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FG REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN NIGERIA
FG REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN NIGERIA
— As Justice Minister, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN Commissions NHRC’s Lagos State Office at Ikeja
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria by providing the enabling environment for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to effectively realize its mandate.
The Government also promised to support the NHRC to own its offices nationwide to further entrench its independence and strengthen its strive to protect the rights of citizens.
The Honorable Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN who made this statement on the occasion of the commissioning of the Lagos State office of the NHRC noted that the operational independence of the Commission has been future strengthened with the construction of it own offices.
“Under the Paris Principles, such national human rights institutions are to be independent in the execution of their mandate, structure and operations” .
Section 6(3) of the NHRC Act 1995 as amended, stipulates that the Commission in carrying out it’s mandate and operations shall not be subject to the control of any authority or person, he added.
“Accordingly, the ownership of their place of operations (office) constitutes an important aspect of their independence. I am happy to say that since this administration, the government has not interfered with the independence of the Commission”, the AGF said.
The Chief Law Officer of the Federation noted that in fact, during the last dissolution of Boards of all parastatals, the government exempted the Governing Council of the Commission from the general dissolution of Federal Government Boards due to its independence under the enabling Act and the Paris Principles.
In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Governing Council of the NHRC, Dr. Salamatu Suleiman, FICMC, thanked the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and other highly distinguished guests for gracing the occasion of the completion and commissioning of the Lagos State office of the National Human Rights Commission in Alausa, Ikeja Lagos.
According to the senior lawyer, the history of the realization of this project needs to be told as a testimony of the determination of the Commission to strengthen its operations and independence.
She recalled that the Commission was established through the National Human Rights Commission Act 1995 as amended and that in its determination to entrench its independence from the beginning, the Commission commenced its daily operations from its own independently owned buildings in the six geo-political zonal headquarters of Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano, Jos and Maiduguri between 1996 and 2002.
“Over time however, the acquired Lagos office building was no longer befitting and structurally fit to meet the challenges and demands of a modern office suitable for the operations of a national human rights institution like the Commission.
The need for inclusivity and diversity in the working environment of the Commission necessitated a new office structure after 23 years of the acquisition of the Lagos office building and the other zonal headquarters”, the Chairperson narrated.
She observed that things like ramps, lifts, mediation rooms and conference rooms have become key components of any structure for conducting business by a national human rights institution like ours.
The project, she stated, was fully funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria with no donor support.
“The Commission is indeed grateful to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Budget office of the Federation, the National Assembly for appropriating funds for the execution of this laudable project. It is our fervent hope that the dream of realizing the construction of the remaining State offices of the Commission will soon be a reality”, she added.
In his speech at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR, SAN said the Commission had identified the ownership of its offices as one of the indices of its independence under the Paris principles from inception, but due to inadequate financial resources in the Commission, it could not continue on the trajectory of owning all its offices, the way it had started at inception from 1996 to 2002.
The Chief Human Rights Officer of Nigeria recollected that the Lagos office being commissioned today was the first to be awarded in 2019 while the others were awarded in 2020.
“It is hoped that by the end of this year, the Commission will be completing at least 8 of the 9 projects while the 9th project will hopefully be completed before the end of 2025. The delivery period has been 4 to 5 years. This is due to the lean financial resources available to the Commission”, the Executive Secretary stated.
He used the opportunity to appeal to the National Assembly and the Budget office to appropriate more funds to help the Commission further realize its mandate to provide adequate protection to Nigerians when their rights are violated.
Finally, he thanked the Chief Judge of Lagos state, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Hon Attorney General of Lagos state, the Commissioner of Police for Lagos state, civil society organizations, human rights defenders like Chief Femi Falana SAN, and the Media who work with us daily to resolve complaints on human rights violations.
Other dignitaries and stakeholders who also graced the occasion were, Chairman House Committee on Human Rights and Legal Matters, Hon. Abiola Peter Makinde, representative of the Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, representative of the Commission of Police, Lagos State, Chairman Nigerian Bar Association, Ikrodu, Bayo Akinlade, representative of the Director General Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, representative of International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Victor Lutenco (Senior Programme Coordinator), representative of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mr. Frederick Uche Oko, and the Vice Chairman NBA Lagos State, Esther Jimo, etc.
FG REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN NIGERIA
Troops arrest suspected ISWAP informant in Gombi, Adamawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation HADIN KAI, in conjunction with Civilian Hunters and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, have arrested a suspected informant of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) in Gombi.
The suspect, identified as Abdullahi Umar, 25, a native of Gwoza, was apprehended on March 23 following credible intelligence on the presence of ISWAP elements within the 232 Battalion Tactical Area of Responsibility.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Umar was tasked with conducting reconnaissance along routes leading to the 232 Battalion general area and military structures, with the aim of identifying suitable entry points for future attacks.
The suspect also confessed to involvement in the recent attack on troops in Ngoshe.
Umar is currently in the custody of troops for further investigation and necessary action
Troops arrest suspected ISWAP informant in Gombi, Adamawa
Over 930, 000 persons benefit from ACReSAL Projects in Gombe
Mr Mohammed Fawu, the Gombe State Commissioner of Water, Environment and Forest Resources, has stated that no fewer than 930,162 persons across the state have benefitted from the implementation of the World-Bank-funded Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in the state within the past three years
Fawu stated this in Gombe on Monday while declaring open a four-day training of enumerators for ACReSAL Third Party Assessment.
Fawu stated that Gombe State has within the three years received disbursements amounting to $27.51 million for the implementation of the project which had impacted positively on the lives of residents.
He said that the projects so far implemented have contributed to combating land degradation, erosion, and climate change while improving on the lives of persons living around communities were projects were executed.
“Gombe State has advanced a wide range of landscape and community-level interventions, including: establishment of 313 hectares of woodlot plantation.
“Upgrading of Kanawa Forest into a biosphere resort and botanical garden, indigenous tree plantations and roadside shelterbelts spanning 110 kilometres.
“Canalization of Balanga Dam irrigation channels covering 6,329 hectares provision of 250 wash boreholes to support irrigation farming.
“ At the community level, we have distributed clean cook stoves to 3,000 households, provided rainwater harvesting facilities to 1,000 households and institutions, and supplied drought-tolerant seeds to 10,000 farmers.
“Solar-powered irrigation schemes, borehole drilling, and Community Revolving Fund activities are ongoing, supporting agro-processing, livestock, and farm enterprise development,” he said.
He added that ACReSAL has strengthened smart agricultural practices through the establishment a farm centre dedicated to training and research.
Fawu commended the partnership between the Gombe State government and World Bank, which he said has impacted several sectors while improving the livelihoods of residents of Gombe State.
On his part, Dr Sani Jauro, the Gombe State ACReSAL Project coordinator said that no fewer than 220 enumerators drawn from the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory were being trained.
Jauro said that the third-party assessment would ensure unbiased review of the projects so far implemented by ACReSAL from independent party.
He said the assessment was part of the procedure of ACReSAL project implementation meant to review the progress and challenges of the projects by enumerators who are not involved in the day-to-day running of ACReSAL projects.
Jauro urged the enumerators to carry out their jobs with fairness and be just in their report, adding that “the credibility of the exercise lies on your shoulder.”
On her part, the World Bank Task Team Leader, Dr. Joy Agene who was represented by Mr Joseph Abang, Operations Officer with World Bank said the assessment would unravel what has changed since the commencement of the implementation of the project.
Agene urged the enumerators to be steadfast and report accurately in line with the essence of the exercise.
Over 930, 000 persons benefit from ACReSAL Projects in Gombe
Police repel attack during attempt to arrest suspected bandit leader, one killed in Kano
By; Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Kano State has repelled an attack on its personnel during an operation to arrest a suspected bandit leader in Bichi Local Government Area.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. on March 22, following a distress call from Tudun Wulli Outpost.
According to the sources, a team of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, led by ASP Abubakar Musa, acted on credible intelligence and trailed a suspected bandit leader identified as Muhammad, also known as “Senator” or “Kirchi,” who had reportedly visited Tudun Wulli village for Sallah celebrations.
“The suspect was sighted in possession of an AK-47 rifle, but upon attempt to apprehend him, he fled into a crowd,” the source said.
The situation escalated when a mob allegedly attacked the police team with stones and other dangerous weapons, injuring ASP Lawali Hamidu and damaging the windscreen of a patrol vehicle.
“In the process of tactical withdrawal, four persons sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to General Hospital, Bichi, for treatment,” the source added.
One of the victims, identified as Halima Saidu, was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while the others are responding to treatment.
The police personnel involved in the operation were safely evacuated, and additional security deployments have been made to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
The command said the situation has been brought under control, adding that investigations are ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
Police repel attack during attempt to arrest suspected bandit leader, one killed in Kano
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Troops arrest suspected ISWAP informant in Gombi, Adamawa
Over 930, 000 persons benefit from ACReSAL Projects in Gombe
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