Nigeria Times

Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State has announced that his administration is empowering residents to defend themselves against banditry by providing training programs. In an interview with the BBC Hausa service, Radda explained that many communities in Katsina have become less accessible to bandits due to the proactive measures taken by locals.

Radda emphasized that the current number of security operatives in Nigeria is insufficient to combat the escalating insecurity. He highlighted the importance of self-defense and community involvement in augmenting the efforts of conventional security forces. His administration has initiated training programs for local youth to equip them with the skills needed to protect their communities before security operatives can respond to threats.

“We are not advocating for people to take up arms indiscriminately. What we are saying is that the existing security personnel are not enough to ensure the safety of all citizens,” Radda stated. He called on communities to contribute their youth for training, which has already begun to yield positive results, as evidenced by the increased safety in several areas.

Radda lamented the ease with which small groups of armed bandits can instill fear in larger populations, stating, “It is unfortunate how three or four boys with a gun or two could wreak havoc in a community of 500 or 1,000 or 2,000 people.”

To address this challenge, Radda’s administration established the “Katsina Community Watch,” recruiting and training local youth, and providing them with operational tools to support the efforts of security agencies in maintaining peace and order in the state.

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   Fresh insights reveal President Tinubu’s decision to dismiss five ministers stemmed from performance reviews and public feedback. The presidency stated the move aims to boost efficiency in government.
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   Minister of Defence Badaru Abubakar assured troops in Katsina that President Tinubu is fully committed to providing resources necessary to curb insecurity, urging military personnel to continue their efforts against banditry.
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The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has accused former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika of involvement in the questionable sale of two helicopters by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria. According to a report by Saturday Punch, the Bell 206 helicopters were sold for N556 million, allegedly due to underutilization.

While former NCAT Rector Capt. Alkali Modibo asserted that the sale followed due process and involved a licensed auctioneer, the committee, led by Ademorin Kuye, questioned the transaction’s transparency. The helicopters, initially purchased for $2.4 billion, were sold for just $1.2 billion without Federal Executive Council approval.

The committee recommended further investigation and potential prosecution for those involved, urging the Inspector General of Police to question Sirika and the buyers, Blue Horn Aviation Services Limited and Premier Jet Service Limited. The Nigerian Army also expressed disappointment, revealing it was denied the opportunity to acquire the helicopters for its aviation operations.

Labour Party Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives, Afam Ogene, has criticized the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its unclear stance on the coexistence of old and new Naira notes. His statement follows the CBN’s response to a Supreme Court ruling that did not specify an expiration date for the old ₦200, ₦500, and ₦1000 notes as legal tender.

On October 24, the House passed a motion led by Ogene, urging the CBN to clarify the non-legal status of old notes starting January 1, 2025, as the dual circulation of currency notes has caused public confusion. Ogene attributed the lack of clear policy to an “unintended factual error” in the motion.

In response, the CBN advised the public to disregard the motion, calling it a disruption to the country’s payment system and referencing the Supreme Court’s recent ruling. Ogene expressed concerns over the deteriorating quality of currency notes from banks and questioned why Nigeria operates with two distinct sets of currency.

He urged the CBN to prioritize transparency and resolve the ambiguity for the public’s benefit, instead of relying on legal technicalities.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has given an update on the search for victims following a helicopter crash on Thursday in the Atlantic Ocean, near Bonny Finima off the coast of Calabar. He stated that divers are continuing their search for remaining bodies and the wreckage. A full update will be shared once significant progress is made.

Following the accident involving eight individuals, the Ministry of Aviation reported that three bodies have been recovered so far. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and other emergency teams have been activated, with military and low-flying aircraft aiding the search. Despite the lack of an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal, efforts to manually locate the crash site are ongoing.

The Nigerian House of Representatives has voted down a bill proposing amendments to the 1999 Constitution that would expand the application of Islamic law. Sponsored by Aliyu Missau, the bill sought to remove the term “personal” from references to Islamic law in sections 24, 262, 277, and 288, which would allow the Sharia Court of Appeal to cover matters beyond personal issues.

Missau argued that removing the limitation to “personal” matters would allow Islamic law to include commercial and international aspects, such as those seen in institutions like Jaiz Bank, which operates under Islamic commercial law. Proponents of the bill, primarily from northern regions, contended that the change would support the growth of Islamic commercial practices in Nigeria.

Opponents, however, argued that the amendment could disrupt the secular nature of the Nigerian state. Solomon Bob from Rivers highlighted that the “personal” limitation was purposefully included to avoid broadening Islamic law’s scope. Bamidele Salam from Osun added that the amendment risked deepening religious divisions, recalling debates from earlier constitutional assemblies in 1979 and 1999, where military intervention limited Islamic law’s scope to personal matters.

After a heated debate marked by regional divides, the bill was ultimately rejected by a voice vote led by Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu.