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What Nigerian government must do to end farmer-herder crisis — FFARN, Experts

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•Clashes causing Nigeria billions of naira–UN Adviser

The key stakeholders working to find permanent solution to the violent conflicts between farmers and herders say the Nigerian government must begin to run an inclusive government where every Nigerian is carried along in its policies or proposals targeted at ending the conflict.

The stakeholders who said this while reacting to the now suspended Ruga settlements also urged the Federal government to ensure that it’s proposed plans must integrate the livelihood of farmers and pastoralists, and not seperate it.

This was made known at weekend during the three-day workshop on Socio-Ecoligical Analysis of Farner-Herder Conflict in Nigeria and the Sahel by the Forum on Farmer and Herder Relations in Nigeria (FFARN) organised Search for Common Ground (SFCG) in Abuja.

The project lead, FFARN, Ms. Olubukola Ademola-Adelehin, stressed that that Federal Government needs to communicate it’s policies aimed at addressing the herders and farmers conflict clearly, in a way that people listening can understand and also see the benefit to them at the personal level, community level and even to the country as a whole.

Ademola-Adelehin added that a permanent solution to the conflict will require an economic and developmental plan that is able to integrate the interest of the farmers and herders.

She said, “any proposal from government must be in a way that it’s integrating the livelihood of farmers and pastoralists, twhen we separate it, then where is the ‘do no harm that we are suppoaed to do”.

She further explained that the essence of the workshop is to identify key conflict driving farmer-herder conflicts, the parties involved in the conflict. She added that the discussions from the workshop will guide policy makers at state level, national and even international to have holistic view of the conflict towards having appropriate interventions

“This forum is very unique it brings in together experts from academia, from practitioners and policy to look critically and analysis on policies that can inspire government to look at this issues holistically and want to put in peace structures to ensure that the issues are addressed.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director, West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Chukwuemeka Eze noted that the Ruga policy is being introduced within the context of divergence of opinion, multicultural background, and more importantly within a context of trust deficit.

Eze who is the co-lead Facilitator, stressed that it is important that before policies are introduced the education that goes into the content of the policy and the workability of the policy should from the moment of design carru everybody along.

“In so doing people understand the processes and people are able to make inputs, so that when it gets to the public domin, those who are supposed to challenge it or the beneficiaries will be in the same page,” he said.

The WANEP Director also advocated Government should also work to see the inclusion of women in discussions and policies aimed at addressing the conflict.

He said, “the process of inclusivity means that nobody should be left behind. Women constitutes over 50 per cent of the world population, anybody under the illusion that they should be left out of the peacebuilding is actually making the process itself difficult, because the impact of conflict on men and women are different. So, when talking bout gender based peacebuilding approach so everybody is important.”

The Peacebuilding and Develop Adviser to the United Nations (UN) Nigeria, Mr. Zebulon Takwa, however regretted that the ongoing clashes has caused the Federal Government billions of Naira which could have been prevented.

Takwa who is also the Co-lead Facilitator, regretted that the investment and budget for pece in Nigeria and Africa as a whole has been too little.

He opined that there is a strong need to further prevent the conflict using the Socio-Ecoligical Analysis, which has been missing in most of the recommendations for a sustainable solution to the farmers and herders relations.

He said, “prevention can come during conflicts. Government should prevent further killings, the toxic discussions between communities around it should be prevented. Government should engage inclusive discussions to get workable solutions.”

He also called on all Nigerians to be part of the peacebuilding processes, according to him, a peaceful society is the responsibility of all, “when we have the spirit of inclusivity, the spirit of accepting one another, we will begin to look at things differenly.”

At the end, FFARN briefed journalists on the contents of the four Policy Briefs through which it recommended key solutions to the protracted farmers and Herders conflict.

The Policy Briefs which encourages a common ground in Farmers and Herders Relations in Nigeria include: ‘Past is Prologue: Criminality and Reprisal Attacks’; ‘The Implications of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law on Farmer-Herder Relations in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria’; ‘Responses to Conflict between Farmers and Herders in in the Middlebelt of Nigeria: Mapping Past Efforts and Opportunity for Violence Prevention’; and ‘Seeking Security and Stability: An Analysis of Security Responses to Farmer-Herder conflict in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria’.

Here is a downloadable links:

LINKS TO POLICY BRIEFS https://www.sfcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Seeking-Security-and-Stability_Nigeria_-Search-for-Common-Ground.pdf

Policy Brief: Implications of new legislation on farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria

Click to access Responses-to-Conflicts-between-Farmers-and-Herders-in-the-Middle-Belt-FINAL.pdf

Past is Prologue: Criminality & Reprisal Attacks in Nigeria’s Middle Belt

Click to access Policy_Brief_on_the_Impact_of_Farmer_Herder_Conflict_on_Women_in_Adamawa_Gombe_and_Plateau_States_of_Nigeria.pdf

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Lagos state government seals Ile Iyan restaurant over waste disposal violations

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The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has sealed off Ile Iyan, a restaurant in the Sabo Yaba area of the state, for “non-compliance with waste disposal regulations”.

Lagos Waste Reporters, a publication focused on waste management, reported that officials discovered invoices and food waste from Ile Iyan at an illegal dumpsite.

The dumpsite is located near Aje Comprehensive High School, Yaba.

“Despite the establishment’s claims of registration with LAWMA, no corroborative evidence was provided,” the report reads.

LAWMA has now mandated Ile Iyan to formally register and comply with established waste management regulations.

“It is essential to maintain cleanliness in Lagos. Businesses must register with LAWMA and adhere to proper waste management procedures to prevent closure,” the report added.

Tokunbo Wahab, commissioner for the environment and water resources in Lagos, has ramped up enforcement of environmental regulations in the city, with markets, clubs and eateries often sealed over purported violations.

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‘I’ll show you the way out’ — says EFCC chairman as he sacks two corrupt officials

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Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has announced the dismissal of two officials over alleged corruption.

Speaking on Tuesday at the annual criminal law review conference organised by the Rule of Law Development Foundation in Abuja, Olukoyede said the staff were sacked two weeks ago.

He said the commission is undergoing significant reforms, including addressing staff misconduct.

Olukoyede challenged Nigerians to come forward if they had evidence of him receiving bribes.

“Just two weeks ago, I have cause to dismiss two staff. You can’t be fighting corruption and your hands are dirty,” Olukoyede said.

“He who comes to equity, your hands must also be cleaned. And I say I will not only be dismissing them, I will also be prosecuting them because that is what we prosecute others for.

“So, you will see that we are preparing the case files of some of the people we have dismissed.

“If an EFCC staff will not be able to stand publicly with his two hands up and challenge the entire public… whose goat have I collected? Whose bottle of water have I taken illegitimately?”

“And I have said this to Nigerians; who has ever given me one kobo in the course of my work, come out and say it. I stand to be challenged.

“I can’t be easily influenced by things like that. That’s why we must make up our minds to work together to do the right thing.

“Any staff that is corrupt, I will show you the way out. Again, there are some people who may want to be overzealous. Out of 12, you must have Judas.

“I can’t stand here and say all is perfect. As many as you see, report them to us and we will do justice.”

Olukoyede shared his personal experience of being investigated for two years while serving as the commission’s secretary.

“I am not just sitting there as chairman of EFCC. I have been on the other side,” he said.

“I have been subjected to investigation myself for two years. So I know what it means to subject people to investigations.

“My major objective is to use the instrumentality of this mandate to stimulate the economy and to also follow the rule of law.

“Integrity is not about law, it is not about your advocacy ability to write beautiful briefs. No.

“It is about law and morality. Your conscience must tell you to do the right thing. That is what integrity is all about.

“Finally, ethics, value and standard of legal practice must also be reviewed. These are essential to me because the job of EFCC is to ensure that corruption does not find space in our national life.”

Olukoyede said he welcomes constructive criticism of the agency, emphasising that he is not opposed to scrutiny.

“But let us do it in a responsible way. What do we benefit from running down our institutions? If you notice EFCC is doing anything wrong, come to us,” he said.

“We will sit down and I will explain some reformed agenda we are carrying out. Upon my resumption of office, we have put some reformed agenda in place.

“We have reviewed our arrest and detention policy. I have had cause to investigate a whole ministry; minister, directors and all of that without detaining anybody over night.

“And I got all the information I needed and the matter is going on fine without detaining a single soul.

“But that does not preclude that if there is the need to detain, we do not detain. We have also had cause to equip all our interrogation rooms in compliance with judgment of court.”

’CHARGES LIMITED TO 15 COUNTS’

Olukoyede said the EFCC no longer files “100-count or 150-count charges” which were common in the past.

The chairman said no prosecution should exceed a 15-count charge under his directive.

“If your case is water tight, that is why I will never rush to court until I am sure of my proof of evidence,” he added.

“I vet case files myself, particularly high-profile cases, and the lawyer must give me a draft of the charge.

“We will look at it together, compared with my proof of evidence, sleep over it before I give my go-ahead.

“If we are losing a case, it shouldn’t be on grounds of lack of diligent prosecution.

“If there are other technical issues, fine. But I will be sure that I have done my job and it’s done in such a way that I can defend long after I leave office.”

Joseph Daudu, coordinator of the foundation, said the conference aims to provide a platform for reviewing developments in crime apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, and other post-adjudicatory processes.

On November 15, the supreme court dismissed a suit filed by 16 states challenging the constitutionality of the EFCC Act.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Uwani Abba-Aji, who led a seven-member panel of justices, ruled that “the EFCC Act, which is not a treaty but a convention, does not need the ratification of the houses of assembly”.

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Lagos state government seals off three water factories for breaching quality standards

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The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) says it has sealed off three water factories in the Lekki axis for breaching operational and quality standards.

Funke Adepoju, the executive secretary of LASWARCO, told journalists on Tuesday that the facilities were sealed after failure to meet the commission’s operational and approved quality standards.

Adepoju added that one out of four facilities inspected in the area met the approved standards.

She noted that the facilities must operate in a clean environment with functional treatment machines and good packaging, as well as batching to know the date of water production.

Adepoju reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring that water consumed by Lagos residents is safe.

She added that the commission would not hesitate to take action against producers who engage in substandard practices.

Mosaku Omolabake, chairperson of the association of table water producers in Lagos, said the enforcement was not targeted at specific individuals but to ensure that all factories adhered to quality standards.

Omolabake expressed the association’s commitment to upholding ethical standards and protecting public health.

The facilities sealed include H. Life Water, House 3, Road 4, Oguntayo Estate, Eputu, lbeju Lekki; Belwu Water, 1 Alhaji MKO Street Oribawa Phase 2, lbeju Lekki; and Aquadon Water, Mega Tea Road, lbeju Lekki.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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