Suspend Boarding School System In The North East Until Safety Of The Girl Child Is Guaranteed —- NBA President

As the second highest decision making body of the NBA, holds its Quarterly meeting at the beautiful city of Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, the number one Bar man, A.B. Mahmoud SAN has emphatically made known to the NEC members various matters that are of interest to the BAR as they also affect Nigeria as a nation. The president in his speech captured issues bothering on the economy and the Security of the nation as they remain imperative to the development of the Nigerian State. According to the President, although the National Bureau of Statistics has reported that the economy has consolidated its recovery from recession with the GDP growing by 1.92% in the fourth quarter of 2017 which pushed to an overall growth of 0.82% in 2017 as against contraction of -1.58% in 2016, Nigeria continues to face significant challenges. To him, in the area of human security, we seem to have regrettably slid significantly backwards. Citing the cases of the recent killing by Fulani Herdsmen in strategic states in the North and other parts of the country, the President gave an account of efforts embarked upon by his administration to tackle the menaces. According to him, he led the NBA on a fact finding mission to Benue State early in February, in which a report of that Mission will be presented. Citing other incidents occurring recently, the President stated that the Nigerian Bar Association condemns these killings very strongly and calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to do all within its powers to address these security challenges and do more to secure lives and property in all parts of the country. ”We must not allow the country to creep into anarchy which will be the consequence of massive loss of confidence in the ability of the State to protect its citizens. These killings are unacceptable and must be brought to an end.” Still on the issue of human security, the NBA president brought to the fore, that although the Nigerian Bar Association has in the recent past acknowledged the progress that has been made in addressing the security situation in the North East and had commended President Muhammadu Buhari for these successes, the NBA was dissapointed when it heard the tragic news of the abduction of the nearly 105 school girls of Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State. According to him, this dastardly act of kidnap by terrorists has grave impact not only on national security, but also on girl child education. To him, it is already a very difficult job persuading parents in the north east to allow their daughters go to school, especially after the Chibok nightmare. ”Now that the Nigerian State has demonstrated yet again that it cannot protect these kids despite billions of dollars spent on security, how do you persuade parents to let go of their precious jewels again? Potential doctors, nurses, accountants and beauticians will be too scared to go to school. They will end up as hawkers and child brides. I am on my knees praying that these kids will be reunited with their families as quickly as possible.”, he prayed. The learned silk therefore calls on the Government to as a matter of urgency review the security of all schools, especially Boarding Schools for girls in the region and if necessary, suspend for the time being, the boarding system until the safety of all such schools can be fully guaranteed. ”These recent events in Dapchi represents perhaps one of the greatest failures of the Nigerian State. Its failure to guarantee a safe learning environment to its most vulnerable segment of the population. It is even more tragic against the backdrop of the failure to secure the release of the more 100 Chibok girls still in captivity nearly four years since their abduction. The pain and agony of these parents can only be imagined. I want to therefore reiterate my call early on Monday that the Federal and State Governments should as a matter of urgency suspend the boarding system in the affected states of the Northeast region, especially for girls until the safety and security of the children can be guaranteed. We urge the Government to do whatever is necessary including seeking appropriate international assistance to secure the release of these girls and reunite them with their families”, he added.]]>