In Nigeria, the number of police killings has increased over the past twenty years.
According to Human Rights Watch, the nation’s police have shot and killed more than 8,000
individuals since 2000, either on purpose or by mistake. According to the World Internal
Security and Police Index in 2016, the nation’s police force was ranked as the “worst in the
world.”

In October 2020, young Nigerians started demonstrating against the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad of the police, claiming that they kidnapped, raped, demanded money
from, and harassed people while the government did nothing. The Nigerian army reportedly
murdered and wounded many of these demonstrators in Lagos State in what is later called
#EndSars protest.

The bloody protest which has been followed by a series of criticism from activists in
Nigeria and various international organisations continue to spell woes for hundreds of
thousands of citizens who lost their close ones in the extrajudicial attack. Despite the massive
outcry, the Nigerian government faces off – showing a lackadaisical attitude to the status quo.

In response to the demands of the nationwide EndSARS rallies, Nigerian President
Muhammadu Buhari announced in a speech that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)
had been disbanded on October 22, 2020. Additionally, he charged that certain SARS
personnel committed “acts of excessive force” when the organisation was in operation.

Then, preparations were made to charge certain former SARS members with murder,
rape, and extortion as well with the using being renamed to Special Weapons And Tactics
(SWAT) unit. The creation of the new team seems a bit premature, according to the Nigeria
Governors’ Forum and this is because many Nigerians had accused the contentious police unit
of engaging in extortion, rape, torture, and murder for a very long time.

These worries include the potential that former SARS personnel may easily join the
brand-new SWAT, in which case the police would have merely given the same group of
individuals—who have brutalised residents over the years—a new moniker. This begs the
question of what the government is doing to decrease the menace and what are the possible
ways out of it.

Human Rights Violation: A Global Phenomenon
According to the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), human rights “are
standards that recognize and protect the dignity of all human beings. Human rights govern
how individual human beings live in society and with each other, as well as their relationship
with the State and the obligations that the State has towards them.”

The international think-tank added that “human rights law obliges governments to do
some things, and prevents them from doing others. Individuals also have responsibilities: in
using their human rights, they must respect the rights of others. No government, group or
individual person has the right to do anything that violates another’s rights.”

“Like other countries, Nigeria faces myriad human rights challenges. As Nigeria
strives towards a nation that acknowledges the rights of all human beings with strong and
effective national protection systems, UN instruments and the mechanisms they have
established as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 sets the
agenda for much of the work,” lamented Edward Kallon, the United Nations Resident and
Humanitarian Coordinator at a programme in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

To corroborate this statement, it is reported that more than 167 countries are guilty of
violating the human rights of its citizens although there are constitutional provisions to
safeguard it. For instance, Nigeria dedicates Chapter Four of her 1999 Constitution to protect
and guarantee only huma rights. Not only, global laws like the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (1948) are worked out to be a cover for liberty worldwide.

What The Ways Out Of This Mess In Nigeria?

Experts have opined that human rights violation can only be stopped if judicial
independence is guaranteed. Independence of the judiciary will ensure that there are
protective laws to help persons whose rights are violated but a hitch in the Nigerian legal
system is the non-implementation of her laws. Despite various laws promulgated by each
government, Nigeria has no implementation strategy for them.

A free press will help to speak against illegalities and impunity by the government. It
is sad to say that press freedom is however not a reality in Nigeria, journalists were attacked
on a daily basis and sanctions were also placed on broadcast outlets. Press freedom will
promote freedom of expression to speak against inhumane violation of liberty of the citizens.

 Nigeria became a Republic state in 1963 and in 1999 Nigeria officially became a democratic state.

 As of 2022, Nigeria has enjoyed 23 years of democracy as a system of government which implies that laws, policies, leadership, and major undertakings of Nigeria are directly or indirectly decided by the people.

  As a country practicing democracy the Nigerian government is supposed to prevent rules by autocrats, guarantee fundamental human rights, Allow for a relatively high level of political equality, and better foster human development which should be evident by certain Indicators such as health and education, provide more prosperity for citizens and ensure a broader range of personal freedom.

 Among the mentioned roles and benefits for a Democratic state, the Nigerian government has demonstrated underperformance in education, Health, economy, and security.

Recently, the underperformance of the Nigerian government has been evident as seen in the public universities’ closure for 8 months which has stopped the public universities from functioning, the increase in the currency exchange rate to about 100% Increase in the naira to the dollar exchange rate which indicates economic recession, high levels of Insecurity which has stopped businesses and affecting citizens individual performance, among others.

 Amid the high levels of intervention needed in the above-mentioned areas in Nigeria, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has announced the finalized arrangement for the naira note redesign in which the new naira note will begin circulation on December 15th, 2022.

 According to the CBN governor, Mr. Godwin this exercise will affect the highest denominations including 200, 500, and 1000 naira notes.

 Reasons and benefits of the Naira note redesign according to the CBN governor 

Why the Naira Note Redesign

1. Significant holding of the banknotes by the members of the public. With over 85% of currency in circulation being outside the vault of commercial banks.  On December,7th 2015, the total money in circulation was 1.7 trillion which has increased to 3.23 trillion nairas as of September 2022 with 2.7 trillion outside the vault of the banks.
2. A high shortage of clean and feed bank notes is leading to a negative perception of the CBN and increasing financial stability.
3. Increased rate of counterfeiting the naira notes as evidenced by several securireportsort 

Benefit Of The Naira Redesign

1. Ensure strong and effective legal tender according to CBN Act 2007
2. Encourage a cashless economy as it will complement the maintenance of the E-naira
3. Drizzle in currency outside the bank system into the bank system
4. Reducing the prevailing levels of insecurity in the country including terrorism and kidnapping.

By the hierarchy of needs in Nigeria is currency redesigning a top priority? 

The bases for the naira note redesign are not in alignment with the needs of the citizens of Nigeria as the naira redesign is going to expose Nigeria to a high risk of inflation and recession. Again, with the budget deficits hitting extreme figures as high as 11 trillion naira, there is no way the Naira notes redesign a means of proffering solutions to Nigeria’s challenges. 

Other stakeholders have claimed that the naira note redesign is a tool for regulating campaign financing given the 2023 election which will contribute to increasing the chances of free and fair elections by reducing the rate of vote buying and improving security. This claim is not valid as the EFCC is responsible for regulating campaign financing in Nigeria.

The CBN governor has not given any real benefit that coincides with the economic growth and development of Nigeria and all the mentioned reasons have no positive impact on the citizens which calls for two questions

1. Is Nigeria as a democratic state practicing democracy?
2. Is the naira note redesign another resource mismanagement strategy? 

Disadvantages of the Naira redesign

• Securing more budget deficit
• Increasing Risk of inflation due to foreign exchange rate
• Unnecessary panic for small and large business owners

Important economic indicators that concern the Nigerian Economy.

• Inflation rate
• Unemployment rate
• Dept profile
• GDP growth
• Foreign reserves
• Exchange rate
• Promoting a free market economy

 Dedicating real attention to policies that positively impact this indicator is the way forward for the Nigerian economy. The naira note redesign has more probability of generating a negative impact on some of the indicators than generating any positive effect.

Cheetahs Policy Institute

Walk to be free…