NHRC to northern govs: Relocating Almajirai not enough

The National Human Rights Commission on Friday advised governors of northern states not to just relocate Almajirai to their states of origin but to also develop programmes to address their needs.

NHRC Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Lambert Oparah, said this was contained in a just-issued ‘advisory opinion’.

He stated that the advisory opinion was issued in line with the commission’s mandate as provided in section 5 (l)(m)(o) of its enabling Act.

He said, “The commission calls on northern states’ governments to develop a multi-sectoral programme of action for the transfer, return and rehabilitation of Almajirai.

“A major step towards achieving this will be an obligation on the part of affected states to put in place financial, institutional, and programmatic frameworks to urgently address the needs of the Almajirai.” Punch