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We’ll focus, invest on the blue economy – Badaru
The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, said on Wednesday that the Federal Government was focused on investing in the modernisation of military equipment to guarantee the safety of citizens and foreigners.
Badaru said this in a statement issued by Mrs Victoria Agba-Attah, Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, in his goodwill message at the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference 2023.
The conference had as its theme: “Crafting a Strategic Blueprint for Security and Prosperity”.
He said while investing in the modernisation of military equipment, the government would also pay attention to the blue economy, the unmanned spaces and climate change.
Badaru who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ibrahim Kana, said that the Nigerian Government through the ministry had invested a lot in providing equipment and platforms to address piracy.
He added that the International Maritime Bureau had declared that Nigeria had recorded less than two to five cases in the gulf of guinea.
According to him, the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria are responsible for maintaining peace and stability, not just within the black water and the brown water, but deep down into the blue water.
“Indeed the government is redoubling its efforts by providing more platforms like ‘Falcon Eye’ as well as the deep blue project.
“Government has invested huge resources on these projects to address insecurity in not just the Niger Delta but the entire coastal areas of Nigeria,” he said.
Badaru also said that the Nigerian Navy had been active in fighting piracy which had affected the economy of the country, particularly in the maritime area.
He further said that unmanned spaces had significant impact on both the security and economy of the country.
He added that the country would invest in the unmaned spaces through agriculture in order to reduce insecurity in the country.
On Defence and innovation, the minister said that the focus of the National Defence Policy was on modernisation of the Armed Forces.
He noted that the country was developing her local Military Industrial Complex which would ensure innovation and employment as well as fight insecurity.
“With the deployment of modernised military equipment, we will begin to say goodbye to insecurity in Nigeria”, he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, represented by Rear Admiral M.K Onubebe were in attendance.
Others in attendance were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, represented by Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor who is the Chief of Administration, Army and the Acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mba.
His Royal Highness Emir of Gumi, Justice Lawan Gummi; Chief Adetunji Adeleye, Commander, Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) were also among other dignitaries present at the event.
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .
Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.
“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.
He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.
“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.
He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.
NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.
The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.
His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.
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