The Guardian (Nigeria)

CSOS Decry Lack Of Political Will To Implement UN Human Right Recommenda­tions

- From Matthew Ogune, Abuja From John Akubo, Abuja

Aof Nigerian Human Rights Civil Society Organisati­on (CSOS) on Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has raised concerns over the government’s altitude towards the implementa­tion of Nigeria’s human rights

commitment­s contained in the recommenda­tions of the UPR 2019 for the promotion and protection of human rights.

The coalition, which is managed by Partnershi­p for Justice in collaborat­ion with the Australian Embassy, has over 30 CSOS working together to ensure full implementa­tion of the recommenda­tions before the next mid-term review. Speaking during its zonal conference in Abuja, coordinato­r of the coalition of UPR in Nigeria, Ivy Basil Ofili, explained that the essence of the workshop was to device ways to strengthen CSOS and other relevant stakeholde­rs to monitor and document the UPR recommenda­tions that were accepted by Nigerian representa­tives at the United Nation (UN) General Assembly. She explained that the UPR process is an allencompa­ssing process that contains all human right obligation­s, adding that the process encourages CSOS and government agencies to be part of it.

Disclosing that the midterm review of the recommenda­tions will take

representi­ng Kano South senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Kabiru Gaya, has commended Nigerians for the show of solidarity in ensuring that Zainab Aliyu and Ibrahim Abubakar who were arrested in Jeddah were released.

The Nigerian Government secured the release of Zainab, a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano, who was arrested and had been in detention since December when tramadol was found in her bag on place in two years, Ofili said Nigeria is supposed to hold the government accountabl­e, ensure they keep to promises made with respect to protection and promotion of human rights. She called on Nigerians to clamour for the setting up of the board of the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) so that human right violations that get to the commission can easily be dealt with.

Gaya Commends Nigerians Over Solidarity For Release Of Aliyu, Abubakar

arrival in Saudi Arabia. Her continued detention sparked widespread sympathy all over the country on the back of claims that she was innocent and only fell victim to a drug cartel at the Mallam Aminu Kano Internatio­nal Airport, Kano, that specialise­s in hiding hard drugs in travellers’ bags.

Gaya thanked the senate President, senate and all Nigerians for their support. Saudi Arabia also released Ibrahim Abubakar, the other Nigerian arrested alongside Zainab Aliyu to the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah.

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