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Tag: UN

  • UN urges sustained fight against Boko Haram

    United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambers, has called for sustained fight against the weakened Boko Haram insurgents.

    Chambers made the call in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

    He said though the insurgents had been weakened but had yet to be completely defeated.

    He was speaking on the sideline of the two-day Lake Chad Governors’ Forum for Regional Cooperation on Stabilisation, Peace-building and Sustainable Development.

    “Boko Haram is by no means defeated but certainly weakened. The fight needs to continue,” Chambers said.

    He said the UN and the international community would continue to support the region to get rid of Boko Haram insurgents in the Lake Chad.

    The UN official said the forum was encouraged by the reports and presentation from the Commander of the Multi-national Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, during the technical session.

    He commended the MNJTF for its efforts at decimating the Boko Haram, “the previous efforts were very much appreciated’’.

    ”The heads of states of the region, the countries of the region came together and created a joint force, a MNJTF that took the fight to Boko Haram.

    “They pushed Boko Haram out of the territories in which it was operating and generally demonstrated that if countries stand together, collaborate and join forces together, they can defeat Boko Haram.

    “This effort is supported and will continue to receive the support of the United Nations and  the international community.

    “The fight needs to be pursued. We are very encouraged by what we have heard from the force commander of the MNJTF.

    “We want to assure MNJTF of the UN and the international community support in this legitimate fight to rid the Lake Chad of Boko Haram.

    “Today’s initiative on the part of the government is to see how at the local level they can begin to collaborate in the area of humanitarian development and reintegration.

    “One of the important efforts is bringing back life to the people, creating livelihood for the people and the best way to do that is through the governors of the Lake Chad region.

    “ This is why the UN is here with a large delegation.”

    Edward Kallon, UN Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Representative in Nigeria, said more needed to be done on the humanitarian situation in the Lake Chad area in spite of the progress made on the security situation.

    Kallon said the people must be assured of their safety, protection of human rights and dignity, return of their means of livelihood and prosperity.

    He urged the forum to develop good strategies that would ensure effective participation of local communities to define pathways to the crisis.

    “This crisis cannot be solved through a unitary approach. We must pursue a multi-pronged approach-humanitarian development, peace and counter-terrorism,” he said. (NAN)

  • ‘Boko Haram no longer holds our territory’ – Nigeria tells UN

    Nigeria told the UN General Assembly in New York that the Boko Haram terrorists no longer held any territory in the country.

    Nigeria’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Samson Itegboje, stated this while presenting Nigeria’s message at the ‘High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace’ at the UN headquarters.

    Itegboje said the meeting was being convened at a time when the global community was facing unprecedented threats, geo-political tensions, social dislocation, cyber attacks, threat of climate change and terrorism.

    “Nigeria has had her fair share of these crises when, amongst other vices. Boko Haram insurgents annexed 14 Local Governments in Borno in the North East of Nigeria.

    “However, on assumption of office in 2015 President Muhammadu Buhari ensured the recovery of the annexed territories. Today, Boko Haram insurgents no longer hold any territory in Nigeria,” he said.

    He noted that Resolutions 70/262 of the General Assembly and 2282 (2016) of the Security Council on the Review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture addressed the UN approach to peace, focusing on prevention.

    The Resolutions also call for a broader concept, which encompasses peace building, that links peace and security with development, human rights and humanitarian action.

    Itegboje said: “Nigeria is of the opinion that, while ‘sustaining peace’ should not be seen as an infringement on sovereignty.

    “It should also not be used as a guise for the infringement on sovereignty of member states as the centrality of national and inclusive ownership of sustaining peace cannot be overemphasised.

    “The emphasis on prevention is commendable and we recommend that the Peacebuilding Architecture should have, as a component, an Early Warning System that should be accompanied by an Early Action System”.

    Itegboje said Nigeria had consistently been in the vanguard of supporting and participating in international efforts at conflict-prevention, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and sustaining peace both sub-regionally, regionally and globally.

    He said since 1960, Nigeria had been an active participant in UN peacekeeping missions, deploying Military contingents, unarmed Military Observers, Military Staff Officers, formed Police units, Police advisor and Civilian Experts to over 25 UN Missions.

    The Nigerian envoy also noted that Nigeria was the world’s 14th largest troops contributing nation to the UN peacekeeping operations.

    According to him, Nigeria shares the view that the maintenance of human rights is critical to sustaining peace and has embarked on mainstreaming human rights into its security architecture.

    “In this context, progress has been made in enhancing civil-military relations, establishing legislative oversight on the security sector in relation to defence spending, procurement and general budgetary matters.

    “Efforts have also been stepped up to create a better partnership between civilians and armed forces,” the Nigerian envoy said.

    He said Nigeria believed that ensuring the meaningful participation of women and girls in all areas of society was vital, adding gender equality yields greater economic growth and higher standards of living.

    He added that women’s participation in peacebuilding helped prevent relapse into conflict and Nigerian was addressing emerging security issues, social gaps and ensuring substantial women contributions to peacebuilding and peace maintenance in the country.

    Itegboje said the Nigerian government was tackling youth unemployment through interventionist programmes like N-POWER and an ambitious three-year medium term economic development strategy – Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

    The Nigerian envoy added: “More importantly, corruption is being tackled headlong as it is seen as a big obstacle to the economic growth of the country.

    “Nigeria will continue to support international efforts aimed at peace building and sustaining peace across the world.

    “In order to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, we call on the rest of the world to emulate and join Africa in its ambitious program to silence the guns in the year 2020”. (NAN)

  • PDP writes UN on alleged rights violations in Nigeria

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has written to the United Nations on alleged human rights violations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) – led federal government.

    Titled: “Threats to democracy, rule of law, basic freedoms and gross human rights violations by the Federal Government of Nigeria”, the letter signed by the party’s national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, was addressed to the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

    It reads in part: “Since assumption of office in 2015, the President and the Federal Government agencies have provided a blanket shield for its corrupt officials and for any member of the opposition who decamps to the ruling APC.

    “This protective ‘immunity’ is held firmly also for former state governors who misappropriated billions of state government funds to sponsor the 2015 presidential election, most of whom were rewarded with ‘juicy’ ministerial portfolios by President Buhari.

    “Recently the federal government confirmed the persecution of opposition leaders in the guise of fighting corruption when it released a phantom list of alleged looters comprising only of persons who are members of the opposition PDP.

    “Even persons who were facing criminal prosecution prior to the 2015 presidential elections who are now members of the ruling APC and other members of APC who are overtly known to be involved in known cases of corruption were excluded from the list whilst persons who have never been charged with any crime and who in fact have not held any previous government portfolio including myself were listed as looters”.

    The PDP also complained notable opposition leaders were being harassed or hounded by security operatives using all manners of frivolous and vexatious allegations.

    “Currently, our members and supporters in many states including Edo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kogi, Borno, Adamawa, Delta and others are being hounded for expressing a divergent political opinion, particularly on the exposed corruption, abuses, constitutional violations and incompetence of the President Buhari administration.

    “In Kogi, Borno and Kaduna States, there are reports of the government sponsoring agents to attack and destroy properties belonging to opposition members and supporters.

    “We decry this raging intimidation of our party officials, members and supporters and call on the United Nations and the international community to stand up and condemn this drift towards stone-age despotism.”

  • Young people are asset, not problem – UN envoy

    The UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ms Jayathma Wickramanayake, has said that young people are an asset rather than being a problem.

    Wickramanayake stated this while presenting the report on the findings of the independent progress study on “Youth, Peace and Security” to the Security Council.

    She said the report pointed to two key issues that needed immediate attention.

    First, she said, was the growing mistrust from young generations towards formal political institutions.

    The other issue is the exclusion of young people from political, civic and economic life.

    The study also showed that only a small minority of youth ever engaged in violence while many were actively engaging in their own local initiatives to bring peace to their communities.

    “I believe we can all agree that my generation represents promise – not peril.

    “We should be seen as an asset, not a problem,’’ she told Council members.

    The envoy said the report’s findings and recommendations were an opportunity for the Council to redress the mistrust between young people, their government and the multilateral system.

    This, she said, could be achieved by opening up new paths for meaningful participation and contribution.

    Wickramanayake said tapping the potential and creativity of young people was indispensable to prevent conflict and build peace.

    She urged governments to create conditions that allow their meaningful participation in civic and political lives.

    The envoy underlined three critical areas – supporting youth’s peace efforts; prioritising their political participation; and partnering with them.

    “I will not ask you to let young people lead as they are already leading.

    “But they need inclusive, safe spaces and enabling environments to succeed.

    “Recognise their work, fund it, scale it up and protect it,” she said.

    Wickramanayake also called for dispelling misconceptions surrounding youth, citing studies that illustrated only a small minority of young people ever engage in violence.

    Yet, she added, they face suspicions and undue restrictions, including when it comes to travelling across borders.

    Many, she added, had difficulties in obtaining travel permits.

    She also called on all concerned to fully engage with young people in electoral processes, political party structures and not to consider them “too young to run” for public office.

    Speaking alongside Wickramanayake, Graeme Simpson, the lead author of ‘The Missing Peace: independent progress study on youth, peace and security,’ debunked assumptions and policy myths associated with the younger generation.

    He said: “It necessitates a new culture and new societal norms, that do not demonise, romanticise or patronise youth.

    “The interests of young people and the work they do, naturally traverses the pillars of peace, development and human rights.

    “And they make it clear that protection and prevention are inseparable,’’ Simpson.

    NAN

  • UN to help Africa harmonise education standards

    The UN on Monday has pledged to help African states to harmonise their education standards.

    Lack of mutual recognition of academic qualifications in Africa is hindering labor mobility, Abdul-Rahman Lamin, programme specialist at the Nairobi office of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), told a youth forum in the Kenyan capital.

    “We are therefore assisting African Union (AU) member states to harmonize their educational standards at the tertiary level in order to promote continental integration,” Lamin said during the Youth Dialogue on Education Conference on Inclusive and Gender Responsive Education.

    The conference, which aims to provide a platform for young people in Africa to share their experiences on different national context, was hosted by Plan International and partner organisations.

    In 2014, AU members agreed to sign a convention on recognition of academic qualifications in African states in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa.

    UNESCO is assisting African states to ratify the convention.

    Lamin said the UN hopes to create a platform where African states can exchange and discuss the progress they have achieved so far in implementing the convention of harmonisation of higher education.

    He said a harmonised education standards regime will benefit the continent because it will promote student and labour mobility.

    Lamin added that many African states are undergoing social and political conflicts that have resulted in many of their citizens seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

    “However, due to lack of harmonised education standards, the refugees are unable to continue their education or find employment in their host countries.

    “At the end, the host nation is not able to benefit from skills of the refugees due to restrictive policies,” he said.

    NAN

  • World Book Day: Australia’s oldest library works to promote reading

     

    On the celebration of this year’s World Book Day, The News South Wales State Library, Australia’s oldest library, said is making efforts to promote reading and literacy throughout the community.

    The official made the remark on Monday to mark World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day, a yearly event celebrated on April 23 by UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to promote reading, publishing and copyright.

    Read Also: World Book Day and its Significance in the 21st Century

    A wide range of activities took place on Monday at the library to mark the World Book Day, held on the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death for lovers of literature to promote reading, publishing and copyright.

    The library’s Manager of Research and Discovery, Maggie Patton, said “with collections of more than six million items including books in foreign languages in particular Chinese, a lot of them are available to read on site, but we also lend them through our public library network.

    “We also have some much older manuscripts and rare books in Chinese as well.’’

    Dating back to 1826, the library located in the centre of Sydney, Australia, showed off some of its rarest and most iconic works of literature to the public, including Shakespeare’s four folios, first edition of Jane Austen’s Emma and various editions of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote.

    Apart from holding some of the greatest works of literature, Patton said the state library was often flooded by students looking for non-fiction as well.

    She said “we have lots of students coming in to look for books on business, economics and commerce.

    “We have our traditional services, where we expect people to come in and have a look at the materials here, but we also have online service through our website and we subscribe to numerous electronic journals and electronic books.

    “We also have a massive digitisation programme, where we’re digitalising some of the materials so it can be viewed online from anywhere in the world.’’

    The library is also working to promote reading and literacy throughout the community.

    One of the roles of the state facility is to help fund a public network of 300 libraries across New South Wales.

    Patton said “Onsite in the library we have a fantastic learning services team and they do a lot of programmes for young people, from kindergarten through to high school graduation.

    “The students read, do author talks, and there are lots of activities through reading here in the library,’’ he said.

    NAN

     

  • ‘Don’t send Nigerian refugees back to Boko Haram violence’, UN urges Cameroon

    The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged the Cameroonian authority not to send Nigerian refugees back to the Boko Haram violence they fled from.

    Despite warnings, Nigerian refugees and asylum-seekers who fled Boko Haram violence continue to be returned from Cameroon, UNHCR said, underscoring the need to accord international protection to those in need.

    “We appeal once again to the authorities in Cameroon to refrain from further forced returns and to ensure protection to those fleeing insecurity and persecution in Nigeria.

    “This is in accordance with Cameroon’s national and international obligations,” UNHCR said.

    Since the beginning of 2018, 385 Nigerians refugees and asylum-seekers had been forcibly returned from Cameroon, the majority of them in March, including 160 on April 10 and a further 118 a week later.

    In total, the UN agency has registered some 87,600 Nigerian refugees in the country.

    UNHCR said: “The forced returns are in violation of the principle of no forced returns or non-refoulement.

    “They are also a significant setback to progress previously achieved by Cameroon in granting asylum to Nigerian civilians fleeing Boko Haram violence”.

    UNHCR also noted that it recognised legitimate national security concerns of States affected by the Boko Haram crisis, and stressed that it is important that refugee protection and national security are not seen as being incompatible.

    “Properly functioning screening, registration and asylum systems help safeguard host country security,” it said.

    UNHCR reiterated its support to the Government of Cameroon to ensure that all those seeking international protection have access to efficient screening and registration procedures, as well as appropriate reception arrangements.

  • WaterAid backs FG’s state of emergency on water sector

    WaterAid Nigeria has backed the declaration of state of emergency on the water and sanitation sector by the Federal Government.

    The organization’s Country Director, Dr ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, conveyed the commendation in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday issued by its Communication and Media Manager, Oluseyi Abdulmalik. 

    Aniagolu-Okoye described the move by the federal government as a bold step which many stakeholders in the sector had always called for.

    She said WaterAid and stakeholders in the sector had always demanded action to tackle the water and sanitation crisis in the country.

    The statement reads: “I am utterly delighted that the Federal Government has declared a State of Emergency in WASH, following our campaign demands during World Water Day and beyond. We hope that with this declaration more attention will be focused on the sector. This is a significant step towards achieving clean water, sanitation and hygiene for everyone, everywhere by 2030.

    “Although Nigeria is oil-rich and has sub-Saharan Africa’s largest income, it has nonetheless struggled to deliver clean water and sanitation to its people. The country has made solid progress in reaching people with water: seven in ten people now have clean water to drink. But a gap between poor and rich persists, as only 30 percent of the poorest people have access to clean water, compared to 89 percent of the richest. And with fewer than three in ten people having a decent toilet, the country has a big task ahead to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal targets for water and sanitation access.

    “On World Water Day this year, WaterAid Nigeria urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the water and sanitation sector. WaterAid Nigeria also called on the Federal Government to set up a presidential taskforce empowered to lead, coordinate and deliver on providing water and sanitation for all Nigerians.

    “WaterAid urges all governments to take action ahead of the UN’s High Level Political Forum in New York in July, where Goal 6 of clean water, sanitation and hygiene for everyone, everywhere by 2030 will come under review. Without water, decent sanitation and good hygiene, other Sustainable Development Goals, including those on gender equality, education, health, reducing inequalities and nutrition, cannot be achieved.”

  • UN announces return of 53 Sudanese refugees from Chad

    The UN has announced the return of 53 Sudanese refugees after they spent more than 14 years in refugee camps in eastern Chad.

    The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Commissioner of Refugees (COR) welcomed the first convoy of 53 Sudanese refugees who have returned to Sudan after more than 14 years in exile in eastern Chad.

    In a statement, Noriko Yoshida, UNHCR representative in Sudan, said: “it is very moving to see refugees returning to their home country after many years in exile.”

    Yoshida appealed to the international community to assist the efforts of the Sudanese government on the return of Sudanese refugees from Chad.

    Meanwhile, Sudan’s Commissioner of Refugees, Hamad El-Gizouli, was quoted in the statement as saying that Sudanese government attaches great concern to the voluntary return of refugees as being the best solution for them so that they could begin to rebuild their life as Sudanese citizens.

    Thousands of Sudanese refugees fled to Chad after the eruption of the conflict in Darfur from 2003 to 2004.

    Sudan and Chad and UNHCR signed a tripartite agreement in May 2017 for the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese from Chad and the Chadian refugees from Sudan.

    The UNHCR and the two governments concerned are targeting the repatriation of 20,000 refugees from Chad in 2018.

    According to UN statistics, some 300,000 Sudanese refugees currently live in eastern Chad.

  • NIMASA, World Maritime Varsity sign MoU to develop maritime industry

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ), and World Maritime University ( WMU ), Malmo, Sweden  on Monday in Lagos signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) to develop human capacity for the industry.

    NIMASA Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Isichei Osamgbi said Dr Dakuku Peterside, director-general of NIMASA signed on behalf of his organisation, while the President WMU, Mr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry signed for the university.

    Peterside in his speech after the signing of the MoU, said that he led a delegation from Nigeria to Malmo for the purpose of maritime development.

    He expressed optimism that the MoU would help NIMASA realise its strategic plans to re-position the country’s maritime sector.

    “WMU is an important element of the strategic reforms and repositioning of NIMASA to be the leading maritime administration in Africa.

    “This is also part of ongoing reforms of the maritime sector in Nigeria which the President of Nigeria and Minister of Transportation are championing. The partnership with WMU is in line with the four pillar of NIMASA’s medium term growth plan.

    “Which addresses capacity building, particularly raising a new generation of forward looking Maritime policy makers and regulators,’’ Peterside said.

    Peterside expressed gratitude to the President and Management of WMU for their cooperation, giving a firm commitment that NIMASA would actively implement the provisions of the MoU.

    In his remarks, the President of the WMU, Doumbia-Henry expressed optimism that it would help to support Nigeria’s economic growth.

    “We are delighted with the engagement with NIMASA in the framework of this MoU which will set the stage for a new partnership with Nigeria.

    “We will also help support Nigeria’s economic growth and the competitiveness of its maritime industry as well as advance the maritime interest of the country. This MoU also supports WMU’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ).

    “Especially Goal four which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, and Goal 14 which covers ocean issues, including maritime,’’ the president said.

    The MoU covered academic, collaborative and reciprocal activities in the fields of training and research to be provided by WMU geared toward building capacity to grow the Nigerian maritime industry.

    Arrangements relating to fellowship funding for the WMU M.Sc programme are included as well as the M. Phil programme offered in cooperation with the IMO International Maritime Law Institute ( IMLI ) in Malta.

    The MoU provides for NIMASA officers to take advantage of WMU’s distance learning portfolio as well as Executive Professional Development Courses to reinforce the capacity of its staff.

    NAN