The federal government has said that it has embarked on key reforms towards ensuring that Nigeria’s international passport regains it’s pride through key reforms through reduce identity theft and transparency in passport processing.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known while hosting the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, weekend in Abuja.

He said, “We have commenced the process to unbottle the bottlenecks in our international passport application and collection process. Today, we have made huge progress. We are also working on ways to reduce identity theft. We want to make sure the green passport regains its pride and integrity.”

““If we are able to solve crime and migration problems in Nigeria, Africa will be better for it.

“Due to the boundaries Africa shares with the EU, our problems are more of an EU problem than any other part of the world. And, because we are committed to solving this, we will explore all avenues.”

Urging the EU to support the federal government’s drive for reforms in the area of deploying technology to buffer and enhance border management architecture within the country, he said “The European Union is important to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. Our relationship with the EU is historical in terms of but not limited to bilateral support.”

The minister explained that there are also plans to decongest the nation’s correctional facilities across the country because over seventy per cent of the 79,000 inmates in the nation’s custodial centers are awaiting trial.

“We have over 4000 inmates in the facilities for their inability to pay various fines. We believe we can reduce the number of inmates in our correctional facilities by about forty per cent if we explore non-custodial alternatives as provided for in the Correctional Service Act, ” Dr. Tunji-Ojo said in a communique signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Also Babatunde.

On her part, Isopi said the EU will continue to support Nigeria as well as provide technical support in managing the illegal aspect of migration as well as curbing human trafficking and people smuggling.

Troops on the frontline have eliminated 52 terrorists and rescued 61 kidnapped victims. The troops also arrested 53 criminals, and seven suspected oil thieves, amongst others.
A total of seven terrorists comprising five men, one woman have also surrendered to troops. This disclosure was made by spokesman of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba. Buba was speaking on ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria as at September 22, 2023.

According to him, “The mission of the military against terrorists and other violent extremist groups in the country remains unchanged. The armed forces will continue with aggressive operations to force these groups to submission.

“Accordingly, troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East were engaged in ambushes, raids, rescue operations, fighting patrols, attacks as well as cordon and search activities. These operations resulted in neutralised terrorist, rescued hostages, surrender of terrorist combatants as well as recovery of arms and ammunition.

“The operational activities of troops of Joint Task Force Operation HADARIN DAJI in the North Central ranged from rescue of kidnap victims within Tsafe local council of Zamfara to artillery missions on terrorist massing up in the forest.

“Others include the arrest of terrorist collaborators and the conduct of offensive activities to disrupt terrorist freedom of action.”

“The operational activities of troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN during the period range from conduct of raids and arrest of terrorists at Afana village in Zangon Kataf of local council of Kaduna State. Troops also arrested cattle rustlers in Dogo Nahawa Bush Jos South, Bokkos and Mangu councils of Plateau State. Troops recovered weapons at Kulben village in Mangu local council of Plateau State.

“During the period under review, troops of Operation WIRL STROKE conducted 22 operations; 13 fighting patrols, 6 confidence building patrols and one raid operation in Mbaayande, Mbamazu and Mbaagudu villages of Konshiga council of Benue State. Similarly, fighting patrol was conducted in Logo council while some arrests were made around Okpokwu council of Benue State.

“Troops of Joint Task Force Operations UDOKA and Operation SEARCH AND FLUSH in the South East region sustained momentum in the fight against insecurity the region. Troops responded to distress calls, responded to foil kidnappers’ activities in Okigwe local council of Imo State, conducted fighting patrol to Isu Onichain Onicha local council of Ebonyi State and apprehended five suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists in Ikwo and Ihiala local councils of Ebonyi and Anambra States respectively.

“Troops of Operation UDO KA also conducted raid operations on IPOB/ESN camps in Ohafia local councils of Abia State. The operation led to the recovery of one improvised 16 MBRL gun mounted on a vehicle with other arms and ammunition. Sadly, a joint patrol team of operation SEARCH AND FLUSH (SAR) suffered a setback when responding to a distress call in Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State.

“They were ambushed by members of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliated Eastern Security Network (ESN). Meanwhile, troops operations led to rescue of kidnapped hostages and others.

“Overall, as at September 22, 2023, the armed forces neutralised 52 terrorists and arrested the following: 53 criminals, 7 suspected oil thefts while rescuing 61 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, a total of 7 terrorists comprising of 5 adult males, 1 adult female surrendered to troops.

“Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE denied oil theft of an estimated sum of N946,387,570.00 being value of seizures. The operations in South-South resulted in the recovery of the following; 496,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 83,400 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,200 litres of PMS, 4 pumping machines, 5 Speed Boats, 34 dugout pits, 57 storage tanks, 16 wooden boats, 85 ovens and 3 outboard engines.

“Troops recovered a total number of 77 weapons and 658 assorted kinds of ammunition. The breakdown as follows; 53 AK47 rifle, 2 AK47 rifles loaded with 8 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 18 locally fabricated rifles, 1 beretta pistol, 3 pump action guns, 650 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 50 AK47 magazines, 2 rounds of 9mm ammo, 6 rounds of 7.62 NATO, 5 fragmentation jackets.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 15 vehicles, 12 motorcycles, 12 Bicycles, 5 mobile phones, 12 cutlasses, 2 generator sets, 2 gas Cylinders, 133 livestocks and a sum of N602,000 and Airtel airtime worth N8,000.

“The military will, through its operations continue to make improvements towards ensuring safety of citizens and restoring security across the country. Citizens are encouraged to “know something, say something and let the military do something about it.”

The Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Ekong Sampson, has advised secondary school students in the state to shun the practice of cultism as it can destroy their future careers.

He advised them to face their studies seriously, adding that great leaders of today never made it through cultism, but through a dint of hard work in educational pursuits.

Sampson, who is the Vice chairman of, the Senate Committee on Education, gave the admonition while celebrating his 57th birthday with the students at Saint Francis Secondary School, in the Eket Local government area of the state at the weekend.

Giving reasons why he chose to celebrate his birthday in the classroom, the senator said he is a product of education, adding that he became what he is because he took his education pursuit seriously.

While noting that education remains the key to a sustainable and successful life, the senator prayed that he would want to see them excel in their chosen careers, becoming medical doctors, engineers, pilots and so forth.

He said ” I’m here as a product of education, I have worked hard to promote education because without education I wouldn’t have been where I am today.

‘”Today, I am the Vice chairman Senate Committee on Education, I thank the Senate President, senator Godswill Akpabio, and my colleagues who allowed me to be involved in education in the Senate. The more we promote education, the more we tackle social vices that confront us such as insecurity and the rest.

“So, we must not leave education in the hands of government alone; every stakeholder should be involved in education. During my birthday, I go to school to teach. I have taught in  Mkpat-Enin school, last year, I was at Mbo, and today is the turn of Eket.

“We are thanking God that Akwa Ibom State is taking centre stage through a young man called John Obot, who has broken the Guinness World Record in marathon reading aloud. John Obot has become a national and international Icon.

“Don’t allow yourself to be involved in cultism because cultists cannot get to where I am today. Governor Udom Emmanuel is not a cultist, Senator Godswill Akpabio is not a cultist, President Bola Tinubu, from what I have heard is not a cultist; they all made it through education.

He promised to build a befitting staff quarter for the school and transform in the entire school.

The senator started the celebration with a lecture he delivered titled ” Imagination in Essay Composition: Unity in tenses at the end of which he donated a token to a few students who excelled in the spelling competition.