FG seeks foriegn cooperation to criminalise crude oil theft
• Jonathan pledges to sustain current security tempo
By Senator Iroegbu and Muhammad Bello
The government of the United Kingdom has followed the example of
Nigeria to declare the Boko Haram sect as a terrorist organisation that
must be dismantled.
This is coming as the federal government is seeking the cooperation and
assistance of international communities, especially friendly countries
to criminalise crude oil theft and companies patronising it.
The British Minister for International Security Strategy, Dr. Andrew
Morrison, declared this Tuesday, when he visited the Minister of State
for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada, to seek ways of cooperation and
partnership.
Morrison expressed the concern of UK over the security situation in
Nigeria and assured that they would help in any way to secure the
territorial integrity of the country.
He said proscription of the Boko Haram sect was in order and that the
UK was in support of the Federal Government, which recently designated
the group as a terrorist organisation.
He said: "We will discuss how we can do things together in the
uncertain world we live. Nigeria has always been close to the UK but at
the moment like this, our concern will be to help Nigeria to ensure that
the territorial integrity is protected. We are very conscious that in
our world today, we need to do things together in the sense that your
security is our security.
"You have issues of Boko Haram and have proscribed them. That's what
informed our decision to proscribe that organisation, which follows the
decision of the Nigerian government (to designate the group a terrorist
body)".
"We also share your concern for human rights (in dealing with
insurgency), which is clear that part of that solution involves respect
for human rights. We want to therefore make sure that we will be of
assistance in that respect so that we can maintain that journey (for
peace and security) together," he said.
"So, let us move forward as partners and friends in this uncertain
world. Let us do things more and more together. We are ready to be of
assistance in any way, the minister (Obada) in whatever area you felt
that will be appropriate and helpful".
Responding, Obada thanked the UK government for designating Boko Haram
as a terrorist organisation and as well as its readiness to assist
Nigeria in the area of security.
She also assured that Nigerian troops were being professional in
prosecuting their operation against the insurgents by observing strict
adherence to the Rules of Engagement (RoE).
"...we sought your opinion on how UK can help to ameliorate our situation...
"We want to also thank you for proscribing Boko Haram, which is a
terrorist group that has been troubling the country", she said.
"However, I want to tell you that things have improved and we have made
significant progress since the declaration of the State of Emergency.
Life is returning to normal and the insurgents have fled", she added.
In a related development, Obada sought the help of the UK and other
countries of the world in curbing the embarrassing case of crude oil
theft, which she admitted, was hurting the Nigerian economy.
In the same vein, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa'ad
Ibrahim, disclosed the correlation between the rising crude oil theft
and weapons proliferation in the country.
Ibrahim described the situation as "worrisome", while comparing oil
theft to the "blood diamonds" situation in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Meanwhile, the federal government has reiterated its commitment to
sustaining and improving the current national security capabilities in
the country so in order to confront the security challenges in the
country.
President Goodluck Jonathan urged security operatives to buckle up in the task of dismantling terrorism in the country.
He handed down the challenge yesterday while commissioning a foreign
language institute at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), in Abuja.
The president, who used the occasion to inaugurate the study of some
foreign languages in the institution, said: “Language proficiency is an
essential tool of your vocation. It opens doors and builds bridges
across cultures and facilitate your work. I am therefore delighted with
the vision that has led to the establishment of functional foreign
language institute for the agency. Please ensure that you make the best
use of this facility."
“I always believe that for you to be fully educated you are supposed to
be bi-lingual. Language is tool that most people don’t understand.
Communication is key for intelligence services. NIA must emphasise that
before you get to some level you must be bi-lingual.”
Describing the job of the intelligence operatives as a ‘delicate and
vital work’, Jonathan said: “As the eyes and ears of our nation you must
always maintain your total vigilance and agility. You must constantly
improve the technical efficiency and overall quality of all operatives.”
He assured that government will “continue to do all in its power to
sustain and improve on our national security capability to enable
confront the challenges of the 21st century.”
He stressed “only dedicated and truly professional intelligence
officers can rise up to the threats that the country must deal with on
daily basis.’
