Guterres Calls for Recommitment to Protection of Fundamental Freedoms

By: Michael Mike

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the international community to recommit to the protection of fundamental freedoms, warning that human rights are increasingly under threat worldwide.

Guterres made the call in his annual message to mark Human Rights Day, commemorated globally.

Guterres, whose message was read by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Fall, at the celebration of 30th Anniversary celebration of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), reflected on the legacy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted nearly 80 years ago, describing it as a “philosophical and political breakthrough” that remains the foundation of modern international cooperation.

The declaration, he noted, laid out the basic civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights required for every person to “survive and thrive.”

He however cautioned that the world is experiencing a disturbing erosion of these rights. “Recent years have brought a shrinking of civic space,” he said. “We have grave violations that signal a flagrant disregard for rights, and a callous indifference to human suffering.”

He noted that despite these setbacks, change is possible when governments, institutions and citizens work together.

He highlighted the role of the United Nations in supporting vulnerable populations through activities such as food assistance, shelter provision, education support, election monitoring, environmental protection, women’s empowerment and peacebuilding.

“This work depends on all people, everywhere, taking a stand,” he emphasised. “When we protect the most vulnerable, when we refuse to look away, when we speak up for the institutions that speak up for us, we keep human rights alive.”

He underscored that human rights must never be sacrificed for political gain or economic interests. “Our rights should never take second place to profit or power,” Guterres said. “Let us unite to protect them, for the dignity and freedom of all.”

He noted that Human Rights Day 2025 continues the global call for renewed commitment to justice, equality and universal freedoms at a time of rising conflict, displacement and social inequality.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu restated the Commission’s commitment to advancing freedom, equality and justice in Nigeria.

Ojukwu who led the commission on symbolic “Walk for Human Rights” in Abuja, said a lot needs to be done to safeguard human rights.

NHRC, which also used the day to commemorate the 2025 International Human Rights Day, welcomed stakeholders, partners and human rights defenders to the celebration,

Ojukwu described the event as a moment of gratitude and reflection, noting that the Commission has, since its establishment in 1995, remained a beacon for the protection and enforcement of human rights across the country.

He said: “This year’s Human Rights Day is special,” he said. “It marks three decades of dedicated service to humanity by Nigeria’s National Human Rights Institution. It is also an opportunity to honour exceptional partners whose support has strengthened our work over the years.”

Ojukwu emphasised that the anniversary represents both a journey and a reaffirmation: a journey that began with the vision of entrenching freedom, equality and justice, and a reaffirmation of the Commission’s resolve despite persistent challenges including insecurity and socio-economic pressures.

He noted that the annual walk was not a protest but a demonstration of unity and determination. “We walk not in anger, but with purpose—to defend human rights. Not as spectators, but as active participants in building a Nigeria where every voice counts and no one is left behind,” he said.

The Executive Secretary stressed that human rights can only thrive in societies that embrace harmony, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. He added that the awards presented during the ceremony were a tribute to organisations and individuals whose courage and consistency have helped strengthen the Commission’s mandate.

Reaffirming the NHRC’s statutory duty, Ojukwu noted that protecting and promoting human rights cannot be the responsibility of the Commission alone. He called for collaboration across ministries, government agencies, the private sector and communities.

He appealed that: “Together, let us build a nation where human rights are not distant ambitions but everyday realities,” he urged. “Our collective effort remains the driver of progress.”

Guterres Calls for Recommitment to Protection of Fundamental Freedoms

NCTC, UNODC Inaugurate Working Group to Counter Criminal and Terrorist Finance in Nigeria’s Mineral Sector

By: Michael Mike

The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and with the support of the Government of Canada, has established a Technical Working Group (TWG) on Mineral Crime and Terrorism Financing.

Nigeria’s mineral sector, particularly artisanal and small-scale gold mining, has increasingly been exploited by criminal and terrorist networks.

These illicit activities have continued to deprive the government of vital tax and royalty revenues, weaken state capacity to deliver essential services, and fuel instability nationwide. By exploiting regulatory gaps and opaque value chains, criminal groups disguise illicit proceeds, perpetuating conflict and organized crime in the country.

The TWG, comprising representatives of law enforcement, intelligence and other security agencies,  including those of other strategic MDAs and the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (PAGMI) under the latest agreement, will collaborate to strengthen the nation’s criminal justice capacity to address illicit financial flows tied to terrorism financing and money laundering in the mining sector by coordinating individual agency responses, supporting national efforts, and guiding policy reforms.

It will also promote community resilience in artisanal mining regions while integrating gender equality and human rights into government interventions.

 In his keynote speech at the inaugural meeting of the working group, the NCTC National Coordinator,  Major General Adamu Garba Laka, who was represented by the Centre’s Director of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, Ambassador Mairo Musa Abbas underscored the Federal Government of Nigeria’s commitment to cutting off terrorist financing at its source, including in the mineral sector.

He said: “Nigeria’s mineral resources remain some of the most valuable national assets we possess. Yet in recent years, the growing exploitation of these resources by criminal syndicates and violent extremist elements has become a significant threat. This is not merely a theoretical risk; it is a lived reality in several regions of our country, where illegal mining intersects with banditry, insurgency, arms trafficking and cross-border smuggling. In past years, the NCTC has recorded remarkable progress in strengthening Nigeria’s counter-terrorism financing architecture. Today’s initiative builds on this momentum. Protecting our mineral resources from criminal capture is not only a security imperative, but it is also a development imperative, an economic imperative and, ultimately, a sovereign duty.”

On his part, UNODC Country Representative for Nigeria, Mr Cheikh Toure,, in his remarks conveyed by Mr Tom Parker, Head of the UNODC  Counter Terrorism Unit, praised the leadership of the NCTC, while emphasising that “Illegal mining, and the illicit financial flows generated by this activity, undermine Nigeria’s stability and development. The creation of this interagency Working Group by the NCTC is an important step in reversing this trend. UNODC is committed to strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to detect, investigate, and prosecute financial crimes linked to terrorism and organized crime. Collaboration is fundamental to defeating criminal and terrorist threats, and helps foster shared learning and policy innovation.”

Funded by the Government of Canada, UNODC is working closely with the NCTC together with agencies like Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, National Financial Intelligence Unit, the Mining Marshals Corps and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to build Nigeria’s capacity towards combating illicit financial flows linked to Nigeria’s mineral sector by deepening analysis of relationship between mineral-related crimes and the financing of terrorism, strengthening supervision in the financial sector by equipping both private and government actors to detect suspicious transactions, and supporting the effective investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of money laundering and terrorism financing cases at the state and federal levels.

NCTC, UNODC Inaugurate Working Group to Counter Criminal and Terrorist Finance in Nigeria’s Mineral Sector

NCoS empowers 120 inmates in Gombe

By Peter Uwumarogie

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says it has trained 120 inmates in vocational skills in six custodial centres in Gombe State.

The Controller of Corrections, Mr Felix Agada, said this during the graduation ceremony of the inmates on Wednesday at Tula community in Kaltungo Local Government Area of the state.

He said the initiative was of part of the mandate of the service to reform and rehabilitate inmates into better citizens upon their release from the centres.

“The aim of this skill acquisition is to achieve the Reformation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme of the service.

“This is to ensure that inmates become useful to themselves and the society at large after discharge to reduce the rate of crime among the youths in our communities,” he said.

Agada said the programme was being initiated and supported in collaboration with the state Chief Judge, Justice Halima Mohammed, and Smart Ideas Multi Consult Ltd.

He commended the state government’s support towards empowering the inmates and ensuring that they return to their communities with dignity upon serving out their jail terms.

Also, Justice Mohammed said her belief that everyone deserved opportunity to become better citizens moved her to initiate the programme.

She said that studies had shown that where well-structured rehabilitation and skill acquisition exist for inmates, crime rate drops drastically by more than half because “opportunity is the antidote to crime.

“In Nigeria, correctional centres were not designed to be the permanent destination; they are meant to be a bridge back into the society, not warehouse for human potential.

“Without skills, inmates who have served out their terms can not compete, without support they cannot stand, and without acceptance, they cannot start again,” she said.

Mohammed said the initiative was borne out of the need to ensure that every ex-inmate did not go back to crime but to become a “tax payer, business starter and an artisan.

“This is important because every ex inmate lost to the street is a child without a provider, community without peace and a country without productivity.”

She lauded the government’s role in reforming inmates, and stressed the need for societal support to effectively address the task of skilling every inmate while providing them with starter packs upon their release.

“Correctional reform is not a project, it’s a partnership, not a policy but a social contract; today’s fund raising is not charity but nation building, security management, economic investment and a moral duty.”

The judge therefore advocated for collective support to empower inmates with the right skills and tools.

According to Mohammed, investment in that regard is an investment in safer streets, stronger families and a more hopeful country.

Mr Musa Nelson, Head of Skills Acquisition Programmes, NCoS, said the inmates were exposed to carpentry, tailoring, fashion design, cosmetology, shoe and bags making, laundry, barbing and make up.

He said the inmates would be provided with starter packs after their six-month training exercise.

Some of the inmates commended the gesture and urged stakeholders to assist them with the required tools in line with their area of training to enable them to set up their businesses.