News
President Tinubu’s IDP Law ‘Puts Humanity First’ – Deputy Speaker
…as states set to follow suit
By Gloria Ikibah
The Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Kampala Convention Domestication Act into law, calling it a decisive move to restore the dignity and rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
KKalu stated this in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross, led by Doris El Doueihy, who were on a courtesy visit to commend Nigeria’s adoption of the convention.
The Deputy Speaker, who co-sponsored the bill alongside six lawmakers, also acknowledged the role played by the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, in steering the process to completion.
He stressed that the law would not stop at the federal level, revealing plans to ensure its domestication across all states for effective implementation.
Kalu said: “You can sign bills that have to do with electoral act, you will benefit from it. You can sign bills that have to do with maybe the environment, you benefit from it. But when you sign a bill that has to do with people who may not give you back anything, then it means that you are wearing the face of humanity in your leadership. And for that, I want to congratulate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for being selfless, for setting the right step forward for other African countries who are still sitting on the fence to hop in. And you know, they were waiting for us.
“I must thank the Attorney General of the Federation. I have thanked him privately, and I want to thank him publicly, because the President also pushed it to him to do his analysis of my proposition with regards to this domestication happening, and how healthy is it going to be for the country. And that is how the President operates. He doesn’t just put his signature on bills. He goes through the whole nine yards of scrutiny. And you need to read the wordings of the letter of the Attorney General of the Federation, who is a seasoned lawyer himself and his words brought me comfort that the nation is actually interested in the leadership that has a human face.”
According to Kalu, Nigeria’s move is likely to spur other African nations into action.
“Most African countries have been waiting for Nigeria to have a buy-in into this, and now that we have done that, I can assure you that a lot of African countries will come on board to embrace this shield.
“We have given a legal shield for the rights, for the dignity, for the welfare of these people, because they are persons, even though they are displaced, they are citizens, even though they are displaced. And so when you visit the camp and see what they go through, you begin to question. They didn’t bring this upon themselves. What is their protection? That was the reason for Kambala convention, and now that we have domesticated it, the law has become alive in our country for them to be protected in their rights, in their dignity and in their welfare.
“And when you talk about this, domestication is not going to end at the federal level. We are setting up mechanisms to make sure that the States will domesticate this particular convention in their various codified laws”.
He urged government institutions to back the law with real action, particularly through budgeting and oversight.
“But is it going to stop here? What next? The next is implementation. We don’t want the wordings of this particular domestication of this convention to be dead words on the shelves. I don’t want it to be something lying on the shelf. So we are going to give it wheels. It should be impact driven. So, one is to domesticate it. Another one is to give it wheels.
“And the parliament has what it takes through our oversight responsibility that is found in Section 88, 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to ensure that we call the various agencies of government, refugee Commission, the Budget Office, Appropriation Committee of the Parliament, the Finance Ministry, to make sure that their budget reflects this domesticated convention in terms of its implementation, which will cover the needs analysis of the IDPs.
“If we have done the needs analysis of these camps, you will find out that they have health issues. They have early pregnancies, teenage pregnancies. They have insecurity problem”, he said.
Kalu also made clear that the long-term goal is to end displacement altogether, not merely manage it.
“It is not our intention to have the IDPs remain displaced persons forever, so there is a provision on how to also get them back home. We don’t want people to be in the IDP camps and stay there and have generation one, generation two, generation three. So, the ability also to make sure that we end whatever that has displaced them and reintroduce them back to their natural place of habitation, their native land is there. We have set up mechanism that will help us partner with the Executive to make sure that that happens”, he said.
Earlier, El Doueihy praised Nigeria’s progress, singling out Kalu’s role in pushing the legislation through.
“We are here to celebrate with you but we started celebrating a while ago. I have been in Nigeria over a year. This has been ongoing for years. Since I arrived I heard that you’re the main driver on the efforts to reach domestication. Thank you so much.
“Nigeria is on the right track and this is an example for other countries to follow and do the same.
Displacement is major problem any population is facing. We are here today on behalf of ICRC and the delegation of Nigeria to thank you for the great effort and reaching this great outcome of domestication of Kampala Convention”, she said.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, stressed the need for discipline, precision and sound legal reasoning in appellate advocacy, describing appellate practice as a critical pillar for strengthening Nigeria’s justice system.
Wike stated this at the public presentation of the book, “Ukala’s Manual on Appellate Practice,” authored by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Emmanuel C. Ukala, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The former Rivers State governor described the publication as a timely and significant contribution to the legal profession, particularly for young lawyers seeking to develop competence in appellate litigation.
According to him, advocacy at the appellate level differs fundamentally from trial proceedings and requires a higher level of intellectual discipline and mastery of legal procedures.
“We are all aware that advocacy at the appellate level is of a fundamentally different character from proceedings at trial. It calls for a higher degree of discipline, clarity of thought, precision in expression, and a deep, assured command of both substantive law and procedural rules,” Wike said.
He noted that the manual would serve as a practical guide for lawyers and judges by bridging the gap between legal theory and courtroom practice.
“It serves as a vital bridge between legal theory and courtroom practice, offering guidance that is especially beneficial to younger members of the Bar as they develop the confidence and competence required to navigate the demands of appellate litigation,” he added.
Wike, who recalled his background in legal practice, said he personally appreciated the value of appellate adjudication, having prosecuted and defended several cases before appellate courts over the years.
“I myself am a direct beneficiary of the work done at the appellate level, having had the privilege, as a party in numerous disputes, to prosecute and defend many cases before appellate courts,” he stated.
The minister also revealed that he once worked briefly in Ukala’s law firm, noting that the experience shaped his professional values and appreciation for excellence in legal advocacy.
“I cut my teeth in the firm of Mr. Ukala, SAN, albeit for a relatively short time. The exposure and values I imbibed during that period discipline, attention to detail, respect for the craft of advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to excellence have continued to shape my professional outlook to this day,” he said.
Wike described the publication as a “legacy work” that would remain relevant to legal practitioners and judicial officers for years to come.
According to him, the book does not merely seek to impress readers academically but provides practical guidance on critical aspects of appellate litigation, including notices of appeal, compilation of records, interlocutory applications, briefs of argument, and oral advocacy.
“What I particularly appreciate about this manual is its practicality. It does not attempt to impress; it seeks to guide. It brings clarity to areas that many practitioners struggle with but rarely admit,” he said.
The FCT minister urged young lawyers to make effective use of the book in refining their professional skills and pursuit of excellence.
“To my colleagues, especially the younger lawyers, do not just celebrate this book, use it. Let it challenge you. Let it refine you. Let it remind you that excellence in this profession is a deliberate pursuit,” he added.
The event was attended by high-ranking judicial officers, including the President, National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, other heads of court, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, Justices of the Supreme Court, Justices of the Court of Appeal, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, members of the Body of Benchers, legal practitioners and other dignitaries from across the country, while Joseph B. Daudu (SAN) and Ferdinand O. Orbih (SAN), reviewed the book.
President Bola Tinubu has declared his intention to seek re-election in 2027, saying critics exploiting the country’s security challenges were doing the bidding of his political opponents.
Tinubu made the remarks while receiving Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and other stakeholders from the state, telling them that hostile forces were weaponising insecurity to undermine his administration.
“You are playing to the hand of agents, including my own enemies, who want to use insecurity to get rid of me,” he said, adding that he would not be deterred.
“I’m a very stubborn politician. I just refuse to go. And I will campaign for my second term.”
The declaration comes amid sustained pressure on the Federal Government over attacks by armed groups, kidnappings, and killings across several states, with opposition figures and civil society organisations demanding stronger federal action.
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Tinubu has consistently defended his administration’s security record, maintaining that agencies are being adequately supported to restore stability.
The President took office in May 2023 and is constitutionally eligible to seek a second four-year term when Nigerians go to the polls in 2027.
…proposal aim to strengthen coordination and innovation across the Armed Forces
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a proposal to set up a Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre, envisioned as a high-level strategic hub to improve coordination, efficiency and overall performance within Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
The bill, sponsored by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, is titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre to Enhance the Coordination and Effectiveness of Military Operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria by Integrating the Capabilities of Its Respective Services; and for Related Matters (HB 2741).”
It progressed to the next stage following debate by lawmakers on Wednesday during plenary.
The planned centre is intended to serve as a focal point for defence research, development of military doctrine, strategic planning and innovation in warfare, with particular attention on fostering closer collaboration among military and paramilitary bodies.
Commencing debate on the general principles of the legislation on behalf of the Speaker, Rep. Daniel Asama said, “the initiative is designed to bridge critical gaps in Nigeria’s defence framework, particularly the lack of a dedicated institution for developing and coordinating joint military doctrines.”
“The centre would establish a structured system for the formulation, validation and dissemination of joint doctrines, while also promoting interdisciplinary research on multi-domain operations”.
Asama further observed that Nigeria’s increasingly complex security landscape demands a more integrated and strategic military response.
“Nigeria faces complex security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency and cyber warfare, which require coordinated doctrinal responses among the Armed Forces.
“The absence of a dedicated institution for joint doctrine development has created operational gaps and limited interoperability among the services”, he said.
According to him, the proposed centre will serve as both a think-tank and a centre of excellence for doctrine formulation and warfare strategy.
“This bill provides the legal and institutional framework for the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre as a think-tank and centre of excellence for doctrine development and warfare strategy.
“It addresses the need for integrated doctrine development, unified command thinking and joint operational planning”, he added.
He described the bill as timely, the lawmaker said it would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond to evolving threats while enhancing cooperation among the Army, Navy and Air Force.
He explained that the proposed centre would provide a standing platform for defence research, simulation exercises and policy coordination, with the aim of strengthening the long-term sustainability of the country’s security efforts.
The institution is expected to draw together major players in the security architecture, including the Ministers of Defence, service chiefs and specialists from the private sector.
Its responsibilities would cover aligning warfare strategies, monitoring emerging threats, reviewing operational requirements and offering strategic guidance for defence activities.
The centre would also work closely with defence institutions, universities, international allies and research organisations to advance joint doctrine development, simulation tools and contemporary warfare practices.
Among its core aims are improving Nigeria’s capacity to respond to hybrid and asymmetric threats, enhancing cooperation among the armed services, promoting defence research and expanding both regional and global security partnerships.
Asama expressed optimism that the proposal would markedly strengthen the nation’s military preparedness and strategic depth.
“The Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre will serve as the intellectual and operational hub for defence coordination, doctrine formulation and integrated warfare planning,” he said.
Following its passage for second reading, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Defence for further legislative consideration.
When passed into law, the piece of legislation is expected to provide a solid institutional framework for advancing joint military operations and improving Nigeria’s response to current and emerging security challenges.
Photos: Appellate Court Advocacy Demands Precision, Discipline — Wike
2027: My opponents are arming terrorists against me — Tinubu
Lawmakers Move To Establish Military Strategy Hub
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