COVID-19: WAANSA Nigeria urges FG to provide special packages for security agencies

- WAANSA Nigeria has made a case for security personnel across the country

- The group wants the federal government to provide special packages for security agencies

- WAANSA Nigeria made the suggestion as it prepares for Global Wear Orange Against Gun Violence campaign

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A group, West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) Nigeria, have urged the federal government to provide special packages for personnel of security agencies who worked to ensure that the lockdown in the country was largely successful.

WAANSA Nigeria, a foremost civil society group focused on security issues, peace and development, made the call via a statement on Monday, May 25.

The statement, signed by Temitope Lamidi, was released after the inauguration of WAANSA Nigeria Global Wear Orange Against Gun Violence campaign coming up on Friday, June 5.

The Wear Orange campaign honours the memory of those who have lost their lives and calls for a future free of gun violence.

WAANSA is leading the campaign in West Africa as the world standstill on the day to pay homage to those who lost their lives to gun violence.

The group also demanded solidarity from Nigeria's vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the national security adviser, Major-General Babagana-Monguno (rtd) on the said day, by wearing orange shirts.

Part of the statement read: “Considering the negative impact of unemployment, food insecurity poverty and the current health pandemic coupled with global insecurity, WAANSA Nigeria has appealed to Vice President Professor Yemi Osibanjo to wear orange shirts on June 5, 2020, as part of the national awareness against gun violence which is being observed globally.

“Nigeria has been under the world microscopes going by the roles it plays in sustaining peace stability in the sub-region, hence heads of security agencies that make up the presidential committee on small arms and light weapons review committee and the ministry of justice should identify with us during the one-week event.

“This will strengthen Nigeria's voice to the global call for an end to gun violence.

“Regardless of nationality, gender or religion, thousands have been suddenly made widows, hundreds of thousands killed, millions rendered homeless and vulnerable due to gun violence

“This is made worse by uncontrolled infiltration and illegal proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

“For the global economic situation not to deteriorate due to the pressure of coronavirus on the economy, security stakeholders political actors must combine effort to ensure peace and a conflict-free world, for there will never be any genuine development in societies with security challenges.”

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WAANSA Nigeria's intervention in the area of peace and security in Nigeria and beyond are well documented.

The group is headed by Jephthah Asimole, a well-known peacebuilder and security stakeholder in the country.

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