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CSO Urges More Regional Collaboration to Defeat Insurgents
The Coalition of Nigerian Youth for Peace and Development has said for there to be total victory against insurgency and banditry in the country, there must a sincere regional collaboration between the Nigerian troops and the troops of the neighbouring countries.
The group was reacting to recent attacks by the insurgents in Borno State and bandits in Katsina State leaving scores dead, livestock and several other properties destroyed.
The Coalition in a statement signed by its Organising Secretary, Josiah Useni and made available to journalists explained that the pattern of attacks has proven that the surviving insurgents and bandits from the military onslaught flee and regroup in the neighbouring countries to later launch attack on soft spots.
“Our studies of the war against insurgency and banditry have revealed that the Nigerian military has not enjoyed the best of collaboration from the neighbouring countries. The latest statements credited to Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Wednesday when he visited Fanduma Kolomdi village in Gubio local government area, where the Boko Haram terrorists attacked that the only solution to end the massacre is by dislodging the insurgents in the shores of Lake Chad says it all.
“The Nigeria military has consistently carried out both land and air strikes destroying Boko Haram Terrorists hideouts and neutralising several of their fighters. However, the surviving terrorists are regrettably not been resisted in the shores of Lake Chad thereby giving them room to regroup and re-launch attacks. To permanently tame the insurgents will require collaborative regional efforts.
“We hereby urge the Nigerian military to undertake a final onslaught that should put an end to the insurgents in the shore of the lake Chad”, the statement noted.
Continuing, the CSO explained that there was an urgent need for the scattered settlements to come together as larger communities for more effective policing of the area.
“We are strongly convince that the war against insurgency is been won. All that is required at this point is tact from all stakeholders. This is where we urge the media to be dispassionate in her reportage of the war against insurgency in the country. Regrettably, our observation has shown that some section of the media is tilted more to reporting the insurgents more than the military.
“We call on this section of the media to exhibit patriotism and desist from encouraging these attacks and dampening the morale of the Nigerian people with such wild and emotional headlines or news”, the statement noted.
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has donated N20 million to two Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Imo and Anambra States. The beneficiaries are Holy Rosary College of Nursing, Ogbe, in Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Mbaise, and College of Nursing Sciences, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, presented N10 million cheques to each institution during his visits on Friday. At the Holy Rosary College of Nursing, he handed over the cheque to the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev Simeon Nwobi, at the college’s construction site. Similarly, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Ihiala, he presented the donation to the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Miss Anigbo Chisom Mary, in the presence of excited students.
Highlighting the significance of his donation, Obi stressed that healthcare and education are critical to national development. He commended the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara for investing in nursing education, describing it as a vital step in securing Nigeria’s future.
“My Lords, what you are doing is a great service to our country,” Obi said. “This donation is not a favour but a recognition of your efforts in nation-building. I will always support this project because it is about securing a better future for Nigeria.”
Obi further urged the government to prioritize quality education, including the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries. He emphasized the need for free and accessible education at the primary and secondary levels, both in public and private schools.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, stating that government affairs will no longer be conducted in secrecy.
Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting on the Application of the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) in Awka, Anambra State, Fagbemi urged Nigerians to use the Act to demand accountability from their elected and appointed officials. The event was organized by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Represented by Garba Sunday, a lawyer in the ministry’s FoIA department, Fagbemi emphasized that the FoI Act empowers citizens to access government records and information without providing reasons for their request. He encouraged public officeholders to disclose their activities to foster trust and dispel rumors.
“The Act also provides for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to access government records. However, while the law guarantees access to information, there are exemptions and conditions that must be met before certain records can be released,” Fagbemi stated.
He commended the Anambra State government for actively implementing the Act, allowing citizens to stay informed about governance. He further called on Nigerians to exercise their right to information and participate in governance, adding that transparency leads to good governance.
“We appreciate the efforts of organizations like Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) and CTA for making this town hall meeting possible. The purpose of the FoI Act is to promote **transparency, accountability, and good governance—**not to be used as a tool for blackmail or political attacks,” he added.
In her remarks, CTA Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, lamented that many Nigerians remain unaware of their rights under the FoI Act, despite its enactment over 14 years ago.
“The Act allows citizens, including women, youth, and people with disabilities (PWDs), to track budgets, monitor government programs, and expose corruption. However, those who passed the law have done little to educate the public about its importance,” she stated.
Nwadishi highlighted that the town hall meeting aimed to empower marginalized groups to use the FoI Act in holding government institutions accountable. She also noted the work of the Strengthening Accountability and Governance in Nigeria Initiative (SAGNI) in promoting transparency in the Federal Capital Territory, Anambra State, and Edo State.
As calls for transparency and accountability grow louder, stakeholders emphasized the need for public institutions to proactively disclose information and for Nigerians to actively demand their rights, ensuring that governance remains open and inclusive.
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