AFR Business

A former Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahaman Dambazzau, says Nigeria should utilise the experiences, expertise and skills of military veterans in tackling its security and developmental challenges.

Mr Dambazzau made the call while speaking on the role of military veterans at the 45th Reunion and Gala Night of the 18 Regular Course Alumni of the Nigerian Defence Academy, on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the experiences, expertise and skills garnered by the veterans has been largely under-utilised by the country.

According to him, there is a need to examine how these categories of Nigerian citizens could contribute to tackling the country’s security challenges and also contribute to national development.

Mr Dambazau said that the veterans have priceless traits ingrained in them by the virtue of their training and experience.

“Such strength represented in the values inculcated in them include self-discipline, sincerity, honesty, integrity, courage and loyalty.

“Veterans are also for collective ownership of problems, issues and challenges by virtue of their Esprit de corps and have possessed oriented thinking that are invaluable for a fast-paced work environment.

“Military veterans have wealth of experience and diverse talents unlikely to be found in any other group and have served Nigeria while upholding the highest standards of performance in the most extraordinary situations,” he said.

The former army chief said Nigeria should not allow the experiences to be wasted.

“They can continue with what they know best, that is their warfare skills and by offering themselves to assist the country in tackling the emerging security challenges that require military response.

“Such as counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations in the Northeast and the Lake Chad region.”

Mr Dambazzau said the current security situation in Nigeria required every hand to tackle it, adding that military veterans could also be employed in training service personnel, especially where there are shortages.

He said that there were also skilled instructors who could be engaged in providing consultancy services or as advisors on technical areas of the profession.

According to him, beyond their specific role to the military, veterans have other roles to play in national development.

“In terms of training, core values, discipline, orderliness, organisation, and professionalism, the institution of the military stands out well above civilian institutions.

“Although the military is a provision on its own, it has civil provisions embedded in it such as medical and allied health, engineering, legal, pharmaceuticals, nursing, architecture, etcetera.

“The organisation of the military constitutes combat arms and combat support services that make it a nation of its own.

“There is no profession that trains its personnel like the military and this is in all aspects of national development, aside the fact that matters of security are in the main domain of the military profession,” he said.

The former army chief said it was necessary for Nigerian military veterans to play roles in strengthening national security both in war and conflict resolution.

He said it was also high time the veterans form private defence companies just like their counterparts in the western world to deploy their skills adequately after retirement.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has notified Nigerians about counterfeit COVID-19 antigen rapid test kits in circulation.

The notification is contained in a NAFDAC public alert released to reporters on Sunday in Abuja.

The counterfeit BTNX Incorporated COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits were communicated to NAFDAC by Health Canada.

NAFDAC quoted Health Canada as saying that the fake test kits were sold online in 25-pack boxes by a distributor called Healthful Plus who did not have the required licence.

NAFDAC said the packaging of the counterfeit kits resembles the authentic BTNX Inc. products in colour and typeface and uses the BTNX Incorporated.

It said that the device identifier has “COV-19C25”, but also has several key differences, adding that it was labelled as manufactured by “Health Advance Inc.” instead of BTNX Inc.

NAFDAC stated that on the packaging Health Advance was identified as the “Official Canadian Distributor” of the counterfeit products.

It pointed out that the products had a claim of endorsement by government authorities, such as Health Canada.

“Genuine COVID-19 Antigen test kit helps detect certain proteins in the virus. Rapid antigen tests are designed to tell in a few minutes whether someone is infected or not.

“It is recommended as a high performing test for individuals with symptoms, high-risk populations and healthcare or casual workers.

“Counterfeit health products are imitations of authentic products. The safety and effectiveness of these counterfeit test kits have not been assessed.

“The genuine manufacturer BTNX Inc. has confirmed that the devices were counterfeit,” NAFDAC said.

The agency advised wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies and consumers to ensure that their products are obtained from authentic and reliable sources.

It also encouraged healthcare providers to increase vigilance within the supply chain to avoid importation, distribution, sale or use of the counterfeit COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits.

It advised healthcare providers to prevent the administration of the product to unsuspecting patients, adding that the products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

NAFDAC said that anybody in possession of the counterfeit product should immediately discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest agency office.

Healthcare providers and consumers are encouraged to report suspected counterfeit health products to NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or email: sf.alert.

NAFDAC also advised the public to report adverse effects via pharmacovigilance, and e-reporting platforms www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the med-safety application for download.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor its staff frustrating the smooth collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in parts of the South-East.

The Chairman of CLO in Anambra, Vincent Ezekwueme, made the call in Enugu on Sunday on the ongoing collection of PVCs in council areas in the South-East.

Mr Ezekwueme noted that his organisation had received and is still receiving torrents of complaints of registrants that suffered tremendously to register and still find it very difficult “if not impossible“ to collect their PVCs in South-East, especially in Anambra.

According to him, one pertinent question from frustrated registrants in Anambra is whether INEC officials treat residents of other states the same way because their relations and friends from other states told them how they easily collected their PVCs.

“An elderly statesman and community leader, Chief Mentus Onwuaso, decried how he tried unsuccessfully three times to register to no avail until the intervention of CLO and still for three times he has been to INEC office to collect his PVC, without success.

“Also, Chief Joseph Okeke lamented that he abandoned his business for three days to obtain his PVC without success.

“A nursing mother, Mrs Elizabeth Obi, told us that she had gone to get her PVC as a patriotic and law-abiding citizen but was unsuccessful.

“This frustration and discouragement may lead to abandonment of many PVCs and disenfranchisement of many residents,” he said.

Mr Ezekwueme urged INEC to beam its searchlight and fish out bad eggs frustrating the collection of PVCs among its staff in the commission and prosecute them, adding that this would certainly act as a deterrent to others.

The CLO boss, however, warned that if urgent and immediate steps were not taken, the voting strength of the entire South-East would be below expectations.

He said: “We reiterate our earlier appeal on INEC to devise strategic and less cumbersome ways of PVC distribution.

“Finally, religious, traditional, markets, town unions and civil society organisations leaders should redouble their efforts towards mobilising residents for active participation in the electoral process.”

Following calls for its probe, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) says it is ready to open its books for scrutiny.

Aisha Dahir-Umar, the Director-General, PenCom, said this in a statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Abdulqadir Dahiru, on Saturday in Lagos.

Some civil society groups petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate PenCom over allegations of fraud.

Mrs Dahir-Umar alleged that PenCom was aware of a coordinated plan to bring the commission into disrepute with frivolous petitions to the anti-graft agencies in collaboration with disgruntled insiders.

She noted that the commission under her leadership would cooperate fully with the anti-graft agencies.

“These elements, some of whom are yet to come to terms with the fact that PenCom is no longer at their beck and call, have been sponsoring negative media reports.

“They also get faceless groups to write frivolous petitions to the EFCC.

“Although some media outfits are giving a voice to these defamatory petitions, those who know how we conduct our affairs at PenCom are not in any way bothered,” she said.

Mrs Dahiru-Umar noted that the commission had undertaken far-reaching reforms which were yielding positive results since she took over as the director-general.

She also alleged that those who thought they could use the commission to make money have been disappointed and hence; sponsoring false publications and trumped-up petitions.

“We will not allow anyone to pilfer pension funds for self aggrandisement. It will never happen under my watch.

“If PenCom had anything to hide, we would have surrendered to the agents of blackmail who have been on our case since 2017 when I became acting DG,” she said.