Politics

CALLING ON THE FGN TO RETHINK THE DOWNGRADING OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY UNIVERSITY BIU

Published

10 months ago

February 27, 2024

*CALLING ON THE FGN TO RETHINK THE DOWNGRADING OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY UNIVERSITY BIU

“._The Nigerian Army University Biu, (NAUB) in Borno State was established as a means to explore a non-kenetic approach in the service operations against insurgency”…Lagbaja, Lt-Gen._

The philosophy that guided the establishment of the NAUB was aptly captured by the above statement made by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Ge T. Lagbaja during the maiden graduation of about 417 students of the University in 2023. The assertion by the COAS underscores the difference between a formal military academy like the NDA and a conventional University with a military bend.

It recognises the fact that a “military” exists in a larger society that calls for a “strategic” relationship as a bulwark towards sustainable peace and stability. Thus, while the Academy produces combatants along with requisite hardware, the associate University deals with critical non-kenetic matters of “interdisciplinary academic field, centered on the study of peace and conflict strategies and often devoting special attention to the relationship between military history, international politics, geostrategy, international diplomacy, international economics and military power”, among others. That’s why in the USA all the major arms of military have both specialised academies and Universities in tow.

The famous ones being the US Military Academy at West Point and The US Army University (online), West Virginia. China has more than half a dozen of them under a “policy of leveraging the civilian sector to maximise Military power (known as ‘Military-civilian fusion’)”. India established one in Haryana in 2013. Pakistan and indeed many nations concerned with sustainable national security, operate the two systems concurrently. It’s therefore strange the the current Administration would consider diminishing this global best practice.
The strategic location of NAUB, provides government the ample opportunities to even undertake studies as regards the often prenial frosty relationship between Nigeria as an English speaking country with its three French speaking neighbours of Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republics.

The trio share boarders with Borno State, the host state of NAUB. Cross border crimes and illicit weapons have largely fuelled the insurgency in the North East, compounded by dearth of empirical and/or actionable intelligence information from communities in the region.

An Army University could play a decisive role in such cases. The swash of land from Biu, Southern Borno to Cameroon via Garkida, Gombi and Mubi to the East and also through Askira/Uba, Chibok, Gwoza into far north Cameroon enroute Chad had no specialised security-biased tertiary institution like the NAUB. Furthermore, at the time the institution was established, it filled a geopolitical void in Borno State.

Despite the existence of many tertiary institutions in the state such as the Unimaid, the Teaching Hospital, a Polytechnic, College of Agriculture, College of Health Technology, for political reasons the state government didn’t deem it fit to site the Borno State University in the South, where citizens have been yearning for more educational opportunities.
The people’s frustration with this inequitable development was addressed by the arrival of the NAUB. The University has thus, since been seen as a balancing act. The NAUB which is now underway threat has a fundamental role to play in terms of stability in the state, the region and even internationally as a Central Africa security study center.

While calling on Government to consider the NAUB strategic context and save the institution on its own merit, the Borno State Governor Zulum, his Deputy Kadafur, Senator Ndume, Hon. Betara, Haske, Jaha, Balami should impress upon the Federal Government to let NAUB be. They should deem it Honourable to lay the bare facts once more before the government.

The nation stands to gain more in the long run more than the short term resources they want to save. There is no bad education but there could be bad decisions. Let the latter be avoided.
*By A. G. Abubakar,*
[email protected]_

Politics

Zamfara Youths Commend Tinubu Over Yazid Danfulani Appointment*

Published

2 days ago

December 7, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Zamfara Youths Commend Tinubu Over Yazid Danfulani Appointment

Youths in Zamfara State have commended President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Yazid Danfulani as the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative.

The Zamfara Good Governance Forum (ZGF), led by Comrade Abdulsamad Yakubu, described Danfulani’s appointment as a well-deserved recognition of his contributions to the region’s development.

Yakubu said Danfulani played a pivotal role in President Tinubu’s campaign, mobilising massive youth support and ensuring a resounding victory for the All Progressives Congress.

He noted that his expertise in the solid minerals sector, particularly in gold mining, is expected to drive the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative forward.

The Zamfara Good Governance Forum expressed confidence that Danfulani’s appointment will have a positive impact on the solid minerals sector in Nigeria, particularly in Zamfara State, which is richly endowed with mineral resources, including gold.

“We wish to express our heartfelt commendation to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the appointment of Yazid Danfulani as the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative,” Yakubu said.

“Yazid Danfulani’s appointment is a testament to his exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to the development of Northern Nigeria. As a great mobilizer, he played a pivotal role in President Tinubu’s campaign, galvanising massive youth support and ensuring a resounding victory for the party’s presidential candidate.

“The Zamfara Good Governance Forum believes that this appointment is a well-deserved recognition of Danfulani’s contributions to the region’s development. His expertise in the solid minerals sector, particularly in gold mining, will undoubtedly be an asset in driving the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative forward.

“As the Executive Secretary, Danfulani will oversee the implementation of the initiative, which aims to formalize and regulate the artisanal gold mining sector in Nigeria. This initiative has the potential to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and reduce illegal mining activities in the region.

“The Zamfara Good Governance Forum is confident that Danfulani’s appointment will have a positive impact on the solid minerals sector in Nigeria, particularly in Zamfara State, which is richly endowed with mineral resources, including gold ².”

Politics

Namibians elect Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president

Published

4 days ago

December 5, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Namibians elect Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president

Namibian Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) party has been elected the first female president of the Southern African country.

Namibia’s electoral commission on Tuesday announced Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwah as the winner of the election that was held on November 27.

The announcement of the result was delayed until Tuesday as voting was extended in some places due to technical glitches and ballot paper shortages.

According to the result by the electoral commission, Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, polled 57 per cent of the votes, surpassing the 50 per cent requirement to win. Her challenger, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party, came second with roughly 26 per cent of votes.

In the National Assembly election, Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwah-led SWAPO won a majority of seats, 51 of the 96, while the IPC won 20 seats.

“The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability,” Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah said after being declared president-elect on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the IPC has vowed to challenge the election’s outcome in court, describing the process as “deeply flawed.”

Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory now extends SWAPO’s 34-year rule in Namibia since it led the country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.

Politics

Senate summons Keyamo over flight delays, others

Published

4 days ago

December 5, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Senate summons Keyamo over flight delays, others

The Senate on Wednesday summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo; Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo; airline operators and other relevant stakeholders over the incessant flight delays and cancellations by airlines.

Adopting a motion to that effect, sponsored by Senator AbdulFatai Buhari (APC Oyo North) during plenary, the Red Chamber particularly charged its Committee on Aviation to unravel the circumstances behind the incessant flight delays and cancellations to find lasting solutions to the problem.

The PUNCH exclusively reported on Wednesday that about 2,000 air passengers lost 19,274 pieces of luggage between January and June this year, according to data from the Federal.

The report stated that data obtained from the half-year report of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, an agency of the Federal Government that regulates civil aviation, further indicated that 19,250 passengers were delayed for long hours during the review period.

Senator Buhari, while presenting the motion, said the problem which he noted had been on the increase in recent times, is all over the media.

“This development is worrisome as air travel is one of the most reliable, dependable, and quicker means of transportation, often undertaken for business/official purposes and to keep other scheduled appointments, which are usually time-bo,” he said

Therefore, he cautioned that “unwarranted flight delays and cancellations will be counterproductive to the socio-economic growth and development of this country.”

The lawmaker noted that as part of interventionist measures to check unethical and unwholesome practices of the practitioners in the àviation sector, the NCAA is statutory empowered through the enactment of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, to among other things, provide oversight and guidelines aimed at ensuring that airlines operate within the contemplation of international standards in Nigeria and to ensure that airline customers get value for the services paid for.

Buhari pointed out that “the quest for economic diversification and foreign direct investment, which are parts of the current administration’s policy thrust, will remain an illusion if the country’s aviation industry falls short of the acceptable best practices across the globe.”

“Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Regulations of 2023, makes provisions for consumer protection in the civil aviation industry in Nigeria.”

He added, “However, enforcement has been an issue as most Nigerians are not even aware that they are entitled to compensation for time lost due to unnecessary delay, hence the need for the NCAA to activate this aspect of its regulation so that airline operators will sit up and be alive to their responsibilities.”