Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall C, TY Buratai Block, Abuja. There were three presentations made by the Subject Experts on West Africa, Gulf of Guinea, Central America, and Nigeria,
The first presentation by Maj Gen OO Adeleke (Rtd) subject expert on West Africa and Gulf of Guinea, discussed how Madina Market Fire: Late Night Blaze Destroys Shops And Goods. Affre reported that a late night fire on Thursday 11 Apr 2024 at the Madina market had razed shops and goods worth thousands of Ghana cedis. The Ghana National Fire Service had to break through shops to get to the fire, which was fast spreading. And two traders fainted after witnessing their shops get burned, but there were no other casualties as a result of the fire. The Ghana National Fire Service was still investigating the cause of the fire.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Gen OO Adeleke (Rtd) pointed out that Cases of fire outbreaks in Nigeria have become a perennial problem. This is, indeed, worrisome and requires urgent attention. The former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, observed that Nigeria had recorded over 2,056 cases of fire incidents with a loss of over N1 trillion of properties in 2022. Some of such fire incidents include: On January 24, 2021, the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria was engulfed in fire destroying 15 blocks.
He recommended that the Nigeria Electricity Cooperation should direct all electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to ensure that genuine electrical materials are used, overloading and illegal connections are avoided and that routine inspections are carried out in all private and public structures within their jurisdiction and also the SGF should initiate the establishment of a fire coordination centre at all levels to integrate the activities of all relevant responder agencies for effectiveness in curbing incessant fire incidents.
The second presentation by Brig Gen ED Idimah Subject Experts on Central America, centered his presentation on, Honduras Woman Says Country Denied Her Access to Abortion in UN Complaint. Baron newspaper on 11 April 2024 reported that an Indigenous woman from Honduras has lodged a complaint with the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee, alleging that her country denied her access to an abortion after she was raped. This is the first instance of a Central American country being reported to the UN for its anti-abortion laws.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Brigadier General Idimah noted that, In Nigeria, many women seek unsafe abortion methods to avoid criminal and social penalties leading to abortion related complications and increasing mortality and morbidity rates in the country. According to the research done by the Guttmacher Institute, an estimated 456,000 unsafe abortions are done in Nigeria every year. Similarly, in a joint study carried out by the society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria and Nigeria’s Ministry of Health, the number of women who engage in unsafe abortion was estimated at 20,000 each year.
He recommended that, the Federal Government of Nigerian should work towards creating polices and laws that ensure women have access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare and FMoH should provide comprehensive sexual. Education programs in schools and communities to empower women and girls with the knowledge about their sexual and reproductive health.
The third presentation by Brig Gen CC Ogbu Subject Expert on Nigeria, focused on Celebrity Transgender, Bobrisky, Jailed 6 Months over Naira Abuse. On Saturday, 13 April, 2024, Leadership Newspaper alongside other media reported that a Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a celebrity transgender, Idris Okuneye Olanrewaju, a.k.a Bobrisky, to six months in jail without an option of fine. Recall that Bobrisky was convicted by Justice Abimbola Awogboro on Friday, 5 April, 2024, for abusing and mutilating the Naira notes following his arrest and arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Brig Gen Ogbu stressed that, His sentencing has generated mixed reactions within the populace, especially as the act of spraying the Naira is a common occurrence in Nigeria social gatherings. However, the judge insists that his sentencing would serve as a deterrence to others. This brings to fore the need for public enlightenment on what actions constitute Naira abuse. Equally, there is the need to address Bobrisky’s transgender attitude to prevent the spread of such morally decadent values in our society. Naira spraying and abuse could also be catalysts to increased criminal tendencies. As the FGN makes concerted efforts to shore up the value of the Naira in the global currency market, the need to enlighten Nigerians towards respecting policies and valuing their currency is apt.
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He recommended that, CBN in liaison with the NOA should sponsor regular enlightenment campaigns on the proper handling of the Naira. and the NPF, ICPC, EFCC, NFIU, and other relevant agencies should intensify the enforcement of the CBN Act on Naira abuse, also the NOA, with the relevant Ministries of Information and Youths, should execute campaigns against abnormal transgender attitude and gender misrepresentation towards the impartation of acceptable moral values in our society.
