News

Reps Direct NSA to Restore Security in Nigeria

Published

10 months ago

March 13, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has directed the Office of the National Security Adviser, to coordinate and galvanize all security and intelligence networks to develop and execute a proactive master plan to restore security with defined plans on coordinating with neighbouring countries and the plan must include boots on ground land and aerial sweep of locations that include but not limited to Kuyambana Forest in Zamfara, Kamuka Forest in Kaduna, Falgore Forest in Kano, Borgu and Zugurma Forests in Niger State.

The House also urged the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), to revisit and optimize fully the Acts passed for the National Counter Terrorism Centre as well as The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons , and ensure that they fully serve the purpose of their establishment.

The House further urged the Federal Government to absolve the Military and Security establishment from the restrictive envelope budget system, allowing them to develop a robust budget that is based on need assessments that reflects security peculiarities and reality on ground.

These resolutions was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the “Urgent Need to Tackle the Abhorrent Abduction of Over 200 Students in Kuriga Community of Chikun And Secure Lives & Property in Kaduna State”, moved by Rep. Ahmed Munir.

The motion reads: “The House notes that on March 7th 2024, gunmen stormed Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School and Government Secondary School in Kuriga Community where over 200 students and teachers have been forcibly abducted and moved to the forest unchallenged;

“Also notes that two months back, this ugly menace occurred in the same community where a school principal, Malam Abu Sufyan, was killed days earlier and his wife and baby abducted. The wife and baby were later rescued in a successful joint security operation on 3rd February 2024.

“Aware that on Friday 8th March 2024, gunmen attacked worshippers in a mosque at Angwar Makera, Kwasakwasa Community in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, with two persons declared dead. This worrisome trend of violence is seeping in to other parts of the state affecting persons of all religious and ethnic backgrounds.

“Concerned that despite the 3.25 trillion Naira allocated to the defense and security sector on drones and other military equipment that could have tracked, located and rescued victims represent 11.8 percent of the national budget in 2024, yet, there has been no respite as bulk of the actions by security personnel are reactionary rather than proactive”.

The lawmaker expressed concern about the negative effect of the restrictive envelope system, that does not prioritize the actual needs assessment of the security sector when it comes to procurement, planning and recruitment of personnel.

“Aware that in May 2014, the Nigerian Government with an initial ten million dollars, with another additional pledge of ten million dollars from coalition of Nigerian business leaders along with the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown launched the Safe Schools Initiative, whereby the fund is to be managed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, for protection of students and teachers in areas prone to security threats.

“The “Safe School Initiative” entails a combination of (1) school-based interventions; (2) community interventions to protect schools; and (3) special measures for at-risk populations” A decade has gone by and yet the utilization and impact of this fund is at best questionable;

“Also aware that the factors fueling insecurity ranging from illicit drug trade, human trafficking and proliferation of small arms is a serious threat to the development of Kaduna State and the Nation and therefore a coordinated effort encompassing all security apparatus and relevant agencies that include and nit limited to Army, Navy, Air force, Police, Civil Defense, Immigration, Customs, NDLEA, DSS, DIA, NIA, Military Intelligence, Financial Intelligence Unit to track terrorism funding, NAPTIP, Refugee Commission anchored by the Office of the National Security must quit working in silos and draw up and execute a comprehensive plan. A Marshall plan on security with short-, medium- and long-term goals with specific timelines that holds security personnel found incapable accountable and to be replaced with capable hands;

“Cognizant that Kaduna State borders the North-Western states of Zamfara, Katsina and Kano, borders the North-Eastern State of Bauchi and the North Central States of Plateau, Nasarawa, Abuja and Niger and therefore an isolated plan for just Kaduna alone will be ineffective without taking cognizant of border communities and even neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin Republic and the wider Sahel”.

The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated the Committee on Finance to investigate the utilization and effectiveness of the Safe School Initiative Fund and report back to the House within four weeks.

The House also mandate the Committees on National Security, Finance and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

The House thereafter observed a minute silence for lives lost to insecurity.

News

Christmas in Naija: How We Dey Manage Celebrate Despite Wahala

Published

4 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

For Naija, Christmas no be just ordinary holiday. Na time wey hope dey shine, vibe dey sweet, and gratitude dey full everywhere. Na that time of the year wey, no matter how life don hard, people go try “show face” because Christmas na big deal. But lately, with the way everything dey cost and suffer no dey reduce, celebrating Christmas don turn wahala for many families.

Still, as we dey talk, “Man no fit kill himself.” Nigerians no dey carry last. We sabi find ways to flex and celebrate the birth of Jesus, even if na to cut corner or manage small.

Cost Wahala: Everything Don Cost Die

You no need any prophet to tell you say things for market don turn another level. Everything don cost! From rice to chicken, even maggi cube sef don follow increase. Wetin you go talk about live chicken? E don be like say to chop chicken for Christmas na for rich people alone. Rice wey people dey buy for ₦20,000 before don near ₦100,000. Wetin we go do?

But for Naija, no Christmas without rice and chicken. E be like wedding without music, e no complete. So, people dey hustle extra hard. Tailors no fit sleep because everybody wan sew new clothes. For market, na haggling full everywhere as buyers dey try drag price wey don already high.

Yet, hope still dey. Naija people dey always talk say, “God no go shame us.” Somehow, everybody dey find way.

December Rush: Going Back to the Village

One of the sweetest things about Christmas for Naija na the “back to village” movement. Whether you dey Lagos, Abuja, Sokoto, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Ibadan ofPort Harcourt, December na time to reconnect with your roots. But my brother, the journey no easy o.

Transport fare dey mad. Fuel price dey high, so drivers no dey smile. Imagine paying ₦40,000 from Lagos to Enugu wey before na ₦7,000. Still, people dey go because, as dem go talk, “Home sweet pass anywhere.”

Na the road matter sef dey pain pass. Traffic go tie you like wrapper, police go dey disturb you for checkpoints, and bad roads no go allow you rest. But trust Nigerians; we sabi manage. With small gist, music, and snacks for road, the journey go dey bearable.

Decorations and the Christmas Feeling

No matter the hardship, December still dey sweet for Naija. Streets go dey shine with Christmas lights, even if e no plenty like oyinbo countries. Small businesses go hang blinking lights, and some churches go do nativity scenes. Children go sing carols, mixing English and local hymns.

For house, families dey try decorate, no matter how small. If you no fit buy Christmas tree, palm frond dey available. Just add ribbon join am, and your tree don complete. Nigerians go just laugh say, “Na manage we dey manage, but e go still sweet.”

The Christmas Food: Make Everybody Chop

For Naija, food na the center of Christmas celebration. Even if na one kind year wey e be like say soup no too dey plenty, Christmas day different. Rice, whether na Jollof or fried, e must show. Chicken, goat meat,cow meat or turkey go follow. If you lucky, you go see moimoi, salad, or even nkwobi and isi-ewu.

But the hustle to prepare food no easy. Cooking gas dey cost, firewood no dey too plenty, and food items don turn something else for market. Na there the community spirit dey enter. Neighbors dey share, people dey contribute small small, because as dem dey talk, “Nobody wan carry last, everybody must chop.”

Church Service: The Main Reason for Christmas

For Naija, we no dey forget say the reason for the season na Jesus Christ. Churches dey full on Christmas morning as families go dey sing, pray, and thank God for the year. Choir go sing gospel wey go touch heart, and pastor go preach hope, love, and resilience.

For some villages, dem dey even do nativity play or Christmas drama to remind people of how Christ take start. E dey sweet when you see traditional dance join the celebration. Religion and culture dey mix well for Naija style of Christmas.

Evening Cruise: Detty December Don Land

After all the food and church matter, na groove time! Children go wear their fine new clothes waka round, go house to house dey greet people and collect small gifts (aka “Christmas handouts”). Youths go organize street parties, and local DJs go blast music wey go make body sweet.

For some people, na time to do “detty December.” Bars, lounges, and beaches go full as people go dey vibe, because, as we sabi talk, “Body no be firewood.”

Finding Joy Even When E No Easy

Despite all the struggle, Nigerians sabi find joy. Na about the small memories, laughter from children, food wey everybody chop together, and the spirit of giving. Even those wey no fit afford big celebration still dey thank God o. Some people go do small house party; others go just use the day pray and reflect.

Social media sef dey help. People dey share their own kind of celebration, using hashtags like #NaijaChristmas or #DettyDecember to show say life still dey sweet, no matter the condition.

As We Enter New Year

As another year dey end, hope still dey shine for Naija. The way people dey push through Christmas wahala, show the resilience wey Nigerians carry. Everybody dey pray say next year go better, better economy, better life.

So, whether na rice and chicken you chop, or na garri you soak, one thing sure: Christmas na about the heart wey dey give. Love, gratitude, and hope na wetin matter pass.

Merry Christmas, Naija style!

News

Edo To Get First Lady As Gov Okpebholo Reportedly Set To Quit Bachelorhood

Published

6 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

December 24, (THEWILL) – Barring any last minute change of heart, the governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, is allegedly set to marry his side chick, a California-based lady, Jennifer, the daughter of Sharon Ogaga, who is a native of Auchi and is believed to be in her 30s.

THEWILL reports that the marriage is scheduled to be held in Potter Ranch, California, in January 2024, while Aso ebi for the event is being distributed to friends of the bride for a fee around America, Europe and Africa, the letter of invitation only identifies Jennifer, but does not mention the identity of the husband-to-be, in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to mask governor Okpebolo’s identity and shield him from the controversial move.

What is weird is that Jennifer and her family are being coy with the identity of the man she is marrying.

One of THEWILL’s sources, however, has a direct confirmation that Governor Okpebholo is the “husband-in-waiting.”

“They are only telling people that Jennifer is getting married. They are not revealing the identity of the man. It is obvious they are hiding something, probably they don’t want distractions to taint the ceremony,” one of the sources said.

THEWILL does not know the status of Okpebholo’s current marriage to Blessing Okpabi Okpebholo, the mother of his two daughters, who was a no-show during his inauguration as governor.

It, however, appears that their marriage is over because it is illegal to be married to more than one person under the laws of the United States.

According to one of our sources, Senator Adams Oshiomhole allegedly hooked Jennifer up with the governor.

The governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Osiobughie Okhuemoi, said he was unaware of the development when THEWILL contacted him for comments a few days ago.

THE WILL