Sanwo-Olu, Lai Mohammed, Gbenga Daniel to headline 7th Freedom Online lecture on insecurity, 2027 Outlook - ITREALMS

The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and former Ogun State Governor Senator Gbenga Daniel are set to headline the 7th annual Freedom Online lecture in Lagos on September 3, reports ITREALMS.

Focusing on national security, economic stability, and electoral governance, the high-level event will gather prominent political leaders, media executives, and public policy experts to address critical challenges facing Nigeria.

CCC flags 'Volatile compound sentiment': Fake news and insecurity shaping Nigeria’s 2027 pre-election climate — ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) has raised an urgent alarm over a dangerous convergence of escalating insecurity, political distrust, and sophisticated disinformation campaigns, warning that these forces are already aggressively shaping public sentiment ahead of the 2027 general elections, reports ITREALMS.

In its latest "New Media and Social Listening" analysis, the CCC revealed a turbulent mix of public emotions—ranging from deep grief over persistent security breaches to systemic anger at perceived leadership gaps. This phenomenon, which the Centre labels a “volatile compound sentiment,” is currently saturating Nigeria’s digital and traditional information ecosystems.

Insecurity: NCTC-ONSA, PAVE Network host Northwest PCVE summit @Kaduna - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The PAVE Network, in partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), and other key stakeholders, are set to convene at the North West PCVE Summit, reports ITREALMS.

The summit is scheduled to take place from August 19 to 20, 2025, at the Yar'Adua Centre, Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna State.

Communique by GOCOP after 2024 conference - ITREALMS

ForTheRecords@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 2024 CONFERENCE OF THE GUILD OF CORPORATE ONLINE PUBLISHERS (GOCOP), HELD FROM OCTOBER 2ND TO 3RD AT REVERTON HOTEL, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE.

INTRODUCTION:
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) held its 8th annual conference from October 2nd to 3rd, 2024, at Reverton Hotel in Lokoja, Kogi State. His Excellency, the Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, was the Chief Host.

The conference was attended by over 100 members of the Guild and dozens of invited guests from across the country.

TD Africa combats insecurity with price slash on ring security solutions - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

In a bid to help address the rising insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in homes and offices, TD Africa, the authorized distributor of Amazon Ring in Africa, has announced discounted prices on all Ring security products across the country.

By this price slash, Nigerians can now have a better control over security situations in their homes.

Under Tinubu: Insecurity becomes chronic – ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has declared the Nigerian state under president Bola Ahmed Tinubu as chronic, reports ITREALMS.

EIU in its latest country report on Nigeria made available to ITREALMS, noted that insecurity is chronic in many areas, with the security forces too overstretched to counter multiple crises effectively.

Insecurity: Increase security personnel @Ekiti State, Obas tell FG - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has called on the Federal Government (FG) to deploy more security personnel to Ekiti in order to beef up security in the state, reports ITREALMS.

The traditional rulers who stated that the state is under-policed also demanded that the State Government should empower them with adequate resources to police and secure their respective domains to compliment the efforts of the security agencies.

Nigeria: Coalition raises alarm over escalating insecurity, proffers solutions - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development (CSCSD) has raised alarm over escalation of insecurity across Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

This, the group said has affected regions in the North, East, South and West.

Insecurity: South East Govs, lawmakers, Ohanaeze Ndigbo to meet Tinubu - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!


The five governors and federal lawmakers from the South East plus the Igbo sociocultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, have advanced plans to send a delegation to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the lingering insecurity in the region, reports ITREALMS.

This position was taken at an emergency meeting held on Monday evening at the Imo state Governor’s Lodge, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Insecurity: PAVE wants govt to deliberately unmask 'unknown gunmen' - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Partnership Against Violent Extremism Network (PAVE) has charged the Nigerian government and stakeholders to make deliberate efforts to investigate and unmask the unknown gunmen and women terrorising the country.

The network made this call on its recommendations issued after the meeting of its Steering Committee held on the 9th of August, and of its General Assembly held on the 12th of August and made available on Friday. 

100 days in Office: Soludo, insecurity and baptism of fire - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Anambra State Governor, His Excellency, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo had, long before now, given the impression that he never believed in the tradition of celebrating 1st 100 Days in Office. I share that same opinion with him. 

To me the intricacies, landmines and shockers embedded in the learning curve of any organisational leadership requires at least a complete operational cycle before a meaningful performance evaluation can be conducted.

Yorubaland: Lawson advises South-West Governors to unite against insecurity - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Iyalode of Yorubaland, Iyalode Alaba Lawson has passionately called on South-West Governors on need to proactively rise up to security challenges confronting the region, noting that the recent attack on congregants at church in Owo, Ondo State, was an insult to God and a slap on the entire Yoruba race.

Lawson made the appeal in reaction to the recent killing of worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in the town, stressing that the sad incident should be seen as a wake up to all Odua sons and daughters, irrespective of their religions to be united.

Insecurity: INEC is confident of improvement says Yakubu - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The general security situation in the country and its impact on the electoral process is a source of concern to the Independent National Electoral Commission, but they are confident of an improvement before 2023 general elections, reports ITREALMS.

Disclosing this at the weekend in Abuja, the chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu expressed confidence that with the nine months to the 2023 General Election, there is enough time to respond to the security challenges and secure the nation for elections nationwide.

FG overwhelmed by insecurity, cries CSO coalition - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The National Coordinator, Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development (CSCSD), Dr. David Tola Winjobi has lamented that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) is overwhelmed by the insecurity in the land, reports ITREALMS.

Winjobi in keynote address available to ITREALMS, at side-event of the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) cum High Level Forum (HLF) of the United Nations, also lamented that government’s despondency has given rise to separatist groups in the country.

'We Live in age of Internet insecurity'

Commentary@ITREALMS: 

Ever wondered how a laboratory rat feels when everybody is starring at him – how he eats, plays and excretes. As a human being, just imagine a camera everywhere you go, including when you are on the toilet and when you’re having sex. Picture using your electronic device, i.e. Laptop, phone and it automatically becomes a spying, listening and tracking device to know where you are at any time. This is the world we live in today.

The computer age that we live in today is far ahead of what was envisaged years ago. We have moved from a period in human history characterised by the shift from traditional industry that the industrial revolution brought, to an economy based on information technology. Computers that we use today tracks people who use devices; it collects data from websites, collects information on people who visit websites, and knows which apps they download. What’s scarier is, when you buy a new device, it would already have information on you, because of your inboxes and smartphone contacts – the business model of internet companies today puts the user as the product, they collect data and sell it.

Facebook tracks users from device to device, collects data on websites people visit and apps they use, gathers material on people's physical locations, collects phone call logs from Android smartphones, and pulls in some data about people who don't have Facebook accounts at all - this is the world we live in today. 

Let’s not blame all these on Facebook alone, all other internet platforms do the same. It’s just that an example has to be made of a company so that government regulations will set in. I’m not a fan of regulating the internet, but the fact that big information technology companies have so much data on everyone, including those that have not yet been connected to the internet, otherwise called “shadow profiles” – this makes me cringe.

It won’t be a surprise if the only reason why the internet is free is because the US National Security Agency (NSA) or some other governmental or non-governmental organization is using it as a major tool to collect telephone records of tens of millions of people around the world.

In 2013, there were revelations in both the Washington Post and The Guardian that the NSA tapped directly into the servers of nine internet firms: AOL, Youtube, Skype, Apple, PalTalk, Facebook, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google, to track online communication in a surveillance programme known as Prism. However, nearly all of the companies involved denied knowledge of these acts without a court order or a search warrant.

Conversely, these internet companies exonerate themselves by saying that the users opted in just by accepting the ‘terms and conditions’ of using the services they provide. But I am sure that if the users have the option to accept or decline every item they click on the service providers’ websites, the story will be different today. Instead, your total web history will be aggregated and sold to the highest bidder.

Amongst part of the efforts to curb exploitation from these internet companies, some countries around the world limit the level of internet and digital media freedom; they create obstacles to access by blocking specific applications that have control over your mobile and internet access, limiting content, filtering, blocking websites and violating user rights. This, however, is not a sustainable solution. 

What should you do? Retire to your village and cut off from reality. Ha-ha, I am just kidding. Just turn off the chat option on your Android device, delete any app that might leak your information, block your computer screen’s camera and only turn it on when you need it. Do not reveal personal information inadvertently online, and restrict downloads from untrusted sources.

Otherwise, you hire a communications professional that will combine the latest techniques with deep industry expertise to keep you on track, based on your tailored unique needs.

*Contributed by Michael Joseph and could be reached via: michael@axcessimc.com

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Insecurity: Ekhomu advises traditional rulers to protect communities

ITREALMS:

Renowned security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu has advised traditional rulers to provide effective leadership in the security of their domains, as a way of fulfilling their part of the social contract with their subjects, reports ITRealms.

He also said that exercising purposeful leadership in security management of their respective communities will enhance the legitimacy of the traditional rulership institution and contribute to national security.

Speaking at the national conference on “Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers” organized by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation in Ibadan on 30^th January 2018, Ekhomu, providing a roadmap for security in Nigerian communities captioned “A-Z of the Role of Traditional Rulers in Security Management”, urged traditional rulers to take ownership of the security management of their domains.

He told them to harness the critical resources available including law enforcement, military, youth age grades, prominent citizens from the area, etc. in the security architecture of the community. “The missing link is leadership – which the traditional ruler can provide”, he added.

Dr. Ekhomu, who is the President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) urged the rulers to embrace and support law enforcement authorities in their communities by building and donating police posts where possible.

He further advised traditional rulers in rural communities to support public security personnel by providing foodstuffs, rent-free housing and farm lands for subsistence farming.

“Traditional rulers should establish liaison with security agencies as a way of creating force multiplication in the community,” he said.

On intelligence gathering, Ekhomu tasked rulers to engage in information gathering and escalation to the authorities for action. The expert said that if information provided to the public authorities is neglected and a security breach occurs, the ruler can then take the authorities to task, so that information supplied to the authorities in future will be acted upon.

“Traditional rulers must use their influential and privileged positions to forge a symbiotic relationship between the security agencies and his subjects”, he added.

He urged the royal fathers to undergo training in security awareness so they can pass on such information to their subjects – using the town crier where necessary.

On the tactical level, Ekhomu urged rulers to conduct demographic mapping in order to keep a record of ex-service personnel in their domains. He urged the formation of Threat Assessment Teams (TAT) “that may enable your community analyze imminent threats and how to respond to them”.

He advised royal fathers to maintain a record of security incidents in their communities to enable them conduct probability analysis of the occurrence of loss events, and produce reports for the political elites.

Ekhomu urged rulers to name and shame families of confirmed armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists. He praised Obosi town in Anambra State where the traditional ruler determined that violent criminals who are killed will not be given proper burial.

Ayo Midele/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Insecurity: Dickson warns politicians sponsoring killers, says they're criminals

ITREALMS:

Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, on Monday in Yenagoa urged security agencies to treat political leaders who sponsor criminals, reports ITRealms.

According to him, such political leaders should be arrested and prosecuted like the criminals they sponsor to perpetuate crime against innocent citizens in the society.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, said Dickson Med the suggestion  during a courtesy call on him by the Flag Officer Commanding the Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Alhassan.

The Governor said, “It is our position in this state that Crime is crime and security agencies should arrest and treat political leaders who are sponsoring criminals as common criminals because that is what they are.”

The Governor also called on the Naval authorities to intensify efforts to improve maritime security in the waters of Bayelsa.

Governor Dickson enjoined the Navy to rise effectively to the challenge of sea piracy, kidnapping, oil theft, vandalism and related maritime crimes.

“I count on you to combat and bring down to the barest minimum, the cases of piracy in the waters, cases of kidnapping, the oil theft, the vandalism of Strategic national assets and so forth,” he added

The Governor who commended the Federal Government for the establishment of the Central Naval Command said that the Navy had a major responsibility in the maintenance maritime security and stability.

The governor stressed that his administration had always emphasized the pertinence of law and order because of the need to preserve the foundation for peace, security, stability and development established by the government over the last six years.

According to him, the Navy’s role in supporting development in Bayelsa, the Niger Delta and the entire country cannot be overemphasized.

Honourable Dickson commended the Navy’s action against the scourge of sea piracy in Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State.

He demanded the establishment of a naval outpost at Oluasiri and Agge in Nembe and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of the state respectively to strengthen the onslaught on maritime crime.

“While thanking you for your record in Koluama, I wish to inform you we intend working with you to support the establishment of another outpost at the Oluasiri end at the Eastern part and we also need a strong naval presence at Agge in the West.

“If there is any arm of our nation’s security system whose strength is critical to the maintenance of stability, it is the Navy; so this state will continue to partner with the Nigerian Navy.”

Earlier, the FOC, Central Command, Rear Admiral Alhassan, commended the governor his sustained support to the activities of the service and indeed the military in Bayelsa.

He lauded the governor for donating a property for the building of a Naval Secondary School in Yenagoa.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Senate confirms new service chiefs with mandates

ITRealms

 

The Nigeria Senate, Tuesday, confirmed the appointments of the new service chiefs with the mandate to tackle insecurity and oil theft, report ITRealms.

Information from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) says the service chiefs, were confirmed after a thorough four-and-half hour screening and were charged to undertake seriously the issue insecurity and oil theft.

President Muhammadu Buhari, July 13, 2015, ITRealms gathered, approved the appointments of the new service chiefs whose names are Maj.-Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj.-Gen., Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice-Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had urged them to root out corruption in the procurement procedure of the armed forces, saying that the prevalence of corruption in the system had negatively affected efficient security delivery over the years.

Saraki said “the appointments, as we all see, is coming at a very crucial time with a lot of challenges, particularly insurgency in the North East and some other security issues such as oil theft and others.

“We need to observe also that they were all born in the 60s, so there are lots of responsibilities as new generation officers to provide new direction and new leadership to our armed forces.

“We are all keen to restore the image and reputation of the armed forces and I believe that their confirmation is the beginning of their journey to restore the glory of the force in our great nation.”

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

TD, D-Link partner against insecurity in Nigeria

^{Lagos-based Technology Distributions (TD) Limited and D-Link have partnered to deploy security products and empowering partners to deliver value-added solutions and products to the Small, Medium Business (SMB) and Small office/home office (SOHO) user space.}

^{The programme is in three parts, namely the training, promotions and trade incentives, just as the products and marketing training are heavily slanted to reveal how these products could be used to solve the security challenges of 21st Century in Nigeria.}

^{The SME and Enterprise Solution Partner programme, would run well into fourth quarter of this year according to the Territory Manager for West Africa at D-Link, Mr. Samuel Ediale.}

^{Both companies, ITRealms gathered are keen to partner with governments or stakeholders to deploy the security equipment required to achieve optimal surveillance in all Nigerian cities.}

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Insecurity forces CNSSL to shut MTN call centre in Jos

The spate of insecurity in the country, may have heightened Monday, with operators of MTN call centre in Jos, the CNSSL shutting the centre on security reasons.

The management of CNSSL in a press statement made available to ITRealms states “CNSSL regrets to announce the closing down of its call centre operation in Jos, Plateau State.”

ITRealms recalls that CNSSL had entered into a contract to operate and staff the Jos call centre on behalf of MTN Nigeria in July 2010, and has been doing exactly that until the recent closure.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D