Niger Republic in pain as Nigeria refuses to restore electricity supply weeks after coup – Newstrends
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Niger Republic in pain as Nigeria refuses to restore electricity supply weeks after coup

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Niger Republic in pain as Nigeria refuses to restore electricity supply weeks after coup

Millions of Nigeriens are going through pain as their businesses are collapsing as a result of Nigeria’s decision to cut electricity supply to them, residents of the neighbouring country and diplomats have said.

They said hospitals are also finding it difficult to store vaccines and other essential drugs, a development that is affecting service delivery.

At present, only a few people who can afford gasoline and have generating sets, or are ready to pay for commercial electricity supply have light.

Nigeria had on August 2, 2023, disconnected the supply of 150 megawatts of electricity daily to Niger Republic as part of efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore democracy in the Sahel country.

Nigeria’s action was part of the regional bloc, ECOWAS sanctions imposed on Niger following the July 26 ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum by the presidential guards.

According to Nigelec, an electricity company in Niger, the development followed an emergency meeting by the ECOWAS, where sanctions, including freezing utility services, were imposed on the Niger Republic over its coup.

Niger Republic was heavily dependent on Nigeria for most of its electricity supplies.

A number of cities in that country are currently experiencing prolonged blackouts after Nigeria cut its power supply. Niamey, Maradi and Zinder are witnessing total blackouts.

This is said to be unusual in the Niger Republic, which usually enjoyed a reliable electricity supply.

Halimatou Mani, a nurse in Tsibiri, located 14 kilometres from Maradi city, said it had been tough for them since the electricity cut.

“We are not used to power outage here. What makes it worse is that very few people have power-generating sets.

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“With the action taken by Nigeria, families are suffering because it is difficult to store perishable goods,” she said.

A trader in Maradi, who gave his name as Ibrahima, said Nigeria should restore power supply to save lives.

“It should be life first before politics. Women and children are silently dying in hospitals, especially in rural areas where there is no alternative to public power supply.

“While I appeal to the junta to come down from their high horse and negotiate with ECOWAS for the sake of the people they want to rule, I am also begging ECOWAS under the leadership of Nigeria’s leader, President Bola Tinubu, for the sake of God, to consider other options of bringing back Bazoum instead of punishing all of us,” he said.

Ibrahima said businesses were collapsing, adding, “The border closure alone has caused misery to us. People are losing their sources of livelihood. I hope the bigger bloc, the African Union would find a way of resolving this problem.”

On August 19, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Niger, Stefano Savi, warned against the severe impact of the ongoing crisis on millions of vulnerable children in the country.

“The crisis unfolding in the Republic of Niger continues to pose an ever-greater danger for millions of vulnerable children in the country.

“At present, more than two million children have been impacted by the crisis and are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

“Even before the recent civil unrest and political instability in Niger, estimated 1.5million children under the age of five were forecast to be malnourished in 2023, with at least 430,000 expected to suffer from the deadliest form of malnutrition. This is a figure likely to rise if food prices continue to spike and an economic downturn hits families, households and incomes,” the statement said.

Nigeria should avoid East African Nile river conflict – Ex-envoy

Speaking on Saturday, a former Nigerian ambassador to Ethiopia, Bulus Zom Lolo, said Nigeria’s decision to cut Niger off the national grid may have serious consequences on the long-time relationship between the two countries.

Lolo said that considering the complexity of the situation, Nigeria could have selected any other measure to fulfill the directive of ECOWAS without cutting the electricity supply.

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“ECOWAS directed Nigeria to implement some measures because it is a member state. I am not sure that ECOWAS pinpointed what sanction or specific area they want Nigeria to go to. Nigeria could have selected any other measure in fulfilling the directive of ECOWAS without cutting the electricity supply,” he said.

He explained that only those in government would have clear information on why the decision to deprive Niger of electricity was taken. “But on the surface, it does look like we have opened the eyes of the people of Niger to an area they have closed their eyes on.

“Depending on how hard the electricity suspension hits the Niger populace, they may one day wake up and decide to revoke all the existing agreements and exercise their right to also construct the dam that would prevent the flow of River Niger to Kainji and Shiroro dams.

“This reminded me of the conflict in East Africa, where Ethiopia, which is sitting on the upstream end of River Nile, just like Niger that sits on the upstream end of River Niger, decided to build a dam.

“Egypt that is downstream, together with Sudan, is now making a lot of noise and has made the Ethiopia decision to build a dam a life and death affair.

“They were vehemently against Ethiopia exercising its sovereign right with a natural resource passing through their country to make good use of it. That’s the nature of diplomacy; many things can come up that you didn’t expect, and it is always dialogue.

“If it has always been the internal desire by Niger to construct a dam because they are on the upper end of River Niger, Nigeria has now given them every reason to do that,” he said.

Electricity supply to Niger is a bilateral agreement – experts

Findings revealed that Nigeria has bilateral agreements with Niger Republic on the electricity supply, paving the way for a certain percentage of power generated through the Kainji Dam to be channelled to them.

Another ex-envoy of Nigeria to Kuwait, Haruna Garba, said it was wrong for Nigeria to violate the covenant and cut off the electricity supply to the Niger Republic, even during wartime.

“One, since the Nigerian democracy is becoming stronger, it is recommended that the government should seek the advice of envoys before taking such diplomatic decisions.

“As everyone knows, there is a diplomatic reason for supplying them the power. Despite that we are compensating them for not building the dam, they are not getting it free of charge; they are paying for it.

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“So, by cutting them off, Nigeria is depriving the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) of revenue generation. How will the Nigerian government compensate them? It is not supposed to reach that extent.

“Even in wartime, you cannot deprive your enemy light, water, hospital and other essential services because if you do, virtually it is a crime.

“What I understood was that the African bloc wanted to scare the coupist but they resisted, so they shouldn’t be ashamed to retreat, it is normal in diplomacy,” he said.

Also speaking on the matter, Ilyasu Gadu, who had worked at Nigeria’s foreign service, said cutting off electricity to the Niger Republic to force the military to hand over power to President Bazoum had several implications.

“Niger was muting the idea of building a dam across River Niger, and if they did that, the volume of water that would flow down the river onto Kainji to Nigeria would be reduced,” he added.

He said President Tinubu ought to have sought the input of the National Assembly to review the treaty under the current circumstances. He advised Nigeria to look at the protocols for the sake of the future.

“In the future, looking at what Nigeria has done in Niger by unilaterally, without due process by going to the National Assembly to take a look at this thing again under the current exigencies, it means that nobody would trust any alliance, protocol or treaty in the future.

“Some Nigeriens feel that Nigeria is no longer a reliable partner, so they have started looking for other partners that will affect us. And you can imagine that in this day and age, there are other partners willing to be there for them,” he said

The diplomat said the whole impasse was not well handled by Nigeria, and described the development as a “knee-jerk’ reaction with salient ambiguity of many issues.

“Yes, we abhor the military takeover in Niger, we want democracy to be restored, but what we are doing now is like cutting our noses to spice our faces because eventually, if Niger decides to do its own pushback, we may have a lot of problems,” he said.

Niger’s 130mw underway

Speaking to Daily Trust Saturday on the matter, Boubacar Sabo, the deputy secretary-general of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), Tarayya, said Niger had already begun damming River Niger.

He said Niger Republic had constructed a multipurpose Kandadji dam on River Niger, with a hydropower installation capacity of 130mw (170,000 hp).

He said the Nigerien hydropower plant construction had reached an advanced stage and is billed for commissioning in the next two years.

Sabo said Niger relied on Nigeria for almost 70 per cent of its electricity requirement and may be able to cope without the supply using other means, pending the completion of their plant.

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Findings by Daily Trust Saturday revealed that the Kandadji dam, cited at Tillabéri Region, 180km northwest of Niger’s capital, Niamey, would starve the supply of water to Kainji Dam, the major source of hydropower in Nigeria that left its upstream neighbour in blackout today.

Efforts to speak to the managing director/chief executive officer of the TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, an engineer, did not yield results, but a competent source in the company told our correspondent that, “Actually, the allocation to Niger is 150mw, but it fluctuates sometimes”.

Sources said both President Bazoum and his predecessor, Mahamadou Issoufou had pursued the completion of Kandadji hydroelectricity with vigour, saying they wanted to be independent of Nigeria’s electricity supply.

Shortly before his ouster, Bazoum was said to have visited the construction site of the multipurpose Kandadji dam to assess the level of work done on the site.

He was reported to have said that, “All the obstacles have been lifted and all the funding problems resolved. In a few months you will see the project taking shape.”

Findings revealed that the Niger power project had been postponed multiple times.

It was first managed by a Russian company, Zaroubegevodstroï (ZVS) before the contract was transferred to a China company, Gezhouba Group Company Limited (CGGC).

Kandadji dam construction was funded by international partners, including the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, French Development Agency and the Islamic Development Bank.

Meanwhile, an umbrella body for civil society organisations in Niger, Collective Organisations for the Defence of the Right to Energy, (CODDAE) that works toward economic and social development, technological innovation and environmental protection, has vowed to sue the Nigerian government over the latter’s power cut off to Niger.

CODDAE’s president, Malam Moustafa Khadi, told RFI Hausa that the treaty signed by both countries to provide electricity to Niger had nothing to do with ECOWAS, insisting that the treaty preludes the regional body.

“As you can all see, we are just holding this conference outdoors just because of the blackout. In this modern time, power is as the air we breathe, the water we drink. This is because all our activities have a direct link to it.

“The power cut-off has caused a lot of obstacles to our companies. Business activities that could be carried out day in and day out have been seriously disrupted. We are perfecting modalities to sue the Nigerian government in court. Nigeria must be held responsible and made to reimburse all the damages caused by its handiwork,” he said.

Niger Republic in pain as Nigeria refuses to restore electricity supply weeks after coup

(DAILY TRUST)

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Rivers: Wike’s loyalists protest in Port Harcourt against Fubara

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12 hours ago

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May 12, 2024

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Rivers: Wike’s loyalists protest in Port Harcourt against Fubara

Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State on Sunday carried out a solidarity protest to the House of Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt.

Prominent APC members such as Desmond Akawor, Kingsley Chindah, Olaka Nwogu, Chief Tony Okocha, among others were part of the protest.

The protesters rejected the alleged plan of the state government to demolish the complex.

The protesters were received by Hon. Martins Amaehwule, Speaker of the Assembly faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Amaewhule said the lawmakers never invited the governor to come to the quarters, adding that the estate remained the property of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

He said , “Your visit is unusual visit. It shows that the good people of the state are concerned about what is happening. This facility is the facility of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“We have also brought in experts, engineers and there is nothing wrong with these structures. They are fully in use and fully functional. All the experts confirmed to us that this building is one of the best in the entire West Africa.

“This complex was constructed by the former Governor, Nyesom Wike and inaugurated in August 2022 by the current chief of staff to Mr. President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila. We are happy with the building and everything is working well.

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“We didn’t write to the governor and we didn’t invite him. We didn’t ask for his help because we don’t need it. We don’t need his intervention in any way. Any attempt to talk about reconstruction or demolition is clearly an assault on democracy and an assault on members resident in these buildings.

“The Rivers State Government is not the office of the governor. It comprises the legislature, executive and the judiciary. The governor has no right to claim it as his personal property. It is the property of the Rivers State House of Assembly. So without an invitation to the governor, he has no right to break into our property.”

Amaewhule while taking the leaders around the complex, insisted that the governor had no right to make any executive order directing lawmakers where to hold their sitting.

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, while stating the purpose of their visit said they were worried about reports of another impending demolition of democratic institution and decided to assess the condition of the premises.

Chinda said before their visit, they had already engaged experts to assess the integrity of the structures at the complex and their report showed that they would last for more than 25 years.

He observed that the complex built by Wike about two years ago remained the best in Africa and was better than the National legislative quarters.

He said: “Let me salute the speaker and members of the House. The assembly complex that was brought down some leaders of the state went to USA to get that design. When it was built, it was the best state assembly in this country. That structure is nowhere today.”

Rivers: Wike’s loyalists protest in Port Harcourt against Fubara

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Just in: Don’t tamper with Assembly quarters structures, Rivers elders tell Fubara

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12 hours ago

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May 12, 2024

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Governor Siminalayi Fubara

Just in: Don’t tamper with Assembly quarters structures, Rivers elders tell Fubara

Elders and leaders of Rivers across political party lines have called on the state Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to shelve any plan to tamper with structures at the House of Assembly quarters located along Aba Road in Port Harcourt.

The elders comprising past and present members of the National Assembly, local government chairmen, and opinion leaders spoke on Sunday, May 12, when they paid a surprise visit to the quarters to assess the condition of the buildings.

Their intervention was following the recent visit of the governor to the facility and insinuations of a plan to renovate the estate, which currently houses the hallowed chamber of the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

Accompanied by other stakeholders in the state, the leaders were received by Amaewhule and other lawmakers and were taken around the structures in the complex and the auditorium that currently serves as a chamber for the lawmakers.

Amaewhule told the leaders that there was a grand plot by the governor to bring down the structures the same way he ordered the demolition of the House of Assembly Complex located along Moacow Road to stop them from sitting.

He said the structures were in excellent condition, fully functional, and were currently occupied by the lawmakers and their family members.

He condemned the way and manner the governor stormed the quarters aided by thugs and armed policemen alleging that Fubara broke the gate and allowed others to scale the fence.

Amaewhule said the lawmakers never invited the governor to come to the quarters adding that the estate remained the property of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Addressing the elders, Amaewhule said: “Your visit is unusual visit. It shows that the good people of the state are concerned about what is happening. This facility is the facility of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

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“We have also brought in experts, engineers and there is nothing wrong with these structures. They are fully in use and fully functional. All the experts confirmed to us that this building is one of the best in the entire West Africa.

“This complex was constructed by the former Governor, Nyesom Wike and inaugurated in August 2022 by the current chief of staff to Mr. President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila. We are happy with the building and everything is working well.

“We didn’t write to the governor and we didn’t invite him. We didn’t ask for his help because we don’t need it. We don’t need his intervention in any way. Any attempt to talk about reconstruction or demolition is clearly an assault on democracy and an assault on members resident in these buildings.

The Rivers State Government is not the office of the governor. It comprises the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The governor has no right to claim it as his personal property. It is the property of the Rivers State House of Assembly. So without an invitation to the governor, he has no right to break into our property”.

Amaewhule while showing the leaders the current legislative chamber at the complex insisted that the governor had no right to make any executive order directing lawmakers where to hold their sitting.

Citing the judgement of Omotosho, Amaewhule described governor’s actions as a flagrant violation of orders of the Federal High Court, none of which he said had been vacated.

He said: “All the orders of injunction by that court are still in place. None had been vacated. The law is on the side of members. The orders of the three high courts are still in place. The duty of ascertaining whether there is a problem is the duty of the assembly not the office of the governor.

“This facility belongs to the Rivers State House of Assembly and it remains so. We are not an appendage of the office of the governor. The judgement of Justice Omotosho bars him from interfering with our affairs. The judgement says don’t interfere with anything concerning us. It is in continuous disobedience to the order of the court that the governor broke into this place.

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“The judgment also barred the other people from doing what they are currently doing. It is only the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission that can recruit, and discipline any staff member of the assembly. Those other people are Nollywood actors. The law is on our side. There is also a subsisting order of another court made by Justice Okoro”.

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, while stating the purpose of their visit said they were worried about reports of another impending demolition of a democratic institution and decided to assess the condition of the premises.

Chinda said before their visit, they had already engaged experts to assess the integrity of the structures at the complex and their report showed that they would last for more than 25 years.

He observed that the Assembly built by Wike about two years ago and inaugurated by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives remained the best in Africa and was better than the National legislative quarters.

He said: “Let me salute the speaker and members of the House. The assembly complex that was brought down some leaders of the state went to the USA to get that design. When it was built, it was the best state assembly in this country. That structure is nowhere today.

“However, as members of the National Assembly from Rivers State, we have joined the leaders and elders of the state to discuss the issues happening in our state the latest being the threat to bring down the structures in this premises.

“We have commissioned engineers and experts to study and give us the report of the integrity of these structures. We have received the report. And the report says these structures have a lifespan of nothing less than 25 years.

“We have on our own come out to physically inspect the structures to crosscheck it with the report we received and these structures are still strong and healthy. Our apartments in the National Assembly are not better than what we have seen here.

“We should be proud that our state assembly occupies this quarters. It is easier to destroy than to build. The one we have destroyed have we made any move to rebuild it? Let us know that public officers should be living examples in society both in character and in conduct. Let us also caution that you must govern in line with the rule of law.

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“We want to advise the governor to bridle a little bit at the exuberance that we had seen within this period. It doesn’t portend well to our state”.

Chinda said the National Assembly was observing and monitoring the situation in Rivers and would soon decide on the collective interest of the state.

He said: “We members of the National Assembly have not spoken. We have observed. But we cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our state fly. We are coming out and we will take a position without looking at anybody

“It will be a position that will be in the interests of the state. No one individual is larger than Rivers State. We are members, leaders, and elders of Rivers, and this state we must protect”.

In his remarks, Igo Aguma, a former member of the House of Representatives, said that Justice Omotosho’s judgment indicted the governor of willful destruction of the assembly complex, alleging that Fubara committed a criminal offence.

He said: “I want to remind the governor that the same Justice Omotosho judgment had found that he willfully brought down the institution of the Parliament in the Rivers State House of Assembly by demolishing it.

“He willfully did it in order to prevent them from sitting. That is malicious damage to public property. It is a criminal offence. The red biro will run dry one day and you will be made to answer. It has not been appealed against. I want to also let him know that Rivers people will muster all democratic institutions in the world to defend democracy in Rivers.

“We will not run away. We will fight him back. Democracy is the best form of government and we will have democracy in Rivers. He should take pity on the governed and remember that Rivers State House of Assembly has made itself financially autonomous.

“It is an act of the law. So if they have any issue that has to do with engineering and reconstruction, the law empowers them to do it by themselves. This is an edifice. It behooves on all Rivers people to defend this edifice”.

A former Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Ikuinyi Ibani, said their assessment had shown that there was nothing wrong with the structures and called on the governor to jettison any plan to tamper with quarters.

He warned that the governor should desist from any action that could trigger violent reaction in the state saying Fubara must at all times promote law and order in the state

He said: “I am here with other leaders to show and prove to the world that democracy is the best form of government and that this is one institution that should be defended in any democratic setting.

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“We have listened to the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, who cited many rulings and judgments of courts in relation to what is happening in Rivers. For me as a former Speaker, I have a sense of disappointment at what is happening today.

“I can recall very vividly that in 2022 this project was inaugurated by Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the House of Reps. His comments were quite complementary and a useful tool for the development of Rivers. So, I am here with the other leaders to check whether there is anything wrong with the structure. There is nothing wrong with the structure.

“You don’t need to be a civil engineer to know there is nothing wrong with the structure. Public money should be channeled into the development of the state and making the people be happy. The government should try to diversify the economy.

“It is old that action and reaction are equal and opposite, but I will say that action and reaction are opposite but they are not equal. When you engage in an action and the reaction comes, there is no way the reaction will be equal, as in the case of Hammas and Isreal. We will continue to support the speaker. Leaders who do not like democracy always attack democratic institutions first when they come to power”.

Also, Senator Olaka Nwogu told the governor that it was not the building that made the parliament but the people and the constitution.

He said if the governor continued to destroy hallowed chambers, the members would continue to create more in defence of democracy.

Nwogu recalled the destruction of the House of Assembly complex and described it as the greatest assault on democracy.

He said: “I have never seen a situation where those tasked with protecting public property will be those to destroy such property. When the Rivers State House of Assembly was brought down, it was like a movie to most Nigerians. That was the greatest assault on democracy.

“No matter the reason people try to put before things, I don’t think there is any Rivers son or daughter that will support that the assembly was brought down because some persons think it will help their self-preservation.

“Today, the Rivers State Assembly sits here and again they want to bring it down. Let me make it clear that it is not the building that makes the Parliament. It is the members themselves and the constitution. Even if you break down this place, the members can decide to sit in any place in their resolution favours. Parliament is self-regulatory. Nobody regulates them.

“You can break a thousand chambers and they will create more. It is about us, the people, the institutions, and their duty to provide checks and balances on our behalf within the tenets of democracy. We are a nation of laws. You cannot be protected by law when you become the chief lawbreaker.

“It is the duty of the chief executive of the state to do everything to ensure that there is law and order. What example do you put out when you become the chief lawbreaker, demolisher of the institution of the state, and a waste of its resources? This is unacceptable. Decent minds must condemn it. I urge those involved to have a rethink”.

He added: “These structures belong to the people. No court has said they are not members. So, they are. Let’s hope that the planned so-called renovation is quickly set aside. You cannot order the assembly to sit where the executive wants them to sit. That is not how the law is.

“You cannot take the assembly into government house against wishes of the assembly. This assembly premises is the best within the West African subregion. Show me any state that has something like this. When you take it down, you need Rivers money to build it again”.

The Rivers Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC, Chief Tony Okocha, commended the leaders and elders across party lines for defending democracy saying it was a demonstration of the unity in the state.

Okocha said the 27 lawmakers remained members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) adding that the party would continue to protect them.

He said at every twist and turn the governor would always confess his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but he alleged that Fubara did not vote for the President in the last election.

He said: “This goes to show the world that Rivers people are united. We are one. The speaker had taken us round the premises and had given us the synopsis of what transpired when the governor in a Gestapo manner cane with thugs to harass the inhabitants here.

“27 lawmakers are members of our party and we owe them the responsibility to protect and defend them. At every twist and turn, the governor attempts to see how he can curry political patronage by claiming that he supports Mr. President. It is not true. It is a fluke.

“The world should know that they are not supporters of Mr. President. They want to lash it to see whether they can continue to engage in their illegality. As chairman of APC, Rivers State, I have taken a look at the details of voting in the past election and it is clear to me that the governor did not vote for Mr. President.”

Some of the leaders at the visit are Kingsly Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor at the House Representatives; Emmanuel Deeyah, former House of Rep member; Senator Olaka Nwogu,

Chief Tony Okocha, Igo Aguma; Desmond Akawor, former PDP Chairman, Rivers State; Fred Kpakol, former Finance Commissioner; Emeka Woke, MD/CEO, Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority; George Ariolu, LGA Chairman, Obio/Akpor; Erasmu Awoto, LGA chairman, Andoni; Samuel Nwanosike, LGA chairman Ikwerre among others.

Just in: Don’t tamper with Assembly quarters structures, Rivers elders tell Fubara

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After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

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21 hours ago

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May 12, 2024

By

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja

After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

The Army Headquarters on Saturday said it has ordered investigations into allegations of overcrowded cells in its barracks and poor feeding of detained personnel following a viral video showing some detained soldiers protesting.

A statement by Major Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, titled, “Army’s Response to Viral Audio Visual Footage of Soldiers Protesting Overcrowded Cells, Poor Feeding” made this known.

It reads, “The Army headquarters has taken note of a report and audiovisual recording circulating on social media produced by some of its personnel held in custody at the 8 Division Garrison detention facility.

“Undoubtedly, the Sokoto barracks detention facility incident is quite unfortunate and an embarrassment to the sound administration efforts of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to say the least, and in line with his leadership style.

“The COAS has instituted an appropriate investigation into the incident to determine whether it is an isolated or widespread situation in similar detention facilities.

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“While the service regrets and has gleaned some lessons from the incident, it will, however, not condone the manner the inmates expressed their purported grievance.

“Mutiny and conduct prejudicial to service order are grievous misconducts, and this very incident epitomises such.

“As such, as Army, on the one side, goes ahead to implement the COAS directive to look into the state of all NA detention facilities, as detainees’ lives also matter, the Service shall not shy away from appropriately sanctioning the soldiers involved in the unruly behaviour in its Sokoto detention facility for failing to exhaust all available options to channel their complaints to the appropriate authorities.

“And if it was discovered they did and nothing was done, necessary administrative actions will be taken against anyone found to have failed to discharge his/her duties effectively.

“While the Service is mindful of its subjective oversight engagements by statutory bodies, it remains primarily a responsible, self-regulating professional body.

“As such, the Service remains committed to ensuring that everyone, even those found guilty of aiding terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits, and are awaiting confirmation of their sentencing, as it has been discovered in the Sokoto case is accorded a relatively decent life until their judgment is confirmed and executed.

“This commitment underscores the NA’s dedication to upholding professional standards and maintaining a just and fair system.

“The NA appreciates all Nigerians for their concern and support as well as pledge to remain focused on its drive to defeating security challenges facing the nation in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies.”

After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

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