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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
VP Shettima To Insurgents: We Will Not Be Cowed By Attempts To Undermine Our Collective Peace
By: Our Reporter
Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reaching out to the government and people of Borno State regarding the latest insurgency attack in the State, Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be cowed by despicable acts of cowardice and a doomed attempt to undermine the collective peace of the nation.
Deploring the attacks, including the abductions in Ngoshe and the coordinated assaults on military formations in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok, the Vice President reaffirmed that the administration remains resolute in its duty to protect the lives and properties of all Nigerians.
In a statement on Saturday, Senator Shettima emphasised that the Federal Government is already deploying additional tactical assets and intelligence-driven reinforcements to the affected areas.
“The events of the past few days are a painful reminder of the shadow that persists, but let it be known: we choose light over shadow, and hope over despair. Our difference as a nation is the distance between the ruin of anarchy and the promise of order.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been briefed and has already directed a swift and total mobilisation of our security architecture. The Federal Government will not tolerate any sanctuary for those who seek to displace our people or occupy an inch of Nigerian soil,” he said.
The Vice President assured that the perpetrators of these beastly crimes would face the full wrath of the law.
He continued: “We are not just fighting a war. We are defending the very soul of our humanity against those who preach a toxic rhetoric of hate, and we will not be cowed by their gory acts.
“Our hearts bleed for the families in and the brave soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty. This administration will not rest until abducted citizens safely reunite with their families.”
VP Shettima commended the resilience of the people and government of Borno State under Governor Babagana Zulum and praised the gallantry of the troops on the frontlines.
“We remain one nation, tied to a common destiny. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable. This madness will be brought to an end, not with empty words, but with the decisive and overwhelming force of the Nigerian State,” he further assured.
VP Shettima To Insurgents: We Will Not Be Cowed By Attempts To Undermine Our Collective Peace
Two miners killed, five injured in clash at Zamfara mining site
By: Zagazola Makama
Two miners have been killed and five others injured following a clash at a mining site in Abare area of Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Police sources said the incident occurred on March 5 at about 8:30 a.m. at a mining site in the community.
The sources said the crisis was triggered when a member of an outlawed vigilance group, locally known as Yan Sakai, allegedly stormed the site and attempted to enforce observance of the ongoing Ramadan fast among Muslim miners.
According to the sources, the suspect, identified simply as Kaura, allegedly arrested some of the miners, accusing them of refusing to observe the fasting period.
He was also said to have imposed compulsory levies on those arrested.
The action was reportedly resisted by some miners who objected to the arrest and the alleged illegal levies.
The suspect was said to have retreated from the site following the resistance but later returned with other members of the outlawed group and attempted to effect further arrests.
This led to a confrontation between the two groups, resulting in panic and tension across the mining site.
During the clash, two miners were killed while five others sustained injuries.
Security forces were immediately deployed to the scene after receiving the report.
The injured victims were taken for medical treatment, while investigations have commenced to identify and apprehend those responsible.
No arrest had been made as of the time of filing the report.
Two miners killed, five injured in clash at Zamfara mining site
Army troops neutralise 45 bandits in Katsina, including top bandit leader Kachallah Alti
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised 45 suspected bandits during a fierce encounter in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said the operation followed credible intelligence on the movement of bandits suspected to be operating across parts of Katsina and neighbouring Zamfara.
Among those killed during the operation were two top bandit leaders identified as Alti, said to be a nephew and second-in-command to notorious bandit kingpin Adamu Alieru, and another commander known as Damale.
The sources said the confrontation occurred after bandits riding on motorcycles and armed with sophisticated weapons attacked Alhazawa village in Musawa Local Government Area on March 5, rustling cattle from residents.
Community members and some repentant bandits in the area reportedly resisted the attack, killing four of the bandits and recovering the stolen cattle, which were returned to their owners.
However, the bandits were said to have regrouped and returned in larger numbers on March 6, allegedly to launch a reprisal attack.
While moving toward Musawa through Maidabino A Ward, the bandits encountered troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Dan Ali, Danmusa LGA.
This led to a fierce gun battle during which troops overpowered the criminals and neutralised 45 of them.
However, the operation recorded casualties on the side of the military as three soldiers were killed during the encounter.
Further checks indicated that Alti had recently assumed a more active operational role within the bandit network after the death of his brother, Kachalla Dan Isihu, who was previously killed by security forces during counter-banditry operations.
Alti was said to have coordinated several violent attacks across communities, particularly along the Danjibga axis in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Security sources said troops had intensified operations in the area to track down other fleeing bandits and dismantle their networks.
Army troops neutralise 45 bandits in Katsina, including top bandit leader Kachallah Alti
VP Shettima To Insurgents: We Will Not Be Cowed By Attempts To Undermine Our Collective Peace
Two miners killed, five injured in clash at Zamfara mining site
Army troops neutralise 45 bandits in Katsina, including top bandit leader Kachallah Alti
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