… As Obada Thumbs Up FG on Emergency Rule
SAN FRANCISCO, August 14, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government on Wednesday moved a bit further in its war on terrorism as it endorsed the existing bilateral agreements between the country, Niger Republic and the United Kingdom.
The bilateral agreements were ratified at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The agreement with Niger was signed last October when it was agreed that the over 930 miles border area between Nigeria and Niger Republic will be jointly patrolled by the two countries.
The agreement covers the Northern Nigeria States which share border with Niger Republic, namely Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi. Borno also shares borders with Chad and Cameroun while Kebbi shares border with Benin Republic.
A month earlier, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strategic partnership with the UK to promote peace and security, trade and investment, migration and security was signed.
The ratification of the agreements came on a day the Minister of Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, declared that the declaration of the State of of Emergency in three North-East States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe has achieved the desired result of checking the activities of Boko Haram.
Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, accompanied by the two ministers of education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I and Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, said the decision to ratify the agreements were made after FEC analysed the submission of Obada on the bilateral agreements.
According to a working document of the FEC, both agreements are aimed at military cooperation. Specifically, the defence cooperation with Niger Republic ” is aimed at providing mutual military support, security of their common borders, intervention assistance, military assistance, exchange of intelligence on internal and external security, joint military exercise and operations.”
The document explained that “The MoU on bilateral military cooperation between Nigeria and UK is aimed at establishing a bilateral military cooperation within the framework of our competent authorities as defined in the national legislation.”
It also entails sharing experiences, information and training, in addition to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, as well as cooperation in terms of logistic supply.
Obada, who spoke with journalists after the FEC meeting, listed the achievements of the state of emergency as arrests of insurgents, robust civilian military relations and increased offer of global assistance by many countries.
“It has halted the threat to Nigeria’s unity. As you know the unity of this country is paramount and Mr. President as the leader of this country has ensured that the unity of this country is preserved and protected. If you will recall, you heard that the insurgency were already hoisting their flags all over some of the areas especially Bornu,” she said.
Obada also applauded the high level of professionalism that has been displayed by the military and other security forces of the country since the operation began, saying the country is actually fighting an internal war . Se however assured that the insurgents so far apprehended will soon be prosecuted.
The FEC meeting also okayed the award of contracts for the purchase of vehicles for the 2016 Census, purchase and printing of textbooks for primary schools and design of engineering infrastructure and tender document for Kyami district along Airport Road in Abuja.
