communities in the state.

“Traditional leaders are so key to our security arrangements because, without them, it would have been difficult to get the level of intelligence and local participation and cooperation we have received.

“As we go into the future, the emphasis must be on decentralizing security because everybody knows who comes in and out of their communities. Once we can empower them to have some authority in making decisions to support security efforts, we will achieve a lot more success.

“Looking ahead, we see that the future of security will be driven by technology and we will ensure that those that take charge are responsible and have control. The success today of our command and control center is a collaboration with NCC.”

Earlier, the keynote speaker, Major Gen. Ohifeme Enemai (retd.), said, “The strategy of security in Edo State must cover citizens, businesses, visitors, infrastructure and information amongst others. The security structure must be in place to drive the strategy for a safer and a secure State for all.”

Dignitaries present at the event are former Commissioner of Police and Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor, Fatai Owoseni (retd.); Minister for Police Affairs, Sen. Ibrahim Gaidam, represented by the Director of General Services in the Ministry, Ibilola Edemanya; former Inspector General of Police and Chairman, Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase; and the Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Dankwara Mohammed.

Ekiti hospital plans 80% allocation for medical equipment.

Ekiti hospital plans 80% allocation for medical equipment.

The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Prof Adekunle Ajayi, has disclosed its plan to commit about 80 per cent of its budgetary allocation to medical equipment in 2024.

The CMD, who spoke to journalists at Ido Ekiti on Friday on the gains of the visit of the House of Representatives Committee on Health to the institution, said, “Our gain from the visit is huge. They (committee members) have seen the facility and our challenges. They expressed commitment to help us address some of these challenges.

“For next year, we will expand the scope of what we do. We are going to ensure that we link all our Electronic Medical Records so that the hospital in terms of clinical practice can go 100 per cent paperless.

“By next year, about 80 per cent of whatever allocation we get from the budget will be to improve the facilities in terms of medical equipment. We will also ensure that we create an integration of all the bit-by-bit things that we have done in the last five years.”

Among the challenges of FETHI which the CMD enumerated before the Amos Magaji-led House Committee were huge power cost, inadequate water supply, poor access roads, ecological challenges, uncertain manpower planning and the need to upgrade medical facility.

President Tinubu hails Akpabio at 61.

President Tinubu hails Akpabio at 61.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed and celebrated the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as he clocked 61.

In a statement by the President’s media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, Tinubu described Akpabio as “a political leader whose antecedents and achievements continue to attract recognition at home and abroad.”

The President commended the former Akwa Ibom Governor for his loyalty, dedication, and commitment demonstrated over time, with measurable and lasting legacies to show for his time in various offices.

“Tinubu affirms the outstanding leadership qualities of the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, who became a Governor at 45, after serving as a Commissioner in three different ministries.

“As the Senate President turns 61, President Tinubu wishes the Chairman of the National Assembly, whose service to the nation continues to inspire patriotism, many happy returns.

“The President prays that God Almighty will continue to bless Senator Akpabio and his family,” the statement partly read.

Why Lagos needs N7tn for infrastructure, says Sanwo-Olu.

Why Lagos needs N7tn for infrastructure, says Sanwo-Olu.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said on Friday that the state needed at least a N7tn budget size for infrastructure and basic amenities in the 2024 fiscal year.

Sanwo-Olu, however, added that he would soon present a budget of over N2tn to the state House of Assembly.

The governor, who disclosed this at the 8th Lagos Corporate Assembly, a business forum, tagged ‘Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, BOS Meets with Business Community,’ held at Lagos House, Ikeja, also expressed the readiness of his administration to ensure ease of doing business in the state despite current global business challenges.

“The demands from the report gathered from ministries, departments, and agencies show that if we have the resources, at least N7tn will be needed for the 2024 budget to meet the state’s infrastructural challenges and other basic amenities.

“Though we are proposing over N2tn budget size for the year 2024 to be presented to the state House of Assembly soon and we are having a demand of N7trn, our revenue is far from it.

“That’s one of the challenges we are having presently. We want to fix roads and do it correctly. We need to scale up with modern technology and put in place enduring policies.

“We didn’t anticipate the current inflationary rate. Our focus is on how to meet the demands of our people amid the speculative market,” he added.

He solicited collaboration with the business community as well as the Federal Government to meet the demands, adding that his government was running against time, and he could not afford to fail.

He said, “We are where we are today and if we don’t get it right here, it will have dire consequences for our country. We can have a handshake with the Federal Government.

“Mr President, in recent times, has embarked on trips abroad to canvass for investors to open up Nigeria’s economy as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda. “We can’t give excuses; we need to work together.

“We are running against time. I have a political timeline I am working with. We can’t afford to fail.

“We will need to work together and identify the way forward. We should be able to solve some of our challenges through your ideas and submissions. We must let the MSMEs breathe for a sustainable economy, through friendly policies.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, stated that the corporate assembly had been a very important public-private sectors engagement platform, through which the state government and the business community interact and discussed issues that were crucial to the state’s industrial and commercial growth.

President Tinubu: Nigeria Has Sufficient Manpower For Economic, National Development.

President Tinubu: Nigeria Has Sufficient Manpower For Economic, National Development.

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria has the requisite and sufficient manpower to spur development across all sectors of the economy.

Receiving a report titled, 'Industrialisation, Energy Security, and Climate Change: Issues, Challenges and Prospects,' submitted by the Senior Executive Course 45 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), in Abuja, on Friday, the President said his administration will review the document and integrate salient recommendations into ongoing policies and programmes within the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Commending the report’s wealth of research and recommendations, President Tinubu said: ''I give you credit for a good job done. This report will be treated with all seriousness. You have fished out the issues. You have noted the challenges, and you have recommended very constructive solutions and showed the roadmap to achieve sustainable development goals for our country. Definitely, our hope is renewed.

''Who says that we do not have it as a country? Commitment to research and development; that high level of inquisitiveness, the manpower needed is here."

Earlier, the Director-General of the Institute, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, said during the ten-month period of the course, participants engaged in a series of lectures and seminars, brainstorming sessions, as well as study tours to 13 countries and seven states in Nigeria.

He said the Senior Executive Course 45 comprised of 97 participants drawn from federal and sub-national governments, security and intelligence agencies, civil society, private sector, and labour unions.

''As an apex institution for policy research and strategic studies in Nigeria, the National Institute is entrusted with a solemn duty of charting the course of our national development.

''Our mandate encompasses the rigorous analysis of complex policy issues, the formulation of forward-thinking strategies, and the cultivation of visionary leaders capable of steering Nigeria towards a prosperous and sustainable future," Prof. Omotayo said.

Ogun places N50m bounty on killers of finance director.

Ogun places N50m bounty on killers of finance director.

Ogun State Government on Friday announced N50m reward for anybody who could provide information leading to the arrest of the killers of Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, the former Director of Finance and Administration attached to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.

Oyekanmi aged 51 was last Wednesday, November 29 killed down by gunmen at the Kuto Flyover Bridge, Abeokuta.

The deceased, alongside two others, were accosted by the gun-wielding hoodlums while returning to the Governor’s Office with money said to have been withdrawn from two major commercial banks within Abeokuta metropolis.

The gunmen killed the Ifonyintedo-born chartered accountant and made away with the huge cash.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, who said that the killing of the senior civil servant left his cabinet devastated and traumatised, promised not to leave any stone unturned until the killers are brought to justice.

The state government, in a statement on Friday, has however said that a cash reward of N50m awaits whoever provides information that can help the security agents to unravel killers.

The statement partly reads “Ogun State Government has announced a reward of N50m for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the killers of the state’s Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi, on 30th November, 2023 in Abeokuta.

“Information provided would be treated with utmost confidentiality.”

Putin to run again for president in 2024.

Putin to run again for president in 2024.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has decided to run in presidential elections next March, news agencies reported Friday, allowing the Kremlin leader to extend his decades-long grip on power.

Putin told Lieutenant Colonel Artyom Zhoga, a Russian military officer, about his decision to participate in the upcoming vote following an awards ceremony for army personnel at the Kremlin, state-run news agencies reported.”The president has said that he will run for president of the Russian Federation,” Zhoga was cited as saying by state-run news agency RIA Novosti.”We all—I say this with confidence—in the reunited territories, all of Russia, support him. We are very happy that he heard our request” to participate, Zhoga added, referring to the Ukrainian territories Moscow claims as its own.

Putin, however, has yet to make a formal announcement that he will compete in the vote scheduled to take place between March 15 and 17 next year.

“Our president has never avoided and does not avoid responsible decisions,” said Valentina Matvienko, the head of Russia’s upper house of parliament.

“And today he has once again confirmed this. He confirmed that at the moment of a historic choice and a historic challenge,” she added.

Putin will not face any major challengers and will likely seek as big a mandate as possible to conceal domestic discord over the Ukraine conflict, analysts say.

AFP