The Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Zone D, has appealed to the Federal Government to further equip security agencies and the military to counter insurgency.
The Association also harped on the need for the deployment of more sophisticated weaponry as well as surveillance technologies in the war against violent crimes in the country especially in North Central Nigeria, with recurring attacks on communities, particularly in Benue and Plateau States and the attendant consequences on women and children.
NAWOJ Zone D equally called on the six state governments and the FCT administration, as well as the security agencies on the zone to urgently address the security threats through proactive policing, timely arrests and judicious prosecution of perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others.
It stressed that the protection of lives and property must remain a top priority of government at all levels.
The resolutions were contained in a communique issued at the end of the Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Zone D, Bi-monthly Zonal Virtual Meeting.
The Bi-monthly Zonal meeting was presided over by the Vice President Zone D, Mrs. Chizoba Ogbeche, and attended by the Zonal Secretary, Juliana Ofoku; Zone D BoT, Annah Daniel; Zone D Ex-officio, Anne Olurinde, as well as Chairpersons and Secretaries of the state chapters, after extensive deliberations on matters affecting the Association and the nation.
NAWOJ Zone D expressed profound appreciation to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Remi Tinubu, for her show of empathy and generous donation towards the rehabilitation of victims of violent attacks in Plateau and Benue States.
It also appealed to the State Governments to ensure that the funds are transparently and efficiently disbursed to the actual victims and affected communities.
The female journalists raised concerns on the disruption of education of children displaced by the attacks and the need to ensure that these pupils do not drop out of school and add to the teeming number of out-of-school children in the country.
NAWOJ Zone D also urged the Wife of the President and the First Ladies in the affected states to not only empower women in the affected areas but to ensure that the education of the children is not cut short.
It similarly appreciated female journalists’ in the zone, women groups, and the civil society for the coordinated campaign for the Special Seats for Women in the Parliament Bill, especially during the public hearing by the National Assembly in the Zone and across the country; harping on the need to sustain the campaign and continued lobbying of legislators until the Bill is passed into law.
NAWOJ commended the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) for early warnings about heavy rainfall and identifying flood prone areas across the country as well as warning of possible flash floods.
NAWOJ Zone D, however, called on the Federal Government to seek permanent solution to flood prevention encompassing both structural and non-structural measures including construction of dams, drainages and adherence to early warning signs by citizens.
The Association also appealed to residents of riverine and flood-prone communities to relocate to higher grounds and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to create robust awareness on dangers of flooding.