News Archives - Centre for Social Justice

CSJ Caution FG Over Importation Of Belarus Tractors Despite Local Innovation

Center for Social Justice — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 10:16:09 +0000

Elanza News 9 July, 2025

CSJ caution FG over importation of Belarus tractors despite local innovation

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has decried the Federal Government recent importation of 2,000 tractors from Belarus and neglecting homegrown agricultural innovations that could have boost technology improvement and food security in the country.

The Lead Director, CSJ, Barrister Eze Onyekpere said that the move was a disservice to Nigeria’s agricultural advancement.

He was speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the National Workshop on Improving Visibility and Linkages between Agricultural Research Extension Services and Farming for Sustainable Food Value Chain in Nigeria.

The two-day event was organised by the CSJ, with the support of Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS) Nigeria, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON).

The workshop was also intended to review findings from the study on Agriculture Research Institutes and Needs Assessment of Small Scale Women Farmers; achievements, challenges, opportunities, connecting farmers and forward steps for Agriculture Research Institutes; Agriculture Research, Training and Extension Services and Agriculture Insurance.

It was also to review strengthening the roles of subnational governments, farmers associations, financial institutions and technologies to improve farm extension service, and use of research for food security optimization in Nigeria.

Onyekpere questioned the rationale behind abandoning indigenous research outputs in favor of foreign imports, calling the move a disservice to Nigeria’s agricultural advancement.

“Government can afford to do better. But the important thing is, what is the value of producing results and letting it lie on the shelf? For instance, the National Center for Agricultural Mechanization has produced mini-tractors, weeders, harvesters, and threshers.

“Recently, the President just launched 2,000 tractors. And I wanted to hear where they got it from. Of all places in the world, they were imported from Belarus.

“I was expecting if it’s not Nigeria maybe he should have said he got it from the United States, Britain, China, Japan, Germany, and suddenly it’s from Belarus. So what are we doing with the result of their research?” he said.

He also lamented the poor impact of publicly funded research institutes which affects agricultural productivity noting that research outcomes should not sit on shelves or remain in academic journals, but be translated into real-world solutions that meet the needs of farmers particularly the smallholder women who are the backbone of Nigeria’s food system.

Onyekpere said, “We found out that we have so many research institutes that are publicly funded, from those in different crops to fisheries to animal husbandry. But we’ve not had improved productivity, improved yield per hectare, and been able to tackle the prevalent pests and diseases across the nation and across so many crop value chains.

“What exactly are they doing, what are the innovations, what are the findings? And of course as we progress in this workshop you discover that there is a gap, there is a challenge, because the research institutes are doing tremendous good work. But that work is not getting into where it should go into to improve agriculture and to make sure they adopt good farming practices across the nation.”

The CSJ boss said that the workshop aims to bridge the gap between what the research institutes and small holder farmers are doing vis-a-vis government interventions to proffer solutions to lack of agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

Also speaking at the event, the Country Director Heinrich Boell Foundation, Sophie von Knebel, charged Nigeria government to leverage on the challenges facing its agricultural system by leveraging on the opportunities and taking immediate, practical actions that can transform how knowledge is generated, shared, and applied.

Knebel equally advocated for solutions that are not only impactful but also implementable in the short term, and sustainable in the long run in the country.

The post CSJ Caution FG Over Importation Of Belarus Tractors Despite Local Innovation appeared first on Centre for Social Justice .

CSJ Slams Govt For Neglecting Indigenous Agric Outputs

Center for Social Justice — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 10:14:10 +0000

Punch.ng 9 July, 2025

CSJ Slams Govt For Neglecting Indigenous Agric Outputs

The Centre for Social Justice has slammed the Federal Government for neglecting homegrown agricultural innovations, following the recent importation of 2,000 tractors from Belarus.

Lead Director, CSJ, Eze Onyekpere while speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the National Workshop on Improving Visibility and Linkages between Agricultural Research Extension Services and Farming for Sustainable Food Value Chain in Nigeria, questioned the rationale behind abandoning indigenous research outputs in favour of imports, calling the move a disservice to Nigeria’s agricultural advancement.

In his speech, made available to our correspondent, Onyekpere said, “Government can afford to do better. But the important thing is, what is the value of producing results and letting them lie on the shelf? For instance, the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation has produced mini-tractors, weeders, harvesters, and threshers.

“Recently, the President just launched 2,000 tractors. And I wanted to hear where they got it from. From all places in the world, they were imported from Belarus. I was expecting that if it’s not Nigeria, maybe he should have said he got it from the United States, Britain, China, Japan, Germany, but suddenly it’s from Belarus.

So what are we doing with the result of our indigenous research?” he queried.

Onyekpere also decried the poor impact of publicly funded research institutes, which affect agricultural productivity, emphasising that research outcomes should not sit on shelves or remain in academic journals.

“They should be translated into real-world solutions that meet the needs of farmers, particularly the smallholder women who are the backbone of Nigeria’s food system,” he said.

The CSJ director added that “we found out that we have so many research institutes that are publicly funded, from those in different crops to fisheries to animal husbandry. But we’ve not had improved productivity, improved yield per hectare, and have not been able to tackle the prevalent pests and diseases across so many crop value chains.

“What exactly are they doing, what are the innovations, what are the findings? And of course, as we progress in this workshop, you discover that there is a gap, there is a challenge, because the research institutes are doing tremendous good work. But that work is not getting into where it should go, to improve agriculture and to make sure they adopt good farming practices.”

Onyekpere said the workshop aims to bridge the gap between what the research institutes and smallholder farmers are doing vis-à-vis government interventions, and to proffer solutions to the lack of agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

On her part, the Country Director Heinrich Böll Foundation, Sophie von Knebel, urged Nigeria to leverage the challenges facing its agricultural system by grabbing the opportunities and taking immediate, practical actions that could transform how knowledge is generated, shared, and applied.

Knebel also advocated for solutions that are not only impactful but also implementable in the short term and sustainable in the long run.

The post CSJ Slams Govt For Neglecting Indigenous Agric Outputs appeared first on Centre for Social Justice .

How research can aid food security, by stakeholders

Center for Social Justice — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 10:11:32 +0000

The Guardian 9 July, 2025

How research can aid food security, by stakeholders

Stakeholders, including researchers, civil society organisations (CSOs) and farmers, have expressed worry over the poor deployment of agriculture research outcomes to farmers for sustainable food production.

Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Dr Eze Onyekpere, observed that recent budgetary allocations for the agriculture sector have shown that agriculture research institutions had substantial allocations, and therefore, research outcomes must be made available to benefit local farmers.

He made the submission at a two-day National Workshop on Improving Viability and Linkages Between Agriculture Research, Extension Services and Farming for Food Value Chain, yesterday, in Abuja, organised by CSJ, in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

He said: “As someone who works on the public budget, which is the taxpayers’ money, I’ve done a lot of work around the votes of the Ministry of Agriculture and I saw that the research institutes are taking up a good part of the funding that goes to the ministry. So, the Nigerian taxpayer pays some researchers and those payments must be for a purpose.

“It is not for mere advertising. We are not paying researchers to research for the sake of research.”

We are paying researchers so that they can improve the value chain of our food and make it more productive and more value-added.”

Onyekpere pointed out that Nigerians were experiencing hunger which could be resolved through effective cascading of research output to farmers who can apply the same for best result.

According to him, agriculture research aims to improve productivity, and yield per hectare, tackle prevalent pests and crop diseases across the federation, as well as boost the value chain.

He submitted: “We need to find out where the challenges are. The derivative value chain of cassava is about $189 billion worldwide. Nigeria is doing between 16% and 20% of the total raw cassava production. Furthermore, our yield per hectare is about 30% of those who are doing better but are producing less. We are capturing less than one per cent of that $189 billion.”

Noting that at least 70 per cent of farmers especially smallholder ones are women, Country Director, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Sophie von Knebel, stressed the importance of ensuring that research outcomes do not sit on shelves or remain in academic journals, but are translated into real-world solutions that meet the needs of farmers, particularly the smallholder women who are the backbone of Nigeria’s food systems.

She said: “The challenges confronting Nigerian agriculture are well documented and they include limited access to finance, weak extension structures, poor adoption of research outputs, and a persistent disconnect between innovation and implementation.”

In her remarks, President of the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), Fatima Bala-Gummi, explained that research outcomes were critical in boosting crop yields and reducing labour, especially among her teeming members.

Represented by the National Public Relations Officer, Marka Abbas, the president noted: “Effective linkages between the agricultural research institutions and farmers will bring changes in our farming system for a better food production and food value chain.

“SWOFON is facing a lot of challenges being small farmers. So, I am hoping that we will see changes and find solutions to some of these challenges.”

Also, a representative of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and Assistant Director Research, Dr. NnemekaIhegwaogu, promised that the council was working with agriculture research institutions under its purview to strengthen extension services and delivery of research outcomes for increased food production and sustainability.

Her words: “The ARCN has been working over the years as a leader in agricultural research in Nigeria, and is tapping into the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present government to enhance the dissemination of research technology as generated by the institutions under it.

“We ensure that every research institute has an extension department and agricultural research outreach centres where schools and villages are adopted as part of efforts to disseminate our research.”

The post How research can aid food security, by stakeholders appeared first on Centre for Social Justice .

CSJ Criticizes FG Over Belarus tractor Imports, Urges Support For Local Innovation

Center for Social Justice — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 10:04:10 +0000

Blueprint.ng 8 July, 2025

CSJ Criticizes FG Over Belarus tractor Imports, Urges Support For Local Innovation

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has strongly criticized the Federal Government for sidelining local agricultural innovations in favour of foreign alternatives, following the recent importation of 2,000 tractors from Belarus.

Speaking at a national workshop in Abuja on Tuesday, CSJ Lead Director, Eze Onyekpere, described the move as a disservice to Nigeria’s agricultural development. He questioned why locally developed technologies by the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization—such as mini-tractors, weeders, and harvesters—were overlooked.

“Of all countries, the tractors were imported from Belarus,” Onyekpere said. “What then is the point of investing in local research if their results remain unused?”

He lamented the underperformance of publicly funded research institutes, noting that despite their mandate and budgetary allocations, Nigeria continues to face poor agricultural productivity, low yields, and unchecked crop diseases.

The workshop, which focused on strengthening linkages between agricultural research, extension services, and farming practices, also featured calls to ensure that research outputs are practical and accessible to smallholder farmers—especially women, who are critical to Nigeria’s food systems.

Also speaking, Sophie von Knebel, Country Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, urged the Nigerian government to act decisively. She advocated for practical, short-term solutions that can be scaled sustainably, emphasizing the need for better knowledge sharing and real-world application of agricultural innovations.

Participants called for stronger integration between research institutes, policy implementation, and farmers to improve food security and boost Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

The post CSJ Criticizes FG Over Belarus tractor Imports, Urges Support For Local Innovation appeared first on Centre for Social Justice .

Daily Dispatch Newspaper July 10, 2025- CSJ Lampoons FG Over Importation of Belarus Tractors

Center for Social Justice — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:59:41 +0000

Daily Dispatch Newspaper July 10, 2025

CSJ Lampoons FG Over Importation of Belarus Tractors

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has lampooned the Federal Government for neglecting homegrown agricultural innovations against foreign manufactured.

The criticism followed the recent importation of 2,000 tractors from Belarus.

Lead Director, CSJ, Eze Onyekpere while speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the National Workshop on Improving Visibility and Linkages between Agricultural Research Extension Services and Farming for Sustainable Food Value Chain in Nigeria, queried the rationale behind abandoning indigenous research outputs in favour of foreign imports, adjudging the move a disservice to agriculture development in the country.

He said: “Government can afford to do better. But the important thing is, what is the value of producing results and letting it lie on the shelf? For instance, the National Center for Agricultural Mechanization has produced mini-tractors, weeders, harvesters, and threshers.

“Recently, the President just launched 2,000 tractors. And I wanted to hear where they got it from. Of all places in the world, they were imported from Belarus.

He also decried the poor impact of publicly funded research institutes which affects agricultural productivity emphasizing that research outcomes should not sit on shelves or remain in academic journals, but be translated into real-world solutions that meet the needs of farmers particularly the smallholder women who are the backbone of Nigeria’s food system.”

Onyekpere said: “We found out that we have so many research institutes that are publicly funded, from those in different crops to fisheries to animal husbandry. But we’ve not had improved productivity, improved yield per hectare, and been able to tackle the prevalent pests and diseases across the nation and across so many crop value chains.

He noted that the workshop aims to bridge the gap between what the research institutes and small holder farmers are doing vis-a-vis government interventions to proffer solutions to lack of agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

The Country Director Heinrich Boell Foundation, Sophie von Knebel charged Nigeria government to leverage on the challenges facing its agricultural system by leveraging on the opportunities and taking immediate, practical actions that can transform how knowledge is generated, shared, and applied.

Knebel advocatted for solutions that are not only impactful but also implementable in the short term, and sustainable in the long run in the country.”

The post Daily Dispatch Newspaper July 10, 2025- CSJ Lampoons FG Over Importation of Belarus Tractors appeared first on Centre for Social Justice .

Agric research materials must leave shelves for food production, Onyekpere tells FG, others

Center for Social Justice — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:52:44 +0000

Vanguard July 8,2025

Agric research materials must leave shelves for food production, Onyekpere tells FG, others

ABUJA – THE Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, Eze Onyekpere, Tuesday, called on the Federal and State Governments on the need to urgently look inwards to use agricultural researches abandoned in the shelves to galvanize food production.

Onyekpere made the call at a two-day ‘National Workshop on Improving Visibility and Linkages between Agricultural Research Extension Services and Farming for Sustainable Food Value Chain in Nigeria’, which he questioned the rationale behind abandoning indigenous research outputs in favour of foreign imports, calling the move a disservice to Nigeria’s agricultural advancement.

Onyekpere also lamented the impact of poorly funded research institutes, which affects agricultural productivity.

He emphasized that research outcomes should not sit on shelves or remain in academic journals, but be translated into real-world solutions that meet the needs of farmers particularly the smallholder women farmers who are the backbone of Nigeria’s food system.

The Workshop was supported by Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS) Nigeria, and CSJ collaborating with the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, and the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria, SWOFON, organised the Workshop.

He said: “Government can afford to do better but the important thing is, what is the value of producing results and letting it lie on the shelf? For instance, the National Center for Agricultural Mechanization has produced mini-tractors, weeders, harvesters, and threshers.

“We found out that we have so many research institutes that are publicly funded, from those in different crops to fisheries to animal husbandry but we have not had improved productivity, improved yield per hectare, and been able to tackle the prevalent pests and diseases across the nation and across so many crop value chains.

He also said the workshop aims to bridge the gap between what the research institutes and smallholder farmers are doing vis-a-vis government interventions to proffer solutions to lack of agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Country Director Heinrich Boell Foundation, Sophie von Knebel, in an address of welcome charged the Nigeria government to leverage on the challenges facing its agricultural system by leveraging on the opportunities and taking immediate, practical actions that can transform how knowledge is generated, shared, and applied.

Knebel called for solutions that are not only impactful but also implementable in the short term, and sustainable in the long run in the country.

“We gather here with a shared purpose: to ensure that research outcomes do not sit on shelves or remain in academic journals, but are translated into real-world solutions that meet the needs of farmers—particularly the smallholder women who are the backbone of our food systems.

“The challenges confronting Nigerian agriculture are well documented: limited access to finance, weak extension structures, poor adoption of research outputs, and a persistent disconnect between innovation and implementation.

“Yet within these challenges lie tremendous opportunities—opportunities to take immediate, practical actions that can transform how knowledge is generated, shared, and applied.

“As we work to close the gap between research and practice, let us commit to solutions that are not only impactful but also implementable in the short term, and sustainable in the long run – what we call the “low-hanging fruit”, she said.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, Dr Abubakar Dabban, in paper titled ‘Agricultural Research, Training and Research, Training and Extension Services: How to make them Work for Small Scale Farmers in Nigeria’, said the Council came up with strategies including; Adoption of villages and schools: Addressing huge yield gaps between on-station and on-farm agricultural yields.

“ARCN established 578 AROCs so far. Agricultural Innovation Platforms: This is a channel for effective generation and diffusion of agricultural innovations in selected agricultural commodity value chains.

“The Agricultural Technology Transfer Centres (ARTTC): The ARTTC is a concept that is based on transfer of technology (TOT) to end-users and domesticated on a research institute sub-station.

“Community-based seed multiplication initiative: To alleviate the challenges of poor access to improved agricultural seeds, WAAPP implemented a community-based seed multiplication initiative with relevant stakeholders”, he said.

However, the ES called for increased funding of agricultural research in order “to meet the present and emerging challenges in the agricultural sector.

“Need for vibrant reward systems for researchers for innovations and linkage activities: Need for building the Innovative Capacity of researchers.”

The post Agric research materials must leave shelves for food production, Onyekpere tells FG, others appeared first on Centre for Social Justice .

CSJ To Spotlight SGBV With New Manual On Budgeting For Gender-Based Violence

Center for Social Justice — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 04:10:54 +0000

The Centre for Social Justice is set to publish a manual on budgeting for gender-based violence, the first of its kind in Nigeria .

The project funded by the European Union under the British Council’s Agents for Citizen-driven Transformation (ACT) will see the publication of one thousand copies of the gender-based violence budgeting manual by the end of its first quarter.

The EU-ACT project aims to make the Federal Capital Territory Abuja fully responsive to gender-based violence. In the end, it is expected that ministries, departments and agencies of government and partner Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) acquire strategic knowledge, skill and competences on budgeting to respect, protect and fulfil the state’s obligations on gender-based violence.

This programme is relevant to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and will contribute to the progressive achievement of SDG 16 but also promotes progress towards SDG 5. The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to more inclusive, effective, accountable and gender-responsive development in Nigeria.

It will complement sectoral programmes by contributing to the strengthening of a strong, vibrant, and independent civil society which can further good governance through policy analysis and advocacy, by monitoring government performance and the action and behaviour of public officials. There will be a specific focus on mobilising Nigerians, including women and girls, vulnerable and marginalised groups especially at the grassroots level, to participate more fully in politics and public affairs towards improving accountability and effectiveness of government.

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CSJ CONDUCTS RESEARCH, GIVES REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMBATING SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN 5 STATES

Center for Social Justice — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 08:59:23 +0000

The states listed at a news conference organised by the CENTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE on Tuesday in Abuja are Adamawa, Ebonyi, Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Sokoto.

Mr Eze Onyekpere, the Lead Director of the CENTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, said the recommendation was based on a recent study tour by a team of experts sponsored by the centre as part of its activities to ensure social justice for all.

He said in Adamawa, it recommended the need to ensure a credible budgeting process by the state government through revenue forecast and empirical evidence.

“The study recommended the development of plans that will eliminate Sexual and Gender Base Violence (SGBV) and elimination of other violence against women and girls.’’

Onyekpere said the centre recommended capacity building for ministry of women affairs on gender sensitivity, collaboration among various agencies in the state on data reporting and engagement in sensitisation to change cultural attitude based on stereotypes on inferiority or superiority of women and men.

“It recommends capacity building and training for practitioners in the field such as investigators, prosecutors, law enforcement agents, judges, health and social workers and media practitioners to fully understand the dynamics of SGBV,’’ he said.

He said the based on the study, the centre called on the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to establish an office in the state.

“This is aside the desk office under the civil defense corps and the police, considering that Adamawa is sharing borders with neighbouring countries.’’

In Ebonyi, he said the centre recommended an improvement in budgetary allocations to relevant projects to relevant Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs).

According to the him, the study shows that budgetary allocations to relevant MDA to facilitate the elimination of SGBV is very meager.

Onyekpere said the centre also recommended capacity building on gender responsive budgeting and fund raising, improved coordination of projects by the Ministry of Women Affairs and a multi-sectoral and multi-agency approach to improved sensitisation of the people of the state.

He said it recommended that basic education must be universal and compulsory for all in line with the Universal Basic Act of 2004, civil society advocacy on SGBV and improved collaborations between the state government agencies and the Federal institutions.

In Lagos, he called for an open budgeting process with the publication of it full details, release all appropriated sums, collaboration of ministry of women affairs with relevant MDAs, capacity building on gender sensitive budgeting especially on SGBV and others.

He also called for sensitisation on inferiority or superiority of women and men through collaboration between MDAs, youth and sports, civil society, religious and traditional leaders.

He said the centre recommended capacity building and training for practitioners like investigators, prosecutors, law enforcement agents, judges, health and social workers and media practitioners to fully understand the dynamics of SGBV.

In the case of FCT, he said the centre recommended adequate funding for prenatal and postnatal for women with access to emergency obstetric, family planning good and services, for eradication of SGBV and FCT sexual and gender based violence response team for support and aids counseling.

Onyekpere called for funding of education of girls through universal basic education with second chance opportunity, higher education, adding that parents and guardians who refused to enroll their female children into basic education should be prosecuted.

According to the him, the centre recommended that budget preparation process must link policies for the achievement of objectives and meeting of targets with the requisite funds.

He recommended greater emphasis on improving sector performance, and that both recurrent and capital budgets need to be prepared using Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB).

He also called for the end of the current practice where activities were continuing from year to year, and resources were declining as a result of underfunding of these activities.

“In Sokoto, the centre recommended a prepared medium and long term costed multi-sectoral action plan for the elimination of SGBV, make budget more credible and responsive by using empirical evidence for revenue forecast.

“It called for an open budgeting process, capacity building for strategic implementation MDAs including Ministry of Women Affairs, collaboration between ministries, state planning commission, statistic agency and other MDAs.

“It recommended the establishment of SGBV response team in the state for a comprehensive response to SGBV challenges; provide referral services to survivors and to monitor the provision of quality forensic, medical, legal and psycho-social support to survivors,’’ he said.

Onyekpere called for enactment of the Child Right Act, Gender and Equal Opportunity Act, Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, and training of members of the state House of Assembly, especially the appropriation, finance, public account and women affair committee.

Other officials of the NGO at the news conference were Mr Fidelis Onyejegba, the Programme Officer and Public Finance Management and Mrs Eze Kasiemobi, Gender and Inclusivity Officer for the centre.

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CSJ recommends provision of infrastructures for 5 states

Center for Social Justice — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 08:51:33 +0000

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COMMUNIQUE FOR CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN SOKOTO STATE ON PREVENTION AND RESPONSES TO SGBV/VAWG/HP AND PROMOTION OF SRHR

Center for Social Justice — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 13:12:10 +0000

INTRODUCTION

The Capacity Building Workshop for Law Enforcement Agencies in Sokoto State on prevention and responses to sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), violence against women and girls (VAWG), harmful practices (HP) and the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and girls was convened by Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) with the support of the European Union-United Nations Spotlight Initiative at Grand New Shukura Hotel, 10 Kano Road, Sokoto, Sokoto State on August 26^th and 27^th2020. Participation was drawn from the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Hisbah Commission and the National Agency for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The workshop is part of a series of activities under the Spotlight Initiative which seeks to eliminate violence against women and girls with the overall vision of a Nigeria where all women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable, live a life free from violence and harmful practices.

The workshop was convened to contribute to an outcome: National and sub-national systems and institutions plan, fund and deliver evidence-based programmes that prevent and respond to violence against women and girls and harmful practices in all sectors. The planned output is that capacities of law enforcement agents and prosecutors is strengthened to deliver services that prevent and respond to VAWG/SGBV/HP, especially for those groups of women and girls facing intersecting and multiple forms of discrimination.

The objectives were designed from the supply side considering that law enforcement is central to the fulfilment of government’s fundamental obligation to society which is to maintain law and order and secure lives and property of citizens and residents. The workshop is to build capacity of strategic law enforcement officials to have a deep appreciation of:

The purpose and principles of mainstreaming prevention and responses to VAWG/SGBV/HP and women and girls’ access to SRHR in law enforcement;
National and international standards relevant to law enforcement and VAWG/SGBV/HP/SRHR;
Challenges of operationalising and mainstreaming preventive and response measures on VAWG/SGBV/HP/SRHR in law enforcement;
Fit and good practices/best practices in prevention and response to VAWG/SGBV/HP in law enforcement;
Establish the relationship for continued institutional knowledge support within the project period.

The topics presented were as follows:

(a) The Purpose and Principles of Mainstreaming Prevention and Response to VAWG/SGBV/HP/SRHR in Law Enforcement.

(b) Standards on Law Enforcement and SGBV/VAWG/HP/SRHR.

(d) Challenges of Operationalising and Mainstreaming Prevention and Responses to SGBV/VAWG/HP and SRHR in Law Enforcement.

(e) Gender and Law Enforcement in Nigeria in the Light of SGBV/VAWG/HP/SRHR: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward.

The participants undertook group discussions which focused on identifying gaps and challenges, emergent best practices as well as low hanging fruits for action in law enforcement for prevention and responses to SGBV/VAWG/HP and promotion of SRHR of women and girls.

OBSERVATIONS

The Workshop Made the Following Observations

a) Law Enforcement Agencies have a fundamental obligation to protect lives and property and to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms including the rights to human dignity and non-discrimination for women, girls and vulnerable groups. The fulfilment of this obligation should entail freedom from SGBV/VAWG/HP for women and girls and the promotion of their SRHR.

b) There are several legal and policy provisions that protect women and girls from SGBV/VAWG/HP. These include the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Sokoto State Penal Code, Right to Education Law, Nigeria Police Act and its Regulations, the Compulsory, Free, Universal Basic Education Act and Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Act. Others include all treaties and standards ratified and applicable to Nigeria – United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Sustainable Development Goal 5; United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (DEVAW); the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa; the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), etc.

c) The establishment of the Nigeria Police Gender Unit, the NSCDC Gender Unit, Hisbah Commission Gender Unit, and the Sokoto SGBV Response Team is a welcome development with the capacity to drastically reduce gender-based violence. However, the Gender Units have not been adequately resourced.

d) There is no Standard Operating Procedure for handling sexual and gender-based violence across all Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria. Furthermore, there is inter agency rivalry and overlapping functions on SGBV/VAWG/HP.

e) There are several rules in the Police Force that discriminate against women and the Force Gender Policy is overdue for review.

f) Forensic analytical resources/support is imperative for proper investigation and reporting as well as obtaining convictions on SGBV and VAWG.

g) There are challenges of logistics, inadequate training, experts for the investigation of SGBV/VAWG/HP and SRHR of women and girls in the Police, NSCDC, Hisbah Commission, NAPTIP and the SGBV Response Team. Furthermore, there are interferences from political and cultural leaders, superior officers, etc. in the investigation and reporting process.

h) There is no dedicated court for the prosecution of SGBV/VAWG/HP and the denial of the SRHR of women and girls. This slows down the prosecution process and leads to denial of justice for survivors.

i) Awareness and sensitisation on the processes of reporting, facilitation and getting justice on SGBV issues is low. Hence the need for increased public sensitisation.

j) SGBV/VAWG/HP contrary to legal provisions, manifests in various dimensions in the home, in the community, public places and at places of work. These include domestic violence, emotional violence, rape, sexual harassment in schools and workplaces, stalking, female genital mutilation (FGM), femicide, denial of education, disinheritance, widowhood practices, stigmatisation and shaming, etc.

k) Violations of the SRHR of women and girls manifest in forced marriages, child brides, teenage motherhood, forced pregnancies, denial of maternal care including ante natal and safe delivery care, vesico vaginal fistula (VVF), unsafe abortion and denial of use of contraceptives. It also manifests in the undue increase of the Nigerian population – a situation where population growth outstrips economic growth.

l) SGBV/VAWG/HP are recognised obstacles to the achievement of equality, development and peace; nullifies and impairs women’s enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms; is a global public health challenge and causes physical, psychological and economic harm and suffering to women.

m) The culture of silence, stigmatisation and shaming of women and girls who complain about sexual offences contributes to perpetrator impunity and the continuation of sexual and gender-based violence.

n) Further to paragraph m, overall, law enforcement practices and attitudes have not been overtly supportive of victims and survivors of SGBV and VAWG.

o) The Penal Code Law applicable in Sokoto State recognises that 18 years is the age of majority and informed consent and anyone below the age of 18 is deemed to be a child by law. Sex with any person under the age of 18 is criminalised by the Penal Code.

p) Criminal investigations are pivotal for effective criminal justice adjudication and there is the need for professionalism, objectivity and integrity in the investigation and reporting process.

q) SGBV/VAWG survivors need rehabilitation and reintegration in society.

RESOLUTIONS

Based On The Foregoing Observations, The Workshop Participants Resolved As Follows:

a) Law Enforcement Agencies commit to redouble their efforts towards eradicating SGBV/VAWG/HP for women and girls and the promotion of their SRHR. Inter-Agency collaboration will be encouraged and strengthened especially a platform for information sharing and exchange.

b) Commit to the development of a Common Law Enforcement Standard Operating Procedure on SGBV/VAWG/HP as well as specific Gender Policies for different Law Enforcement Agencies.

c) Commit to the review of the Police Force Gender Policy to eliminate discrimination against women in the Police especially in the areas of marriage, housing, etc.

d) Commit to the establishment of forensic analytical resources/support funded by the State which is needed for proper investigation and reporting as well as obtaining convictions on SGBV and VAWG.

e) Law Enforcement Agencies commit to provide information for the publication of details of offenders in the Sexual Offenders Register.

f) The Nigeria Police, NSCDC, Hisbah Commission Gender Units should be adequately resourced with financial resources, capacity building for its key personnel and logistics support for its operations. Furthermore, NAPTIP and the SGBV Response Team should also be adequately funded.

g) Commit to advocacy for the establishment of a One Stop Centre responding to SGBV/VAWG and HP with multiple competencies (free toll emergency lines, legal, medical, investigation, psychosocial support, shelter, rehabilitation, etc.) in Sokoto State.

h) Commit to advocacy for the establishment of special court to expeditiously try cases of SGBV/VAWG/HP and the denial of the SRHR of women and girls. This could be done not necessarily by legislation but by the Chief Judge of Sokoto State assigning SGBV cases to designated courts and reducing the case load of these courts, so that they have more time to focus attention on SGBV cases.

i) Commit to engage other stakeholders in the struggle against SGBV/VAWG/HP and promotion of SRHR. These stakeholders include the legal and medical professions, counsellors, women’s rights groups and associations, civil society organisations, religious and traditional institutions, etc.

j) Commit to take preventive action and adequate response to matters of domestic violence, emotional violence, rape, sexual harassment in schools and workplaces, stalking, female genital mutilation (FGM), femicide, denial of education, disinheritance, widowhood practices, stigmatisation and shaming, etc.

k) Commit to take preventive action and adequate responses to violations of SRHR especially forced and child marriages, forced pregnancies, denial of maternal care including ante natal and safe delivery care.

l) To reverse the culture of silence, stigmatisation and shaming of women and girls who complain about sexual offences through sensitisation and a new culture of survivor centred approach to policing and law enforcement.

m) Commit to the dissemination of information on the evidence, requirements and issues that need to be put together to prove rape and other SGBV.

n) Commit to the full and strict implementation of the Penal Code Law that 18 years is the age of majority and informed consent and anyone below the age of 18 is deemed to be a child by law. Sex with any person under the age of 18 is to be vigorously prosecuted.

o) Commit to improved criminal investigations through deploying impartiality, strict truthfulness, intelligence, respect, courtesy, patience, perseverance and persistence, professionalism, objectivity and integrity in the investigation and reporting process of SGBV/VAWG/HP and promotion of SRHR.

Signed

ASP Monica Enoch, SGBV Desk Officer Asst. Commandant Omejiaku Christy

Nigeria Police Force Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

Chukwu Udo Chukwu, Asst. Chief Intelligent Officer

NAPTIP

Asst. Commandant Alhassan J. Adeiza Barr. Eze Onyekpere Lead Director

Hisbah Commission Centre for Social Justice

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