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Crisis In Anambra APC Worsens As Faction Suspends Chairman

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Basil Ejidike

By Adesina Soyooye

For Chief Basil Ejidike, the Anambra State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, trouble looms, as his seat has become shaky.

The State APC has been in crisis since it lost the November 6 Governorship election to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, the ruling party in the State. The APGA candidate, Professor Charles Soludo, won the election, beating the APC candidate, Senator Andy Uba to a distant third position.

Ejidike, as did other high profile members of the party, including the candidate, lost his Local Government Area. On November 7, a video of a “slumped” and distraught Ejidike made the rounds when he learnt that he lost his area to APGA.

Now, he has more troubles in his hands. He has been suspended by a “faction” of the party which has alleged abuse of power and high handedness on his part. He is also accused of insubordination.

In a statement issued in Awka on Thursday  a chieftain of the party, Okonkwo Okom, announced Ejidike’s suspension.

Perhaps, the most serious allegation against him, Okom said, is his inability, as Chairman, to  convene a state congress. The Congress, Okom said, could have been able to deal with the many  challenges confronting the party in the State, and had breached the party’s constitution a couple of times.

Okom: “The State chapter of the APC jointly convened by more than two-thirds of the members of the State Executive Committee and not less than two-thirds of the 21 Local Government Area Chairmen of the APC with the mandate of the 326 Ward Chairmen in the state decided to suspend Ejidike.”

Part of the Statement reads:

“That Mr Basil Ejidike be and is hereby suspended forthwith from office as the Caretaker Chairman of All Progressives Congress in Anambra State, pending his appearance before a Disciplinary/Fact-Finding Committee of the Party.

“That the next most senior available official of the party in the state is mandated to convene an emergency meeting of the state executive committee in consultation with the leader of the party in Anambra State, Dr Chris Ngige, within the next 14 days from the date hereof to discuss the modalities for strengthening and repositioning the All Progressives Congress and for moving the party forward in Anambra State.

“That Mr Basil Ejidike shall be referred to the Disciplinary/Fact-Finding Committee of the party in the state as prescribed by the APC constitution to answer to charges of abuse of power and office, diversion and conversion of party property, flagrant sabotage, subversion and breach of the party’s constitution, insubordination and disrespect to the Office and person of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, embezzlement and misappropriation of party’s funds, among other charges.

“That as required by the party’s constitution, these resolutions shall be immediately transmitted to the National Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee for immediate implementation.”

However, in his response to the suspension notice, Ejidike described the party’s stakeholders action as laughable.

“Those people are not members of our party. They are renegades who left the party after our primaries in June. They can’t suspend me.

“As I’m talking to you I’m at the National Secretariat of our party in Abuja. Their claim is laughable. What is the position of the person that convened the meeting that sacked me? They are trying to see if they can instigate a crisis in our party; that is their only interest.”

There has been no reaction from either Ejidike or the APC National Secretariat.

Kaduna Lifts Ban On Telecoms

By
The Source
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By Gideon Njoku

Three months after it banned telecommunications services in the State, Kaduna State Government has lifted the ban.

This comes as abductions of Nigerians, especially, along the Abuja-Kaduna express road continues to worsen. In the past couple of days, tens of Nigerians have been kidnapped along the two-hour drive without any help. Survivors complained they were unable to communicate with anybody.

The State Government had banned telecommunications services with the aim of curtailing the activities of bandits who wreak havoc in the State. But the  ban had little or no effect. If anything, Kaduna residents said it worsened the situation as those in danger were no longer able to call for help.

Reports, however, quote the Kaduna State Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan,  as announcing the lifting of the ban as from Friday, November, 26.

However, he emphasised that other prohibitions, including those of motorcycles, selling of fuel in kegs, and the weekly markets remain in force.

A couple of other Northern States, including Zamfara, Niger and Katsina, have such bans in place. They have not helped much.

Ondo: Kidnappers Abduct Fulani Kinsmen

By
Ayodele Oni
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Kidnappers
Kidnappers

By Ayodele Oni

It was a case of dog eating dog in Ondo State as suspected kidnappers abducted their Fulani herdsmen kinsmen.

The victims were, however, lucky as they were rescued by operatives of Amotekun Corps in the State.

The victims were abducted by a gang of herdsmen in Supare Akoko, in the Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state a few days back.

As news of their freedom was being celebrated, five secondary school teachers were kidnapped in Akoko area of the State on Thursday.

The victims are the principal, Joshua Adeyemi, his vice, Ifedayo Yesufu and three Npower attached at community grammar school, Auga, Akoko.

They were kidnapped Thursday afternoon while returning from school along Auga – Ise road.

The Commander of Amotekun corps in the state, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, identified the freed victims as Musa Ibrahim and Amidu Ibrahim.

According to him, their abductors tied them to a tree, and were about to slaughter them when his men arrived at the scene.

Chief Adeleye further disclosed that a member of the gang, Sidi Amodu, was arrested.

He stated that when the operatives stormed the scene, the hoodlums, numbering about seven, fled, leaving behind Amodu, who was sleeping at the time.

“This is a case of herdsmen being kidnapped by fellow Fulani men. The two victims rescued by the Amotekun Corps are Musa Ibrahim and Amidu Ibrahim; they are siblings and they are herdsmen.

“They were kidnapped in Supare Akoko and valuables were taken from them after the kidnap operation. They were tied and about to be slaughtered by fellow Fulani men before our men got wind of it.

“We penetrated the forest where they were hiding and we were able to apprehend one of the criminals.

“He confessed to the crime and said the gang was a group of seven and that they migrated into the state from Benin and Kogi states.

“He said the last kidnap they did involved eight people. He said they all scattered when the Amotekun men came, in order to evade arrest.”

Malami, Instigated EFCC Against Obiano, Says Anambra Government

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), is allegedly behind  the decision of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to put  the Governor of Anambra State, Wiilie Obiano, on its watch list,  C. Don Adinuba,  the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, alleges.

The media was awash a couple of days ago  with the story that the EFCC, in a letter to the Comptroller General of Immigration Services asked that Obiano be put on the watch list and inform it anytime he wants to travel abroad when he leaves office in March 2022.

Obiano is currently out of the country. He will hand over to the Governor-elect, Professor Charles Soludo on March 22, 2022.

Speaking on Politics Today, a current Affairs program of Channels Television Thursday, Adinuba, said the EFCC  under the Office of the AGF. Malami, had made attempts to derail the recent governorship election in Anambra, adding that the threat was political.

“Nobody invited him (the governor) to interrogate him or hear his own side of the story. No petition was presented to him. He did not make any comments. But all of a sudden, the EFCC announced rather secretly…using the media as a third party, that he is being watched. That is very surprising. There is absolutely no reason for that. And worse, the EFCC gave the impression that the Governor wants to bolt away when he has a whole four months to remain in office.

Governor Wille Obiano of Anambra State
Governor Wiilie Obiano of Anambra State

“It is unimaginable that a Governor will abandon a State for a whole four months to the end of his tenure. That is surprising. It just does not make sense to anyone simply because the whole exercise is politically motivated.”

Speaking on those allegedly after Obiano, he said: “I will repeat who these people are. The very people who did not want election to hold in Anambra State and had the audacity to tell the whole nation that the election was not going to hold for security reasons, without clearance with the President.

“Immediately the President got to know of this plot, he was alarmed and said ‘no, the election must hold in Anambra and it must be free and fair’. And the election actually became free, fair and transparent, and its outcome is in sync with the sentiments and expectations of the generality of not only Anambra people but all Nigerians.

“Consequently, Soludo’s victory became a national phenomenon. These people have tried everything possible to stop APGA’s representative, Soludo.  They went as far as approving a Customary Court in Abuja to obtain summons – criminal summons – on Soludo. They went as far as arranging a kangaroo judgment from a High Court in Jigawa State over the chairmanship of APGA and more importantly the authentic candidate of APGA in the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.”

Governors Tambuwal, Bagudu, Baduru To Commission Projects In Ekiti

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Governors of Sokoto, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu; and Jigawa, Mohammed Baduru, are due in Ekiti state on Friday.

They are expected to commission some road projects initiated and completed by the present administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The Commissioner for Information, Akin Omole, in a statement on Thursday said the three Governors would commission projects, in continuation of the activities marking the third anniversary of Fayemi’s government.

According to the Commissioner, the Governors will during their visit, commission Ijan-Igbemo-Ire-Ilupeju, Oye-Ikun-Kwara State Boundary and Aramoko-Erijiyan-Ikogosi roads.

Mr Omole added that Wednesday’s meeting of the state executive council “deliberated on and approved for the rehabilitation some township roads in the state.

“This will be carried out by the Ekiti State Public Works Corporation through direct labour.

“It was approved that the corporation should expedite the works ahead of the anticipated high traffic during the upcoming festive period.

“The Ekiti State Executive Council at its meeting held on Wednesday, and in line with the provisions of the Chiefs Law (2012) Cap C5 Law of Ekiti State, approved the appointment of Prince Aniyi Sunday Aikuirawo as the new Obaleo of Erinmope-Ekiti.

“The appointments of both the new Obaleo of Erinmope-Ekiti and the Olufaki of Ifaki-Ekiti have been authorized to be published as a legal notice in the Government of Ekiti State’s Gazette.

“Aikuirawo, until his appointment, was the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Fayemi.”

In a related development, the commissioner said the Council also approved the appointment of Prince Adegbenro John Falore as the new Olufaki of Ifaki-Ekiti.

Ondo Assembly Suspends LG Chairman For Alleged Misconduct

By
Ayodele Oni
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Alex Oladimeji

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Ifedore Local Government, Mr Alex Oladimeji from office for three months for alleged gross misconduct.

The Assembly’s decision was coming just as the Chairman had earlier approached a High Court to restrain the State Legislature from meddling with his affairs.

There have been attempts by those behind the Chairman’s problem to use the Councilors of Ifedore Local Government to remove the Chairman.

The Councilors, however, cried out that their signatures were forged in a document earlier circulated announcing the impeachment of the Chairman.

Sources revealed that Mr Oladimeji’s problem started from the fallout of the last Congress of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) during which he allegedly did not tow the same line with leaders of the party in the Council Area.

The State chapter of the APC had also made some moves immediately after the Congress to suspend the Chairman from the party.

Mr Oladimeji had on Wednesday dragged the State House of Assembly, the Speaker and the Clerk before the State High Court to restrain them from carrying out any suspension or impeachment against him under any guise.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Reacting to his suspension, the Council Chairman said the lawmakers’ decision was illegal.

Abia: Governor Ikpeazu Offers Pregnant Women N500 Delivery Pack

By
Bayo Bernard
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Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Governor, Abia state

By James Orji

Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia state has promised pregnant women in the state N500 when they deliver in any government hospital. The amount is not enough to buy a pack of diaper.

But the state’s helmsman said the amount will go a long way in alleviating the problems of the mothers, particularly as it will help in transporting them home after delivery.

Ikpeazu told Channels Television that it is not cheap to provide portable health care service in the south east state.

According to him, “Abia State has keyed into the basic health insurance for pregnant women. If you put to bed in any of our primary healthcare centres, you get N500.

“Delivery is free; they give you a delivery pack and they give N500 which is running for the vulnerable members of the society.”

The governor, who further defended the move, said it is targeted at vulnerable and poor people and that the delivery pack contains items needed to take care of newborn babies.

“But if you want a certain level of medicare, you should be able to pay,” Ikpeazu noted, adding: “Are you asking a poor woman what she will do with N500? Some people don’t have it. At least it will pay their way back home,” the governor said.

CBN: Emefiele Criticises Buhari’s Infrastructure Policy; Will The President Sack Him?

By
Bayo Bernard
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Godwin Emefiele and President Muhammadu Buhari

By Fola James

Godwin Emefiele, Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor was re-appointed by President Muhamamdu Buhari as the head of the nation’s apex bank despite reservations by many Nigerians on his performance.

First appointed to the position by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, Buhari shocked not a few Nigerians when he re-appointed him in 2019.

The reason may not be far-fetched. The magazine learnt that Emefiele, a former managing director/ chief executive officer of Zenith Bank is close to some members of Buhari’s inner circle and enjoys their support.

But watchers of the administration, said the CBN Governor may have taken the support he enjoys among the president’s men too far after Emefiele criticized President Buhari’s infrastructure policy at the end of the monthly Monetary Policy Committee, MPC meeting, on Wednesday, in Abuja the nation’s capital.

Addressing journalists at the end of the 2-day meeting, the apex bank boss said the administration has not done enough in the area of provision of critical infrastructure in the country. He said poor infrastructure is having a ripple effect on inflation.

Emefiele who spoke on behalf of other MPC members said the Committee “reiterated the impact of poor infrastructure on rising domestic price levels, urging the Federal Government to prioritise investment in public utilities to improve the business environment.”

The comment, The Source learnt has elicited disquiet in the presidency “because some presidency officials are not happy that a top member of the cabinet could criticize the same government that he serves” a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said.

“Emefiele is holding the CBN position at the pleasure of President Buhari, who obviously does not want to sack him despite avalanche of open protest by some ministers, including vice president Yemi Osinbajo. Recall that Osinbajo recently accused him of not working with other ministers.

“If anyone is to be blamed at all, it is Emefiele who presides over a dysfunctional CBN,” another source in the presidency told the magazine on Thursday.

Osinbajo, had last month, upbraided the CBN Governor for working at cross purposes with other ministers.

According to the vice president, “there must be synergy between the fiscal and the monetary authority. We must be able to deal with the synergy, we must handle the synergy between the monetary authority, the CBN, and the fiscal side.

“Sometimes, it appears that there is competition, especially on the fiscal side. If you look at some of the interventions, you will find that those interventions are interventions that should be managed by ministries.

“The ministry of industry, trade and investment should handle MSMEs interventions, and we should know what the CBN is doing. In other words, if the CBN is intervening in the MSME sector, it should be with the full cooperation and consent of the ministry of industry.

The magazine learnt that a serious pressure is being exerted on President from inside and outside the administration to sack the apex bank boss.

Recently, Nigeria First Movement, NFM a group supporting President Buhari demanded his sack from office for non-performance. Citing reasons such as the continuous fall in the value of naira to the American Dollar, the group said Emefiele must resign or be forced out, for being responsible for federal government’s economic woes.

The group Coordinator, Augustine Richard in a statement said many Nigerians were disappointed with the tedious registration processes as part of the requirements for the e-naira.

Richard said Emefiele enjoyed the privilege of being the only CBN Governor to be re-appointed, in spite of this, the group pointed out, Emefiele has failed to use his position to turn the economy around, adding that the launch of the e-naira has proven this point.

NFM said, “the introduction and subsequent launch of the digital currency, eNaira, is perceived as the final nail in the country’s already doomed economy.

“We are ready to champion the call for Emefiele’s removal by staging a one-week protest that could potentially cripple economic activities in Abuja. We’re also ready to mobilise over 200 other pro-Buhari groups across the globe in the ‘mother of all protests’ that would hold simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos and London against the nation’s poor economic posture.

“Emiefele played a pivotal role in the collapse of the economy since his appointment as the CBN chief and before his arrival, the economy was said to be one of the fastest growing in the world. Shortly after his reappointment in 2019, Emefiele announced a five-year plan that targets double-digit growth in one of Africa’s largest economies.

“His approach to policy implementation, however, has left many in doubt, raising questions on how his key policy move, especially in the context of management of the exchange rate, benefits the economy, and the naira he sought to protect.”

The group further accused the CBN of rolling out various economic programmes which it said have no direct effects on the lives of Nigerians.

Richard further said in the statement that “on July 24, 2020, the CBN launched a series of non-intrant loan schemes under the AGSMEIS, MSMEDF, AADF and other loan schemes. The program attracted a lot of Nigerians, with millions of them seeking to join the program through all due process.

“For more than a year now, nothing has been done. The CBN under Emefile has shirked its primary responsibility of ensuring price stability and has embraced a more developmental role, in the hopes of naira stability.

“As confirmed by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Rt. Hon. James Faleke, the CBN has failed to submit its Audited Account to the Office of the Auditor General (OAGF) for review, from 2010 to date.

“According to Kalu Ajah, chief executive officer at AfriSwiss Capital Assets Management Limited in Abuja, the CBN has pursued a strong naira policy and had sought to dampen imports. Well, imports have not declined and the naira is far from strong. One wonders if the import restrictions on items and capital controls were necessary or if the CBN should have devalued the naira earlier. I will say Nigeria did not benefit from the capital controls regime.

“The regulatory bank’s aggressive lending policy has been called into question as well, causing some concerns over the bank chief’s stewardship of the banking sector. The CBN is forcing banks to lend, and penalising non-lenders. These are shareholders’ funds being deployed via fiat.

“In October last year, the Central Bank fined 12 banks, including Citibank, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank N499 billion for failing to meet lending targets. It is another move that attracted criticism across the board,” Richard said.

Also on November 15, a civil society body, the Nigerian Youth Initiative for Good Governance, NYIGG called on President to sack Emefiele because the nation’s economy has wobbled under his watch as CBN Governor.

The group’s convener and national coordinator, Adeyemi Lukman Owolabi, in a statement said, “how can a man who claims to be a renowned economist on inauguration as CBN Governor meet the Naira exchange rate at N155 to a dollar and as at today is N570 to a dollar? This shows that his monetary and fiscal policies are nothing to write home about.

“The current state of our nose-diving economy calls for the concern of all. The leadership of Nigerian Youth Initiative for Good Governance (NTIGO) hereby calls for immediate removal of Mr Godwin Emefiele the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria for gross incompetency due to his inability to save the Nigerian economy from further failure as indicated through his ineptitude to provide viable economy, price control, a strong naira and a stable exchange rate.’

Advising Emefiele to take the path of honour, Owolabi said “he may choose to voluntary resign because we will be left with no choice than to mobilise Nigeria masses that are at the receiving ends of his failed monetary policy and financial mismanagement to occupy CBN until his removal is effected in the next seven days”.

The question is whether President Buhari will bow to pressure to remove the CBN Governor from office.

Nollywood Comic Actor, Baba Suwe Buried Amidst Tears, Tributes

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Baba Suwe Burial

By Akinwale Kasali

The remains of comic veteran Nollywood Actor, Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, were interred at his home in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The 63-Year Old actor passed away on Monday 22nd, November, 2021, after a long battle with illness.

Though he ought to have been buried the day he died according to Islamic rites, but there was fracas among the children, family members and Muslim Clerics who frowned at the non burial of the Nollywood star on the day he died. Due to his son’s absence, the burial was postponed till today.

Colleagues of the late Actor were present at his burial to pay their last respect.

Present were: Bolaji Amusan popularly known as Mr. Latin, Sunday Omobolanle popularly known as Pappy Luwe, Monsuru Obadina popularly known as Fala, Femi Adebayo among others.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was among those, who paid tribute to the veteran Nigerian comic actor, Baba Suwe.

Atiku wrote on Twitter: “Babatunde Omidina, aka Baba Suwe, thank you so very much for bringing so much happiness and joy into our homes. May your soul rest in peace.”

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu in his tribute to the actor through his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, described Omidina’s demise as ‘painful and a great loss.’

He urged the bereaved family, friends, associates and movie practitioners to take Baba Suwe’s death in good faith and as an act of God.

“The late Baba Suwe was a bundle of talent, and he used his God-given gift to advance the course of mankind. He put smiles on the face of many through his comic roles.

“The death of a loved one is usually painful because it is irreparable, but we must always take solace in God, especially if the deceased had lived a fulfilled life, just like the late Omidina.

“Baba Suwe’s death has left a vacuum that would take some time to be filled. I pray God will grant the deceased eternal rest and repose of his soul”.

Baba Suwe started his acting while in secondary school, performing with theatre groups. However, the movie that brought him to the limelight was ‘Iru Esin’.

He featured in other films and also delved into filmmaking. Some of the movies he produced included ‘Eku Meji’ and ‘Alfa Nla’. He was famous in mostly Yoruba movies.

In 2009, Baba Suwe lost his wife and actress Omoladun. It was reported that the actor was deeply affected by the loss but before he could recover from the shock, there were rumours that his step-daughter had accused him of killing her mother. The speculations were later dismissed as false.

In 2011, the actor was accused of drug trafficking by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) but the allegation was dismissed by a Lagos High Court, which asked that Baba Suwe should be compensated for the defamation of his character. The actor had said in interviews that the experience crippled his health.

His health would become  public discourse in 2019, when friends solicited funds for his medical treatment. Through the generosity of well-meaning Nigerians like Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Billionaire Femi Otedola and Reverend Esther Ajayi of the Love of Christ Generation Church, Cherubim and Seraphim, amongst others, he was flown to the United States for the treatment of diabetes and other ailments. He returned to the country a month later.

Before his death on Monday, Baba Suwe had been a victim of death rumours. In 2020, it was widely speculated that he had passed on but the actor debunked it.

He would be missed in the Nollywood industry for his creativity by his colleagues  and interpretation of roles.

PSC To Recruit Another Batch Of 10,000 Policemen In December

By
Uche Mbah
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0
Nigeria Police

By Ayodele Oni

Chairman, Police Service Commission, (PSC) Alhaji Musiliu Smith, has disclosed that another batch of 10,000 policemen would be recruited before the end of this year.

Smith, who gave insight into the ongoing Recruitment in Abuja, pointed out that the exercise was being carried out by the Commission and the Nigerian Police.

The PSC Chairman stated that “Mr. President had in 2018 approved the recruitment of 10,000 Nigerians annually into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force for a period of six years.

“This is to inject needed additional personnel and to bridge the manpower gap in the force, especially with the resurgence of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping in different parts of the country and regular loss of personnel through dismissal, retirement, natural death, accident and others.

“The 2020 recruitment exercise which was suspended midway was the third edition in the fulfilment of the Presidential directive after a successful 2018 and 2019 exercises.

“It is necessary to state that the on-going completion of the suspended 2020 edition was a joint decision of the Commission and that of the Nigeria Police Force and it was meant to further fast track the injection of required personnel into the force.

“A joint Committee of the Commission and that of the Nigeria Police Force met severally in the Commission and approved a timeline for the completion of the exercise.

As a team, we have continued to work assiduously despite daunting challenges in providing a roadmap for effective policing in Nigeria in line with our constitutional mandate.

“The Commission has since formulated guidelines on Police recruitment which is meant to promote the creation and maintenance of a professional police workforce in Nigeria which is capable of delivering an effective and efficient service that meets the needs of the public.

“The guidelines are also to encourage the recruitment of the best applicants through the three entry levels into the Nigeria Police Force: Constables, Cadet Inspector and Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.

“The Commission in designing these guidelines has also developed an effective and accountable administrative and selective procedure and monitoring system to ensure that the Nigeria Police Force continues to reflect the diversity of the Nigerian Population.

“The Commission will immediately after the conclusion of the 2020 suspended exercise proceed with the recruitment of another 10,000 Nigerians for 2021. The advertisement for applications is expected to be out this December.”

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