NEWS
Buhari launches National Crisis Management doctrine
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja launched the National Crisis Management Doctrine (NCMD), aimed at bridging the gap created by extensive deployment of security services through fostering collaboration amongst Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The NCMD, which was developed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in coordination with relevant MDAs, would ensure greater successes in tackling national crisis.
Speaking at the launch, the President commended the efforts of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), his staff and members of the working group from various responder MDAs for the remarkable work in developing the doctrine.
He described the feat as a significant milestone in recognition of the need for collective efforts towards achieving coordinated, effective and efficient national crisis management.
‘‘This shows the renewed promise and commitment of this administration to managing crisis in the country,’’ the President said, urging ONSA to continue to play its coordinating role amongst crisis response stakeholders, to achieve greater successes.
President Buhari also thanked the British Government for its collaboration in the development of the Doctrine as well as the United States Government for its support, urging them to sustain the relationship.
The President recalled that at the inception of the Administration, Nigeria was faced with multiple security challenges ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, to armed banditry, ethnic militia attacks, oil theft, rape, gun running and various acts emanating from violent extremism.
‘‘The emergence of the Boko Haram terrorist group as well as bandits and kidnappers in Nigeria considerably changed the country’s security situation leaving panic in the minds of the populace.
‘‘These and other security challenges confronting the nation tend to stretch the deployment of our security agencies, resources and national security apparatus.
‘‘Owing to the dynamics of these crises, the Office of the National Security Adviser revised the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) which I endorsed in August 2016.
‘‘Within this strategy are certain works streams which include the Prepare and Implement strands that seek to mitigate the impact of terrorist attacks by building resilience and redundancies to ensure continuity of business; and a framework for the mobilization of coordinated cross-government efforts respectively.
‘‘I am glad that the Office of the National Security Adviser has not relented in its efforts to implement the NACTEST by coordinating relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to develop the National Crisis Management Doctrine,’’ he said.
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In his remarks, the NSA explained that work on the doctrine started in 2014 but was given impetus after the President endorsed the revised NACTEST, which has five work streams namely: Forestall, Secure, Identify, Prepare and Implement.
Further, Monguno said the NCMD, which is a subset of the NACTEST, fulfills the work streams to ‘Prepare’ and to ‘Implement.’
‘‘The doctrine provides a detailed methodology for national crises response, outlining how the various relevant MDAs should interact at the strategic, operational and tactical levels.
‘‘It is to be noted that the NCMD can be used to manage both malicious threats and civil emergencies owing to the general principles set out within it.’’
In a worrying incident, a XEJET Airlines aircraft carrying 52 passengers veered off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Saturday, just 16 days after Dana Air was shut down by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities.
The Airbus, with registration number 5N-BZZ, departed from Abuja and landed in Lagos at 11:29 am.
However, it skidded off the runway of the domestic wing of the airport, prompting the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to shut down the 18/Left runway.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the incident and is investigating the cause of the skid.
No injuries or fatalities were reported, and an investigation is ongoing.
Details later……..
Senator David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has announced his firm commitment to face the House of Representatives’ scrutiny regarding the contentious N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway road project.
Umahi also revealed plans to broadcast the proceedings live on television, ensuring transparency and accessibility for all Nigerians.
Emphasizing the project’s integrity, Umahi affirmed that he and the Ministry of Works meticulously adhered to proper procedures, securing all requisite approvals and documentation prior to project initiation.
He said, “I am ready to face the National Assembly to defend the project. I will not want to say anything now till I meet with the Senators and House of Reps members. It will be live so you will also hear it. It will be live so that Nigerians will see it.
“When people say the project is on personal interest, there is a contradiction there. This is because Atiku Abubakar said the Jonathan administration wanted to do that project which would have cost about $12bn or so. So, whose interest was that administration promoting in trying to do that project?
“I have a design from the NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission) on that project. The NDDC designs are quite bulky. When I was implementing this current project, I had to call for the design.
“There is no personal interest in this project. The idea of that project came from the ingenuity of Mr President (Bola Tinubu) when he was governor; he was the one who procured the right of way within the Lagos corridor and gazetted it.
“The reason for the project taking off now is all about how we can inject some activities into the economy. If we want to come out of inflation, we have to look at investments in infrastructure and that is what this project is addressing. It is addressing a lot of elements of return on investments. There is no personal interest associated with that.
“It is quite petty to ask why it is starting from Lagos and not Calabar. The name of the project is ‘Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road’ and not the other way around. This means there is a zero point, which happens to be at Ahmadu Bello Way, which coincides with the Eko Atlantic.”
On status of the project he opined “That is pure coincidence. We have started the project already and it is progressing. As of today, I can tell you that about 80 per cent of the first 1.3km is completed.”
The standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, intensified on Friday as police presence swelled at the House of Assembly quarters along Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
With approximately 30 officers securing both the primary and secondary entrances and an additional 25 patrol vans blocking other access points, the situation grew increasingly tense.
This development followed accusations by House Speaker Martins Amaewhule, who alleged Governor Fubara’s involvement in plans to demolish the legislative quarters.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara had made a surprise visit to the facility on Thursday afternoon, stating that he wanted to assess the premises following the appointment of a new Speaker.
He said, “Is the Assembly quarters not part of my property? Is there anything wrong in going to check how things are going on there?
“You are aware of the developments. We have a new Speaker, and I went there to see for myself how things are. There might be a few things I might want to do there for the good of our people.”
According to reports, after Amaewhule’s alarm, anti-Fubara lawmakers and certain All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains maintained a vigil around the estate until Friday.
Earlier, a Rivers court had restrained the Pro-Wike lawmakers from identifying themselves as legislators, declaring their seats vacant. Meanwhile, the ‘Sim Media Volunteers’ group, during a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Friday, urged the Inspector-General of Police to oversee police activities in the state and ensure adherence to rules of engagement.
Frank Kilsi, the Convener, expressed concern over the arrest and intimidation of the governor’s supporters by the police, warning that such actions could lead to anarchy.
Kilsi stated, “We call on the Inspector-General of Police to rein in his men and exercise restraint by stopping the unnecessary attack or wanton arrest on any of the governor’s supporters, as further harassment could lead to anarchy and breakdown of law and order that may not do our state any good.
“We, the youths of the state, under the aegis of SIM Media Volunteers do hereby emphasize the need for peace, justice and development in Rivers State.
“We implore all relevant stakeholders such as the citizens, political leaders, traditional institutions and law enforcement agencies, to ensure that the rights and freedom of the people are upheld and protected at all times.
“To this end, we would like to acknowledge and applaud the great youths of Rivers State for being peaceful and law-abiding even in the face of provocation”.
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