NHRC, NTC Sign Mandate Documents For Establishing Data On Missing Persons

NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and National Technical Committee on the Establishment and Management of the Database on Missing Persons in Nigeria (NTC) has signed the Mandate Documents and Standard Operating Procedures for the establishment of Database of missing persons in Nigeria.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu said that the signing of the mandate documents has further demonstrated the Commission’s commitment to ensure that every citizen counts and therefore must be accounted for in all circumstances.

According to the Executive Secretary who was represented by the Director Human Rights Education and Promotion, Mr. Nasir Ladan, “there are many ways in which lives have been affected by these situations as
some have been killed or maimed; others have been forced to flee their villages to other places within and outside the country”.

In his remarks, ICRC Head of Delegation, Eloi Fillion said that with the efforts made so far towards establishing a national database for missing persons, Nigeria is stepping up its responsibility towards giving hope and support to families of victims.

According to a statement by Lambert Oparah, Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, he also called on the various stakeholders to support all efforts towards realizing the noble projects adding that funding is one key area that must be taken seriously.

The Chairperson of NTC, Mrs. Maryam Uwais said that the essence of the project is to demonstrate that the government cares about the fate of the citizens in any situation they might find themselves.

She called on the relevant stakeholders to give their maximum support to the NTC saying that the process of establishing the national database of missing persons certainly must come with some challenges and that with the support of everyone the project would be achieved.

In his keynote address, Prof. C.J. Dakas described the idea of establishing a national database of missing persons as a welcome
development and that efforts should be geared towards having a robust
interagency collaboration devoid of any rivalry to achieve the common goal.

He said that stakeholders should leverage on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA) which he noted has some specific provisions that assigned roles to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), among others, with regard to addressing the issues of arrests and detention.

Other organization that were represented at the occasion include; Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Office of UN Resident Coordinator on Human Rights, Office of the IGP and NGOs