Joel Ajayi

African Union (AU) should focus more on Africa-oriented solutions in its bid to resolve socio-economic challenges  within the Continent,  given peculiarities of the countries, says Alhaji A.S. Adeleke, Commandant, National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) during Sectoral Consultation by the African Union Country Review Mission (CRM ) to the Institute on Wednesday.

In a statement signed by the Media Assistant to NC/CEO, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM  Nigeria Abolade Ogundimu revealed that CRM  which commenced its activities for the Validation of Nigeria’s    Country  Self-Assessment Report (CSAR) on 1st July, 2021 had embarked on  Sectoral Consultation to critical stakeholders as part of the exercise in order for Nigeria to have a successful Second Peer Review Process.

The CRM led by its Lead Panel Member, Dr. Abdoulie Janneh, supported by Team of experts on four  thematic areas of AU APRM are in the Country to interact with various segment of the society during the Validation exercise.

The Country’s Review Process is being led by the NGC of APRM Nigeria while Country Review Process is being conducted by AUDA/NEPAD/APRM Nigeria currently under the leadership of  its National Coordinator/CEO, Princess Gloria Akobundu.

The NISS Boss and the erudite Management took turn to respond constructively to various questions of the CRM Team.

According to Adeleke,Africa’s peculiarity to various challenges should reflect in the solutions, not generalizing of solution and problems.

“We need to change our attitude to some of these problems confronting individual countries in  Africa.

“There are global challenges like terrorism and recently,  COVID-19 pandemic, how we have fared in those two vivid examples differ from other Continents.

“It is important to develop African Solution to African problems so that the Continent can achieve its set goals on socio-economic development.

“Nigerian government has made and still making frantic efforts in various areas of National life including improvement on electoral process, legislative backing on protection of People Living With Disability (PWD) among others ,,” he said.

Similarly, Prof. Etannibi Alemika, Study Group Coordinator,  NISS said ” insecurity is a global challenge and Nigeria is part of global Community.

“Societies with monotheistic belief are more prone to terrorism, religious violence is alien to African culture because individual is free to worship many gods but our believe in foreign religion now come with extremism by some religious groups.

“As Africans, let us look at our peculiarity and remember that no nation develops with liberal model of development ” he said.

Other Dons of NISS including Profs. Oshita Oshita,. Mike Maduagwu,, Amadu Sesay of NISS, lent their voices to the discussions.

Similarly, Ms Ngozi Onyemuchara, Director, Administratiion , NISS reiterated the need for better deployment of Early Warning Mechanism to arrest many issues that are capable of degenerating to huge loss of human and economic resources of the society.

Mr. Ferdinand Katendeko,  Coordinator of the CRM  commended the Institute for its commitment to Security studies and research in the country.

Dr. Louis Mandama NGC Member ( Coordinating  Northern Zone ) commended NISS and CRM for having a robust Consultation, saying “I am sure this discussion will not only enrich Nigeria’s Review but also Africa’s  capacity for self-development” he said

Dr. Ugo Beke, NGC  Member ( Coordinating the Southern Zone) also commended the process and President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to Self – Assessment of the country, through APRM process.

NISS is a Technical Research Institute that carried out final harmonisation of questionnaires and data harvested for Nigeria’s Second Peer Review conducted by APRM Nigeria,  harmonised by four selected TRIs on four thematic areas…

[10:16 PM, 7/8/2021] Bolade nan: CSAR Validation: AU applauds Nigeria’s efforts on Refugees,  IDPs

Dr. Abdoulie Janneh, Lead Panel Member,  African Union Country Review Mission (AU-CRM) Team, applauds Nigeria’s efforts to stem challenges of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in the Country during its Sectoral Consultation for validation of Nigeria’s Country Self-assessment Report (CSAR) as part of the ongoing Second Peer Review Process of the Country.

Janneh gave the commendation when he led the Review Mission, accompanied by Members of National Governing Council (NGC) of  African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Nigeria to  National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMIPD) respectively  on Wednesday.

The CRM Team met with Hajia Imaan Sulaiman- Ibrahim, Honourable Federal Commissioner, NCRMIDP and her Management on how IDPs, Refugees and Migrants were being treated in the Country amid COVID-19 pandemics and insecurity which is challenging the  nation and the world.

According to him, the way Nigeria treats issue of the vulnerable groups is commendable.

He described the Consultation as “fruitful,  open and a demonstration of exemplary manner.

” Nigeria’s approach in treating very difficult issue of Refugees and IDPs may be described as the best example on how to integrate them into a larger society,” he said.

Reacting to questions raised on IDPs and refugee related matters in Nigeria, Hajia Sulaiman-Ibrahim gave details of various peculiar strategies deployed by the Country through the Commission.

“We have Gender-sensitive resettlement initiative for single mothers and widows in our IPDs and refugee camps, while we also have transitional learning programme for the vulnerables in order to integrate them into the society.

“There is provision for refugees of school going age to acquire  free basic education from primary one to Junior Secondary school (JSS) 3 as available to all Nigerians in public schools.

“The Nigerian refugees are not only from Africa but also Asia and the Commission ensures their enrolment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),” she said.

The Honourable Federal Commissioner added that National Policy on Refugees and IDPs would soon be further strengthened to enhance Nigeria’s compliance with Kampala Convention on Refugees and other vulnerable groups.

She Commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the wellbeing of refugees and other vulnerable groups in the county.

She concluded, saying “I commend the commitment of Princess Akobundu-led APRM to the Review Process which is capable of giving room for great reforms in the country”.

Dr. Louis Mandama, member, NGC  APRM Nigeria,  representing Sen. Abba Ali said ” upon completion of the ongoing  Review Process of Nigeria, it will not only benefit the Country but the entire Continent”.

He was at the Consultation with Dr. Ugo Beke, another Member of the NGC.