Security

“Sack Service Chiefs Now”, Senate Tells Buhari

Published

5 years ago

July 21, 2020

..”President Buhari Will Only Do Want Is Right For The Country” – Presidency

Worried by the unabated killings and general insecurity across the country, Senate has once again called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, sack all the Service Chiefs to enable the Upper Chamber to go into the remote and immediate causes of the incessant killings of Soldiers who are supposed to be protecting the lives and property of the people.

The Senate has said that it has become necessary for the Service Chiefs to be replaced especially against the backdrop of recent reports that over 200 Soldiers have deserted the service.

The four service chiefs are Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Marshal Ibok- Ete Ibas.

The Senate resolution followed a motion by former Senate Leader, and Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South who came under Order 42(1) of the Senate Standing Orders as Amended.

Senator Ndume had lamented the high level of casualties among the rank and file of the Military and other Security Agencies, citing a recent case where over 21 Soldiers were ambushed in Damboa in Borno State and also in Katsina.

“The Senate is disturbed that in Katsina again about 20 soldiers were also ambushed and killed while several others were wounded.
“The Senate appreciates the sacrifices of our armed forces in the fight against insurgency, banditry and protection of the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
“The Senate is concerned that if the trend continues, it will have serious implication on the fight against insurgency and banditry in the country,” Ndume added.

The Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC – Kebbi North), in his contribution, called on Security Agencies to change their tact and strategy of deployment in the fight against insecurity in the country.

Accordingly, the Upper Chamber after holding a minute silence for the fallen soldiers, mandated the joint Committees on Army; Airforce; Navy; National Security and Nigeria Police to receive briefing on the state of affairs of the services in this regard.
President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, in his concluding remarks while condoling the families of slain soldiers, charged the Senate Joint Committees to investigate alleged desertion of the army by soldiers at the war front.

He said, “the spirit of this motion is that our armed forces are trying very hard, but just like the President said, their good is not good enough.

“We need to continue to encourage and provide for them. They lay their lives on behalf of us, and of course, it is very sad that some of them are alleged to have deserted the war front.
“We need to get to the bottom of this. Our joint committee should be able to find out the facts about this allegation of over 200 deserting the war front.”

The upper legislative house therefore resolved to call on the Commander in Chief to, as a matter of urgency, replace the service chiefs in order to instill some confidence in the military personnel.

..Presidency Reacts

Meanwhile Following Tuesday’s resolution by the Senate calling for the resignation of service chiefs, the Presidency has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will only do what is best for the country.

A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, moments after the lawmakers’ resolution, said the Presidency had noted it but added that Buhari will only do what is in the best interest of the country.

The statement read: “The Senate Tuesday adopted a resolution calling on the Service Chiefs to resign or be sacked due to the multi-pronged security challenges in the country.

“The Presidency notes the resolution, and reiterates that appointment or sack of Service Chiefs is a Presidential prerogative, and President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will do what is in the best interest of the country at all times.” the statement concluded.

Security

Avoid Disclosing Your NIN to Unauthorized Persons, Groups

Published

1 month ago

April 10, 2025

Sunrise

– NIMC Cautions Nigerians

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a strong warning to Nigerians against giving out their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to unauthorized individuals, groups, or platforms, especially in exchange for money.

This caution comes in the wake of arrests made by security operatives in multiple states, including Anambra, over illegal activities involving the solicitation of NINs for fraudulent purposes.

In a statement released by Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, the Commission expressed deep concern over reports that some individuals in Anambra State were collecting NINs from unsuspecting residents for monetary compensation—an act NIMC described as not only illegal but also a breach of national laws.

“This illegal activity violates the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, the Data Protection Act 2023, and the Cybercrime Act 2023,” Dr. Adegoke stated. He confirmed that in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), those responsible for the criminal scheme have been apprehended and are currently undergoing interrogation. They will be prosecuted accordingly.

Dr. Adegoke emphasized that the Federal Government has not authorized any group or individual to collect NINs from citizens in such a manner, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and to avoid disclosing their NINs to unauthorized persons.

“At no time should NIN holders give out their NINs for monetary compensation. This is against the laws of the Federation. Anyone caught will be dealt with appropriately,” he warned.

He further clarified that the NIN is strictly for accessing verified government and private sector services and should only be used through authorized and secure channels.

To report suspicious NIN collection activities, members of the public are advised to contact the Commission via email at nimccustomercare@nimc.gov.ng or call 0700-2255-646 / 019-23000010.

NIMC reassured Nigerians that necessary steps are being taken to curb such fraudulent practices and protect the integrity of the national identity system.

Security

Tinubu Signs Bill Establishing National Centre for Arms Control

Published

8 months ago

September 18, 2024

Nats Odaudu

The development was made known at a workshop focused on gender mainstreaming in efforts to curb the spread of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, held on Tuesday in Abuja.

The workshop was organized by the NCCSALW. Ribadu, represented by the Director of External Affairs from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Amb. Ibrahim Babani, described the president’s assent as a crucial step in the government’s fight against the illegal proliferation of arms.
He noted that this legislative backing would solidify the centre’s authority and facilitate more coordinated efforts to tackle the issue.

Ribadu also emphasized the importance of gender mainstreaming in addressing the arms control problem, citing key international frameworks such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
This resolution underscored the need to protect women from the impacts of conflict and ensure their active participation in peacebuilding and security initiatives.

AIG (rtd) Nuhu Ribadu
National Security Adviser

He also referenced the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, which highlights regional cooperation in stopping the spread of weapons that disproportionately affect women and children in conflict zones.

“The importance of gender mainstreaming in preventing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons cannot be overstated,” Ribadu said. “It strengthens our strategies and ensures our approach to security is inclusive and sustainable.”

Speaking at the workshop, the National Coordinator of NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Johnson Kokumo, detailed the centre’s recent efforts in combating illegal arms proliferation.
Kokumo mentioned that the centre recently retrieved a substantial cache of illegal arms from the Nigeria Customs Service and arrested 10 suspects involved in illicit importation. These suspects are currently being prosecuted for offenses that include the illegal importation of 544 firearms and 112,500 rounds of ammunition, in violation of Nigerian law.

Kokumo further revealed that the centre has retrieved 3,383 decommissioned and illicit small arms, along with 26,749 rounds of ammunition, from various government agencies. He also announced plans for an Arms Destruction Exercise later this quarter to ensure that recovered arms are permanently removed from circulation.

Highlighting the global implications of small arms proliferation, Kokumo said, “The control of small arms and light weapons is not only a national concern but also a matter of international importance.” He added that addressing this issue through a gender-sensitive approach is both a moral imperative and a strategic move, considering the grave impact of armed conflict on women and children.

“This workshop is a significant step in ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into national and regional strategies for small arms and light weapons control,” he stated.

Security

IPPIS Database Safe and Secure – FG Assures Civil Servants

Published

8 months ago

September 17, 2024

Nats Odaudu

By Elizabeth Okwe

Contrary to apprehensions being expressed in certain quarters regarding the security of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), the Federal Government has reassured civil servants that the System database remains secure and has not been compromised.

The assurance came via a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, on Monday in Abuja.

A news report (not SunriseNigeria) had claimed that the ‘IPPIS Payroll Validation section on the official website of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation had been hijacked by an unknown hacker.

It also claimed that workers’ data stored on the official website of the IPPIS Secretariat, a department at the OAGF, was susceptible to attack because the secure site layer feature of the website had expired and remained unrenewed for over a year.

However, in the statement, the OAGF said the government is committed to maintaining and operating a safe and efficient personnel and payroll management system.

Checks by our correspondent showed that the IPPIS section of the website was still inaccessible when this report was filed.

Mokwa stated that “the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System database has not been compromised,” and reaffirmed that employees’ personnel data was secure.

The OAGF, which is responsible for overseeing the management of the IPPIS and other federal financial initiatives, revealed that it has implemented an ICT Security Policy aimed at safeguarding its digital assets.

According to the OAGF, this policy aligns with global best practices in cybersecurity, ensuring the continuous protection of sensitive data within government systems.

“No data is saved on the OAGF website,” the statement clarified, addressing rumours that sensitive information may have been stored or compromised through the website.

“The IPPIS uses the website only to share information, not for transactions. Neither payroll nor payments are made through the website, therefore, no data is contained in the website,” Mokwa stated.

The statement further clarified that the IPPIS Validation Portal, recently developed to update employee information, had been deployed for a specific period. Once the data validation exercise was completed, the portal was shut down permanently to prevent any further access.

“The IPPIS Validation Portal was deployed on a secure platform,” the statement read, adding that a secure database and application system were procured from HELIX-FONS, a reputable international software provider.

The office acknowledged that the IPPIS is of utmost importance to Nigerian workers, thus it became imperative to assuage the fears of any loss or breach of employees’ data in the IPPIS database.