Borno State Government has reiterated its commitment and support to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC ) to ensure the successful implementation of Transitional Justice project in the state supported by European Union (EU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The commitment was made by the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Alhaji Tahiru Shettima while hosting members of the project team from NHRC.
According to a statement by the Deputy Deputy Director, Public Affairs of NHRC, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, the Permanent Secretary assured the ministry’s readiness to partner all stakeholders on the project.
“He said human right is part of human existence and no society thrives where the rights of people are not respected. According to him, when the insurgents begin to surrender, the government realized the need to use the best approach to achieve the desired goal of bringing lasting peace to the region, where those surrendering and those already living in the communities will find a common ground to co-exist”, Fatma said.
She quoted the Permanent Secretary as saying that: “What happens when they surrender? They come back to their communities and it is naturally difficult for people to accept them back into these communities; it also becomes very difficult to encourage them to live among the people who had committed some grave human rights violations, this is where you come in.
“Your project will no doubt educate people and encourage them to embrace peace and reconciliation especially when crucial stakeholders like traditional rulers, imam, and clergymen are carried along, we will therefore support you more than ever before as this will not only encourage peace, it will also ensure sustainable development in Borno State”.
The statement indicated that earlier, the Special Adviser to the Executive Secretary who also doubles as the Project Coordinator, Mr Hilary Ogbonna said that the NHRC and its partners were collaborating to implement a project on promoting reconciliation, reintegration, and transitional justice in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe State.
Ogbonna explained that one of the objectives of the project is to ensure that the affected states were effectively stabilized with peace returning back and people forgiving each other for the crimes committed.
Ogbonna also said there are activities lined up for the implementation of the Project and part of the activities is the Traditional and Religious Leaders Forum on Reconciliation scheduled to take place in mid-August 2022, adding that one of the major pillars of the project is partnership, which prompted courtesy visits to relevant stakeholders, particularly those in the communities.
“There is not much we can do without the traditional institutions, we want to convene a forum of traditional rulers in Borno State and we seek your collaboration to enable us to cohost the event.
“With the mandate of your ministry we are in the right place for partnership, we depend on your authority to reach His Royal Highness and all relevant stakeholders in the State,” Fatima quoted Ogbonna saying.
Other personalities present at the meeting were the Director of Primary Health Care, Director of Emirate Affairs, and other Management Staff of the Ministry.
