Connect with us

Defence and Security

Senate pledges to upscale more supports for Armed Forces

Published

on

Share

*visits military hospital to empathise with the Wounded In Action(WIAs)

* Donates of N10 million to assist the Military hospital

The Nigerian Senate has said it would henceforth upscale more supports for Armed Forces in order to achieve better results in the ongoing campaign against Insecurity in the country.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan made the pledge  on Saturday when he led a delegation of the Senate to a military hospital in Kaduna to show empathy for the Wounded In Action(WIAs) who were brought there from the various theater of operations.

According to the Senate President
the situation in the country today required that Armed Forces get adequate resources.

“We are with our military. We will continue to give all the support that is necessary. Infact, we want to upscale our support because the situation today in the country requires that our Armed Forces are better resourced for better results.

“On behalf of all of us in the National Assembly, I want to express our concern and care for those who have been wounded on behalf of all of us because you have given your all to defend the integrity of this country and I believe that the nation will continue to be very grateful to you.”

Other members of the delegation were the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Borofice, Senate Deputy Chief Whip Sabi Abdullahi, Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Sahabi Ya’u and the Chairman, Senate Services Committee, Senator Sani Musa.

The delegation visited 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital where the Senators went round the wards to see officers and soldiers on admission with various degrees of injuries.

The visit was part of the activities to commemorate the second anniversary of the ninth Senate. Similar visit was also paid to the Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) camp at Wassa, the suburb of the Capital City of Abuja on Thursday.

The delegation to the military Hospital was received on arrival by the GOC 1 Division, Major General Danjuma Alikeffi and the Acting Medical Director of the Hospital, Colonel Stephen Onochukwu.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai later joined the delegation at the hospital and kept their company all through the visit.

Speaking to the patients in one of the ward, Lawan said: “We have come to see by ourselves, the situation and conditions of our Wounded In Action and other patients in this Reference Hospital.

“The Senate wishes all our patients here speedy recovery and I want to assure you on behalf of all of us in the Senate and indeed in the National Assembly, that we are with you.

Earlier, while responding to a briefing shortly on arrival by the Acting Medical Director, the Senate President said the visit was meant to be symbolic for visiting all the other military hospitals across the country.

Lawan explained further that the Saturday visit was “meant to provide us with the opportunity as a parliament, as Senate, to show compassion and empathy with people who have given everything and anything to protect the integrity of this country and suffered harm in one way or the other.

“Secondly, it is also an opportunity for us to see first hand how we can be more responsive to the needs of our military hospitals because beyond compassion and empathy, there are responsibilities and obligations as people who represent Nigerians, that we have to discharge.

“After the Civil War in Nigeria, I dare say that there was never a time that our military is involved in some kind of warfare than this time.

“That means some of our soldiers and officers could be challenged to have wounds that require hospitalisation more than ever before. That also means that as a country, we are supposed to provide more resources to cater for the needs of such Wounded In Action officers and men.

“Our Armed Forces deserve all the support from the government. Our Armed Forces deserve the support of all the citizens of Nigeria because they are fighting on our behalf. To do otherwise is to be unfair to the Armed Forces.

“Our expectations as citizens are very high, that this country is defended by our Armed Forces. Therefore we have to give the Armed Forces what they require.

“We may not be able to give everything because we don’t have enough but we must, as a country, put in more resources because everything rests on peace and security.”

Lawan, on behalf of the Senate, announced a donation of N10 million to assist the hospital.

The Acting Medical Director, Colonel Stephen Onochukwu thanked Senate for the visit and added that it would be a morale booster for the Wounded In Action(WIAs).

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Defence and Security

Tinubu Appoints Retired General, Famadewa As Special Adviser On Homeland Security

Published

on

Major General Adeyinka Famadewa (Retired)
Share

 

President Bola Tinubu has appointed retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s internal security and intelligence coordination.

The appointment was announced on Monday in a statement issued by Chris Ugwuegbulam, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

According to the statement, the appointment reflects the administration’s commitment to improving security coordination, boosting intelligence-driven operations, and enhancing collaboration among security agencies to tackle emerging threats across the country.

The statement described Famadewa as a highly experienced military officer with more than three decades of service in national security, intelligence operations, counter-terrorism, and international security diplomacy.

It noted that during his time as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser between 2015 and 2021, Famadewa played a key role in shaping Nigeria’s intelligence coordination system.

One of his major contributions was the establishment of the Intelligence Fusion Centre (IFC) at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The centre brought together key security and intelligence agencies including the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Armed Forces.

The platform was designed to improve intelligence sharing, national threat assessment, and strategic response coordination among security agencies.

After retiring from active military service, Famadewa continued contributing to national security discussions as a Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.

He is also the author of the monograph titled “Policing and National Security in Nigeria,” which focuses on improving cooperation between civilian institutions and security agencies.

President Tinubu expressed confidence that Famadewa’s experience and strategic expertise would help strengthen the administration’s efforts to achieve a safer and more secure Nigeria.

The President also urged the retired general to use his professionalism and wealth of experience to support the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and advance the country’s national security objectives.

Continue Reading

Defence and Security

Insecurity: CDS Orders Troops to Intensify Offensive Against Bandits in North-West

Published

on

CDS, Olufemi Oluyede
Share

The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has directed troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA to intensify operations against bandits and other criminal groups in Nigeria’s North-West region.

The directive was given during his operational visit to the Joint Task Force Headquarters in Gusau, Zamfara State, where he assessed troop readiness and ongoing efforts to restore peace in the area.

Addressing the soldiers, Oluyede praised their courage and sacrifices, urging them to remain disciplined and relentless. He stressed that the safety of citizens depends on their commitment, calling on them to pursue criminal elements until they are eliminated.

He also assured troops of continued support in welfare, training, and provision of necessary equipment to enhance their effectiveness in the field. The CDS highlighted the importance of improved air support and better coordination across operations.

During the visit, Oluyede paid a courtesy call to the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, commending his support for military operations and encouraging stronger collaboration, especially in intelligence sharing.

Governor Lawal, in his response, appreciated the efforts of the Armed Forces and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting security operations in the state.

The visit included operational briefings, troop interactions, and an assessment of deployments as part of ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity in the region.

Continue Reading

Defence and Security

Tinubu Approves ₦15bn Take-Off Grant for New Police Academy Campus in Ogun

Published

on

Share

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus of the Nigeria Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The President also approved a ₦15 billion take-off grant for the institution. According to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the move aligns with the provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021, which allows for expansion into multiple campuses nationwide.

The take-off fund will be sourced from the TetFund 2026 allocation and will support key infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation, and essential training equipment.

The decision followed a high-level meeting involving the Minister of Police Affairs, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission.

The meeting considered factors such as student capacity, funding, academic standards, and the long-term needs of the Nigerian Police Force. The expansion is expected to enhance policing education, institutional governance, and national security.

Continue Reading