Chief of Naval Staff Assures Nigerians of Safety on Territorial Waters

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Joseph Ezeoba

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Joseph Ezeoba on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the Navy would always ensure that Nigeria’s territorial waters were safe to enhance the country’s economic prosperity. Ezeoba gave the assurance in Odekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra, at the ground-breaking ceremony of the permanent site of Onitsha Naval Outpost.

He said that since President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the old outpost in August 2012, the Navy had recorded a lot of operational successes in Anambra and neighbouring states.

Two Suspected Pirates Disappear from Police Custody

Two suspected pirates allegedly caught with four AK 47 rifles along the waterways of Sagbama in Bayelsa State have disappeared  from the custody of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the state police command. They were said to have disappeared when their family members went to asked for them at the police station only to be told that they were no longer in the custody of the police.

A family source said that the men were indeed members of a vigilante and anti-piracy group operating at the Sagbama axis when they were arrested by security operatives.

Policeman Kills Colleague, Injures Others

Police Logo

A mobile policeman attached to the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis Saturday  shot dead a colleague in Jol area of Riyom local government council of Plateau State. It was gathered that two children between the ages of eight and twelve years were also shot in the fracas and are currently receiving treatment at the Vom Christian Hospital.

When contacted, the spokesman of STF, Captain Salisu Mustapha confirmed the incident, saying “a mobile police attached to STF shot dead his colleague who is also a mobile police officer in Jos Riyom LGC”.

Al Mustapha: I’m Just Learning How to Use Mobile Phone, Ipad

Major Hamza Al Mustapha

Since his release by a court weeks ago, after about 15 years in detention, Major Hamza Al Mustapha, chief security officer to late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has been striving to catch up with things that are in vogue. In this encounter with Tokunbo Adedoja, this erstwhile powerful man in the nation’s seat of power, speaks on what he has been doing since he gained his freedom and also reveals his other side that is unknown to many

It was a Wednesday evening and there was traffic snarl around the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, as I made my way to a location on a street somewhere around Garki area. On one of the plots on that street, is a storey building with a relatively high perimeter fence and a fleet of about seven vehicles, including an SUV marked NPF. Some youngmen, likely in their early 30s, were seen discussing just by the front door of the building. The main entrance leads to a room which has all the features of a reception, though finishing touches were still being put on the internal fittings.

Akinkuotu: Why NCAA Bought N255m Bulletproof Vehicles

Capt. Fola Akinkuotu

Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, Friday gave insight into why the agency procured  two bulletproof BMW 760 Li Amoured vehicle Series for N255 million.

He attributed this to their customised features, the environmental factor and the  monopolistic nature of Coscharis Auto Dealer - the sole reseller of such vehicles in the country. Akinkuotu's explanation is coming on the heels of controversy trailing the purchase of the two vehicles by the agency for the use of the minister.

Nigeria, UK, US in Joint Exercise Against Piracy, Crude Oil Theft

Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika

A joint multi-national sea exercise tagged "African Winds" aimed at showing readiness to flush out sea pirates, terrorists and crude oil thieves in the Nigerian waters was held at the Lagos Takwa Bay Beach Friday. The exercise which was jointly carried out by Spain, UK, US, Netherlands and Nigeria, was in line with the objectives of the African Partnership Station (APS) to stamp out maritime illegalities.

After the exercise, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba reiterated the Navy’s commitment to stamping out all illegalities from the nation's maritime domain, especially in the Gulf of Guinea.

Police Begin Search for Kidnappers of Ekhomu’s Wife

Police 

Security operatives in Edo State weekend began search for the kidnappers of Mrs. Victoria Ekhomu, wife of the private security expert and Chairman of Transworld Security, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, who was also shot by the gang. Initially, hours after the incident on Thursday, rumours had gone to town that it was the wife and children of the late Admiral Agustus Aikhomu that were kidnapped by the heavily armed bandits

SIMON KOLAWOLE: Aviation Whistle Blower is More in Need of the Bullet Proof cars

When he should be expressing regrets over the misuse of public funds to buy bullet-proof cars, the DG of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Folayele Akinkuotu, is threatening hell and brimstone over the information leak. Despite making a watery and illogical defence of the unnecessary expenditure, Akinkuotu went ahead regaling us with tales on the sanctity of confidential documents. The NCAA DG is even threatening the whistle-blower. Maybe it is the whistle-blower that will eventually need those bullet-proof cars...

SIMON KOLAWOLE: Stella Say Sorry or Sink......

Simon Kolawole Live!: By Simon Kolawole, Email: simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com

Before I forget, I was at Yale University recently for a special programme organised for Young Global Leaders (YGLs). The theme was “Foundations for Leadership in the 21st Century: Strategic Impact”. The opening session was led by Professor Robert Shiller (who, by the way, was named co-winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics last week). Shiller is one of the most respected economists of his generation, and his studies in behavioural economics, particularly markets and assets, have seen him successfully predict the dotcom burst of 2000 and the US housing crisis of 2007, which preceded, some will say precipitated, the global economic crisis.