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Justice for black people will not flow into society merely fromcourt decisions nor from fountains of political oratory. Nor will a

few token changes quell all the tempestuous yearnings of millionsof disadvantaged black people. White America must recognize that

justice for black people cannot be achieved without radicalchanges in the structure of our society. The comfortable, the

entrenched , the privileged cannot continue to tremble at theprospect of change in the status quo .

-Martin Luther King, Jr.A Testament of Hope


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Human Security and SustainableDevelopment in Nigeria: Where

does the Judiciary stand?

A Paper Presentation by Ademola OLAYOKUat theIBADAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT (ISDS) 2011

On the 9th

of August, 2011


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Introduction Suffice it to say the assertion that Nigeria is

not developing cannot be held valid with theemergence of the recent events in the country.The rise in the numerical variance of casualtiesof bomb blasts in Nigeria from 1986 to thepresent day lays credence to this fact

Many questions persist with regards to theidentity, source, sponsorship and genuine

reasons for the sect which bravely andunrepentantly constitutes security threats tothe country since there lies a fundamentalcontradiction in the name Boko Haram andthe adoption of Western technology in theperpetration of their unwholesome acts

Nonetheless, bomb blasts are just but one of the many threats to human security in Nigeria.Nigeria, in fact, has had her fair share of ethnicdisturbances with which she still grapples(with Jos still as volatile as it can be) alongsidearmed robbery, accidents, sickness, illiteracy, ,unemployment, corruption and certain naturaldisasters which all result in and enhance

insecurity in the Nigerian environment


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Human Security at a Glance The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its 1994 Human Development Report

opined that the concept of security has for too long been interpreted narrowly: as security of (a)territory from external aggression, or as protection of national interests in foreign policy or as globalsecurity from the threat of a nuclear holocaust. It has been related more to nation-states than topeople.

In adopting a new meaning to the concept, the report further stated that Human security is not aconcern with weapons - it is a concern with human life and dignity. the new conceptualization of

the term as such encapsulated four characteristics which include the:

- Universality of Human Security - there are basic threats to security being witnessed in varyingdegrees both the developing and developed nations. The threats identified include crime,unemployment, pollution, drugs and human rights violations- Interdependence of Human Security - The interrelatedness of nations within the global space alsoimpacts on the components of human security. In this regard, regional and international organizationsare expected to indulge in activities aimed at solving security threats posed within individual nations- The Effectiveness of Proactive Measures as Against Reactive Measures - it was more cost effectiveand efficient to invest in preventive measures in combating threats to security rather than trying toeradicate them- Human Security as People Centered - an agenda which has private citizens as its central focus. Thelife and existence of the individual within the state, his access to basic social amenities, the guaranteeof his essential rights and freedom are all to be factored into consideration in ensuring his security


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Defining Human Security

human security means the security of the individual with respect to the satisfaction of the basic needs of life; it also encompassesthe creation of the social, political, economic, military,environmental and cultural conditions necessary for the survival,

livelihood, and dignity of the individual, including the protectionof fundamental freedoms, the respect for human rights, good governance, access to education, healthcare, and ensuring that each individual has opportunities and choices to fulfill his/her own potential An excerpt from the draft on African Non-Aggression and Common Defense Pact proposed at a meeting of African ministers of defence and Security in Addis Ababa (Jan . 20-21 2004)


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The Common Threats to Human Security in

Nigeria and Their Implications

Armed Robbery - The word piracy is as elastic as an English word can be. TheWebsters Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary defines the word piracy as either robberyon high seas or the unauthorized use of anothers production, invention or conceptionespecially in infringement of a copyright

The Microsoft Encarta Dictionary 2009 defines piracy in the following contexts:- Robbery on the high seas especially the stealing of a ships cargo- Robbery committed on board any form of transportation especially on aircraft.- The hijacking of an aircraft or another form of transportation.- The taking and using of copyrighted or patented material without authorization or

without the legal right to do so.- Unauthorized or illegal broadcasting of TV or radio programs

Following from the above, armed robbery is both a physical and meta-substantial threatto human security from the individual level to the international level


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Accidents-Land-The events of armed robbery on Nigerian roads do not exist in isolation. In fact,accident is a working tool for Nigerian highway robbers who ingenuously devise differentforms of obstructions from pronounced logs of wood to apparently insignificant nailed

bulb of tomato which is very potent for puncturing tires and causing other havocs onthe road. The former potholes on both federal and state roads have fast developed intoabysmal depths serving as lead-ways to the six- feet for many travelers

Air- The obsolete state of newly purchased aircrafts does not make travelling by air anymore attractive. What with the incessant premature landing of aircrafts shortly aftertakeoff and the unexpected power outage at critical moments at the airport. This is notleaving out the occasional plane crashes to which no solutions are in sight with the mostrecent taking place in Kaduna on 24 th May 2011 where a plane crashed during a testflight after its routine maintenance

Water - As regards water transportation, the few who use it do so having no otheralternative means of transport trusting in providence to see them through in case of eventualities since there are often neither life jackets nor reliable security measures tosave the boats against both human and naturally induced disasters

HSE-The delay in the house of assembly to pass the Health, Safety and Environment Billreflects how lackadaisical the leadership of the country is when it comes to safety issues.This has led to a carefree attitude by both multinational and indigenous companies withregards to ensuring the health and safety of their workers and the residents of thecommunities where they carry out their commercial activities


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Diseases/SicknessThe poor health conditions of Nigerians was succinctly captured in the CRS report of 2008 which put their average life expectancy at forty-seven (47) years while also statingthat Nigeria housed two- third of the worlds polio cases as at 2004 and was, as at 2008,

having the third largest population of HIV/AIDS victims in the world after South Africaand India. It is indeed saddening that as at June, 2011, an estimated 300,000 childrenunder the age of five (5) were said to die annually from malaria and malaria relateddiseases

the National Accord Newspaper, in its editorial of 20 th June, 2011 sadly observed that:

it is widely believed that the country has one of the worst healthcaredelivery systems in Africa. This ugly situation has been attributed to thedilapidated health care infrastructure, poorly motivated health care

personnel, high cost of medication and low doctor to patient ratio etc


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Unavailability/Inaccessibility of Quality Education According to the UNICEF statistical analysis as at March 2010, while the net survival rate

for pupils who enroll into primary education is put at 75% and 98% as deduced fromadministrative and survey data respectively. This is not as worrisome as the ratio of

attendance at the secondary school level which is 45 for male and 43 for female per 100people Worse still is the quality of products of the Nigerian educational system which is nothing

to be proud of. This becomes glaring if one also considers the fact that out of the1,493,604 that sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exams thisyear, only about 597,494 students (40%) had above two-hundred (200) points which

seems to be the cutoff mark. Sadly too, there is no guarantee that all those who qualify will be able to gain admission

into their desired tertiary institution. For example, of the 99, 195 applications made tothe University of Lagos it would only be able to admit 9,507 students which is about 10%of the entire applications

the private universities reflects them to be beyond the reach of an average Nigerian withno assurance of sound academic and moral education. The resultant effect of this is half-baked products with little innovations based on the

limitations imposed on them by their society; semi-literate individuals who can onlyafford to perform semi-skilled and unskilled functions and an increase in the legitimateand illegitimate exodus of our best brains in search of greener pastures abroad


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Corruption Corruption in Nigeria got to its peak during the undesirable military stratocracies which were

characterized by flagrant disrespect for the rule of law where in Kukahs words, the rule of law became the rule of men . Alarmingly, Abacha alone is said to have stolen $3.5bn within

just five (5) years of his administration Almost fifty years after this incursion, there has indeed been no significant difference in the

status quo. It is a well known fact that corruption as being discussed above is not limited tothe Nigerian politicians alone as it cuts across the other strata of the society. According toDikes analysis, the types of corruption prevalent in Nigeria encompass the political,bureaucratic and electoral corruption; embezzlement and bribery

Bureaucratic corruption has to do with favoritism and discrimination against people whohave no godfathers in the high places. An Average Nigerian graduate ordinarily has no hopeof being given equal opportunities in the federal civil service. This is because alongside hiscertificates, he also has to be certified by a senator or a minister with either a business cardor a small note which may be less in mass but far more relevant than the bulk of paper workshe accumulated as a result of his academic feat after at least four years of learning

The judiciary , it could be said, is not immune from corrupt practices such as unnecessarydelay of judgments and manipulation of the interpretations of the law to suit the purposes of their patrons. One can only pray for a reverse of fortunes in this light

The effects of corruption cannot be overemphasized and as Dike expressed, they coverthe stunting of economic growth, insufficient funding of the educational system,unnecessary wastage of human capital, political instability, negative international imageto mention but a few


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Natural Disasters Flooding- The incessant rainfall that plagued Lagos state on the 11 th July, this year indeed

had very devastating effects on its residents. While properties worth millions weredestroyed and movements were restricted, this devastation cumulated in the loss of

lives. As at the 12 th of July, twenty-five(25) bodies (eleven (11) of which belonged tochildren) were said to have been recovered from the canals at Dopemu and Aboru, in theold Alimosho Local Government Area and Agbado-Oke Odo Local Council DevelopmentAreas while twenty-eight persons (28) became homeless in Ajegunle

Alongside flooding, there are also other environmental hazards in Nigeria which areinduced by men and so cannot be wholly referred to as natural disasters. Examples of these include the drought which plagued Nigeria between 1972 and 1973 (killing about300,000 livestock in Northern Nigeria) and also in 1987 (where crop production droppedto between 56% and 75% of the previous year). Others include oil spillage, wild bush fireand landslides to mention but of a few of these threats

Though the occurrence of natural disasters is not as pronounced in the country as we

have them in other parts of the world, recent events have shown that they cannot be inanyway ignored


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Sustainable Development as the Answer toHuman Security Issues in Nigeria

Definition- The holistic definition of the Brundtland Commission comes handy when one tries to

conceptualize the term sustainable development. The commission defined it as the ability to makedevelopment sustain able to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromisingthe ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Goal- Its goal according to Lawanson is the reduction of absolute poverty by providing lasting andsecure livelihoods that minimize resource depletion, environmental degradation, cultural disruptionand social instability.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): The attainment of this goal was elaborated by theUNDP in the outlining the focal points for the millennium and they are:

Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger Achievement of universal primary education Attainment of gender equality and women empowerment Reduction of child mortality Improvement of maternal health Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Ensuring environmental sustainability Developing of global partners hip

The achievement of these goals therefore became the concern of the member nations of the UnitedNations as it emerged as the yardstick for the determination of growth and development. As it hasbeen shown in the discussions above, Nigeria is still a far cry from developing legacies which could besustained and enhanced by the future generations


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Components of Sustainable DevelopmentWhat is to be sustained? For How Long?

25 years

Now and in the future

Forever

What is to be Developed?

NATURE

Earth

Biodiversity

Ecosystems

PEOPLE

Child survival

Life expectancy

Education

Equity Equal opportunity

LIFE SUPPORT

Ecosystem services

Resources

Environment

LINKED BY

Only

Mostly

But

And

ECONOMY

Wealth

Productive sectors

Consumption

COMMUNITY

Cultures

Groups

Places

SOCIETY

Institutions

Social capital

States

Regions


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Conclusion As a matter of fact and urgency, a rebrand of Nigeria must align with the clich that charity begins at

home. No nation of the world will change its perception about Nigeria without Nigeria in the firstplace changing her perception what she ought to be. This change of perception, in the opinion of this paper is what can engender sustainable development and ensure that the set targets of theMDGs are put in perspective. The change being referred to here must also necessarily cut throughthe different strata of the Nigerian society as a collective effort towards restoring Nigeria to herpride of place among the comity of nations in Africa and by extension the Globe. However, theJudiciary has a critical role to play if the desired is to be achieved.

The Judiciary The judiciary has become the puppet of the Nigerian government thereby losing the vote of

confidence of many a Nigerian. The conviction of innocent citizens, delay of judgments havingreceived bribes and cases of missing files in the law courts without doubt leaves much to be desiredin the Nigerian juridical system

The need for an independent and reliable judiciary which is operational for dispensing justice in thecountry cannot thus be overemphasized. The United States Agency for International Development(USAID) substantiated this fact in 2008 when it requested for $13.8m to aid the Nigerian governmentduring fiscal year 2008 to support programs aimed at strengthening the capacity, transparency, andindependence of the judiciary; improving anti- corruption efforts; and building civil society capacityamongst other efforts Ploch, L. 2008. Op. cit. p. 22


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There is the need to imbue morality into this arm of government since thereinreside the custodians and interpreters of the laws of the land

There is the need to uphold the rule of law which ought to be supreme overeveryone and not just the unprivileged. The judges, from the supreme courtsto the magistrate courts should uphold the objective interpretation of the lawand be neutral in their interventions at all times

This indeed will help in instilling morality into the average Nigerian and aid theright direction towards sustainable growth and development.

It is as simple as the assertion that : Rid the judiciary of corruption, and thenyou have ridded Nigeria of corruption and paved a way for a lasting legacy tothe unborn generations!


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Thank You for Listening

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