NIGERIA AND THE FAILURE OF DATA AND POPULATION FIGURES

By Jerome Uneje

We are 150 million he shouted! No we are over 200 million!  He shouts back! 150! No, 200 million plus where are you getting your figures from? Fool? Stupid! where  are you getting yours from? Pa Adache shakes his head full of gray hair with strands of black every here and there and smiles in amusement as the two young people poke at each other over  Nigeria’s precise Population figures. He picks up his half drunk glass of beer with his shaky hands in the densely crowded local bar. The 72 year old pensioner feels a tinge of pity on Nigeria. “The Country is in confusion” he mutters under his breath. “It cannot even tell how many they are in exact terms” he sighs and gulps down his beer. The arguments continue between the two young men who exchange hot words over who is right in their Country’s population. They cannot be blamed. Nobody is to blame. The confusion in the precise number of Nigerians alive persists owing to the failure of Government agencies responsible for that.

The rapid population growth of this great nation is becoming apprehensively alarming. Worse still, nobody can tell in precise terms the exact number of Nigerians. The best we get are estimates. Available statistics from organizations and Institutions websites providing basic data on the nation’ population are not certain of the exact figure. Some estimate the population of Nigeria at over 170,000,000 others 180,000,000 or even at 200,000,000. The question now is -what is the exact and acceptable effective figure of Nigeria? According to a survey carried out by Christian Health Association of Nigeria following the USAID’ report of 2014, “the Nigeria’s annual growth rate is at 2.8 percent which means that the population is growing by nearly 3 million every year. Putting this in perspective, in 1911, the population was 16 million. It grew to 114 million by the year 2000 and now it is estimated at 174 million”. Looking at the current trend, the population will nearly double in 20 years to come.  Going by the survey of the Christian Health Association of Nigeria, what is the stand of the National Population Commission the body charged with the responsibility of Population Census Management?

This Commission is not measuring up to its primary role and duties, yet it is not held accountable for its inability to keep the accurate figures and this is the wide of the mark. As it stands, the nation can hardly differentiate and/or ascertain immigrants from the bona fide citizens of this great nation. Both citizens and immigrants walk in and out in voyage without proper check and explicit inquiry from offices in charge of haulage. As such, the Nations resources are stretched beyond their capacity resulting to acute poverty and depleting infrastructure. Furthermore, the security of the citizens is not guaranteed as potential terrorists and fleeing criminals can saunter into   our Country unchecked to carry out their nefarious acts. These occurrences only create more damage and harm to the polity. The consequence of this failure is underdevelopment, low level of productivity and gross poverty in the land.

The relevance of ascertaining our true population is glaring and cannot be over emphasized. An accurate and precise knowledge of the number of Nigerians alive will help immensely in the planning and management of the Nation’s economy and its resources including Security, Health systems, Education, Food etc. Without a clear and precise picture of the population size we can at best guess and estimate in our planning and management functions which cannot guarantee best results. This maybe one of the reasons Nigeria is experiencing a stunted growth today.

Reflecting on the recent World population day 2017 with the theme “Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing Nations”   the need to begin to control the burgeoning Nigeria population can only be easier and better with the knowledge of the current precise population figures as the starting point. The international awareness campaign that is commemorated all over the world annually particularly on every 11^th of July seeks to address poignant issues  begging for urgent action in Nigeria especially as it concerns Women and the Sexual and Reproductive Health interventions. Some of these issues include reluctance to embrace Family Planning culture in Nigeria, inadequate access to Family Planning commodities and service centres across Nigeria, inadequate budgetary allocations to Family Planning at all levels of Governance, weak sensitization of the populace on the benefits of Family planning etc. The effect of all these is a burgeoning population that has spiraled out of control of economic resources available. For example 106 years ago in 1911, the Country’s population was 16 million. It grew to 114 million by the year 2000. Currently, varying estimates put in the figure in the region of 170- 220 million. “Nigeria’s annual population growth rate is said to be at 2.8% which means that the population is growing by nearly 3 million people every year. At the current trend, the population will nearly double in 20 years to come.

The aim of this global awareness is geared towards drawing attention to factors that lead to population explosion which includes the efficient and effective management of the reproductive health systems.  Issues like Family Planning, Maternal and Child health, poverty, human rights, right to sexuality education, use of contraceptives and safety measures like condoms, adolescent pregnancy, girl child education, child marriage, sexually transmitted infections etc. are looked at as important points to steer the peoples’ decision on population issues.

Nigeria’ population growth can be traced to several factors including misconception leading to poor uptake of Family Planning options, poor accessibility of commodities and service centres, low budgetary allocations to Family Planning interventions, weak sensitization of the populace to embrace family planning amongst other factors.

In order to reverse the above, the following needs to be done with a deep sense and commitment to urgency:

• Put in accelerated efforts towards carrying out a wholesale population census across to ascertain the precise number of Nigerians.
• Increase the sensitization and awareness of Family Planning amongst the people especially the grassroots Women and Religious communities
• Increase budgetary allocation to Family Planning and Reproductive health issues at all levels of Governance in Nigeria
• Increase the access and uptake of Family Planning options and Commodities across communities especially the rural and grassroots communities.

With these measures firmly put in place and sustained over a period of time, Nigeria will begin to have an effective and efficient socio economic plan to manage the population as well as control its growth as every family and person in Nigeria will begin to have a family size they actually plan and can cater for.

The argument continues between the two young men whose pushes have now matured into shoves. They are ready to fight. The bar looks on in astonishment. Pa Adache rises and calls on his younger nephew Ojo to stop this show of shame. There is quiet in the bar. In the background, the radio announcer mentioned that today is World Population Day. They lean to listen closer to hear if the announcer will say the exact figure of Nigerian’ population to put paid to the argument. She never did.

 

 

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Women and Non-passage of the 35% Affirmative Action Bill by Nigeria Parliamentarians

By Sunday Adaji Esq

Context

Wednesday the 26^th of July 2017 will go down in history as the day Nigeria’s National Assembly (the country’s law-making body) acknowledged the need to reduce the age limit for elective offices thereby encouraging active participation in governance for younger Nigerians. If the executive does its part and the bill is eventually signed into law, 25-year olds can attempt to have their voices heard in the hallowed chambers of the law-making body, a far cry from the status quo which stipulates 30 years. And while the bill still leaves mixed feelings even amongst Nigerian youth dreading elite capture of the opportunity presented, it does signify a step in the right direction. The same cannot, however, be said for Gender equality as the bills seeking 35% Affirmative Action at Federal level and 20% at state level both received the death blow.

A whopping two thirds of the senators voted to throw the bills out.

Looking at the current composition of the National Assembly, perhaps this should have been anticipated. Out of 469 members of the two arms of the legislature, only 21 are female. Statistically, this means women comprise only 4% of the National Assembly. The situation is not significantly different in the executive arm which has only ever produced 1 female governor, Dame Virginia Ngozi Etiaba of Anambra state, whose tenure only lasted 4 months. Equally abysmal is female representation in other spheres such as economic activities, the labour market, social activities, trade and industry etc.

discrimination, including gender-based discrimination. To this end, section 42 (1) and (2) of the CFRN stipulates:

“42. (1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person: –

(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or

(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.

(2) No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth.”

The Global Picture

It seems strange that while countries famed for being extremely conservative such as Saudi Arabia are becoming more open to providing better opportunities for their womenfolk, Nigeria, a democratic nation and the largest black nation on earth, seems to be regressing.

In January 2013, King Abdullah Bin Aziz, the Saudi leader, issued a decree introducing a 20% quota for women in the country’s 150-member Shura Council (the equivalent of Nigeria’s National Assembly), and appointed 30 women to join the consultative assembly. The king went a step further in May this year when he issued a decree ordering government agencies to list services women can seek from the authorities without permission from a male guardian as has been the norm. All this in a country which still won’t let women drive…but has at least conceded to provide transportation for them.

Closer home, in 2013, the Rwandan parliamentary election ushered in a record-breaking 64% seats won by female candidates. The government of Rwanda with the UN as a partner, has been pursuing gender equality since 1994, a concept which has remained alien to the Nigerian government owing to religious and cultural mores as the recent damage to the Affirmative Bills glaringly shows.

Yet, in the words of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu: “I recall that this senate is a very gender sensitive senate. We support women at all material times. Anytime we had issues concerning women, we stood by them.” Words which somehow failed to carry weight when it mattered most. Perhaps, memory fails him. It will be recalled that prior to the jettisoning of the 35% Affirmative Action Bill, the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill (GEOB) suffered a similar fate despite several modifications and re-presentations. At present, the Bill is again before the National Assembly, has passed the second reading and is currently before the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. Whether it will be rejected again or be eventually passed into law, is anyone’s guess. Going by recent events, the prospects are bleak.

Although the National Assembly had unanimously agreed to merge the 35% Affirmative Action Bills with the GEOB, there are doubts about the legitimacy of their words owing to the overwhelming number of legislators who voted against the bill in the first instance.

Aftermath of Non-passage of the 35% Affirmative Action Bill

Data provided by Nigeria’s National Population Commission shows that women constitute more than 50% of Nigeria’s population. Going by these numbers, women clearly have vital roles to play in the growth and development of the country. However, they cannot perform these roles if denied the opportunity. The essence of the 35% Affirmative Action for women ministers at the Federal level is to encourage women participation in governance. The same thing goes with the 20% Affirmative Action for women as commissioners in the 36 states of the federation.

It should be noted that the non-passage of the Affirmative Action Bills by the National Assembly stands in direct contravention of the pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to which Nigeria is signatory. The document strives to attain gender parity in all spheres of governance.

Again, by the non-passage of the Affirmative Action Bills, Nigerian women despite their huge numbers, continue to be marginalised and discriminated against both in governance and in other spheres of national life.

There is no gain saying that with such a large population, the more women participate in governance, the more the nation, as a whole, benefits. Empowered women would contribute significantly to the economic, socio-political development of the country. It does seem, sadly, that our legislators have knowingly put the wheels in motion to achieve the reverse.

Way Forward

For Nigeria to become an egalitarian society, we must consider the issue of gender equality seriously. We must consider the changing roles of women in Nigeria. Nigeria is not a male society, it is a mix of male and female, and ironically, females constitutes the bulk of the population.

The way forward is for the National Assembly to now live up to its word and merge both the Affirmative Action Bills and the Gender & Equal Opportunities Bill into one document for assent into law.

We are a nation of approximately 170 million people. We cannot leave half that number out of governance based primarily on biological differences and hope to maximise the gains of human capital.

The capacity to change the course of history lies with our legislators. Let’s hope they seize it with both hands to give Nigeria a competitive advantage in the comity of nations.

 

WOMEN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ON THE PLATEAU: A RISING WARNING OCTAVE

By Jerome Uneje

Bang! Bang!! Bang!!! Bot (not real name) keeps hitting on the door as he hollers her name in the still of the night. Kangyang, (not real name) 28, and a Mother of two slowly sits up in her hard, and narrow wooden bed. She picks up her small handset to check the time. The broken screen shows 1: 17 am. Oh no… not again. She hisses, gets up and opens the door for her husband. He staggers in and begins his routine of abuse and insults in slurred speech occasioned by too much alcohol. She is quiet and takes on the abuses with a dignified silence. He pushes away his food and demands sex. This time, Kangyang refuses. She has been busy on the farm all day and is too tired for sex and asks for a little more time to rest. Bot will have none of that. She stands her ground. A scuffle ensues. Bot grabs Kangyang by the throat and begins to shake her violently. She struggles, but her blocked wind pipe cannot take in enough oxygen to sustain her strength. She gasps and gasps while Bot tightens his grip. She finally weakens and slumps, dead.

Kangyang’s story is an everyday narrative in Nigeria. Violence against Women is as common place as any other vice. The United Nations Fund for Population Agency (UNFPA) reported in 2016 that Gender Based Violence, especially against women has a prevalence rate of over 30% across the country. This translates into 1 out of every 10 Women in Nigeria as a victim of violence in one form or more. The same report has it that over 25% of Nigerian women are circumcised.

There has been an unprecedented rise in violence against women in spite of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition Act) 2015. In Plateau State for instance, reports indicate that Violence against women is on the rise. Reports from the Media and other stakeholders including the Civil Society in Plateau State has it that in the last one year, there have been up to 430 reported cases of violations against Women in the State. Of these figures, 123 are rape cases of which 96 or 80% involve minors. There are over 21 cases of murder and many more.

Currently, efforts are being made by State and Non-State Actors in Plateau state to curb this fast rising menace to the womenfolk. The Civil Society has formed an observatory platform that monitors and documents these violations. According to our sources, the Observatory Platform has over 23 Civil Society and other key stakeholders. It is this platform that has recorded the over 430 cases of violations in Plateau State over the period of 1 year alone.

Besides the efforts Civil Society, the Plateau State House of Assembly, worried by the rising cases of violations against women, has initiated an Executive bill which seeks to penalize perpatrators of violence against women. The proposed bill seeks to strengthen the old Northern Nigeria Penal Code under which offenders are currently charged and tried. The Northern Nigeria Penal Code is archaic and does not speak to current realities on ground. The proposed bill is yet to be passed and it’s still in the formative stages in the Plateau State House of Assembly.

Lawyers Alert commends the efforts of both the State and Non-State Actors in Plateau State in tackling the issue of violence against Women. Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a menace that should concern every member of the society, regardless of status.

Given the above therefore, Lawyers Alert as a Human Rights Organization and a staunch advocate of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, wishes to make the following suggestions to both the Civil Society and Government Institutions in Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole, in their efforts to curb the violations against Women and other vulnerable groups.

Regarding the efforts of the Civil Society, Lawyers Alert suggests that;

• Recorded violations should not be stopped at the documentation stages alone but such cases should be taken to Court where the perpetrators will be adequately punished and the victims compensated
• Monitored and documented violations should be analysed by the Civil Society in order to pattern out a trend in the violations. This will help in directing advocacy courses and programs.
• There should be a pool of Human Rights Lawyers set to offer pro bono services to the victims of these violations especially for the poor and vulnerable.
• Civil Society should push for the passage and implementation of laws and policies that protect and empower Women including international, regional and local instruments.

To Government Institutions:

• They should endeavour to pass laws and policies that protect and empower Women
• Put in place structures and procedures to assure the full implementation of passed and domesticated laws in their States.
• Put in place structures and platforms that empower Women in economic and social terms through the formulation of laws, policies and special interventions like Women Skill acquisition programs amongst others.

In conclusion, Women Rights are Human Rights guaranteed by laws. The violations against Women must be condemned and discouraged in strong terms at all levels in Nigeria and Plateau State in particular. Failure to take proactive measures in this regard could lead to more episodes of the Kangyang story in our communities.

 

Lawyers Alert sensitize Journalists on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights

The training was organized by Lawyers Alert for journalists as part of a sensitization and advocacy drive within the media community. The objective is to educate journalists on the subject of SRHR and how they can effectively report violations of same and also getting the participants to cascade knowledge gained to other journalists.

Facilitators at the training were:

1. Rommy Mom, Esq. – President, Lawyers Alert.

2.  Mrs. Abubakar Abubakar – Director, UNFPA.

3.  Charles – Director, UNAIDS.

SRH, HIV & GENDER ISSUES IN NIGERIA

Facilitator – Zubaida Abubakar, UNFPA

Topic – “SRH, HIV and Gender Issues in Nigeria.” (Focus: Key Populations)

She began by acknowledging the vital role journalists play as watchdogs of the society in ensuring the protection of Human Rights. “We need to engage the media,” she enthused, “our work is based on evidence. Children and girls are mostly victims of SRHR violations. They are victims of rape, violence, etc. We have to educate them and the media can help achieve this.”

To buttress her claims that children and teenage girls were the most vulnerable in terms of SRHR violations, Mrs. Abubakar reinforced her facts with statistics shown below:

• In Nigeria, girls particularly between the ages of 18-22 years of age are likely to get pregnant before marriage. The North has a preponderance of early marriage.
• Female hawkers are particularly vulnerable to rape.
• Owing to poverty, religious and cultural issues, girls are married off at the young ages of 9-22. They are most at risk of HIV and Vesico-Vaginal Fistula, a condition that frequently occurs when underage girls give birth. Nigeria has up to 600,000 cases of VVF. Girls with the condition tend to be stigmatised and isolated.
• 47.6% of illiterate girls get pregnant early. They have no idea of the use of contraceptives.
• Maternal and child mortality rate is high in Nigeria: For every 100,000 births, 576 infants die, while approximately 111 of the mothers die in childbirth.

Consequences

On the consequences of the violations of the SRHR of girls, Mrs. Abubakar pointed out that:

• There is no opportunity for their being educated (attending school).
• The vicious cycle of poverty is continued.
• They are isolated.
• 25% of the girls whose SRHR are violated contribute nothing to the economy.

What to Address

On what to address, Mrs. Abubakar explained

• Girls should be kept in school to discourage child marriage.
• Girls who do not get formal education should be empowered through vocational skills.
• The health and well-being of children should be prioritised.
• Girls should be trained in the use of contraceptives.
• There should be a conducive environment for children and girls.
• Keepers of the traditional institutions should be enagaged in these efforts to obtain their support which could in turn influence parents to change their beliefs.
• Children and girls should be given comprehensive HIV education.
• Young people should be co-opted into the information dissemination process.
• Social could also be a useful tool in this effort.

UNFPA Projects

On the projects being carried out by UNFPA, Mrs. Abubakar noted:

• 4,150 are being supported with the help of Canada. In Nigeria’s North, UNFPA provides support in the education sector. In Lagos (the suburbs of Lagos State), out of school children are being supported by training them in vocational work. 270 of the girls were able to impact 20,000 others.
• Campaign launched last year to end child marriage in Nigeria.
• A forum was set up to educate various communities on the negative effects of early marriage.
• UNFPA collaborates with local NGOs to carry out their work with ongoing projects in Kaduna and Kebbi States.
• Support is being provided for girls suffering from VVF

EFFORTS AT ENHANCING SRHR REPORTAGE IN NIGERIA

Facilitator – Charles, UNAIDS

Topic – “Efforts at Enhancing SRHR Reportage in Nigeria.”

Mr. Charles introduced a five-page news report culled from The Associated Press, which he distributed to all participants titled: “Rampaging Sudan Troops Raped Foreigners, Killed Locals.” Using the news report as a yardstick for measuring reports on SRHR, he asked participants to read the report and critique.

Most participants condemned the detailed style of reporting. They were of the view that The Associated Press was so detailed in the reportage that within days of publication, Sudanese citizens were able to identify victim of the gang rape perpetrated by 15 South Sudanese soldiers.

A participant, (a female journalist with the Daily Trust), was of the view that the victim’s identity ought to have been protected in line with the ethics of the profession. Though her name was withheld, the description of the location and the race of the victim, were so vivid that Sudanese citizens had no problem identifying the victim.

A few of the participants, however, had a dissenting opinion. One of them was of the view that the detailed reportage was what led to further investigations.

The Facilitator left the critiquing to the professionals only pointing out the following issues:

1. The news is about sexual violence in the context of armed conflict.
2. Giving tips (reports) to journalists helps with exposing SRHS violations.

HUMAN RIGHTS DIMENSION

Facilitator – Rommy Mom (Lawyers Alert President)

Topic – “Human Rights Dimension on Violations of SRHR,”

Citing the cases of the FSWs in Abuja and the suspected gay people in Gishiri village, in Abuja, Lawyers Alert intervened, Mr. Mom emphasized the need to protect key affected populations. To buttress his point, he cited the case of a Customs Officer who was accused of theft in a market in Jalingo, Adamawa state and subsequently beaten to death. It was only after the mob action that his identity was revealed.

Mr. Mom rounded off his session with a quote he once saw in a prison in a prison he visited. The placard read: “A society is judged by how it treats the weakest among them.”

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

The issue of homosexuality in Nigeria is a touchy one especially since the country has enacted laws criminalising same sex relationship and marriage. It was no wonder therefore that the following questions came up:

Q – “If I heard you clear, you mean you offer free legal services to homosexuals?”

Rommy Mom – “Yes, if we offer 10 free legal services to victims of SRHR violations, including homosexuals.”

Q – “How do you marry this with the Nigerian laws which prohibit homosexuality?”

1. M – “Years ago, in Gishiri village, a pastor mobilised a mob to attack some persons alleged to be homosexuals. They broke into their houses, assaulted them, took them to the police station, and they were detained. This to the Pastor and his believers was in keeping with the law. We urge you however to examine the process. It is an offence to break into a persons’ home, assault the person etc. Yet we choose to ignore this. It is so much as the law, the process. We don’t violate rights, in getting to the end of the law. Lawyers Alert is about rights of ALL. Remember again, it is the court that determines culpability at the end of the day. The law does not permit any person to break the doors of people on ground of suspicion of being homosexual. It is the court that will determine the guilt of any person alleged to have committed a crime. Homosexuals, like other groups be they Female Sex workers, Persons Living With HIV, Persons who use Drugs etc are the vulnerable people in the society. How we treat and relate with them is different with coloration of stigma and discrimination. Ours is to focus on the rights of these key population groups.”

Q – “Do you also offer services to children and victims of domestic violence?”

1. M – “Yes, we offer free legal services to children and victims of domestic violence. A 10-year old girl was raped recently. Her mother could not afford to pay transport fare. We offered her free legal services and we also paid for her transport fares.”

WAY FORWARD

On way forward, all participants agreed that:

1. We should keep journalist informed as journalists are human beings and not ghosts that should know everything that happens in the society.
2. Outcome of meetings should be shared. It could be visual, audio or text.
3. Lawyers Alert could organise meetings to keep journalists informed.

CONCLUSION

Mr. Mom thanked all participants and assured them that the training just held was just one of many more to be held, and that from time to time, Lawyers Alert will hold refresher trainings for those in attendance.

 

 

 

LAWYERS ALERT TO SUE NIGERIA ARMY OVER BENUE KILLING

Lawyers Alert has taken up the matter of the wrongful killing by the Nigerian Army of one Master Ipaven Paul AYEM, a JSS 3 student of Holy Family Catholic Secondary School, Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area. The family of the young man had approached Lawyers Alert last month to seek for justice over the killing of their son by men of the Nigerian Army.

According to the family, Paul Ayem, had just closed from school and sat down to lunch outdoors when he suddenly slumped at the sound of gunshots and was found to be bleeding from the head. Closer inspection revealed a gunshot to his head. It turned out that men of the Nigerian army had taken it upon themselves to randomly fire into the air in an attempt to disperse vigilantes they were caught in an altercation with. It was in the course of this action that Paul received a bullet to the head resulting in his instant death. The sad incident took place on the 21^st of March 2017.

Strangely enough, when the Nigerian Army were made aware of the incident by the family of the deceased, they became quite hostile and refused to listen to the deceased’s family against standard practice and procedure – and dismissed the death as likely caused by a bullet fired by the vigilantes.

Lawyers Alert believes responsibility lies on Government at all levels to bring to justice the perpetrators of such this act. Paul was a 17-year old in a certificate class with poor parents catering for him and hoping for an eventual reaping of the fruits of their sacrifice. 

Based on the above facts and the Nigerian Army’s indifference to the family’s plight, Lawyers Alert has written to and served on the Nigerian Army, a 21 days’ notice to meet the following demands:

• a.      Identify and bring to book the soldiers involved in this heinous crime as their conduct was a negation of the ethics, conduct and rules of engagement of the organization.
• b.      The Nigerian Army serves a letter of condolence on the family of the deceased for the unfortunate and unlawful death of their son from the bullet fired by men and officers of the Nigerian Army.
• c.       The Nigerian Army pays to the family a compensation of two billion naira as damages for the unlawful killing of their son by men of the Nigerian Army.

A failure to meet the demands stipulated above will cause Lawyers Alert to resort to the law courts for a judicial determination of this matter.

 

 

LAWYERS ALERT PRESS RELEASE. BENUE KILLINGS: BEYOND THE CONDEMNATIONS; MATTERS ARISING

Billows of smoke, lifeless bodies, charred cars and deserted streets best describe the scenarios in Buruku, Ukum, and, to a lesser degree, Kwande Local Government Areas recently attacked in Benue State of North Central Nigeria. For some time now, the people of Benue have been under heavy attacks from different fronts ranging from militia herdsmen, marauding gunmen and other sources in between. An estimated 200 lives have been lost with many more maimed or wounded. This situation has left the people, especially Women and Children, as the main victims of these unfortunate attacks.

The chief role of every government at all levels is the protection of lives and property of its Citizens. Nigeria is no different as specified in the 1999 Constitution in chapter 2 section 2b: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” This provision however, seems to look much better on paper than it does with regard to implementation in Nigeria as a whole. With the return to democracy in 1999, wave after wave of violence has been meted out on the people by a range of faceless groups. Until very recently, Boko Haram terrorists held sway in Nigerias north east having almost totally crippled the Borno state government.

But these attacks have not been limited to any one part of the country.

On Friday the 17^th of March 2017, reports have it that a platoon of gunmen believed to be nomadic Fulani Herdsmen, numbering over 50 stormed the sleepy town of Buruku and opened fire on unsuspecting residents. The attack is said to have lasted over three hours. At the end of the unanticipated onslaught, over 60 people lay dead, most of them Women and children.

Three days later, on Monday March 20 2017, an unknown number of gunmen, in four vehicles and 12 motorcycles invaded the town of Zaki Biam in Ukum Local Government again opening fire on defenseless people at the popular yam market and killing an estimated 80, leaving in their wake a trail of destruction. Reliable reports of the Zaki Biam incident are few and far between. Rumors and speculations, however, abound ranging from suggestions that the killing spree was the aftermath of intra-ethnic bickering to external attacks from a neighboring state.

Be that as it may, Lawyers Alert has been able to glean information from reliable sources indicating that the Zaki Biam attack also lasted well over three hours from about 5pm to 8pm. Now, the question begging for answers is, where was the Police?  The failure of the Police in the local government areas to quickly counter the marauding gunmen can only be described as unfortunate. Especially in light of the prior attack on Buruku.

The true situation of the Kwande incident remains unclear. For now all we know is that lives have been lost and another group of citizens displaced.

The state government’s response has however been swift. Governor Samuel Ortom made personal on the spot visits to ascertain the true status of the attacked localities and consoled the bereaved. He also ordered the prompt expulsion of all Fulani herdsmen from the state, a stance which drew nods of approval from the people but also attracted the ire of the police chief in the state who considered the action inappropriate and illegal. The Governor and the Comissioner of Police were soon caught in a standoff that left a sour taste in the mouths of many.

The dismay expressed by many at the turn of events might be traced to the fact that Security agencies who ought by now to have put preemptive strategies in place were caught napping as the marauders came, saw and conquered without challenge from them. Indeed, not a single person has been arrested in connection with any of the attacks so far, rather reports reaching us have it that Jato Aka in Kwande LGA is currently on lock down by the same security agencies who seemed powerless in the face of what can be only be described as a terrorist attack in other parts of the state. And yet the state government’s efforts at curbing the menace were seemingly being thwarted by those actually given the mandate.

Without a doubt, the onus for keeping the Police well equipped, armed and trained lies on the shoulders of the Federal Government. There has never been a time in the history of the Nigerian nation when a need has ever been as glaring as this one currently is. Intelligence gathering is a necessity and can easily be achieved with the current advancements in technology. Security has gradually evolved from a place of reactiveness to pro activeness. These coordinated attacks are randomly unleashed on unsuspecting members of the public by hoodlums some of who actually are Fulani herdsmen (as seen in their own confession regarding the Agatu massacres). Whether all of these attacks can truly be traced to marauding herdsmen however, remains a matter for thorough investigation.

Be that as it may, regardless of who the killers are eventually (hopefully) identified to be and no matter what their motives are, the Nigerian state has witnessed one death too many as a result these unknown murderers. The political will to unmask the brains behind these attackers must be drawn from whatever reserves of inner strength the Federal Government still has left. The masterminds and their financiers must be located and brought to book.

Certainly, the state government also has a major role to play and we commend Governor Samuel Ortom for his untiring efforts to return peace to the state. Shortly after assuming office, the arms buy back project reduced the quantity of small arms scattered across the state as many turned theirs in. The process went smoothly and reports have it that up to 700 such arms were retrieved. All this achieved without the shedding of a single drop of blood.

The Ortom administration has also done its best to halt the activities of a local power monger known simply as Gana who had become a law unto himself and had been named in connection with many murders one of which was that of a close aide to the governor himself. Though still on the run, Gana arguably no longer has the chokehold he once did on the state. This is another commendable gesture as Benue has no interest in contributing its own quota to the pre-existing mix of locally bred terror mongers.

That said, much still remains to be done as we are sure Governor Ortom himself is fully aware.

In line with the state governments efforts at finding a lasting solution to this seemingly never ending tide of violence, therefore, Lawyers Alert recommends the following steps:

The Federal Government:

• The Federal Government should set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the Ukum and Buruku slaughters with a view to bringing the culprits to book and compensating the victims.
• The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, send a ministerial delegation to assess the situation in both Ukum and Buruku LGAs and forward their findings straight to the Presidency for immediate action.
• The deployment of a special TAC team to Benue is welcome.

State Government

• The Benue State Government should synergize its Security position with the Security Agencies in the State especially the State Police Command.
• The State Government should set up its own panel of inquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the armed conflict with a view to finding lasting solutions to the problem and compensation of the victims.
• The Benue State Government should strengthen peace building committees across troubled spots to include herdsmen, farmers and other critical stakeholders.
• The State House of Assembly should carefully go through the anti-Grazing Bill currently before it which the state government has requested be sped up. In their bid to reach a quick conclusion, the people of Benue should not be saddled with a law that could work against the interests of the people as feelers seem to indicate at the moment.

Conclusion:

In Conclusion, Lawyers Alert considers all extrajudicial killings as a gross violation of fundamental Human Rights. All lives are sacrosanct and where any life is taken for any reason beyond judicial spheres, the responsibility lies on Government at all levels to remedy the situation and bring to justice the perpetrators of such dastardly acts.

Borno must never be replicated anywhere else in Nigeria. Enough is enough. The time to act is NOW.

Rommy Mom Esq

President, Lawyers Alert

+2348036081967

 

Nigeria Civil Society Advocacy Points on the 2017 Budget Proposals

S/N	CSOs Critical Advocacy Points	2017 Budget Proposal Update
1	Provide the statutory transfers to fund the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), an intervention Fund as provided for in the National Health Act which seeks no less than 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.	The 2017 Budget proposal does not make any provision recognizing the National Health Act as a statutory payment, being 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) from the FG’s revenue share. If implemented, this 1% of the CRF would be worth an estimated N49.4bn, raising funding for the health sector to approximately 5.9% of the budget.
2	Nigeria should include a provision of N33.5bn (US$110 million) for vaccine procurement, to close the funding gap over the 2017/2018 period and fulfill her co-financing obligations towards GAVI.	Total Vaccine provision in the 2017 proposal including Polio sits at N12.5bn which largely takes care of the 2017 needs (if the proposed loan from the world bank kicks in). The biennial procurement recommendation was clearly not provided for to cover 2017 and 2018.
3	Provide at a minimum, no less than N3.6bn (US$11.5 million) for family planning and reproductive health commodities that deliver on the Government’s commitment from the 2012 London Family Planning conference; the funding requirements Family planning related expenditure for 2017 stands at $122.5mn based on the need to reach 36% CPR by 2018.	The FG plans to spend only N988.12mn ($3.23m) on Family Planning programmes this year, which is grossly inadequate and falls short of the commitment made in the London Family Planning Conference in 2012. The provisions do not come close to the requirements in the Nigeria Family Planning Blueprint (Scale-Up Plan 2014 – 2018)
4	Push for dedicated funds to address the main drivers of childhood illness, including a specific, budgetary provision for implementing the National Strategic Plan on Nutrition, which envisages at least $10mn per year from the federal government.	The FG’s commitments under the National Strategic Plan on Nutrition should come to at least $10million( N3.05bn).  However, only N1.23bn ($4m) across all MDAs* was allocated for Nutrition in 2017, representing a 60% shortfall.   *Ministries, Departments and Agencies
5	Create a health basket fund from bilateral and multilateral funding for the health sector within the 2017 budget, to provide a single conduit for investments in the health sector, enabling coordination, monitoring and auditing of budget performance.	The federal government does not maintain a transparent donor basket, which is a critical component that should make funding of bilateral and multilateral commitments seamless and transparent.
6	Increase domestic funding for HIV/AIDS in the 2017 budget, with similar incremental increases over the next 4 years, to achieve 45% domestic funding for HIV/AIDS by 2020.	Total allocations across MDAs and NACA stands at N5.86bn. This shows significant interest from a very low level. However, allocations to NACA stagnated from 2016. The current treatment gap in Nigeria and the budget aspiration are quite far apart.