Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall C, TY Buratai Block, Abuja. There were two presentations made by the Subject Experts on, West Africa/Gulf of Guinea and Nigeria.
The first presentation was made by Maj Gen OO Adeleke (Rtd) subject expert on West Africa and Gulf Of Guinea, his presentation centred on, Amnesty International Calls For Immediate Release of Sierra Leone TV Star Detained For “Insulting” President. JURIST news reported on 2 Feb 2025 that Amnesty International had called on the authorities in Sierra Leone to release Hawa Hunt, a well-known Sierra Leonean-Canadian artist and reality television personality, who has been detained for more than a month on charges of insulting the President and First Lady. Hunt, 42, was arrested on December 22, while appearing as a contestant on the popular reality show House of Stars. She now faces two counts of “transmitting insulting messages via a computer system” under Sierra Leone’s Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021.
Prosecutors alleged that a 25-minute social media video posted by Hunt, which went viral, incited public disorder and damaged the reputation of President Julius Maada Bio and his wife. Hawa Hunt has now been detained for over a month. According to her lawyer, her multiple requests for bail have been refused and her mental health is being affected. We call on the Sierra Leonean authorities to release Hawa Hunt and observe all due process guarantees for her in line with international standards, including her right to be brought in front of a court promptly. A criminal defendant may be detained pending trial only when necessary and proportionate to their offences, and non-custodial arrangements such as bail, should be preferred.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria Maj Gen OO Adeleke (Rtd) noted that, several years back, Murphy Idahosa, a Nigerian living in Germany, was exiled from Edo state for criticizing the Oba of Benin in a Facebook video. In the video, Mr. Idahosa attributed the high rate of human trafficking among girls in the kingdom to the Oba. The situation is worse in the political arena where politicians use unprintable words to describe each other in order to gain ascendancy over their opponents. For instance: Dino ones stated “I want to tell you that Wike is a pretentious character, a liar and he has no iota of integrity”. In this case, Dino maximizes expression that shows dispraise of Wike. Attributing the above character traits to a sitting Governor is a violation of the modesty maxim. Thankfully, the Electoral Act 2010 prohibits the use of hate speech, incitement, or discriminatory language during campaigns. Additionally, the Act regulates the conduct of political parties and candidates, requiring them to promote peaceful and respectful campaigns.
Therefore, INEC could impress on political parties, as front liners in the nations democratic process to caution, and educate their loyalists on the need for polite practices so that the country would not be presented in a bad light to the international communities. Also, a social media user known as Seaking, or Sea King, was arrested just hours after posting a fiery video verbally insulting and cursing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. This dramatic turn of events comes on the heels of the Nigerian police warning against insulting government officials. Sea King’s bold challenge to the authorities ultimately led to his arrest, highlighting the tension between free speech and government scrutiny in Nigeria. Consequently, the Federal Ministry of Education could direct teachers of English language and literature to incorporate in their curriculum literary texts that would teach students at all levels verbal hygiene and the need to maintain each others positive face during discussions.
He recommended that, the Federal Ministry of Education should direct teachers of English language and literature to incorporate in their curriculum literary texts that would teach students at all levels verbal hygiene and the need to maintain each others positive face during discussions.
The second presentation was made by Brig Gen UJ Makbere subject expert Nigeria, his presentation focused on, Over 30 Graves Uncovered in Popular Anambra Hotel. On 27 Jan 25, Channels Television reported that the Anambra State Government had discovered 35 graves in a well-known hotel used for kidnapping and other criminal activities in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state. The Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, revealed that multiple graves and a shrine were found on the topmost floor of the two-story Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites, prompting its demolition. Dr. Ibezim further disclosed that several disturbing items, including a shrine and live ammunition, were also uncovered in the hotel. He emphasized that the Homeland Security Law, signed by the Governor, has strengthened security operations across the state. Dr. Ibezim reiterated that any facility or property confirmed to be used for criminal activities would not only be demolished but also seized by the state government.
A Channels TV correspondent on the scene reported that many of the hotel rooms were in disrepair, with spent bullet casings found in some of them. According to the report, the demolition was carried out in compliance with the Homeland Security Law. The Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, stated that the state government is not engaging in a one-off operation but is fully committed to a sustained crackdown on crime and criminality. In light of these discoveries, members of the public are urged to support the fight against crime by reporting any suspicious activities in their communities.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria Brig Gen UJ Makbere noted that, the hotel industry has undergone significant transformations over the centuries, evolving from rudimentary inns to sophisticated establishments that cater for diverse clientele. In Nigeria, this evolution mirrors global trends, with hotels playing a pivotal role in economic development. The concept of providing lodging to travelers dates back to ancient civilizations, where inns and guesthouses offered basic shelter and food (Smith, 2010). Over time, these establishments evolved to meet the growing demands of travelers, leading to the emergence of more structured accommodations (Brown, 2015). In Nigeria, the hotel industry began to gain prominence in the mid-20th century, spurred by urbanization, international trade, and tourism.
The establishment of notable hotels, such as the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, which served as the venue for Nigeria’s independence declaration, marked significant milestones in the country’s hospitality sector (Adeyemi, 2019). Hotels are integral to the economic fabric of nations, serving as catalysts for growth in various sectors. In Nigeria, the hospitality industry contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by generating employment opportunities, fostering tourism, and stimulating related industries such as transportation, food and beverage, and entertainment (Akpan, 2011). As highlighted by Sanni (2009), the hospitality industry in Nigeria exhibited a positive correlation with the country’s economic growth, meaning that as the hospitality sector performed better, so did the overall GDP of Nigeria between 1980 and 2006.
