Day: July 3, 2023

Angolan head of State João Lourenço asked the new boss of the General Inspectorate of State Administration (IGAE) Ângelo de Barros Veiga Tavares to keep the visibility gained by the institution in recent years.

The president made the call during the swearing in ceremony of the new Inspector General of IGAE, Ângelo de Barros Veiga Tavares, this Monday.

The head of State also swore in the new deputy governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA) Maria Juliana de Fontes Pereira and the executive director of this financial institution Maria de Fátima Trindade Poças.

The Head of State said that he expects from the new officials “all the dedication to work in order to fulfill with success the functions to which they were appointed.

Prior to his appointment to the new position, Ângelo Tavares was adviser to the President of the Republic, after having been Minister of the Interior.

He takes over from Sebastião Ngunza, who becomes Chief Justice of the Court of Auditors

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The new Inspector General of State Administration (IGAE) Ângelo de Barros da Veiga Tavares Monday guaranteed that he will contribute to the promotion of good governance.

IGAE boss made the pledge after being sworn in by the President João Lourenço, stressing the importance to contribute with actions of education and awareness for civil servants, so that the structures of the central and local administration of the State fulfill their responsibilities.

Speaking to the press, the Inspector General also pledged to cooperate with the institutions, such as the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) and the Constitutional Court.

Ângelo de Barros da Veiga Tavares said that the cooperation of the IGAE will extend to the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Criminal Investigation bodies and the Financial Information Unit.

In addition to Ângelo Tavares, the President swore in the new deputy governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA) Maria Juliana de Carvalho Van-Dúnem de Fontes Pereira and the Executive Administrator of the Board of Directors of this financial institution, Maria de Fátima Trindade Poças.

Prior to his appointment to the new position, Ângelo Tavares was adviser to the President of the Republic, after having been Minister of the Interior.

He takes over from Sebastião Ngunza, who becomes Chief Justice of the Court of Auditors

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

National Assembly (AN) members Monday in Luanda agreed on systematisation of the Draft Law on Freedom of Assembly and Demonstration, proposed by the opposition UNITA party.

This was during a debate in the specialty on Draft Law, after the previous session held in general terms that approved the document with 172 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions.

Mihaela Webba, of UNITA party, said from now on the document will contain a preamble and four chapters.

The first chapter will deal with general provisions, the second with freedom of assembly, the third with freedom of demonstration and the fourth on final and transitory provisions.

In turn, the MPLA MP, António Paulo, explained that the exclusion of entities of collective nature derives from the nature of the Law, stating that the “article 47 of the Constitution is clear, as it deals with the right of assembly and demonstration of citizens”.

He reiterated that “these are rights or freedoms to be used by citizens in the framework of the exercise of citizenship and civic participation”. He added that the freedom of assembly and demonstration when staged in public places require prior notification.

The law, which began to be discussed on Monday, with 20 articles, scraps the Law 16/91 of 11 May – Law on the Right of Assembly and Demonstration, currently in force.

The specialty discussion, which continues in the coming days, is an important stage in the legislative process as it serves to analyse and debate in detail and specific provisions of the bill

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Angolan head of State João Lourenço arrived Monday in the province of Benguela to witness the ceremony for the transfer of the concession of rail services and logistics support for the Lobito Corridor.

At Catumbela airport, João Lourenço was welcomed by the provincial governor, Luís Nunes, and members of the Executive.

The ceremony will take place on Tuesday (4th) in Lobito, coastal Benguela province.

Heads of State from Zambia Hakainde Hichilema and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Félix Tshisekedi are expected on Tuesday in the province of Benguela for the event.

Zambia and the DRC share border with Angola and are linked to the Lobito corridor project.

The three heads of State are expected to deliver speech, according to the programme reached ANGOP this Monday.

The programme includes the transfer notice for the concession of rail and logistics services to support the Lobito Corridor to the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium, the inauguration of the fiber optic link between Angola and Zambia, by video call.

Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium is made up of Trafigura, Vecturis and Mota Engil, the winner of the international competition on November 4, 2022.

It is responsible for transporting heavy loads as well as maintaining the infrastructure of the Benguela Railway (CFB).

In turn, the CFB will be in charge of transporting passengers and lighter loads.

Lobito Corridor extends from the port of Lobito, bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, and crosses Angola from West to East, passing through the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico.

It covers the mining areas of Katanga province in the DRC and Copperbelt in Zambia.

The corridor represents the shortest route to a port from the mineral-rich areas of DRC and Zambia.

For the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the corridor is crucial for development in the region, with benefits for Angola and neighbouring countries (DRC and Zambia).

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Angolan authorities have recorded in the last 8 years 142 cases of human trafficking, said Monday the national director of Human Rights, Yannick Bernardo.

The official released the statistics while speaking on the sidelines of the “training and awareness workshop on human trafficking for media professionals”.

He mentioned 26 cases as being sentenced and three acquitted.

However, he noted that, in the context of combating human trafficking, “there has been, since 2014, an Inter-ministerial Commission that outlines strategies to oppose actions related to human trafficking”.

Yannick Bernardo blamed the cases of human trafficking for the longest border, prompting the national authorities to enhance surveillance.

In view of the harmful effects of these acts, the official stressed the need for the media to help raise society’s awareness of the phenomenon.

The training meeting on human trafficking is attended by 25 journalists from different public and private agencies.

Angola approved, in 2020, the first National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Human Beings in the country, as part of the National Strategy for Human Rights.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

One of the greatest challenges the administration of President Bola Tinubu faces is in the area of insecurity.

And the burden of tackling Tinubu’s inherited security challenge is not made lighter by Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution – Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.

Section 14 (1) (b) states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

Unfortunately, the task of providing security for the citizenry by the new administration is both complex and enormous.

This is against the background of the decade-long insurgency in the Northeast, kidnapping for ransom and other security concerns in various parts of the country.

Although some level of sanity has been restored in the Northeast, security experts say it is not yet Uhuru.

In the Southeast the secturity situation does not help matters because it has been compromised by Biafra Republic agitators, even as alleged politically motivated attacks remain on the increase.

This is why the recent appointment of new security chiefs was greeted with cautious enthusiasm by a large section of Nigerians.

On June 19, the president announced Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the new National Security Adviser (NSA) and Maj.-Gen. C.G Musa Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

He also appointed Maj.-Gen. T. A Lagbaja as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), while Rear Admiral E.A. Ogalla now serves as the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).

AVM H.B Abubakar was appointed Chief of Air Staff (CAS) and Mr Kayode Egbetokun replaced Usman Baba as Acting Inspector-General of Police. Maj.-Gen. EPA Undiandeye was also appointed as the new Chief of Defense Intelligence.

During his inauguration Tinubu had hinted at reforming Nigeria’s security doctrine and its architecture.

He also promised to “defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten its peace and stability.

The new Chief of Defence Staff, Musa, is already talking tough.

“Nobody should doubt our determination to bring peace to Nigeria. Anybody, especially the criminals, bandits, terrorists, anyone who thinks otherwise, should be ready to face the music,” Musa said at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja as he officially took over from Lucky Irabor,

The acting police chief, Egbetokun is also spitting fire.

“But if I have to tell you anything, I will tell you that right now I feel like a tiger inside of me ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria.

“And, some other time, I fell like a lion in me ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria. That’s my feeling right now”. Egbetokun said on assumption of office.

Although his language may sound hyperbolic, it is, nonetheless, reflection of his desire to perform in office.

Some security experts say the speed with which the president appointed new security helmsmen is indicative of his desire to breathe fresh impetus into Nigeria’s security system.

Mr Usman Mohammed, a security consultant, said positive body language early in the life of an administration has a ripple effect on performance and outcome.

“Remember that the last time service chiefs were quickly replaced was in 1999 during Obasanjo’s administration. We were just coming from military rule, so he wanted to purge the military hierarchy.

“Subsequent administrations took their time before replacing service chiefs but President Tinubu has proved to be an exception,” he said.

Under the new security chiefs, stakeholders say Nigerians want to see the return of age-old best practices, ethical rebirth and reorientation of security personnel in the discharge of their duties.

Ribadu, the new NSA, during his assumption of office promised that insecurity would be subdued by the administration of Tinubu.

“We will stabilise this country, we will secure our country, and we will make Nigeria peaceful because we believe the time has come for this country to enjoy peace, restore order, and uphold the rule of law just like any other country in the world,” he said.

Experts say one way to improve national security is by upping the ante of intelligence gathering.

“In today’s world, intelligence is a key instrument in political domination and warfare.

“In tandem with the importance attached to intelligence, various gadgets, devices and tools have been invented to cope with the various security challenges of the modern world.

“Intelligence is now a highly technical field where only the best of the security agencies operates. Covert gathering of information for use in neutralizing perceived threats is now highly scientific.

“Nations are secure only to the extent that they are on top of possible threats through the gathering of reliable, non-intrusive intelligence,” said Jaiye Akinyemi, a security consultant, said.

Experts also identify synergy and collaboration as crucial to whatever the new security chiefs intend to achieve under Tinubu.

In 2021, immediate-past IG-P, Usman Baba, said unhealthy inter-agency rivalry had been a major issue that limits the capacity to effectively achieve internal security.

Former NSA retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno acknowledged the same and made it one of his cardinal objectives to ensure that the security and intelligence community work together.

As the first NSA with no military background since 1999, Ribadu faces the unique challenge of coordinating national security and making the various security and intelligence agencies work together.

He has to deliver on it.

There is also a need to train and re-train personnel in the Police, State Security Service, Military Intelligence and the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, as well as other paramilitary organisations, including the Civil Defence Corps.

Stakeholders counsel that a proactive, well-equipped, and well-trained security personnel is a desideratum for accomplishing the task ahead.

There also has to be respect for the rule of law and citizens’ rights in the discharge of duties.

It is gratifying that the new police boss issued a directive ordering all police convoys to henceforth, as a matter of compulsion, obey all traffic regulations.

“Let me end this speech by reminding you that those who keep the peace must be the epitome of peace.

“Those whose duty is to enforce the laws of the land must respect and obey the laws of the land.

“Without obeying the laws, the Police lack the moral high ground to interrogate and bring lawbreakers to book,” Egbetokun said at a meeting with Mobile Police Squadron and Commanders at the Force headquarters, Abuja.

From previous experience, many Nigerians have received this statement with a pinch of salt to mean a mere symbolic gesture common when a new security boss takes charge.

The new security chiefs are therefore expected to walk the talk.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The absence of a witness on Monday, stalled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from opening its case in the petition filed by the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi and his party.

LP and Obi are challeging the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting at the Court of Appeal in Abuja had, last week adjourned till Monday for the electoral body, which is the first respondent in the petition to open its defence of the Feb. 25 presidential election, which it conducted.

When the petition was called, lead counsel to the INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, told the court that the first defendant has three days to defend the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election.

He informed the court that the electoral body has three witnesses to present in its case and regretted that the witness slated to give evidence on Monday was not in court and asked for an adjournment until Tuesday for INEC to open its case.

Other respondents are Vice President Kashim Shettima and the APC.

He asked for an adjournment for INEC to open its case in the joint petition by Obi and his party against Tinubu’s election.

The request for adjournment was not opposed by the petitioners and President Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC.

Consequently, the five-member panel of Justices of the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned further proceedings in the petition until Tuesday.

The petitioners’ counsel Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, expressed sadness, however, did not object to INEC ‘s application for adjournment.

Other respondents counsel, Wole Olanipakun, SAN for Tinubu and Shettima and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for APC also did not object.

The five-member panel presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned until tomorrow for the INEC to open their case.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says forgers of its discharge or exemption certificates risk jail term, option of fine or both as penalties.

The Director, Legal Services, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim said this on Monday in Abuja during the 2023 Legal Officers’ Capacity Building Training.

The theme of training exercise is “The Role of the Legal Officer in the Defence of the Public Service in Nigeria”.

According to Ibrahim, the NYSC Act contains all the infractions that people should know about.

“The infractions are many, like forging the NYSC certificates.

“Also, persons that are supposed to go for youth service as specified in the Act are not coming for youth service while those that are supposed to come for service will do but will not complete it and abscond.

“Therefore, the Act itself has specified what is to be done in respect to these instances”.

Ibrahim also said some attend the orientation camps with forged documents and when such persons are caught, they are arrested by the police for prosecution.

He said that though such cases abound in court, that the exact number could not be determined, adding that they were being followed up.

“The punishment, first of all is to arrest them, the police will now charge them to court and it is now left for the courts to decide if it is imprisonment or fine.

“It is at the discretion of the court to say this is what we are going to do as the term of imprisonment.

“If you are found guilty by the court, the court can give you two years jail term depending on the type of offence or three years or an option of fine or both jail term and fine.”

Regarding Corps Producing Institutions’ (CPIs) involvement in such infractions, Ibrahim said that those caught the NYSC engages in ‘lifting of veil of corporate personality’ of such institutions.

According to him, if they submit names of unqualified corps members they are also guilty and sent to court.

He said the punishment to be meted to such institutions was also at the discretion of the court.

He, however, said that such institutions are not delisted but are allowed to still send the names of their intending their corps members for mobilisation.

He also said that it was worrisome that such infractions were coming up day by day.

On the essence of the training, he said a lot of people were committing a lot of infractions against the NYSC Act.

He said therefore, it deemed it necessary to ensure that members of the public to know exactly what the Act contains and what they should do and should not do.

The Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, said that enhancement of capacity building to stimulate efficiency and higher corporate performance was in line with one of the focal areas of his policy thrust to the scheme.

Ahmed, represented by Ibrahim, said the training was organised to enhance the capacity and knowledge of legal officers in the scheme on their professional roles in the defence of the Public Service in Nigeria.

He said that the training was expected to harness the potentials of the legal officers in the scheme for improved professional services.

“Over the past 50 years of existence of the scheme, our experience has shown that the decision by management to train and re-train staff of the scheme has proven to be very fruitful.

“This is especially in the training of legal officers, judging from the laudable achievements recorded so far by the Legal Unit and the professional conduct by legal officers in the scheme.

“The unit has kept faith with its mandate of rendering quality legal advice to the NYSC management and has shown due diligence in handling cases involving the scheme in different Courts of Law in Nigeria.

“To further contribute to the achievements of the legal unit, this training is an ideal platform to evaluate the activities of the unit with a view to breaking new grounds towards strengthening the values of the scheme.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is expected to enhance their competence and practical performance/service delivery in the areas of legal drafting and litigation in both civil and criminal matters.

Others are legal education involving corps legal activities and general legal advice.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Vice Chancellor, Salem University Lokoja, Prof. Alewo Johnson-Akubo, has urged the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to urgently checkmate candidates’ manipulation of results.

The vice chancellor, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Monday, said that suppressing such would save the education standard from dwindling.

Recall that JAMB, in a statement on Sunday said it had withdrawn the result of a candidate of the just-released Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result over alleged manipulation of her scores.

The board had claimed that one Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme, inflated her result and announced that she scored 362 in the 2023 UTME.

She was awarded a three N3 million naira scholarship by Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman, Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing company and was about to be honoured by the Anambra Government before she was exposed.

According to Johnson-Akubo, this development is not good for the image of JAMB and Nigeria as a nation.

He said that the board should rise to the occasion and nip the evil in the bud before it affected the educational standard.

“Certainly, this is a cankerworm that must not be allowed to dwindle our educational standard nor give Nigeria a bad image before the international community.

“It also means that our universities should equally ensure they do thorough investigation into the status of all candidates admitted for programmes to deprive such manipulators from having their ways.

“For us in Salem University Lokoja, JAMB discovery is a blessing to us; more so that we just ended our 2022/2023 academic session with a thanksgiving on Sunday, and has commenced admission into programmes for the 2023/2024 session,’’ he said.

Johnson-Akubo, however, said that beginning from July 3, applications into the university’s fully accredited programmes such as Law, Accounting, Mass Communication, Geology and Computer Science would be welcome.”

He advised interested candidates to inculcate the fear of God and truthfulness as they applied for any of the institution’s programmes to avoid issues with the management.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Senate is to resume sitting on Tuesday after the Eid-el-Kabir holiday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as the upper chamber resumes, majority and minority leaders are expected to emerge.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), with the largest number of members, is expected to produce the majority leader, while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will produce the minority leader.

NAN reports that while APC has 59 senators; PDP has 36; Labour Party (LP) eight; Social Democratic Party (SDP) two; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) two; Young Peoples Party (YPP) one and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) one.

This shows that seven political parties make up the membership of the 10th Senate, with 50 as opposition members.

The ruling APC and the minority caucus are also expected to fill the vacant eight principal positions.

While APC is expected to produce the majority leader, deputy majority leader, chief whip and deputy chief whip, the four principal positions reserved for the minority caucus are minority leader, deputy minority leader, minority whip and deputy minority whip.

PDP, being the major opposition party, is expected to produce the minority leader, deputy leader, minority whip and deputy minority whip.

Nominations for the positions are purely the affairs of political parties with the majority of seats in the senate.

Findings by NAN show that the major contenders for the senate majority leader’s seat include: Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) and Sen. Mohammed Ndume (APC-Borno).

The duo were among the arrowheads of Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s campaign for the senate presidency.

Ndume served as the Director-General of Akpabio’s campaign committee, while Bamidele was the deputy.

Also, Sen. Adamu Aliero (PDP-Kebbi) and Sen. Aminu Tambuwal (PDP-Sokoto) are contenders for the minority leader seat.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Army on Monday enlightened secondary school students in Ogun on the importance of civil-military relations.

The Commanding Officer of 35 Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Muhammed Aminu, gave the lecture at Agunbiade Victory High School, Abeokuta, Ogun, in commemoration of the 2023 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of NADCEL 2023 is “Sound Administration as a Panacea for Effective Military Operations”.

Aminu, represented by Maj. OS Quadri, Brigade Education Officer, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, noted that the essence of the programme was to continually build the relationship between the military and the civilian.

The brigadier general explained that there was need for both parties to cohabit in a peaceful environment, saying it could only be achieved by understanding each other.

He added that the programme was brought to the school so that the students at there level could understand what the military was set out to do and the prospects in being a military officer.

“Over time, since the transition of military to civillian, there has been a lot of misunderstanding, misinformation and disaffection as a result of long military rule which the country has gone through.

“Since that transition both from the civil end and military end, efforts are being made to ensure that we collaborate and understand each other better.

“There is no way the military can function well without the civil authority and the civil populace and there is no way the civil populace too can exist, we are all coexisting.

“That is why the programme is been brought here so that the students at there level can understand what the military is about, what we do and the prospect they have in joining the military,” he said.

“We want them to know that the military is not a secret organisation, we are open and see how they can fit in to what we do,” he said.

Aminu urged the students to join the Nigerian Army and enjoy the prospect, respect and the dignity in the job, adding that the military was constitutionally established for the protection of the citizens of the country.

In her remarks, Mrs Christiana Odewole, the Principal, Agunbiade Victory High School, described the programme as an eye opener, educative and informative to the students.

She appreciated the Nigerian Army for chosen the school among other schools to benefit from the wisdom and knowledge of the military.

He noted that the Nigerian Army remained an instrument of national unity, integration, development and would continue to enhance its civil-military relations.

One of the students, Bolaji Abdul, expressed delight and willingness to join the military in future.

He commended the Nigerian Army for the lecture and finding the school worthy to be chosen for there 2023 celebration.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria