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Stakeholders urge speedy drafting of legal framework for implementation of Safe School Declaration

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Stakeholders urge speedy drafting of legal framework for implementation of Safe School Declaration

By: Michael Mike

The call for the speedy drafting of a legal framework for the effective implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) initiatives in Nigeria that will serve as a security blueprint for the safety of students and staff of educational institutions in the country have been emphasised.

Participants at a one day interactive session on the need to draft a legal document for the policy posited that 9 year after the SSD policy was developed in 2015 in Norway, and the establishment of a national policy, the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence Free Schools to help implement the SSD, Nigeria is yet to witness any meaningful implementation of the agreement partly due to the absence of a legal framework.

They spoke at a one day ‘Roundtable Meeting with Stakeholders on the imperative for a legal framework on Safe School Declaration (SSD)’ organised by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARD C) in Lagos.

Speaking, National Network Coordinator for Wanep Nigeria, Dr. Bridget Osakwe urged the federal and state governments to increase funding for education and ensure that children and teachers are in good environment of leaning that is free from violence, molestation, from abuses, harassments of any kind.

She said “the SSD is to prepare the children, prepare the environment in order to prevent any form of violence in the school environment and to respond immediately in case of any breaches in the school and it is important that all stakeholders come together to make the whole environment conducive because education a right to the child irrespective of the sex, and for children to optimally enjoy that education.”

“They have to have a conducive environment and that environment is not just for the children alone, even for the teachers that will deliver. Everyone that will guide the children within the precinct of the school needs that conducive environment to be in their optimal skills.”

National Programme Coordinator of WARD C, Jennifer Nwokedike bemoaned the downward trend in the safety of school children affirming that government must halt the adduction of student in schools across the country.

Nwokedike said “Is Nigeria government implementing SSD, I will say yes and no. for some states implementation has started, but considering the trend in education we expect government to do more. It is ten years after the adduction of girls in Chibok, the trend indicates that we are going down the slop.”

A project consultant, Dr Ola Akintayo, explained that there are several policies in place that are geared toward effective implementation of the policy but the absence of a legal frame so far has been the Achill hill of that policy initiative.

“Since the policy has been put in place, you can see that there have been no impacts. Most people in the country are not even aware that such things are even in place in Nigeria.” He said.

Also speaking, Dr Obadina Ibrahim of the University of Lagos declared that “We must realise how imperative it is to have a legal framework. After Chibok, it’s been a lot of challenges trying to secure schools in the country.”

The UNILAG Don said “We must itemise the basic requirement any school must have to ensure that they protect the student and staff, trainings and critical engagement within communities so that they can speak up when we see suspicious activities and individuals coming to the school.

We talk issues of perimeter fencing, surveillances, panic alarms across schools and including sanctions for those complicit in attacks in schools as well as recovery processes when schools are attack. Issues of funding and infrastructures should also get attention.”

Participants at the interactive forum included traditional leaders, Civil Society Organisations the network of Civil Society on Education, the police, civil defence, members of the Lagos state house of assembly, officials of ministry of education, the school base management boards, head teachers association and the Parent Teachers Association among other.

The Safe Schools Declaration outlines a set of commitments to strengthen the protection of education from attack and restrict use of schools and universities for military purposes and seeks to ensure the continuity of safe education during armed conflict.

It was opened for countries to endorse at the First International Conference on Safe Schools in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015 while in October 2021; Nigeria hosted the Fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration in Abuja.

Stakeholders urge speedy drafting of legal framework for implementation of Safe School Declaration

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State Actors Grumble Over Operational Allowances Within the Hadin Kai Theatre.

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State Actors Grumble Over Operational Allowances Within the Hadin Kai Theatre.

By: Bodunrin Kayode

There is a quiet grumble within the ranks of the Joint Security team in the Hadin Kai theatre with an allegation that some forward operational bases are paid discriminatory allowances.

Some sources within the non military rankings who spoke with this reporter claim that their military colleagues in some forward operational bases (FOB) are actually paid higher than the rest of them by the pay masters who are supposed to release these funds.

This has actually led to a silent outcry by some of the security personnel within the ranks of the Hadin Kai theatre who have decried what they described as the unnecessary disparity between their operational allowances and that of the military.

“There has been some underground grumbling within the ranks of the uniformed personnel in the Hadin Kai theatre over allowances and I am talking about the para military and the police who are in the team in this very sector one.

” From our investigation, it has never happened before and that makes it strange and we believe it is not known to the theatre commander (TC) who we all know as a just man who wants all of us to be happy.

” And that is why we are passing this injustice through you people because you are equal partners in the battles we are fighting against our common enemy because we believe the wrong will be reversed as soon as he gets to hear.

“At our own FOB for now, I can say the drilling for crude oil has stopped but we are pinning the ground against the criminals. And I must tell you, the main challenges here is water we don’t have enough water and the food served is not that good.

“we have only been allocated two bags of water for one week in this hot weather and the allowance given is 31,000 naira while the military is 45,000 naira sir.

“So why is there a difference in the money while both of us are working in the same assignment. Before the allowance was N45,000 and was equal to that of the Army but now they have reduced non military to N31,000 and they expect us to pay returns of 5,000 inside the same N31,000” Said the angry operative.

Operatives of operation Hadin Kai are made up mostly of the entire military, Federal Police, immigration, customs, Civil defence, custodial service, vigilante and the civilian jtf.

In spite of all these collaboration among services which includes the state security services sometimes, the war has gone on for almost 17 years with no sign of a true, seize fire, table negotiations or a total end of the hostilities between the country and non state actors.

State Actors Grumble Over Operational Allowances Within the Hadin Kai Theatre.

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Grumble within ranks in joint security team in Borno

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Grumble within ranks in joint security team in Borno

By: Bodunrin Kayode

There is a quiet grumble within the ranks of the Joint Security team in the Hadin Kai theatre with an allegation that some forward operational bases are paid discriminatory allowances.

Some sources within the non military rankings who spoke with this reporter claim that their military colleagues in some forward operational bases (FOB) are actually paid higher than the rest of them by the pay masters who are supposed to release these funds.

This has actually led to a silent outcry by some of the security personnel within the ranks of the Hadin Kai theatre who have decried what they described as the unnecessary disparity between their operational allowances and that of the military.

“There has been some underground grumbling within the ranks of the uniformed personnel in the Hadin Kai theatre over allowances and I am talking about the para military and the police who are in the team in this very sector one.

” From our investigation, it has never happened before and that makes it strange and we believe it is not known to the theatre commander (TC) who we all know as a just man who wants all of us to be happy.

” And that is why we are passing this injustice through you people because you are equal partners in the battles we are fighting against our common enemy because we believe the wrong will be reversed as soon as he gets to hear.

“At our own FOB for now, I can say the drilling for crude oil has stopped but we are pinning the ground against the criminals. And I must tell you, the main challenges here is water we don’t have enough water and the food served is not that good.

“we have only been allocated two bags of water for one week in this hot weather and the allowance given is 31,000 naira while the military is 45,000 naira sir.

“So why is there a difference in the money while both of us are working in the same assignment. Before the allowance was N45,000 and was equal to that of the Army but now they have reduced non military to N31,000 and they expect us to pay returns of 5,000 inside the same N31,000” Said the angry operative.

Operatives of operation Hadin Kai are made up mostly of the entire military, Federal Police, immigration, customs, Civil defence, custodial service, vigilante and the civilian jtf.

In spite of all these collaboration among services which includes the state security services sometimes, the war has gone on for almost 17 years with no sign of a true, seize fire, table negotiations or a total end of the hostilities between the country and non state actors.

Grumble within ranks in joint security team in Borno

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EU Commits €235 Million to Tackle Escalating Humanitarian Crises in West and Central Africa

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EU Commits €235 Million to Tackle Escalating Humanitarian Crises in West and Central Africa

By: Michael Mike

The European Commission has unveiled a €235 million humanitarian aid package aimed at addressing the deepening crises across West and Central Africa, where conflict, hunger, displacement, and climate shocks continue to devastate millions of lives.

The funding will target the region’s most vulnerable populations, including those affected by armed conflicts, food insecurity, forced displacement, and communities cut off from essential services. A significant portion—€75 million—has been earmarked for the Central Sahel, widely regarded as the epicentre of the region’s instability.

Other allocations include more than €72 million for Chad, €33 million for Nigeria, €22 million for the Central African Republic, €16.6 million for Cameroon, €4.8 million for Mauritania, and over €6 million for coastal countries. An additional €6.4 million will support region-wide humanitarian initiatives.

Announcing the intervention, Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, described the situation as a convergence of multiple emergencies.

“West and Central Africa is facing a storm of humanitarian crises, driven by conflict, poverty, hunger, instability, and climate shocks,” she said, recalling firsthand encounters with displaced families during a visit to Chad.

According to Lahbib, the aid will provide critical relief, including food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, and access to education for children whose lives have been disrupted by violence and displacement.

The region’s humanitarian situation remains dire, with conflicts in the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin continuing to spill across borders, intensifying instability in coastal nations and triggering widespread displacement. The ongoing crisis in Sudan has further strained resources in eastern Chad, while separate emergencies persist in north-western Nigeria, parts of Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.

The European Union reiterated its commitment to acting as a reliable humanitarian partner, emphasizing that the intervention is designed not only to save lives but also to restore dignity and hope for affected communities.

EU Commits €235 Million to Tackle Escalating Humanitarian Crises in West and Central Africa

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