The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has called on the Nigeria Police to step up intelligence aimed at addressing the unwholesome activities of Fulani herdsmen in the metropolis.

Oba Ewuare II made the call when he received the management of the Zone ‘5’ Police Headquarters, led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, Abubakar Mohammed, on a courtesy call at his palace in Benin.

He decried the loss of innocent lives and the destruction of cash crops and farmlands by the herdsmen in several rural communities across the Edo South senatorial district.

Oba Ewuare II noted that the situation could become most devastating if the indiscriminate movement of the cattle breeders were left unchecked.

He said, however, that a meeting involving concerned stakeholders, including leaders of Hausa communities, had been held as part of efforts map out strategies to tackle the menace.

The monarch also reiterated the need for effective policing of community development associations in order to ensure that the youths engaged themselves in meaningful and productive ventures.

Earlier, Mohammed explained that he was at the palace to seek the royal blessing and advice of the monarch in view of the task before the zonal police headquarters.

While attributing the reduction in crime within the state capital to the strict adherence of the residents to the Benin cultural values and norms, he assured the Oba that the police would continue to do their best to protect lives and property in the state. [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has stressed the need for the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) to move away from conflict resolution to conflict prevention mechanisms which he said is cheaper in every respect.

“As we deepen our democratic experience, promote good governance and address inequality, I urge us to devote more resources to Early Warning Mechanisms in order to develop an effective Conflict Prevention Strategy. We also need stronger political will for Peace –Keeping Operations in our sub region as we have done in the past.

Buhari, who spoke today, Saturday, at the 50^th ordinary session of the ECOWAS of Heads of State and Governments, in Abuja, Nigeria, expressed happiness with the renewed confidence and financial prudence with which the Management of the Commission had handled the affairs of Community Institutions.

“Since the launch of the ECOWAS Vision 2020 to transform ECOWAS from ECOWAS of States to ECOWAS of peoples, our Community has accomplished remarkable progress in achieving Community objectives for a stable and prosperous West Africa.

“Foremost amongst these achievements are the management of conflicts and the maintenance of peace, stability and security in the region.  As we all know, peace and security are the necessary ingredients for development as one cannot exist without the other.

“We have substantially enhanced our capacity for dealing with conflict as amply demonstrated in the quick intervention of the Community to douse tension and restore peace in Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso.  The efforts of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, in combating terrorism in Nigeria and in the neighboring countries, have significantly degraded the capacity of Boko Haram in the region, even though sporadic attacks on soft targets have been recorded in the past few weeks, just as we have sustained the military pressure on the terrorists.”

President said that members of the regional body have every right to feel proud of these achievements which have moved them to the realization of the objectives for which ECOWAS was established, “namely the promotion of peace, security and economic integration.

“On the economic   front, we are encouraged with the appreciable efforts being recorded to transform our economies into a regional market by liberalizing trade within the Community and adopting   the Common External Tariff (CET), to establish a common Customs Union. Today, we have the single tariff, vis-à-vis the rest of the world, and are currently implementing   programmes that are intended to lead us to a single monetary zone and common currency for the fifteen countries of ECOWAS.

“The adoption of a single biometric identity card is also commendable and will facilitate the establishment of a single currency, while engendering Free Movement of Persons.  Considerable progress has also been made in the areas of industrial policy, mineral exploitation, agriculture, environment, infrastructure, telecommunications and energy. We also have in place a coordinated capacity to respond to the threat or outbreak of pandemics through the Regional Centre for Disease Control and Surveillance, which is now domiciled in Nigeria.”

The Nigerian leader noted however that the modest achievements that have been made in regional integration are being challenged by globalization, saying that most of the countries have continued to record low volume of trade, occasioned by declining level of economic activities, caused by the sharp fall in commodity prices.

He said that while oil prices fell by an astounding 57 percent between June 2014 and January 2015, other commodity prices have also weakened sharply thereby putting pressure on the current account and fiscal balances of our countries.

President Buhari stressed that such situation demands that the leaders diversify their respective economies from commodities into other sectors such as banking, construction and telecommunications and most importantly agro–processing, manufacturing and services.

“As we adjust to a more challenging globalized environment, stronger efforts are required to increase domestic revenue mobilization in our countries and Community Institutions.

“Member States must diversify their economies away from trade in commodities towards developing robust infrastructure that will support manufacturing and industrialization. To this end, I urge the Community to invest more in infrastructure and human resources so as to unleash the potentials that exist in our respective economies and in our peoples.

“Another adverse effect of globalization, which we need to confront collectively, is Climate Change which is affecting our countries in many ways such as desertification, erosion, rise in sea level and flooding. This situation is further worsened by the near absence of response and adaptive capacities in our countries.”

President Buhari said that the negative consequences of Climate Change, including the drying up of water bodies are real in the region.

“For example, Lake Chad, which was once one of Africa’s largest water reservoirs, has over the years shrank to less than 10% of its original size, drastically affecting livelihoods of millions of people living in the Basin. This has resulted in environmental degradation, poverty, underdevelopment and displacement of peoples.

“To reduce the impact of Climate Change in our region, a regional coordination framework is required. Therefore, it is imperative that we embrace long-term measures to develop low carbon and climate resilient development initiatives.

“Furthermore, the Commission’s Department and relevant Institutions responsible for environmental affairs should be strengthened to enable them to combat the effects of Climate Change in the region.  Development Partners can also play crucial roles in the fight against Climate Change.  Consequently, we must seek closer cooperation with the Development Partners in long-term solutions to combat this phenomenon.

“We also need to make conscious efforts to improve on Governance and accountability   at all levels. This calls for the speedy conclusion of the   reforms of all ECOWAS institutions to put ECOWAS on a much stronger footing and prepare us for the challenges of such Institutional reforms. To this end, we should ensure that priority is given to the implementation of development programs, while the ECOWAS Parliament should be entrusted with more functions.

“In addition, the cost of governance must be reduced across all ECOWAS Institutions while resources should be devoted to programs and projects that will have direct bearing on the lives of ordinary citizenry and create jobs  fast enough to absorb our teeming youth population.  In this regard, it is necessary that measures be taken to review the ECOWAS Treaty in order to make ECOWAS responsive to new national, regional and global challenges.”

Buhari expressed delight however that despite the challenges, the ECOWAS Community had remained the envy of the international community, stressing that it is imperative that members build on their achievements.

“As the elected representatives of our people, the region and indeed Africa as a whole look up to us to provide a solid foundation for the political and economic development of the West African sub-region.” [myad]

The Government of Norway has donated $11.5 million, (about N3.6 billion) to improve basic education and support girls and women who have been victims of sexual violence by Boko Haram in the conflict-affected northeast Nigerian states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe.

A statement by the United Nations Education Fund (UNICEF) said that the funding is part of the Safe Schools Initiative in northern Nigeria.

It recalled that in 2013, Norway was a pioneer member of the Safe Schools Initiative committee, established in response to Boko Haram attacks on schools in the northeast and the urgent need to provide a safe learning environment for children.

The statement said that with UNICEF support, about 100,000 children are currently accessing education through Temporary Learning Spaces and schools in northeast Nigeria.

“This fund will further boost access to education for an additional half a million boys and girls in internally displaced persons’ camps, host communities and areas of Borno state that have recently become accessible areas to humanitarian assistance.”

The statement quoted Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens-Petter Kjemprud as saying: “we believe in the importance of doing what we can to break the cycle of violence in northeast Nigeria. This funding will provide more children complete basic education in a good learning environment and will provide much-needed counselling for girls who have suffered unimaginable trauma at the hands of Boko Haram.”

Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Børge Brende was said to have attended the signing ceremony to formalize the grant. The funding from Norway will provide children, especially girls affected by the conflict, with uniforms to wear to school and will enable them to learn in secure, safe and protected environments.

The statement said that teachers will be trained to improve their skills so they can deliver quality teaching and improve learning results for children, adding that school systems will be improved through training and mentoring of head-teachers on management knowledge and skills.

“School Based Management Committee (SBMCs) members will be trained in school planning, including disaster risk reduction to make schools a safer place for children.

“The funding will also support approximately 1,600 of the thousands of girls and women that UNICEF estimates have been raped, abducted and forcibly married as a result of the conflict. Not only have these victims of violence suffered the trauma of their experiences when they were held by Boko Haram, but when they have managed to escape or have been liberated, they often face rejection by their communities and families. Instead of being welcomed back, they frequently face stigma, discrimination, and in some cases violence, especially when they return pregnant or with children born out of that sexual violence. In addition to traditional stigma associated with sexual violence, many communities are afraid that girls and women who have been held by Boko Haram may have been indoctrinated by their captors. Part of the Norwegian funds will be used in Borno State to help these women and girls to reintegrate with their families and communities and rebuild their lives. The funding will also help to empower these women and girls to engage in the community peace building process.”

UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Mohamed Fall was quoted as saying: “tackling the crisis in northeast Nigeria requires a broad coalition of support from all. The Government of Norway was with us at the beginning of this crisis, providing support, and they are still here. This latest funding will go a long way to get thousands of children back in school and will help to reintegrate girls and women who were victims of Boko Haram back into their communities.” [myad]