Nigeria’s Commission urges citizens to be advocates of humanitarian services

As Nigeria joins the rest of the global community to mark the 2022 World Humanitarian Day (WHD), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged citizens to be advocates of humanitarian services,

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu who gave the advice in Abuja noted the insecurity situation in the country, saying “We cannot afford to leave humanitarian protection in the hands of aids workers alone.”

He noted that the international partners such as UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, UNODC, EU, USAID, ICRC, OHCHR and relevant Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been grappling with the huge humanitarian duties in the country, stressing that every citizen should lend their support to this noble cause for a more inclusive and egalitarian society.

“Personal sacrifices, ranging from empathizing with the victims, offering accommodation to the distressed and dislocated, networking with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to donate basic needs for livelihood to the victims within and outside the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the country are highly encouraged in this critical time”.

Mr Ojukwu recalled the 2022 theme of WHD, “#TheHumanRace,” which serves as a reminder that all of us are members of one humanity irrespective of colour, sex, religious belief, socio-cultural and political orientation or status, hence the need to care for one another and eschew all forms of discrimination.”

The NHRC Boss also assured humanitarian workers who are still in the field that their sacrifices are not in vain but rather appreciated.

He commended the Nigerian government for the thoughtfulness in creating a Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and other interventions to address the plights of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, returnees, migrants which if left unattended to, will snowball into further violations of human rights.

While commiserating with the families of humanitarian workers who lost their lives during the course of their work, the Executive Secretary urged Nigerian institutions and organizations to always mainstream human rights in their daily activities in line with extant national, regional and international human rights and humanitarian laws to enhance the inherent dignity of mankind.

Meanwhile, the Commission with the support of UNDP and EU is currently promoting reconciliation, reintegration and transitional justice in seven pilot project communities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

PIAK