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NAOSRE CONFERENCE: MD Abubakar, Attah, Ubani, Akhaine task security agents on discipline
In pursuit of a re-invigorated game plane for a well secured environment, necessitated by prevailing Covid-19 security challenges in Nigeria, high ranking military operatives, legal and human rights experts, the academic on Thursday, July 30, converged on a National Security Virtual Conference, eNAOSRE’20, to proffer short and long-term solutions.
At the conference organised by the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, speakers identified distrusts, extortions, lack of political will, policy inconsistency and poor implementation of the rule of engagements as some of the ugly scenarios associated with managing insecurity in the pandemic.
Various speakers at the webinar harped on the twin evils of physical and health security challenges confronting the citizens and took exemptions to the gross abuse of rights by military agents. They pointed out an urgent need to check the disturbing trend from further escalation into an untamed monster.
The Keynote speaker, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, former Inspector General of Police, ret’d started by commending the organizers of the conference saying security is the basis of being secured and safe for economic development. He emphasized that Nigeria’s security landscape and the current architecture are vulnerable to various risks generated by peculiarities as a country, adding that since the universal essence of government is security, those in authority should endeavour to fund training of military officers for effective discharge of security duties.
Said he: “Intelligence gathering is very key in modern security operations. Officers must think outside the box. They must engage in information sharing to be able to nip criminal activities in the bud. Retired and experienced security experts should be included in the security architecture so that citizens and businesses can move unhindered.”
He asserted that security is a situational discipline involving direct and indirect threats. This, according to the former IGP, requires sound understanding of the operating environment through effective intelligence for decision mechanism capable of mitigating security risks.
Abubakar further sued for adequate welfare for officers and men in uniform. “How much is the salary? Most of the officers went about their duties at the early stages of Covid-19 without nose masks. They would go on duty for several hours without adequate provision for welfare. They were sufficiently exposed to dangers. I call on the high command to give attention to officers training and welfare,” he said.
One of the speakers, Barrister Monday Ubani, said Covid-19 insecurity provoked infringements on citizens’ fundamental rights, a development, he said, requires permission for accused persons to be allowed access to phones for incident recording while in security agents’ custody.
“In the month of March, security agents wasted more lives than save lives. Records revealed that while the disease killed 11 people in the period under review, security agents killed 18,” he said.
On the theme of the conference, ‘Tackling Insecurity in Nigeria Amidst Covid-19: The Nigeria Experience,’ he sees it as timely in view of twisted mindset of security agents who cash in on the prevailing situation to exploit innocent and unsuspecting citizens.
“Recently, I travelled to the eastern part of Nigeria. At Niger Bridge, the boundary between Delta and Anambra States, security agents were in open market collecting money from passengers and drivers. They made so much money. Their primary mission to ensure unauthorized persons were not allowed to move about freely as a way of checking further spread of the disease became a lucrative enterprise for extortions. Government’s genuine plan to halt further spread was defeated on the altar of unpatriotic personal enrichment,” he lamented.
He however, commended the Police high command who consistently assured Nigerians of protection and admonished citizens to video record any untoward attitude exhibited by any of its officers for prompt disciplinary actions.
Professor Odion Akhaine of Lagos State University agreed with Ubani’s overview of the lockdown and lamented the prevailing high level of ignorance amongst security agents who were extorting raw cash from citizens “The raw cash they were collecting as bribe from motorists may have been contaminated. They were oblivious of the dangers in their actions, thereby spreading it to family members and friends,” he said.
As a remedy, Akhaine advocated a creative response to the abnormalities that define security operations. He called for training and intelligent approach to tackling insecurity including political will that transcends political party affinity to deal with all forms of immediate and foreseen insecurity threats.
Nigerian Customs spokesman, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah, espoused the needs for citizens’ co operation with security agents for effective tackling of insecurity in Nigeria amidst Covid-19 saying the challenges are quite enormous than envisaged. He pointed out the risks of securing borders, sea and air ports given that goods cleared by Customs officers are coming from high risk countries. He explained that the Customs Service is a frontline agency that engages what goes out and what comes into the country every second of the day. “Most of our officers suffered consequences. Some were and still being quarantined because we are always available to receive items even from high risk countries.”
However, he urged citizens to capture violation of their rights including illegal fee collections with short video recording for necessary disciplinary actions, assuring that the Customs is committed to adequate and professional border security including respects of the rule of law.
All the speakers unanimously agreed that government must, as a matter of urgent national importance, review the nation’s security policy to reflect current security challenges.
They called on citizens, security personnel, stakeholders, private security sector, traditional and religious leaders to synergize for collective solutions to the prevailing pandemic insecurity.
Earlier, NAOSRE’s President, Samson Oki, in his remarks, re affirmed the association’s focus in bridging information gap between the public and security operatives. He solicited for proactive measures in not only solving security issues but promoting peaceful communities and attracting foreign investments.
Oki, who foresees probable citizen’s weakened trust on operatives on the hegemonic curves called for prompt rescue remedies through working relationship and synergy between security formations and NAOSRE.
In her remarks, the association’s Vice President, Favour Benson explained the Covid-19 complex modes of insecurity in Nigeria occasioned by different narratives of abuse of rights, extortions and outright molestations. The situation, she stated, requires immediate review for sustainable solution.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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