The appointment of Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, has definitely changed the rhythm of Police tradition most especially on certain administrative and operational engagements which will surely trigger a paradigm shift for the betterment of our internal security architecture. In his maiden speech, Egbetokun has christened himself a lion and tiger ready to devour criminals in Nigeria, and he matched his words with actions by rolling out his strategic action plans including the establishment of a Special Intervention Squad that will be deployed to the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and other areas prone to terrorists attacks.

In a statement by the FPRO, CSP Olumiyiwa Adejobi who noted that It has however become pertinent to critically analyze the recent developments regarding the proposed withdrawal of Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel from Very Important Persons (VIPs) to form the Special Intervention Squad announced by the Acting Inspector General of Police. One will ordinarily think Egbetokun’s pronouncement is as usual, like preceding announcements by previous IGP’s, which never saw the light of the day, or were never complied with by officers and men on the field.

It is imperative to state categorically that this policy is not a regular procedure as the Ag. IGP’s approach includes the setting up of a committee to guide the process and the exploration of the use of supernumerary officers, in line with the provisions of Sections 23 to 25 of the Police Act 2020.

The incessant abuse of police officers attached to certain individuals and companies on guard or escort duty has become worrisome and detestable, particularly by the present leadership.

This necessitates the drive to not only deploy these officers for strategic police assignments, but to also sanitize the police, review the process and deployment of men on VIP guards, in order to restore the dignity of the personnel in particular, and the NPF in general.

The decision to withdraw PMF personnel from VIPs and establish a Special Intervention Squad is aimed at ensuring a more inclusive and effective security framework that caters to the needs of all Nigerians rather than a select few.

This strategic shift in approach recognizes the importance of equal access to security services for all citizens and seeks to enhance the overall safety and well-being of the Nigerian populace. The current leadership possesses the requisite zeal to enforce the directive and monitor the withdrawal process, ensuring it is seamless while gradually moving away from individual protection to collective general social safety.

By establishing a committee to guide the process headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of operations, the IGP is demonstrating a commitment to transparency, accountability, and actualization of the policy for improved public safety. This committee will oversee the implementation of the withdrawal process and ensure a smooth transition while addressing any concerns or challenges that may arise.

It will work in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including VIPs, to ensure that the interests and security requirements of all concerned are duly considered.

Furthermore, the exploration of the use of supernumerary officers aligns with the provisions of Sections 23 to 25 of the Police Act 2020. This legal framework allows VIPs to employ individuals for their security and have them trained by the police as supernumerary officers. This approach not only provides an opportunity for VIPs to have dedicated security personnel but also ensures that these individuals receive proper training and adhere to professional standards set by the police.

The introduction of a Special Intervention Squad will further enhance the capacity of the Police Force to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging security challenges across the country. This specialized unit will be adequately equipped and trained to handle critical situations and provide rapid assistance where needed. The focus on establishing this squad demonstrates the IGP’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians.

In conclusion, the proposed withdrawal of PMF personnel from VIPs and the establishment of a Special Intervention Squad by the IGP represent a significant departure from previous approaches. The involvement of a guiding committee and the exploration of supernumerary officers under the provisions of the Police Act 2020 ensure that the process will be inclusive, transparent, and effective.

This strategic shift aims to create a security framework that caters to the needs of all Nigerians, promoting equal access to protection and fostering a safer environment for the entire nation.

 

Government, private security outfits must collaborate, says Arase.

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr Solomon Arase, has said collaboration among security agencies and their private counterpart will foster economic growth in Nigeria.

In a statement, Arase said this recently at the 2023 leadership retreat organised by the Lagos Chapter 206 of the American Society for Industrial Security at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan.

Arase who is a former Inspector General of Police, emphasized the pivotal role of public-private partnership in enhancing security. “Such partnerships can lead to improved security outcomes by leveraging the private sector’s resources and expertise to complement the government’s efforts. Additionally, these collaborations can foster economic growth, as security plays a critical role in investor confidence.”

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, ASIS Chapter 206, Mrs. Joko Olanitori, reiterated the importance of fostering strategic and structured partnerships between Nigeria’s private security industry and government-controlled security agencies.

She said that this year’s event was themed, ‘Secured Handshake: A public and private sector imperative for effective security operations and practice in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world’.
Olanitori said the collaboration is viewed as crucial for achieving the much-required progress in addressing the perennial issues of insecurity in the country.

She said the event was aimed at developing innovative solutions to address the escalating insecurity in Nigeria and promoting knowledge sharing and best practices among ASIS members. Olanitori stressed the urgent need for structured and formalised engagement between Nigerian public security agencies like the Army, Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Police, Department of State Service, and others, with the private security industry, to effectively address the growing insecurity in the country.

 

Get ready, let’s fix economy together – Tinubu to governors.

Get ready to work with me to fix the economy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu told governors in Lagos yesterday. He promised to operate an open-door policy. The President was busy as a bee on the 30th day of his administration.

He started with whistle-stop visits to two leading traditional rulers in Ogun State – the Awujale of Ijebuland Octogenarian Oba Sikiru Adetona in Ijebu Ode and the Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo in Abeokuta – to say thank you.

On his return to Lagos, he attended a grand reception organised by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Government House in Marina. Governors across party lines, All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, and the leadership of the National Assembly, among others, attended the event.

Another major highlight of the reception was the joint presentation of a gift to the President, who is the first Lagos State Governor of the fourth republic, by his three successors Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and Sanwo-Olu.

It was the first time Ambode was seen with Tinubu since he left office in 2015.
He said: “I promise to work with the governors through an open door policy that will return Nigeria from the bricks to a resilient economy. Be ready you governors.

“I know what I’m going to do from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so on, and I want us to be partners so that we can rescue our country and make it whole again.”

President Tinubu also thanked party members for keeping faith in him during the long and tortuous journey to the presidency.

He added: “I’m very grateful. I thank my Vice President. You shall receive the joy of giving, the joy of perseverance, joy of resilience and endurance. You will see the reward for this country; it’s going to prosper and be prosperous.

“I say thank you to all of you and I appreciate tonight. I will continue to appreciate more when we work together to dissect the possible economic prosperity of our nation in favour of our children.
“I’m also glad to see former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Thank you, Akin. God bless you all.”

Speaking on behalf of NGF, AbdulRazaq, pledged that state chief executives, regardless of party affiliations, were ready to cooperate and work with the President to ensure the country becomes better and safer for all citizens.

He said: “NGF is excited that both the President and Vice President are alumni of the Governors’ Forum. We are committed to work with a federalist who worked to get things done in a truly federal system. We reiterate our support for a renewed hope agenda regardless of our parties.”

The APC governors at the reception were led by Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) Chairman Hope Uzodimma (Imo).

Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri represented the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Abia State Governor Alex Otti represented the Labour Party (LP).

Other governors were Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarrawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Fr. Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo).

Senate President Godswill Akpabio reaffirmed the National Assembly’s resolve to work harmoniously with the President, telling him: “The National Assembly belongs to you, and all Nigerians.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu told Tinubu: “Lagos is proud of you”. He also expressed confidence in the president’s ability to offer good leadership. He said: “I’m sure you will all agree that since he took his oath of office as the president of the largest black nation, we have seen uncommon pronouncement, uncommon audacity of change, a renewed hope that he promised us.

“I’m also proud of him to say that this is a tenure that begins with a promise of change and, within a short time, we are beginning to see that change. “Mr President, your ascension to the seat was greeted with great war and expectations. We believed in you as a leader, a builder of men, talents, and a custodian of the best ideas of governance.

“I’m happy to say that indeed you are our Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.“You’ve catalysed a series of economic interventions, and policy changes, and you have sown the seed of future prosperity.

“Your administration has rekindled the attitude of resilience and integrity among fellow Nigerians.“We are confident that under your leadership, Nigeria will reach unprecedented heights.

“We stand in solidarity with you in bringing your great vision for Nigeria to life, and we will join hands with the president to rebuild Nigeria.”
Former Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola also reiterated the need to support the president to succeed.

“Nigeria’s presidency is not a one-man job. He should be supported to succeed. “Six of his policies in Lagos, as governor, have stood the test of time and have been adopted in other states and so I urge the governors to support policies that will be introduced by the president.”

Other dignitaries at the event include First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, former Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje and former Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Pedro.

The others are the APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, National Secretary Iyiola Omisore, State Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, Chairman of Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC).

Business leaders were led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Rasak Okoya. Royal fathers of Awori extraction were also present at the reception.

Why I Decided To Unify Exchange Rate Windows – Tinubu.

President Bola Tinubu has said the unification of the official and parallel market rates is to save the country from financial wastage and is in the nation’s best interest.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Spokesman, Dele Alake, the President said he could not continue to watch the country’s resources waste, hence the dismantling of the previously multiple foreign exchange system.

Speaking at a grand reception organised in his honour by the Lagos State Government at the State House in Marina, Tinubu said he could have chosen to keep the previously multiple foreign exchange system and benefit from it.

The president, however, said it was imperative to unify the markets and remove fuel subsidy in the early days of his administration. He said: “I could afford to share the benefit by participating in the arbitrage, but God forbid! That’s not why you voted for me. “We need to take steps to stop the bleeding of our finances through speedy action on fuel subsidy. We have no choice.”

Before the unification of the exchange rate by the Tinubu administration, the country operated four Foreign Exchange (FX) markets which included the Interbank FX Market, the Investors and Exporters (I&E) Window, Bureau De Change (BDC) Window and the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Window

However, on June 14, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced the unification of all segments of the forex exchange market, implying that the exchange rate will rise or fall based on the supply and demand in the market.

Buhari Has Left Daura, Garba Shehu Reveals.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has left his hometown in Daura, Katsina State, his spokesman, Garba Shehu disclosed on Thursday. Buhari had said he was eager to retire to his farm in Daura, upon the expiration of his second term in office.

Buhari shortly after he handed over power to President Bola Tinubu on May 29 in Abuja, left the nation’s capital for his hometown. A durbar was organised to welcome him back home and the president thanked his people for the reception.
However, on Tuesday, pictures of the ex-President and his successor, President Bola Tinubu, in London, circulated widely.

The duo held a private meeting but the outcome was not disclosed.However, there were rumours that the meeting was about Buhari getting a soft landing for his appointees, some of whom are being probed by the current administration.

But in a statement on Thursday, Shehu described the report as fake news, saying no one attended the meeting aside from the two leaders. Shehu also hinted that the former President had left Daura, but he did not disclose his destination.

He said Buhari had “moved out to a more distant place,” because he could not find the quietness he wished for, as “visitors troop in morning, day and night.”Shehu said “He chose to go home in Daura hoping to find the type of quiet he wished for himself but realizing that this was not the case, visitors trooping in morning, day and night, he moved out to a more distant place.

“It remains his wish that he be allowed to have his needed rest, and for the Tinubu administration to have the right atmosphere to work on the realisation of the promises they made.”

On Sallah day, buhari Sallau, one of the ex-president’s aides, released pictures of Buhari with his family members.
It is unclear where the pictures were taken. In April, Buhari vowed to relocate to the neighbouring country, Niger Republic, if there’s any distraction in Daura.

“If they make any noise to disturb me in Daura, I will leave for the Niger Republic.”
“I deliberately arranged to be as far away as possible. I got what I wanted and will quietly retire to my hometown,” he reportedly said.

 

CBN Sets N50,000 As Daily Limit On Contactless Payments.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has placed a N50,000 daily limit on contactless payments either through bank accounts or digital wallets.

The CBN disclosed this on Tuesday in a circular titled, “Transaction Limits on Contactless Payments” signed by its Director, Payment System Management Department, Musa Jimoh. The apex bank also limited the amount per transaction to N15,000 on contactless payments.

 

God Will Not Give You A Burden That You Cannot Carry – Tinubu To Nigerians.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday in Lagos urged Nigerians to have faith in God that the country will experience peace, stability and prosperity.

Speaking to journalists after observing the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at Dodan Barracks prayer ground, the President stressed the need for unity and cooperation, appealing to Nigerians to eschew ethnic and religious rivalries. This was made known on Wednesday in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake.

While noting that Allah would not burden the country with what it cannot bear, the President said: ‘‘I thank Almighty Allah for keeping us in good health till today and pray to Him to grant us robust health and prosperity. May our sacrifices turn to prosperity. We have to make the sacrifices and that is clear, we have to.

”But Allah will not give you a burden that you cannot carry. He is there for us. We must have faith in the country. Have faith in ourselves, believing that as citizens of this country, we must join hands to build the nation.”

I’m Only Interested In The Olubadan Crown – Ladoja Replies Gov. Makinde.

A former Governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Rashidi Ladoja has rejected the recent elevation of himself and some other chiefs to beaded crown oba by Governor Seyi Makinde.
According to Ladoja, he is not interested in any other crown apart from the Olubadan crown.

Recall that Governor Makinde of Oyo State had approved the promotion of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja alongside ten other Ibadan High Chiefs to beaded crown Obas.

The Governor recently signed the Chieftaincy Amendment Bill into law seeking to grant him autonomy to present beaded crowns and coronets to chiefs in the state.

But reacting to the development while speaking to journalists at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan, the state capital on Wednesday, Ladoja said his only interest is the Olubadan stool and he won’t be distracted.

 

He Was Surrounded By Armed Thugs – Osun Govt Explains Why Adeleke Left Eid Praying Ground.

The Osun State government on Wednesday alleged that some armed thugs sponsored by former Senate spokesperson, Ajibola Basiru attempted to harm the state Governor, Ademola Adeleke.

The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed made this known in a statement on Wednesday. Governor Adeleke abruptly left the central Eid ground in Osogbo, upset over a chaotic seating arrangement that prevented him from participating in the two raka’at rite.

Explaining what transpired, the Governor’s spokesperson said there was an attempt on the Governor’s life but his security team and God saved him from the attack.

He added that security information had it that the thugs were imported to eliminate the Governor and key government functionaries.

According to him, Senator Bashiru played a prominent role in the chaos that ensued.
Reacting to the allegations in a telephone interview, Senator Ajibola Basiru denied the claims made by the Governor’s spokesperson, adding that anybody who blames him for complicity in what transpired needs a psychiatric evaluation.

In his own view, it was thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Muniru Raji that assaulted him at the praying ground.
Senator Basiru said the thugs removed his turban and tried to take him away but the worshippers stood against them.

 

Governorship candidate provides update on Akeredolu’s health condition amid death rumour.

A former governorship candidate in Ondo State, Olusola Oke, has described those circulating death rumour about the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, as being wicked, saying the governor is rapidly responding to treatment.

According to The Cable, Oke said those peddling fake death rumours regarding the governor are trying to cause apprehension in the state.“As mortals, we can fall ill. The governor, like any human being, can fall ill. When illness comes, we seek medical treatment and take deserving rest. This the governor has done and is rapidly responding to treatment,” he stated.

“Spreading serial orchestrated rumour through cloned media platforms to harass his family, admirers and the good people of Ondo state of his death is not only ungodly, it reveals the toxic of wickedness and inhumanity in the minds and hearts of those behind the rumour mill.

“It is now realised that these deliberate cartels of rumour peddlers have made it a habitual trade to raise false alarm about the death of the governor to cause panic, apprehension and tension in the state and beyond.

“Thank God, instead of morbid panic, the people of the state have responded with prayers and empathy. Daily, they pray for the governor and God, the giver of life, has indeed stood by him, his family and his well-wishers.

“For those who took pleasure in the pains of others by deliberately manufacturing rumours of the death of others, let me remind them that God has recompense for those who assume his position. Life belongs to him and him only,” he added.

In 2016, Oke was the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ondo. He joined AD after he lost the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Akeredolu.