The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in collaboration with Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) held a press briefing on Monday to disseminate policy briefs on early warning and early response mechanisms to enhance the protection of civilians in Nigeria. The event was organized under the aegis of a project titled “Strengthening Capacity, Advocacy, Accountability, and Local Engagement Towards Developing Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms” and supported by the Open Society Foundations Africa (OSF-Africa).

Addressing the media, Abubakar Jimoh, Programme Officer at CISLAC, emphasized the importance of engaging the media on conflict prediction mechanisms to raise public and policy consciousness. “There is no better time to engage the media on matters of conflict prediction mechanisms to raise public and policy consciousness on the emerging threats to the peace, security, and territorial integrity of our beloved country,” Ajimah stated.

Jimoh said the necessity of the event given the evolving epidemic of multidimensional security threats affecting Nigerians at all levels. “The event is considered necessary, given the evolving epidemic of multidimensional security threats bedeviling Nigerians at all levels,” he noted.

The increase in violent conflicts since the 2000s has raised questions on how violence and its escalation can be prevented. “Conflict prevention mechanisms exist, and Early Warning and Response Systems (EWRS) are prominent avenues to avert socio-political crises,” Ajimah explained. He stressed that prevention of crises or disasters should be initiated at the earliest possible stage.

Ajimah pointed out that early warning and early response systems are vital tools for initiating timely responses to keep the populace safe. “Despite the existing wealth of information and analysis on the issues of natural disasters, climate change, and conflict, there is a need to make early warning and conflict prevention operational at multiple levels of Nigeria’s federal structure,” he said.

Highlighting best practices, Jimoh noted that early warning and early action lead to anticipatory action or forecast-based action that enables decision-makers to take informed steps to protect people before disaster strikes. “To be effective, Early Warning Systems must involve meaningful engagement with communities at risk and decision-makers, including other stakeholders, disaster relief, and security agencies,” he added.

Through previous engagements, CISLAC observed the criticality of initiating Early Warning Early Response systems, especially at community levels, as proactive measures to conflict prevention. “This brought to limelight the ongoing project with a specific focus on Strengthening Capacity, Advocacy, Accountability, and Local Engagement towards Developing Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms to Enhance Protection of Civilians in Nigeria,” Jimoh  stated.

During the event, CISLAC revealed key observations from their engagements across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. These include logistics challenges, poor remuneration of response personnel, lack of institutionalized strategies to protect information secrecy, and the absence of modern technology for accurate information gathering. “Intrinsic logistics challenges and poor remuneration with resultant low morale among response personnel constitute major impediments to efficiency by response institutions,” Ajimah reported.

He is outlined several recommendations to improve early warning and response systems, such as institutionalizing adequate data protection systems, forming well-informed community networks, and conducting massive sensitization on drug abuse. “Adequate resource allocation to response institutions and well-remunerated personnel will foster coordination and efficiency in the response process,” he emphasized.

The CISLAC programme officer also express hope that the policy briefs would be judiciously utilized by relevant stakeholders to improve knowledge and understanding for more collaboration and collective support for early warning and response systems in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday announced the suspension of four officers implicated in the theft of ₦43.16 million from a total of ₦74.95 million recovered during an unauthorised arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said the officers—DSP Peter Ejike, Inspector Ekende Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode were found guilty of conspiring to tamper with exhibits, abuse of office, and other acts of misconduct.

According to Adejobi, the officers, led by Inspector Okafor under DSP Ejike’s directive, arrested Andrew Ejah, an employee of FATFAD Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was transporting the cash on behalf of clients in August 2023.

The officers were alleged to have reported only ₦31.79 million as the recovered amount, concealing the remaining ₦43.16 million. Following a petition by the owners of the money, the case was escalated to the IGP Monitoring Unit.

Adejobi said investigations revealed that the officers conspired to steal part of the cash and attempted to hide their tracks by claiming technical issues with evidence and spreading false narratives.

He said, “Upon being contacted by the alleged owners of the money, the officers claimed that the sum they had recovered from the arrested suspect was N31,790,000, and requested a percentage of the money to jeopardise investigation and suppress the case. Outraged by their actions, the money owners petitioned the Force Headquarters, Abuja and the matter was directed to the IGP Monitoring Unit for investigation.

During the process, the cash sum of N31,790,000 was recovered from the officers, who claimed that it was the total money recovered from Andrew Ejah during his arrest.

“After intense investigations and a series of trials, before duly constituted disciplinary panels, it was discovered that the officers took photographs of the suspect and the sacks of monies at the point of arrest but claimed the phone they used was damaged and subsequently lost, in an attempt to conceal their misconduct.

He added that they resorted to several tricks and gimmicks to cover their tracks, including the spread of false narratives and misinformation to several online blogs and newspaper platforms.

“These officers have been suspended, being found culpable of serious misconduct, tampering with exhibits, abuse of office, corrupt practice, illegal duty, and acts unbecoming of a police officer,” the statement added.

Adejobi condemned what it described as a “sponsored misinformation campaign” aimed at implicating the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in the scandal.

He also dismissed allegations suggesting that the IGP is shielding a cartel accused of smuggling suspicious new banknotes from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Grassroot parrot

Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (SDP, Nasarawa West) engaged in a heated exchange during Tuesday’s plenary session over the controversial operations of the Port Harcourt refinery.

Following the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)’s announcement last week that the refinery had commenced operations, doubts have been raised, with many questioning its actual functionality, including some industry experts.

During the plenary, Akpabio revealed plans to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the status of the refinery, a move that sparked further debate.

Senator Wadada took the floor, citing concerns over “technical issues” surrounding the refinery’s operations, and requested the Senate’s involvement to clarify the matter.

Akpabio countered, asserting that the government had already received praise for the refinery’s launch and suggested that Wadada present his concerns formally through a motion rather than via social media.

Wadada, visibly frustrated, responded, saying, “With all due respect, do not associate me with social media issues.”

The Nasarawa senator also criticized Akpabio for not addressing a revenue tax concern he raised months ago, which had not been acted upon.

In his defense, Akpabio responded, saying he had reviewed the document but reiterated that Wadada should formally present it during a plenary session.

Finally, Akpabio reaffirmed that the Senate would set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the refinery’s operational status, with findings to be discussed in a future session.