PLANE CRASH: SANWO-OLU MOURNS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF

•Commiserates With Buhari, Nigerian Army, Victims’ Families

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Army over the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also sympathised with families, friends and associates of the late Chief of Army Staff and other victims of the unfortunate crash.

The Governor described the 21st Chief of Army Staff as a dutiful and committed soldier, who served Nigeria passionately.

He praised the late General Attahiru’s contributions in Nigeria’s efforts to end the war against insurgency, saying the country would miss the rich experience and knowledge of the late Army General.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the Nigerian Army, families, friends and associates of the late Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru and other officers who were involved in the unfortunate air crash.

“The late Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru will be sorely missed by Nigerians, especially at this period when the country is intensifying the fight against insurgency and other criminal elements in different parts of the country.

Governor Sanwo-Olu prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and grant the families they left behind the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable losses.

LAGOS RECEIVES COMMENDATION FOR EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT DISASTER MANAGEMENT

. . . FRSC Seeks Better Collaboration With State Agencies

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has been commended for his support to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and for the collaboration of the State Agencies with the Corps, which has been described as robust.

The Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Segun Ogungbemide, gave this commendation when he visited the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations recently.

Ogungbemide confirmed that Lagos remains the most effective and efficient State in the management of emergency situations in the country and acknowledged that the First Responders like the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Fire Rescue Service had been trained to deliver excellent services even as they had been equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that is second to none in the federation.

“Ï promise that my command will not only collaborate with the State to ensure safety on the high ways, my men will always ensure the safety of emergency service personnel during rescue operations”, he said.

The Sector Commander solicited further assistance from the State, especially in the management of emergency situations at the boundary between Lagos and Ogun States, just as he stressed the need to collaborate with neighbouring Ogun State in the areas of emergency rescue management and support to handle building collapse, fallen tankers and infernos, gas explosions and many other disasters.

He thanked the State Government and used the opportunity to remind the Governor of his promise to support the command with operational vehicles and other needs.

Welcoming the Sector Commander and his team to the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, stated that it is part of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda to ensure that the occurrence of disasters is drastically reduced and when it occurred, be managed efficiently and effectively.

His words: “Part of making Lagos a 21st-century smart city includes the efforts at ensuring that the effect of disasters is efficiently managed, as securing the lives and property of Lagosians remains crucial and of uppermost importance to the current administration”.

According to the Permanent Secretary, it is the policy of the State to provide free treatment for victims within the first 48hours of any emergency, noting that the Trauma Centre along the old Toll Gate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, across CMD Road, is situated there to render such services whenever they are required.

He, however, noted that vehicular accidents could be avoided on the Expressways if drivers adhere to the Road Traffic Law and respect the rights of other road users.

Gaji further advised that public education tools like radio jingles and other advocacy programmes should be used to improve driving etiquette on the roads.

LASG

ForAGreaterLagos

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PIX: Permanent Secretary Dr. Omobolaji Gaji making a presentation to the Lagos State Sector Commander during his visit to the Ministry of Special Duties and lntergovernmental Relations.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru has charged officers and men of the Directorate of Army Public Relations(DAPR) on the need to enhance their capacity on effective information management. He gave the charge on Wednesday 19 May 2021 while declaring open a 3- Day Capacity Building Workshop organized for Public Relations Officers by the Directorate of Army Public Relations in Abuja.

The COAS who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Ben Ahanotu, stated that the workshop is necessary in view of the myriads of security challenges the country is facing. This he said requires proactive and effective media handling, stressing that dominating the media space is a step towards defeating adversaries.
He urged Public Relations Officers to remain proactive and conscious of their responsibilities as image makers of the Nigerian Army. He however noted with regret the negative narratives orchestrated by some unpatriotic elements intended to diminish the efforts and sacrifice role of the Nigerian Army.

He used the medium to call on public relations officers to further enhance their conflict sensitive communications skills in order to build mutual trust among the civil populace.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima stated that the training was aimed at enhancing the capacity of public relations officers in the field. He called on the participants to take advantage of the workshop to improve on their media management skills.

The workshop which was facilitated by the Abuja-based Centre for Crisis Communication was attended by Principal Staff Officers from the Army Headquarters, Directors of Information from sister Services and para military agencies, media executives among others.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has confirmed that the Federal Government of Nigeria has received £4,214,017.66 of the loot associated with the family members of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.

Malami confirmed this through a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, in Abuja on Tuesday 18th May, 2021.

According to the statement the amount has been credited into the designated Federal Government account with naira equivalent value of the amount as of 10th May, 2021.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the repatriation of the Ibori loot on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The development, according to Malami, was a demonstration of the recognition of reputation Nigeria earns through records of management of recovered Nigerian’s stolen fund in the execution of public oriented projects.

Modupe Ogundoro

Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to use its network to promote unity in the country, in the wake of discordant voices threatening the peace and security of the country.

The Minister made the call on Thursday in his address at the Annual General Meeting of NIPR in Bauchi on Thursday.

“I have decided to take up the (NIPR) President on this offer, by appealing to the NIPR, which I consider a key stakeholder on national issues, to use its powerful platform to work for the unity of this country. That task has never been more urgent than now, against the background of discordant voices in the country and growing calls for separation.

“I see the NIPR as a capable partner in the government’s efforts to douse the tension in the land and beat the drum of unity, rather than the drum of war,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said while it is alright for citizens to call for restructuring and true federalism, what is not acceptable is the call, in certain quarters, for secession, stressing that whatever challenges we face today, as a nation, can and will be surmounted.

“In fact, the Federal Government has set in motion the necessary machinery to frontally tackle the challenge of insecurity. We should therefore not allow today’s challenges, whether in the area of the economy or security, to jeopardize our unity,” he said.

The Minister said without a country that is peaceful and secure, there can be no development, adding: ”That’s why this administration is doing everything possible to return peace and security across the country.”

He also sought the partnership of NIPR in the fight against fake news and misinformation, which he described as a clear and present danger to the peace, security and development of any nation.

“Another area in which I want to task the NIPR is the Federal Government’s fight against fake news and misinformation. The NIPR can and should leverage its powerful platform to ensure that the menace of fake news and misinformation is confronted squarely. This is because this twin evil is a clear and present danger to the peace, security and development of any nation,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He urged NIPR to assist the government by ensuring that members of the Institute do not become accessories to the spread of fake news and misinformation.

“I say this because some of your members have been found waiting in this regard, as they have placed pecuniary interests and motives above professional ethics and patriotism.

”If you recall the sad incident of the P&ID saga, it was a member of this Institute, a firm of Public Relations Consultants, that was hired to give the impression to the world that Nigeria indeed entered into an agreement with P&ID and actually reneged, and as such Nigeria should pay over US$9 billion.

”It took this Ministry and others to go to the UK to debunk the misinformation and change the narrative. I have no doubt that NIPR can prevent a recurrence of this kind of behaviour on the part of its members,” the Minister said.

Segun Adeyemi
Special Assistant To The President (Media)
Office of the Minister of Information and Culture

 …As Danbatta receives recognition award

Traditional rulers and concerned community leaders have commended the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta for his role in boosting security and supporting other initiatives aimed at developing Danbatta Local Government Area, Kano State and its environs, as well as his efforts toward national development.

The traditional rulers and the community leaders spoke at an event organised by Danbatta (Community) Charity Foundation (DCF) in conjunction with four other organisations including Zauren Tuntuba, a non-for-profit organisation; Danbatta Academic Forum (DAF); Danbatta Reporters and Duniya Ba Hutu, in Danbatta community, Kano at the weekend.

The event was the graduation ceremony of 10 female students from Muslim Community College of Health Sciences and Technology, Funtua and another 20 empowered females in vocational training focused on tailoring and fashion, all of whom were sponsored by Prof. Danbatta.

The event, which featured the provision of sewing machines and other fashion tools to the two sets of graduands, also saw Prof. Danbatta being conferred with a special recognition award for his immense contribution to the security of Danbatta community, among other community development initiatives.

Speaking for traditional rulers, the Sarkin Bai of Bichi Emirate and District Head of Danbatta, Alhaji Isiyaku Wada Waziri, stated that, “one of the most important things anybody can give to Nigerians presently is security because without security, no business will prosper and people will not live in peace,” adding that “That is why, among all the efforts that Prof Danbatta has made to support the community, his support in the areas of security is valued the highest.”

He emphasised that the local community had witnessed improvement in its security efforts following personal security support received from Prof. Danbatta. “Danbatta has been at the forefront of supporting the community in the area of security by sponsoring vigilante groups and financing all aspects of security planning in the local government area and these efforts have continually yielded positive results.” Waziri said.

He further urged Prof. Danbatta not to relent in his philanthropic gesture of helping the community and acknowledged the critical role which the Danbatta-led NCC is playing in leveraging the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), through the Emergency Communication Centres (ECCs) which NCC is implementing across the country, in enhancing security of lives and property in the country.

In the same vein, one of the leaders of the community and Chairman of DCF, Alhaji Nasiru Danguda, spoke glowingly by reeling out various initiatives by Prof. Danbatta towards contributing to the overall development of the community.

Responding, the EVC thanked the Foundation, its partners as well as the community leaders for recognizing his modest contributions to the development of the Danbatta and neighbouring community, saying “this gesture can only encourage us to do more for our community.”