Funke Busari, Lagos
The worrisome trend of how civilians are usually harmed in various dangerous conflict operations in the country was brought to the front burner by the Civil Society Advocacy Group, CISLAC focusing on the issue of Protection of Civilians, (PoC) and Civilian Harm Mitigation calling on the media to advocate for a legal framework in the country.
CISLAC, a frontliner in the advocacy for protocols, is further addressing the issue of Protection of Civilians, PoC, and Civilian Harm Mitigation, in order to bring journalists and other critical stakeholders (actors and decision makers) up to speed with the narratives around the new concept of protecting civilians.
According to CISLAC Program Manager, Mr. Salaudeen Hashim, PoC is new in the whole of Africa continent and if Nigeria begins to legislate and begin to design in-house mechanism that works, it will help develop Civilian Harm Mitigation infrastructure.
He explained, “And because we are pushing for a legislation, it becomes imperative to engage with the media, so that they can actually take this forward as a medium to begin to influence decision makers in terms of how they go forward from here.”
He held that because PoC is new, his organisation felt that the media ought to be brought into the conversation and allow them to understand the concept as well as get deeper into the ingredients that the law should actually begin to be advocated for.
“PoC is new, so if Nigeria goes on to put that policy framework in place, it becomes the first in the whole of Africa to do so. And I think that those within the regime and corridors of power will want their name to go down well in history.”
Acknowledging the challenges facing the media, Hashim said that the media is a reflection of every larger society and of course, every sector and profession in this country has got its own challenge.
He added “We can not ignore the successes the media has recorded over the years.”
“Post-independent Nigeria, the media has been very strategic and has come thus far, and I think that is not arguable and I think they’ve indeed provided a whole lot of contribution in terms or national development.
“I think the media has a whole lot to play in terms of influencing and advocating for a legislation on Protection of Civilians and that is why we believe in using different of their own contacts to push this conversation going forward.”
Also in one breath, the Program Officer noted that the implication of a vacuum existing in the policing hierarchy in the country will actually provide a floodgate and a bad template for the future.
“So as it is now, there should be some decisive action in terms of decision making.”
He called on Nigeria’s President to as a matter of urgency convene the Police Council.
“I think that is the best way to go. The Police Council is the body that has the legal power to actually appoint the IGP and of course has been relegated to the back seat over time.
“The president has abrogated all these powers, all these years and I think it is not good and it is also part of the contributory factor that international community are looking at as part of nepotism and acquiring all these powers to yourself.”
