Following the announced results of the 2023 General Election, Nigerians have been urged to embrace peace and tolerance for the growth and development of the country.

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Tony Ojukwu gave the advice during the Commission’s monthly review forum held in Abuja the nation’s capital.

Mr Ojukwu announced that the commission has received over four hundred complaints on rights violations arising from the 2023 elections in the country.

He noted that the commission has already swung into action by responding to some of them as others are in the process to be dealt with.

While stressing the importance of peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, Ojukwu commended the media for projecting the activities of the commission.

“We have decried the use of violence of and hate speech in affected areas during the elections. It is very important that whatever has happened that people’s conduct be peaceful, because without peace it is difficult to have development. So our message to all Nigerians is that we should continue to be peaceful.” Ojukwu said.

Also, the Senior Special Advisor to the Executive Secretary, Mr Hillary Ogbonna said Human Rights Commission through Mobilizing Voter for Elections MOVE project, put in place the Monitoring mechanism of rights abuses.

He said that the objective was to evaluate the election climate and its impacts and examine levels of citizens’ access.

While giving a breakdown of various rights abuses during the general election in Nigeria, Mr Ogbonna said, among the abuses are 22 incidences of hate speeches, voter intimidation and suppression, attacks on INEC facilities and law enforcement officials.

A Representative of the United Nations Human Rights Advisor, Miss Ajuwa Kufor said the UN would continue to support the activities of the National Human Rights Commission for the promotion and protection of human rights.

PIAK

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has commenced its annual Waterways Safety Awareness Campaign to enlighten ferry passengers on its rules and regulations.

The authority’s Head, Public Affairs Unit, Mrs Wuraola Alake, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday explained that the campaign was to improve waterways safety and prepare for the rainy season.

Alake said the Safety Awareness Campaign team was at Ipakodo Ferry Terminal and later moved to Baiyeku, Ibeshe, and Ijede Jetties in the Ikorodu axis.

“Several items, such as safety information booklets, safety souvenirs, and different sizes of life jackets, were donated to ferry passengers in these Jetties and Terminals.

“In addition, LASWA officials lectured passengers on safety precautions such as what to do in an emergency, how to wear a lifejacket properly, and other safety rules and regulations at each event,” she said.

Alake said commuters also engaged in an interactive session during which passengers inquired about waterways transportation.

The sensitisation programme started last week Friday at Ebute Ero jetty and moved to Sabonkoji, Temidire, and Liverpool Jetties on the same day.

NAN/PIAK

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has commended the commitments and dedication to duty by some army officers to ensure success in various operations across the country.

The Army Chief gave the commendation while declaring open the Chief of Army Staff First Quarter Conference held at the Army Headquarters Command Officer’s Mess in Abuja the Nation’s Capital.

He said in the past 11 years, from 2011 to date, Nigeria has recorded its highest rating against troops and these efforts have enhanced troops’ poise and greatly improved the security situation and public confidence in the Northeast.

“I must commend you all for your adherence to all guidelines and implementation of decisions taken during last Year’s Annual Conference as evident in our professional conduct and apolitical disposition during the just concluded general elections. Your strict adherence to my directives and guidance in this respect is quite commendable. I am proud to say that various groups, organisations and distinguished individuals have commended our troops’ efforts during the 2023 General Elections”

“Our efforts in Operation HADIN KAI in synergy with the sister Services and other security agencies no doubt have significantly curtailed terrorism and insurgency that hitherto bedevilled the North East part of the country. Our continuous injection of specially trained troops and special equipment through Operations LAKE SANITY and DESERT SANITY to complement efforts by Operation HADIN KAI has been rewarding. The insurgents and terrorists no longer have freedom of action and that has amongst other benefits resulted in massive surrender by the adversaries,” stated General Yahaya.

The COAS Conference is in determination to maintain constant interaction with field commanders to review the activities of the Army for the First Quarter of the Year to evaluate preparedness and come up with new and better strategies for improved collective performance in carrying out the army’s constitutional roles for the remaining months of the Year.

REGIONAL AND GLOBAL SECURITY

General Yahaya also stated that the Nigerian Army has resolved to continuously impact the national as well as regional and global security on approval of the President, Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari.

He pointed out that a Nigerian Army contingent was inducted into the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei on 15 March 2023.

“This effort is geared towards sustaining our contribution to global peace and security, especially on the African continent. The Nigerian Army is once again building up to reposition itself in the conduct of Peace Support Operations within the Region and globally. Hence, we shall sAfrican having more Nigerian Army contingents being deployed for Peace Support Operations once again,”  stated General Yahaya.

Speaking earlier the Chief of Policy and Plans Army, Major General Anthony Omozoje said the army remains ever dedicated to discharging its constitutional responsibilities as well as providing a secured environment for economic and social activities to thrive.

This conference is to consolidate on the successes and gains attained so far in all activities, therefore conscious efforts will be made to appraise activities so far to proffer better ways of approach.

The conference also witnessed the exhibition of locally manufactured Military hardware as well as the presentation of brand new Hilux Vehicle to Regiment Sergeant Majors (RSMs) among which are Awo Nuhu Bature, Benson Nwachikes, Joda Uma, Isah Hassan, Igbelle Bartholomew, Yakubu Saleh, Abubakar Rab, Bello Mathew, Ibrahim Mohanime, Mohammed Suleiman amongst others.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has commissioned a park named after him “Faruk Yahaya Historical Park.”

The Commissioning was on the sideline of the Chief of Army Staff’s First Quarter Conference and an extension of the Nigerian Army museum situated at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja.

While explaining the idea behind the park at the commissioning, the Military Secretary, Army, Major General Jamal Abusalam said the park is designed to immortalize three categories of deserving Nigerian Army personnel by having their names inscribed on specially designed platforms.

“They will also commemorate and preserve the history of retired and serving Nigerian Army officers and soldiers including those who paid the supreme sacrifice in service to country.

“First, personnel who paid Supreme sacrifices to Nigeria during campaigns and other operational engagements.
Second, Nigerian Army officers who attained the rank of Major General and above as well as soldiers who attained the Warrant Officers Class One and Army Warrant officer being the pinnacle of their career. And the third category is the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff of the NA extraction, a recognition of their exemplary leadership,” he noted.

The Chief of Army Staff,  Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya conceived the idea to honour deserving persons that have served the army.

“The COAS has undertaken a larger strive in infrastructural development and the project is a testimony to several other Commission infrastructure projects in the Nigerian Army under COAS initiatives.

“The Army HQ department of military secretaries in conjunction with Micesealfinz Ltd constructed the self-sustaining, all-weather facility that accommodates brick and mental platforms fitted with plaques, inscribe with names, pictures and profiles of NA officers and Soldiers.”

According to the military secretary, these platforms are designed to hold 10,000 names, the park also has a special monument for the deceased as well as improves the ambience of the barrack, NA Resource Center and his environs.

PIAK

As part of efforts to give a universal acceptability to the recent draft on disability-related issues in Nigeria, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in partnership with World Bank organized a 3- day retreat for the Commission’s Governing Council, private sector, disability- oriented organizations and other stakeholders.

The event which commenced on the 3rd April 2023 is expected to provide the platform for critical inputs from participants in accordance with the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities as well as the 2018 Disability law prohibiting the discrimination of Persons With Disabilities.

The Executive Secretary National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, Mr. James David Lalu in commended the participants for the enormous mental exercise that has gone into the production of the draft policy.

He further urged them to give a holistic treatment to the document to make it worthwhile.

“You are all aware that an Institution like this is still nascent and will require a properly guided Policy Document for its survival,“ he stated.

He equally noted that the resolution of the Policy Document must not be in conflict with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

However, the World Bank representative, Dr Adebukola Adebayo revealed that the Documents were co-created with external experts and the Management Staff of the Commission who galvanized the nine major Drafts of the policy Documents.

According to him, the World Disability Global Adviser also made a review where inputs from extant laws were introduced to make the Documents a robust one.

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The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali has congratulated the newly sworn-in Chairman of the Police Service Commission, IGP Solomon Arase

He congratulated him when he paid a historic courtesy visit to his office at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Central Business District in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

IGP Alkali, who led his management team, congratulated the PSC Chair on his appointment and subsequent swearing-in, assuring him of the NPF’s full cooperation to achieve an enviable policing system.

The meeting which was at the instance of the IGP was geared at cementing the existing relationship between the NPF and the Commission for an improved working relationship.

The PSC Chair while appreciating the IGP and the Force leadership for the thoughtful visit, assured that all necessary support will be deployed to ensure the Force is repositioned for better service delivery.

He similarly expressed optimism in the quest to build stronger ties, work out more areas of collaboration, and improve discipline within the ranks of the Force.

The Inspector-General of Police reiterated the commitment to engage with the PSC to strengthen the disciplinary mechanism of the Force and stimulate continuous Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) meetings more frequently to dispense matters of discipline amongst senior officers of the Force.

The IGP and the PSC Chair similarly visited the site of the new PSC office complex to ascertain the level of work towards its completion.

PIAK