National
Defense Chief holds peace initiative in Southern Kaduna
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has renewed its commitment to supporting peace and tolerance in Southern Kaduna by holding a 5-days peace initiative across the Local Government Areas with the sole aim of mitigating and preventing religious conflicts.
The event which took place in Jema’a, Kachia, and Zango Kataf Local Governments on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, draws participants across the eight Local Government Areas.
Addressing the participants, the Chief of Defense Staff, who spoke through his Special Adviser, Mr. Musa Likita said Gen. Christopher Musa was committed to resolving the insecurity challenges in the Southern Kaduna region.
The Special Adviser gave the Fulani, Hausa, and Christian representatives the privilege to voice out their grievances to find out some of the subsequent causes of conflict within their communities.
He urged all parties to embrace peace for development to thrive in the region. He also pleaded with them to sheath their swords.
According to him, the summit aimed at identifying the remote causes of insecurity that have bedeviled the area over the years through community-based solutions.
Some of the participants identified some of the problems, citing a lack of discipline among Parents towards their children.
According to them, Parents must be vigilant about the whereabouts and the kind of company their children keep.
” Communities must take decisive action against known criminal elements living within their domain.
” We are calling on the Government to organize community patrol on vulnerable Communities, noting that will send fear to the criminal elements terrorizing them.
The participants also pledged to collaborate with the military to chase away criminals terrorizing their communities.
” We are appealing to the Government to help deploy soldiers in vulnerable Communities to help restore confidence and hope.
The Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Peace Commission, Dr. Saleh Momale, commended the Chief of Defense Staff over the initiative, noting it helped in mitigating conflict in the State.
He explained that for the past years, the major challenges were inter-communities conflict that has a relationship with different ethnicities and religions which we generally characterize as religious conflict.
” We are happy because of the various interventions and the commitment that numerous stakeholders put in place over the years we’re witnessing an increasing decline in many parts, particularly in the Southern Part of the State, adding the Urban metropolitan centers have witnessed continuous peace and stability, ” He stated.
” Most of the Local Governments that were witnessing ethanol religious conflicts as well as violence between farmers and herders have reverted to peaceful coexistence, stressing that even though, there were some challenges relating to management access to resources; like grazing areas, farmlands and addressing the challenges of crop damages and occasional disputes.
Analyzing the insecurity challenges, he maintained that violence is now very minimal but occurs in only a few communities.
He commended the religious leaders for working hard to create the right mindset to be able to work together to approach some of the challenges.
PUNCH reports that some of the Key highlights from the summit include; discussions and sharing of true live experiences toward strengthening peacebuilding efforts and innovative approaches for addressing the insecurity challenges.
The National Youth Vanguard of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected allegations made by Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, who accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, of orchestrating claims of anti-party activities against him.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Adeniyi Wale, described Jaji’s accusations as “baseless” and an attempt to distract from his own political manoeuvres.
“Jaji has long positioned himself as a loyal APC member and a unifying force within the party, but his actions suggest otherwise. His political moves appear more self-serving than focused on party unity,” Wale said.
The APC Vanguard emphasised that Nigerians deserve transparent and accountable leaders rather than those who, it said, manipulate public trust for personal gain. The group also questioned Jaji’s credibility, citing what it described as a pattern of inconsistency in his political engagements.
“The remarks made by Jaji not only lack substantiation but also raise concerns about his reliability and judgment,” the statement read. “Leadership is not merely about holding a position of power; it is about demonstrating qualities that inspire trust and confidence among the people.”
The group commended Minister Matawalle for his efforts in strengthening national security and promoting peace. It said his leadership had contributed significantly to fostering unity and improving community relations across the country.
“Minister Matawalle exemplifies the qualities of effective leadership. Under his stewardship, significant progress has been made in enhancing national security and community relations,” the statement said.
The APC Vanguard further criticised Jaji’s leadership approach, accusing him of lacking the foresight and responsibility required for credible governance.
“This pattern of inconsistency not only weakens the integrity of his decisions but also erodes the confidence of party members and stakeholders who seek dependable representation,” Wale added.
The group reaffirmed its support for Matawalle and urged APC members to remain focused on unity and national progress while rejecting divisive rhetoric that could undermine the party’s strength.
National
Nigeria Advocates for Collaborative Border Control Efforts with Sahel and West African Nations
Nigeria is seeking enhanced collaboration with Sahelian and West African nations to facilitate effective information and data sharing for improved border control measures.
During a press briefing on Tuesday at the Border Security Summit in London, Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo emphasized the necessity for regional cooperation.
“There is a critical need for countries within the Sahel and West African subregions to collaborate more effectively for better international partnerships and information dissemination,” he stated.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted the importance of proactive strategies to not only address ongoing issues but to prevent future occurrences. “The major takeaway from this summit is the emphasis on proactivity rather than mere reaction, as nations increasingly aim to criminalize irregular migration.”
He described the summit as a significant opportunity for border control ministers to collaborate in safeguarding their nations’ borders.
The minister pointed out that organized immigration crimes are not confined to individual countries but are a collective issue requiring shared solutions. He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to combating border-related crimes through the implementation of effective strategies.
“Nigeria has developed a comprehensive border control solution, recognizing that we are not just a transit point. Our systems have been automated with numerous measures introduced to secure our borders and eradicate irregular migration,” he affirmed.
“We cannot afford to lose the battle before it begins, and we are confident that, through this summit, we can present a united front to effectively tackle this challenge,” Tunji-Ojo assured.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to enhancing its immigration policies and collaborating with global partners to combat transnational crimes, including human trafficking, smuggling, and document fraud.
According to NAN, the summit convened over 30 world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, to address significant issues related to border control and organized immigration crime (OIC). The event served as a platform for international cooperation on migration policies, security threats, and strategies to counter illegal immigration activities. (NAN)
The Nigerian electricity sector slowed in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with the electricity production index declining by 1.64% year-on-year (y-o-y).
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says this marks a reversal from the 5.55% growth recorded in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024).
Average estimated electricity generation rose by 2.34% to 4,206.50 megawatts per hour (MW/h) from 4,110.47 MW/h in Q3 2024.
Similarly, electricity consumption saw a modest increase of 2.63%, reaching 4,105.66 MW/h from 4,000.24 MW/h in the preceding quarter.
This is as the Nigerian economy witnessed widespread expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with 21 out of 22 subsectors recording positive growth.
On a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) basis, however, the subsector showed signs of recovery, as the index rose by 22.50% compared to a significant decline of 49.46% in the previous quarter.
The broad-based economic expansion in Q4 2024 can be attributed to several factors, including improved business confidence, increased consumer spending, and enhanced performance in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
The government’s fiscal and monetary policies, aimed at stabilising inflation and boosting investment, also contributed to the positive momentum.
According to the CBN, the improvement was largely attributed to enhanced gas supply to thermal power stations and the continued implementation of the Siemens Power Project, which has positively impacted power generation, transmission, and distribution networks.
Notably, the oil and gas sector benefited from relatively stable crude oil prices and improved domestic production, which provided a boost to overall economic output.
The data also stated that the non-oil sector, particularly fintech and digital services, also played a significant role in driving economic activities.