By Princess Simon Bureau Chief North Central in Minna)
One day Consultative Meeting on National Action (NAP) for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Nigeria (2024-2028), has ended in Minna, Niger state capital with resolve of stakeholders to push for stronger approach towards tackling issues relating to all forms of Rights abuses.
Sakeholders for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Nigeria, Niger state has expressed worry that despite being signatory to the Vienna declaration and programme of action, issues relating to rights abuses in Nigeria have continued unabated with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and politicians topping the list of rights abusers.
Instead of officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to protect the Nigerian masses as contained in their rules of engagement, most police officers easily align with politicians and those in positions of authority they refer to as, 'highest biders', to oppress the people they were being paid to protect.
Giving instances of how police come up with conditions, including demanding financial inducements before granting bails, participants which included religious and traditional leaders, NGOs/CSOs, journalists, disabled persons, and representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Correctional Services, Nigeria Immigration Services, NSCDC, FRSC, NBA are of the views that issues relating to rights abuses will drastically reduce if law/rights enforcers desist from turning themselves into rights abusers with impunity.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu said the state's consultation on the implementation of NAP is in line with the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Australia in 1993 which Nigeria is signatory to.
Ojukwu who spoke through the Niger state Coordinator NHRC, Mohammed Nuhu, told participants to the Consultative Meeting which took place at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) state secretariat, Minna that their participation reflects shared dedication to strengthening collaboration and ensuring that the principles of human dignity, justice and equality are upheld across all sectors of the Nigerian society.
Also in a paper titled, 'The Role of MDAs in the Implementation of NAP', state NHRC Coordinator, Nuhu Mohammed called for robust contribuions from stakeholders in order to achieve desired objectives.
Nuhu, who recently bagged the, International Human Rights Ambassador, enumerated efforts made to bring yo the barest minimal rights abuses in Niger state called for more collaborations between stakeholders to hold those who indulge in any form of human rights violations accountable.
On her part, representative of Marian Marketing Company limited, Abuja, Mrs. Mary John, said the event organized by the NHRC in collaboration with Marian Marketing company is to ensure full implementation of all rights related issues within the year, 2026 in line with the Vienna declaration.
While however expressing concerns that the Nigerian Police Force so far tactically avoided most of the Consultative Meetings held in some states, including Niger state, Mrs. Mary encouraged stakeholders to be passionate about issues relating to rights abuses by ensuring that the trend are reduced to the barest minimal. NNL.
