The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has identified corruption as the major reason for the prevailing insecurity in Nigeria, hence the need to tackle it headlong.
The association charged security agencies to maintain the confidence reposed in them by handling citizens’ requests, responding quickly to citizens’ complaints and providing proper protection and support for victims of crime and injustice.
A communique issued at the end of the Caliphate Bar Association Law Week further stated that more needs to be done towards ensuring a crime-free society in Nigeria.
The Sokoto branch of the NBA also saluted the courage of security agents in tackling banditry and associated terrorist activities in the country.
The communique read: “Corruption is largely one of the reasons for the sustained insecurity in Nigeria which is now a serious national challenge and which needs to be tackled headlong, politics aside and this can be done through adhering to strict rules relating to professionalism.
“Coordination and cooperation among security agencies should be promoted to ensure the just and expeditious administration of justice, thus avoiding the oft-cited conflicting policies, which reduce the quality of the administration of justice in Nigeria.
“Legal professionals and staff of the Judiciary in Nigeria should be provided with continuing and on-the-job training to improve their professional skills and knowledge, especially in this time of rapid development in science and technology, information and communication technology as well as globalisation.
“There is a need for different professional groups involved in bringing sanity to the Nigerian System of Governance to form a common agenda in fighting corruption, tribalism and other related offences.
“A trustworthy relationship between security agencies in Nigeria and the public is the basis of effective security administration, especially for effective criminal investigations.”
The NBA Law Week 2024 with the theme: “Professionalism and Nation Building” comprised daily activities on awareness of legal services, the role of lawyers in the administration of justice and celebration of good works in private and public interest lawyering.