Metro

President Tinubu assures Nigerians of full manifestation of reforms in 2024

Published

12 months ago

December 20, 2023

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that by the middle of 2024, they will begin to enjoy the full manifestation of the “bold” reforms his administration has undertaken in the six months in office.

Tinubu, who made the promise on Tuesday while inaugurating the new Enugu Zonal Command Complex of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Enugu State, said the reforms were for the benefit of Nigerian citizens.

The president, who was represented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, gave his government a pass mark for the improvement of security in the Southeast, Southsouth, Northeast and Northwest, just as he insisted that Boko Haram insurgents and bandits were being routed by security agents.

“First, I’m bringing the greetings of Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said I should congratulate you, EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede and your team. Thank you for the good work you are doing,” he said.

“He (President) said I should thank the armed forces of Nigeria, the military, the security forces, the police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the rest for the good work you are doing in our country today.

“Everyone will agree with me that things are changing. In just the first six months of this administration, we are beginning to see what is possible. We want to also encourage you to go in this direction.

“We need our country to work. We need things to improve. We want to do the right things. And he (Mr. President) is in the forefront of doing that. Things are changing in Nigeria. In 2024, wait and see what is going to happen”, he added.

Tinubu also reassured all security agencies of his determination to prioritise their welfare, calling on them to work harmoniously for better results.

“It is important that law enforcement agencies which are critical to our collective safety, security, prosperity and general well-being, are afforded necessary facilities to ensure their welfare and efficiency. This is why we commend the chairman of the EFCC and his team for this initiative.

“Issues of welfare, in particular, are important to law enforcement officers who stake their comfort and times, their safety and lives for our well-being.

“I want to assure you that this administration will not compromise when it comes to looking after your welfare.

“All we ask in return is a total commitment to the mandate of your agency. Beyond your regular activities of fighting various forms of fraud, I want to remind you that the EFCC is strategic to the counter-terrorism efforts of this Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

“It is my fervent hope that your commission will take a front row in the determined efforts to check the laundering of proceeds of violent crimes such as kidnapping, banditry and terrorism in our country and restore order and stability, particularly in the economy”, he stated.

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Metro

Zambia: FOX report highlights persistent media harassment, calls for reforms

Published

11 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A new Freedom of Expression (FOX) report by the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia, has raised concerns over what it describes as the continued harassment of media professionals in the country despite collective efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.

The FOX Report serves as a call to action for all stakeholders to create a safer and more enabling environment for the media to operate without fear or intimidation.

Chairperson of the MISA-Zambia Board, Lorraine Mwanza, who raised the concerns while launching the report on Tuesday at the Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka, highlighted that journalists and media practitioners in the country still faced intimidation, censorship, and violence for fulfilling their role of informing the public.

“The harassment of media professionals is a stark reminder of the threats posed to democratic values and the fundamental rights to seek, receive, and impart information without fear or hindrance,” Mwanza said.

She expressed solidarity with those who are targets of attack, and reaffirmed MISA’s commitment to defending journalists’ rights and protecting the integrity of the profession.

Mwanza further called on the government to address barriers preventing journalists from accessing public officials, emphasizing that public officials were custodians of critical information necessary for informed decision-making.

“When citizens have access to government data, they can better understand policies, monitor public spending, and advocate for change in their communities,” Mwanza noted.

She also appealed for the review and repeal of laws that undermine democracy, stressing the importance of enacting legislation that guarantees media freedom, freedom of expression, and digital rights, and commended the government for responding to calls from civil society organizations to withdraw the controversial Cyber Bills from Parliament.

Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Thabo Kawana, in a speech read by Ministry Director Mordern Mayembe, reaffirmed government’s commitment to upholding media freedom and freedom of expression in Zambia.

Metro

Nigeria: 614,937 killed, 2.2m abducted in 1 year— Report

Published

20 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A new report released on Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that over 614,937 Nigerians were killed and 2,235,954 others kidnapped across the country in one year between May 2023 and April 2024.

The NBS report, titled, “The Crime Experienced and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) 2024”, says based on the surveys conducted between May 2023 and April 2024, the 2.2 million Nigerians who were kidnapped across the country paid a whopping N2.2 trillion as ransom, with an average amount of N2.7 million per incident.

The report also disclosed that murder rate was highest in rural areas with 335,827 incidents and 279,110 in urban areas.

A zone-by-zone analysis of the report showed that the North-West had the highest murder cases of 206,030, followed by the North-East which stood at 188,992, while the least was recorded in the South-West at 15,693.

The report also revealed about seven in 10 households reported murder cases to the police nationwide with 33 per cent of households responding that the killer was an unknown person, and 23.4 per cent confirmed that the murderer was a member of the household; while 1.0 per cent reported that the murderer was either a spouse or a lover.

The report said 1,668,104 persons were kidnapped in rural areas and 567,850 in urban areas with the North-West having the highest cases of kidnapping with 1,420,307 abducted, followed by the North-Central with 317,837 and the South-East at 110,432.

“Of the estimated amount of N2.2 trillion payments to free victims, the North-West reported the highest ransom paid with N1.2 trillion; while the South-East was the least with N85.4 billion.

“Disaggregated by zones, the North-Central reported the highest proportion of payment of ransom at 83.4 per cent, followed by North-East at 78.6 per cent.

“Households in urban areas paid an average of N3.7 million compared to N2.3 million in rural areas,” the report stated.

It added that about 91 per cent of kidnapping incidents were done for ransom in the form of money, goods or other benefits.

“While 2.4 per cent of cases were attributed to political, criminal, or terrorist objectives; 2.1 per cent were linked to personal or family disputes. Custody disputes accounted for 0.5 per cent of cases,” the report said.