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Emirs in Northeast Seek Strengthening of Traditional Institutions for Peace Building
Emirs in Northeast Seek Strengthening of Traditional Institutions for Peace Building
By Michael Mike
The Emir of Fika, His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammadu Abali Ibn Mohammed Idrissa, has called for the strengthening of traditional institutions, insisting that the role of traditional rulers in peace building across the nation cannot be wished away.
Speaking in Abuja at the European Union(EU) and the British Council (BC) funded Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN) Programme: “Practice Dissemination Workshop on Initiatives to Strengthen Traditional Justice System, Impact dissemination and lessons learning event for traditional justice intervention in the North East,” Idrissa, who is also the Chairman of the Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers, insisted that traditional rulers have a critical role in peace building and resolution.
He said that the duty of peacebuilding and resolution, which was hitherto domiciled with the emirates, has been taken over by the government.
The MCN Programme, which was implemented by the British Council in the states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, trained no fewer than 2,404 traditional rulers and community leaders in dispute resolution between 2017 and 2023. The programme aimed to improve security and stability in the region, preventing population displacement and forced and irregular migration.
Idrissa noted that the peaceful community development initiative strategy, which was formulated and funded by the British Council and the European Union, needs to be sustained to ensure lasting peace in the region. He emphasized that for any developmental program to be sustainable, especially in the areas of Peace Building and Effective Conflict Management, the Traditional Institutions are critical for the desired success.
The Emir of Bade, Yobe state, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, also emphasized that traditional institutions are responsible for resolving conflicts and are the best way of conflict resolution as it has no cost and delays like government institutions.
Meanwhile, the Gangwari Ganye, Adamawa state, HRH Umaru Adamu Sanda, regretted that the greatest victims of conflict are from the northeast affected by activities of Boko Haram. He urged traditional rulers to understand the basics of conflict resolution to enable them to perform better as rulers.
In his welcome remarks, the National Programme Manager, MCN, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu, explained that the program focused on managing conflict in the North East had been implemented in the past six years to enhance the capacity of traditional rulers on peace and conflict resolution.
Tabiu revealed that over 2,404 traditional rulers and community leaders in three North East states were trained in dispute resolution between 2017 and 2023. He also disclosed that no fewer than 44,411 different cases ranging from disputes between farmers and herders, business disputes, family and domestic concerns, theft, and others had been resolved using knowledge from the training by traditional rulers and community leaders in the emirates covered by the program.
Tabu explained that the MCN Programme sought to enhance the capacity of government, security, community, and civil society institutions and actors to address factors that contribute to the outbreak, intensity, impact, and prolongation of violent conflicts. He added that the program was piloted in four Emirates in each of the North East states where the program was implemented, “as part of its intervention on strengthening community level conflict management mechanisms, the program has worked with the traditional institutions and actors targeting 12 key emirates across the region.”
Tabu listed the emirates as Adamawa emirate, Mubi emirate, Ganye emirate, Bachama traditional council; Borno emirate, Biu emirate, Dikwa emirate and Gwoza emirate in Borno State; Fika emirate, Damaturu emirate, Bade emirate and Pataskum emirate in Yobe State. He said that the stakeholders’ capacity was strengthened by alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, Nigerian civil law, human rights, and the interface between formal and non-formal security and safety institutions in its bid to create an interface in the delivery of justice.
Tabu further revealed that a total of 1920 participants, including district heads, village heads, ward heads as well as 160 wives and women involved in community safety concerns had been trained by the program. The program also supported each emirate to establish a record-keeping center for documenting identified and engaged issues and used data obtained from different levels to plan a response, decision making, and other specific purpose such as addressing sexual and gender-based violence.
Tabiu also added that research by the MCN revealed a modest increase in public perception of the effective functioning of the Traditional Justice System (TJS) from 40 percent in 2017 to 45 percent in 2022 and that 336,047 people have benefited from the services of TJS. He also highlighted that through the knowledge gained from the program, one of the beneficiaries of Fika Emirate, testified that his emirate was able to address a dispute that had lingered for over 60 years.
Emirs in Northeast Seek Strengthening of Traditional Institutions for Peace Building
PRESIDENT TINUBU SALUTES NIGERIAN WORKERS ON MAY DAY
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Tinubu heartily congratulates Nigerian workers on the auspicious occasion of Workers’ Day held annually to celebrate the lifeblood of our country.
The President salutes Nigerian workers for their fidelity to the peace, progress, and development of the nation evident in their tireless efforts and patriotic zeal to keep the national engine running.
President Tinubu celebrates Nigerian workers across all spheres – from the clerical officer who ensures the proper documentation and distribution of correspondence; the security officer who remains ever dutiful through all seasons; the teacher who secures the future of our nation by imparting knowledge to the next generation; the doctor who works relentlessly to save precious lives, and to all Nigerian workers who keep the candle aflame.
The President affirms that his administration remains committed to improving the welfare of all workers, noting the various relief programmes, including the wage award and the imminent minimum wage review.
President Tinubu strongly believes that the custodians of the nation’s machinery deserve a fair wage and enhanced welfare and that a labourer is deserving of not just any reward but fair and commensurate wages.
The President assures Nigerian workers of his dedication to not only improving their welfare but also enhancing their working conditions and providing the necessary tools for them to succeed.
The President wishes Nigerian workers Happy May Day celebrations.
PRESIDENT TINUBU SALUTES NIGERIAN WORKERS ON MAY DAY
MNJTF INTENSIFIES OPERATIONS TO ELIMINATE BOKO HARAM REMNANTS IN LAKE CHAD BASIN
By: Our Reporter
The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is intensifying its operations to eradicate the remaining Boko Haram terrorists and ISWAP in specific locations within the Lake Chad basin. Residents of North East Nigeria and the Far North of Cameroon might observe an increased presence of multinational troops and equipment. This surge is designed to bolster the efforts of various national operations and eradicate terrorists and their enclaves within the MNJTF’s Areas of Operations.
Therefore, the public should not panic by these movements, but to offer support to the troops. The MNJTF is determined to cleanse the Lake Chad basin of all terrorists, thereby ensuring the safety and security of the region, ultimately ensuring a safer and more secure environment for everyone.
MNJTF INTENSIFIES OPERATIONS TO ELIMINATE BOKO HARAM REMNANTS IN LAKE CHAD BASIN
UN, Bayelsa, Denmark Launch New Project to Strengthen Niger Delta Peace Architecture
By: Michael Mike
A new project to strengthen the Niger Delta Peace Architecture was launched in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State on Wednesday.
Joining the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, to launch the project are the Ambassador of Denmark, Sune Krogstrup and Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Dr. Oliver Stolpe.
The project aims to support the Government and communities in the implementation of the 2022 Bayelsa State Community-Based Crime Prevention Strategy.
According to a statement, the project will be implemented in five communities across Bayelsa State empowering them through joint security committees to manage their security environment proactively, helping to address the root causes of crime and violence and enhancing collaboration between communities and law enforcement agencies building trust and fostering lasting partnerships.
The statement said the new project builds on a successfully implemented first phase which, with funding from the Government of Germany, was implemented between 2021 and 2023 and helped the Government of Bayelsa State to develop the Community Based Crime Prevention Strategy and supported its implementation in the communities of Otuan, Ikeberi 1 and Ayamasa.
Specific interventions included the refurbishment of police stations, the redeployment of police officers and their training on community-oriented policing.
The project also established youth centres and introduced Line Up Live Up, a sports-based youth crime prevention programme now being delivered by sport coaches across the three communities. Further investments were made into economic empowerment initiatives, such as a Garri processing plants and solar powered streetlights.
Diri, while welcoming the new project, stated that: “The collaborative effort with the German Government and UNODC has demonstrably improved security in Bayelsa State and we are confident that the new project, funded by the Government of Denmark, will build upon this success and further strengthen peace and security across the Niger Delta.”
Ambassador Sune Krogstrup said “Community-based crime prevention is a cornerstone of effective security strategies. We are proud to partner with the Bayelsa State government and UNODC to empower communities and promote lasting peace.”
On the occasion of the project launch, Governor Douye Diri also welcomed a delegation of ambassadors and high-level representatives of the Governments of Finland, Germany and the European Union.
The visiting delegation joined the meeting of the BRACED Commission, attended by the Governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States and chaired by HE Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.
They discussed developmental and security challenges in the Niger Delta and identified opportunities for the international community to cooperate with the Governments of the Niger Delta in addressing these challenges, including through the possible expansion of the community- based crime prevention approach successfully tested in Bayelsa State.
UN, Bayelsa, Denmark Launch New Project to Strengthen Niger Delta Peace Architecture
PRESIDENT TINUBU SALUTES NIGERIAN WORKERS ON MAY DAY
MNJTF INTENSIFIES OPERATIONS TO ELIMINATE BOKO HARAM REMNANTS IN LAKE CHAD BASIN
UN, Bayelsa, Denmark Launch New Project to Strengthen Niger Delta Peace Architecture
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