The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, weekend, identified Early Warning and Response Systems (EWRS) as prominent avenues to avert socio-political crisis in Nigeria.
CISLAC said this in Enugu at a media briefing organised by the group and the Transparency International In Nigeria (Ti-Nigeria) with support from the Open Society Foundation Africa (OSF-Africa).
Mr Auwal Ibrahim Musa, Executive Director, CISLAC, and Head of Transparency International in Nigeria, who addressed journalists, said the briefing became necessary in view of the evolving multidimensional security threats bedeviling Nigerians at all levels.
He said the number of violent conflicts in the world had been on the increase since the 2000s, raising questions on how violence and its escalation can be prevented in international affairs.
He stressed that “Conflict prevention mechanisms exist and Early Warning and Response Systems (EWRS) are prominent avenues to avert socio-political crisis.
“Prevention of Crisis or Disasters should be initiated at the earliest possible stage of a crisis or natural disaster cycle in order to be most effective.”
He stated further that despite the existing wealth of information and analysis on the issues of natural disaster, climate change and conflict, there was a need to make early warning and conflict prevention operational at multiple levels of Nigeria’s Federal structure.
“To be effective, Early Warning Systems must involve meaningful engagement with communities at-risk and decision makers, including other stakeholders, disaster relief and security agencies in the country and internationally.
“When early warning and response systems work effectively, they have the potential to influence policy making, conflict prevention, peace-making and support peacebuilding and development.
“The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) had through previous engagements with state and non-state actors, observed the criticality of initiating Early Warning Early Response systems, especially at community levels as proactive measures to conflict prevention.
“This brought to limelight, the ongoing project with specific focus on Strengthening Capacity, Advocacy, Accountability and Local Engagement towards Developing Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms to Enhance Protection of Civilians in Nigeria implemented by CISLAC with support from The Open Society Foundations Africa (OSF-Africa),” he added.
Auwal said CISLAC/TI-Nigeria’s engagements with state and non-state actors throughout the six geo-political zones of Nigeria revealed that “intrinsic logistics challenges and poor remuneration with resultant low morale among response personnel constitute major impediment to efficiency by response institutions.
“Lack of institutionalised strategy to protect information secrecy of reported signals coupled with shortage of modern technology to efficiently facilitate accurate information gathering within response institutions manifests in reprisal attacks, while discouraging reporting efforts by individual/community.
“Unattended regulations of religious teachings and practices constitute potential threat signals that must be accorded immediate and sustainable attention.
“Over-sensationalised media reportage with profit-oriented tendency and deliberate information misrepresentation contribute to conflict escalation and social instability at all levels.
“Lack of synergy and inter-agency rivalry among response institutions competing for scarce resources hamper adequate coordination and response to warning signals.
“Rising drugs and illicit substance abuse among the youths within and outside Secondary/tertiary institutions constitutes a potential conflict signal.
“Lack of transparency and accountability coupled with unattended mismanagement identified in the implementation of security votes at state levels has paved the way for embezzlement that manifests in escalated conflict and threats to lives and property in various parts of the country.”
The group recommended among others, “the formation of a well-informed and formidable community network, with a coordinating body to complement the intelligence gathering process for accurate information provision on Early Warning signals.
“Massive sensitisation and awareness by relevant agencies (in collaboration with families and communities) across Secondary and tertiary institutions on drug abuse as a proactive/reactive measure to prevent manifestation of major conflict.
“Adequate resource allocation to response institutions and well-remunerated personnel to facilitate coordination and efficiency in the response process.
“Building a proactive leadership structure with adequate synergy among traditional rulers and community leaders to prioritise the needs and expectations of their communities in communal demands to prevent potential conflict.”
Early warning key to averting socio-political crisis in Nigeria – CISLAC
