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President Tinubu Has Raise the Bar on Security In Nigeria; Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
The Federal Government has improved tremendously the security situations in the country in the last one year.
The Minister of Police Affairs, State , Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim made this revelation during a media parley to mark the one year of the present administration in her office in Abuja on Tuesday.
She maintained that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration alot has been achieved to protect lives and properties of Nigerians.
She said the incidences of kidnapping, banditry, herders -farmers clashes and other criminalities has reduced drastically across the country.
“The recent arrests and parade of masterminds of Abuja -Kaduna train attack and 63 suspects for violent crimes along Kaduna/ Abuja expressway was a major achievements that had reduced insecurity and kidnappings in the country .”
She said the Federal government established a criminal Bank known as “National Criminal Data Fusion Center” to collate and checkmate the activities of criminal elements and criminalities across the country.
“In synergy with the Police authority, we established the “National Criminal Data Fusion Center ” (NCDFC), that provided an enabling environment where relevant law enforcement agencies worked together to collate accurate data of criminals, analyse and disseminate key criminal intelligence products to support internal security.”
“Not long after the establishment of the centre, considering the influx of people to the FCT, the seat of government, threats of criminal activities in boarder states and other states of the country, that bordered on kidnappings, banditry, among others vices through the establishment of anti- vices policies that had reduced to the barest minimum the crime rates and incidencies.” .”
The Minister stated that owing to unabated criminal activities, government also established anti -vices policies that had reduced generally crime rates across the country using special intervention squad (SIS).
“Having birthed the special intervention squad(SIS), in FCT in January, 2024, the Nigeria Police Force empowered communities through engagement and collaboration by tackling crimes and criminalities.”
“The Federal government through the special intervention squad SIS upscaled the tactical unit in FCT, across the country to tackle waves of banditry, kidnapping and violent crimes deploying the unit and counter terrorism, hostage rescue and intelligence analysis.”
She asserted that the use of technology, information and communication technology ICT has reduced human interference in high profile cases had assisted government in combating crimes.
“The Nigeria Police also deployed technology and Information and Communication Technology ICT to drive it’s activities across the country, with recognition to the prowess and transformative power of technology in modern law enforcement.”
” Government deployed through huge investment in surveillance systems, drones and communication technologies to enhance the force capacity and capabilities for real time information gathering and response.”
“The provision of 24/7 Internet service for West African Police System operated by NCIB/ Interpol officers engaged in the department that enabled the Data Collection and Registration Center (DACORE), established to be fully functional.”
“It established automated Police specialized services with unique reference number that can be validated globally and improved turnaround time for the application and processing of Police Character Certificate.”
“The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with INTERPOL had justified the commitment of the country to work for the greater good of the region and the world.”
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government adopted a legal framework related to the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) , that gave a strong foundation for it’s operation ability among national law enforcement agencies.”
She ensured key agencies fully embraced the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) initiatives, as they are now equipped with the terminals, allowing them access to critical information that had significantly enhanced the collective efforts to combine crimes and criminalities.
The federal government invested heavily on forensic equipment through acquisition of gadgets for investigations. The Minister said.
” With the newly acquired forensic equipment for identification and investigation of perpetrators through acquisition of gadgets, reconstructive analysis, drones, pen and watch cameras, as well as infrared telescopes meant for intelligence gathering and fact verification was provided across board.”
“Constant physical raids of black spots in the FCT , across states of the Federation, had led to series of arrests of suspects numbering 1,190 in FCT, with states not left out of the exercise.”
“The Ministry of Police Affairs prioritised boarder operations to the FCT, especially Nassarawa, Niger , Kogi and Kaduna States with regular operations and checks.”
“With the establishment of SIS ,many suspects of various crimes have been apprehended, possession of unlicenced firearms, stolen vehicles, with arrests and recoveries.”
“With the involvement of Intelligence Response Unit (IRT) and Special Tactical Squad (STS) , under the directives of the IGP , an expansive upscaling of their activities has been implemented across states, hence improved security of lives and properties across the states of the country.”
” Combination of SIS, IRT and STS among other interventions, the kidnapping activities around notorious Zuma rock of neighborhood Niger state, Bwari area council of FCT, had reduced to the barest minimum in the last one year.”
“The Ministry rejigged collaboration with International Police (Interpol) to reduce international/ transnational crimes, and also launched the “Nigeria Police Veterans ” to remember those who had served the force diligently for many years.”
To encourage members of the police authority, the federal government has established annual award and commendation to officers and men. The Minister stated.
“Under the new policy , the Nigeria Police introduced annual award and commendation ceremony to motivate it’s men to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service.”
Boko Haram terrorists are holding authorities in some communities in three local government areas of Borno State, according to Senator Ali Ndume.
The Borno South lawmaker said this on Friday when he was featured on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
According to him, there are no civil authorities in those areas, which he said are being governed by the terrorists.
“Yes, three,” he said on Friday’s edition of the show when asked if areas are being governed by the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East state.
“What we are saying is that there is no civil authority there, and the authority is Boko Haram,” the Borno South Senator said.
He listed the areas as “Gudumbali (in Guzamala LGA), Marte, and Abadam”.
“None,” he said when asked if there are civil authority in these areas.
Senator Ndume said the security agencies are not properly equipped to tackle the insurgency, which he decried is beginning to fester in the North-East state.
His comment came days after the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, decried the rising spate of insecurity in the area.
The governor said the state is losing ground in the fight against Boko Haram, asking for help.
“As I address this important gathering today, it is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities almost on a daily basis without confrontation signalled that Borno State is losing ground,” the governor said, a fact Ndume agrees with.
During the show, the vocal lawmaker of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said there have been hundreds of attacks in Borno State since the beginning of the year.
“From November last year till date, there were over 250 attacks in the state, and somebody is saying we should ignore the governor,” the APC chieftain said.
“We have lost more than 100 soldiers, nearly 300 civilians even though our soldiers gallantly killed 800 of those terrorists within this period.”
“It is like a stagnated situation,” he said about the state of security in the country, arguing that President Bola Tinubu should declare a state of emergency on security, the welfare of the citizens, and the economy.
….He remains adorable figures in the north
Senator Ali Ndume has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be worried if ex-President Muhamamdu Buhari is not on his side.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, the lawmaker said although Buhari has just one vote, he remains an adorable figure in Northern Nigeria.
Ndume spoke after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar led key opposition figures to Buhari’s residence in Kaduna, on Friday.
The senator said he was also planning a visit to Buhari.
He said, “Buhari’s followership has diminished naturally because it is different when you are not in power and after spending like eight years in power. Of course his popularity, everything has diminished, it is natural, but you can’t write him off especially with the Northern masses. The followership of Buhari has been occultic. You cannot explain it.
“If Buhari is coming here now, you will see people rushing to see. Everybody including those in the vegetable market will rush here. Buhari is still with the Talakawas
“Tinubu should be worried if Buhari is not on his side. Every number counts and Buhari has one vote. Tinubu should also be worried about my position. Because I have one vote for him. He does not have a vote for me.”
Elanza News learnt that there were concerns over the potential exit of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc from the APC.
This was amplified following a recent meeting between former Buhari and APC governors.
The visit, which took place on Monday in Kaduna, was initially perceived as a routine courtesy call but has since sparked speculation about its deeper purpose.
It was gathered that the governors reportedly sought Buhari’s intervention to halt defections from the party, particularly by key members of the CPC bloc.
The governors’ appeal reportedly arose from growing concerns about potential defections ahead of the 2027 general elections. The defunct CPC, a key bloc within APC, remains highly influential, with Buhari regarded as its central figure.
There are fears within APC that the exit of this bloc could spell disaster for the party on a national scale.
The Monday meeting took place amid a wave of defections by Buhari’s allies from APC to SDP. Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai was the first to publicly announce his departure, claiming he had secured Buhari’s blessing before leaving the party.
Several former ministers who served in Buhari’s cabinet are also reportedly finalising plans to join the SDP, and in Buhari’s home state of Katsina, numerous APC members have already defected to the SDP.
The CPC, founded in 2009, merged in February 2013 with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form what is now known as the APC.
Elanza News gathered that the governors feared Buhari’s enduring cult-like followership in the North could become a major liability for APC if he backs his CPC associates. His bloc vote, they feared, could be catastrophic for the party in 2027.
It was gathered that the governors specifically urged Buhari to dissuade his CPC associates from leaving APC. However, the former president reportedly declined to make any such commitment.
While reaffirming his loyalty to APC, he insisted that others must be allowed to make their own political choices—a principle he said he has upheld throughout his political career.
Meanwhile, Buhari has said he remains a committed member of the ruling APC.
In a statement by Garba Shehu, his spokesman, Buhari was quoted to have said after Wl-Rufai’s defection, he would never turn his back on the APCy that gave him the platform to become Nigeria’s number one citizen.
The federal government has constituted a sub-committee to evaluate the potential economic impact of the recent tariff measures announced by the United States government.
The decision followed a meeting of the Economic Management Team (EMT), chaired by Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, according to a statement issued on Friday by Mohammed Manga, director of information and public relations at the ministry.
On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs on all imports into the country, including Nigeria.
A few days later, Edun said Nigeria is well-positioned to withstand global trade disruptions, including the United States import tariffs.
He said plans were underway for possible budget adjustment and prioritisation where possible.
To assess the impact of the tariffs, Manga said the EMT convened earlier in the week with key ministries and agencies to review the fiscal and macroeconomic implications of emerging global trade dynamics.
He said the EMT noted that while Nigeria’s major export — crude oil — has not been directly targeted by the new US tariffs, the policy shift has coincided with a dip in international oil prices, raising concern over potential revenue and budgetary pressures.
“To support evidence-based policymaking, the EMT has established a sub-committee tasked with conducting a detailed review of the direct and indirect economic impacts of both the emerging tariff measures and the global commodity price shifts,” Manga said.
“The sub-committee includes representatives from the ministry of finance, ministry of budget and economic planning, (including budget office of the Federation), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).”
Manga also said the sub-committee has already held its inaugural meeting and is expected to present its findings to the full EMT without delay.