Nigeria’s former Chief of Defence Intelligence, CDI, Air Vice Marshall Monday Riku Morgan has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take the battle on security challenges engulfing the country to the grassroots level for meaningful improvement to be achieved.
The security expert said the federal government must look inward and set the stage for the fight against suspected criminals at the community levels of the country.
Air Marshall Morgan who spoke at the ongoing lecture series of the Peace Corps of Nigeria in Abuja expressed optimism that the spate of insecurity would be brought down greatly when intelligence gathering is kick-started at various local community levels of the nation.
At the lecture attended by eminent Nigerians including some members of the National Assembly, the former Chief of Defence Intelligence asked the President to deploy voluntary organizations especially the Peace Corps of Nigeria to rural areas for intelligence gathering purposes.
He said the autonomous relevance of the Peace Corps operating at the local government and community as a third line of security would be greatly advantageous to the security well-being of the nation.
“It will not be out of place if Peace Corps as a functional grassroots organisation can be deployed by Mr President to gather intelligence at community level that would help our conventional kinetic forces like Army, Airforce and Navy to better target criminal and insurgent elements.
“As a non-governmental organization now evolving to a quasi-governmental organization, the PCN has designed for itself, special development goals, which recognize the non -homogenous nature of the youth as a demographic class in our society.
“Everyone desires peace and security. Conflict is inevitable in any nation in the world.
but when it becomes difficult to resolve emerging conflicts, they result in a lack of
peace and insecurity and no country can develop economically, or politically without
peaceful co-existence among its population and within its borders.
“There had been incessant and visible cases of insecurity in Nigeria; such as terrorism, kidnapping, ritual killings and cultism which have led to fear and insecurity with the resultant effect of sorrow, hardship, pains, destruction of lives and properties.
“Many reasons have been adduced for the lack of security and peace in Nigeria, including youth unemployment, governance that is not participatory, political insinuations, religious problems and clashes among ethnic groups.
“Nigeria faces a plethora of security challenges ranging from violent extremism, to
farmer-herder conflict, banditry, a revived secessionist movement, police repression,
piracy and attacks on oil infrastructure among others. ‘
“This lecture combines both scholarly and practitioner perspectives, by identifying the links between these security challenges and Nigeria’s patronage-based state institutions.
“There is the need to look at the collaborative efforts of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, especially as regards the role of the Peace Corps as a means of strengthening
national identity, harnessing aspirations of youth to advance governance reform, create more accountability within the security services and avoid the militarization of every security challenge.
“Across the planet, there are currently numerous ongoing low conflict counter-insurgency wars being fought, Iraq, Afghanistan, the DRC, Mozambique and
Nigeria is an example.
“Over the past 75 years, the overwhelming majority of conflicts have been similar in nature. Terrorists, by fomenting armed conflict are able to inflate the political pressure they bring to bear on local governments.
“These movements are often poorly equipped and trained, however ideological fanaticism
coupled with local discontent, rugged terrain and the logistically challenged national militaries give them a disproportionate rate of success, often allowing them to move through the phases of an insurgency war up to occupation and domination of large swathes of territory.
“In the information age, insurgencies have become especially dynamic. Their leaders study and learn, exchange information, exploit seemingly leaderless networks and establish relationships with states in Nigeria.
“Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has said.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration is supportive of autonomy for local
government areas in the country.
“The SGF said that President Tinubu was committed to the rules of law and the
Constitution of the country and had also shown good faith in true fiscal federalism
since he assumed office.
“According to him, the present administration has recognized the fact that local
government areas are the closest tier of government to the people at the grassroots
in particular.
”However, it is obvious to discerning and well-meaning people that Nigeria’s insecurity problems emanate from the grassroots, our villages and local governments, which have huge swathes of ungovernable spaces far removed from our state capitals and big cities, if security is tackled at that fundamental level, then we nip the problem in the bud”, he said.
Tackle security challenges from grassroots – Ex-CDI, Morgan tells Tinubu
Tackle security challenges from grassroots – Ex-CDI, Morgan tells Tinubu
BREAKING: Govs to meet over Supreme Court judgement on LG autonomy
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, and Governor of Kwara, AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman has reacted to the Supreme Court judgement granting full autonomy to Local Government Areas, saying the development is a huge relief on governors.
But the NGF chairman also said the governors will meet next week to consider the judgement, and come out with a resolution.
AbdulRahman, who met with President Bola Tinubu in the Presidential Villa on Friday, said many people are oblivious of the burden the state governors carry, especially in terms of bailing LGs out.
“We welcome the ruling of the Supreme Court. Compliance is a given and our Attorney Generals have applied for the enrollment order, which we’ll study carefully.
“But by and large governors are happy with the devolution of power in respect to local government autonomy. It relieves the burden on governors. Our people really don’t know how much states expend in bailing out local governments, and that’s the issue there,” the NGF Chairman told State House Correspondents.
Reacting to how the judgement would affect his state, Kwara, the governor said the implication is that the various LGs would have to manage themselves, especially on the payment of salaries to workers and traditional rulers.
He said, “It’s not going to affect Kwara State. We’ve never tampered with local government funds. So it’s going to continue. What the local governments have to do is to manage themselves, especially with the oncoming minimum wage, to manage their affairs and make sure salaries are paid, traditional rulers get their 5% and those are the main issues.
“Like I said, we haven’t seen the enrollment of the court order and so we really don’t know what is in there.
“The Forum will meet next Wednesday, to look at the issue wholly and then come up with a resolution on that.”
BREAKING: Govs to meet over Supreme Court judgement on LG autonomy
CBN sells $122.671m to 46 authorised dealers
The Central Bank of Nigeria has commenced sales of forex to Bureau De Change operators after a four-month hiatus, The According has learnt.
This was after the apex bank confirmed forex sales of $122.67m to 46 authorised dealers on Friday.
A statement signed by the Bank’s Director in charge of Financial Markets, Dr Omolara Duke, said the new release is part of the bank’s determination to promote stability and reduce market volatility in the foreign exchange market.
The statement read in part, “The Central Bank of Nigeria has sold the sum of $122,671,000 to 46 authorised dealers in its determination to promote stability and reduce market volatility in the foreign exchange market.”
Last month, The President Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria, Aminu Gwadebe, told The According that the apex bank had suspended supply to the BDCs since March and was moving towards a complete liberalisation of the foreign currency market, which would not require its intervention.
He said, “The BDC window has been suspended by the Central Bank of Nigeria since around March or so. The last time we were funded I think was around March.”
This forex sales break allowed the naira to depreciate further to N1554/$ at the official market on Thursday.
Earlier this week, Nigeria’s external reserves increased yet again, reaching $35.05 billion as of July 8, 2024.
This is the first time it has crossed the $35 billion ceiling under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
More Details Soon…
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The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the growth of Insurance Industry in Nigeria
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries worldwide, including the Nigerian insurance industry. Imagine a future where filing a car accident claim is as easy as chatting with a friend. This is not a distant dream but a reality unfolding with the integration of AI in insurance.
To understand its impact, let’s explore its various applications, benefits, and how it enhances customer experience and personalization.
Coronation Insurance is committed to leveraging the power of AI to enhance customer experience, streamline processes, and improve risk management. Here’s a closer look at how AI is applied at Coronation Insurance:
- Claims Portal: AI has revolutionized the claims processing system at Coronation Insurance. This aspect of insurance operations is crucial for customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. With AI-powered systems, Coronation Insurance can now:
- Analyze claim documents: AI algorithms can quickly review and analyze large volumes of claim documents, ensuring that all necessary information is included and reducing the time needed for manual reviews.
- Validate information: The systems can cross-check the details provided in the claims against existing data to ensure accuracy and completeness. This helps in minimizing errors and speeding up the claims approval process.
- Facilitate settlement of claims: The streamlined process ensures that genuine claims are settled promptly, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Marine Portal: The Marine Portal at Coronation Insurance leverages AI to improve customer experience for marine-related transactions:
- Online purchase of Marine Insurance: Customers can conveniently purchase marine insurance policies online. AI assists in providing tailored policy options based on the customer’s specific needs and previous transaction history.
- Smooth transaction process: From obtaining quotes to finalizing the purchase, AI ensures a seamless transaction process. Automated systems handle the entire workflow, reducing the need for manual intervention and making the process quick and hassle-free.
- Retail Portal: Coronation Insurance’s Retail Portal is designed to offer customers a seamless experience when purchasing retail insurance products from the comfort of their homes:
- Personalized product recommendations: AI analyzes customer data to provide tailored product recommendations that best suit their needs. This ensures that customers receive relevant options without having to sift through numerous products.
- Ease of purchase: The entire purchase process is automated, from selecting a policy to making payments. AI ensures that the process is user-friendly and efficient, reducing the time and effort required from the customer.
Benefits and Challenges of AI Integration in Insurance
Benefits:
- Enhanced efficiency
- Improved customer satisfaction
- Better decision-making
Challenges:
- Technological limitations: The low level of technological advancement in Nigeria poses a challenge to widespread AI adoption.
- Data availability: Effective AI implementation requires access to vast amounts of data, which may be limited in some cases or unavailable in Nigeria.
- Skill gap: There is a need for skilled professionals to develop and manage AI systems.
The Difference Between Manual Systems and AI Applications
Initially, Nigerian insurers focused on automating routine tasks and back-office operations. However, as technology advances, AI has begun playing a pivotal role in risk assessment, fraud detection, customer engagement, and product innovation.
Muftau Oyegunle, the Past President/Chairman of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN),emphasises the significance of discussing the impact of artificial intelligence on the insurance industry, as it plays a substantial role in the evolving world of insurance.
He highlights that AI algorithms can now assess risks by analyzing historical data, making accurate pricing forecasts, and automating underwriting processes. This speeds up policy issuance and ensures more accurate risk assessment and pricing.
Impact of AI on Insurance Penetration
AI can significantly increase the low penetration rate by making insurance services more accessible and efficient. AI-driven personalized services can attract more customers, especially the tech-savvy younger generation. Automating processes can reduce operational costs, making insurance products more affordable.
Ultimately, AI holds immense potential to transform the Nigerian insurance industry. For AI to achieve its full potential, however, there needs to be higher collaboration among insurance practitioners, increased technological advancement, and a focus on building the necessary skills.
See the table below showing Insurance Africa Penetration as at 2021 (Source: Atlas Magazine)
African Insurance Penetration Rates in 2021 |
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The table above highlights the significant gap in insurance penetration between Nigeria and other African countries.
With Nigeria’s total insurance penetration rate at just 0.4%, compared to South Africa’s 12.2% and Namibia’s 7.1%, it underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions like AI to boost accessibility and efficiency in the Nigerian insurance sector.
For more information, visit our website: www.coronation.ng to get started. Call 02-012774500 | 02-012774566 | 02-012774577 or send an email to [email protected].
BREAKING: Olakulehin crowned 43rd Olubadan
Oba Owolabi Olakulehin has been crowned as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, The Nation reports Friday.
The event was held at the Labosinde compound in the ancient city of Ibadan – the family whose right is to crown any Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Those present at the venue include a former Oyo State Governor and member of the Olubadan-in-Council, Rashidi Ladoja; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar; former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, among others.
Details later…
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BREAKING: Makinde presents staff, instruments of office to 43rd Olubadan, Olakulehin
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has presented staff and instruments of office to the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin 1.
The governor made the presentation around 2:45 pm on Friday, during a ceremony at the frontage of Mapo Hall in Ibadan.
Makinde, while making the presentation, said, “They said they want to sabotage, they want to sabotage, we are here today at Mapo Hall.
“I, Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State by the virtue of power conferred on me, hereby present the staff of office to the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
“Let us say Kabiesi!”
More details later.
BREAKING: Makinde presents staff, instruments of office to 43rd Olubadan, Olakulehin
S’South govs absent at Niger Delta summit
As key stakeholders such as ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and some former governors were present at the ongoing Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, some sitting governors of the South-South were missing at the event.
According Online gathered that while some key political stakeholders of Niger Delta extraction including Jonathan and President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as well as some stakeholders from other geo-political zones, such as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State were present at the summit, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State is the only South-South governor physically present as at the time of filing in this report.
Other governors of the South-South states sent in their deputies to the summit themed “Renewed Hope for Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta Region”.
Former Governors Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State; Donald Duke, Cross River; and Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa were present at the time of filing this report.
The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, who is the host is also represented by the Head of Service of the State, George Nwaeke.
While the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, at the time of filing this report was not at the Summit, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was present at the instance of representing President Bola Tinubu.
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IPOB alleges soldiers collude with gunmen at checkpoints to kidnap passengers in the S’East
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has alleged that Nigerian soldiers collude with gunmen at military checkpoints in the South-East to intimidate, harass, extort and kidnap passengers and motorists.
The secessionist group which made the allegations in a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said such atrocities usually occur at a location described as the “kill and bury” military checkpoint mounted at Ukwu Orji in the Mbaitolu Local Government Area along Owerri/Onitsha expressway in Imo State.
The statement posted on the X handle of @IPOB Central on Friday, stated that unsuspecting passengers have been “subjected to all manner of humiliation, torture and forceful disappearances at military and police checkpoints in the South-East, particularly at the military checkpoint at Ukwu Orji area.”
The group also called on the Inspector General of Police and the Defense Headquarters to immediately dismantle military and police checkpoints in the region to curb the ‘criminal activities’ of security operatives in the South-East.
“The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great and indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, raises alarm over the incessant military intimidation, harassment, and extortion at the “kill and bury” military checkpoint mounted at Ukwu Orji in Mbaitolu LGA along Owerri/Onitsha expressway,” the IPOB spokesman said.
“Ndigbo passengers have been subjected to all manner of humiliation, torture, and forceful disappearances at the military and police checkpoints in the Eastern Region, particularly at the “kill and bury” military checkpoint at Ukwu Orji along Owerri/Onitsha expressway.
“The soldiers at this particular checkpoint deliberately keep all the vehicles that get to the checkpoint at 10 pm to around 12 am until each vehicle pay them N5,000 before they can be allowed to pass to continue on their journey.
“Sometimes, after unnecessary delays and extortions by the soldiers at this checkpoint, the passengers are attacked and kidnapped on the way.
“The soldiers and police officers at this checkpoint are informants to kidnappers. They are professional armed robbers who use guns and uniforms issued by the Nigeria government to intimidate and force people to part with their money or be delayed till the next day or even be killed.
“Similar incidents happen in all the military, and police checkpoints scattered all over the South-East Region.
“The uncountable number of army and police checkpoints collect N5,000 or more from each vehicle in the South East Region and make persons and vehicular movements difficult and expensive.
“The militarization of the South-East Region is not only intimidating and oppressive policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria and her murderous security agencies, but it is also a plan to occupy Biafra territory.
“The security agencies of Nigeria also contraven UN human rights commission rules regularly in carrying out their evil plans in Igboland. The Nigerian government’s economic strangulation policy against Ndigbo can be felt by all inhabitants of Igbo land.
READ ALSO:IPOB warns South-East politicians against sabotaging moves to free Kanu
“The excessive extortions at these military and Police checkpoints make the cost of goods and transportation exorbitant compared to other regions of their country.
“Holding passengers at gunpoint from 10 pm to 12 am is against fundamental human rights. All of that done in order to extort huge amounts of cash from travelers before allowing them to cross the army or police checkpoint.
“This shows that the Nigerian military is part of the criminality going on in Imo State and the entire South East Region.
“IPOB in the past has raised alarms that the military and police checkpoints in the East are part of the insecurity of kidnapping and car snatching gangs’ activities.
“The presence of these soldiers and police officers at various checkpoints has not reduced insecurity. Instead, the Nigerian soldiers at the checkpoints are humiliating, intimidating, raping our ladies, extorting money, and passing information to kidnappers.
“They are working with the kidnappers who deliver shares of ransom collected from kidnapped victims to them.
“IPOB is calling on the Nigeria Defence Headquarters and the Chief of Army Staff to withdraw and dismantle the Military checkpoints in the East particularly the checkpoint at Ukwu Orji on Owerri/Onitsha expressway if they care to maintain their remaining integrity.
“The Nigerian soldiers deployed at that checkpoint are part of the insecurity in the South East Region.
The checkpoints are meant to protect innocent civilians while checkmating the activities of criminal elements terrorizing the communities.
“Instead of stopping the insecurity, these military men and women at these checkpoints are fueling insecurity, kidnapping, angering, and frustrating the civilians on the roadways. The military checkpoints are extortion toll booths and information gathering for the kidnappers.
“Therefore, IPOB demand that the Nigerian Army and Police dismantle all the indiscriminatly positioned criminal military and police checkpoints in the South East Region and the South South Region with immediate effect.
“We believe that their personnel have turned the checkpoints into something else. These checkpoints are fueling the anger of the people. The Nigerian Army and Police in the East must not wait till the people’s anger gets to boiling point before they allow Ndigbo to breathe.
“The Nigerian Army should never underate the reactions of angry and wounded persons. Biafra people and Biafra territory have endured a lot.”
IPOB PRESS RELEASE 12/07/2024
IPOB CALLS ON IG OF POLICE & THE DEFENSE HEADQUARTERS TO DISMANTLE THE CRIMINAL MILITARY CHECKPOINTS IN THE SOUTH EAST
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great and indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu raises alarm over…
— IPOB Liverpool Central (@ipob_central) July 12, 2024
The post IPOB alleges soldiers collude with gunmen at checkpoints to kidnap passengers in the S’East appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
LG autonomy suit, Tinubu govt’s best action so far – IPAC
The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has described the Federal Government’s legal action to liberate the local governments from state governors as the best thing the President Bola Tinubu administration has done so far.
TVN reported that the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgement on Thursday 11th July 2024,
granting financial autonomy to local governments and barring the governors from constituting Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of the third tier of government.
IPAC described the ruling as a clear victory for sustainable democracy and development in Nigeria.
IPAC hailed the Federal Government’s action in instituting the suit to liberate the 774 local governments from the clutches of the governors, describing it as the “best decision it has taken so far”.
IPAC’s national Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, saying,
“It is a giant step forward in revamping the economy and bolstering grassroots development across the
country.
“It is unfortunate that Governors who ought to have bolstered Local Government development in the country chose to suffocate it by retaining and utilizing funds meant for the Local Government Areas in flagrant violation of Section 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
“This is important as Governors who are used to diverting Local Governments funds for over two decades could seek ways to circumvent the apex court ruling by using State Houses of Assembly.
“The Supreme Court also declared that Local Governments must be governed by democratically elected officials contrary to the obnoxious appointment of Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of Councils.
This is a welcome development in the onerous task of deepening democracy and fostering sustainable development in Nigeria.
“To maximize this development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should immediately set up a monitoring team to ensure funds released to Local Governments are prudently and judiciously used for the good of the people.
“This will guard against unscrupulous elements from devising new means of siphoning the funds. There must be transparency, probity and accountability in the utilization of funds allocated to the Local Government Areas. “
LG autonomy suit, Tinubu govt’s best action so far – IPAC
Biden makes another gaffe, calls Ukraine’s Zelensky ‘President Putin’
President Joe Biden of the United States, US, has erroneously referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin”.
Biden made the gaffe on Thursday in Washington DC during the NATO summit.
Biden introduced Zelensky as “President Putin”, mistakenly referring to him as Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is waging a war against Ukraine that began in 2022.
But the US President quickly corrected himself, while Zelensky replied to Biden’s gaffe in a joking manner, saying, “I’m better than Putin”.
“You are a hell of a lot better,” Biden replied Zelensky after correcting himself.
He blamed his mistake on being “so focused on beating Putin”.
This is coming after Biden was asked to withdraw from the US presidential race as concerns mount regarding his mental acuity and chances of defeating former President Donald Trump.
Similarly, Biden had mistakenly called Trump Vice President while referring to Kamala Harris.
Biden makes another gaffe, calls Ukraine’s Zelensky ‘President Putin’