NIGERIA: WATER PROBLEMS FOR THE URBAN POOR IN THE FCT a.k.a WATA WAHALA

                      Photo L-R: Ilse van Lamoen, CEO MIND & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa

On the 15th of March, 2016, MIND (Media Information Narrative Development) held a photo exhibition which narrates the plight of the urban poor in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) vis-a-vis access to water. MIND explores current affairs through the eyes of those who are rarely given the chance to air their views in public, including women and girls. The exhibition, held at Thought Pyramid Arts Centre, Abuja, was well attended.

The high-end photo exhibition confronts us with a simmering issue that affects millions of urban poor women and girls in and around our 'model city', Abuja: their daily struggle to fetch water. The photographs were captured by young rising Nigerian camera artistes - Tom Saater, Fati Abubakar, Kassim Braimah, Emamode Edosio and Collins Peters. All the artistes have a passion for the cause. By buying their work, you can help improve the water situation in the portrayed communities. All profit will be used for repairing or installing water systems. The galvanising force behind this initiative is Ilse van Lamoen, my long-standing friend and professional colleague. Ilse is the Chief Executive of MIND.

Then came the 'Water Challenge' competition where the volunteers had to carry a heavy basin of water round the Thought Pyramid Arts Centre, and...wait for it...I (Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa) volunteered! I didn't realise the basin was so heavy. On the staircase, I slipped off my shoes and fell...but I managed to complete the exercise! I was the very first to volunteer, and as the oldest person to carry the basin successfully, at 58 years old, I was given special recognition. But the minor bruises and swollen ankle from the fall are quiet reminders of the suffering of the urban poor, especially women and girls as regards 'Wata Wahala'.

Many satellite towns in the FCT are deprived of public water supply services. Residents have to buy water at commercial rates from private borehole owners, 'Mai Ruwa' sellers (jerrican carts), or 'pure water' sellers (sachets). These are much higher than the rates for public pipeline water (Water Board). In other words: urban poor families  typically pay more for the water they use than more privileged households in the inner city that are connected to the public pipeline system. This bias in public water supply indirectly holds urban poor families captive in poverty. They spend a large share of their monthly income on buying water. These expenses hinder them from building up savings and from making the necessary investments in their livelihoods and businesses.

Now this from Kayachi, a student in Kuje Area Council (3 km off Airport Rd, Abuja): 'When I wake up in the morning, I go to the stream four times, sometimes two times. The stream is far, I don't know how many minutes it takes me to go to the stream and come back before I go to school. When I am late for school, my teacher flogs me and tells me to do frog jump and kneel down...' The task of fetching water is time consuming, especially in the dry season, when nearby water sources dry up. Water shortage affects children's opportunities. It appears children living in bore-hole equipped estates seem to perform better in school than their peers in water-deprived areas.

This inequity in water distribution between the urban rich/pseudo rich/imaginary middle class and the poor needs to be urgently addressed in order to prevent imminent conflict between these classes of people...Is anyone supporting this noble cause to provide potable water where it is needed? YES...I stand up to be counted...

Check out the following link to see me (Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa) & other participants who took up the 'Water Challenge'... MIND's Wata Wahala highlights    https://goo.gl/50XcFA  #WATCH #WomenWaterWork    https://www.naij.com/766011-read-women-carrying-around-water-basins-head-photo-video.html

22nd March, 2016

*Nigeria joins the world to mark World Water Day    www.nta.ng/news/.../nigeria-joins-the-world-world-water-day/2016/.../2...
*#WorldWaterDay 2016: Working towards better water    www.nta.ng/news/...worldwaterday-2016-working...water.../2016/103/22
*World Water Day 2016: Hope of quality water for Nigerians    https://news.google.com.ng/news/more?nel...79Ydd9iM...O...
*World Water Day: NLC urges FG to give priority to potable water    nannewsnigeria.com/world-water-day-nlc-urges-fg-give-priority-potable
*FG: 2016 World Water Day focuses on economic growth    ww2.radionigeria.gov.ng>Home>News
*World Water Day: Will the next big conflicts in Africa be on water?    agronigeria.com.ng/world-water-day-will-next-big-conflicts-africa-water..
*Fisherwomen face risks of water degradation with fewer assets and alternatives for livelihoods    #CSW60 #WorldWaterDay
*UNESCO: Investing in water is investing in jobs! Water is a key factor in the creation of jobs    #WorldWaterDay
*Climate change isn't a future issue - it's threatening children's lives NOW    uni.cf/5 facts # WorldWaterDay
*3 out of 4 jobs that make up the entire global workforce are water dependent    on.unesco.org/1U9vguB  #WorldWaterDay  pic.twitter.com/NHkOMeiUse
*'My house is a house of rats': Why 150 women marched carrying lanterns & a petition    http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/.../my-house

26th March 2016

On the 23rd of March, 2016, the final lap of the Wata Wahala project was a film-based dialogue with the theme 'Women, Water & Work'. This was the closing event of a two-week cultural programme organised by MIND in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria and Thought Pyramid Arts Centre.

The dialogue focused on a core problem that holds many urban poor women in and around Abuja captive in poverty: their daily struggle to fetch water. The programme linked the annual themes of the following:

*International Women's Day (IWD) - 8th March, 2016: Pledge for Parity &
*World Water Day (WWD) - 22nd March, 2016: Water and jobs

The dialogue was facilitated by Dr. Husseini Abdu, Country Director, PLAN Nigeria. The Minister for the Environment, Amina Mohammed was at the event. She commended MIND and the artistes whose photographs were on display for the initiative.The urban rural women who fetch water on a daily basis were present. The women and girls said that if the water issue could be resolved, their lives would significantly improve. I (Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa) made contributions to the effect that the conflict and environmental impact assessment of all projects were necessary and women MUST be part of all major decisions affecting communities.

The panelists were:
*Dr. Peter Tarfa, Director, Climate Change, Ministry of the Environment
*Hudu Bello, Director, FCT Water Board
*Michael Ojo, Country Representative, Water Aid, Nigeria
*Kannan Nadar, Chief of WASH, UNICEF
*Patience Ekeoba, Research & Evidence Lead, Voices for Change (V4C)

The discussants tackled the relationship of water with work, how the water issue holds women captive in poverty, etc. The films viewed by the audience and produced by MIND touched on the water problem and its effect on the education, health, safety and economic well-being of women and girls. The organisers promised to send the summary of the debates to implementing authorities for action. Any hope of the urban poor women and girls having a better deal vis-a-vis the provision of water?

10th July, 2016

*Millions of women take a long walk daily with a 40-pound water can    ow.ly/Ti3v3021M2m
*Economics of water: It needs a value-based rather than issue-based attention    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/economics-water-needs-value-based-attention...
*Water, sanitation & hygiene for Africa: How to achieve success by 2030    https://www.issafrica.org/events/water-sanitation...

16th January, 2019

*As cities grow across Africa, they must plan for water security    allafrica.com/.../202105/

*Water civilisation review: Lessons from Morocco   https://www.mewscientist.com/article/mg24132121-800-mohammed-vi-museum-of-water-civilisation-review-lessons-from
  
                                 
                          Photo below L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & a guest at the event .
  

A PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION FRAMEWORK FOR NIGERIA?

I, (Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa) was a participant at a stakeholders' conference aimed at making a case for a Presidential Transition Framework for Nigeria (PTFN). The conference was held for the following reasons among others:

*The transition process in Nigeria is essentially convoked in an ad hoc manner.
*There is no permanent established authority vested with the sole responsibility of overseeing transitions.
*There are no specific structures in place to oversee transitions.
*There is a dearth of laws, rules and regulations which guide political transitions.

The theme of the conference: "Strengthening Nigeria's transition frameworks for democratic consolidation". The sub-themes are as follows:

*Why transition frameworks matter in democracies.
*Review of current transition processes & procedures.
*Comparative models for leadership transitions.
*Issues in Peace & Mediation.

The participants were:

*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Chairperson, Board of Directors, National Peace Summit Group (NPSG).
*Barr. Dalung - Minister of Youth & Sports.
*Prof. Martha Kumer - Director, White House Transition Project, USA.
*Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila - Majority Leader, House of Representatives.
*Dr. Joe Abbah - DG, Bureau of Public Service Reforms.
*Barr. Sharon Ikeazor - Member, 2015 Transition Inauguration Committee.
*Nana Ato Dadzie - Fmr. Chief of Staff to President of Ghana & Transition Expert.
*Prof. Tajudeen Akanji - Institute of Conflict Resolution, University of Ibadan.
*Prof. Oshita Oshita - DG, Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution (IPCR).
*Alhaji Lai Mohammed - Ministry of Information & Culture.
*Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim - Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD).
*Prof. Okey Onyejekwe - MD, Centre for Sustainable Development, Addis Ababa.
*Ms Ayisha Osori - Consultant on Good Governance.

The consensus: Nigeria needs a Transition Act to clearly spell out the role of individuals and institutions within a stipulated time frame... 

WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE & FREEDOM (WILPF) CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY

On the 12th of November, 2015, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF), commemorated the Women Peace & Security Agenda in Abuja, while celebrating the 100th anniversary of the organisation. The President of the Nigeria chapter of WILPF and Vice President of WILPF International, Joy Onyesoh, coordinated the event.

Dr. Catia Confortini, International Vice President, WILPF came from the USA. She spoke about 'Women's power to stop war'. Catia made allusion to the woman's innate ability to multi-task and be the rallying point in the family. These qualities, if fully harnessed, according to her, could translate to facilitating peace in nation-states and the world at large.

Philomena Zamani, National Coordinator, WILPF Nigeria, welcomed the guests with a peep into some of the activities of WILPF Nigeria. Goodwill messages were delivered by the following:

*Adjaratou Fatou Ndiaye, UN Women Deputy Country Representative, Nigeria
*Priscilla Ankut, Deputy Programme Manager, NSRP
*Mimido Achakpa, President, IANSA Women, Nigeria

Bridget Osakwe, National Network Coordinator, WANEP, Nigeria gave a rendition of the collaboration between WANEP and WILPF Nigeria. Her focus was on conflict prevention and the positive role of women. She emphasised the fact that prevention is better than cure.

Joy Onyesoh, President, WILPF Nigeria, went down memory lane, touching on the challenges in the early days of WILPF in the country. A DVD on the activities of WILPF in Nigeria was presented to the public. The theme was 'WILPF in Nigeria: The journey so far'.

It was indeed an exciting afternoon with these amazons forging ahead with conflict prevention, management and resolution (CPMR) in Nigeria and indeed the world!

5th April, 2016

*Economic & political equality - Global fund for women    https://t.co/diCmWf9oyO
*Half of women in developing countries (economies) lack a formal bank account. How to fix that    brook.gs/23bwKWw
*How technology is transforming women-owned businesses in Africa    bit.ly/GRDN-TECH
*The woman who 'electrified' a village & took on a mafia    https://t.co/fJSUXKdyye    www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35802709

6th April, 2016

*'DRY' has sparked serious convos on #ChildMarriage in #Nigeria @ Stephanie Linus    https://t.co/sJbKa43Qf9    https://t.co/FWwfb4mEES#PopJustice       

NIGERIA: THE STATE OF THE NATION & 'OFF-CYCLE' ELECTIONS IN KOGI/BAYELSA STATES

On October 27, 2015, Partners for Electoral Reform (PER), in collaboration with other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), x-rayed the state of democracy in Nigeria. I (Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa), Chairperson, Board of Directors, National Peace Summit Group (NPSG) was a stakeholder at the meeting, held in Abuja.

The following summarises what transpired at the meeting:

*President Mohammed Buhari was commended for the recent appointment of Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu as Chairman of INEC along with 5 National Commissioners.
*Their appointments need to be confirmed as soon as possible in view of Gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states scheduled for November 21 and December 5 respectively in order to allay fears about the legality of the proposed elections.
*More women need to be appointed into INEC inspite of the fact that two of the national Commissioners (Mrs. Amina Zakari & Prof. Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine) are women.
*The President should, without delay appoint the full complement of national Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
*There should be a more inclusive Parliamentary mechanism for cross-Party involvement in the selection and approval of the INEC Chairperson and national Commissioners.
*INEC's independence should be further developed through direct power to appoint and remove RECs.
*The 8th National Assembly (NASS), should expedite action on the electoral reform process that was started by the 7th NASS. To avoid replication and duplication of previous efforts, the 8th NASS should audit all past electoral reform processes.
*For sustainable democracy, we need to review the following:
- Framework for electoral administration (electoral governance).
- Electoral legal framework.
- Internal Party Democracy (IPD), and other issues within Political Parties.
- Election observation.
- Election security, especially as it relates to women, the disabled, the aged and other vulnerable groups.
- Public ownership of the electoral process.
- Cost of elections.
- Role of CSOs in the sustenance and consolidation of democratic governanace.

Always remember that the end of one election should be the beginning of effective and efficient planning for the next election. 4 years represent a short time available for planning. Preparation for the 2019 election should have started yesterday. Our erstwhile 'fire brigade' approach to the issue of elections must stop! 

TOWARDS ELECTORAL REFORM IN NIGERIA

The post-2015 Electoral Reform symposium held in Abuja between the 29th and 30th of September was quite intensive. I (Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa) was a discussant and major stakeholder at the meeting. The event was organised by National Democratic Institute (NDI) in collaboration with Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA), Civil Society Legislative & Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Centre for Civic Education a.k.a. Transition Monitoring Group (TMG).

There are four major clusters around which discussion was held:

1) Electoral Procedures, Organisation, Logistics & Security.
2) Political Parties & Electoral Practice.
3) Review of Legal & Institutional Framework for Elections.
4) Electoral Reform after 2015 General Elections: Strategies, Opportunities & Challenges.

After robust and exhaustive deliberations, the following recommendations were proffered:

* The electoral space should be made more easily accessible for women, the aged and people living with disabilities.
* The Violence Against Women in Elections (VAWIE) project and similar endeavours should be fed into INEC's gender programme.
* INEC should be more autonomous in the conduct of elections and monitoring of political actors.
* Alternative Dispute Resolurion (ADR) should be employed more frequently before litigation in election matters. The ADR department in INEC should be further strengthened.
*Journalists should be trained in the art of election reporting.
* The cost of elections should be more closely monitored.
* The security risk assessment of elections should be undertaken at least a year before elections. The Inter-Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) should be institutionalised to monitor early warning (EW) indicators of violence in elections.
* Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) should be under the firm control of INEC.
* Special and/or early voting should be available to those on duty on election days...security agents, NYSC volunteers, Nigerians in the diaspora, etc
* The duties of INEC should be streamlined. Some of the numerous tasks of INEC could be taken on by The Electoral Institute (TEI) and/or a body fashioned after the defunct Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS). CSOs should do more of voter education.
* The issue of Independent Candidature should be re-visited.
* INEC should have autonomy in the appointment of a substantive Commission Chair.

11th January, 2017

*Philanthropy in democratic societies: Contributory or disruptive?    https://ssir.org/book_reviews/entry/disruptive_philanthropy  

APPOINTMENTS: WOMEN'S GROUPS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER EXCLUSION OF WOMEN IN NIGERIA

Some Nigerian women organizations under the auspices of Women In Politics Forum (WIPF) have expressed concern over what they see as the neglect of women in President Muhammadu Buhari's recent appointment of principal officers. The women raised the concern at a news conference in Abuja, Thursday, 3rd September, 2015. Some of the women groups present are:

*National Peace Summit Group (NPSG) - Gender & Conflict Transformation Section
Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa
*Nigeria Women Trust Fund (NWTF)
Mrs. Funke Baruwa
*HADIS Foundation
Dr. Amina Salihu
*International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
Barr. Hauwa Shekarau

The President of WIPF, Barrister Ebere Ifendu decried the non-inclusion of women thus: "It is inaccurate for anyone to believe that governance can be successful in a democratic setting in Nigeria without the inclusion of a critical segment of its population - women...President Buhari has so far appointed at least 35 principal officers, with only one woman, Mrs Amina Zakari, who is the Acting Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)."

The following are the demands of the women:

*Full implementation of the 35% affirmative action as contained in the National Gender Policy (NGP) and other promises made to Nigerian women during the President's campaign.
*The appointment of the INEC Chairperson should be made substantive, and all other appointments of INEC Commissioners should be gender sensitive and in line with the NGP.
*In implementing the NGP, attention should be paid to integrity, intellectual capability, credibility, administrative competence and antecedents of the appointees.
*The Ministry of Women Affairs should be strengthened to monitor, evaluate and support the implementation of projects targeted at improving the life of women and girls in Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDAs).

5th April, 2016

*Groups call for women's sensitisation, participation in politics    guardian.ng/news/groups-call-womens/sensitisation-participation-in-politics/
*Buhari's appointments & the theory of access by Jibrin Ibrahim    https://t.co/1qm5s8dTMt    opinion.premiumtimes.com/2016/07/11/173838/    https://t.co/AE9wJ8F2lO 

RURAL BANDITRY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

The Policy Brief for the project: 'Rural Banditry & Conflicts in Northern Nigeria', in which I have been involved for the past ten months was launched in Kaduna on the 20th of August, 2015. The book project is sponsored by Nigeria Stability & Reconciliation Programme (NSRP). The implementing partners are Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD) and Pastoral Resolve (PARE). The book was published in 2015.

The book consists of 12 chapters:

* The political economy of cattle rustling in contemporary Nigeria
* The social impact of rural banditry
* Pastoral transhumance & the dynamics of social conflict in Nasarawa state, North-central Nigeria
* The effect of armed banditry on rural women's livelihood & security: Case study of Kaduna & Plateau states
* Hate speech & the construction of popular narratives on rural banditry in the media
* Herders'/Farmers' associations & social conflicts in northern Nigeria
* The state of grazing reserves & their potential capacity to absorb pastoralists
* Rural banditry & social conflicts in Plateau state
* Rural banditry & conflicts in Kaduna state
* Changing methods of animal husbandry & its effects on cattle rustling/rural banditry
* Rural banditry, demography, ecology & state capacity
* Wrap-up of policy briefs

The Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, was represented by the Deputy Governor. In his keynote address the Deputy Governor discussed the giant strides by Kaduna state which resulted in the successful recovery of over 3,000 rustled cattle! He said that the state was in the process of eliciting technology to track the movement of cattle with a view to countering cattle rustling.

My chapter is titled: The effect of armed banditry on rural women's livelihood & security: Case study of Kaduna & Plateau states, Nigeria. The major policy recommendations for the Rural Banditry project are:

* Changing demographic, ecological & climatic conditions
- Gazetting of grazing reserves
- Revitalisation of grazing routes/reserves & development of ranches
- Ranch development
- Integrated agricultural & livestock development
- Monitoring & control of livestock movement

* Land, land-use rights & alienation of land
- Modernisation of agricultural/pastoral production systems
- Encourage greater understanding of use of natural resources
- Mitigation of the impact of climate change

* State capacity & the provision of security
- Strengthen operational capacity of security agencies
- Focus on security needs of farming & pastoralist communities, especially women & other vulnerable groups
- Change perceptions & stereotypes
- Develop robust early warning & early response systems
- Prosecute offenders & recover rustled cattle
- Victim support mechanisms, including psychological therapy for raped women & girls

* Proliferation of Small Arms & Light Weapons (SALWs)
- Strengthen mechanism for periodic mop-up of SALWs
- Intensify registration of personal arms

* Weakening/Collapse informal conflict resolution mechanisms
- Revive & support community-based conflict resolution mechanisms
- Create synergy among persons/institutions working on traditional methods of conflict resolution

* International dimension
- Trans-border engagement
- Sensitivity to the regional dimension of the conflict
- Domestication of relevant ECOWAS protocols 

Related Links

*Absence of security in rural areas    www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/199836-absence-security-rural-communities
*Herdsmen attacks claim 1,269 lives in Benue state, Nigeria    allafrica.com/stories/201608...  #Nigeria
*Nigeria: Army court-martials 20 soldiers for illicit arms sales, rights abuses    allafrica.com/stories/201608...
*Jigawa government empowers 200 women with 600 goats    www.premiumtimesng.com/news/.../jigawa-govt-empowers...
*Land privatisation & climate change are costing rural dwellers    https://www.issafrica.org/iss-today/land-privatisation...
*Troops kill 12 rustlers, recover 1,000 cattle in Kano    www.punchng.com>News
*Kaduna, Kano governments step up moves to end cattle rustling    guardian.ng/...kaduna-kano-govts-step-up-moves-to-end-cattle-rustling/
*Rustling: Kano spends N10m on recovered cattle upkeep    www.nigeriannorth.com/rustling-kano-state-government-spends-n100m-on...
*Cattle rustling: Police recover 800 cows in Kano    leadership.ng/news/cattle-rustling-police-recover-over-800-cows-in-kano
*Nigerian Army declares war on cattle rustlers    naijagists.com/photos-nigerian-army-declares-war-on-cattle-rustlers...
*The Nigerian state & the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALWs)    www.mcser.org/journal/index-php/jesr/article/download/1859/1858
*Nigeria turning into 'axis of arms'    www.nigerianbestforum.com/...nigeria-turning-into-axis-of-arms/
*Unless the youth have something to do, they will become bandits or worse #Diffa  #BokoHaram    https://t.co/d30iB7F80L
*Rural banditry: From the crisis of nomadism to state crisis    http://t.co/Xtazazd8bQ
*Nigeria's security departments: Tribalised, sectionalised & personalised    http://goo.gl/WA3aF2
*When land conflicts occur, Rwanda's local mediators come to the rescue    scfg.org/rwanda-land-conflict
*Kaduna community protests incessant attacks, killings    http://punchng.com/kaduna-community-protests-incessant...
*Troops arrest notorious armed bandits in Zamfara, Kaduna    dailypost.ng/2016/08/29/troops-arrest-several-notorious-armed-bandits-kaduna-Zamfara
*University of Benin's Black Axe becoming a leading drug gang in Italy    http://www.thecable.ng/alert-unibens-black-axe-becoming-a-leading-drug-gang-in-italy
*Forests that kill & destroy: Rural Banditry (RB) in northern Nigeria by Jibrin Ibrahim     https://t.co/Tjmaj6Yk5o
*FCT & the challenges of cattle grazing, development    www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/09/19/fct-and-the-challenges-of-cattle-grazing-development/
*18 year old herder gets two year sentence in Ekiti    https://t.co/NqZvlNTjrr    https://t.co/w1RARO2TnF
*Nigeria government inaugurates committee on Farmer-Herder clashes    http://allafrica.com/stories/201610060192.html
*800 herdsmen are currently in custody - VP    bit.ly/2eZ3y37
*31 cows, 53 sheep & their owners arrested in Abuja for illegal grazing    www.news24.com.ng/national/news/31-cows-53-sheep-arrested
*Violence against aid workers across the world: 131 killed, 130 kidnapped, 144 wounded in 2018 - 405 aid workers attacked   https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/