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Expose Plight Of Armed Conflict’s Victims – Don
Journalists have been challenged to devote attention to reporting the multifaceted humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts, including insurgency, militancy, cult-related violence, among others, and the critical issues affecting their innocent victims through cutting-edge investigative journalism than dwelling on sensational human interest stories.
Visiting Professor of Journalism, American University of Nigeria (AUN), Ibanga Isine, who gave the charge in a lead lecture as a resource person at a two-day training opportunity for journalists organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) in Abuja, recently, said in focusing attention “In reporting of armed conflicts and the plight of victims of extreme violence, you help them regain their lives and dignity, and not condemn them to a confined life of stigmatization and trauma”.
Isine explained that a well-executed investigative report on the plight of victims of armed conflicts and unmitigated violence would expose the behaviour exhibited by the belligerent parties to the conflict, and elicit empathy for the innocent victims.
“Reporting on the humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts and other situations of violence as well as understanding the protection that the victims are entitled to under the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) as well as Refugee Rights Law, can help in reducing the sufferings of majority of innocent victims”, he said.
The resource person noted that the training was vital because it aims at building the capacity of journalists on how best humanitarian, violence and armed conflict reporting can be done without inflicting more injury, scandal and stigmatization on the affected victims, including first aid treatment of affected victims at the scenes of emergency and violence.
“Protection of victims of armed conflicts involves all activities aimed at ensuring full respect for the rights of individuals and people in accordance with the letter and spirit of the relevant laws such as the IHL, and the refuge law,” Isine added.
The professor, who is also an Editor at the Premium Times Newspaper, stressed that “what journalists can do is to create awareness, foster respect for the rights and dignity of victims of armed conflicts, strive to combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices, and avoid portraying victims of armed conflicts in stories as helpless, by painting undignified pictures of gory situations.”
In her remarks, Communications Coordinator, ICRC, Abuja, Aleksandra Matijevic Mosimann said the ICRC has concentrated efforts on providing desperately needed care and support to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) across areas affected by armed conflict and violence in Nigeria, by assisting the IDPs in camps as well as those staying with host communities, while also leveraging on international humanitarian law to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and internal violence.
“We speak with all parties to the conflict striving to make them understand and respect the rights of people affected by armed conflict and violence. We also support the training efforts of arms carriers to increase respect of international humanitarian law or other fundamental rules protecting persons in situations of violence,” Mosimann further stated.
In his presentation, Head, Communications, NRCS, Nwakpa Okorie Nwakpa, said “In responding to the consequences of armed violence, the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) and the ICRC collaborate to provide basic household necessities such as cooking utensils, hygiene items, shelter materials, foods, clothing, beddings and mosquito nets to IDPs, while providing first aid to victims at scenes of conflict or accidents.
He added that vulnerable members of communities affected by armed conflict or violence have also benefited from agricultural implements, seedlings, fertilisers, among others, adding that since 1988, the NRCS and the ICRC have been working to help communities prepare for emergencies.
The Tide learnt that the NRCS has 300 staff in Nigeria and over 800,000 volunteers in offices spread across the country, while ICRC has around 500 staff, including delegates, and operates from nine permanent offices in Abuja, Biu, Jos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Yola, Maiduguri, Mubi and Damaturu and two temporary offices in Monguno and Damboa.
Some 24 journalists drawn from the North, Middle Belt and South participated in the two-day training programme held November 22-23, 2016.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.