The programme is slated for Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Expected on the podium this time around is a retired military General who was erstwhile Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force and a one-time Deputy Director at the Defence Headquarters, Brigadier-General Olumuyiwa Okunowo.

Boiling Point Arena, an interview discourse on governance and nation building, which commands large global audience, holds on Sunday from 8 p.m. for a two-hour duration.

It is the 16th in the series since the current affairs programme started in November, 2022.

Boiling Point Arena will hold via Zoom and will be transmitted live by an Abeokuta-based radio station, Sweet 107.1FM from 8pm to 10pm.

The once-in-a-month current affairs programme is the brainchild of the convener, Dr Ayo Arowojolu, a media professional and public relations strategist with 34 years multi-varied work career experience spanning the media, banking and education sectors.

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This particular edition is titled: “Insurgency, Banditry and Kidnapping: Saving Nigeria From The Cul-de-sac.”

Gen Okunowo who has had a heroic military career spanning 36 years is expected to offer insightful perspectives on the missing link in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping by the various government-owned security forces.

The Ijebu-Ode born military officer will also proffer workable solutions to the lingering insecurity in the country which appears to have become hydra-headed and have overwhelmed the armed forces.

Penciled as keynote Speaker at the interview session is one of Nigeria’s foremost monarchs, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola, in his capacity as Chairman, Boiling Point Council of Royals and Elders.

According to a statement by the Chairman, Organising Committee for the programme,  Mr Eddy Ademosu, one of Nigeria’s notable Public Relations icon, the interview discourse will help the top security echelons in the country to devise other pragmatic approaches to ensuring safety and protection of Nigerians.

Mr Ademosu commended the Board and Management of Sweet FM, chaired by the Promoter, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, for identifying with worthy causes through partnering with the Boiling Point platform to widen the audience reach through its terrestrial and online channels.

Boiling Point, a news and general interest platform, comprises an array of eminent personalities including over 300 Professors, technocrats, industry leaders, High Court justices, traditional rulers, security top shots, media professionals and several others.

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The books were written, specifically to aid in the visualization of the horrors terrorists  have visited on citizens and how the Nigerian Army and other security services, Civilian JTF confronted them under the leadership of the 20th Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai.

The books are “Walking the War Front with Lt. Gen. TY Buratai,” “Duty Call Under Buratai’s Command” and “The Lonely Grave and Other Poems – an anthology.”

A military officer who saw the manuscripts of the books, had this to say: “These books, which have taken Jibrin over five years to successfully complete, have taken a lot of sweat, blood and tears. These books are not just mere stories but actual realities. Not just through his eyes, but also through the experiences of servicemen.”

In a statement, Ndace said that the public presentation of his books would be held in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

He described his trilogy as a must read for everyone seeking to have deep insight and pictorial evidence on Nigeria’s counter-insurgency warfare in the most ravaging moments.

Speaking on why he embarked on the project which took him five years of hard work, Ndace, immediate-past Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, noted that he was encouraged by the need to document that phase of the war against insurgency in which he was a witness.

“These books were inspired by many veterans who fought on and off the war field.

“Soldiers who sacrificed their lives to serve our great nation, the courage they exhibited and the aftermath of their gruesome experiences.

“Amongst many soldiers and servicemen, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai occupies a large part of the storytelling.

“Lt. Gen T.Y. Buratai is a retired Nigerian Army General, former Chief of Army Staff, who was appointed in 2015 and retired in January 2021,” he said.

On the scope of the book, the ace defence correspondent, explained that his trilogy contains first-hand accounts, poems, photographs, and powerful storytelling, witnessing the courage and sacrifice of soldiers, the brutal realities of combat, and the toll that war takes on both the human body and the human mind.

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The president spoke on Friday at State House, Abuja, while receiving in audience Albino Mathom Ayuel, Special Envoy of President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan.

He told the special envoy of the situation his administration met on ground in the North East in 2015, and how great strides had been taken in comparison with present days.

“We will study your situation, and see how we can help,” Buhari said.

The special envoy had intimated his host with the situation in his country, particularly how an insurgent group, “just like your Boko Haram here kills, maims and destroys.”

He then appealed for “close collaboration on security, particularly the training of our forces, since you have experience in this area.”

Mr Albino Ayuel said South Sudan was keen on ending the insurgent activities, “hence this appeal to our big brother.”

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Abubakar made the declaration on Saturday, at the Eid-el-fitr lunch organised for the students of UK Jarma Academy in Sokoto State.

The school, which was initiated by a Sokoto-based philanthropist,  Alhaji Umarun Kwabo, has 171 orphans from Borno, Yobe and Sokoto states.

They include 117 orphans from Borno, 21 from Yobe and 33 from Sokoto, being sponsored by the philanthropist to acquire their education to tertiary institution.

According to the Sultan, the children were no longer orphans because he was their father.

“We will continue to ensure that this children are living comfortably, we are their parents and they are our children,” he said.

Abubakar also called on scholars to sustain more enlightenment on the need for the society to support orphans.

“The gesture, if properly sustained by our society, will drastically reduce the ugly situation of rampant begging across our domain,” he said.

The Sultan appreciated the sponsor of the children, Sokoto State government and others, to continue to support the initiative.

He appealed for a sustainable prayer by Nigerians for peace, unity and progress in the country.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Munir Dan’iya, reassured of his administration’s commitment in supporting orphans.

He thanked Kwabo for sustaining the initiative and appealed to other personalities to emulate the gesture, considering its abundant reward from the Almighty Allah.

Earlier, the school proprietor said the gesture was part of his commitment to encourage the society to support orphans across the country.

“This initiative is a massage to all Nigerians. I am sure no matter how little, one can assist to reduce the burden of a single orphan within the society,” Kwabo said.

Also, Mallam Mohammed  Maidoki, Chairman, UK Jarma Management Board, thanked the sponsor for taking the children’s responsibility to tertiary institution.

Maidoki said that they had since engaged in various skill acquisition programmes which included tailoring, phone repairs and knitting.

Source: NAN

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The president spoke at the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the North-East of Nigeria, which preceded the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

He announced that his administration was embarking on a revised approach to addressing the 13-year conflict and insurgency in the region and would not relent in efforts towards a return to peace and normalcy.

”At the advent of this administration in 2015, I pledged to Nigerians that I will restore peace in the North East and return it to the path of development and growth. I remain committed to this promise.

”To the people of the North-East, particularly the children and future of the North-East, we will never forget you and your courage, sacrifice and endurance has been exemplary.

”I pledge to you that in the coming months you will begin to witness a shift away from a protracted insurgency to peace building, stabilization, and ultimately development in your respective communities as we embark on a revised approach to addressing this conflict- A Return to Normalcy,” he said.

On the terms of reference for the committee, the president emphasized that it entailed a shift from managing the situation to activating a permanent solution for effective and practicable restoration.

He said the committee, among others, is expected to develop a concise three-year action plan by the end of March 2022 that incorporates national and state level plans, providing a clear pathway for the restoration of peace and development in the North East.

The committee, he said, would also develop and implement a phased plan for the repatriation, returns, resettlement of IDPs and restoration of livelihoods, incorporating global best practices that would give dignity to the affected populations.

According to the president, they would also be responsible for the development and implementation of a coordinated peace building and reconciliation programme that is culturally appropriate and community driven.

The committee is also saddled with the responsibility of strengthening collaboration with key donors, development partners and private sector organisations that are critical to the mobilisation of resources and implementation of programmes.

President Buhari charged the committee members to adopt the guiding principles of accountability, delineation of duty and community-driven methods to address issues.

”Members will dedicate more time to the conduct of field visits to regularly engage with state government, communities and key stakeholders.

”Due to prevailing fiscal constraints, Ministries, Departments and Agencies will utilise existing budgetary resources and repurpose funds to programmes approved under this initiative,” he said.

Buhari directed the committee to submit monthly progress report whilst the first progress review meeting will be held in the first week of March 2022.

Underscoring the enormous task ahead of the committee, the president said:

”History beckons and Nigeria calls on you to be the team that finally charts this new path to the restoration of sustainable progress in the North East and I strongly believe this could lead to the birthing of a template for addressing insurgency and instability in other parts of our country and across the world.

”Failure to deliver on this task you have been assigned is not an option.”

The president also used the occasion to commend Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, who was present at the inauguration with his Gombe State counterpart, Inuwa Yahaya, for his unparalleled commitment to his people and exemplary leadership.

The president also expressed appreciation to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNOCHA, for support in the area of coordination of humanitarian actors and UNDP regional stabilisation facility, which is providing support in the area of security and the rule of law.

The members of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in the North-East are:

The Ministers of Finance, Budget & National Planning; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development; Interior;  Foreign Affairs and Defence.

Others are the National Security Adviser, Inspector- General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff, Director General, State Security, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Director-General, North-East Development Commission, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants & Internally Displaced Persons, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency and Chief of Defence Intelligence.

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Amao gave the assurance when he received the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Nigerian Airforce Headquarters in Abuja.

He expressed belief that with the professional competence of the air service men and women and a well boosted  morale, the terrorists and others would be brought to their knees.

CAS said NAF was willing to collaborate with Nigerian professionals in diaspora in relevant fields as it was imperative to tap into the enormous skills of Nigerians all over the world particularly in the area of technology transfer.

Air Marshal Amao also commended the NIDCOM boss for her passionate and relentless desire to see that the Nigerian Diaspora with such enormous resources, skills, talents and global exposure was leveraged for National Development.

Amao further assured of maximum support to ensure that Airforce Officers got the best professional training abroad, including those provided by Nigerian diaspora professionals in that field.

The NIDCOM boss used the opportunity of the visit to extend her condolences to the Nigerian Airforce on the loss of officers and men in the course of tackling the security challenges in the country.

Dabiri-Erewa also applauded the Nigerian Airforce for their intervention in bringing back stranded Nigerians in the Diaspora, particularly from neighbouring African countries.

The visit to the Chief of the Air Staff by Dabiri-Erewa came ahead of the proposed Diaspora Defence and Security Conference.

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The fighter jet was said to be on routine mission in support of troops at one of the Theatres of Operation in the Northern part of Nigeria.

The announcement of the missing fighter jet was made early Thursday by the spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet.

He however, added that efforts were ongoing to locate the aircraft.

His words: “A NAF aircraft on routine mission in support of own troops at one of the Theatres of Operation in the Northern part of Nigeria has lost radar contact. Efforts are currently ongoing to locate its whereabouts.”

The spokesman added that “The loss of radar contact occurred at about 5:08 pm on 31 March 2021.

“Details of the whereabout of the aircraft or likely cause of contact loss are still sketchy but will be relayed to the general public as soon as they become clear. Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts are ongoing.”

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The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in a statement on Friday, said the media reports were unsubstantiated and did not represent the true situation of the incidents.

Yerima said that what some media reports described as protest was a mild complaints by few soldiers of Mobile Strike Team (MST), deployed for Exercise Tura Takaibango in the frontline of operations.

According to him, at about 3 p.m. on March 25, some of the troops of Mobile Strike Team 10 and 11, who were primed to conduct phase 2 of Exercise TURA TAKAIBANGO in Bama after the first phase of the exercise, raised some concerns.

“The concerns were quickly addressed before they were relaunched to the second phase of the operations.

“On the issue of ‘obsolete weapons’ as reported in some media, the position of Army Headquarters is that soldiers have right to demand for proper weapons to prosecute the operations.

“However, the Federal Government was making concerted efforts toward deploying new fighting equipment to augment the existing ones in the theatre of operation.

“The Army wishes to also deny report that any soldier was owed any operational allowances. No soldier was owed any allowance in the theatre,” he said.

Army spokesperson gave assurance that Nigerian Army would continue to remain focused and determined to perform its constitutional roles and responsibilities professionally in the protection of the sovereignty of Nigeria.

He added that the Army was also committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property while clearing the terrorists, their cohorts and collaborators in the country.

Source: NAN

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Addressing troops, on Saturday, at the headquarters of “Operation Lafiya Dole” in Maiduguri, Irabor lauded them for the successes recorded.

He also commended them for their commitment and resilience, adding that there was a mandate given by the President and Commander in Chief that must be accomplished.

“What I need to let you know is that we have a mandate from him (president) and that mandate must be achieved.

“So, this is the reason why we are working assiduously. All issues of violence and insecurity, especially within the area of Operation Lafiya Dole, must come to an end,” Irabor said.

Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, had lauded the CDS and service chiefs for the visits, saying that it would boost the morale of the troops.

“We are encouraged by this effort of the CDS and service chiefs who have been in touch every hour,” Yahaya said.

He thanked the CDS and service chiefs for their prompt response in addressing requests from the theatre and assured them of the troops’ commitment to deliver on assigned tasks.

The CDS and service chiefs also visited the 7 Division Military Hospital, to interact with wounded soldiers receiving treatment.

Source: NAN

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Zulum made the appeal in Abuja on Friday in his goodwill message at a stakeholders meeting on the Implementation of Global Compact on Refugees.

He described the meeting as laudable and commendable.

“The refugees, numbering about 200,000 of Borno origin, that are residing in Cameroon, Chad and Niger have shown their quest to return home. They have been yearning and agitating to come back for a long time.

“In fact, they are all on my neck to return home. I am begging the federal government to help. The Borno government is ready to partner with the federal government via the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

“We can do this with the view of identifying suitable places for their return in a dignifying manner,” Zulum noted.

He was optimistic that after the stakeholders meeting a sustainable solution to enhance the means of their living and return home would be identified and implemented.

Source: NAN

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