PROPER CHILD PROJECT

The recent revelation that names of Boko Haram terrorists were found on the Nigerian Army and Police Force recruitment lists has shocked many Nigerians in particular, and the international community at large. The person who informed the public that names of insurgents were conspicuously found written on the Nigerian Army and Police Force recruitment lists was Honourable Ahmed Idris Wase, a former Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, and current Member representing Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State. He made this disclosure during a special plenary session focused on national security, citing intelligence reports and security briefings. Honourable Ahmed Idris Wase went further to emphasize that his claims could be verified by Muktar Betara, a former Chairman of the House Committee on Defence.  Infiltration in the Nigerian Army and Police Force recruitment processes refers to the act of terrorists or their agents gaining entry into the security forces throu...

 The International Community's Responsibility To Protect (R2P) is a global principle designed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that emphasizes the obligation of States (nations, including Nigeria) to safeguard their populations from harm, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. This concept emerged from the international community's nature to respond to atrocities such as the Rwandan genocide and Srebrenica massacre.  The Responsibility to Protect (abbreviated to R2P), is based on three-legged fundamental pillars. The three pillars are: • Pillar One:  Every State (country) has the responsibility to protect its citizens from the four mass atrocity crimes. What is the meaning of four mass atrocity crimes? They are: 1. Genocide:  These are heinous acts committed deliberately with the intent to destroy and maim, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, tribal, or religious groups, including killing members of ...

 The Memoranda Of Understanding (MOUs) between Nigerian State Governments and terrorist groups have been a contentious issue, with some arguing they can bring temporary peace, at least; whilst others see them as supporting and rewarding criminal behaviours indirectly. In recent years, a quirky and unusual peace pacts have been signed between Nigerian State Governments like Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Niger, and others with terrorist groups, with some bandits returning to violence almost immediately despite the deals.  The Katsina State Government signed multiple peace pacts with the rogues and rapists, including one in 2019, but the bandits disregarded the agreement after receiving several billions of naira from the Katsina State Government. The Zamfara State Government signed a peace agreement with bandits tagged "Cows-for-Guns" in 2019, but true to their roguery blood, the bandits also violated it after receiving billions of naira from the Zamfara State Government. Th...

 It is generally believed across cultures that adult children are indebted to take proper care of their aged parents. Adult children should be responsible for feeding, sheltering, clothing, and giving medical treatments to their aged parents, if they have the means to do so. However, certain complex family dynamics can lead to difficult decisions and scenarios which one might deem absurd and painful to family members. For example, a couple drove away the husband's aged mother from their matrimonial home in the city, only for that couple to bring the wife's two parents from the hinterland to the city to replace the ejected one. When I heard of it, I began to wonder why such untold evil should take place in this world. No respect. No loyalty. No values. No remembrance of the bond that used to hold them together.  On the one hand, the involved couple may have had very strong reasons that informed their decision to eject the husband's aged mother, and to bring in the wife's...

 The world is confronted with numerous challenges that require collective actions and cooperation among nations. Global governance, which refers to the system of rules, norms, and institutions that regulate and manage global issues, is essential for addressing these challenges. However, the current global governance architect is facing a crisis of legitimacy, effectiveness, and relevance. There is a pressing need for reform and strengthening of international institutions to address the changing nature of global challenges and ensure a more equitable, peaceful, and prosperous world.  The existing global governance framework is based on the Bretton Woods System, established in the aftermath of the Second World War (WW2). The United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), and the World Trade Organization (WTO) are some of the key institutions that form the backbone of global governance. However, these institutions are facing numerous challenges, incl...

 Democracy and authoritarianism are two distinct forms of governance that have been debated and experimented with throughout human history. Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, either directly or through elected representatives, and is characterized by free and fair elections, protection of human rights, and  accountability to the people. Authoritarianism, on the other hand, is a system of government where power is concentrated or given to a single individual or small group of people, often without checks and balances, and where individual freedoms are restricted. The fundamental difference between democracy and authoritarianism lies in their approach to power and governance. Democracy is based on the principle of popular sovereignty, where the electorates are the ultimate source of power, and government are accountable to them. This is reflected in the Nigerian Constitution, for example, which states that, "people are the source of all powe...

 The threat of rogue states and terrorism poses a remarkable challenge to both regional and global security, with implications for international peace and stability. Rogue states, such as North Korea and Iran, have consistently defied international laws and norms, pursuing nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes that threaten regional and global security. Terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Boko Haram, and others, have perpetrated heinous crimes and attacks on defenceless civilians, killing and maiming several thousands of innocent people, displacing others, while destabilizing countries and regions, and spreading fears and hatred. One of the notable concerns with rogue states is their readiness and willingness to spurn and blatantly flout international laws and norms, often with reckless impunity. North Korea nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches have drawn widespread condemnation across the world, yet the regime continues to pursue i...

 The maintenance of international peace and security is a fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter and a collective responsibility of all nations. The world has witnessed numerous conflicts, wars, and acts of terrorism that have resulted in immense human sufferings, pillage, displacements, and economic devastations. The need for international cooperation to prevent and resolve conflicts, and to promote peace and security, has never been more pressing. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) plays a critical role in maintaining international peace and security. The UNSC has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and it has the power to impose sanctions, authorize the use of force, and establish peacekeeping missions. However, the UNSC has been criticized for its inability to prevent or resolve some conflicts, and for its lack of representation of developing countries. Conflict prevention is a key aspect of ensuring internati...

 Global economic inequality is a pressing issue that affects millions of people worldwide, with the richest 1% of the global population possessing more wealth than the 99%. This chasm and disparity between the rich and the poor is stark, with the World Bank estimating that over 700 million people across cultures live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1. 90 per day.  One of the primary drivers of economic inequality is the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities. The global economy is structured in a way that favours the wealthy and powerful, often at the expense of the poor and marginalized groups. For example, multinational corporations often exploit hoopholes in tax laws, avoiding billions of dollars in taxes that could be used to fund public services and infrastructure in developing countries. The concentration of wealth and power among a small elite class has led to a lack of access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for marginalized...

 Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa. She has aboutl 230 million citizens. She is ranked 158th out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), a composite measure of life expectancy, education, and income. The HDI is a widely used indicator of a country's overall well-being and development. The HDI is a summary measure of human development, focusing on three key dimensions: life expectancy at birth, expected years of schooling, and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. These dimensions vividly capture the basic capabilities of leading a long and healthy life, acquiring knowledge, and having a decent standard of living. Nigeria's low HDI ranking is attributed to several factors, including poor life expectancy, limited access to education, and low income levels. Life expectancy at birth in Nigeria is 54. 7 years, lower than the regional average of 62. 2 years (UNDP, 2020). For example: • Cape Verde has an average life span of 73 years, • Ghana has an aver...

 Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is a diverse country with over 250 ethnic nationalities, and more than 500 spoken languages. Despite its rich cultural heritage, Nigeria has struggled with promoting equality, rule of law, and inclusion. Nigeria's Constitution guarantees equality before the law and prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, or place of origin (Section 42). However, inequality persists particularly in access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. The country's Human Development Index (HDI) ranking is 158 out of 189 countries (2021), indicating development changes. Nigerians are clamouring for greater equality in resource allocation, particularly in the Niger Delta littoral region, where oil exploration activities have led to environmental degradations, poor agricultural outputs, and economic marginalizations. The EndSARS Protest of 2020 highlighted police brutality, unequal treatment of citizens, particularly youth and margi...

 Corruption is a pervasive issue in Nigeria, and the judicial system cannot be an exception. Nigeria's judiciary, right from cradle, has been plagued by allegations of corruption, incompetence, and human rights violations, undermining the rule of law and eroding public trust. One outstanding case that highlights the presence of corruption in Nigeria's judicial system is that of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been unconstitutionally arrested, detained, and tortured since June 2021, facing trial for treasonable felony, among other charges. His case has sparked widespread controversy across cultures, with many accusing government involvement in judicial harassment and human rights abuse. The Nigerian Judiciary's handling of Kanu's case has raised concerns about enormous bias, corruption, and incompetence. The courts have been slow to address Kanu's grievances, including his allegations of tortures and maltre...