[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he House of Representatives has resolved to invite heads of the Nigerian Customs Service and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) to brief the lawmakers on plans to address the menace of small arms and light weapons. 

The resolution, which was made on Wednesday at the Lower Chambers of the National Assembly, was in a bid to curb the influx of small arms and light weapons into the country.  It is coming at a time when the Customs seized 2,671 pump-action rifles smuggled into the country between January and September this year.

One of the members of the House from Anambra State, Honourable Obinna Chidoka, who sponsored the motion, said urgent steps must be taken by the Federal Government to curb the trend. Some of his colleagues Betty Apiafi (River State), Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (Abia State), and Henry Ofongo (Bayelsa State) supported the motion with their various contributions.

The House further urged the Customs and the DSS, as well as the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, to speed up investigation into the shipment of arms and commence prosecution of the culprits involved.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in the Senate considered the same issue during Wednesday’s plenary. This is just as a bill seeking to provide for the destruction of illegally imported firearms passed a second reading at the Upper House.

The motion was sponsored by Senator Gbolahan Dada of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ogun State. Senate President Bukola Saraki also supported the bill after which it was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary Human Rights and Legal Matters.

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]agos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, vision to make Lagos the safest place to lives and work in Africa must be fulfill , as he cannot stop supporting the Lagos State Police Command with logistics to enhance their performance. Gov. Amode  handed over 120 new 5KVA generating sets on Monday to the Lagos State Police Command to power all police formations across the state, with a pledge of continuous support to security agencies to ensure optimal performance.

Speaking at Lagos House in Ikeja while handing over the generating sets to the police, the Governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to ensure the enforcement of rule of law and safety of lives and property in the State, just as he said that his vision was for the State to be among the safest places to live and work in Africa.

Governor Ambode, who was represented at the brief handing over ceremony by the Chairman of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Mr Oye-Hassan Odukale, said the security of residents and investors remain one of the cardinal objectives of his administration, and that government would not relent in coming up with initiatives and programmes to guarantee safety of the people.

He said the generating sets were procured by the Fund to ensure that police formations in the State work optimally in their mandate of safeguarding lives and property.

According to him, “Lagos State is the safest state and we hope to make the State to be among the safest States in Africa which is our objective at the Fund. Anything about security is given high priority by our administration. Lagosians are now feeling safe. The safety that we are experiencing don’t come cheap but I like to assure that at the Fund, we are always willing to move at any time to ensure that we keep Lagos safe,” he said.

The Governor also congratulated the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Imohimi Edgal, and pledged to work with him to ensure the safety of the people.

He said aside the provision of the generating sets, the LSSTF had also been mandated to carry out the installations of the new equipment in all the Divisions and Area Commands in the State.

Besides, Governor Ambode urged police officers to take good care of the generating sets and use them for the purpose meant for the overall benefit and safety of the people.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Executive Secretary of LSSTF, Dr Abdulrazak Balogun said the generating sets would be distributed across the 107 Police Divisions and 13 Area Commands in the state.

He said the procurement of the generating sets was in furtherance of the Light Up Lagos Project of the present administration aimed at ensuring that every nook and cranny of the State are well lit.

He said: “The procurement is also in tandem with Governor Ambode’s vision of a secured and investment-friendly Lagos. Police formations are critical to securing lives and property in the state and it is very important that these stations function optimally. This is why the Lagos State Security Council recommended the provision of power generating sets for these stations and the State Security Trust Fund expeditiously approved the expenditure.”

Responding, the State’s Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Imohimi Edgal thanked Governor Ambode for the gesture, saying that the generating sets could not have come at a better time.

While assuring that the generating sets would be put to optimal use, Edgal said that the facility would go a long way to ensuring that the divisional and area commands are well lit up to enable them effectively enforce the laws of the land.

“You can imagine the confidence members of the public will have if divisional headquarters and area commands are lit with the confidence that their matters would be earnestly addressed.

“Power is very essential. Our communication gadgets, especially phones need to be charged. You cannot function anywhere, you can’t take complains, you can’t give directives to field officers when there is no power. These generating sets are very valuable to us,” the CP said.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he founder of Save a Soul Foundation and Life of Widows Foundation, Mrs. Ngozi Ezeoba-Nwaokolo, today facilitated the first phase of her empowerment scheme. Six children, four of the same mother and two others from the same mother benefitted from the scheme. They were Okonkwo Samuel 12years, Primary 1; Okonkwo Miracle 10years, KG 3; Okonkwo Nkem 8years, KG 2, and Okonkwo Chigozie 4years, KG 1. Others were Oviguaraye Blessing 8years, Primary 3 and her brother, Oviguaraye John 5years and in KG 1. They are all pupils of Omu Boys Primary School, Ibusa.

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari on Monday returned to Abuja after participating in the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The President’s aircraft landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 7.p.m, where he was received by top government officials including his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

The President, on Sept. 21, left New York at about 8.05a.m for JFK International Airport for his onward journey back home via London, United Kingdom. While in New York, the president presented Nigeria’s National Statement at the UNGA and thereafter had meetings with President Donald Trump of the United States and the King of Jordan, Abdullah II.

Buhari also met with the President of Ghana, Mr Kuffour Addo and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres. The Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had told State House correspondents that President Buhari’s appearance in New York was “worth the while” and immensely beneficial to Nigeria particularly Jordan’s donation of 200 armoured vehicles to Nigeria under generous terms.

He said Buhari held bilateral talks with the different leaders on various areas of cooperation.

He also called for the cooperation of world leaders to facilitate the recovery of stolen assets. “Through our individual national efforts, state institutions are being strengthened to promote accountability, and to combat corruption and asset recovery. “These can only be achieved through the international community cooperating and providing critical assistance and material support. “We shall also cooperate in addressing the growing transnational crimes such as forced labour, modern day slavery, human trafficking and cybercrime.’’

The president had also proposed a delegation of the United Nations to North Korea leader, Kim Jong-un, to pressure him to end the nuclear crisis which he described as the greatest threat to mankind.

Buhari said diplomatic efforts must be brought to bear on North Korea to ensure a peaceful resolution of the crisis. North Korea recently increased the pace of its nuclear weapons development in defiance of all entreaties to halt the programmes. Buhari said: “The most pressing threat to international peace and security today is the accelerated nuclear weapons development programme by North Korea.

“Since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, we have never come so close to the threat of nuclear war as we have now.

“All necessary pressure and diplomatic efforts must be brought to bear on North Korea to accept peaceful resolution of the crisis. “As Hiroshima and Nagasaki painfully remind us, if we fail, the catastrophic and devastating human loss and environmental degradation cannot be imagined.

“Nigeria proposes a strong UN delegation to urgently engage the North Korean Leader. According to the president, the delegation, led by the Security Council, should include members from all the regions. “The crisis in the Korean peninsula underscores the urgency for all member states, guided by the spirit of enthroning a safer and more peaceful world, to ratify without delay the Treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons, which will be opened for signature here tomorrow,’’ he added.

The president also drew the attention of the world body to the suffering of the Muslim minorities, the Rohingyas in Myanmar, accusing the government of that country of carrying out ethnic cleansing against them.

Speaking about new conflicts and the need for the world body not to lose sight of old ones including the Palestinian question, the president regretted the humanitarian situation in Myanmar which he said was reminiscent of the situation in 1995 Bosnia and 1994 Rwanda.

The President, in the statement, had also assured the international community of Nigeria’s firm and unshaken commitment to democracy in the country and the African continent. He said this commitment to democratic ideals became profound with Nigeria leading ECOWAS’ effort in the restoration of democratic governance in The Gambia and Cote D’Ivoire. President Buhari has since retired to his official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]igeria Police boss , Ibrahim Idris, has again ordered the dismantling of all roadblocks nationwide with immediate effect.  The directive became necessary to enable ease of doing business in Nigeria, as well as safeguard and guarantee free passage of goods and travellers throughout the country.

The routes specifically affected are Lagos–Ibadan, Shagamu–Benin, Benin–Onitsha, Okene–Abuja, Kaduna–Kano, Katsina–Kano, Otukpo–Enugu, and Enugu–Port Harcourt expressways. “No police department, section, squad or unit should mount roadblock without the express permission of the Inspector General of Police,” said a statement issued on Monday by the Force spokesman, Mr Jimoh Moshood.

The police boss also warned personnel on patrol against the improper identification of their vehicles, especially those serving along the border routes in the country. He further asked heads of various zones and commands across the country to ensure the directive was strictly adhered to by personnel in their formation.

“Consequently, Assistant Inspectors General of Police in charge of zonal commands, Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands, heads of departments, must ensure that every patrol vehicle in their respective formation carries a conspicuous and legible inscription of patrol vehicle identification number, and dedicated emergency phone numbers for ease of identification and report of distress by members of the public.

“The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Border patrol of the Force is specifically directed to ensure compliance with this directive along the Border routes in the country except for the few approved points by the Federal Government,” the statement added.

The IGP also orders personnel who involve in vehicular patrol on highways and major roads across the country to wear on their uniforms, a bold name tag and service number.

He informed that the Special X-Squad teams of the Force have been deployed throughout the country to arrest, investigate and discipline any police personnel violating the directives.

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ervice is like a candle light; all eyes behold it while it shines and illuminates the surrounding. Eyes blink whenever it flippers and eyes are worried with disappointment when the candle light extinguishes. That is the simple life of every security personnel especially police officers in service to the society.  All eye are on the police officer. The performance of a police officer is often like a seed. The way you plant it could determine how it would germinate and  be harvested. The harvest could be unto shame, or of ovation and commendations.

In the history of the Nigeria Police, many officers have shamefully left the organisation and many more have left memorable footprints, great legacy. For the later type, many people have continued to remember their good  deeds  and wonderful services.Nigerians are a people who appreciate good services especially in public office.

Today, it is the Commander of Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Tunji Disu an Assistant Police Commissioner is being appreciated by the people of Lagos state in a grand style. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) came into being in 1999 under the visionary leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the then Governor of Lagos State, as a child of necessity, with a clear mandate to fight violent crimes in making the ‘Centre of Excellence’ habitable for its residents. The RRS was furthered strengthened during the administration of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) who set up the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) in 2007 and created a Public-Private Partnership to fund the huge investment required to support security operations in the state. And in keeping faith in crime-fighting, officers and men have left no one in doubt that they are capable with the requisite capabilities at their disposal to respond swiftly to crimes in all parts of the state.

The name ACP Tunji Disu is known as a quintessential Police officer with a knack for operational activities.  As the

commander of  the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS),  He did not allow his police disposition to overshadow his judgment while handling crime cases. He balances his professional activities based on human rights requirement and the fear of God. His milk of human kindness flows towards both the complainant and even on suspects that are being denied justice.He believes a criminal must have his day of reckoning and through its operational impact has continued to wage relentless war against criminals and this resulted in several arrests of criminals in the state.

As the Commander Rapid Response Squad (RRS),Police men serving under him are more motivated due to his leadership qualities and the people and the government noticed this extraordinary police officer who took joy in ensuring that criminals operating in  and around Lagos State were tracked down. Police  Officers should always see every of their postings as a national call not , only to duty but to wholeheartedly serve  the country and its citizenry as ACP Disu is presently doing at moment . It is a lesson depicting the major essence of  Nigerianess , which is our oneness.

ACP Disu is the kind of police officer the country yearns for; the type of police officer any government with a zero tolerance for criminality would always embrace and celebrate.  An officer made of stainer stuff, a good manager of people and a good example of the slogan” Police is your friend”  and a detribalised police officer.