The profession of Estate Management and Valuation faces significant challenges due to the prevalence of unqualified individuals operating as quacks on a daily basis. The lack of awareness about the role and importance of an Estate Surveyor, along with the advantages of dealing with them, has had detrimental effects on various stakeholders in the Real Estate sector.
An Estate Surveyor is a qualified professional who has undergone formal education in “Estate Management” from an accredited institution. They have obtained certification from reputable organizations like the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) and been elected by the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) to practice in the field of Estate Management and Valuation. Despite the importance of their expertise, many Nigerians remain unfamiliar with their roles and qualifications.
This lack of awareness has allowed unscrupulous individuals to exploit unsuspecting individuals by posing as Estate Agents. These self-proclaimed agents can be found on the streets, ready to take advantage of those seeking real estate services. They lack the necessary qualifications, knowledge, and professionalism required in the industry.
These quacks typically charge exorbitant fees, often as high as N5,000, for property inspections, even for properties that have already been rented. To maximize their profits, they may take multiple people to the same property in a single day, disregarding the needs and interests of their clients.
Their unprofessional conduct is another cause for concern. They often exhibit rudeness and a lack of respect towards potential tenants, tarnishing the reputation of legitimate Estate agents and eroding public trust in the industry.
Apart from the financial implications for individuals, these quacks also lack an understanding of the legal aspects of their work. This ignorance leads to poorly drafted tenancy agreements and legal disputes between tenants and landlords, causing unnecessary stress and inconvenience.
Moreover, the impact of these quacks is not limited to individuals alone. The Nigerian government suffers revenue losses in terms of property tax due to their involvement in the real estate sector. The presence of unlicensed agents reduces the government’s ability to collect taxes from unreported rental income.
To address this pressing issue, several measures need to be taken. Public awareness campaigns are essential to educate the public about the risks of dealing with unlicensed agents and the benefits of engaging registered and qualified Estate Surveyors and Valuers. Empowering consumers with knowledge on how to verify an agent’s credentials will help them make informed decisions and avoid falling victim to fraud.
Collaboration between the government, real estate industry, and consumer protection organizations through public-private partnerships can also make a significant impact. By pooling resources and expertise, stakeholders can develop comprehensive strategies to combat the presence of quacks and protect the interests of the public.
Additionally, governments should enforce strict regulations in the real estate sector, ensuring that only licensed professionals are allowed to operate. Implementing minimum qualifications, conducting background checks, and regular audits of real estate agents and agencies can help maintain the integrity and professionalism of the industry.
By taking these proactive measures, the real estate industry can effectively curb the spread of quacks, foster transparency, and build trust among all stakeholders, ultimately ensuring a safer and more reliable real estate market for everyone involved.
Oluwakayode Abe contributed this article through abeoluwakayode99@gmail.com

A 34-year-old South American man from Suriname has been sentenced to 13 years prison term for smuggling drug into Nigeria.

The man, whose name was given as Dadda Lorenzo Harvy Albert, was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers state for bringing into Nigeria 117 parcels of cocaine concealed in extra-large latex condoms factory packed inside bottles of 100ml body spray, taken to court subsequently found guilty and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

According to a statement on Wednesday by the spokesman of the NDLEA, the accused who claimed he departed his country, Suriname, located in the North Eastern coast of South America on 2nd April for Sao Paulo, Brazil and from Sao Paulo to Nigeria on Friday 7th April, 2023 on board Qatar Airways flight in search of his long-lost Nigerian father whom he called “Omini”, was arraigned before Justice E.A. Obile of the Federal High Court 2, Port Harcourt on 1st June on two counts of importation and unlawful possession of 9.9 kilogrammes cocaine in charge number FHC/PH/181C/23.

The Surinamese however pleaded guilty to the two-count charge and after the review of the facts of the case on Thursday 20th July, he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment on both counts without an option of fine.

In his ruling, Justice Obile declared that “You Dadda Lorenzo Harvy Albert is hereby sentenced to 13 years imprisonment without option of fine on Count 1 and Count 2 also. And both shall run concurrently.”

The trial judge also ordered the forfeiture of the sum of US$90 R$10 (Brazilian Real) recovered from the convict at the time of his arrest to the Federal Government. The court equally refused the application by Lorenzo’s Counsel for him to be deported back to his country. As a result, the convict is now serving his term of imprisonment at the Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to Babafemi, the successful prosecution and conviction of Lorenzo is one of the 1,445 drug cases concluded at the Federal High Court across the country between January and June 2023 by the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services of NDLEA with the trial of a total of 11,166 other drug suspects ongoing in court.

He said out of the 1,445 convicts, 221 of them are female while the balance of 1,541 are male; and of the 11,166 pending cases, 10,626 of them are men while the rest, 540 are women.

Babafemi said the 1,445 convicts and 11,166 suspects who are still facing trial were arrested and charged to court over the seizure of 555,953.70 kilogrammes of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, tramadol and others linked to them between January and June 2023.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) commended officers and men of the prosecution department for a job well done.

He however charged them to remain committed to diligent prosecution of all pending cases in court, adding that conviction and sentencing without the option of fine is a strong deterrence to offenders and anyone contemplating going into any crime.

Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has congratulated the Chairman of Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue I, Maj.-Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), on the 17th anniversary of his coronation.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, in Asaba, the Governor lauded the monarch for uniting the people of the Kingdom and for making it peaceful and investment-friendly since ascending the ancient throne.

He described the monarch as “a distinguished elder statesman, bridge-builder with unassailable integrity, whose reign had been of immense value to the kingdom and humanity’’.

The Governor also commended the respected royal father for his unwavering support for the realisation of the Delta Governor of Okpe extraction.

Governor Oborevwori, said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Delta, I joyfully congratulate His Royal Majesty, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue I, Maj.-Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), CFR on the occasion of his 17th coronation anniversary.

“Umogu, I join the good people of Okpe Kingdom and Deltans in celebrating a great monarch, whose passion for the growth and development of his Kingdom and Urhobo nation remains unparalleled.

“In the last 17 years on the throne, His Royal Majesty, Orhue 1, has continued to provide exemplary and impactful leadership by rallying and inspiring the Okpe people, Urhobos and the Delta Traditional Institution to greater heights.

“I must commend your sagacity in keeping and managing the culture and traditions of the Okpe people by promoting harmony, socio-cultural cooperation, communal living and peaceful co-existence among the Urhobo and other ethnic groups in the State”.

Oborevwori wished His Majesty good health, long life and more wisdom to pilot the affairs of Okpe Kingdom and the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council.

Leader of the Ghanaian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin has advocated for the hosting of the activities of the regional body parliament outside the national capitals of members state.

Afenyo-Markin, while explaining the modalities behind the decision to hold the next Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Winneba, a municipal in Ghana, said hosting outside the national capitals would foster regional inclusion and ensure that ECOWAS agenda are taken to more citizens of West Africa.

Afenyo-Markin made this known while speaking to journalists at the closing of the delocalized meeting of the Parliament’s Joint Committees on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism, Judicial Affairs and Human rights, Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment in Monrovia, Liberia.

He noted that hosting such international meeting outside the Ghanaian capital of Accra is in line with one of the founding visions of ECOWAS as a tool for regional inclusion through inclusive programmes.

Afenyo-Markin while stating that West African communities are blessed with a lot of resources, explained that hosting international events in such communities will market the region and open it to international markets.

Afenyo-Markin noted that when such an event is brought to the local communities of member states, citizens will get to know more about ECOWAS institutions, and also bring infrastructural development to the community.

He said: “This is not the first time, we hosted a delocalized meeting and Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Winneba in 2021. A precedent has been set except that we are optimistic that this will be better than before.

“The whole idea of integration is to take governance to the very doorstep of the people and we the Ghanaian delegation made a case that it is high time we move out of the capital city.

“Anytime we host international programmes, we concentrate on the capital city and members do not get the opportunity to travel out of the capital city.

“So one, to bring the governance right to the door step of the very people we govern, and two, to also create that opportunity for the region for putting it on the visibility map creates a positive uptake for development.

“There is no doubt on my mind that international programmes create opportunities for growth, development, and also tourism.

“We have sixteen regions in Ghana and Winneba is a municipality within the central region of Ghana.

“Taking the conference there, the session there with all the participants will market the region, the constituency, the city which is a coastal city for greater opportunities.
“When such initiatives comes, government gets compelled to upgrade facilities. And long after the conference is over, these facilities become the Bonafede of the people and for other use,” Afenyo-Markin said.

He urged other parliamentarians to follow suit, plan with their governments so that they can open the region to the world.

The European Union (EU) has called on the coup plotters in Niger to vacant office and return government to democratically elected representatives, insisting that the government they formed would never be recognized.

The EU also announced its readiness to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to impose severe sanction on Niger should the coup plotters not hand back power to duly elected officials, stressing that their action is without consequences.

The EU, in a statement on Saturday by High Representative Josep Borrell said:
“The EU does not recognize and will not recognize the authorities resulting from the putsch in Niger. President Bazoum was democratically elected; he is and therefore remains the only legitimate President of Niger.”

Borrell added that: “His (Bazoum) release must be unconditional and without delay. The EU holds the putschists responsible for his safety and that of his family.”

The EU High Representative said: “The announcement by the putschists of the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of democratic institutions weakens the State and the people of Niger, whose peace, stability and security must be preserved.

“The European Union reiterates its very clear calls for the full and complete restoration, without delay, of constitutional order and fully associates itself with the declarations of ECOWAS and its African and international partners in this regard.”

He disclosed that: “In coordination with the President of the European Council, I will continue this weekend the numerous contacts already underway in order to achieve this result. And we stand ready to support future ECOWAS decisions, including the adoption of sanctions.”

He said: This unacceptable attack on the integrity of Niger’s republican institutions will not remain without consequences for the partnership and cooperation which binds the European Union and Niger, in all different aspects. In this regard, in addition to the immediate cessation of budget support, all cooperation actions in the security field are suspended sine die with immediate effect.”

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has called for collaboration between ECOWAS Commission and the African Union (AU) in order to strengthen collective regional security operations within West Africa that would ward off the constant threat of coup d’etat currently bedeviling the subregion.

This was one of the recommendations contained in the draft report presented at the end of the delocalized meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament Joint Committees on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism, Judicial Affairs and Human rights, Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment in Monrovia, Liberia on Friday.

The delocalized meeting which held from July 25-28 with aim at proffering the best mechanisms for ensuring greater political inclusion in governance in member states, allowing for peace, security to prevent and resolve the multifaceted crisis faced by countries, in the draft report which would be adopted by plenary at the next session of the Parliament contained recommendations to the member states.

With the threats of insecurity in the region, the ECOWAS Parliament Committees stated that: “We appeal to the ECOWAS Commission to work hard to strengthen collective regional security operation in collaboration with the African Union and key partners.

“To encourage regional efforts in addressing the concerns and common security challenges that makes the state fragile and susceptible to coups.

“Encourages the ECOWAS Commission to continue to intensify dialogue with the transitional authorities in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.

“In other to ensure the follow up and implementation of the transition time-table with a view to accelerate the return to constitutional order in these states.

“Urges the ECOWAS Parliament to develop mechanisms to enable it to be proactive, operational in conflict prevention and management.

“Urges the member states to centralize military commands to avoid formation of elite military units or parallel military forces whose command and control is outside a unified command structure”.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the meeting, Senator Edwin Snowe, Leader of the Liberian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament lamented the backsliding in democratic rule in the sub-region, describing it as a shame on the region’s democracy and that it needed to be stopped forthrightly.

Snowe, who was Chair of the Joint Committees’ delocalized meeting expressed hope and optimism in the leadership of President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria who is Chair of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of States to intervene in the recent coup in the Republic of Niger.

He said: “It was actually in Guinea Bissau two weeks ago when President Tinubu declared zero tolerance to coup d’etats and less than two weeks later there is coup d’etat.

“This morning, the President (Liberia) have asked me to join him on Sunday to Abuja for the Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Heads of State. We hope that the Heads of States will come up with some decisive positions of this matter.

“It is actually a shame on our region and we hope that we will find a way to stop this. Because backsliding from democracy. Gone are the days when we had the Samuel Doe, Jerry Rawling, Yahaya Jameh, Abacha’s. Gone are those days.

“We have made significant progress in our drive to democracy so to see us going back to where we come from it is a shame and I hope that something will be done in a faster manner for us to correct the situation.

“It is a big test for Nigeria and the leadership of the Chairmanship of President Tinubu and we are hoping that there will be some drastic measures to correct this situation in our region.

“This time around, ECOWAS will not be a sleeping bulldog. I believe in the leadership of President Tinubu and I am sure he will make a difference,” Snowe said.

Snowe however noted that for every successful coup with a loss of a member state, it undermines the work of ECOWAS bodies and institutions, reiterating that the leadership of ECOWAS will stand firm protecting the region’s democracy.

The European Union (EU) has condemned in the strongest terms the coup in Nigér, insisting that the events in the West African country in recent days constitute a serious attack on stability and democracy.

It also warned that that any abuse of the fundamental rights of the ousted leader would meet dire consequences with suspension of support to the troubled country.

The EU, in a statement on Friday signed by the High Representative said: “As ECOWAS pointed out in its latest press release, this coup is in total violation of the democratic principles on which the management of political power in the region is based..”

The EU reiterated its support for the action of the organisation in the sub-region and for the ongoing efforts to allow an immediate return to constitutional order.

It called for President Bazoum’s security and freedom of movement to be guaranteed unconditionally, warning that:
“Any breach of the constitutional order will have consequences for cooperation between the EU and Niger, including the immediate suspension of all budget support. We will remain in close coordination with the ECOWAS Heads of State.”

EU however said it stands with the people of Nigér and reaffirms its full commitment to strict respect for the rule of law, human rights and international humanitarian law in the country.

In 20 years, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has secured 624 convictions for trafficking in persons offenses, the Director General of the agency, Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi has disclosed.

Speaking at the ceremony to celebrate the 20 years anniversary of the agency in Abuja on Thursday, Waziri-Azi said NAPTIP has progressed from its very first command in Benin -Edo State to offices in 32 states and task force against human trafficking in 22 states.

She said. “We have made progress in our criminal justice response with a significant increase in convictions (624 Convictions since the first conviction was secured in 2006″.

Waziri-Azi further said the agency secured 80 convictions in 2022 which is the highest in a single year since the inception of NAPTIP and 48 convictions and counting in 2023 including for the first time the conviction of a law enforcement officer for human trafficking offences

The DG while noting that the agency has prosecuted several mutual legal assistance cases, said on the 8 of March 2023, NAPTIP was able to extradite a high profile human trafficker to Italy to serve out her 13 years jail term.

She said: “Our recent strategic partnership with Meta (owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) and the United States National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children have further enhanced the capacity of NAPTIP to tackle issues of online child exploitation.”

She noted that Nigeria is better poised to control and tackle human trafficking because of the collaborative efforts of everyone.

Waziri-Azi said last year, with support from our supervising Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Alfairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, not one but three policy documents targeted at revolutionizing the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria, including the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking (2022-2026); were approved by the Federal Executive Council.”

She added that: “Today we will present more policy documents and innovations and they include: NAPTIP Disability Inclusion Policy, NAPTIP Service Charter, policy documents that have been transcribed into braille for the blind in collaboration with the disability commission.”

She noted that part of the improvement of the agency was the rebranding of the organisation’s logo, that has already been mainstreamed.

She said: “The rebranded logo represents a re-commitment from NAPTIP to protect all persons against human trafficking, and violence against persons through a people-centered access to justice, and the provision of safe spaces.”

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo in his address reiterated that human trafficking knows no boundaries, stressing that it thrives in the shadows, exploiting vulnerabilities and preying on the marginalized and defenseless.

Sani-Gwarzo who was represented by the Deputy Director of Humanitarian, Charles Anielo said, on the part of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development, the coordinating ministry for all humanitarian and migrations issues in Nigeria, Federal government is committed to combating all aspect of irregular migration which requires multi-stakeholders’ engagement in comprehensive and protect multidisciplinary manner that proactively focuses on how best to and assist vulnerable persons within the entire migration circle and punish the perpetrators.

He said: “We have witnessed the incredible power of cooperation and the unwavering dedication of countless individuals who have come together to combat the injustice of human trafficking.

“Today we pay tribute to each and every person and we celebrate the numerous lives that have been transformed, the futures that have been rewritten, and the hope that has been restored.”

The Faculty of Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has announced that some of its 2021 graduates will not be attending Law School, despite their legitimate qualifications.

Out of the 217 graduates from the 2021 Law Class who were cleared of any outstanding issues and officially graduated in November 2022, only 147 have been selected to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.

The decision to leave about 70 legitimate graduates behind has sparked outrage as the faculty intends to give preference to 73 members of the newly graduated 2022 final year class, who just defended their undergraduate projects two weeks ago. This 2021 class was originally set to graduate in 2021, but due to incessant strikes, their graduation was delayed to November 2022, resulting in a prolonged study period of 6+ years for a degree that should take 5 years.

Following the conclusion of the 2022 ASUU strike that lasted from February to October, the faculty rushed the 2021 graduates to complete their degree program in a little over one month to meet the Law School’s resumption dates in January 2023. Despite the tight timeline, the faculty failed to prepare the results of the 2021 Law Class for Law School on time.

Adding to the controversy, rumours circulate that an administrative waiver might allow the 2022 law class, who just finished their exams in July 2023, to gain priority admission to the Law School, leaving legitimate graduates waiting for another year without any proper explanation.

The impact of this decision has been devastating for the affected students. With no guarantee of admission in the future and their dreams of attending Law School shattered, they are left in a state of limbo. Additionally, many of these graduates are ineligible for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, which further jeopardizes their career prospects.

One of the reasons behind this controversial decision is the administrative waiver that will allow the 2022 law class, who recently finished their exams in July, to secure priority slots for Law School admission. This move has raised questions about fairness and the lack of communication from the faculty towards the affected graduates.

The consequences of this decision are far-reaching. Students who have already spent six to seven years pursuing their law degrees are now at risk of losing another year, with no guarantee of admission to Law School in the future. Furthermore, these graduates are ineligible for the Nigerian Law School due to not having first-class or second-class upper degrees and may have to forego pursuing their careers as lawyers entirely.

The faculty’s criteria for selecting 73 students from the 2022 finalists, out of a class of over 340 students, remain unclear, leaving many in the dark about their fate. Graduates with extra years of study are also deeply affected, as they find themselves excluded from Law School despite meeting the quota expected by the Nigerian Law School.

In response to this situation, concerned individuals and alumni have called for equitable treatment, emphasizing that priority should be given to the first in time, and that students who have graduated with second-class lower degrees have successfully excelled at the Nigerian Law School in the past.

As of now, about 70 law graduates remain displaced from attending the Nigerian Law School, and the faculty has provided no explanation for this decision or any reassurance regarding future opportunities.

The Faculty of Law’s actions have stirred unrest and raised serious questions about fairness and transparency in the selection process for Law School admission. Graduates and supporters are urging the university’s administration to reconsider this divisive decision and provide a clear plan for addressing the concerns of the affected graduates.

The fallout from this controversy has the potential to create further chaos within the Faculty of Law at UNN, with many anxiously awaiting resolution and accountability from the authorities involved.

Former Justice Minister of the Republic of Liberia, Benedict Sannoh has charged Supreme Courts in West Africa to prevent post-election crises and recent attacks by the military on democratic processes in the subregion by safeguarding the mandate of citizens.

Sannoh made the call on Thursday while delivering a paper titled “Role of Judiciary in the Prevention and Management of Electoral Crisis” at the Delocalized meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committees on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism, Judicial Affairs and Human rights, Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment in Monrovia, Liberia.

He said that the manner in which electoral disputes are adjudicated by the Judiciary is the foundation for peace or crises in any democracy.

Sannoh, while advocating for the independence of the judiciary, noted that political parties must also play active and proactive roles in approaching the judiciary for resolution electoral disputes.

He said: “The judiciary through the supreme court should ensure that the constitution mandate is upheld.

“The role of the Supreme Court in the adjudication of these cases should be to ensure that the opinions enhance, promote and entrench the respect, protection of the will of the people.

“As expressed by their votes in the the elections conducted consistent with the constitution, and we see a consistent trend in this direction.

“The Supreme Courts should be keen on the question of adherence to fundamental rights articulated in the constitution especially on the question of no one being deprived of a liberty, poverty, privilege or any other right.

“Except as an outcome of a hearing consistent with the provisions of the constitutions and in accordance with the due process of law.

“Political parties should play a more pro-active role in the use of the judiciary; monitor every statutory and administrative action taken by the elections commission, the legislature, or the institutions within the executive branch.

“Political parties should also collaborate in raising issues that require judicial determination, referendum, cleaning of the voters roll.”

Sannoh, while responding to interventions from members of ECOWAS Parliament on his paper, said that the constitution of Member States must also be properly implemented.

According to the former Justice Minister, the constitution of the country reflects the will and expectations of its citizens, insisting that all concerns of citizens ought to be addressed by provisions of the constitution.

In separate interventions, some ECOWAS Members of Parliament lamented the executive control of the judiciary, recommending that judges be voted by citizens rather than being appointed by the executive.

Hon. Laadi Ayamba, Member of Parliament from Ghana said that the decisions of some courts in West Africa have at several times been influenced by the executive, which makes justice denied in most cases.

She said that: “When Judges are appointed by the executive, they can get them to say anything in their favour.

“I think this is something that we must look at changing in our various country’s constitutions.

“For me, I would recommend that judges should be voted for by the people.”

Countries should not be allowed to burn after the general elections, there should be inclusion and collaboration between winners and losers of the elections, the Liberia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mawine Giggs on Thursday admonished West African Citizens through members of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament.

Presenting a paper titled: “Mechanism for Collaboration between political majorities and opposition as a crisis prevention mechanism” at a delocalized joint committee meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament in Monrovia, Diggs said “the majority as the winner and the minority as the loser have a duty to keep the country safe, peaceful, stable and prosperous through inclusion and collaboration.”

She noted that: “As always in a democracy , there will be a political majority elected by the people through the ballot box and a minority who does not get elected,” but said collaboration between political majorities and opposition is sure means of crisis prevention.

She added that: “Like we say in Liberia, after all the political processes, the country “will not burn”. So it is with all countries in the ECOWAS community. After elections, our countries must not and should not burn.”

She admitted that in a democratic system of government, the majority wins but has a responsibility to protect the minority, insisting that: “This reponsibility of protection encapsulates the respect for the rights of all, irrespective of the gender, ethnic or political affiliation of the individual.

“The governing majority is required to build strong and vibrant institutions including an independent judiciary and a free press.

“The governing majority is charged to ensure that the fundamental rights, including healthcare and education are available and affordable for all.”

On the part of the minority, Diggs said: Whilst the governing majority has a duty to govern, the minority has a charge to subscribe to the rule of law.

“The right to protest and hold government accountable or ”hold their feet to the fire” which is fundamental, must be exercised in a peaceful manner consistent with the constitution.

“Besides criticism, the minority is required to provide alternatives on what the governing majority could do in the best interest of the citizens.”

She explained that: “The first step to govern is the creation of the space and atmosphere for governance, and this is attainable only by collaboration,” insisting that: “Both the majority and minority must collaborate at all times regardless of the disagreements and divergence of views.

“Both sides must respect democratic principles and values. Whilst the majority focuses more on the delivery of its programmes, it must also create an enabling environment for everyone to co-exist. The threat of conflict is greatly minimized by a healthy collaboration between both the government, opposition and those of no position.”

Diggs noted that: “In parliament it is often said that, “the minority has its say but the majority have the will.,” stressing that: “This assertion finds its true meaning in the responsibility the majority has to all. To demonstrate will means, to do the right thing, create the space required for all to participate as they so wish.

“For the minority, having say, is meant to insist on holding the government accountable and serviceable while also respecting the rule of law.

“The majority and minority must collaborate and build synergies on their commonalities in areas of gender parity, a free press, an independent judiciary, and an open budget which puts the people first and above all, upholds the constitution.”

-BY ONORIODE ETATSEMI:

The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in the Delta Ministry of Justice, Mr. Omamuzo Erebe has described retirement from the civil service as an important milestone in the life of any civil servant in the public service.

Erebe stated this in Asaba at a send forth party organised in honour of a retiring staff of the Ministry, Mrs. Victoria Emephia, who attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.

He stated that civil servants should look forward to retirement with joy, as it was a culmination of the hard work put in by them in service to their State.

Erebe stated that Mrs. Emephia, who was bowing out as a Deputy Director in the State Civil Service, was a committed legal officer who would be remembered for her diligence, humility, love, and respect for all.

Staff of the Ministry also poured encomiums on Mrs Emephia, describing her as a very humble and dedicated officer.

In her response, Mrs. Emephia said that she was overwhelmed with joy by the honour done her and commended her colleagues for their support during her service years.

Mrs. Emephia paid glowing tributes to the immediate past Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Isaiah Bozimo, for his outstanding efforts and innovations in repositioning the Ministry. She said she benefitted immensely from his transformation initiatives.

She also commended the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for how he has effectively run the affairs of the Ministry.

The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of a letter of commendation by the Ministry of Justice to the retiring staff. The celebrant later cut her 60th year birthday cake and was presented with gifts by different departments of the Ministry.

A call has been made on all relevant organisations to work in synergy to ensure maximum protection of civilians and human rights in the country

The call was made on Tuesday by stakeholders at a two-day workshop and photo exhibition in Abuja, which also coincided with the celebration of the Center for Civilian in Conflict (CIVIC) at 20 years.

The event which was put together by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), CIVIC and the European Union (EU), the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, said the Commission and other stakeholders have worked on, and submitted to the Federal Government, a draft Policy on the Protection of Civilians.

Ojukwu explained that: “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 noted that the draft policy seeks to protect civilians in conflicts, reduce or eliminate civilian harm through planning and early warning assessment of civilian harm during and after operations, harm acknowledgment, and remedial service provision.

He said; “We are hoping that in response to the upsurge in violence, the new administration will approve this policy. The NHRC commits to playing a leading role in the implementation of this policy and to ensure that all stakeholders play their parts in the protection of civilians.”,

He also said the major outcome of this workshop 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.

Ojukwu thanked the Centre for Civilians in Conflict and the European Union for their support in hosting the event even as he congratulated CIVIC on its 20th anniversary “for which we are today launching a photo exhibition on the works of CIVIC in the North East”.

The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba said that the Ministry is committed to working with stakeholders towards addressing the challenges of civilians in conflict-related areas such as gender-based violence, recruitment of child soldiers, abduction, early/forced marriages, and sex slavery.

Agba, who was represented by a Senior Staff of the Ministry, Ms. Jamila Akaaga Ade said that recently a handover Protocol was signed by the Federal Government with the United Nations and the Lake Chad Basin region to reaffirm the government commitment to prevent or reduce the detention of children encountered by military and security forces during armed conflicts.

The Country Director of CIVIC, Dr. Benson Olugbuo in his opening remarks regretted that over 2.2 million people have lost their lives as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in North East Nigeria, adding that in the aftermath of the conflict, many schools were closed and several women and children displaced.

He therefore urged the government and other stakeholders to consider a renewed and holistic approach to protecting civilians in conflict, which will among other things build trust and confidence among civilians affected by conflicts.

He also commended the efforts of the NHRC in playing a leading role in the development of the National Action Plan which touches on the overall strategy to bring about an all-round development and human rights protection in the Country.

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Tunis and President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray have assured the government and people of Liberia of the support of West Africa in the move at consolidating consolidating democracy.

Liberia holds her general elections later in October, this year.

They gave the assurance while speaking at the opening of the delocalized meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committees on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism, Judicial Affairs and Human rights, Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment in Monrovia, Liberia.

Tunis said that “as Liberia prepares to hold presidential and legislative elections in October, I assure of ECOWAS Parliament’s fullest support.

“I am aware that an ECOWAS pre-election mission is currently in Liberia to assess the country’s preparedness for the upcoming elections.”

Tunis while extolling the efforts of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed the readiness of ECOWAS Parliament to support Liberia’s next democratic transition.

Touray who was represented at the event by Mrs Josephine Nkrumah, Permanent Representative of the ECOWAS Commission to Liberia applauded the country on the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in Accra, Ghana on August 18, 2003.

He commended the country for advancing democratic rule and sticking to the CPA agreement signed between the Government of Liberia, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), the movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) and political parties which ended the nation’s civil war.

He said: “Twenty years of uninterrupted peace since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in Accra, Ghana. The ECOWAS Commission will continue to work with Liberia as it consolidates its peace journey and its democratic process.

“The President of the Commission expresses his commitments to national and international efforts that the Liberian general elections in October 2023 will be credible, peaceful, fair and transparent.

“At the critical time of the subregion when we are experiencing volatility and threats to our collective democratic advancement, discussions on inclusivity and participatory our democracy cannot be timelier.”

The President of the ECOWAS Commission also congratulated the government and people of Liberia on the occasion of their 176th Independence Anniversary on July 26.

Liberia’s Vice President, Jewel Taylor also said that Liberia is ready to preserve its democracy as its citizens go to the polls in approximately seventy-six days from today.

Taylor also pledged the government’s commitment to delivering a free, fair, transparent and violence free election.

Taylor said, “In anticipation of the upcoming Presidential and General Elections in Liberia, currently scheduled for 10th October 2023; approximately seventy-six (76) days from today.

“Thus becoming Liberia’s fourth post-conflict general elections and the second to be conducted completely without a peacekeeping mission present; an indication of Liberia’s commitment to Peace, Security and Democracy”.
On Liberia’s 176th Independence commemoration on July 26, Taylor said that the day is a constant reminder of the responsibility of every Liberia citizen to preserve their democracy and freedom.

“Tomorrow, July 26, 2023 commemorates our Nation’s 176th Independence Anniversary.

“For me and for all Liberians, this day reminds all; of not only how far we have come.

“But that each generation has the responsibility to preserve this precious gift bequeathed to all succeeding generations and that after we have completed our service to God and Country.

“To leave our beloved Nation in a better state than we found it, for ourselves and for posterity,” Taylor said.

A Former Director, Political Affairs in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr. Aderemi Ajibewa has advised member states of the regional organisation to abide by ECOWAS protocols in order to sustain peace, democracy, and good governance in West Africa.

Ajibewa made the recommendation on Tuesday while delivering a paper at the delocalized meeting of the Joint Committees of the ECOWAS Parliament on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism, Judicial Affairs and Human rights, Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment in Monrovia, Liberia.

Delivering the paper titled: “Assessment of the Impact of the Relevant Provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol of Democracy and Improving Good Governance and Crises Prevention in Member States”, Ajibewa said that Community protocols and instruments already captured the mechanisms on constitutional political governance principles that address governance challenges, noting that the implementation of relevant protocols by member countries would mitigate the level of conflict and bad leadership.

Ajibewa, while listing some of the challenges arising from gaps in implementing some ECOWAS protocols to include over centralization of power, weak institutions and structures, bad leadership, military interventions and interruptions of democratic governance, said: “The position of governance in ECOWAS region is hinged on constitutional political governance principles that address governance challenges and guidelines for member states.”

He noted that: “The supplementary Protocol (2021) provides for democratic control of the armed forces and zero tolerance for military coup d’etats and any form of unconstitutional change of power.”

He said the linkages between good governance and economic development is evident in good management of resources across country’s various sectors which always impacts the country’s economic growth and development.

He assured that: “The efficient operationalization of the provisions of ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance would provide long-lasting solutions to the challenges faced by the West African Region.”

Ajibewa advised that in order to address some of the challenges, ECOWAS Commission should increase engagement and partnership with civil society organisations.

He also tasked the ECOWAS Commission on sensitization of the military on the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocols of Democracy and Good Governance, and capacity building for government officials.

Ajibewa said that Member States are should also be charged with decentralizing powers, noting that it poses serious threat to having a centralize power in a state.

He also advised member states on the revitalization of state structures and institutions, and advocacy for good governance.

In her intervention, Hon. Laadi Ayamba, Member of Parliament for the Republic of Ghana, lamented the limitations to the implementation of policies at the country level.

She said: We have these laws and protocols guiding us but it is sad that implementation is a problem.

“What we lack in our Parliaments is how to implement some of these protocols and that is a gap we must ensure we address. How will ECOWAS look at addressing these gaps.”

A parliamentarian from The Gambia, Hon. Fatimatou Njai, in her intervention said that it is time for ECOWAS to learn lessons from mistakes that have brought down some countries in other to move forward.

Njai said that ECOWAS bodies and institutions need to be firm on laws that retrogrades the sub-region

She said: “In ECOWAS, we need to start reminding ourselves but unfortunately, lessons have not been learnt.

“We have seen our countries draw back from what we fought for because we have refused to learn. We must build an ECOWAS that does not tolerate war. Only then can we achieve a stable region and good governance.”

President Bola Tinubu has promised to involve Nigerians in the Diaspora in the designing, implementation and review of public policies, plans and programmes.

Tinubu disclosed this on Tuesday while given his remark at the 2023 Diaspora Day celebration in Abuja with the theme, ““Consolidating Diaspora engagement for national development.”

The president, who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said the government was not unmindful of the contribution of the Nigerians in Diaspora to the economy.

He said: “It is a great delight to address our over seventeen million Nigerians in the Diaspora as the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for the very first time on this auspicious occasion of the celebration of our National Diaspora Day 2023. The National Diaspora Policy 2021 prescribes July 25th annually as a day to celebrate Nigerians in the Diaspora by recognizing their contributions to National Development and networking them to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, State Diaspora Focal Point Officers (SDFPOs) and Civil Society Organzations (CSOs) in Nigeria.

“The theme for this years celebrations “Consolidating Diaspora Engagement for National Development” is apt giving the fact that it births the new dawn in our political journey with the aim of strengthening our development in policies and programmes with our Diaspora Community across the globe for national development.

“Let me reiterate that government has held our Diaspora in high esteem and has worked hard in uplifting our engagements with them.”

He added that: ” It is worthy of note that this year’s Diaspora Day celebration is a special one owing to the new initiatives by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to further celebrate the amazing contributions of our Diaspora Champions with the introduction of the maiden edition of National Diaspora Merit Awards. This initiative will not only serve as a morale booster for the Diaspora community but will also encourage Diaspora engagement and participation for national development.

“Let me commend the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for its dynamic engagements with the Diaspora community especially in coming up with laudable programmes for Nigerians in Diaspora to invest at home. I believe in the years to come, these programmes will impact tremendously on our economy by catalyzing our developmental efforts. May I therefore encourage you to key into these programmes for our mutual benefits.

“May I also let you know that this new democratically elected government is a Diaspora friendly one, which will provide an enabling platform for effective policies for the Diaspora with the view to galvanizing support for the new administration and concretizing our democracy, setting a good example for other African countries to emulate.

“Let me also let you know that we will look at the Challenges NiDCOM has enumerated with a view to ameliorating the same so that we will maximize the benefits of our engagements with our Diaspora for national development.”

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume on his part advised all Nigerians to key into the federal government development agenda.

He stressed that all Nigerians “both at home and Diaspora should key into our development agenda as only Nigerians can develop Nigeria. This includes both those at home and those in the Diaspora.”

In her welcome remark, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa called for the review of the Act setting up the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

She noted there is the need to review the Act setting up NiDCOM to streamline its activities by setting up a smart board and a sustaining funding mechanism for its activities.

Dabiri-Erewa also called on the government to support and conclude the setting up of the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Fund (NDIF) as an investment window for the Diaspora, even as she
stressed that: “These and others will surely consolidate the engagements of Nigerians in the Diaspora to contribute immensely to national development. “

The rising crisis in West Africa, which include military coups and insecurity, inequality has been identified as one of the major factors causing the upsurge.

Even as supporting the participation of people from vulnerable and marginalized groups in the decision-making and democratic processes of the societies
has been recognized to be the key to continued peace, security and sustainable development.

Speaking at the opening of the delocalized meeting of the Joint Committee of the ECOWAS Parliament, bringing together the Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism, the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and the Committee on Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment holding in Monrovia, Liberia, the Speaker of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Rt Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis acknowledged that every meeting of the Parliament is an opportunity to analyze and make proposals to better understand and control political, economic, and social developments in West Africa.

Tunis, while noting that the meeting will focus on one of the priorities of ECOWAS Vision 2050, which is to promote good governance and consolidate irreversible peace, security, as well as development in the region, however said: “As we all know, inequality has been one of the bases or causes of subversive acts in our region.

“The marginalization of vulnerable groups from important decision-making processes, particularly ethnic or religious minorities, women and young people, provides fertile ground for conflict of violent extremism.”

He said: “We must convince ourselves that supporting the participation of people from vulnerable and marginalized groups in the decision-making and democratic processes of our societies is imperative for peace, security and sustainable development.”

The Speaker added that: “Political inclusivity has the advantage of enabling all points of view to be expressed and taken into consideration, and of enhancing the representation of every segment of the population, including women and young people.”

He revealed that the delocalized meeting, which is being held on the theme: “Enhancing political inclusivity in the participatory governance process: a mechanism for promoting peace and security “, was part of activities designed by the ECOWAS Parliament to continually demonstrate its openness to the citizens of the region, stressing that it also provides an opportunity to share experiences and collaborate with national institutions in the pursuit of the integration objectives of ECOWAS.

Liberia’s Vice President, Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor lamented that political inclusivity is still far from being achieved, insisting that going by a few statistics as indicated by a January 2023 UN Women Facts and Figures report, women on the continent particularly and globally in general are still yet to be accorded the acceptable number in distribution of political offices.

She noted that inclusive political processes are crucial to sustaining peace and conflict prevention; establishing and strengthening political processes aimed at improving the participation and political influence of citizens; making governments and institutions more accountable and transparent, and building a stronger and more inclusive social contract between government and the people for greater access to opportunities, amongst other issues.

Taylor said though much has been done over the past 30 years to bring to the front burner the issue of equal participation of both genders, but the fact remains that even at the ECOWAS Parliament where the mandatory acceptable standard is a minimum 30% representation from each member state ; current statistics indicated that out of 115 members only 21 members are females, a mere 18.26%.

She argued quoting an unknown author that: “A woman is human. She is not better, wiser, stronger, more intelligent, more creative or more responsible than a man. Likewise, she is also not less…” She asked the parliamentarians that “as you navigate the discussions on the way forward towards greater peace and security in our sub-region, I crave your indulgence to proffer policy prescriptions which compel our National Governments to take affirmative actions for the inclusion of women at all levels in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of governments.”

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, in his speech, noted that the disconnect between the government and its citizens is a contributing factor to the volatility and threats to democracy in the sub-region.

Touray, who was represented by Mrs Josephine Nkrumah, Permanent Representative of the ECOWAS Commission to Liberia, urged members of the ECOWAS Parliament to consider the role of civic engagements as a key strategy to building a more inclusive society.

He said that the ECOWAS Parliament’s delocalized meeting was apt and the Commission awaits recommendations from the meeting that would act as the springboard for both Parliament and Commission to ensure inclusivity of all ECOWAS citizens in the democratic process of the sub region.

Touray said: “The seeming disconnects between the governed and those who govern have contributed in part to the volatility of the sub-region leading to discontent in our communities.

“It is pertinent that in other to have effective inclusiveness and participatory government processes, our citizens must be engaged, involved and discerning.

“We look forward to a collaborative effort to building a more inclusive society in our governance processes for peace and security which are prerequisite to our economic and social integration as a sub region.”