Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall C, TY Buratai Block, Abuja. There were five presentations made by the Subject Experts on West Africa, Gulf of Guinea. , Indian Sub-Continent, Western Europe, Central America and Nigeria.
The first presentation by Maj Gen OO Adeleke (Rtd) subject expert on West Africa and Gulf of Guinea, discussed how Russian Foreign Minister Discusses Bilateral Relations With Sierra Leone Counterpart. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently hosted his counterpart from Sierra Leone, Timothy Kabba, in Moscow for discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral ties. Lavrov characterized Sierra Leone as Russia’s longstanding and dependable partner in Africa. He revealed plans to expand diplomatic outreach by opening new missions on the African continent, with Freetown being a priority for this year. Lavrov emphasized the importance of translating decisions into action, indicating active steps toward this objective.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Gen OO Adeleke (Rtd) pointed out that, Since independence, Nigeria’s major weakness in world politics and national security arises from her false sense of power and influence. In the process, Nigeria alienated itself from all the known dominant powers-Britain, France, Soviet Russia, China and USA. Because of its non-aligned stance in international politics, the country has had several military cooperation with UK, US, India, Pakistan, South Korea etc. However, in light of recent developments of some misunderstandings within ECOWAS countries as well as the support of Russia to Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, which are major players in this respect, Nigeria needs to take a stand on the strength of its military alliances in order to facilitate its own national security.
He recommended that the Federal Government of Nigeria should establish clear cut vision regarding its national interests, which would be in tandem with the ideals that encourages military pact with the West, particularly the US and also should make frantic efforts to improve its human rights records in all ramifications.
Similarly the second presentation by Brig Gen WD Nasiru Subject Expert on Indian Sub-Continent, focused his presentation on India’s Large Diaspora Remitted More than $100 Billion in 2022. On 8 May 2024, The Times of India reported that India is the origin of the largest number of international migrants, ranging around 18 million, with large diasporas living in the UAE, the US, and Saudi Arabia. It remains a top country receiving remittances, however, 2022 was remarkable with the figure crossing the $100 mark. According to the World Migration Report, 2024, released in Dhaka on 8 May 2024, by the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).In 2022, India, Mexico, and China were the top three remittance recipient countries, followed by the Philippines, France, and Pakistan.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Brig Gen WD Nasiru , Recall that, In 2018, a survey conducted by Pew Research Centre shows that more than half of Nigerian adults have indicated their willingness to leave the country in the next five years. Consequently, Nigeria accounts for over a third of migrant remittance flows to Sub-Saharan Africa. PwC estimated that these flows amounted to US$23.63 billion in 2017, US$22 billion in 2018, which represented about 6.1% of Nigeria’s GDP. Similarly, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) reported on 8 Dec 2023 that over 3.6 million Nigerians migrated to other countries within a space of two years.
He recommended that the federal government of Nigerian, through the CBN should continue to intensify efforts to improve the financial infrastructure that could facilitate seamless and cost-effective remittance transfers, including promoting digital payment platforms and reducing transaction fees to encourage more remittances.
Equally the third presentation by Brig Gen Cc Ogbu subject expert on Nigeria discussed how 119 Inmates Escape as Heavy Rains Destroy Suleja Prisons. On Thursday, 25 April 2024, Vanguard Newspaper reported that “No fewer than 119 inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, Niger state, escaped, following hours of heavy downpour which destroyed parts of the facility on Wednesday night.” Spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS, Adamu Duza disclosed this in a statement on Thursday morning. He said, “A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of 119 inmates of the facility.”
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria Brig Gen Cc Ogbu pointed out that, According to Meta Artificial Intelligence, A prison is a facility where people who have been convicted of crimes are confined and punished. Prisons are usually run by the government and are used to punish and reform people who have broken the law. They are also known as correctional facilities, penitentiaries, or jails. Prisons vary in terms of their security levels, with some designed for minimum-security inmates and others for maximum-security prisoners. Inside prisons, inmates typically have access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare, as well as programs aimed at rehabilitation, such as education and counseling.
He recommended that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Interior should conduct an overall assessment of the state of the nation’s correctional facilities, with a view to addressing their dilapidated state urgently and also the Nigeria Correctional Services should institute measures through more recruitment of manpower and capacity building to strengthen the security in the correctional facilities.
Also the four presentation by Brig Gen Ed Idimah subject expert on Central America discussed how Newly Upgraded West Lake Gas Turbine Bolsters Supply To National Grid. On Saturday, 11 May, 2024, the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) informed customers that their newly upgraded East Gate Turbine (GT) was brought online to support the national grid. Currently, the GT is operating at 50% of its rated capacity, but once fully commissioned, it will add 30MW of capacity to the existing 95MW of in-country generation.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria Brig Gen Ed Idimah Stressed out that, investing in infrastructure, diversifying energy sources, effective grid management, maintenance, and government commitment are key strategies for Nigeria to enhance its electricity supply. Moreover, the implications of electricity supply for national security are significant, and Nigeria must prioritize ensuring a stable and reliable electricity supply to support critical infrastructure, defense operations, economic stability, cyber security, and energy independence. To achieve this, Nigeria must adopt a multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of its electricity challenges. By doing so, Nigeria can improve the lives of its citizens, support economic growth, and enhance national security.
He recommended that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the relevant agencies should combat electricity theft, improve revenue collection and tackle the power within the power sector to ensure sustainable improvement in electricity supply and also should develop a national energy policy that prioritizes energy independence, cyber security and economic stability.
Finally the fifth presentation by Maj Gen Gu Chibuisi subject expert on Western Europe Centered his presentation on New Italian Workplace Tragedy that killed five persons. The Rome Office of the BBC reported a fatal incident at a sewage treatment facility located in Casteldaccia, near the city of Palermo in Sicily Region, southern Italy, on 7 May 2024, that resulted in the death of 5 workers. The incident is part of a concerning trend of workplace fatalities across Italy, eliciting strong reactions from labor unions and workers. The Rome Office of the BBC reported a fatal incident at a sewage treatment facility located in Casteldaccia, near the city of Palermo in Sicily Region, southern Italy, on 7 May 2024, that resulted in the death of 5 workers. The incident is part of a concerning trend of workplace fatalities across Italy, eliciting strong reactions from labor unions and workers.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria Maj Gen Gu Chibuisi Stressed out that, Nigeria grabbles with workplace accidents and casualties like other nations across the world. Addressing the issue requires a comprehensive and holistic approach that encompasses legislative reforms, regulatory enforcement, capacity building, and cultural transformation. Indeed, Nigeria can prevent significantly reduce future tragedies and create a conducive environment for sustainable economic development, by prioritizing the safety and well-being of workers, empowering regulatory agencies, and fostering a culture of accountability and responsibility.
He recommended that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), should enhance their activities in the monitoring and promotion of a culture of safety and accountability in the Nigerian work place. This should include collaboration with relevant MDAs and other stakeholders for prosecution and sanctions where and when necessary.
