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Tag: United Nations

  • World Humanitarian Day: Obaseki salutes aid workers, seeks more support for war victims

    World Humanitarian Day: Obaseki salutes aid workers, seeks more support for war victims

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Saturday called on leaders across the globe to increase donations to victims of conflicts and aid workers caring for them.

    Obaseki made the call as the world marked World Humanitarian Day, a day set aside by the United Nations to identify with civilian victims of wars and all forms of conflicts.

    This year, the United Nations is drawing attention to aid workers who are increasingly becoming targets in conflict situations.

    Obaseki said: “As we mark the 2017 edition of World Humanitarian Day, today August 19, 2017, I urge the global community to scale up donations and other forms of support for victims of wars and crises across the globe as well as aid workers who are taking care of them.”

    The governor explained that “Wars and crises leave in their wake, varying figures of deaths, the injured and those cut off from their homes, including women and children.

    “The United Nations’ World Humanitarian Day affords all of us in the global human community to share in the sense of loss of victims of conflicts, mobilize resources for them and salute the sacrifices of aid workers who put their lives on the line while caring for these victims of war.”

    According to Obaseki, “These victims include our brothers and sisters in the North East region of Nigeria, who have lost persons and property to the Boko Haram insurgency in that region, some of whom are in various Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the country.”

    He maintained that the increasing number of war victims would require more than the usual efforts of governments and charitable individuals.

    “I respectfully call on governments to do more in protecting this class of vulnerable people. And as one global human family, we all – individuals, religious bodies, professional groups, communities amongst others, should spare a thought, some food, water, medical consumables and other forms of assistance for these victims and their care givers to enhance their wellbeing,” Obaseki said.

  • UN: how to position youths for leadership

    UN: how to position youths for leadership

    Youths are leaders of tomorrow. To prepare them for the future, the United Nations (UN) is pushing for economic empowerment for them. This, the UN believes, will enable them devote their strength to building peace and progress in their communities. The UN threw this challenge at an event held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to mark the International Youth Day. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    At a growth rate of 3.2 per cent, Nigeria’s population is projected to exceed 289 million people by 2050, with more than 60 per cent of this population expected to be youths. Without genuine effort to pursue integrated economic policies that will empower young people and initiate a sustained jobs creation plan in preparation for this demographic overshoot, Nigeria faces a dire future.

    This is  the crux of the address by the United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, to scores of youths that converged on the University of Lagos (UNILAG), last Saturday, to commemorate the International Youth Day.

    The event with the theme: Youth building peace, was organised by the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Lagos in collaboration with Strategy for Mentoring and Leadership Empowerment (SMILE), a non-governmental organisation.

    The population bulge, the UN envoy said, provides a unique opportunity for Nigeria to leverage the burgeoning youth demography in achieving accelerated growth and development. But he warned that the country may be in a quagmire if there is no effort targeted at engaging and empowering its youths.

    Kallon said: “Nigeria stands at a crossroads with a growth rate of 3.2 per cent. The country’s population is expected to exceed 289 million by 2050. An estimate of 31.7 per cent of Nigeria’s population is between 10 and 24 years of age, while approximately 60 per cent is under the age of 40. This projected population growth can either pose a major challenge for Nigeria or a major opportunity.

    “To unlock this demographic dividend, Nigeria must empower its youth to play constructive, unifying and innovative roles and fully include them in the country’s development process. The youths must have equal access to economic opportunities and decent livelihood.”

    The envoy added that the 2015 UN Security Council’s Resolution 2250 was passed with the aim to engage the youth in fostering global peace and security. He noted that the resolution also sought to change the normative stereotype on the youth as victims and perpetrators of violence and conflict, to focus on positive contributions which youth should play in preventing conflict and building peace.

    He said: “As we take steps in Nigeria towards realising Agenda 2030, which recognises that the challenges to peace and security are rooted in developmental deficits, we must identify and tackle the obstacles that inhibit the youth from playing active and empowered roles in development and building peace.

    “One is the lack of economic opportunity, which is rendering too many Nigerian youths hopeless and denying them access to decent livelihoods. According to government’s statistics, there is an estimate of 17.6 million youths unemployed in Nigeria. This means there are existing hurdles for those who want to enter into the workforce. Political, ethnic and religious rhetoric is dividing communities and has led to entrenched narratives that fuel violence, particularly among youth groups.

    “These youths need psychological support and rehabilitative services to help regain their productive capacities and become constructive forces in their communities. In asking the youth to engage and champion development, and help to build peace, these young people must be empowered and their energies harnessed for positive projects.”

    Despite its developmental challenges, Kallon observed that Nigeria had put forward “sincere commitment” to engage its youths productively. He said the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and creation of independent ministry for youth development purposes were steps in right direction. He also praised the National Assembly for the recently passed Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill, which he described as the “most progressive legislation” since the inception of the current dispensation.

    The UN envoy said: “Nigeria has continued to demonstrate its sincere commitment to empowering the youth. The recently passed  Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill, which lowers the age for standing in elections, is a good step. That bill is one of the most progressive legislations enacted by senators and all politicians in Nigeria. It would create opportunity for the youth to be participants in governance and politics of this country.

    “It is very progressive and timely, because youths are agents of progress and peace. We expect the legislation to give more opportunity to young people to take up leadership positions and effect the changes they want. The future of Nigeria belongs to the youth.

    “They should not be seen from the traditional rhetoric as perpetrators of violence.

    “Nigerian youths need social inclusion and economic empowerment, which the government must put in place through regulations that are necessary to bringing out young people’s potential. Government must make efforts to ensure the youth are provided decent jobs and means of livelihood.”

    To the president of SMILE, Mrs Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins, the occasion presented the government an opportunity to address the causes of conflict and agitation, which, she said, have led to intolerance, poverty and economic inequality.

    She said: “Being productively and profitably engaged will not only ensure a fulfilled and impactful life for the youth, it is also key to building sustainable peace in the country. Beyond the well-crafted speeches being read today, SMILE will follow up the anniversary with a plan to run Business Enterprise Development programmes to equip willing participants with entrepreneurial skills and knowledge to start, grow and run viable businesses.”

    Co-chairman of Private Sector Advisory Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, said it was out of place for the youth to beg for leadership roles, saying their exploits in technology, entrepreneurship and education naturally make them leaders.

    Nnoli-Edozien, who is the Group Head of Sustainability and Governance of Dangote Industry Limited, charged the participants to see themselves as leaders in their fields, stressing the need to imbibe good attitude and engage the social media productively.

    Bovi, a popular comedian, said youths’ inborn freedom to think for themselves is being daily suppressed by the society through cultural, religious and social norms, noting that the youth are being programmed to think in the way the society wants them to.

    He said: “One of our problems is that, we have been programmed. Right from our homes, we have been programmed. We are programmed by the system, culture and religion. To a large extent, this helps to keep the law and order in the society. While this serves the society better in promoting orderliness, it is morally wrong in most cases because it suppresses the freedom of the youth to think independently.

    “There is nothing wrong in breaking the norm, especially if the action does not go against the law. In this part of the world, the youth have been programmed to fight for survival and freedom. Since the advent of the Internet, things have changed, because the youth now have a platform to express their ideas and abilities. Until young people break away from the programme, we would continue to agitate for our inborn freedom.”

    The event featured interactive panels of discussion, during which contemporary challenges facing the youth were examined.

    A panelist, Taiwo Akinlami, said the first step the youth could take to build sustainable peace is to shatter the barrier of ignorance. He said the battle against youth oppression in any country would not be won by agitation and violence, but through the weaponry of the mind.

    He said: “The major threat to peace is oppression. As young people, we must recognise that oppression is by permission. That first thing that supports oppression is ignorance. When the youth lack knowledge, they will be silent when they are being oppressed. So, the first step to take to fight oppression is to shatter the barrier of ignorance and get education. A properly educated mind will not accept any act of tyranny. Things will not change if we decide to be carrying placards and promote violence.”

    Other panelists included the national coordinator of Nigerian Youth for Peace Initiative, Rafiu Lawal, and Victoria Ibiwoye. Participants at the event included students and members of various youth groups.

    On December 17, 1999, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 54/120 to endorse the recommendation made by World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth that August 12 be declared International Youth Day.

     

  • Chibok schoolgirls’ strength inspiring – UN

    Chibok schoolgirls’ strength inspiring – UN

    The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has described the strength of the rescued Chibok schoolgirls as “inspiring”.

    Mohammed gave the remarks while briefing the UN Security Council on her visit to Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo from July 19 to 27.

    The UN deputy chief said: “In Nigeria, we were moved by our meeting with the Chibok girls facilitated by the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs.

    “Their remarkable strength as survivors rather than victims is inspiring. Many are receiving education and psychosocial support to prepare them for reintegration.

    “But thousands of other young women who have been abducted and returned, subjected to sexual violence and affected by conflict in other ways are still to receive adequate support.

    “We also interacted with displaced women and girls who are facing exploitation and abuse in the camps. We held meetings with women leaders who underscored the need to address mental health and women’s empowerment.”

    She commended the governments of Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria for their efforts to promote stability through the Multinational Joint Task Force within the Lake Chad Basin Regional cooperation.

    According to her, international support will continue to be crucial in addressing the root causes of the crisis in very complex situations.

    “I am pleased to note that since our visit, the Acting President of Nigeria has established a Judicial Commission to investigate alleged violations of human rights by Nigerian security agencies, and to recommend ways to prevent such violations.

    “I commend this initiative and encourage the relevant authorities to include sexual- and gender-based violence within the Commission’s work.

    “The United Nations stands ready to support this important effort and also to reinforce protection measures for displaced women and girls,” Mohammed, Nigeria’s former Minister of Environment, said.

    She said in Nigeria, the eight-year conflict in the Northeast has generated a risk of famine, displaced 1.9 million people and left 8.5 million people in need of assistance.

    “These dire circumstances are being made worse by the large gap in humanitarian funding including meeting the commitments made at the Oslo Humanitarian Conference. There is an acute need for sustained and scaled up funding to avert famine in Nigeria.”

    Mohammed stressed that “one message resounds most: investing in women and girls must be central to our efforts in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond if we are to have sustainable peace and development.

    “Giving special consideration to the context will be key to responses that deliver the right results.

    “We look forward to working with national governments, regional organizations, civil society, women and girls themselves, and international partners to deliver results that will advance peace, development and dignity for all.”

    Mohammed said she was pleased to be joined by the Executive Director of UN Women and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict – both of whom were with her at the briefing, as well as the African Union Commission’s Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security.

    “We were four African women, from two organizations, visiting two countries, with one goal: advancing peace by advancing the equality, empowerment and well-being of women,” Mohammed said. (NAN)

  • Anambra 2017: PDP’s Obaze unveils manifesto, promises economic viability

    Anambra 2017: PDP’s Obaze unveils manifesto, promises economic viability

    Mr Oseloka Obaze, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant in the Nov.18 governorship election in Anambra has said that if elected, his administration would be premised on principles for good governance and economic viability.

    In the manifesto, entitled “Anambra Deserves Better’’, which was made available to newsmen on Friday in Awka, Obaze disclosed that his administration would be hinged on “authentic continuity, good governance, public ownership, inclusive governance and free press’’.

    He added that that he was on a mission of one term of four years service to the state as governor.

    Obaze, an advocate for Good Governance and a Policy Consultant, said that he had identified 15 core areas that encompass activities and the benefits to be delivered to the people and would tackle that proactively.

    He noted that the core areas were in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

    Obaze said: “I hereby set out my core compact with Ndi Anambra’’, consisting of five basics principles predicated on globally accepted best practices of good governance.

    “Since the essence of governance is to serve the people, I have also identified 15 core areas encompassing activities and deliverables which my government must tackle proactively in the public interest in these four years I intend to serve.

    “These are in tandem with the U.N. SDGs,’’ he said.

    The former diplomat promised to re-enact the Anambra Integrated Strategy (ANIDS) of former Gov. Peter Obi to implement the SDGs policy in the state.

    According to him, he will provide authentic continuity and consolidation in development, finance, economy, infrastructure, education and health gains made by successive governments in Anambra, especially the Peter Obi administration.

    “I promise to ensure stability, civility, frugality, transparency, political tolerance, diverse views at all levels and public expenditure will be result-based and project-driven.

    “I will uphold the bond of performance between the government and its people, provide and deliver proactively through adaptive leadership, adequate, efficient and effective delivery of infrastructure.

    “My government will insist on inclusivity, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, equity, accountability, and strategic vision with a view to bridging the trust gap between the people and the government.

    “It is my belief that Anambra Government must belong to Ndi Anambra; I offer to translate the viewpoint, values and needs of Ndi Anambra to core policies that serve collective interest and guarantee equity at all levels,’’ he said.

    Obaze said that representation in government would reflect gender balance, equity, non-partisanship and based on clear merit.

    “My government will promote the respect for the various branches and tiers of government and support the oversight responsibilities of the legislature, independence of the judiciary and the autonomy of the local government.

    “Local Government Elections in the state would be promptly conducted to introduce and support the Charter of Townships and conversion of the present Town Union President-General System to a more operational, self-supporting and self-accounting to enhance grassroots governance and development.

    “Finally, freedom of expression, access to information will be guaranteed with a view to making government business less opaque; we will make government and its business more transparent and accountable,’’ he said.

    He said that if elected governor, he would send an Executive Bill to the Anambra State House of Assembly that would underline the rights of public access to information.

    “In this context, every person shall have a right of access to information without prejudice to state security.’’

  • FG to establish Presidential Council for SDGs

    FG to establish Presidential Council for SDGs

    The Federal Government says it will establish a Presidential Council for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to provide high-level policy guidance, leadership and direction for the realisation of SDG targets.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, made this known at the ongoing United Nations High-Level Political Forum in New York, US.

    A statement by her Media Assistant, Mr Desmond Utomwen, in Abuja on Sunday, said that the presidential aide presented Nigeria’s Voluntary National Review on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals at the forum.

    Orelope-Adefulire said that the process for the establishment of the president council had been put in place.

    She added that two standing committees on SDGs had been established in the Senate and the House of Representatives to enhance the legislative and oversight roles of the parliament in the scheme.

    Orelope-Adefulire told the forum that Nigeria remained undeterred in making the required progress in achieving the laudable goals of SDGs.

    She that the country would attain the height in spite of the challenges of an already ebbing recession, largely degraded crisis in the North-East, and resolution of militancy in the Niger Delta.

    She revealed that some of Federal Government’s ongoing pro-poor and pro-development interventions had made impacts in the fight against poverty, citing Social Investment Scheme targeted at the extremely poor and vulnerable among the interventions.

    Others, according to the president’s aide, are Home Grown School Feeding Programme for public school children, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme for unemployed youths and Women Economic Empowerment programme.

    She also listed the N-Power programme for job creation for the youths and the Conditional Grant Transfer Scheme as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to ameliorate the condition of its citizenry.

    “I wish to reaffirm that Nigeria has clearly defined her path to the 2030 Agenda.

    “We count on the strong patriotism and goodwill of the citizenry, the commitment of the stakeholders as well as the support from the global fraternity of nations to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind,’’ she said.

    Orelope-Adefulire said Nigeria had increased awareness on global goals and put in place mechanisms for identifying and targeting the poor through a “National Social Register’’ to ensure that “no one is left behind.”

    She called on Global North to fulfill its commitment on Official Development Assistance in line with Addis-Ababa Action Agenda to complement Nigeria’s effort at expanding its revenue base.

    The UN High-Level Political Forum offers an opportunity for knowledge exchange and sharing of best practices in the implementation of the new global development agenda among countries.

  • Nigeria welcomes strong AU-UN partnership

    Nigeria welcomes strong AU-UN partnership

    Nigeria welcomed the continued efforts of the UN to enhance its relationship and cooperation with the African Union and to support effective implementation of the 2063 Agenda.

    Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, made the remarks while delivering Nigeria’s message at the Security Council Open Debate on Peace and Security in Africa.

    Bande said “we, therefore, need to redouble efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, both at the operational, political and tactical levels.

    “This will enable us to address, in a holistic manner, the challenges faced in the fields of peace and security.

    “In this regard, Nigeria welcomes the signing in April of the new landmark framework to strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and the AU on peace and security pillars”.

    According to him, the framework will ensure a better response to the changing dimensions and evolving challenges of peace operations.

    Bande pledged Nigeria’s support to the continued efforts to strengthen African peacekeeping capabilities and emphasise the importance of implementing the Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security.

    “We also recommend the enhancement of an effective partnership, in order to improve the planning, deployment and management of African peacekeeping operations.

    “In this regard, we stress the importance of finding ways to secure predictable, adequate and sustained financial support to AU-led Peace Operations.

    “This is to ensure that the missions deployed could effectively maximise their operational capabilities to the tasks at hand,” he said.

    He noted that the option of a jointly developed and jointly funded budget would require additional work by the UN Secretariat and the AU Commission before it could be put into practice.

    “Nigeria endorses the four options outlined by the Secretary-General and we call on the Security Council to endorse these options in principle.

    “In addition to the issue of financing, we take note of the proposal in the Secretary-General’s report for a decision-making framework aimed at making the joint action more effective between the UN and the AU.’’

    Bande, however, said if indeed the primary responsibility of the Security Council was to maintain international peace and security, its work in managing international peace and security should be viewed through the lens of preventive diplomacy.

    The Nigerian envoy noted that “if the United Nations is able to assist African nations and communities in restoring their social and institutional fabric, we can reduce propensities for conflict.

  • We’re pursuing holistic solution to Lagos flooding, says Ambode

    We’re pursuing holistic solution to Lagos flooding, says Ambode

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State says his administration is taking immediate steps to find a holistic solution to the problem of flooding in the state.

    Ambode spoke on Monday at the Water Technology and Environmental Control (WATEC) sensitisation programme in Lagos.

    The country’s commercial nerve centre has been battling with flooding which hit several parts of the city in the last few days as a result of torrential rainfall.

    Areas worst hit include the highbrow Lekki-Victoria Island axis, where motorists, on Saturday, spent up to six hours to escape the water-logged roads and expressway.

    Heavy floods took over the entire Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, Lagos, forcing some residents and commercial offices to unceremoniously vacate their premises.

    The Lagos State Police Command had temporarily closed the road to human and vehicular movement due to threat by heavy flood.

    Ambode said on Monday that there was even more urgent need to embark upon a review and re-engineering of the canals and drainage systems in the state.

    According to him, this must be pursued hand in hand with a clear and crystal re-envisioning of the water management system.

    “For the past few days, the state and indeed most parts of Nigeria, have witnessed torrential rainfall which are quite unprecedented.

    “We have witnessed our most prime estates flooded with water; we have seen our roads taken over by floods, and we have painfully watched how many homesteads have literally become pools.

    “These indeed are trying times for any government, especially our own administration, which has determinedly pursued massive infrastructural development, to improve standards of living of our citizenry,” Ambode said.

    He said that the government would be stronger in enforcing physical planning laws, especially those building illegally on canals and blocking the free-flow of water across the state.

    The governor said his administration would reinvigorate its campaign against the dumping of refuse by citizens into canals.

    Ambode said that access to and management of water resources, as well as environmental control, remained one of the greatest challenges facing most parts of the developing world.

    He said that Israel, which Lagos State had decided to partner with in developing water technology and environmental control, was one of the first countries to successfully overcome its limitations in water resources.

    “Our intention is to explore a wide array of technological advancements and possibilities, to ensure that we obtain the best solution to a rather nagging problem,” he said.

    The governor said the incidence of flooding was not circumscribed to Nigeria alone, nor was it a peculiarity of the Third World.

    Ambode recalled that the UK was heavily flooded this year and, indeed, witnessed some of its worst flooding since records started in 1901.

    He added that Japan, a country that was equally technologically savvy, had also not been spared heavy flooding this year.

    “No matter how well a society may be prepared, we can never rule out the element of the natural or if you like, the supernatural.

    “This is why Lagos State, and indeed Nigeria, fully subscribes to the tenets of Climate Change Solutions by the United Nations,” Ambode said.

    He said the aforementioned examples enjoined government to put the experience and pains into perspective and learn from all them to better prepare for the future.

    Earlier, the Special Adviser to the governor on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass, said the sensitisation programme was a prelude to WATEC Israel 2017 conference, taking place from Sept. 12 to Sept. 14.

    Abass said that key stakeholders would come together at the conference to deliberate on some critical issues on water technology and environmental control.

    The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Guy Feldman, said that every challenge faced created room for planning and solutions.

    He noted that floods made the second highest damage out of all natural disasters.

  • FG to set up policy for community policing

    FG to set up policy for community policing

    …Nigeria needs 1.8million policemen

     

    The Federal Government has disclosed its intention to implement policy for the establishment of community policing.

    The policy which would be introduced soon would help address the issue of manpower in the Force and also address security challenges.

    To attain the United Nations one policemen to 100 citizens, it was also disclosed that Nigeria needs 1.8 million personnel of the Force.

    The Ag. President, Yemi Osinbajo disclosed the need for the establishment of Community policing in Abuja yesterday during the launch of a book, “Law on Prevention and Detection of Crimes by the Police in Nigeria” authored by the former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.

    The Ag. President who was represented by the President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu said: “There is no way we can continue with the way we are policing now and the federal government is looking carefully at the issue of community policing and very soon, we would come out with a policy on that.

    “We have to look at other parts of the world when we are doing it, sitting down in Abuja by an IG and policing the remote parts of the country and being in charge of the welfare of all the policemen across length and breadth of the country doesn’t seem to be working.

    “We all have to agree to look at this. There are concerns and challenges and they will be addressed. In the 80s, whenever you talk about private television and radio, everybody gets jittery but some people took the bull by the horn and we are getting the best for that decision today. We have to take our fears away.”

    The federal government also tasked elites to encourage their children to join the Force.

    “If we want a very good, active and efficient policing, we should also try as elites to encourage our children to join the Nigeria Police Force. If we want effective policing and believe that they are actually protecting us, we should also spare our offspring to join the police and do a good job.”

    He also revealed that some retired senior police officers would be engaged for proper implementation of the policy across the country.

    “As for the retired IGs and police officers, you may have a role to play very soon for us to depart from this old way of policing our country. It does not seem like it can work and it is not working”.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, former governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke while lending voice to the establishment of state policing noted that the decentralization of policing is the greatest prevention to crime and allows for better monitoring and intelligence gathering.

    Duke also hinted that Nigeria needs 1.8million policemen for proper policing.

    He said: “I must say that I disagree with the author’s position that state policing, though theoretically ideal will be abused and that states indeed are too financially handicapped from embarking on this. I posit instead that we must always strive for the ideal without losing sight of reality, this reality being that we are severely under policed.

    “Our population may be approaching 200 million by 2020. The United Nations ideal statistics for police civil populace ratio is 1/100. In other words, at 180 million persons, we are in need of a 1.8 million police force.

    “It is the Federal Government that is financially handicapped in this regard to accommodate this number. The States may not have the financial buoyancy to so attain, but thinking outside the box, we may attempt to bring the numbers within reason.

    He further said: “The fear of abuse can be mitigated by an oversight responsibility or authority by the Commissioner of police in the State or a State Police regulatory commission. A further realignment of the zones to create for more zones and broaden the base 1 of the force is needed, as the narrowing at the service top has become inimical to career growth and led to disenchantment.

    “We must quickly attain at least 500,000 federal police from the current 350,000 or thereabout and about the same number at the State level. The decentralization of policing and presence is the greatest deterrent to crime and allows for better monitoring and intelligence gathering”.

    He also suggested that entry level into the Force be reviewed.

    According to him: “We ought to review entry levels into the force from OND to HND and apply aptitude tests to qualify for entry and promotions, and the manpower abounds. Constant training and retraining is a sine qua non in keeping up with the dynamics of a 21st century cyber technical world”.

    Speaking also, the author of the book, Arase said the law enforcement role of the police can only be attained if officers have proper knowledge of what law enforcement entails.

    He said 21st Century Policing architecture of Nigeria ought to deviate from the state of affairs and evolve into a knowledge-driven system that is befitting of our democratic values.

    On the inadequate number of personnel to police the nation and establishment of community policing, he said: “Even if we have required number of policemen in Nigeria, we have to ask what the quality of the men are. There must be quality control in the people we are bringing. We must bring officers who are knowledgeable enough and confident to carry out their duties.

    “In my book, I noted that issues like terrorism, cross border crimes and all are not issues that can be dealt with locally. While it is good that we talk about community policing, the state police can take care of some municipal laws. When it comes to issues of terrorism, cybercrime, you need a highly dedicated central body to take care of it.

    “My own take on state policing is that it is going to come but we have to be careful how we implement it. We are talking about proliferation of firearms, how will they get it? Will states be allowed to purchase firearms indiscriminately? The problem we are trying to solve might give birth to another monster, so we have to think it through and it has to be gradual and not something we rush into.”

     

     

  • International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking

    International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking

    There is no argument about the fact that drug abuse and illicit trafficking of substances is a worldwide feeling of discomfort that has a far-reaching consequence because it is fraught with crime, corruption and terrorism. We can observe that Nigeria has the highest consumption of illicit drugs. Due to the invention of new technologies, the production of these drugs has increase which makes them to become very cheap and therefore affordable.

    International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is a day set aside to raise awareness to major problems that the unlawful use and distribution of drugs portends for the society.

    The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking serves to draw awareness to the need for action and cooperation in order to achieve a drug-free world.  Illicit drugs and their trafficking pose a large health threat to humanity. Drug problems and dependencies put a great deal of pressure on health care systems and constitute a threat to the safety and well-being of humans all around the globe.

    Long-term drug abuse has been linked to poor general health, contraction of diseases through needle sharing, trouble with the law, poor self-hygiene, alienation from loved ones, psychological illnesses and death from overdose.

    In December 1987, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was designated by the United Nations. It is celebrated annually on June 26, a symbolic day that commemorates the dismantling of the opium trade in Guangdong. The day also serves as an opportunity for Member Nations to reaffirm their support for UN Conventions that attempt to control the world’s drug supply.

    Drug abuse according to Wikipedia is a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the substance in amount or with methods which are harmful to themselves. Drug abuse can also be associated with taking overdose of a drug. Examples of abused drugs include: cocaine, heroin, marijuana, prescription drugs, including opioids.

    Illicit trafficking on the other hand is an illegal trading, selling or dealing in specified goods.

    ‘Health’ is the ongoing theme of the world drug campaign. According to the United Nations report, the value of illegal drugs traded around the world is put at more than $32billion yearly. According to this statistics, we can see that drug abuse and trafficking is a problem and major deterrent to humanity and the wellbeing of the youths in particular.

    The most surprising thing is the increasing number of secondary school and tertiary institution students taken to consuming hard drugs. Other groups of individuals susceptible to drug abuse are drivers, conductors, artists, musicians, etc.

    Considering the biological implications of drug abuse, it is pertinent that we understand not only the injurious effect of substance abuse to our organs, but also to unborn children at the fetal stage. An expectant mother who is taken to drug abuse might be causing more harm than good to her unborn child.

    Psychosocially, drug abuse destroys families progressively; once a member of a family becomes overtly addicted to drug (especially psychedelic drugs), he or she begins to act irrationally. This can prove huge danger for those around them, as there are a plethora of stories of siblings hurting each other due to drug abuse.

    The consequences of drug abuse have been violence, rape, suicide, poor academic performance, poor health condition, school dropout etc. Drug abuse is associated with vices such as cultism, armed robbery, thuggery, etc.

    Conclusively, it is expedient that government (federal and state), and all their policy wonks should begin to not only pass laws to curb the preponderance of drug abuse, but also, to enforce the extant laws on substance abuse.

    Parents are also to play key roles in the educational progress of their children through effective communication with the children and with the help of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other paraphernalia of government like NAFDAC, NDLEA, and Human right groups. Investing more on technological devices that can enhance the ability to detect hard drug traffickers is also advisable.

     

  • World leaders remember UNFPA Director Osotimehin

    World leaders remember UNFPA Director Osotimehin

    United Nations officials, ambassadors, UN Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, friends and family members have paid tributes to late Director of UNFPA, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin.

    More than 300 people attended the memorial service at the Trusteeship Council Chambers of the United Nations Headquarters, which began with a five-minute video summarizing his life, achievements, and works in various countries recently.

      “We take pride in producing him and giving him to the world to do a work for which he gave his life,” said Dr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations.

    In one of the clips, the late Osotimehin was heard saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go with others.”

     Several dignitaries attested to the Professor’s humility and relentless work in fighting for equality, especially for women and children.

     “Osotimehin was a honorary ‘woman’ who fought for the reproductive rights of all women and the right to education for all young girls,” said the UNFPA acting Director, Natalia Kanem. She added that he was indeed a proud feminist with zero tolerance for maternity death.

     A video of his favorite hymn, ‘It Is Well with my soul’ moved several to tears. This was followed by video tributes from friends and colleagues in Nigeria, Botswana, Niger, and around the world.

     “It was a shock and painful. He was a remarkable, dedicated, and humble man,” said the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed. She added that “He was a man that was not competing with anyone, instead, he supported everyone.”

     An award was established in memory of Osotimehin to henceforth honor those who fight for the rights of girls and women, especially for reproductive rights.

     “I worked with him for 15 years,” said his personal assistant, Pastor Niyi Ojuolape. “He was a very patient man that would bear everybody and take care of everybody. He was longsighted, a man of vision. He was also a great family man that would interrupt conversations with presidents to pick calls from his children. I miss him terribly. I can’t imagine what working would be without him,” he added.

     Dr. Babajide Osotimehin, the only son of the deceased ended the night with a vote of thanks. “To you he was a professor, but to me he’s Daddy,” he said. “Of course we’re distraught. However, tonight, you turned our sorrow to joy. You made us even more proud of him,” he added.

    Professor Osotimehin who will be buried on on July 21st in Nigeria is survived by five children and several grandchildren.