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Act for Humanity: The Urgent Call of World Humanitarian Day 2024

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Act for Humanity: The Urgent Call of World Humanitarian Day 2024

By: Mohamed Malick Fall

Every year, World Humanitarian Day (WHD) serves as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of humanitarian efforts globally. This year, the theme #ActForHumanity emphasizes the collective responsibility we all share in protecting civilians and the humanitarian workers who serve them in conflicts and other crises.

As we observe this day on 19 August, it is crucial to reflect on the profound implications of ongoing conflicts, the flagrant violations of international humanitarian law (IHL), and the dire need for global leaders to take decisive action and say enough is enough.

Conflicts around the world, from Gaza to Sudan, continue to wreak havoc on civilians. Climate change is also increasing humanitarian needs.

In north-east Nigeria, the prolonged conflict has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, displacing millions, disrupting livelihoods and compounding already alarming levels of food insecurity and malnutrition.

In 2024 alone, 8.1 million people need humanitarian assistance in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states in north-east Nigeria. This includes 2.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 4.1 million people in host communities. Humanitarian partners together with the Government of Nigeria aim to reach 4.4 million of these people with lifesaving food, water, shelter and other emergency assistance.

In Borno State, Anna Monday, a mother of four, endures the harsh realities of displacement. Forced from her home, she now lives in a temporary learning centre at the reception centre in Pulka, a place designed for short-term accommodation but now a long-term refuge for many. Up to 30 women sleep in the shelter while the men sleep outside, highlighting the lack of adequate shelter.

Amina Buba, a mother of four, was displaced from her village in Adamawa State due to violent attacks by insurgent groups. Her home was burnt, forcing her family to flee with only the clothes on their backs. In the IDP camp, Amina struggles to find enough food and clean water for her children.

Fatima Mohammadu, a young girl from Yobe State, was separated from her family during a raid on her village. She was found by humanitarian workers and brought to an IDP camp. The trauma of separation and the loss of her loved ones have left deep emotional scars. In the camp, she faces challenges such as lack of access to education and inadequate nutrition.

Women, men, boys and girls across Nigeria are also affected due to crises linked to intercommunal violence, the climate crisis or general hardships. Women and children, often suffer the worst effects enduring widespread violations of their rights, including sexual violence.

A combination of insecurity, limited access to affected people, and inadequate funding and resources are complicating the delivery of essential services, leaving millions of people in humanitarian need.

In north-east Nigeria, attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers have become disturbingly common blatantly violating international humanitarian law.

On 29 June, for instance, numerous civilians died, and dozens were injured in multiple suicide attacks in Gwoza, Borno. A month later, many families lost their loved ones in yet another suicide attack in Konduga, also in Borno. These incidents underscore the persistent threat to civilian lives in conflict, and highlight the urgent need for enhanced protection measures, including stricter adherence to international norms and the need for greater accountability for violations.

Every day, humanitarian workers, from Government, non-governmental organizations, the United Nations (UN), civil society, Nigerian and international staff go out of their way to save lives and to bring people back to their feet. Host communities accommodate people who are internally displaced despite not having much to share because of their humanity.

World Humanitarian Day is more relevant than ever. The world has never seen greater humanitarian need. The number of people who are suffering because of conflict and other humanitarian crises is staggering. There has never been a more urgent need to protect civilians, and to recognize the critical role of humanitarian workers.

Global leaders and parties to conflict have a pivotal role to play in resolving conflicts and protecting humanitarian workers. They must not only condemn violations of international humanitarian law, but also take concrete steps to hold those responsible for violations accountable.

Thanks to funding from donors, humanitarians are reaching millions of people each year with lifesaving assistance. But they need robust support to continue their vital work in support of Government efforts. This includes financial resources, humanitarian access, and political goodwill.

Today, only a quarter of the resources needed to address urgent humanitarian needs globally and in north-east Nigeria has been forthcoming. Without these resources we will be unable to support Anna, Amina, and Fatima to survive and rebuild their lives.

Beyond humanitarian interventions, development-related activities are key as humanitarian needs also stem from a lack of basic services, a lack of livelihoods, and poor access to employment for young people.
The theme #ActForHumanity is not just a slogan; it is a call to action. It implores each one of us to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, to speak out against injustices, and to work towards a world where humanitarian principles are respected, and lives are protected.

On this World Humanitarian Day, let us all pledge to act for humanity, for today and for the future.

I trust that you will stand with me in solidarity with people affected by conflict and disaster and the brave men and women who come to their aid. They should not be the target of violence but must be protected at all cost.

Mohamed Malick Fall is the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria.

Act for Humanity: The Urgent Call of World Humanitarian Day 2024

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NESREA, WJC Sign MOU on Wildlife Protection

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NESREA, WJC Sign MOU on Wildlife Protection

By: Michael Mike

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening wildlife protection in the country.

The MoU, signed on Tuesday at NESREA’s headquarters in Abuja by the Director General/CEO of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, and Chief of Investigations at the WJC, Stephen Carmody, represented by the Regional Manager for West and Central Africa, Abim Isafiade, establishes a framework for cooperation to combat transnational organised criminal networks trafficking in wildlife, fish, and timber.

The MoU is aimed at strengthening intelligence-sharing, enhance forensic and legal collaboration, and support future programmes under the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force.

“This MoU aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and demonstrates our government’s determination to protect biodiversity, conserve threatened species, and ensure sustainable managed wildlife resources for future generations.”, stated Barikor.

Barikor added that, “NESREA is committed to working hand-in-hand with the WJC to ensure that Nigeria does not serve as a safe haven or transit hub for wildlife traffickers. Together, we will make it increasingly difficult for those who profit from the destruction of our natural heritage.”

Executive Director of the Wildlife Justice Commission, Olivia Swaak-Goldman in a statement said the collaboration with NESREA would bring in fresh vigour into wildlife enforcement activities in the country.

He said: “By expanding our partnerships to include NESREA and the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force, we can sustain and deepen this transformation — ensuring that Nigeria continues to set the benchmark for intelligence-led enforcement.

The MoU reflects a shared commitment by NESREA and the WJC to disrupt wildlife crime, dismantle transnational criminal networks, and ensure that organised crime is no longer driving species to extinction.

NESREA, WJC Sign MOU on Wildlife Protection

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Otuaro Plans Quality Furniture, Woodwork Training For PAP Beneficiaries

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Otuaro Plans Quality Furniture, Woodwork Training For PAP Beneficiaries

•••Visits Julius Berger, PrimeTech Showrooms in Abuja

By: Michael Mike

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, on Monday, visited the Julius Berger Nigeria Plc Associated Furniture Producers (AFP) Showroom and its industrial factory in Abuja as part of his deliberate effort to deepen implementation of the programme’s objectives.

Otuaro also visited PrimeTech, an international firm with a primary focus on sustainable design and construction of buildings, industries, civil structures, roads and infrastructure.

He was conducted round the facilities by the General Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc AFP, Oliver Cohnen, and Julius Berger’s Head of Corporate Security and Compliance, Poul Nielsen, during the visit.

Otuaro was accompanied by his Technical Assistant, Edgar Daniel; Special Assistant, and the PAP’s Head of Vocational Training Unit, Lambert Daunemighan and Head, Special Projects, Victor Ebikonte.

He said the move was aimed at exploring avenues for the PAP to carry out high-quality training of ex-agitators and beneficiaries in furniture and woodwork, and sustainable architectural design and engineering solutions with global standards and taste.

The PAP helmsman stressed that his goal was to ensure that beneficiaries of such huge industrial-scale training would use the vocational skills and knowledge they would gain to add real value to the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria.

He noted that when the ex-agitators and beneficiaries are equipped with the right expertise in a structured environment, they will produce products that meet international standards with high marketability.

He expressed satisfaction at the incredible finishing and creativity, exquisite outlook and texture of the furniture and their high potential for durability.

He reiterated that President Bola Tinubu had given him a mandate to take the programme to the people of the region.

According to him, seeking the appropriate facilities to get many youths trained and re-trained in critical vocational trade areas was one of the ways of realizing the president’s desire.

Otuaro said, “My interest is that our youths have to add value to the social-economic growth of the Niger Delta and that of the country. They can do this effectively when they acquire high-quality training that will make them to be useful to themselves, the region and the nation.

“I decided to undertake the visits to these facilities to enable me to see things for myself to be able to take the right decision on the vocational initiative I have for ex-agitators and beneficiaries of the PAP in the areas of furniture and woodwork, and designs.

“I am pleased with the top-class industrial equipment, high-quality furniture and the huge factory I have seen here and the fact that they have international appeal. This means that if our people are able to acquire the right vocational skills here, they will be able to produce furniture of international standards.

“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, gave me a mandate to take the programme to the people, and that is what I am doing. This initiative is part of the deliberate plans to achieve that mandate.”

Otuaro Plans Quality Furniture, Woodwork Training For PAP Beneficiaries

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DSS files five-count charge against Sowore, X and Meta

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DSS files five-count charge against Sowore, X and Meta

By: Zagazola Makama

The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count criminal charge against presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and two social media companies, X Corp and Meta Incorporation, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Zagazola reports that the charges followed Sowore’s refusal to delete alleged false and inciting posts about President Bola Tinubu from his verified X and Facebook accounts.

The DSS had, on Sept. 8, issued a one-week ultimatum to Sowore to remove the posts, which it described as “false, malicious, and inciting.” The ultimatum expired without compliance. X Corp and Meta, owners of X and Facebook, also declined a DSS request to deactivate Sowore’s accounts.

The charges were filed on behalf of the DSS and the Federal Government by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, and four other counsel to the DSS – M.E. Ernest, U.B. Bulla, Dr. C.S. Eze, and E.G. Orubor.

According to the charge sheet, Sowore, on Aug. 25 and 26, 2025, allegedly published posts on his official handles describing President Tinubu as a “criminal” and accusing him of lying about corruption in Nigeria during an official trip to Brazil.

The DSS said Sowore knew the claims were false but circulated them to incite disorder and disaffection among Nigerians.

One of the counts read: “That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult male, on or about the 25th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your official X handle page, @YeleSowore, to send out a message which you know to be false but posted for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”

The second count alleged that Sowore repeated the same post on his official Facebook account on Aug. 26, in breach of the same cybercrime law.

The third and fourth counts accused him of publishing defamatory material against the person and office of the President on both X and Facebook, contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.

The fifth count alleged that Sowore, with intent to cause fear and public disturbance, published false information on both platforms, an offence contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act.

The DSS maintained that the posts were capable of undermining national security and causing a breakdown of public order.

Zagazola reports that the case is expected to be assigned to a trial judge for hearing in Abuja.

DSS files five-count charge against Sowore, X and Meta

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