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ACTIVISTS LASH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR CHILD ABUSE PROLIFERATION

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By Prosper Okoye, Abuja

Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies have come under fire from child rights activists who argue that their traditional approach to handling juvenile offenders is doing more harm than good. In a bid to curb child abuse and promote accountability, these advocates are pushing for the use of restorative justice methods that empower young offenders to take responsibility for their actions and make amends.

“Restorative justice does not involve simply patting a child on the back when they do something wrong.

Rather, it involves giving the child an active role in the process of realigning themselves with society’s standards,” the Director of the Child and Youth Protection Foundation, Kolawole Olatosimi explains in a webinar held Thursday, with the theme: “Restorative Justice and Children with the Law.

Kolawole, who also served as the convener of the webinar, highlighted some disturbing incidents involving children and law enforcement agencies, as well as the media. He recalled a recent incident in Abuja where policemen physically assaulted and tear-gassed children on the streets. He also cited the case of a 14-year-old girl who was maltreated by her husband, leading to her killing him. Kolawole noted that the media did not treat the girl fairly.

Deputy Coordinator of Child Protection Network in Abuja, Michael Adenije, expressed concern that despite numerous trainings by civil society organizations for law enforcement agencies, there hasn’t been much improvement in how children in conflict with the law are treated.

“The laws in Nigeria empower law enforcement agencies to dismiss cases of children without going through formal judicial tiers, knowing that in most cases, they are victims of unfair socio-economic conditions which may have led them to commit a crime,” he argued.

Meanwhile, Kwara State Justice Ministry Assistant Director, Amb. Daib Abduljkadir, defined a child by law as an individual below the age of 18 years and pointed out that children are susceptible to committing common crimes such as theft, alcohol indulgence, disturbance of public peace, vandalism, rape, possession of weapons, gangsterism, among others.

Represented by Mrs. Musinat Zubair, the Director pointed out that juvenile delinquency is caused by various factors such as family separation, inadequate guidance, social media, peer influence, and bad parenting style.

She emphasized that despite their flaws, children should not be condemned and that restorative justice measures such as community service are effective ways to help them reform. As she put it, “In spite of their faults, children are gifts from God, and should not be crucified.”

During the webinar, concerns were raised about the state of juvenile correction centers in Nigeria. Amina Hanga drew attention to this issue, while Michael Adeniji shared a comparative analysis of buster homes in Nigeria and those in other developed societies. He stated that 98% of children sent to buster homes in Nigeria come out with worse behavior than they had before. Adeniji further explained that despite the presence of educational programs in these centers, the use of derogatory language by instructors becomes counterproductive.

Kolawole Olatosimi also highlighted that although the country has changed from the Nigeria Prison Service to the Nigeria Correctional Services, there has been no real change. Ideally, children’s buster homes should be under the Ministry of Women Affairs, but they are still controlled by the prison service.

Bilkisu Ado Zango highlighted the lack of adequate provisions to protect children with disabilities when they come into conflict with the law and called for law enforcement officers to be trained in sign language and other skills to handle them.

However, ACN OJ Mitchell from the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) expressed optimism that there is still hope to improve compliance with existing rules.

 Dorinda Odong suggested that law enforcement officers who pose a threat to the safety of children should be punished, and case findings should be used to prevent the child or others related to them from committing similar crimes.

Immigration attaché at the Nigerian High Commission in Nairobi, Ngozika Chukwu, emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting Nigerian children in conflict with the law in Kenya and providing shelter homes in cases of trafficking before reuniting the children with their parents.

Clement Iornongu called for the adoption of the child right law in all states of the federation to discourage the use of children for begging activities.

Bridget Idoko suggested that children should be given a prominent role in advocating for issues that concern them.

The webinar also featured a didactic session from the legal advocate of Cece Yari foundation, Vanessa Dickson, who provided guidance on areas to focus on in order to institutionalize restorative justice in Nigeria.

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AfDB Signs $75m Loan Agreement to Boost Indorama’s Fertilizer Production, Export Capacity

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The African Development Bank (AfDB), has signed a 75 million dollar loan agreement with Nigeria’s Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited.

The bank announced this in a statement issued on its website late Thursday.

According to the statement, the loan will enable Indorama to increase its fertilizer production and develop a port terminal for exports.

The statement also said that the loan would help in supporting food production and food security across regional and international markets while fostering job creation in Nigeria.

It said that the expansion would include the development of a third urea fertilizer production line and a new shipping terminal at Indorama’s facilities in Port Harcourt.

“The new production line is expected to have an annual capacity of 1.4 million metric tons of urea, one of the most widely used fertilizer worldwide.

“Indorama’s two operational urea fertilizer lines serve Nigeria’s domestic market.

“It supports the country’s agricultural sector, which accounts for a quarter of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs about a third of its labour force.

“The new production line and terminal, which will help meet growing global demand for fertilizer, is expected to create up to 8,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria”, the statement said.

The statement also quoted the Acting Director of Industrial and Trade Development Department, AfDB, Ousmane Fall, as commending the partnership.

Fall said the bank was proud of its continued partnership with Indorama, the IFC, and other lenders on this critical project.

He said the partnership aligned with the bank’s strategic priorities to Feed  and industrialise Africa, while generating significant development outcomes in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Manish Mundra, Group Director for Africa, Indorama Corporation said the establishment of the fertilizer plant underscored Indorama’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s industrial growth, economic diversification, and leveraging its strategic geographic location.

“This landmark financing represents a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey towards becoming a major player in the global fertilizer market.

“With this third line, Nigeria is prepared to significantly ramp up its export capacity, thereby, enhancing its position as a key exporter of fertilizer to Africa and the world.

“Furthermore, the establishment of this fertilizer plant will not only address critical issues such as broader food security but will also stimulate agricultural growth and create employment opportunities in Nigeria,” he said.

Reports says that the AfDB’s loan follows a strategy to support investment in private sector development to promote the growth of the real sector.

The 75 million dolllars loan is part of a 1.25 billion dollars facility arranged by IFC.

The financing package includes a 215.5 million dollars loan from IFC’s own account, a 94.5 million dollars loan through the Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Programme (MCPP), and 940 million dollars in parallel loans mobilised from other development finance institutions and commercial banks.

Some of the banks include the AfDB, Bangkok Bank, British International Investment, Citibank, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), DZ Bank, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) and Rand Merchant Bank.

Others are Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (FMO), Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank) and Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM).

The Standard Bank Group, Standard Chartered Bank, and the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) are also part of the banks.(NAN)

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NSCDC Arrests 3 Suspects with 1,625 Litres of Adulterated Diesel

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The Anambra Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three suspects with 1,625 litres of adulterated diesel.

The NSCDC Commandant in Anambra, Olatunde Maku, told newsmen on Friday in Awka, that the suspects were arrested on March 23 along Atani Road, in Odekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

He said that his team arrested Oluchukwu Okeke, 28, from Ogbaru in Anambra; Emeka Chukwuma, 34, also from Ogbaru in Anambra; and Ifunanya Ike, 29, from Mbano in Imo state.

According to Maku, they were conveying 65 kegs of 25 litres each of suspected adulterated diesel, estimated to be 1,625 litres in four different vehicles.

He said that the vehicles were two shuttle buses, a white-colored bus with registration number AWK429XY and another ash-coloured bus with registration number GDD277XB.

“This arrest was made possible in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, and preliminary investigation revealed that the illegally refined products were loaded at Ogbakuma and headed to Okoti community, both in Ogbaru area.

“I want to commend the Nigerian Navy for their support in the fight against criminality in the state.

“This type of synergy is what is needed to wage a full-scale war against perpetrators of this heinous crime.

“NSCDC, as the lead agency in the protection of critical national, state, and local government assets and infrastructure, is known for its zero tolerance in crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities.

“We remain focused on freeing Anambra state of illegal petroleum products racketeering and other related criminalities,” he said.

Maku added that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations were completed.

He called on members of the public to assist the command in its renewed vigour to stamp out illegal oil refining activities in the state through the provision of intelligence on illegal oil bunkering activities within their domains. (NAN)

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Good Friday: Catholic Bishop urges Leaders, Nigerians to Emulate Christ’s Sacrifice

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As Christians celebrate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Good Friday), the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, has urged leaders and Nigerians to emulate Christ’s sacrifice.

Badejo made the remark in his Good Friday message made available to Newsmen on Friday in Ibadan.

Badejo enjoined all leaders, people in authority and Nigerians to emulate Jesus in order to improve society and institutions.

The catholic bishop emphasised that Good Friday teaches us the best qualities of leadership in service, humility and love.

He noted that Good Friday represents all the challenges and problems in life, at work, in family and country at large.

According to him, those problems will be solved not just by praying, but by serious, honest and selfless efforts by everyone to do good and oppose sin and evil.

“Nigeria is not beyond repair, but it is righteousness that exalts a nation.

“Good Friday is the day on which Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, giving His life on the cross for the salvation of the world.

“That is exactly what is good about it, even though his suffering and death are painful and unjust.

“Jesus Christ, the son of God, gave his life in love and humility, leaving His glory aside. By His death on Good Friday, Jesus taught us that there are benefits in making sacrifice for the good of others.

“Such suffering or sacrifice, like that which a mother makes for her children, or a friend for another, is pleasing to God.

“Good Friday invites us to repent, do away with sin, but do something for the good of others and thus, enjoy God’s favour,” he said.

Badejo remarked that Easter Sunday is the celebration of the victory of Jesus Christ, which reminds all that the victory of good over evil is inevitable.

He said that, just as all conspiracies against Christ’s resurrection could not stand, similarly, all the evil happening in the world cannot stop the celebration of Easter as planned by God.

“That is why Christians rejoice at Easter. Alleluia! Easter Sunday answers all the questions of Good Friday. Why should good people suffer sometimes?

“Well, because God always has a superior reason and for allowing such to happen.

“If Jesus had not died, salvation would never have come. To all who suffer, I say: “Be comforted: with Jesus, Good Friday is not the last word, Easter Sunday victory is.

“I urge all Nigerians to emulate Jesus’ way of love and sacrifice for others,” Badejo said. (NAN)

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