How relevant is NYSC now for national integration?

BY PAUL ARHEWE

NYSC members

There are strident clamours for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in some quarters, in the face of the prevalent near intractable insecurity situation in Nigeria. Ironically, the national unity raison d’être for the establishment of the scheme in 1973, has come under severe assaults as the country slides into pervasive insecurity. By the NYSC Act, partici-pating graduates could be sent to any of the 36 states and FCT, Abuja. More importantly, no participant is allowed to serve in his/her state of origin. There are few exceptions to this rule. However, the implementation of the NYSC statute in the face of the worrisome security challenge posed by the exacerbating insurgency in the North has exposed the programme to attacks bordering on insensitivity.

Jonathan’s new moves and the looming apocalypse

By Paul Arhewe

Scene of Kaduna terorrist attack

A recent cartoon created by National Mirror’s nimble-fingered chief cartoonist Leke Moses and used in the editorial page of last June 25 edition of the paper is both hilarious and sarcastic. It showed President Goodluck Jonathan in an airborne aircraft with fire extinguisher, destination Brazil to attend the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, and assuring he would have it refilled there, come back with it to attack the smoldering insecurity inferno in the nation. Since the Nigerian leader returned from the trip, he had taken some very hard and significant decisions, top of which is the major shakeup in the nation’s defence and security set up. Both the National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi and Defence Minister, Dr. Haliru Bello were relieved of their posts, an action Mr. President said was necessary to bring fresh ideas into the nation’s security strategic enforcement framework (SEF).

Of the US, North’s underdevelopment and Boko Haram

 By Paul Arhewe

A rural Nothern Nigerian houses



Can the United States of America afford to be indifferent to developments in Nigeria? The answer is a categorical no! Reason is that there is a strong trade relation between both coun-tries, mostly on oil. It is worth over $42 billion a year and growing. In 2010, the two countries entered into a Bi-national Commission Agreement, which is de-signed to deepen bilateral relations be-tween the two countries. The strategic interest of Nigeria to the US and indeed the West lies in the fact that she is Africa’s most populous nation, its largest contributor of peacekeepers, its largest producer of oil, and the largest recipient of direct investment by the American private sector in sub-Saharan Africa. It is therefore, natural that the American government cannot ignore the problems facing our dear Nigeria. I reason within the context of the recent statement credited to the US Assistant Secretary of State, Johnnie Carson linking the pervasive poverty in the North with the deadly attacks of the Islamist militant sect, Boko Haram.

New police boss and Nigeria’s security challenges

Mohammed Abubakar, Nigeria Acting IG of police

The emergence of Mohammed Dikko Abubakar as Nigeria's new Inspector- General of Police (IGP) came at a time when the country is inundated with a plethora of security challenges that are threatening its sovereignty and the peaceful coexistence of its people. Apart from the ubiquitous and incessant terrorist attacks by the Boko Haram sect, Nigeria is currently besieged by rising crime, kidnapping, swindling cyber fraud, etc., among other nefarious acts that have continued to damage the image of the country.

These challenges have also exposed the inefficiency of Nigeria Police Force which lacks the training to combat contemporary security threats. In recent times, dare devil robbers and terrorists take their battles to the doorstep of the police and escape with ease after their deadly attacks. The Boko Haram attack on the Force Headquarters in Abuja last year and the recent mayhem members of the same sect unleashed on a Kano police station really testify to the calibre of police the country now has and the dire need to overhaul the entire police apparatus and equip the rank and file with training on modern policing.

New year, new security challenges in Nigeria

PAUL ARHEWE
(Published 03/01/2012)

Christmas Day bombing in Niger state

Those of us who are alive to witness and partake in the celebrations that ushered in the New Year, especially against the backdrop of the enormous security challenges facing our country Nigeria, would definitely be grateful even when the country is still in a lugubrious disposition following the last Christmas Day bombings amid other senseless serial killings and maiming that characterised 2011.

While as a country we may be optimistic that the New Year comes with a miraculous salve that would immune it from the not too pleasant security malaise Nigeria experienced last year, the reality is that the New Year indeed comes with more new challenges for the country; especially in the area of securing the lives and properties of the people. It then behooves President Goodluck Jonathan to take charge and revamp the country's security apparatus by discarding ineffective and wane hands, or allow the situation to crumble his government in the New Year
The country's security network that should be a soothing factor and beacon of hope to the already traumatised and fear engrossed Nigerians, is even seeking for protection from the conscienceless Boko Haram sect. The National Security Adviser (NSA) General Owoye Azazi last week, to the bewilderment of the public, said it is difficult to effectively police a large country like Nigeria. It is absolutely difficult to man every point of the country when there are security problems. Like I have said before, there is need for security awareness.

Boko Haram and our porous security network

PAUL ARHEWE 23/06/2011 03:20:00

As a reporter on the foreign beat over the years, whenever there is any bomb blast in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iraq, this never takes the lead position in the arrangement of my stories. Why you may ask? There is a 90 percent probability that a bomb would be detonated in the aforementioned countries on a daily basis given the restiveness and the well sophisticated network of al-Qaeda in this region.

But for countries like the United States of America, United Kingdom, and others which Nigeria used to belong, it is very unusual to witness a single blast, and if by error of omission or commission one goes off usually they lead in screaming headlines. To say the spate of bombings in parts of northern Nigeria is out of hand would be an understatement. Last Thursday’s attack in Abuja Police Headquarters and the subsequent detonation of another in Borno is a vivid signal that the Boko Haram sect has declared war on Nigeria.

Making the perpetrators pay for their uprisings

By PAUL ARHEWE 25/05/2011 00:57:00

The spate of political and religious violence in the country in recent times actually calls for concern, even as carnages from such uprising keep mounting and have left many Nigerians families in sorrow. Many incidences in northern parts with recurring toll in places like Plateau, Borno and Bauchi where the proclivity for killing is taking an unprecedented dimension require more daring and drastic measures. Our government has continued to set up committees upon committees to probe past uprisings without much remedy to arrest the growing monstrous situation.

Making our security forces more proactive

By PAUL ARHEWE

The increased spate of bombings and terrorist attacks in recent times have vividly shown and exposed again how unsecured Nigeria is and the lacuna in its security outfits. Alertness and professionalism which are germane to securing a country with teaming population like Nigeria, are virtually absent or been compromised. To many, these current spates of bombings in the country may not have come as a surprise; as our security forces have been forewarned of the attacks by sect groups, especially the Boko Haram. In July last year when the Islamist sect group, Boko Haram, commemorated one year anniversary of the death of their slain leader, a serious security apparatus in the country would have been on the alert and highly proactive to nipping in the bud any premeditated and nursed onslaughts. This would have saved the country from the lugubrious situation we find ourselves.