An appeal has gone to the security agencies and Nigerians as a whole to explore the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as a tool to curb the increasing wave of rape and gender violence and to ascertain its impact on national development towards identifying learning opportunitiesas a way of re-enforcing its confidence in the citizens in the process of governance.
NOA State Director, Mr. ‘Sola Babalola JP made the remark at the Advocacy Visit to the State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), Ogun State Mr. Hammed Abodunrin, and other principal officers at the newly built State Secretariat of the Command.
Mr. Babalola said the essence of the advocacy visit was to enhance synergy and collaboration between the agency and the security agencies in the State to curb gender based violence against women using the provision of the FOIA. He noted that rape cases and other gender violence against women are very prominent in the state and the country at large adding that its increasing wave is becoming too alarming hence all hands must be on deck to address it squarely.
It’s in this light that the NOA is embarking on advocacy visit to all stakeholders particularly the security agencies, as they remain the formidable stakeholders in this regard to enlist their support in the fight against the menace in our society
Mr. Babalola said the agency is seeking collaboration with the NSCDC to use the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 (FOIA) to avail necessary information on gender based violence against women and children to the public so as to tackle the menace head-on. He enlisted the support of the NSCDC in the gospel of taking ownership of defending women and children in this area of challenge in our society expressing his believe that once the women folks are protected, the nation is equally protected. He noted that rape cases and violence against women have become the order of the day as it has almost become a daily occurrence which must be nipped in the bud.
He thereby called on the NSCDC personnel to redouble their efforts to stem the activities of rapists and other gender based violence against women and the girl child in the State, asserting that victims of rape and gender violence do not remain the same again as they become traumatized and depressed and which can lead to being segregated and victims committing suicide due to the inability to withstand the trauma.
Responding, the NSCDC State Commandant, Mr. Hammed Abodunrin acknowledged the fact that rape cases and other gender based violence against women have become a serious security challenge in the country hence its (NSCDC) resolve to create a Gender Based Violence (GBV) unit in the State Command. He said the command is planning a train the trainer program to train 200 school girls on Tips and Techniques To Avert Rape as part of contribution to stem the tide of the menace.
While extending the hand of partnership to the agency to feature in the upcoming training exercise, he assured the State Director of the NSCDC’s collaboration, supports in all NOA’s programme and activities at all times.Source:
NOA Ogun State Directorate