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CDS Praises Navy Over Fight Against Piracy
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has given the Nigerian Navy pass mark in the fight against maritime criminality in the nation’s maritime domain particularly in the area of tackling sea piracy, expressing joy that in the year 2022 piracy was totally eliminated.
Speaking at the decoration of 28 newly promoted Rear Admirals of the Navy, Irabor also tasked the Navy to ensure that the cankerworm of crude oil theft which was impacting the nation’s revenue negatively was defeated.
“In the year 2023, we want to see the complete elimination of crude oil theft just as the Navy has eliminated the challenges of piracy in our waters. This is in the light of the importance the Nation places on revenue generated from oil”.
Addressing the senior officers, the CDS said, “You should count yourself lucky to earn this higher rank but you deserve it because of your hard work but more hard work is coming.
“You are aware of the complex security challenges confronting the nation. The armed forces remains the institution is looking up to reverse the unpalatable security situation in the country. Thank God we have been able to meet up with our mandate of containing the challenges”.
On his part, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral AwwalGambo, assured that the Navy would continue to strive to counter enemies of the nation’s economic resources, particularly crude oil theft and related crimes.
He warned officers and ratings conniving with pipeline vandals and oil thieves to desist from the act as the Navy under his leadership has zero tolerance for corruption and collusion with criminal elements.
He said, “As expected in every performance-oriented organisation, quality leadership in the Armed Forces is essential for the optimal realisation of its objectives. Notably, in the profession of arms, the optimal employment of men and materiel has direct impact on operations outcomes at theatres of operations and national security. Hence, despite the huge number of annual enlistments into the military, only the most dedicated and loyal rise to the very apex of the profession.
“The year 2022 has witnessed significant disruption in all facets of our national lives with the Armed Forces now more than ever required to play more significant roles to ensure security and prosperity of our dear nation. Consequently, the Nigerian Navy and the nation require you to be more dedicated and display unalloyed loyalty to the President, C-in-C in order to address the security challenges confronting our dear nation.
“Your ingenuity, resourcefulness and integrity will be required as very senior officers to reposition the service in order to discharge its constitutional mandate for the security and economic prosperity of our great nation.
“The Navy in collaboration with other security agencies have continuously strived to protect the economic mainstay of the country through various operations to counter illegal oil bunkering and crude oil theft. While there are significant achievements, which must be sustained, there are pockets of personnel still colluding with criminals to sabotage these efforts.
“Let me, therefore, warn that any act of collusion with criminals or sabotage of measures emplaced to checkmate illegalities will be met with stiff sanctions in accordance with the law.
“Note that as leaders of the service, you are expected to be above board and ensure that your subordinates equally buy into the zero-tolerance stance of the Nigerian Navy against all forms of illegalities and criminalities at sea and ashore”.
While acknowledging the enormous support availed the service by Federal Government, Gambo said, “Such encouragement has bolstered gains in critical areas like fleet renewal, infrastructural and manpower developments, which have impacted positively on operations and the nation’s strategic posture at sea.
“I, therefore, avail myself this opportunity to reaffirm the loyalty of the entire officers, ratings and staff of the Nigerian Navy to Mr President, C-in-C, President MuhammaduBuhari, for his unrelenting support, which has enabled the Nigerian Navy to deliver a safe, secure and stable maritime environment for the prosperity of Nigeria”.
To the new Rear Admirals, he said, “While it takes hard work to reach such a glorious height, it takes even harder work to remain there. The armed forces and the Nigerian Navy, in particular,requires you to be more dedicated to addressing the security challenges facing our country”.
The officers shipped with their stripes include Rear Admiral Clement Atebi, Rear Admiral KasimuBushi, Rear Admiral FataiSanusi, Rear Admiral GS Abubakar, Rear Admiral Abraham Zipele, Rear Admiral James Okosun, Rear Admiral AbiodunBankole, Rear Admiral OluwoleFadeyi, Rear Admiral FederickDamtong and Rear Admiral Julius Nwagu.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.