ZAMFARA GOV. PRESENTS GOLD BARS TO BUHARI.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night, hosted the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle at the State House, Abuja.
Announcing this in a tweet, the Special Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmed said Governor Matawalle was at the State House to present gold bars and other precious stones minded in Zamfara State to the president.

This is in furtherance of government’s effort to explore the non-oil sector of the nation’s economy.
The Zamfara State Governor was accompanied by Bashir Hadejia, a state official.

 

 

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FEMA ALERT FCT RESIDENTS ON FLOODINGS AS MAN DROWNS IN EFEB FLASH FLOOD.

The FCT emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has warned residents to desist from acts that lead to flooding in this rainy season. This warning is coming from the agency even as the body of one Mr. James Odeh aged 35 age has been recovered by the FEMA search and rescue team from a flooded river along Dogon-gada Area, near Efab Housing Estate, Lokogoma District.
It is belived that the victim was attempting to drive through the flooded water in the company of one Mr. Nsendoo Uketar aged 20yrs who has been rescued alive by the FEMA search and rescue team. The vehicle of the victim a Toyota Corola 2010 model was also rescued from the flooded river.
Saddened by unfortunate incident, the Director General (FEMA) Alh. Idriss Abbas advised residents to stay away from flooded water and avoid driving around flooded sites
According to the FEMA boss,
“Most people underestimate the strength of water and the danger it poses”
He then urged FCT residents to adopt attitudinal change as key to fighting disaster to the nearest minimum in the FCT.          Also reacting to the NIMET predictions that we should expect heavy rainfall this year which could lead to flooding, the FEMA DG appealed to residents to avoid unwholesome environmental practices especially the indiscriminate waste disposal and building on flood plain as these could block water ways and lead to flooding, he then called on community leaders, religions leaders, to be charged with the responsibility of sensitizing their subjects, especially those living close to flood planes to move to higher ground to avoid being washed away.
On mitigating steps being taken by the Agency to curb flooding disasters in the FCT, the FEMA DG said FEMA and some of its relevant stakeholders had earlier in the year embarked on assessment tour to all flooded prone areas in the FCT to identify flash points and to access areas of repairs and improvement. Alh. Idriss further stressed that all relevant Agencies have been on their toes after the assessment, disilting drainages, expanding narrow drainages, evacuating refuse and removing buildings on flood planes.
He added that as the lockdown is easing out, the Honorable Minister of the FCT Mallam Mohammad Musa Bello has directed all relevant Departments to continue work in the various flash points to mitigate more disaster. He revealed that work have since commenced in these areas including the Lokogoma area and called on residents to always compliment the efforts of the FCTA Administration by adhering to directives, sighting example with the Corona Virus pandemic where most people still don’t believe it exist and expose themselves to the virus despite Government directives.
While sympathizing with the family of the victims, Alh. Idriss assured residents that all hands will continue to be on deck to ensure that traits to lives  and properties occasioned by flood are reduced to the bearest minimum in the FCT and charged residents to always clear their gutters, sewer lines and water lines to ensure free flow of rain water.
He then urged residents to always call the 112 emergency toll free number in case of any emergency, as this will help FEMA respond faster. According to him, it is only through prompt response that effective disaster management can be achieved.   (PR)

COVID-19 SPARKS UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS-IMF.

The International Monetary Fund has announced that the global coronavirus pandemic has sparked an economic “crisis like no other,” sending world GDP plunging 4.9 percent this year and wiping out $12 trillion over two years.
According to the IMF, worldwide business shutdowns destroyed hundreds of millions of jobs, and major economies in Europe face double-digit collapses. In an updated World Economic Outlook published on Wednesday, the IMF emphasized that the prospects for recovery post-pandemic, like the forecasts themselves, are steeped in “pervasive uncertainty” given the unpredictable path of the Novel Corona Virus.
The IMF also warned of dangers posed by eroding relations between and within countries. IMF Chief Economist, Gita Gopinath said under current forecasts, the crisis will destroy $12 trillion over two years.   She warned that the world is not out of the woods.

DEMOLISHED EMBASSY BUILDING: NIGERIA TO RESOLVE SPAT WITH GHANA DIPLOMATICALLY

The Presidency says the Federal Republic of #Nigeria will follow diplomatic means with #Ghana in addressing the recent demolition of some apartments in the Nigerian embassy in Accra.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told State House Correspondent on Wednesday in Abuja that Ghana and Nigeria will not engage in a physical combat to resolve the issue. 

PRESIDENTS NANA AKUFO-ADDO & MUHAMMADU BUHARI

“The President of Ghana has called and regretted the action and apologised to the President of Nigeria. I think he has shown leadership in the matter and what should Nigeria do; these are two leading countries in West Africa...Shehu said.

“Nigeria will not engage in a street fight with Ghana. This cannot happen. So, the two leaders, especially President #MuhammaduBuhari, who is much respected in Africa, they all call him ‘Baba’ (Father), so he is bound to show restraint.”

 “Matters such as this when they arise, it is always better when they arise, they should be resolved diplomatically. No, there shouldn’t be a fight between Nigeria and Ghana, this will not happen.” He added. 

President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria

You will recall that President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana had on Tuesday telephoned President Muhammadu Buhari, to tender his country’s unreserved apologies for #demolition of a building on the premises of #Nigerian High Commission in #Accra, Ghana.  

Akufo-Addo had informed President Buhari that he has directed full investigation into the incident, just as he confirmed that two suspects have been arrested.

BREAKING!! INEC PUBLISHES GUIDELINES FOR ELECTIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

VOTING IN SAFETY

 Voters Code of Conduct (VCC) for Elections During the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

1. Wearing of face mask at Polling Units and all election locations is mandatory. Please make provision for your own face mask. Face masks must be worn at all times, but an election official may request you to lower your mask for proper identification when necessary.
2. a) Voting starts by 8.30 am and stops at 2.30 pm.

b)      There shall be two queues formed at each polling location (Polling Unit or Voting Point). The first queue (the outer queue) will be outside, from which an election official shall bring voters into the voting area in batches. The second queue (the inner queue) will be formed in the voting area.

c)      By 2.30 pm, an election official shall stand at the end of the outer queue indicating that the queue is closed. Any voter on the outer queue by 2.30 pm shall be allowed to vote.

d)     Queues must be orderly and voters on a queue must maintain a distance of 2 meters (6 feet) from each other.                     

3. Any voter showing symptoms of COVID-19 such as high temperature, coughing, sneezing, etc. will be requested to leave the queue or voting area and shall be attended to by designated officials. Please obey all directives by the officials to keep yourself and others safe. Report any health emergencies urgently to an official at the Polling Unit.
4. Avoid unnecessary touching of surfaces or leaning on walls and other surfaces at the Polling Unit. You may request for hand sanitizer which will be given to you if available.
5. An election official may ask to clean your fingers with an antiseptic before your fingerprint is read with the Smart Card Reader.
6. Please show your voters’ card to election officials whenever you are requested to do so.
7. After you cast your vote, move away from the voting area. If you wish to observe the counting of votes and announcement of result, you will be directed by an election official on where to stay.
8. Please ensure that you go away with your used protective materials such as face masks and hand gloves. Do not litter the polling unit!
9. Remember that cell phones or any other device that can take pictures are still not allowed in the voting cubicles.
10. Please obey all directives issued by election officials, including security officials, and be orderly at all times. INEC shall not tolerate assault of any election official and you may be prosecuted for doing so.

EXAM FRAUD: FED. GOVT. DROPS CHARGES AGAINST SENATOR ADELEKE.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out charges of examination malpractice leveled against Senator Ademola Adeleke.

Senator Adeleke was arraigned by the federal government in October 2018 for alleged exam fraud during at the Community Grammar School, Ojo-Aro, Osun state, during the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination of June/July 2017.

Adeleke was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2018 Osun State Governorship election, which was won under controversial circumstances by Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress.

COVID-19: NHRC UNVEILS ADVISORY ON RIGHTS OF ALMAJIRI CHILDREN.

Protection of the Rights and Dignity of #Almajiri #Children in COVID-19 Response

An Advisory Opinion to Federal and State #Governments issued pursuant to section 5(l)(m)(o) of the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act

1.0       Introduction

1.    Addressing the social and economic challenges which have led to the growth of the Almajiri system in some parts of Nigeria, particularly the Northern region has occupied the minds of policy makers for some time.

2.    Almajiri children are exposed to increased vulnerabilities and risks, including death, trafficking, kidnapping, drug use and addiction, recruitment into terrorism, violent crimes, sexual and other forms of assault and forced/child marriages.

3.    Notwithstanding the efforts of successive governments and stakeholders, Almajiri system still constitutes a major challenge to the development of children in parts of the country, denying them the enjoyment of their fundamental human rights.

2.0       Understanding the Human Rights Dimension of Almajiri


1.     The National Human Rights Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) notes that the primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of its citizens in line with Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of #Nigeria 1999.

2.     Conscious of its mandate to monitor, promote, protect and enforce human rights of everyone in Nigeria in line with the national, regional and international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a party, the National Human Rights Commission notes the following:


a.    Nigeria has ratified and is therefore a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

b.    Nigeria is also a party to the #African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which has been domesticated.

c.     Nigeria domesticated its obligations under the CRC and ACRWC into the Child's Rights Act, (CRA) 2003. The CRA is a comprehensive human rights instrument which seeks to protect the rights of children in Nigeria and to put in place policies and programmes for the development and survival of every child in Nigeria.

d.    Some states of the federation have also enacted Child Rights Laws (CRL) in fulfilment of the obligations of Nigeria towards its children and generations unborn. For states that are yet to enact a Child Rights Law, these rights are of universal application and form part of the international obligations of the Nigerian state.

e.    The cardinal objectives of the CRC, ACRWC, CRA, CRL and other child right related international, regional and national instruments to which Nigeria is a party, is that, in all actions concerning children, the best interest of the child shall be the utmost consideration by all particularly government (section 1 of the CRA).

f.      The provisions of the CRA are crucial to securing the human rights of Almajiri children. Implementing these rights should be at the heart of any intervention targeting the social and economic welfare of the Almajiri children. Section 4 of CRA provides that every child shall have a right to survival, development and education. Section 9 provides for freedom of movement of the child subject to parental control not harmful to the child. Also, section 14 of the CRA provides that a child shall be entitled to parental care, protection and maintenance.

g.    In addition to the foregoing subparagraph, the CRA further provides for the rights to: private and family life (section 8); freedom of movement (section 9); freedom from discrimination (section 10); dignity of the child (section 11); health and health services (section 13);  free, compulsory and universal primary education, etc (section 15);  and the right of a child in need of special protection measure (section 16) amongst others.

3.0       COVID-19 Regulations and the Best Interest of the Almajiri Child

1.    The recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions have further exposed the inherent vulnerabilities of Almajiri children as possible victims of multiple human rights violations which have been enunciated in subparagraph 2.2(f)(g) above.

2.    The Commission notes that in exercise of powers conferred on them by section 45 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004), both Federal and State authorities have made COVID-19 Regulations derogating from the enjoyment of some fundamental rights in the interest of public health, safety and purpose of protecting the rights of others.

3.    The Commission is mindful of the present circumstances under which the Regulations are being implemented, particularly the need to restrict movement and spread of the disease.

4.    Some exceptions to restriction of movement in the implementation of COVID-19 Regulations have been provided for by both the Federal and state governments. These have included the return of Almajiri children to their states of origin. This process is being implemented by various Northern state governments.

5.    In view of the foregoing, the Commission notes as follows:

a.    The decision by the Governors of the Northern states to relocate Almajiri children must be viewed in the light of “the best interest of the child” principles.

b.    Relocating Almajiri children to their states of origin and reuniting them with their respective families where they will receive “parental care, protection and maintenance” is for all intents and purposes, in the best interest of the child.

c.    It shall be a violation of “the best interest of the child” principles in circumstances where the Almajiri children have been relocated to places outside their homes or states of origin, leading to the denial of access to their parents or guardians (necessary for children) or home governments for a structured development, and may defeat the benefits from this current initiative.

d.    It shall be a violation of “the best interest of the child” principles in circumstances where the process of return exposes the child to danger, vulnerabilities, rejection, inhuman and degrading treatments and further denial of access to education, healthcare, food, shelter and protection.

4.0       Policy Recommendations
 
1.    In view of the foregoing, the Commission in exercise of its mandate in section 5 (l)(m)(o) of it enabling Act makes the following recommendations.

2.    Obligations of Transferring States

a.    The implementation of the returns must be carried out in line with generally applicable minimum standards of dignity, safety, health and other basic human rights considerations by the transferring and receiving states so as not to leave the children dehumanized.

b.    The transferring states shall ensure humane and dignified transfer arrangements to ensure that the children are transferred in dignity and respect.

c.     The transferring states should put in place basic facilities such as decent transfer transportation, accommodation, health screening including test for COVID-19, feeding and security for the children. This will ensure that COVID-19 positive children will receive treatment and not infect others during transportation.

3.    Obligations of Receiving States

a.    State Governments should put in place financial, institutional and programmatic frameworks in place to urgently address the needs of the Almajiri children. States shall ensure adequate budgetary allocations and other funds for the rehabilitation, education, development and welfare of the Almajiri children within their states during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

b.    There should be adequate plan for profiling, tracing and reunification with parents and guardians.

c.     There should be in place adequate protection programs, basic support services and empowerment programs to address poverty and other socio-economic vulnerabilities that made the parents to send out the children in the first place.

d.    Receiving governments should put in place adequate plans for the enrolment and retention of Almajiri children in schools, including access to existing programmes such as school feeding and free education aimed at addressing the educational needs of the children in line with their rights to basic and compulsory education as guaranteed under the CRA and the Universal Basic Education Act.

e.    Children without traceable parents or guardians should be enrolled into social welfare programmes of states, including foster care where they will be accommodated and afforded structured life, training, education, security and empowerment.

f.      Every child should be afforded right to survival, education, identity, security of person, freedom from cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment.

g.    All receiving Northern State governments should work with relevant agencies including non-state actors to design a follow up “program of action for the transfer, return and rehabilitation of Almajiri children” in line with this Advisory and the Child Rights Act.

h.    The Commission shall work with the various state governments and provide adequate technical and programmatic support to ensure that “the best interest” of the Almajiri children are mainstreamed into the “program of action” with a view to ensuring a right based dignified future for the children.

5.0       Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided yet another opportunity to permanently address the challenge of Almajiri children. The Commission believes that a right based approach will make for a sustainable solution which will put in place an effective program for the permanent rehabilitation and gradual elimination of the underlying conditions that promotes Amajiri and other socio-cultural practices that affect the development of the child.

Issued in Abuja, this 27th Day of May, 2020


Tony Ojukwu, Esq.

Executive Secretary,

National Human Rights Commission