Ndudi Anyim
Nigerian government has called on nations to strengthen cooperation through the United Nations (UN) Global Counter Terrorism Strategy to combat terrorism and others violent crimes.
The country’s position was made known in a statement delivered by the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi while speaking at the 30th Session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, holding at Vienna, Austria.
The Minister who led Nigeria’s delegation to the meeting, condemned terrorism in all its manifestations, including banditry, kidnapping and hostage taking by terrorists to raise funds.
He noted that such cooperation amongst Nations will further enhance timely information sharing, logistical support and capacity-building activities to affected States.
He stated further that there was need to prevent and combat the growing links between terrorism and corruption, illicit financial flows, cybercrime and drug trafficking.
Security Watch Africa reports that the session had the theme “Effective measures to prevent and counter the smuggling of migrants, while protecting the rights of smuggled migrants, particularly women and children, and those of unaccompanied migrant children”. The Nigerian delegation includes the Head of Nigeria’s National Central Bureau (NCB) of INTERPOL, AIG Garba Baba Umar, DCP Lanre Sikiru Bankole and other officials.
The Nigerian statement read in part: “The theme of the session is most appropriate, especially at a time when the international community is grappling with emerging trends and manifestations of this heinous cross border crime. We have an opportunity to discuss these emerging trends, including the impact of COVID-19, as well as global best practices in preventing and countering smuggling of migrants.
“Nigeria has domesticated and operationalized the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its Protocols in our efforts to combat cross border crimes such as corruption, drug trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering, illicit financial flows, trafficking in person and terrorism.
“We are improving domestic conditions through comprehensive Strategic Action Plan, which guides our national responses. Nigeria is also taking cognizance of other relevant international instruments including the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy in the fight against terrorism as well as the UN Global Action Plan adapted to our country’s specific situation, challenges and priorities.
“Nigeria underscores the importance of International Cooperation in facilitating Mutual Legal Assistance to prevent and combat transnational organized crimes and stresses the need to address legal and regulatory procedures that act as a barrier to effective international cooperation.
“We wish to highlight the primacy of timely asset recovery and return at this difficult time of dwindling development financing, made worse by the impact of COVID-19, especially in developing countries, and urge all states to demonstrate political will in removing all barriers to asset recovery including in cases that make use of settlements or non-trial resolutions.
“ In this regard, we call for the implementation of the recommendations of the FACTI Panel in support of asset recovery and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development while preventing and combating illicit financial flows.
“Furthermore, Nigeria condemns terrorism in all its manifestations, including banditry, kidnapping and hostage taking by terrorists to raise funds, and call on all states to strengthen cooperation through the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, in order to combat the threat posed by terrorism and to enhance timely information sharing, logistical support and capacity-building activities to affected states.”
He added that Nigeria recognizes that strong institutions of criminal justice and well trained practitioners are necessary for the success of any crime prevention and criminal justice policy.
Dingyadi also called on the international community to invest more to strengthen the capacity of practitioners at all levels.