PODE (Issue 21): Security and Policing

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo recently disclosed that 800 violent herdsmen are in the custody of law enforcement agencies, across the country. There is also an ongoing plan to bring reforms to Nigeria’s current Policing Structure, by decentralizing it through the introduction of a Community/State Policing framework that is in line with current Constitutional requirements. [Video]

The FCT Minister Mohammed Bello has asked herdsmen to move their cattle out of the city. Alongside this the FCT Administration has identified new grazing reserves to cater to the herdsmen. According to the Minister, a total of 33,485 hectares have already been earmarked for grazing reserves to cater for about 7 million animals, as follows: Paikon Kore – 8,500 hectares, Karshi – 6,000 hectares, Kawu in Bwari – 9,000 hectares and Rubochi in Kuje – 9,985 hectares.

The Complaints Response Unit (CRU) of the Nigeria Police Force will be one year old in November. Centrally located at the Police Headquarters in Abuja, and supported by a nationwide network of staff at the State Command Headquarters, the CRU receives, collates and mobilizes action on complaints from the public about police conduct. Download the CRU Third Quarter Report.

On October 27, the Presidency, through the Office of the Rule of Law Advisor in the Office of the Vice President, handed over to the Nigeria Police Force two new projects designed to build leadership capacity and improve accountability. The first Project is a Strategic Leadership and Management Course for the training of senior Police officers between the rank of ACP and CP, developed in partnership with Cleen Foundation and Trust Africa; the second is an electronic platform developed pro bono by Venture Garden Nigeria to automate the reporting & analysis of data received by the Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU)

Rice importation through Nigeria’s land borders remains banned by the Nigeria Customs Service

Policy source: Aso Villa Newsletter

PODE (Issue 21): Chibok Girls

On Thursday October 13, 2016, Twenty-One (21) of the 219 kidnapped Chibok Girls were released to the Nigerian Government by Boko Haram. President Mohammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo subsequently met with the girls, and assured them of the Federal Government’s commitment to their physical, pyschological and educational welfare. We produced a FACTSHEET on the release of the Girls

Policy source: Aso Villa Newsletter

PODE (Issue 21): Anti-Corruption, Accountability & Transparency

1. The Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria held a National Retreat and Steering Committee Meeting in Kaduna between the 24th and the 26th of October, during which it developed a draft OGP National Action Plan for Nigeria. The OGP National Action Plan will be discussed and approved by the International Steering Committee at the OGP 4th Summit to be hosted by President Hollande of France on December 7, 2016, in Paris. Implementation of the two-year National Action Plan is expected to commence across the country in January 2017. For more on Nigeria’s OGP National Action Plan, Contact 09093032603 and ogp_nigeria @justice.gov.ng and fmojreform @gmail.com

2. The Presidential Action Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC) developed a FACTSHEET on the recent arrest of Judges by the Department of State Services. PACAC was inaugurated in August 2015 to advise on and implement reforms of Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System, as it relates to corruption and other economic crimes. In the one year since its inauguration it has developed the following documents to assist law enforcement and judicial authorities in the fight against corruption:

1. Draft National Anti-Corruption Action Plan and Strategy Document
2. Corruption Case Management Manual
3. Plea Bargain Manual
4. Corruption Information / Intelligence Sharing Protocol
5. Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Corruption & Other Related Economic Offences
6. Strategic Communications Blueprint for FGN in the Fight Against Corruption
7. Assets Recovery Strategy Document
8. Framework for Management & Administration of Recovered Stolen Assets
9. Draft Bill and Explanatory Memorandum for the Establishment of Special Crimes Court
10. Input Memorandum on Coordination of High Profile Corruption Cases and Establishment of Special Prosecution Teams

3. In fulfilment of a presidential promise, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) handed over two helicopters from the Presidential Air Fleet to the Nigerian Air Force, for use in its operations against Boko Haram in the Northeast. (The Chief of Air Staff says one of the helicopters will be configured and deployed as an Air Ambulance, while the second one will be deployed as a Troop Carrier). The two luxury helicopters were purchased in October 2014 and May 2015 respectively by the Jonathan administration, for the use of the President. A week before the handover, the Office of the NSA put out a tender for the sale of two fixed-wing aircraft, also originally belonging to the PAF. These aircraft were purchased in 2011/2012. With this handover, and the planned sale, the Presidential Fleet is now down to six aircraft — four fixed-wing and two rotary-wing.

4. The Nigeria Customs Service in October dismissed a total of 46 Senior and Junior Officers for acts of gross misconduct

5. The Federal Capital Territory Administration in October suspended 13 officials undergoing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

6. The Nigeria Police Force is revamping its undercover X-Squad, which works to track and arrest civil servants and public officials – including Police Officers – who abuse their office or are involved in corrupt practices. The revived X-Squad has been merged with the Complaints Response Unit, which receives and mobilises responses to complaints and petitions from the public. Already the X-Squad has recovered 2.75 million naira from an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), and disciplinary action is ongoing. 

Policy source: Aso Villa Newsletter