A Non-Governmental Organisation, Cleen Foundation, has urged the Nigeria Police and other security personnel deployed to monitor and enforce compliance of the government ‘Stay-At-Home’ directives to work within the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.

Executive Director of the foundation, Benson Olugbuo, made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Olugbuo said the foundation was concerned over reports of police officers allegedly enforcing government directives by destroying businesses of some citizens.

According to him, the act is flouting of government’s directives and those involved should be called to order immediately.

“Security agencies and its agents should be professional in enforcing government’s orders on lockdown and they should minimise the use of force in securing compliance.

“Security personnel deployed to monitor and enforce compliance of government directives should work within the provisions of the Nigerian constitution and rules of engagement in policing vulnerable groups and communities during this difficult period.

“They should work with community policing outfits where applicable to engender communal trust in raising awareness and enforcing government’s directives.

“Oversight bodies of the security agencies should monitor the conduct of security personnel during this pandemic and should commit to applying appropriate sanctions in the event of any rights violations,” he said.

He tasked the security on collective responsibility to end the COVID -19 pandemic, while respecting the human rights of citizens across the country.

He also advised Nigerians to observe government’s directive to stay at home as part of their civic responsibility to curb the spread of the disease in an orderly and peaceful manner.

He cautioned citizens against spreading fake news, disinformation or misinformation on the pandemic, conducts of security personnel, and health workers practice.

Olugbuo also urged citizens across the nation to comply with security personnel, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO), and other government preventive measures to check the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

He appealed to the media to balance their reportage with adequate reporting of the efforts of the government and the citizens in the fight against the pandemic.

He said the media should be professional in their conduct and comply with their codes of conduct for transparent media coverage by avoiding sentiments while reporting efforts of governments.

CLEEN Foundation today April 1, 2020 launched the COVID-19 Public Safety Support Virtual Centre (COVID-PSSC) to provide real-time public safety and security information to Nigerians.

Specifically, the electronic platform using Tella Application will be deployed for reporting compliance by citizens of government directives and rights violations by security personnel.

In addition, state coordinators and volunteers of COVID-19 Nigeria Security Support Group (CNSSG) will report conditions and needs of vulnerable groups and communities in the society to aid health and security officials and other critical stakeholders in responding effectively to the management of COVID-19 pandemic and related issues in Nigeria.

The Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Benson Olugbuo, Ph.D, said,“We commend the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for its timely dissemination of useful information and indeed numerous corporate organizations and individuals who have contributed funds and other resources to fight COVID-19 in Nigeria.

CLEEN Foundation also appreciates the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force and other security personnel in enforcing government’s stay-at-home directives to stop the spread of the disease. However, we are very concerned with reports showing some personnel of the Nigeria Police destroying businesses of some citizens around the Ikorodu axis of Lagos State who flouted government’s directives on COVID-19 in the state.

“We call on personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and other security personnel deployed to monitor and enforce compliance of government directives to work within the provisions of the Nigerian constitution and rules of engagement in policing vulnerable groups and communities during this difficult period.

“CLEEN Foundation is using this medium to remind all Nigerians that the task to end COVID-19 is the responsibility of all. CLEEN will continue to work with key stakeholders in observing these responses and the conduct of security actors to ensure responsible policing of the global pandemic.

In light of the concerns and findings on COVID-19 in Nigeria, CLEEN Foundation also made the following recommendations:

Federal and State Governments should:

a) Ensure adequate financial, human and logistic support in the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria through adequate resourcing of testing, isolation and treatment centres.

b) Ensure adequate protection for health and security officials especially those at the front lines

c) Embark on massive public enlightenment programs to create awareness of the pandemic in both rural and urban areas and in the major local languages

d) Institute palliative measures to cushion the effect of the pandemic and the resultant effects of the lock-down on households.

e) Ensure public buildings have hand-washing bowls and hand sanitizers to curb the transmission of the virus

f) Ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement of funds donated by corporate organizations and philanthropic individuals

g) Government’s media regulatory bodies should monitor and apply appropriate sanctions against erring media practitioners and organisations who engage in fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

h) State Government of less affected states should put in place stronger preventive measures to curtail the spread of the virus in their various states.

On Security Agencies and Oversight Bodies, the Foundation also advised that they should be professional, in enforcing the government’s orders on lock-down and they should minimise the use of force in securing compliance.

“They should work with community policing outfits where applicable to engender communal trust in raising awareness and enforcing government’s directives

“Oversight bodies of the security agencies should monitor the conduct of security personnel during this pandemic and should commit to applying appropriate sanctions in the event of any rights violations.

The ED also urged the Media to “continue with adequate and balanced reporting of the efforts of the government and citizens in the fight against COVID-19 and they should avoid sensationalism

“Be professional in their conduct and comply with their codes of conduct for transparent media coverage

“Should avoid fake new, misinformation and disinformation”.

Olugbuo encouraged Nigerians to ensure they comply with all NCDC, WHO and Federal Government’s preventive measures to check the spread of the COVID-19 virus

“Avoid spreading fake news, disinformation or misinformation on COVID-19. Observe government’s directive to stay home as part of their civic responsibility to curb the spread of the disease in an orderly and peaceful manner.

“Self-isolate if they have embarked on travels in the last 14 days to high-risk countries of the pandemic

“Report any possible case of suspected COVID-19 to NCDC via toll free line (080097000010)

“Report rights violations by security personnel to the Police Complaints Response Unit, the Police Service Commission and the National Human Rights Commission.

The CLEEN Foundation (formerly known as Centre for Law Enforcement Education in Nigeria) was established in 1998 as a leading non-governmental organization (NGO) to promote public safety, security, justice, research, and advocacy in Nigeria. CLEEN Foundation has Observer Status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights based in Banjul, The Gambia and was awarded the 2019 Human Rights Award by the National Human Rights Commission.