CEPEJ Holds 10th Annual International Conference in Abuja...

A frontline Civil Society Organisation advocacy for peace and security in Nigeria and Africa at large, Center for Peace and Environment Justice (CEPEJ) has ended its 10th International Conference tagged Insecurity and Corruption: Implications for Development in Africa, at the NAF Conference Center, Abuja.

The event which started on the 12th and ended on the 13th of November, 2019, had participants drawn from Civil Society Organizations, corporate organizations, as well as government ministries, departments and agencies in attendance.

Participants included representatives of the Deputy Senate President, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Interior, the Etsu Nupe, Emir of Bida, the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Director General of institute of peace and conflict resolution as well as CEPEJ Board members and Patrons, amongst others.

The National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade who welcomed participants, said owing to the nation's many challenges, Nigeria needs multilateral efforts more than ever before to conquer corruption and insecurity. He stressed the need for synergy of efforts among critical stakeholders towards proffering lasting solutions that can help facilitate innovative economic actions, as government alone cannot do it at all.

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari, represented by Dr Davidson Aminu charged Nigerians to support the Federal Government in its fight against corruption and insecurity, and commended the Board and Management of CEPEJ for its efforts at complementing the FG by choosing a theme that addresses current issues challenging the country. The Director General of IPCR appreciated CEPEJ and said the Institute would continue to partner with CEPEJ to advocate for peace.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami says Federal Government was using recovered loots to fund the 2020 budget, and also fight corruption and insecurity. Mr. Malami who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Justice Reforms, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagu said the closure of land borders has helped to curb corruption and crimes in the country.

For his part, EFCC Boss, Ibrahim Mustapha Magu who was represented, quoted the World Bank Study in 2018 positing that corruption causes disproportionate impacts on the poor and the vulnerable, and reduces access to social amenities and justice. He said corruption also undermes the Social Contract between the government and the people, erodes trust in government and its institutions, leading to violence and conflicts, and that corruption acts as a constraint to both domestic and foreign investments.