The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government to put policies in place to protect civilians in conflict regions of Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN), who made the call at a workshop and Photo Exhibition on Protection of Civilians and Human Rights in Nigeria held in Abuja said, the protection of civilians from violence and human rights violations of any kind remains a sacred duty of the federal government.
According to the NHRC boss, Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) places responsibility of protecting the citizens on the government and its institutions.
Ojukwu said, “It is for this reason that the NHRC and other stakeholders have worked on, and submitted to the Federal Government, a draft Policy on the Protection of Civilians.
“This policy is aimed at addressing all issues related to the protection, treatment and rehabilitation of civilians as well as remedial and accountability measures for perpetrators of violence and human rights violations.”
He called on the new administration to approve the policy and added that, the NHRC is committed to playing a leading role in the implementation of the policy and to ensure that all stakeholders play their parts in the protection of civilians.
One major outcome of the workshop, Ojukwu said, is the drafting of a policy brief on the rights-based approach to the Protection of Civilians in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Options which will serve as a roadmap for the new administration and heads of security agencies for the protection of civilians in Nigeria.
In his remark, the Country Director of the Centre for Civilian in Conflict, Dr Benson Olugbuo urged President Tinubu and the new service chiefs to take time to properly understand the dynamics of conflicts.
“The recent appointment of new Service Chiefs and other security heads by President Tinubu provides an opportunity for a reset, adding that, charting the course for a secure and safe Nigeria for civilians can only begin with an honest and bold conversation with the communities that have been severely affected by years of insurgency.
“The new administration needs to spend time understanding the different dynamics of the conflict, assess the already recorded achievements, although meager, and acknowledge the missed opportunities,” he stated.
In her goodwill message, the Solicitor-General of the Federation (SGF) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba said the challenges of Civilians in Conflict-affected areas cannot be overemphasized and stressed the need for continuous discussion among relevant Stakeholders with a view to exploring innovative approaches on the issues.
Jeddy-Agba, who was represented by the head of the cybercrime unit of the Ministry of Justice, Jemila Ade urged participants at the workshop to actively engage, as the major outcome of the workshop would serve as a roadmap for the new administration on the right-based approach to protection of Civilians in Nigeria.
The two-day workshop, organized by the NHRC in collaboration with the Center for Civilians in Conflicts featured photo exhibitions to mark 20 years of existence of the Center for Civilians in Conflicts.
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