Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall C, TY Buratai Block, Abuja. There were three presentations made by the Subject Experts on Republic of China, Southern Africa, Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.
The first presentation by Maj Gen JA Orokpo (Rtd) subject experts on China, he discussed how Passenger Bus Crashes into Tunnel Wall in North China. The Reuters reported on 20 Mar 24 that a passenger bus collided into a tunnel wall in North China’s Shansxi province on 19 Mar 24, killing 14 people and injuring 37 others. The Reuters cited State broadcasting CCTV news, said the accident happened on the Hubei expressway and many people were sent to the hospital for treatment. “The bus was carrying 51 passengers when it hit the wall on the expressway in the city of Linfen”.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Maj Gen JA Orokpo (Rtd) noted that, passenger vehicular crashes in Nigeria have been a serious concern, with various incidents recorded in recent months. These crashes have occurred across different states and involved various types of vehicles, leading to fatalities and injuries. The Punch Newspaper’s editorial of 23 Aug 23 stated that “the death of 4,387 persons in road accidents in Nigeria between January and June 2023 draws fresh attention to the shabby state of roads nationwide, the flouting of safety regulations and the failure of law enforcement agencies to impose order on the highways”.
He recommended that, The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other Road Traffic Enforcement Agencies to enforce traffic laws more effectively and also promote and integrate digital solutions for ticketing and payments. FRSC and NOA to implement comprehensive driver education programme.
The second presentation by Col OR Akerele (Rtd) Subject experts on Southern Africa focused his presentation on India, Mozambique and Tanzania Hold joint Maritime Exercise. The second edition of India, Mozambique and Tanzania trilateral maritime exercise was held from 21 – 28 Mar 24. This week long exercise underscores the importance of enhanced maritime cooperation and interoperability between navies. Indian Navy Ships (INS) Tir and Sujara participated in the training exercise which was aimed at providing opportunities to exchange knowledge, enhancing capabilities and bolster maritime security in the region.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Col OR Akerele (Rtd) stressed that, joint maritime exercises would generally improve the combat readiness of the NN, enabling the performance of their constitutional roles in the defence of Nigeria’s territorial waters, the general protection of resources and the defence of the country from attacks by sea. “The NN has carried out maritime exercises with notable navies of the USA, China, Spain and other navies of some African countries to foster cooperation, train personnel, determine interoperability of equipment, protect the Gulf of Guinea from piracy, illegal fishing and Nigeria from crude oil theft and smuggling. It is expected that the NN would continue to benefit from such joint maritime exercises if conducted with carefully selected global naval powers and partners”.
He recommended that, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the NN intensifies the conduct of joint maritime exercises and sea training to foster bonds of defence alliances and friendship with global and regional navies and also the NN should lay more emphasis on personnel training and understanding of maritime capabilities to engender combat readiness and professionalism.
The third presentation by Brig Gen SO Oloyede Subject experts on Middle East, North Africa and Turkey centered his presentation on how UN Security Council Demands Immediate Gaza Ceasefire after US abstains. On Monday 25 March 2024, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution (Resolution 2728), that demands an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza (Nichols and Al-Mughrabi, 2024). The group stressed the necessity of reaching a permanent ceasefire that leads to the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. It also affirmed its readiness to engage in an immediate exchange process that leads to the release of prisoners on both sides. He added that it is the role of the international community to oblige Israel to end this double standard.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Brig Gen SO Oloyede pointed out that, Twelve percent of Gaza based staff of UN Relief Workers Agency (UNRWA), have links to Hamas or other Palestinian terror groups (IICT, 2013). Similarly, Kazeem (2019) observed that some NGOs operating in Nigeria’s northeast amid a brutal insurgency led by Boko Haram have been found to work in support of terrorists. Conflicts in the Middle East between Arabs and Israelis have led to tensions among Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. A ceasefire that will lead to a sustainable peace in Gaza will go a long way to douse religious tensions in Nigeria.
He recommended that, the Federal Government of Nigeria should continue to support a ceasefire that will lead to a sustainable peace in Gaza and douse religious tensions in Nigeria and should upgrade her efforts in ensuring that all NGO staff in NE Nigeria are vetted accordingly.
