After Secondary School by Titus Tukurah

Hamzat Lawal 15 August 2016 0

Some of our classmates have gone out of the country, some are now graduates, some have married, some have given birth, some are dead don’t forget that too, some are yet to be admitted into the tertiary institution, but you know that feeling when you meet your classmate and it seems like they have achieved their dreams and you’re not yet close to yours.

Yes, somehow feels like jealousy, it’s a normal feeling. But, you must not regret your life because all fingers are not equal. We all are different and our path to greatness is not same in distance. Some might reach before you, some might reach after you, some might not even reach, but whatever level you are presently please keep trying to break the limitations and move further. Celebrate the success of others, it’s an application for yours, rejoice with those that are rejoicing and mourn with them that are mourning. Your friend buys a car now, be happy with him. Remember when you get yours, theirs wouldn’t be the latest again. Life is not by competition but rather endurance.

Life is also a game that some might succeed while others might not. If not we all have been born into one family, one religion and same everything. The passion in you, never quench. The desire in you, keep it burning. The goal in you, keep pursuing it. What you pass through, the challenge you are facing don’t be intimidated rather write it down because one day the world would be ready to read it. There’s no height you cannot attain, just believe, define your goals and recognize distractions, spend time teaching yourself, because the things that mainly take people to the top is the things they devoted day and night and time to time to develop. Don’t be intimidated by your fellow’s success, the sky is too wide that the birds can fly without touching themselves.

9db2e1ee-01dd-4ddf-9554-9106663f8a88The mind is a dangerous thing and if you let it, it will kick you, beat you, and make you want to give up, quit, run for the hills and never, ever look back. Ever. In short, the mind can be a twist. It’s not easy to overcome the thoughts that trip us up. The self-destructive thoughts our minds come up with may be irrational, but when they’re raging inside of your head, well, they seem very real and very serious, and they can be utterly devastating.

Have you ever felt like such a fake as a writer that you wanted to walk away and never feel that way again? I never feel like a fake cause I know where i’m going to and where am from. Think positive, dream positive, Eat positive, Live positive and stop looking down on yourself or somebody but keep but to your dream, vision and goal.

CODE :The Future We See through Follow The Money Newsroom.

Hamzat Lawal 19 July 2016 11

A non-governmental organisation Follow The Money, an initiative of Connected Development (CODE)Connected Development (CODE) is set to launch “Virtual Newsroom.

The products from the Virtual Newsroom is set to further engage and empower more marginalized people in rural communities to enhance their livelihoods.

DOTUNSpeaking at an In-house training organised by CODE, the monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Oludotun Babayemi said Follow The Money is planning  a virtual newsroom that will run 24 hours – several times in a month with the objective of strengthening the voice of 95 million Nigerians leaving in rural communities in Nigeria, while increasing their participation in governance.

He said it’s important to have a participatory kind of discussion on how the newsroom is meant to look like, who’s doing what and create a larger workflow other than the one we have been using.

“We are talking about a newsroom that has over 60 reporters reporting into it from remote places. This means we need a robust, scalable and efficient framework other than the one we were using before. We thought it will be good to have a meeting to deliberate, discuss, make comments and suggestions about how the newsroom is meant to look like and also decide on the future of Follow The money,”he said.

The Monitoring and Evaluation officer, said Follow the Money is always motivated by stories from rural communities, which never gets into the mainstream media, adding that  every time there is a visit , they hear about new stories, not just for the success alone but of  failures of communities that are still ailing other than the ones that  are focused on.

He added that it is always motivating  that the group  can do more and  can have more people to do more.

“We are looking at the massive strength in the young people that we have, we can engage more of them and we can also have more communities that will be proactively vigilant in ensuring transparency and accountability of funds meant for their communities as well. These are the motivation for Follow The Money,” he said.

Speaking on the challenges, Babayemi said the challenges the movement  might face is keeping that of  retaining human resources and availability of financial resources
GROUP 3

“Some people might leave at some point  because  we can’t bring in 60-75 people and expect them to only be focused on our mission and goal. Some people would think of something else such as thinking of another movement from there. Both are the critical challenges we are looking forward to as we move on.,”he said

He further called on the general public to be on the lookout for new radio programs that will come up especially Follow the Money radio, adding that radio is what people in the rural communities rely on to get information.

Mr. Babayemi explained that Follow the Money radio will be used in increasing rural community participation on governance as it concerns implementation of funds meant for capital projects in their communities l.

“ They should look out for some of our bulletins and prints that we would want to share with them on the money we are following and money for the community and also on what the government is saying about such money should be something interesting the communities should be looking forward to,”he said.

Well in the next 15  years, the vision will be to see the present 95 million Nigerians living in rural communities listening and engaging their leaders through the Follow the Money Radio, likewise, seeing 50%  of that population sending in feedback to Follow the Money via SMS and our various online portal. Mr Babayemi noted

He said these target audience  could also be able to read about  Follow the Money In  online and offline bulletins or magazines.

“In essence, seeing  Follow the Money as a community mechanism where they can also read about their own community, and get their voices amplified is the future we see through Follow the Money and I hope that we will be able to achieve that,” he said.

 

    

 

Say No To Street Begging : Education is Key

Hamzat Lawal 15 July 2016 1

“The Lord will bless you, the Lord will provide for you, the Lord will grant you journey mercy to your destination, help me, please help me,” The tiny innocent voice you hear right inside your ears through the window of a moving car when there is Gridlock (mostly known as go-slow or traffic)

“Allah ya kiyaye! Allah ya kare! Allah ya kai ku lafiya,Don Allah ka ba ni kudi Allah zai zo da kudi a cikin iyali ‘ the Hausa version of yet another tiny voice.

Turning your head sideways, trying to find out where the voice is coming from with your eyes rolling back and forth just to see who spoke or rather who is speaking.

The first thing you see is a bowl, to be specific a blue small bowl resting on  a very skinny long arm. At the site of that you become more curious then you stretch your neck  more in search of what kind of tiny arm will that be. Looking downwards are skinny legs without footwear in a faded brown shot or probably long dirty skirts with holes around them,one could almost see what the cloth is meant to cover. For the male usually with no shirt, while for the female covered with dirty dresses most times hijab.

These are the voice of children between the ages 4-10 begging on the streets to earn a living rather than been in the four walls of a classroom studying to become great leaders of tomorrow.

These kids wake up as early as 6am rather than getting ready for schools like there fellow counterpart they set out to the street to beg.They are known as Almajiri

They are a common sight in the Northern states including Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Gombe, Kaduna, Jos and Sokoto. According to the statistics released by the Ministry of Education in 2009, Kano State alone harbors 1.6 million Almajiris in some 26,000 madrassas. Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger and Borno states are home to approximately 1.1 million, 824,200, 580,000 and 389,000 Almajiri pupils respectively. They also have a large presence in neighboring West African countries like Mali, Togo, Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon.

ALAMAJIRIIn Northern Nigeria alone, they are estimated to be about 10 million—indicating that approximately one out of every 16 Nigerians and one out of every 7 Nigerian Muslims is an Almajiri. Granted that their number is a million more than the population of Sweden, they are a social menace and a liability on the Nigerian populace, and they help sustain a misconception—that Muslims are uncivilized and backward.

Over time the usual lifestyle of these Alamajiri begins with morning Qur’an recitation and memorization from the pre-dawn prayer (salatul subhi) till around 7:30am. After this— without bathing and sometimes without chewing a stick (an alternative way of brushing teeth)—they go into the streets, local food parlors, mosques, motor parks, markets, residences of wealthy persons and social gatherings; begging.

Some also engage in domestic chores in exchange for a bowl of food or worn-out clothing items.

Alamaajri 3

The Education system  has suffered overwhelming neglect,especially government schools in Nigeria . What baffles me is the fact that the high and might send their own kids to school abroad after which they return and have better opportunities of jobs. How long will we fold our arms and watch our educational sector sink. Lots of kids are out there begging, hawking or going to do house chos. I use think Government schools are meant to be free mainly for the masses, so why there still high rate of children on the street begging to feed rather than be in schools

This system of begging by children must be stopped remodeled and integrated. It is my opinion that our leaders most especially from the northern region come together as one and tackle this phenomenon.However, the solution to this problem may not be rapid one but i am most certain it’s going to be a gradual one.

Lets  say NO to street begging by children as Education is key

 

[Cont] Somebody Have To Do The Dirty Job, But Who?

Hamzat Lawal 13 July 2016 5

On a faithful morning, I listened to wish me well by Timi Dakolo on my grandfather radio (The one he gave me as a birthday gift). I immediately connect with the music as it was a replica of what was going on in my head.

I have to leave this village by moving to the city, I need to do good things for myself, and my families and I have to use Benz like Baba Tawa who I heard he lives in Lagos.

Baba Tawa is the son of my grandfather’s niece, he comes home only when we are celebrating egungun (Masquerade) festival or when we are doing Christmas or sometimes when we celebrate the popular Muslim ‘Eid’ festival.

Whenever he comes around, he will tell us what life is like in Lagos and also brings shining bottles of coke that always got me curious. To me, Lagos is a dream place to be.

Just as I am thinking out loud, we also have some other youths who are planning to leave the village as well. We meet once in a week to discuss our upcoming traveling and eventually, after a week of deliberation, we made up our minds and left for Lagos. Some went early, and some left late (Like me) because we have to pick and sell cashew nuts to fund our traveling fares.

Eventually, I got to the city of my dream (Lagos). It looked troubled and challenging from what I am used to, I have to either swim faster or sink – just as my brother in Lagos said.

Few months after I left the village, Nigeria started having  scarcity of tomatoes and it became hard to get few to cook with. I was thinking very fast and was wondering – is it not the same tomatoes that we cultivate for a living when we are at the village? The same tomatoes that is one of the laziest work we ever indulge in, oh no – we are all messed up (So I think).

With the constant migration of youths like me from the village to the city almost every day. With the constant running away from responsibilities of our great grandfather (Farming) and with the rise of rural to urban migration with 55% of Nigerians believed to be urbanized. Who do we think will feed us in the city that we are moving to, do we expect the old to feed us or how do we think about food security when all we are ready to do is shying away from the most lucrative business in the world?

After a while that I have been gutted by the stress in my city, I later made a headway and got a job. I was taught how to be responsible and how to give back to my communities.

Then, I realised how important it is to care for the few people who are left in rural villages. The whole idea got me thinking – if we that live in the city do not take care of the amenities of those that stay in rural villages (marginalised communities) by being a voice for them, how would we expect them to take care of our need for food ?

Just as my last article here reference – someone really have to do the dirty job, not that the job is a bad one as people perceived it, someone would have to do it to make the world go round.

At CODE, while many are busy under AC or their comfort zone, we are committed to doing the dirty job of caring for those in the village and creeks (the marginalised communities) and we have made it our mission to empower those in the marginalised community – if we do not take care of them, their health, their education, and their environment, do we expect them to take care of our food security?

When Dotun (Co-founder of CODE) should be celebrating his birthday with his loved ones, he was at the just concluded DW event in Bonn, Germany. When Hamzy (CEO of CODE) should be sleeping with his wife and taking care of the house with her, he is on the road somewhere in Kenya.

At the time Aminat should be cuddling on her bed in one big estate in Abuja, she was on the field sleeping in a slum for community outreach. when Rita should be sleeping in her husband’s’ arms, she was sleeping in the arms of a chair.

When Roy should have been  preparing for his wedding, he is in a no – mobile network zone far northern Nigeria.

At the time when Steffia should be resting on her chair attending to only her work, she was busying wearing many crowns of different roles and when I should just be on my data thing, I was busy running my fingers on the keyboard and mouse.

Humanitarian work is one of those jobs that requires people to leave their comfort zone for uncomfort zone, a job that requires us to take care of those that will take care of us all as a whole – yet, with all the pains and the stress, we choose to be someone different, we choose to impact lives and we choose to inconvenient ourselves to make the world a better day.

At CODE, until we achieve our mission of empowering the marginalised communities – we would not back down. Until the federal government of Nigeria becomes responsible and choose to be transparent to its citizen, we would not stop bearing the name activist.

We are dedicated to being the voice of the people, we are dedicated to watching the government with keen interest and we are dedicated to doing the dirty job.

Image Credit: Alex Jones

Hope Restored As Remediation Begins in Shikira

Hamzat Lawal 11 July 2016 3

We are extremely excited to announce that the Federal Government has finally bowed to public pressure and commenced the clean-up of Shikira, a small rural mining community situated in Rafi local government area, Niger State. One year and three months, after the devastating outbreak of lead poison that killed 28 childrenand left over 300 hundred others below the ages of five with high level contaminants in their blood.

This exercise is mostly profound in the sense that at the moment it is expected to prevent further exposure, open the door of opportunity for the treatment of those already affected as well as restore back the ecosystem and ensure livelihood sources.

IMG_20160711_123408Follow The Money Team, while celebrating this significant landmark in history of the Nigerian mining industry, also want the government to be transparent in carrying out this assignment and come up with a clear work plan showing the actual amount budgeted and a definitive time frame for completion of the project. It is important to mention that NGN 256,688,000 was appropriated in the 2016 budget for ‘Characterization & Remediation of Lead Poison Contaminated Communities’ that was signed my Mr. President. This is important, so as to enable us effectively participate in monitoring the process and provide the public with every necessary information they may require.

Also, it gladdens out heart to attribute a large chunk of our happiness to MSF/Doctors Without Borders for their relentless efforts and patience to the success of this noble initiative. Their willingness to render free medical services to the victims as soon as the clean-up is completed justifiably explains our accolade. We, therefore, urge the federal ministry of Health to work closely with MSF in fulfilling this critical task and initiate collaboration, especially in the area of knowledge transfer to strengthen her manpower capacity to handle such issues in the future.

The sad story of Shikira is just one in a million. It would be recalled that in 2010, 400 children lost their lives and over 1, 500 others were infected due to a similar occurrence in Bagega, Anka local government area in Zamfara State. And this is highly pathetic because the incident occurred long after the release of a report by OK International warning of an impending lead poison explosion in the affected communities including Shikira. So, we are calling on the federal ministry of Solid Minerals to revisit that report and ensure that its recommendations are followed in subsequent interventions and plans to avert any possible repeat of the ugly situation elsewhere in the country.IMG_20160711_123150

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is another key institution to recognize in this achievement. The passage of an outright legislation mandating the federal government to immediately clean up the impacted site, without further contemplation, in our assessment vividly demonstrate the hallmark of true leadership. Accordingly, we implore similar gesture and magnanimity from the lawmakers to also consider the review of the 2007 Mining Act to capture present realities in the industry, empower host communities and permanently address the challenges bedeviling large and small scale artisanal mining activities in Nigeria.

In conclusion, we will like to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for demonstrating the trait of a listening leader by adhering to public outcry. Amina Mohammed, the honourable minister of Environment, is another character of noteworthy; we are highly gratified over her visit to Shikira, an action that opened the mind of government to the depth of the epidemic which subsequently facilitated the commencement of the exercise. The greatest of our humility goes to the public especially those who added their voices and ensured that the right thing is done – They are the ultimate winner of this struggle, and this is so because, their actions have again revealed how the power of unity and mobilization can help sharp any government.

Thank you all and God Bless.

[PRESS RELEASE] Civil Society Coalition Launches Platform to Monitor Police Human Rights abuse on Citizens

Hamzat Lawal 1 July 2016 1

Connected Development [CODE], a non government organization whose mission is to empower marginalized communities in partnership with Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), a coalition of 49 Civil Society Organizations [CSOs] working on police reforms in Nigeria, on June 30, 2016 has lunched a real-time situation awareness platform at http://policemonitor.ng to document the human rights abuse by police on citizens and vice versa.

The Nigeria Police, as a pillar of democracy, has over the years, infringed on the human rights of Nigerians, with unlawful detention escalating everyday, and the rate of extortion of citizens becoming alarming, while all of this happens without documentation. “This is an open platform that will document several human rights abuse of the Nigeria Police on Nigerian citizen, it will be used in engaging the Nigeria Police and the judiciary to foster social justice for the citizens” said Oludotun Babayemi, the co -founder of Connected Development [CODE] during the unveiling of the platform.

The citizen driven platform will complement the Nigeria Police complaint response unit (CRU), which between January and March, was reported to have received and processed 1,054 complaints from across the 36 states and FCT, while 20 officers have been sanctioned. “We are not even sure that the CRU will survive in this new dispensation. It is hoped this new citizen – driven platform will compliment  it and remain the real citizens’ platform to report and monitor police abuses in Nigeria and to fight to ensure justice for victims and accountability by perpetrators” affirmed Okechukwu Nwagunwa, the National Coordinator of NOPRIN during the training for CSOs and the Media in Lagos,where the platform was launched.

Categories of human rights abuse that will be reported include police human rights abuse in Nigeria abuses such as arbitrary arrests,  and unlawful detention, extortion, police brutality, torture, extrajudicial killings,  and other acts of police abuse and police misconduct. Citizens can report on this platform by sending short message service [SMS] or a Whatsapp Message to 0708-000-4730

CODE is a Nigerian Non Governmental Organization, founded in 2012 to empower marginalized community by creating innovative ways of establishing feedback loops between citizens and state agents.

Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN Foundation) is a network of 49 civil society organisations spread across Nigeria, and committed to promoting police accountability and respect for human rights. It was established in 2000 to provide opportunity for civil society input to police reform, and the enhancement of safety, security and justice. NOPRIN carries out its mandates through monitoring, research, investigations, documentation and advocacy.

Images from the event can be downloaded at https://flic.kr/s/aHskCsHGno

For more enquiries contact the Programmes officer, Oladotun Fadeyiye at (roy@connecteddevelopment.org) or the Communications officer Amina Mohammed at (amina@connectedevelopment.org) or call us at  +234-929-1545

#NotTooYoungToRun Bill: Young People in Nigeria taking their destinies in their hands!

Hamzat Lawal 30 June 2016 4

Quest for good governance at the three tiers of government in Nigeria is compelling young people to be proactive in their agitations for equity and fairness in the polity, which are some of the major ingredients for sustainable democratic system anywhere in the world. #NotTooYoungToRun, a recently launched campaign, an initiative of Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth & Advancement (YIAGA) is currently taking the lead in correcting the several archaic notions and popular misconceptions that young persons in Nigeria are unfit to hold political leadership positions, and as such they are not to be given important in space in the corridor of power.

Speaking at Public Debate held in Abuja yesterday, Samson Itodo, Coordinator YIAGA and the initiator of #NotTooYoungToRun said the campaign is aimed at ensuring that young persons in Nigeria (above 18 and below age 35) be given opportunities to run for elective positions in government through #NotTooYoungToRun Bill. Itodo added that the Public Debate is targeted at stimulating public discourse on the rational and general principles of the Bill. “The debate will enlighten citizens on the role of the legislature, constitution review process and strategies for engaging state and federal legislators” he explained.

Honourable Tony Nwulu, Representing Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency 2 of Lagos State, who has also been the major sponsor of the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill which according to him has just passed the second reading in the hollow chamber of 8th National Assembly said “Young people in Nigeria have great potentials to be great leaders just like their counterparts in developed nations but it is quite disheartening that plethora of challenges are militating against them, the biggest challenge being lack of legal framework and constitutional backing for them to run for elective offices before age 35.

“It contravenes the fundamental human rights that any young person above 18 who has the right to vote, right to get married and be responsible for his or her family to be asked to wait for another twelve or fifteen years before he could be allowed to run for elective positions” he posited

Nwulu added that there is urgent need for constitutional review to ensure that these young intelligent Nigerians are given their space to run for political offices come 2019 and if possible before then. He further added that through this campaign young Nigerians are giving the older generation leaders a lifeline.

Jude Iloh, Country Representative, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) who also gave an insightful speech at the event said older generation of leaders in Nigeria have completely made a mess of the government. “Old politicians in Nigeria only get energised when it comes to the issues of partisan politics, doing everything within their powers to overshadow the efforts of younger political aspirants contesting for political offices, thereby preventing them from making meaningful contributions at the decision making levels and government policies.” Ilo further encouraged the Nigerian youths not to relent in their pursuits in getting #NotTooYoungToRun Bill passed into law.

Group seeks partnership with CODE on Stop don’t Drop campaign.

Hamzat Lawal 28 June 2016 5

The Stop Don’t Drop group in collaboration with Chanja Datti seeks partnership with Connected Development (CODE) in creating awareness on Environment sustainability and anti-littering stance.

Speaking at an interactive section held at CODE office in Abuja, the convener/Initiator of “Stop Don’t Drop”, Adiza Ujo said a research was conducted shortly after the fuel scarcity hit Nigeria.

She said the outcome of the research showed that many car owners who queued to buy fuel ended up buying eatables after which they littered the environment with wraps of whatever was bought.

“We found out the long queues at the filling Station led to more dirty in our environment, because while they wait for their turns to buy fuel the just buy “Gala and Lacaserra” drinks after which they just throw on the floor,”she said.

Ms Ujo noted that it is therefore necessary to enlighten the public on the use of waste bin or trash bags to deposit waste.

She further added that aside from depositing refuse dumps, such waste could be recycled into other products.

Also speaking,the Managing Director of Chanjia Datti, Ms Funto Boroffice said its not just about throwing dirty into trash bags, adding that when a trash  bag  could be returned back to the company for recycling.

She said it’s a way of also keeping the environment clean and to also create avenues for cab drivers to earn more income regardless of how little it may be

“Our focus are cab drivers and Keke riders, we intend to give them bag so that there passengers can throw their dirty in it,

“Once this is done the cab drivers are meant to bring back the bags to us with the dirty in it, after which they could either get recharge cards or a liter of fuel”, she said.

IMG-20160628-WA004She said that about 50,000 or more stickers will also be launched, adding that the stickers will be at the bumper of every cabs and keke in Abuja environs.

“The essence of this stickers is to help car owners stop littering the road with dirty, by throwing it out the window while driving,

“I am certain that when the car behind the one that  has a sticker that says “Stop don’t Drop” , he or she will think twice and not throw the dirty outside the window, “she said.

The Chief Executive of CODE, Hamzat Lawal, commended the group for this initiative, adding that CODE will assist in any possible way it can.

“I think it’s important that it is also treated at the senate level, whereby a bill is passed on that effect alongside policies,”he said.

He added that CODE will ensure the media helps broadcasts this initiative so that the information can get to the public as wide and fast as possible

“ We would try and engage  BBC Hausa to help amplifier alongside Wazobia fm, we could also make any of the Host on Wazobia fm an ambassador,”he said.

The monitoring and Evaluation manager of CODE, Oladotun Babayemi, suggested that everybody not just car owners or Keke riders should also engage themselves in recycling.

” i would advice you start publicity through congregation, it would help a lot in sending the message across,”he said.

Chanja Datti is committed to transforming waste to value with an increasing demand to rid the environment of non-biodegradable waste materials.

Stop don’t Drop seeks a green trash free environment.

 

 

Would The Youths Be Given The Opportunity to Run in Nigeria?

Hamzat Lawal 27 June 2016 5

A Public Debate with Citizens on Independent Candidacy and Age Reduction in Nigeria’s Constitution.

The dilemma of youths being given the opportunity to run has been disturbing overtime, as such it is high time this question gets a concrete response with strong constitutional backing.

The timing for the “Not Too Young To Run Campaign” came just in time considering the state of the country at hand, the maturity of the democracy and the global context when it comes to sustainable development.

It is noteworthy of the fact that the youths in Nigeria are the most marginalized and segregated subgroup and on some certain set of people in the country irrespective of region, religion or tribal origin.

On Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at Barcelona Hotel, Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Abuja by 9:00 am stakeholders would rally around mobilizing and engaging citizens to air their opinions, both for or against the bill which has passed second reading at the house of representatives which is now with the Committee on Constitution Review.

In Nigeria with a vast population of over 60% youth, one tends to find out that the most popular duty of a young Nigerian is to vote while the older ones engage, advocate and of course contest and compete for political positions. Other  activities of Nigerian youth are seen around offices as Personal Assistant (PA) to political office holders.

Civil Society Groups canvassing for the Not Too Young To Run Bill at the National Assembly, perceives that this marginalization process has grown gradually, as it can be regarded  as deadly as cancer which does not kill immediately, but moves like a slow poison.

Inclusion and participation are twin principles that underpin constitutional democracy. These principles indicate democratic development in any given society. In other words, the vitality of democracy is hinged on the level and quality of citizens’ participation in the process. To this end, democratic processes or systems must be open and easily accessible for citizens to participate. Political alienation and marginalization is not only anti-democratic but a recipe for political instability.

If passed into law, the Bill will seek to alter the Section 65, 106, 131, 177 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to reduce the age qualification for the office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; Governor 35 to 30, Senate 35 to 30, House of Representatives 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly 30 to 25 respectively; as well as mainstream independent candidacy into Nigeria’s electoral process.

Fundamentally, the debate will seek to answer the following questions:

1)     Liberalizing the age requirements for contesting elections in Nigeria: A yes or No?

2)     Getting Independent candidates on the ballot in Nigeria: Hope or doom for the electoral system?

The public debate for #NotTooYoungToRun Bill will assemble seasoned panelists who will provide supporting and opposing arguments for the Bill. In addition, it will present two contrasting arguments for the Bill which is poised to decide the future of the country.

The Following Organizations are signing onto the Statement:

Youth Initiative Advocacy Growth & Advancement (YIAGA), Connected Development [CODE], Youngstars Foundation, Orodata, Mind Capital, African Youth Initiative on Population, Health & Development (AfrYPod), The Election Network,  Social Good Nigeria, League of Progressive Ambassadors of Nigeria (LEPAN), Project Pink Blue, TechHerNG

Official Media Partners: Amplified Radio, Order Paper and Media Insight

 

Group faults government poor management of lead contamination in Shikira

Hamzat Lawal 27 June 2016 4

By Etta Michael Bisong

Connected Development (CODE), a non-governmental and not for profit organisation monitoring the lead poisoning outbreak in Shikira, has condemned the federal government over the poor handling of the disaster that claimed 30 lives and leaving over 300 hundred others with high level lead contaminants in their blood.
The group is particularly angry that this year’s raining season has began; yet the government is still uncertain over the specific date when remediation will commence to save children below the ages of five in the small rural mining community.
Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive Officer of the organisation in an interview with journalists in Abuja, urged the government to stop being conservative and be more transparent on management of the exercise so as to tackle it appropriately.
“The truth is that time is running out,” Lawal said. “Federal Government should come up with a clear work plan including date, data and timeline for the clean-up of Shikira.”
He decried that the situation is even more worrisome as Médecins sans Frontières (MSF)/Doctors Without Borders, an international network of humanitarian services provider has threatened to leave the community. MSF after realising the outbreak in April 2015 volunteered to render free medical services to the victims, but on the condition that the environment is first remediation to avoid duplication of treatment.
The CODE’s helmsman also frowned at the selective attitude of the government towards participating in activities and engaging with civil society groups working in the affected community.
“I am not happy that relevant agencies of government, especially the federal ministry of Environment, Solid Minerals and Health are not present at this important meeting after sending invitations ahead of time,” he said. “It shows us to what extent that the government value the lives of our vulnerable children who are in urgent need of medical attention.”
However, Lawal commended the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for passing a resolution mandating the Executive arm of government to embark on a total clean up of the impact site without further contemplation.
He urged the Senate to also look into and review the 2007 Mining Act to reflect current realities so as to properly integrate activities of artisanal miners to address the problems bedeviling the sector in the country.
IMG_20160617_151057
Simba Tirima, representative of TerraGraphics, the organisation that conducted analysis of the environmental characterisation and  impact of the devastation, said over 500,000 mg/kg Pb of lead contaminants were found in some parts of the village.
This outrageous figure, he hinted contradict the the United States Environmental Protection Agency threshold of  400 mg/kg Pb for residential soil.
Tirima advised the federal government to partner with victims and members of the affected community as well as other rights groups to ensure proper coordination in tackling the epidemic.
The minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, visited Shikira recently and declared it a national disaster.
Mohammed after her assessment tour concluded that there was urgent need to clean up the environment to protect other children from further exposure of the contamination and restore back livelihood in the community.

While government, environmental rights as well as humanitarian groups continue to brainstorm on various methods of solving the menace, it is important to note that over 300 children are still living with high level lead poison in their blood with many others vulnerable to further contamination.

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