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Our loyalty to Nigeria must be unquestionable– NAF
AVM Nnamdi Ananaba, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Training Command (ATC), AVM Nanandi Ananaba, says loyalty to Nigeria must be unquestionable.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ananaba spoke on Friday in Kachia, Kaduna State, at the final outdoor training exercise for the Army Cadets of 71 Regular Course and Direct Short Service Course 28.
NAN also reports that the exercise, themed: “Battle Inoculation of Exercise Camp Highland’, was held at the Nigerian Army Table Hill.
NAN further reports that the exercise was organised by the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
Ananaba said, “There is no compromise on this.You should fall in line with the leadership concept of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa.
”Which is to nurture a professional Armed Forces of Nigeria that is people-centric, collaborative and capable of meeting constitutional responsibilities in a joint environment.
“Battle Inoculation Exercise is an exercise which once you have gone through it, you become immune to the sound of gun fire and immune to the sound of explosions and bullets flying over your head.”
Ananaba commended the NDA for maintaining this age-long tradition in its training system.
He told the cadets that they were in their final lap of their journey towards the grant of a ‘Presidential Commission’.
Ananaba said, ”You must know that commissioning, you automatically become leaders of men and women in the Nigerian Armed Forces, where much is expected of you.
“I must let you know that the field is yearning for the skills you have acquired during your training.
” Our nation is still faced with numerous security threats ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, banditry to economic saboteurs, amongst others, which the Armed Forces and other security agencies are constitutionally mandated to combat.”
He said the NDA has provided the cadets with all the basic skills, character development and academic prowess that would enable them to fit into the system.
Ananaba said, “Irrespective of the corps or specialty you may find yourselves in after your commissioning, you must be prepared to be drafted at operations.
”They include counter terrorism, counterinsurgency operations, peace enforcement, peacekeeping, and other operations in aid to civil authority.
“Therefore, be prepared to join your senior colleagues in the various theatres of operation in defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our dear nation.
“Go forward with patriotic fervour and courage to discharge your constitutional roles to your fatherland.”
Earlier, the Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, said the cadets after commissioning, would add value to the armed forces of Nigeria.
Ochai said, ” Our adversaries need to hear this clearly. These cadets are some of the best trained officers that we are going to commission.
”They are airborne qualified, they did amphibious training and some elements of special forces, they were also introduced into cyber warfare .”
Ochai assured the nation particularly the armed forces, that the cadets were going to bring a lot of value in confronting security challenges that Nigeria has been facing.(NAN
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Muahammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111 has commended the developmental strides of Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, just as he assured of the support of traditional institutions in the state.
Sultan who admonished other governor’s to also borrow a leaf from governor Ahmed Aliyu who ensures that resident communities enjoys equal benefit from everybody, added that, Nigerians should project what unites us moe than that which divides us.
“In Sokoto, we appreciate what the Governor is doing and we’d like to assure him of the support of the traditional institution so that he can continue the good work he’s doing of transforming our State.
“The Governor and our security agencies are doing their best and this has made the state to record tremendous improvement in the fight against banditry,” the Sultan averred.
While adding that governor Ahmed Aliyu deserves special commendation for the massive distribution of food items during the just-concluded Ramadan fast, Sultan urged Nigerians to always be law-abiding and desist from any act that may jeopardise the long lasting peace the country is enjoying.
Registering his displeasure over how the social media is been used negatively to promote and sow seed o discord, the Sultan said, some unpatriotic citizens use social media to spread falsehood, misinformation and provocative statements that can destroy the peaceful atmosphere the country is enjoying.
He, therefore, called on the security agencies in the country to be watchful of the unpatriotic citizens trying to create chaos in the land.
Speaking during his
Sallah homage on governor Ahmed Aliyu at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Lodge, Sokoto, Sultan
said, “”In Sokoto all Nigerians are treated as indigenes, an act that gives Nigerians residing in the State a sense of belonging.
Sultan equally stressed the need for for state governors to give much emphasis in protecting the lives and property of their subjects, describing security as the basis upon which all societies could progress.
Responding, governor Ahmed Aliyu reassured his administration’s determination to do everything humanly possible to make the state safe and secured.
He blamed unemployment especially among the youths as responsible for the insecurity being recorded in many parts of the country.
According to Aliyu, many youths have joined informants’ groups so as to be getting stipends to make ends meet.
“This administration has so far trained and graduated thousands of youths and women in different trades so as to make them productive members in the society.
” I want to assure you that we would soon embark on another massive skills acquisition programme to engage more unemployed youths in our modest attempt to reduce restiveness among our youths,” he vowed
Gov. Aliyu further reassured the people of the state that his administration would continue to prioritize Islamic affairs, adding that more Mosques and Islamiyya schools would continue to receive the desired attention from the state government.
He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and support to his administration and called for it’s sustainance.
Sterling Bank has made a groundbreaking move by eliminating transfer charges on local transactions, aiming to create a more equitable banking experience for Nigerians. The question now arises: will other financial institutions follow this lead?
On April 1, Sterling Bank announced the removal of transfer fees for all local digital transactions, positioning itself as the first major bank in Nigeria to implement such a policy. Initially, the announcement faced skepticism, with many believing it to be an April Fools’ Day joke. However, Sterling has since reaffirmed the policy’s legitimacy and immediate implementation, signaling a significant evolution in the industry’s customer service approach.
Obinna Ukachukwu, the Growth Executive overseeing the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate, stated, “We believe that accessing your own funds should not incur a penalty. This decision transcends financial implications; it reflects our core values.”
With this new policy, Sterling customers can now make free transfers for all local transactions via the bank’s mobile app. This initiative is anticipated to yield considerable savings for individuals and small business owners who frequently engage in transfers.
“We may not be the largest bank in Nigeria, but we are certainly the most audacious,” Ukachukwu declared. “Sterling Bank is committed to the future of Nigeria, and we are backing our fellow citizens with more than just words.”
Sterling Bank has a history of prioritizing customer welfare, having previously offered financial assistance to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest initiative has garnered widespread public support, igniting conversations on social media and prompting calls for other banks to adopt similar practices.
“We take pride in leading this transformative change,” Ukachukwu concluded. “We hope to inspire others to rethink what customers truly require from their banks, not only in terms of services but also in values.”
On Wednesday, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, convened in Abuja, dismissed the Action Alliance’s (AA) petition aimed at overturning the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi and comprising a three-member panel, determined that the petition, filed by AA and its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, was without merit.
The tribunal concluded that the issues raised in the petition were pre-election matters, falling outside its jurisdiction to adjudicate.
The petitioners claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had excluded their legitimate candidate from the governorship election held on September 21, 2024. They argued that, in contradiction to several court rulings, INEC recognized a candidate who had not been validly nominated by the party.
Furthermore, the petitioners contended that INEC’s failure to publish the name of their party’s rightful candidate constituted a significant violation of Section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act.
In addition to these claims, they asserted that Governor Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not receive the majority of legitimate votes and that the election was tainted by corrupt practices.
As a result, they sought the annulment of the election; however, the tribunal panel denied their request on Wednesday.
The panel upheld all preliminary objections raised against the petition. The respondents, including INEC and Governor Okpebholo, argued that the National Chairman of the AA lacked the standing to file the action, as he did not participate in the gubernatorial election.
They also asserted that the petition was barred by statute, as it involved pre-election issues that exceeded the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
It is noteworthy that AA’s candidate, Mr. Tom Iseghhi-Okojie, withdrew from the race in favor of Governor Okpebholo just days before the election.