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15 million out-of-school children are potential terrorists – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that the 15 million out-of-school children are potential members of terrorists group in the future.
He also traced the current security crisis in the country to the acquisition of arms by non-state actors during the Nigerian civil war of July 6, 1967 – January 15, 1970.
Speaking during the annual lecture of the Murtala Mohammed Foundation in Abuja, Obasanjo, who is the chairman, Board of Trustees of the foundation, said poverty, illiteracy, lack of job opportunities are behind insecurity in the country.
Mohammed was killed on February 13, 1976, barely six months after assuming office as president of Nigeria. However his family and friends established the foundation in 2001 to immortalise him.
Obasanjo, who was second in command during Mohammed’s regime, said he and the late head of state, who were under 40 years in 1976, were driven by passion for Nigeria.
Speaking on the security situation in the country, Obasanjo said “All these crises started after the civil war because of the access of weapons by the non-state actors.”
The former president stated while responding to a paper presented by the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), John Kayode Fayemi, titled, “Beyond Boko Haram: Addressing Insurgency, Banditry and kidnapping across Nigeria.”
Obasanjo, who recalled a meeting he had with the leaders of Boko Haram in Maiduguri, Borno State, said while the sect leaders admitted being interested in Sharia, they lamented that their followers don’t have jobs and that the government was chasing and gunning them down.
“In 2011, Boko Haram had no international connection. It was mainly about Nigerians who have resources abroad,” Obasanjo said of those who were supporting Boko Haram.
“Today, Boko Haram are now working with outsiders and making the security situation worse,” Obasanjo said.
According to Obasanjo, “The 15 million children who should be in school are not in school. The 15 million out of school children are the potential Boko Haram members 15 years from now.
“Kidnaping and abduction has become a separate form of insecurity. But we still have to deal with them,” Obasanjo said, adding, “It is not too late to start doing things that will make these children reject Boko Haram before the year 2030,” the former president said.
Obasanjo who linked the causes of insecurity to poverty, unemployment, social disparity, lack of education, said Nigeria must begin to re-enroll out-of-school children.
“Education is very important,” Obasanjo said, adding that lack of education is the reason behind most of the security challenges.
“If we don’t do anything with the children that are out of school, we are not doing anything about the Boko Haram of tomorrow. We must stop and reinvent our cultural and traditional way of life,” he said, adding that Nigeria is only treating symptoms rather than the disease.
In his keynote address, NGF chairman and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, said insecurity has become a national pandemic.
Noting that insecurity has been on the increase, Fayemi added that, limiting it to the 2009 Boko Haram crisis won’t help in addressing the challenge.
He said insecurity has assumed a national pandemic and has become a topmost concern of every Nigerian.
The governor listed generational poverty, illiteracy, poor life expectancy among the causes of insecurity just as he added that the lake Chad basin, which was the hub of insecurity, has now spread to all parts of the country.
“Radical extremist violence has spread to killings and kidnaping. cultism and other vices have increased insecurity in the country,” Fayemi said.
Looking beyond the Boko Haram crisis, Fayemi said the vision of oneness must be reinvigorated.
“We must promote affordable housing schemes, create jobs, provide skills to the teaming youths and drive them into meaningful bargaining of being Nigerians. What is required is a comprehensive national response,” Fayemi said.
He continued, “We must retool the public service. We must create a policy that will help in diversification of the economy. We must look beyond the Boko Haram crisis. We must go for national rebirth and look at creating jobs and employment for the youths.”
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Leadership by example: FRSC Corps Marshal leads field operations, patrol highways
Leadership by example: FRSC Corps Marshal leads field operations, patrol highways
By Bisi Kazeem
As the year winds down and Nigerians embark on end-of-year travels, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has intensified its efforts to curb road crashes and ensure safer highways. Leading this charge is the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, who has set a sterling example of sacrificial leadership by actively participating in frontline operations during this critical period.
The end of the year is a notoriously perilous time on Nigeria’s roads, marked by increased traffic, heightened road traffic crash risks, and a surge in reckless driving.
However, under the proactive leadership of the Corps Marshal, the FRSC rolled out an unprecedented campaign to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities, ensuring that the festive season is marked by joy rather than tragedy.
True leadership is not defined by words but by action. The Corps Marshal exemplifies this by personally leading field operations, patrolling highways, monitoring traffic flows, and directly engaging with road users.
His visible presence has reinvigorated the morale of FRSC officers and demonstrated to the nation that leadership is about service and sacrifice.
He defied insecurity on the highways and embarked on a traffic monitoring operation from Abuja, the Federal Capital, through Kogi, Ekiti, Ondo, Owo, Ore, down to Edo and Delta.
His decision to lead from the front underscores his commitment to the FRSC’s mission of saving lives and highlights the urgent need for compliance with traffic rules and regulations.
From the beginning of the Ember Months sensitisation campaign in September, the Corps had gone ahead of time, implementing series of robust measures aimed at addressing road safety challenges during the festive season. These remedies include; increased patrols and checkpoints as additional officers and vehicles have been deployed in strategic points on highways to monitor and enforce compliance with traffic laws; organised nationwide safety campaigns targeting speed violations, drunk driving, overloading and seatbelt use.
These campaigns educate drivers on the dangers of reckless behaviours and emphasize the importance of safe driving practices.
The Corps also ensured Emergency Response Preparedness: ambulances, tow trucks, and rescue teams are on standby to ensure rapid responses to emergencies, reducing fatalities and injuries in the event of crashes.
Knowing that the task of making the highways safe is a collective action, FRSC went into the season with strengthened partnerships with key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Police Force, transport unions, traditional rulers and local communities, to foster a united front in the battle against road crashes.
The Corps Marshal’s leadership has inspired not just his officers but also the general public.
His direct involvement sends a clear message that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring the commitment of all stakeholders.
The Corps Marshal’s hands-on approach during this critical period has not only motivated the FRSC team but has also restored public confidence in the agency’s commitment to saving lives,” said a motorist who witnessed the Marshal’s activities firsthand on the Niger Bridge.
The monitoring activities carried out across major corridors suggest that the intensified efforts are yielding positive results, with a noticeable reduction in road crashes and fatalities compared to previous years.
The Corps Marshal’s example of sacrificial leadership has brought renewed vigor to the FRSC’s operations, ensuring that every life is valued and protected.
Needless to state that the FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, is indeed an enigma, a force to be reckoned with and a true example of practical leadership in public service as he leads yet again by example in the fight against road crashes in Nigeria.
Taking active front-line roles, dedicating to sacrificial leadership and willingness to take bold steps to address the challenges facing Nigerian roads.
By setting the pace, he’s inspiring his team and other stakeholders to join forces in the quest for safer roads in Nigeria.
As the festive season continues, let us all join the FRSC as they call on all Nigerians to support its efforts by adhering to traffic rules, avoiding risky driving behaviours, and prioritizing safety on the roads.
Together, with the leadership of the Corps Marshal and the dedication of FRSC personnel, a safer, accident-free festive season is achievable.
The Corps Marshal’s leadership reminds us all that effective leadership requires sacrifice, action, and a deep commitment to service.
As Nigerians embark on their journeys this season, they can take comfort in knowing that the FRSC is working tirelessly to make the roads safer for everyone.
*DCM Bisi Kazeem (Rtd), fsi MNIM anipr, a public relations expert and media guru writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
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BREAKING: Adeleke finally pardons ‘fowl thief’ Segun Olowookere
BREAKING: Adeleke Finally Pardons ‘Fowl Thief’ Segun Olowookere
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has granted the prerogative of mercy to Segun Olowookere, a young man convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to death by an Ogun State High Court in 2014.
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Olowookere was pardoned alongside Sunday Morakinyo and 51 others convicted of simple and serious offences on Thursday.
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Lagos-Calabar coastal road: Train track work begins 2025, says minister
Lagos-Calabar coastal road: Train track work begins 2025, says minister
The Federal Government plans to begin constructing train tracks on Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in 2025.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, made this announcement during an inspection of Sections I and II of the project, which are located within Lagos and being handled by Hitech Construction Company Ltd, on Friday, December 20, 2024.
The details of the announcement were published in a statement on the ministry’s official website on Saturday.
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“The President has given very serious attention to road infrastructure. Don’t forget that this Coastal Highway and, of course, the four Legacy Projects all have the train track incorporated. The construction of the train track for this section I is going to take off in 2025,” Umahi stated.
The Works Minister outlined plans to enhance the Lagos-Calabar Highway in Sections I and II of Phase 1, including solar-powered CCTV cameras, lay-bys every 5-15 kilometers, and security posts for improved safety and monitoring.
He announced that 20 kilometers of Section 1 are scheduled for commissioning by May 2025. The Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Olukorede Kashia, noted challenges such as large refuse dumps and unsuitable soil conditions requiring extensive remediation during the project.
Lagos-Calabar coastal road: Train track work begins 2025, says minister
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