For over two decades, the country has been embroiled in insecurity which appears to have defied solution. However, it is now apparent tthat everyone must put on their thinking caps and all hands must be on deck to secure the country. It is a known fact that unemployed youth are the engine oil that drives and propels insecurity . They are like siemens twins which are inseparable. According to records the country unemployed rate is above ten millions while out of school children record stands at over thirty millions kids especially the almajiris in all the northern states .The good news, however is that the Northern States Governors’ Forum has reiterated its commitment to come up with a comprehensive strategy to tackle the high rate of out-of-school children and the Almajiri menace in the region through an enhanced partnership with the Islamic Development Bank.
According to a press statement by the Director -General of Press Affairs to the NSGF Chairman, Ismaila Misilli, the resolution was disclosed during a meeting held between Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, and a delegation from the ISDB, led by the Bank’s Country Representative, Dr Hasanul Kibria.
Yahaya, who is also the Governor of Gombe State, emphasised that the Northern states are deeply concerned about the alarming rates of educational exclusion, particularly among the Almajiri.
He noted that the states would leverage the ISDB’s SMART Education project to not only expand access to education but also to improve its quality and enhance learning outcomes in the region.
Five northern governors whose consciences had pricked them, came together to review the painful menace of the social activities of the Almajiris, whose presence in virtually every part of the country. With the new move , the menace of Almajiri would soon be a thing of the past. Lest we had forget, Almajiris are abandoned northern children who roam about the communities and cities in the region and other sub Saharan region. They do not know their parents. Many bear the name of either their mentors, villages or towns or leaders. As they grow up, they most often are recruited into criminal activities and gangs like the notorious Boko Haram group, banditry . Others are also recruited as political thugs . Recall that former President Goodluck Jonathan had established an educational agenda for the Almajiris in the northern part of the country but was not continued by his sucessors.
Truely all hands must be on deck to secure Nigeria and save it from octane criminalities, with the latest report about one of the largest seizures of drugs by Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)which made a remarkable seizure of illicit drugs worth 3.4 billion . According to the Agency 2m pills of tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup, were recovered on April 29 during a joint examination of a watch-listed container by NDLEA officers, men of Customs Service, and other security agencies at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state.
When all hands are on deck ,institutional set goals are easily achieved , such achievements often times attract applause and appreciation. When all hands are on deck institutional problems are easily solved and leaders become exemplary.
kudos to the Nigeria Customs Service which excel in its 2025 first quarter report which states that over 36 trillion, three hundred and seventeen billion, nine hundred and twenty five million five hundred and seventy six thousand and twenty nine contraband’s were seized surpassing it monthly target of five hundred and forty eight. Thirty three billion by 18.12 percent surpassing previous achievements.This feat, according to the Comptroller-General of customs,Mr Wale Adeniyi who attributed to the vigilance and hardwork of customs officers at the port of entry . Sequel to this, report indicates that unemployment is on the decrease according to the Unemployment Rate in Nigeria decreased to 4.30 percent in the second quarter of 2024 from 5.30 percent in the first quarter of 2024. Unemployment Rate in Nigeria averaged 4.25 percent from 1991 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 6.00 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 and a record low of 3.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013. From all indication reports from every sector of the economy portrays a economic indices of positive activities from government institutions which is a good testimony that all hands are on deck even the anti graft agency like the economic and financial crime commission (EFCC) that is presently being applauded nation wide for opening up investigations on some executives of the Nigerian National petroleum corporation (NNPC) where a Director was found with 80bn Naira lodged in his personal bank account. according to investigation report, one of the former MDs is reported to have been in EFCC custody for over a week, after an outrageous sums of 80 billion Naira were allegedly discovered in his personal bank accounts. The revelations have sparked concerns that the magnitude of this scandal could exceed that of the infamous “Emefielegate”.
Meanwhile, the commission has formally requested comprehensive financial records from NNPCL, including details of emoluments and allowances, to aid its investigation. Above all,the president crowned all the efforts when he declared in Kastina while addressing elders of the Kastina State he said his administration was committed to reclaiming ungoverned areas, particularly forests, in the North West and across Nigeria, deploying advanced surveillance and technology to combat kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism.
“We will invest more in technology and take over the forests,” Tinubu said. The president icing on the cake has made eating of the cake in a secured environment very delicious that is why such will definitely bring secured economy and progress in all sector of the country .That is when all hands are on deck
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Congratulations!!!
Security File felicitates and congratulates a senior public relations officer of Nigerian Customs service, Dr Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada now officially an Assistant Comptroller AC who recently bagged Masters Degree and PhD at Bayero University, Kano. We wish you the best in your future endeavors